California Grill
Located at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Dinner

Checking in at a special counter area on the second floor of The Contemporary Resort in order to gain access to the 15th floor dining room may be an inconvenience, but does leave you with the feeling that this dinner should be something special. This staging area was manned by a small platoon of Disney cast members, one of whom would escort guests to the restaurant itself. The sense that this meal promised to be exceptional was instantly reinforced as you exited the elevator onto the 15th floor landing and stepped into the energized atmosphere that seemed to engulf you.

Not having made a priority seating meant that we would have to stake out a position at the bar. Now this may at first glance seem like a negative but having done so on previous visits I have found it to both relaxing and entertaining. After ordering something to drink we took a few moments to look over the menu that we had requested from the bartender. The bar staff is quite capable and willing to take your food order and serve you a full course dinner along with your drinks. We decided to focus on the top half of the menu that featured Brick Oven Baked Flatbreads and a Sushi & Sashimi section. Our first stab at satisfying our hunger consisted of Flatbread of Grilled Flank Steak, Blue Cheese Spread, Cubanelle Peppers, Provolone, and Fried Onions and a Sushi plate of Tuna "Banzai Roll" with sweet onion slush and wasabi cream.

As we waited for our order of food to arrive I could not but help note that this restaurant processes an almost contradiction in sensations. The busy open styled kitchen with servers moving quickly between tables serving guests seems to be almost in direct competition with the serene and shall I dare say it, Magical view afforded guests from this elevated vantage point. Off in one direction you have the two remaining monorail resorts, The Polynesian and The Grand Floridian, with their lights shimmering across Seven Seas Lagoon. And still in another direction you have The Magic Kingdom with Cinderella Castle that is beautifully illuminated with an ever changing spectrum of colors by the flood lights that surround it

First being provided with set of silverware and napkin our bartender then set done the tempting looking flatbread order and a rather large serving of the sushi. The flatbread with its combination of cheeses, peppers, fried onions and topped off with the flank steak proved to be both tasty and satisfying. As for the sushi, I have become spoiled with both the quality and presentation of the sushi served at this restaurant. Our Tuna “Banzai Rolls” were simply delicious, so much so that we ordered another round of the same.

The combination of the company of my diner companion, some pretty darn good food and just a fabulous dining spot made this unplanned night a special night out indeed.


Brick Oven Baked Flatbreads

Quadruple Cheese with Sun-dried Tomatoes and Basil Pesto - $9.50

Multifarious Artisanal Cheeses - heirloom apple salad and fried rosemary- $13.50

Maple Glazed Smoked Salmon with red onions, Meyer lemon and chive creme fraiche - $10.50

Grilled Flank Steak, Blue Cheese Spread, Cubanelle Peppers, Provolone, and Fried Onions -$10.50

Winter Mushrooms, Sweet Red Onion Marmalade, and creamy gorgonzola cheese - $9.75


Sushi & Sashimi

Yoshie's Sushi Sampler - Maki and Nigiri - $11.75
Yellowfin Tuna Three Ways - poki, tartar, and tataki - $18.75
Tuna "Banzai Roll" with sweet onion slush and wasabi cream - $16.95
Sashimi Trio...Yellowfin Tuna, Salmon and Hamachi - $14.50
"Snake in the Grass" - Shrimp tempura with avocado, eel and cucumber - $22.00
Spicy Sensation - scallops, tuna, avocado, tobiko and fireball sauce - $16.75
"Peeky Toe" Crab California Roll with avocado and cucumber -$17.00
Yoshie's Deluxe Sushi Platter - Maki and Nigiri - $22.75


First Course

French Lentil Soup - with spit-roasted lamb and challah croutons - $8.00

Chilled Gulf Shrimp and Mache Salad, persimmons, Asian pears, avocado, and pineapple vinaigrette - $12.50

Hearts of Romaine Salad with Green Goddess Dressing, aged parmesan, and sourdough croutons - $8.25

Chioggia and Golden Beets with watercress, goat cheese, dried cherry vinaigrette and honey pine nuts - $9.25

Farmer's Market Salad with antique apples, Medjool dates, Brie toast, and walnut vinaigrette - $9.75

Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli with Sun-dried Tomatoes, Shiitake Mushrooms and basil - $10.00

Hudson Valley Foie Gras with date scone, honey-ginger sauce and apple chutney - $15.00


Main Course

Pan-Seared Dayboat Scallops with Oyster Dumpling, herbaceous ginger sauce and truffle sheen - $33.50

Slow-cooked Pork Shank with Colcannon Potatoes, apple cider reduction and roasted apple puree - $26.00

Butterfish Steamed with Banana Leaf, basmati, macadamia nuts, cucumbers, and Hong Kong vinaigrette - $28.00

Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Creamy Goat Cheese Polenta, Cremini Mushrooms, Zinfandel Glaze and Sage - $22.75

Chili Rubbed Free Range Chicken Breast with Braised Bean Medley, Smoked Bell Peppers and jicama slaw - $23.00

Roasted Wild Striped Bass with Chanterelle Mushroom Risotto, braised oxtails and red wine sauce - $29.50

Free-form Pumpkin Lasagna with brown butter vinaigrette, spinach, dried cranberries and pistachios - $20.00

Pan-roasted Wild Striped Bass - wild mushroom risotto, cauliflower, truffle nage, and chervil oil - $29.50

Oak-fired Beef Filet with Three Cheese Potato Gratin, green beans, and Tamarind Barbecue Sauce - $34.50


Desserts

Cheese Please! Assortment of three cheeses - $9.75

Pistachio Paradise Creme Brulee with cherry thumbprint cookie and orange pistachio biscotti -$8.75

Luscious Lemon - Meyer lemon and buttermilk pudding cake with meyer lemon sherbet and candied kumquats - $8.25

Huckleberry and Caramel Extravaganza - cornmeal financiere, carmel mousse, huckleberries, and blackberry sorbet- $9.25

Apple and Crepe Pagoda - apple-filled crepes with Calvados Anglaise, spiced cookies, cinnamon ice cream and candied pecans $8.75

Chocolate Enrapture - Scharffen Berger chocolate tart with cacao nib cookie, double cream ice cream and Gianduja sauce - $9.75

Pears with Almond - caramelized pear cake with red wine poached pear, toasted almond ice cream and spiced pear liquor - $8.75

Chocolate Lava - Warm Valrhona Chocolate Cake with molten center, Scotch caramel and white coffee ice cream - $9.75

Citrus Celebration - Satsuma tangerine sorbet, Mandarin Jelly, Vanilla Cream and Citrus Salad -$8.25