Alternatives to the California Grill at Walt Disney World

A Disney photo gives us a view of the inside of the California Grill.

So you're faithfully making your dining reservations seven months in advance for your Disney World vacation and -- oh, no! -- the California Grill is going to be closed for renovation!

What's a fine-dining-and-fireworks connoisseur to do?

If the California Grill was on your "must" list, we have some suggestions for alternatives, depending on what you're looking for:


If you're going for the fireworks: You don't need to go far from the Contemporary to find a stunning view of the fireworks. At the Polynesian, 'Ohana offers a view of the fireworks through a wall of windows, but the buffet restaurant is sometimes described as "chaotic." And the decor? Let's just say it looks like it belongs in the "Brady Bunch" Hawaii episode. At the Grand Floridian, we like Narcoossee's, which features seafood but also offers a couple of serious steaks. Best of all: It's a lovely spot to watch the fireworks. You'll want to leave your table and step out onto the wraparound porch to catch the show.

If you're going for the romance: The California Grill might not have been your best choice to begin with. We've had a few truly romantic dinners there -- when we were lucky enough to get a table by the window before the fireworks, and before the place became overrun by children even at 9:30 at night (this was years ago, when children still had bedtimes). Today, it's pretty hard to find a romantic spot, short of Victoria & Albert's, which is pricey enough to require a second mortgage. So I suggest trying Jiko at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Not only is the food memorable, but it's one of the quieter restaurants at Disney World. You can also take a romantic stroll around the savannah after dinner. It's really quite lovely.

If you're going for the oak-fired filet: When Disney announced the California Grill was closing for renovations, several online commenters had only one demand: Don't touch my oak-fired filet. Thankfully, there are a lot of quality steaks at Disney World. Top of our list: Jiko, the magnificent restaurant at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, which serves up a wonderful oak-grilled filet, with sides that change periodically (keep your fingers crossed for the mac and cheese with red wine sauce). The filet at Le Cellier has a lot of fans, but for me, it's too saucy and rich. If you like the simple preparation at the California Grill, you might agree.

If you're going for the sushi: Try Tokyo Dining at the Japan pavilion in Epcot. You may not even need an advance reservation -- it's typically pretty easy to get into. But if you plan ahead, you can get a table by the window and a fabulous view of Illuminations. Our favorite spot for sushi at Disney World is a little less glamorous: the bar at Wolfgang Puck Cafe at Downtown Disney. It's never crowded, and you can drop in for a drink and some low-stress sushi while you take a break from shopping.

If you're going for the wine list: We'll defer to Wine Spectator magazine for the best Disney wine lists. In the most recent awards, given last summer, seven Disney restaurants won Awards of Excellence from Wine Spectator magazine last year, including:

• Artist Point (Wilderness Lodge) 
• Citrico's (Grand Floridian) 
• Il Mulino New York Trattoria (Swan) 
• Jiko (Animal Kingdom Lodge)
• Narcoossee's (Grand Floridian) 
• The Portobello Yacht Club (Downtown Disney) 
• Todd English's Bluezoo (Dolphin)
• Yachtsman Steakhouse (Yacht & Beach Club)

Two more stood out above those, winning the "Best of" Award of Excellence: Victoria & Albert's (Grand Floridian) and Shula's Steak House (Dolphin). V&A is in a class by itself, so we'll set that aside. Shula's offers more than 700 wines, many from California -- and, of course, there's a 12-ounce filet.

If you want the whole package: My vote for the best all-around alternative to the California Grill goes to Narcoossee's at the Grand Floridian. Its menu should appeal to fans of the California Grill -- the lobster tail and filet surf-and-turf with mashed potatoes and green beans positively flies out of the kitchen. And the fireworks are the perfect way to end an evening. But here's another idea, if you're daring: Wait until the end of August and book a table at the new Be Our Guest Restaurant in the Magic Kingdom, which is scheduled to open in time for the holidays. Disney has been keeping fans updated on the restaurant's design and development, including details on the menu.

My dearest hope for the California Grill renovation, which is scheduled to be complete late next summer: That they find a way to dampen the sound. In recent years it has started to sound like a cafeteria, especially when the place fills up with kids before the fireworks. Perhaps they'll add a second floor -- for adults only.