Perched on top of the Contemporary Hotel, California Grill at Walt Disney World Resort celebrates 30 years of delighting diners. While many people adore watching the Magic Kingdom nighttime fireworks at the restaurant, the surprises and delights on the menu captivate guests time and again.
Dining at a Disney restaurant is always a memorable experience. It is more than perfectly executed food and impeccable service. Woven into the overall meal are little magical moments that capture the wonder, imagination, and craft that every cast member embodies.
For 30 years, California Grill has been welcoming guests and showcasing elements of Californian cuisine. The combination of vibrant flavors and colors pop on the plate. Combined with impeccable presentations, the dishes capture the delicate balance of sophistication and familiarity.
Currently, the restaurant is celebrating its 30th anniversary by showcasing dishes that were part of the original menu. While the essence of the original recipe is there, the executive chef and pastry chef have taken a few liberties in transforming the food for a modern-day diner.
In addition to a few specialty 30th anniversary menu items, the 3-course prix fix menu is diverse yet rooted in ingredient forward recipes. From the thoughtfulness of a garnish to the tableside presentation, the attention to detail in every aspect ensures that a guest feels like royalty in the welcoming environment.
Since it is the 30th anniversary of celebration, the iconic Sonoma goat cheese ravioli is the must-have appetizer. After the ravioli is presented at the table, the tomato-fennel brado infuses the pasta with bright, herbaceous notes. Cutting into the pasta reveals a luscious center and uncovers the earthy mushrooms that are nestled under the ravioli.
When enjoyed as a complete bite, the flavors capture a walk through the garden. The combination of bright greens, slightly tangy cheese, and umami from the mushrooms excites the palate for the next course on this flavor journey.
For the entrée, another 30th anniversary choice comes with an extremely special tableside presentation. The Grilled Pork Tenderloin was part of the original menu, but this version is presented with a garnish of 100-year-old Balsamic. A few small drops of the specialty balsamic kiss the plate and invite the guests to marvel at the stupendous flavor from the unique ingredient.
With both a piece of pork tenderloin and pork belly on the plate, the contrasting tenderness of the loin and the unctuous qualities of the belly play beautifully off each other. The tangy, creamy goat cheese polenta is a thread that ties the appetizer to the entrée. It is hearty yet never feels heavy.
To end the meal, the Pistachio-Chocolate Mousse is a reimagination of the classic dessert from the restaurant’s past, but it is not part of the 30-Year Anniversary offerings. The dessert is a celebration of textures, which highlight the different flavors of the same ingredient. From the perfect snap of the chocolate to the rich ganache and from the toasted pistachios to the airy pistachio cake, it feels whimsical. It is the chef’s kiss to send diners off into sweet dreams.
While some of these items are a nod to the 30th anniversary, the diverse menu has a wide array of options to delight any food preference. From a traditional fillet mignon to an Asian inspired seared scallop, the variety ensures that diners can always find a flavor that satisfies every craving.
Disney guests always expect the highest standards. From impeccable service to perfectly executed food, these elements are a given. What makes California Grill special is that the restaurant has stood the test of time, but never feels stagnant.
California-inspired cuisine is focused on fresh, flavorful ingredients that are showcased for their flavor. Rooted in culinary techniques, complexity and execution never overshadow what is always the focus, a well-composed bite that celebrates flavor.
For the diner who remembers their first visit years ago to bringing their children to the iconic celebration of dinner interspersed with Disney fireworks, California Grill does, and will continue, to surprise and delight guests. Whether there will still be a version of the goat cheese ravioli in 30 more years remains to be seen. What will always hold true is the impact that delectable food, spirited conversation, and stunning ambiance have on a guest. Those magical moments will always offer a happily ever after.
California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World is open for dinner. Reservations can be made via the Walt Disney World website. The restaurant offers a three-course dinner, along with enhancements, cocktails, wine pairing suggestions, and additional specialty items.