Dining atop Disney's Contemporary Resort at the California Grill is an amazing experience for far more reasons than just the spectacular view of the Magic Kingdom at night.  This is truly one of the Walt Disney World Resort's Signature Dining Restaurants.

California Grill: The Experience

From the moment you are seated at this rooftop restaurant you get the sense that you are dining somewhere special.  I have to admit that with all of the rave reviews of this restaurant that I had heard prior to my visit, I was actually skeptical if it could really be that good.




Location. Location. Location.  Being on the rooftop of one of the first Resorts at the Walt Disney World Resort has its privileges.  The views are amazing and the restaurant certainly catches your attention.  The setting is family friendly, but also is fine for that special occasion such as a birthday, anniversary, or honeymoon night to celebrate.

California Grill: The Review

Being a skeptic, I came into this initial encounter with the California Grill believing that there was no way that this restaurant could live up to its hype.  The menu itself seemed "too simple" to validate the high prices.  It was going to be a tough sell to convince me that this restaurant was worthy of the prices it charged and would provide a "Signature Dining" experience.


The first difference we noticed was our server. He was pleasant, but has was also incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and most importantly, the extensive wine selection that the California Grill is known for.  There is an amazing wine list, but it is overwhelming for most guest to navigate themselves.


Our waiter listened to what we kind of wines we liked and helped us decide upon a Rombauer Vineyards Zinfandel that we really enjoyed.

California Grill Heirloom Tomato Flatbread

The appetizer list is daunting to say the least.  Our waiter guided us with recommendations leading to the Heirloom Tomato Flatbread.  The menu description was simple and straight-forward, the presentation was nice, but not over-the-top, What cannot be stressed enough is how incredible this unassuming appetizer tasted!  U-N-B-E-L-I-E-V-A-B-L-E!!!  The flavors that we enjoyed were amazing.  What sounded overly simple had incredibly complex flavors that really worked well together.  What I perceived initially as a boring choice for an appetizer produced mind-blowing results.


The other sharable appetizer that we tried was the Dragon Roll from their acclaimed Sushi menu.  The Dragon Roll is made up of Spicy and Tataki Tuna, Shrimp Tempura, Avocado, Dragon Sauce, Hijiki-Shirataki Salad.  This was another amazing dish of incredible flavors to enjoy  It is hard to stress how the flavors enjoyed in this dish differ from a typical dining experience, but typical it was certainly not.  This was another incredible dish that exceeded expectations.


It is almost hard to proceed onto entrees after the great appetizer and sushi offerings that can be found at the California Grill.  We both tried the Oak Fired Filet of Beef with Heirloom Tomato Risotto, Baby Vine Tomatoes, Tiny Basil, Tomato Butter.  Again this is another winning selection at the California Grill.  Tender beef, cooked perfectly that was well presented.  It is hard to compare this to the appetizers, but it did not disappoint and was thoroughly enjoyed


Like many people that visit the California Grill we had a special occasion to celebrate.  This led to a complementary dessert with a placard in chocolate from the California Grill.  This Vanilla Crème Brûlée did not disappoint and capped off a wonderful dining experience.




The only thing that could "plus" this experience even more was timing the dinner to conclude with the Wishes fireworks at the Magic Kingdom.  There may be no better place to view these fireworks other than on Main Street USA facing Cinderella Castle.

Whether you are dining with your family or your significant other the views from the California Grill and the outdoor viewing platform of the Magic Kingdom are an amzing way to finish your day at the Walt Disney Word Resort.

California Grill Review Summary

I have to admit that I was thoroughly impressed by the California Grill.  I came into this dining experience expecting to enjoy it, but feel I paid Disney prices for a "good meal  Instead I came away with one of the best dining experiences of my life.

Of course, I cannot (and most people including Disney Cast Members I talked to cannot) afford this experience on a regular basis , I came away feeling that I had a great, memorable dining experience

At the end of the day, isn't that what we are all looking for?

The California Grill lives up to the hype!  If you are looking for an incredible Disney Dining Experience, this is the place!

The Hollywood Brown Derby could not have found a more fitting setting than within Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios Theme Park.  With the original Hollywood landmark now gone (closing in 1985), this Disney recreation helps evoke the golden age of Hollywood during the fine dining experience.

The Hollywood Brown Derby

As the only Signature restaurant located within Disney's Hollywood Studios, The Hollywood Brown Derby not only provides excellent food & drink options, it also seeks to closely imitate the feel and look of the original that was located at the corner of Hollywood and Vine and frequented by the elite of Hollywood.


The picture above depicts the original, which does look pretty similar to the Disney version.


Inside the restaurant you will find the caricatures and pictures that the Brown Derby was known for.  The "Great Wall Of Hollywood" as it was referred to had an impressive collection of drawings and caricatures of the leading men and ladies of Hollywood dating back to the silent era when the original opened in 1929.




You quickly take note of the rich wood used throughout along with the multitude of pictures adorning the walls.  There is certainly a lot to take in.  There is certainly an air of elegance when you dine here.

Lunch at The Hollywood Brown Derby

We chose lunch for our visit of this fine establishment with a goal of sampling a couple of the signature dishes that the Brown Derby is known for.

The Lunch Menu

Appetizers:

• Brentwood Sweet Corn Bisque
• Artisanal Cheeses
• Blue Lump Crab Spring Rolls
• Andouille-Crusted Prawn
• Local Greens tossed in a Champagne Vinaigrette

Each meal is served with fresh baked rolls and an amazing butter.


We started our meal by sharing an appetizer and we chose the Blue Lump Crab Spring Rolls.  They are described as: Snow Crab Claw, and an Asian Slaw with spicy Miso Aïoli for $13.

This choice was amazing.  Our only regret is that we had to share.  It had plenty of lump crab meat and plenty of flavor.


For our entrees we each chose the Famous Cobb Salad that the Hollywood Brown Derby is known for.  This may not be the most adventurous item to try on the menu, but it makes a perfect lunch and it is hard to visit the Brown Derby without trying it.  It is named after Robert Cobb who became President of the restaurant and created the dish in 1934.

The Cobb Salads were assembled and tossed table side which added to the experience.  The Cobb Salad is described in the menu as:  Finely Chopped Greens, Turkey Breast, Bacon, Egg, Tomatoes, Crumbled Blue Cheese, Avocado, Chives, and Cobb Dressing.

This light meal is perfect for the hot Florida days.  The flavors of the chopped salad mesh well together and made for a great meal.


For dessert we had to try another Brown Derby famous dish: The Grapefruit Cake.  This multi-layered creation of cake, cream cheese frosting and grapefruit was made when famous gossip columnist Louella Parsons complained to Robert Cobb that all of this desserts were too fattening and she wanted something healthier.  Cobb told the Chef "to put grapefruit on something because everyone knows it's slimming."

The result is a very tasty desert that seems to be lighter, even if it is probably a long way of being healthy for you.

Review Summary

The Hollywood Brown Derby is a great place to eat, but it is very expensive.  Lunch can be had very reasonably (by Disney World standards), but Dinner entrees range at $30+ apiece.

There is an excellent wine list, beers, and signature cocktails available for those who would like to make a social experience out of the meal as is intended at the Brown Derby.

The food was excellent and the service that we enjoyed ranked among the best we have ever seen.

We would certainly recommend The Hollywood Brown Derby if you are looking for an upscale dining experience while at Disney's Hollywood Studios.  The great foo and super service along with the authentic feel of Hollywood made this a wonderful meal.

The restaurant accepts the Disney Dining Plan, but as a Signature restaurant it requires 2 Tables service credits per person.  It also accepts the Tables In Wonderland Discount of 20% off the entire bill including alcoholic beverages.

Disney World offers a multitude of dining experiences from the snack cart to their Signature Dining Restaurants.  Today's Disney World Dining Review takes us to one of those Signature Dining Restaurants at the Grand Floridian Resort: Narcoossee's.


Situated right on the waterfront of the Seven Seas Lagoon, Narcoossee's is an octagon shaped restaurant with a Victorian style on the outside to fit in with the rest of the Grand Floridian Resort.

Narcoossee's - The Ambiance
Inside the restaurant you sense a casual elegance that gives you a coastal feel that befits the seafood featured menu that they offer.  At night the lighting level is low, which makes it an ideal place to share a romantic dinner or celebrate a special event.  Although you will see families here, many of the tables were occupied by couples enjoying a special dinner.

The restaurant is set up so that everyone gets a great view of the water.  From this vantage point on the Seven Seas Lagoon, the Magic Kingdom looks amazing, and watching the boats go from place to place is enjoyable.  During late night dinners, you also have a prime seat for the Electrical Water Pageant and an incredible view of the Magic Kingdom Fireworks.

During our visit we caught one of the last showings of the Summer Nightastic! Fireworks and enjoyed the show almost as much from Narcoossee's as we did when saw it standing next to the Cinderella Castle a night earlier.


Narcoossee's - The Service
From the moment we entered Narcoossee's the service was wonderful.  After checking in and receiving our pager, we sat in the waiting area with full view of the open kitchen.  While we were waiting one of the managers noticed that we had our camera with us and offered to take a picture of my wife and I out on their deck area overlooking the Seven Seas Lagoon.  He even took a couple pictures to make sure that we got one that we liked.  He was very friendly and engaging, which got our dining experience off to a great start.

We happened to be celebrating my wife's birthday and had included it in our reservations.  I never had to  mention another word about it, and they took great care of us and made her birthday very special.

Our waitress was extremely friendly and did everything that you would want.  She had our table ready for us with tiny Mickey Head sparkles dusted all over to mark our celebration.  The menu my wife received was customized for her and made a nice sovenier of the evening.

The best way to describe the wonderful service was to tell about the manager that stopped by our table at the end of our meal to ask how it was.  When we told him that this was our first time at Narcoossee's he immediately and sincerely thanked us for entrusting such an important celebration to his restaurant. 

For a Signature Restaurant, at the Grand Floridian no less, there was no sense of the staff being pretentious.  It made for an amazing dining experience.

Narcoossee's - The Menu
The menu at Narcoossee's changes frequently, but remains with a heavy emphasis on seafood dishes.  For the non-seafood eaters, there is always a Filet Mignon on the menu, as well as, a chicken dish and a vegetarian dish.

You can see a recent Narcoossee's Menu from Disney World, this will give you an example, but those particular dishes may not be available on the day you visit.

The entrees range in price from $22.00 for the Summer Vegetables - Vegetarian Dish to $59.00 for the Surf & Turf - with Filet Mignon and Lobster Tail.  Most of the entrees are in the $33 - $39 range. 

The seafood dishes that were available the night that we visited were:

• Turbot with Rock Shrimp $34.00
• Crispy Whole Snapper $35.00
• Mixed Grill - with Lamb  T-Bone, Spiny Lobster, & Chicken Sausage $39.00
• Togarashi Spiced Ahi Tuna $36.00
• Grilled Shrimp $33.00
• Crab Crusted Flounder $35.00

Narcoossee's does participate in the Disney Dining Plan, but as a Signature Restaurant it requires 2 Table Service Credits per person. They also participate in the Tables in Wonderland discount program that entitles you to 20% off all food & drink during the meal.
Narcossee's - The Food
My wife decided to have the Crab-crusted Flounder (pictured below.)  It came with crushed potatoes, hricots verts, and Meyer Lemon sauce.  She loved the dish and thought that the Meyer Lemon sauce was amazing.