Review: One price, three-courses at Disney’s California Grill

There’s a new way to dine at Walt Disney World’s high-end California Grill at the top of Disney’s Contemporary Resort. It’s a one price, three course meal.

While the California Grill has had the one price option with a special Walt Disney World 50th meal, their latest menu is now available, and Disney invited us to try them out. Each meal is $89 per adult and $39 per child (3-9). It includes bread, appetizer, meal, and dessert. (See the full menu at the end.)

To start, you can order a $39 or $69 wine pairing if you choose. They each include a different glass of wine with each course. They also sell single glasses of wine, beer, cocktails, and non-alcoholic drinks. 

The bread service is a sour dough with beautifully served salted butter and a sun-dried tomato and olive oil spread. It was tasty with a tough crust and very soft on the inside just as it should be. They told us the starter they use to prepare it has been alive for almost 15 years!

The some of the appetizers were bigger than I expected. But that just means more for your money. I ordered one of the sushi options, the Rainbow Roll, and I thought I would get four pieces, but I was served eight. The pickles and the soy sauce are made in house. They were very flavorful. 

The Black Truffle Pizza my table neighbor ordered looked amazing. It was covered in truffles, cheese, and house-made potato chips. It was a size that would fill me up for sure. She enjoyed it and gave my husband Matt a piece and he loved it. Her sister ordered the Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli appetizer. It was a giant ravioli. She enjoyed it but said it was a little watery. Matt ordered the Brasied Beef Short Rib Wontons. This was the smallest of the four appetizers at our table, but he enjoyed them.

For our main courses, we each had something different. I ordered the Fire-Roasted Venison. For those worried, it was not gamey at all. It was served with little dollops of three different sauces, which could be tried on their own, or combined to create a whole different flavor. I really enjoyed it. The chef recommends it be served medium rare, so keep that in mind if you like your meats cooked more.

Matt got the Oak-Fired Filet of Beef and enjoyed it. The sisters we were sitting with ordered the Saffron Risotto and the Pan-Seared All-Natural Chicken and they said they enjoyed them.

For dessert, the sisters both got the Valrhona Chocolate Ganache Torte. They said it was a dark chocolate, so it was not overly sweet, and was really good. Matt ordered the Peanut and Banana Torte. He loves anything peanut butter flavored, and it was topped with this other favorite, white chocolate, so he was very happy. 

I was really was impressed with pastry chef’s version of a crème brûlée. The Citrus Crème Brûlée is not served in a traditional dish. It’s served upside-down on a plate. Accompanying it was a bit of angel food cake, white sangria sorbet, ginger crumble, mandarin crémeux, tangerine, and lychee gel. Combined it’s a true taste explosion! I also think the crème brûlée was more enjoyable to eat on a plate instead of in a traditional dish. I really recommend it. 

Our take-away for the new three-course dining menu is that it covers a lot of bases with all the delicious varieties it offers. Yes it’s a lot of money, but it’s actually a lot of amazing food for the money. 

The chefs and wait staff are very friendly and informative. And it’s hard to find a restaurant with a better view. As usual, if you’re in the dining room during a Magic Kingdom’s fireworks show, you can watch from inside or out on one of their balconies. It’s just spectacular.

The California Grill has them all beat, in my personal opinion of course. But you should try it for yourself. Just come hungry.

Reservations are highly recommended. they are open for dinner only. Guests are expected to dress in attire that respects the restaurant’s sophisticated and upscale aesthetic. Check availability at DisneyWorld.com.

Here’s a video from 2013 that shows you around the restaurant. Most of the foods mentioned are not currently offered, but the decor is the same: