California Grill Brings Back Classic Menu Items for 30th Anniversary at Disney World

By WDWMAGIC Staff · Thursday May 15, 2025 11:15am ET · "California Grill"
California Grill Brings Back Classic Menu Items for 30th Anniversary at Disney World

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California Grill 2025

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California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is marking 30 years with a limited-time return of popular dishes from its past menu. Starting May 15, 2025, select guest favorites are once again available, each marked with a '30' on the menu. These items will remain through May 2026.

The celebration lineup includes:

  • Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli – served with organic mixed mushroom ragoût, tomato-fennel brodo, and California extra virgin olive oil.
  • Grilled Pork Tenderloin – plated with creamy goat cheese polenta, roasted pork belly, aged balsamic organic mushrooms, and a Zinfandel glaze.
  • Blueberry-Goat Cheese Cheesecake – topped with blueberry meringue, vanilla chantilly, raspberry coulis, and goat cheese mousse.
  • The Monterey – a cocktail featuring Licor 43, Pyrat XO Reserve Rum, DOLE® pineapple juice, and house-made sour mix.

Chef de Cuisine Matthew Birch said the dishes represent the legacy of California Grill’s evolving menu while staying rooted in its original concept. “Each generation of chefs has brought their own creativity while continuing the focus on showcasing peak-season ingredients with integrity and care.”

Since 1995, California Grill has been one of the most high-profile signature dining experiences at Walt Disney World, known for its market-driven cuisine, expansive wine list, and sweeping views of Magic Kingdom and Seven Seas Lagoon. The restaurant continues to offer a rotating three-course menu and rooftop access to the “Happily Ever After” fireworks show. The returning dishes will be available for a full year.

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Wish they would bring back the classic a la carte menu (vs. prix fixe) as well. I do understand why they went to that model ... people abused the a la carte menu ordering a dessert to share and camping out for fireworks. :rolleyes: While they're at it, if they wanted to bring back the Sunday brunch (& offer it on Saturdays too or, heck, 7 days a week) I'd definitely support. That brunch was SO good. All that said, congrats to them on 30 years. That's a long time for a restaurant.
↩ replying to christine7257
I really miss the brunch! Narcossee's also had brunch for a little while that I also wish they would bring back.
We were just there last week and it's still amazing to eat here and watch the fireworks.
↩ replying to christine7257
The CG is hurting because of the prix fixe. Underperforming before and after fireworks (when they run at 8). Honestly tables are pretty easy to come by right up to fireworks.

Bring back the classic menu, impose a minimum spend requirement per guest for guests seated 2 hours or more, bring back the lounge area seating, and most importantly bring back the brunch and expand it to Saturday (it will print money).
I miss those artisan pizzas CG used to have, wish they'd bring them back.
↩ replying to monothingie
That’s the problem as well. 2 hours for a meal at Disney is crazy. This is not a & course tasting menu. People just want to take up a table all night to see the fireworks. As always, selfish cheap peopled ruined what was the best place at Disney besides VA
↩ replying to Hockey89
Yep. It was our favorite restaurant but we won’t go back until they return to an a la carte menu. We miss going here but the fixed menu does nothing for us.
↩ replying to IanDLBZF
I loved their pizzas. I'm glad to see they are bringing back the goat cheese ravioli. Do they still do sushi? It was so good.
↩ replying to jpeden
Two of my favorites are long gone - California Grill and Artist Point.

I haven't been to either since they went pre fix and character.
I was there twice in the past week. (Friday night and Tuesday night). I got walk up reservations each time and there were plenty of open ADRs.

It is downright depressing how empty the place is. Number one feedback that CM tell me is that people HATE the menu. (not necessarily the food, but the experience created by the pre-fixe)

They want an upscale experience but the pre-fixe menu is driving people away. At this point they don't have to worry about tables being held by people not ordering anything, because there are already plenty of empty table not being filled.

What they had worked great for 27 years. In the past 3 years, they've ruined it.

Food was still good. The only thing I wasn't happy with was the Wagyu strip. While it was a unique experience, the accompaniment with the steak had no flavor, was unseasoned, and frankly bizarre.
↩ replying to monothingie
What I don’t understand is why the insist on keeping it this way. Bookings are clearly down and the restaurant is not full. Previously you couldn’t get in the place because it was completely booked out.

I really feel for the CM’s who once had probably one of the best wait-staff jobs tip wise in WDW who are now suffering because of bad management decisions.
I booked this for 9:50 on July 3rd (since they normally do the 4th of July fireworks the day before, too); is the view that great? I'm not enthusiastic about the menu and I'm taking a huge gamble by hoping to get in early on a day when I'm sure no one is moving.

I've seen Happily Ever After from Contemporary's club level theme park view rooms already; is it basically the same view? The Independence Day fireworks are more elaborate, but...89 bucks...I don't even like the sound of a single dessert...
↩ replying to monothingie
This is an honest question. Why would you go twice in a week to a depressing place that you feel was ruined by Disney?
↩ replying to WorldExplorer
Fair warning, If you have a 9:50 reservation for 10 o’clock fireworks, you may not make it upstairs in time, even if you arrive early.

Try to get a reservation at least an hour before or dine earlier in the day, Save your receipt and you can go up there right before fireworks and they will let you in.

You can also request to sit at the bar where they have a separate lounge menu that has several items à la carte and does not force you to use price fix menu.
↩ replying to Chi84
If you are staying at the resort it’s one of 2 options for dinner.

I think Disney has “ruined” Tomorrowland but I still visit when im in the mk.