From Tracie: I Ate Sushi At The Re-Imagined California Grill

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

I Ate Sushi At The Re-Imagined California Grill

Last week I attended a preview of the re-imagined California Grill at Walt Disney World's Contemporary Resort.

Sushi Plate At California Grill

California Grill is located on the 15th floor of the Contemporary Resort. Floor to ceiling windows allow you to enjoy an amazing view of the Magic Kingdom and the Seven Seas Lagoon. Sunsets are pretty incredible, too.

California Grill View

The re-imagination was inspired by mid-century modern California design. The lights were one of my favorite touches, they have a great sculptural feel.

The kitchen is open to the restaurant. If you sit at the sushi bar, you can see the fresh fish, and watch the chefs as they prepare your meal.

Open Kitchen And Sushi Bar At California Grill

California Grill is beautiful, and the view is amazing (more about that later), but I know what your real question is: How was the food?

Sushi Bar
The sushi looked so colorful and fun. Even though it is way outside of my comfort zone, I wanted to try it. I reminded myself that Disney is the perfect place to be adventurous, and went for it. I was not disappointed.

Sushi

I ate sushi, y'all. I ate sushi, and I liked it.

Don't worry if sushi isn't your thing, and you aren't ready to make that adventurous eating leap. The California Grill also has dishes with pork, chicken, fish, beef, and duck. There is something for everyone. If you do want to eat the sushi (trust me, you do), they have a 12-course omakase menu that will allow you to try a variety of fresh creations from the chef.

Entrées
Roasted Squash Ravioli with root spinach, parsnips, petite herb salad, sage brown butter, and 12 year balsamic.

Roasted Squash Ravioli

Oak-Fired Filet of Beef served with heirloom tomato risotto, marinated baby vine tomatoes, basil, and tomato butter. Eating food with tomatoes - yet another step in adventurous eating for me.

Oak-Fired Filet Of Beef

A slightly blurry picture (mostly because I was so excited to pick up my fork), but I had to include it because the Oak-Fired Filet of Beef was my favorite entrée. I would be happy eating it every day.

There were other great looking dishes like a 24-Hour Short Rib Filet, Bell & Evans Chicken with a teriyaki barbecue glaze, Wild Columbia River Salmon, but I had to save room for dessert. I definitely want to try the Bell & Evans Chicken the next time I visit. It is served with truffle macaroni and cheese, glazed vegetables, and chicken sausage.

The most important part of the meal: Dessert
One of the cutest desserts was the Sundae Sampler. Created by California Grill Pastry Chef Jeff Barnes, it includes a Coke float, a strawberry sundae, and a caramel corn sundae.

Jeff Barnes California Grill Pastry Chef

The tiny containers and mini spoon were a great touch. How can you not love them instantly? The Caramel Corn Sundae was the winner of the trio. The caramel sauce was delicious, and it is a perfect dessert for fall.

Mini Caramel Corn Sundae And Strawberry Sundae

Chocolate Pudding Cake with Nutella Filling, meringue kisses, and mint Chantilly cream. It is very dark chocolate and very rich. I loved every yummy bite of it.

Chocolate Pudding Cake

The Banana Bread Fritters were amazing as well. They were warm, and sweet, and had the right level of banana. The toasted caramel marshmallow wasn't bad, either.

Banana Fritters

California Grill is a dessert paradise.

You remember the great view? It extends outside to two observation platforms. At the end of the night we stepped out to watch the Wishes firework display at Magic Kingdom. You can see Cinderella's Castle and Space Mountain from the observation deck, and before the sun went down, I was even able to spot Belle's Castle and Fantasyland in the distance.

Wishes Fireworks Disney World

The music from the show can be heard from the speakers on the observation deck, so you are able to get the whole Wishes experience.

Magic Kingdom Fireworks From California Grill

The perfect finale to an amazing meal.

*I was provided with a free meal, but I was not required to write about it, say nice things, or stuff myself with dessert. Those choices were all mine, as are the opinions in this post.

31 comments:

  1. Oh yum - you are so lucky to have been provided with this meal. I would have stuffed myself with dessert too. I think that IS a requirement.

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    1. It was amazing!!

      And, yes, dessert is always a requirement. ;)

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  2. That looks really good. I love sushi! Tasting menus are always the best way to try new things.

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    1. Definitely. There was so much to try, I didn't make it everything. But, that just means I have an "excuse" to go back.

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  3. I love those lights! The restaurant looks like it has a nice atmosphere. So cool you got to do that!

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    1. The lights really are awesome. They were the first thing I noticed when I walked in the restaurant. The atmosphere is really nice - it would be a perfect spot for a date night.

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  4. The sushi looks GORGEOUS :) I'm so glad you tried and enjoyed it.

    Fun (if slightly pernicketty) fact - 'sushi' is only the rice - the raw fish 'sashimi' is optional, and vegetarian or 'other' sushi, is still sushi and can be enjoyed by the discerning diner.

    The rest of your meal looks amazing, too, especially the caramel corn sundae :) What a great time you had.

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    1. I'm glad I did too. Sometimes being adventurous pays off.

      That is so very interesting about sushi being the name of the rice. I did not know that. I'm more of a dessert authority...but I will have to learn more about sushi and sashimi now that I know I like it.

      It was so very fun. A magical night - as all nights at Disney are.

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  5. I am sure I'd love it if I tried it, I just can't get past the look!

    UP

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  6. I used to not like sushi because I'm afraid of what's inside, especially raw ingredients. But after having been provoked to try it for a long time, I was surprised because it's yummy! Now, I'm loving it. So heavy to the tummy, very fulfilling.

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    1. I was concerned about the raw thing, too. And the texture. But I really enjoyed every piece I tried. You will have to stop by the California Grill the next time you are in Orlando; you'll love it!

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  7. I've always wanted to try sushi. Not the fish kind, just the veggie kind. But I've never gotten the guts up enough to do it 'cause it's still wrapped in seaweed xD Some day tho!~

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    1. Some of it did not have a seaweed wrapping - maybe you could start with those! :) I was really surprised how much I liked it. They also had some with pork. Pork Belly Nigri -
      House-cured Pork, Bacon and Yuzu Rice, Spicy Teriyaki. That would be perfect for you try.

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  8. What a beautiful setting for a restaurant! The sushi looks great but that Caramel Corn Sundae and Banana Bread Fritters have me drooling on my keyboard....

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    1. It is gorgeous. Pictures don't do it justice at all, and the view is expansive. I was surprised at how much of the Magic Kingdom I could see from the observation decks.

      The dessert is a definite must. So very good.

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  9. OH MY GOD, those desserts made my mouth water!! YUM!! We stayed at The Contemporary when we were at Disney, but did not get to hit the California Grill. Next time for sure! :)-Ashley

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    1. Oh my goodness. You have to eat there the next time y'all come down. It was amazing. Maybe you could do a date night.

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  10. What a great view and that Chocolate Pudding Cake looks Gooood!

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    1. So so so good. I can't even describe it. You just have to try it for yourself. Yum!

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  11. How funny! I just finished blogging about an amazing sushi place I just tried out here in the Carolinas. I thought that place would be impossible to top, but this restaurant looks like it would provide some pretty stiff competition. ;) The ambiance looks so elegant, and those banana fritters look AMAZING! :)

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  12. That restaurant looks amazing! Really love the views and the food looks so delicious!! Would like to try those desserts!

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  13. Yum! I love sushi and the desserts look delicious! Great views too...

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  14. wow! You've made me drool all over my keyboard! :D 12-course sushi sounds amazing and the other dishes look great too!! But, of course, the dessert looks just divine...how cute are those small containers!

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  15. I want to go there right now! It looks delicious and the scenery is beautiful. After seeing your review, I'd have to save room for dessert for sure. :)

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  16. I have never tried Sushi I am afraid to because I am not a seafood eater.... but the plates look amazing.. I would eat the desert with no problem lol

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  17. I am so glad you enjoyed yourself and I'm laughing because our reviews are nearly identical!

    Lee

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  18. That sushi looks really good! I haven't had sushi in forever! Actually it all looks amazing!

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  19. YUMMM..this looks amazing.. I love Sushi, wish this was closer; the pic's are great and make me want to eat it.. Thanks for sharing

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  20. Of course you liked it! Sushi is DELICIOUS!

    Great job on the post & photos. :-)

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