Disappointed in Le Cellier

[charmedlife3517]

We just got back yesterday from our first DisneyWorld vacation. I booked Le Cellier at my 180 days because of all of the great reviews. My bestfriend goes every year and she loves Le Cellier. I went our first day in Disney and got the Mushroom Filet. It was horrible. It was over cooked, had no flavor and although I have never had risotto, it tasted like undercooked rice. Is that what its suppose to taste like? I have also read that the filet is super salty. Mine was not salty at all. I would have to say that this was the worst meal of my trip. My sister got the NY strip and it was really good as was the soup. Am I missing something? I am not a food snob but this meal was just not good. I thought Le Cellier may have been having an off day so I got the mushroom filet at the food and wine festival booth and although it was better it was not amazing. Not like the reviews I read. Maybe its just a matter of taste and its not to my liking Who knows.

 

[mickeynut1]

I didn't care for LeCellier, either. I had the filet and it was ok, but nothing great. It definitely wasn't anything near what I thought it would be from all the hype I always read about it. I've had much better filet at Artist Point and Yachtsman Steakhouse. I'm glad I tried LC, but we won't be returning as there are much better places for steak (especially filet), IMO.

 

[Mickey Gator]

The filet has been great at times and at other times average at best. But no matter what, the cheddar cheese soup is always AWESOME.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . I have also read that the filet is super salty. Mine was not salty at all. I would have to say that this was the worst meal of my trip . . .

1) As all restaurateurs know, sodium makes all meat taste better.
2) It is a scientific fact regarding taste buds and taste-bud-excitement.
3) This also makes up for lower quality meat.
4) If your steak was poorly tasting, this is the reason.

NOTE: The amount of sodium in WDW food is HUGE. In some cases,
the level at or above the recommended daily level for an adult male.
And, you get that in one meal. But, this is the way to make even
average menu items taste more appealing - and, it improves profit.
This is also one reason WDW does not publish or make available the
nutritional fact of the menu items - calories and sodium.

 

[sephorachick]

This past trip I noticed my filet was super salty this time around but it was only 1 bite worth so I don't give it much thought. LOVE the beer cheese soup

 

[RMulieri]

I don't find Le cellier to be all that either..I have had better steaks at chain restaurants

 

[Cafeen]

I find the filet disappointing as well and do prefer the strip there. While I've been lucky and haven't had an actual bad meal there, I also do agree that it gets way overhyped, there are many better meals to be found around the resort. Doesn't mean I think LC is bad, just it isn't all it's cracked up to be by far.

 

[Mousemommy1]

That's a bummer! We love Le Cellier, although we have never done the filet. Our favorite cut is the ribeye and LC knocks that out of the park!!
I'm drooling thinking about it...

Sorry you had a bad experience. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[MyOtherSS]

I've been twice in the same year, the first time the filet was the best steak I've ever had but the second time around it was good but not spectacular. I too felt it was over cooked the second time around but I blame it on ordering it medium well instead of medium like I normally do. Maybe they have an inconsistent line of chefs?

 

[VAN]

I think the main problem has to do with expectations.

LC has been hyped to the heavens so a newbie to the restaurant expects great things ... very hard to live up to. They have also made it a 2 dining credit restaurant (I think), so you REALLY have high expectations.

While I have enjoyed LC in the past, there is no way I would use two precious dining credits for the meal.

Again, I really hate it when a restaurant, movie, book, etc is super-hyped ... a good portion of the time you are disappointed just because you've been led to believe that it was "out of this world".

 

[Hoopfamily]

We ate there years ago, and we thoroughly unimpressed. I've had better steaks at local steakhouses as well as national chains. For us the cost versus what we got does not line up.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I agree with this 100%. LC is VERY VERY overhyped. I did not care for my steak. AT ALL. Not impressed. I was very disappointed and couldnt understand why everyone kept raving about it. Same goes for the famous soup. I didnt think it was that great either! I had a better filet at Teppan Edo the following day, and a better soup at Biergarten a few days after. Way better! Now that theyre going to 2TS credits all day, even for lunch, i dont think i'll be giving LC another chance. Pity.

I find the filet disappointing as well and do prefer the strip there. While I've been lucky and haven't had an actual bad meal there, I also do agree that it gets way overhyped, there are many better meals to be found around the resort. Doesn't mean I think LC is bad, just it isn't all it's cracked up to be by far.

 

[Hopefully]

I think the main problem has to do with expectations.

LC has been hyped to the heavens so a newbie to the restaurant expects great things ... very hard to live up to. They have also made it a 2 dining credit restaurant (I think), so you REALLY have high expectations.

While I have enjoyed LC in the past, there is no way I would use two precious dining credits for the meal.

Again, I really hate it when a restaurant, movie, book, etc is super-hyped ... a good portion of the time you are disappointed just because you've been led to believe that it was "out of this world".

I totally agree with this statement. I think the problem was your expectation based on the super hype here on the DIS. You expected out of this world great and it isn't
We ate at Le Cellier 3 weeks ago. I had reasonable expectations - maybe even low expectations. I was pleasantly surprised. THe mushroom filet does not appeal to me at all, even though others love it. I had the strip and it was delicious. I shared the cauliflower side with my DDiL and we loved it. The setting was nice, the service was great and we had a wonderful anniversary dinner.
Sorry you were disappointed.

 

[JimmyV]

I think the main problem has to do with expectations.

LC has been hyped to the heavens so a newbie to the restaurant expects great things ... very hard to live up to. They have also made it a 2 dining credit restaurant (I think), so you REALLY have high expectations.

This.

It is hard to get an ADR.
It was "upgraded" to a 2 Credit establishment.
It is on the Dining Plan, so it gets far more attention than Shula's or Bull and Bear.

Put this all together and you have the makings of high expectations that are very difficult to meet. Couple that with the fact that the food is more "Texas Roadhouse" or "Outback Steakhouse" and the balloon is going to pop for anyone who considers the aforementioned establishments to be "pretty good", but not "great". (But if you consider Texas Roadhouse and Outback to be "great", then LC will probably meet your high expectations). However, if a "great" steak for you means starting with Prime graded meat, then there is no way that LC will win you over. The meat used there is "Choice", which is well below Prime grade and can be obtained at any supermarket. Bull and Bear uses "Prime" and Shula's raises its own beef and grades itself. It claims that their steaks exceed the grading requirements of Prime, but self-grading is always dubious. That said, their steaks are excellent, and to my eye and palate, they do rise to the level of Prime. If that is your idea of a great steak, LC will always fall short. Which is not to say that you won't get a good meal. And it doesn't mean that you won't enjoy yourself. It's just that when people toss around the word "great" like it is confettii at a parade, people start to get their hopes up.

 

[gwynne]

This.

It is hard to get an ADR.
It was "upgraded" to a 2 Credit establishment.
It is on the Dining Plan, so it gets far more attention than Shula's or Bull and Bear.

Put this all together and you have the makings of high expectations that are very difficult to meet. Couple that with the fact that the food is more "Texas Roadhouse" or "Outback Steakhouse" and the balloon is going to pop for anyone who considers the aforementioned establishments to be "pretty good", but not "great". (But if you consider Texas Roadhouse and Outback to be "great", then LC will probably meet your high expectations). However, if a "great" steak for you means starting with Prime graded meat, then there is no way that LC will win you over. The meat used there is "Choice", which is well below Prime grade and can be obtained at any supermarket. Bull and Bear uses "Prime" and Shula's raises its own beef and grades itself. It claims that their steaks exceed the grading requirements of Prime, but self-grading is always dubious. That said, their steaks are excellent, and to my eye and palate, they do rise to the level of Prime. If that is your idea of a great steak, LC will always fall short. Which is not to say that you won't get a good meal. And it doesn't mean that you won't enjoy yourself. It's just that when people toss around the word "great" like it is confettii at a parade, people start to get their hopes up.

Totally agree. Shula's has amazing steaks, LC's are very good. I have different expectations from these restaurants, and I have enjoyed them both. I like the location and ambience of LC, especially for lunch. I also like other things on LC's menu beyond steak. If we are looking for a over the top steak, then we book at Shula's.
People are bound to be disappointed if they expect a Shula's experience at LC's price.

 

[goofyintoronto]

We just got back yesterday from our first DisneyWorld vacation. I booked Le Cellier at my 180 days because of all of the great reviews. My bestfriend goes every year and she loves Le Cellier. I went our first day in Disney and got the Mushroom Filet. It was horrible. It was over cooked, had no flavor and although I have never had risotto, it tasted like undercooked rice. Is that what its suppose to taste like? I have also read that the filet is super salty. Mine was not salty at all. I would have to say that this was the worst meal of my trip. My sister got the NY strip and it was really good as was the soup. Am I missing something? I am not a food snob but this meal was just not good. I thought Le Cellier may have been having an off day so I got the mushroom filet at the food and wine festival booth and although it was better it was not amazing. Not like the reviews I read. Maybe its just a matter of taste and its not to my liking Who knows.

I think the main problem has to do with expectations.

LC has been hyped to the heavens so a newbie to the restaurant expects great things ... very hard to live up to. They have also made it a 2 dining credit restaurant (I think), so you REALLY have high expectations.

While I have enjoyed LC in the past, there is no way I would use two precious dining credits for the meal.

Again, I really hate it when a restaurant, movie, book, etc is super-hyped ... a good portion of the time you are disappointed just because you've been led to believe that it was "out of this world".

This.

It is hard to get an ADR.
It was "upgraded" to a 2 Credit establishment.
It is on the Dining Plan, so it gets far more attention than Shula's or Bull and Bear.

Put this all together and you have the makings of high expectations that are very difficult to meet.

There's a difference from poor food quality vs overhyped. In this case, it clearly seems as though the food quality was not good. I agree with you about high expectations thou, dont get me wrong. Many ppl experience it.....they hear so much about a restaurant and how amazing it is, s/he gets all excited, only to be let down in the end because their expectations were too high. In the OP's case, i dont think it was just the hype.

I guess ppl just have a hard time believing that LC can in fact prepare not so great steaks?

There were many restaurants for me that were hyped up which I did love in the end....via napoli is a great example. the quality/flavour of the pizza is outstanding. WGPE is another good example.

I was really excited about ohana because again, ppl keep saying its the best thing ever. Well I thought it was down right disappointing. Very poor quality of food. It wasnt about the hype, it was about the crappy quality of food they served. The slimy wings, poor quality of beef and pork, dry noodles and pot stickers. Ditto for LC. My steak was not good at all.

 

[Mousemommy1]

There's a difference from poor food quality vs overhyped. In this case, it clearly seems as though the food quality was not good. I agree with you about high expectations thou, dont get me wrong. Many ppl experience it.....they hear so much about a restaurant and how amazing it is, s/he gets all excited, only to be let down in the end because their expectations were too high. In the OP's case, i dont think it was just the hype.

I guess ppl just have a hard time believing that LC can in fact prepare not so great steaks?

There were many restaurants for me that were hyped up which I did love in the end....via napoli is a great example. the quality/flavour of the pizza is outstanding. WGPE is another good example.
I was really excited about ohana because again, ppl keep saying its the best thing ever, well I thought it was down right disappointing. Very poor quality of food. It wasnt about the hype, it was about the crappy quality of food they served. The slimy wings, poor quality of beef and pork, dry noodles and pot stickers. Ditto for LC. My steak was not good at all.

Agree about the slimy wings at Ohana - yuck!!! And I love wings!
Ohana was just OK for me, DH loved it, but also said we didn't HAVE to go back on our next trip...once was enough.

 

[vatali]

It's unfortunate that the hype has become greater than the food can be for first time visitors. This has happened at Coral Reef too.

I try to make sure I go there every time (although I will say I am not going this time) and the steak is always just barely a step above outbacks level. But the things that go with it, the neat atmosphere, the incredible pretzle sticks and the soup worth shoving over make it a top place to go. The service I have had there, once inside, has always been top notch. Maybe not the prople out front though

Make sure you are judging on what you are gettign as a meal, and not judging on a single part. It also hasn't helped Disney that they turned this into a 2 ticket resturant. People change the value, or expectations based on that price tag.

So no, it's not Ruth Chris. It's not Mortons in terms of steak level. But to me, its a much mroe enjoyable MEAL then eaither of those 2 locations for virtually the same price.

 

[SheenaXena21]

We were so disappointed in Le Cellier this trip. We ate there on Oct. 20th. The waitress was great, we ordered the filet cooked medium, with cream cheese mashed potatoes. Well, it came out well done. I was so hungry, I started to eat it anyway. My sister ate one bite of hers. When the waitress came over, we told her about the steaks. She had them make us another. Well, they came out almost well done. We just said it was fine, because it was taking forever!!! The waitress was really nice, but we wouldn't see her for long periods of time. We ended up getting dessert to go, because we didn't want to wait anymore.

Le Cellier wasn't the only TS of the week to overcook the steak. Tokyo Dining and Coral Reef also overcooked them.

We've never had a problem with overcooked steaks. In fact, any other trip, they usually came out rare.

Kona Cafe` was the best TS of the week. I think next trip we're going to just get the QS, unless the regular dining is free. It's pretty bad, when most of the QS meals were better than the TS meals.

 

[jalpert]

When you told them it was overcooked, how did they help you?

We got a filet that was overcooked and horrible. They got it right the second time and it was much much better.

I'm assuming you didn't let them know they made a mistake, it's not in your post. If they made a mistake and you didn't let them know, I'm not quite sure why you're posting this now. You even said your friends was very good, getting unacceptable food is never fun but they would have fixed it.

We just got back yesterday from our first DisneyWorld vacation. I booked Le Cellier at my 180 days because of all of the great reviews. My bestfriend goes every year and she loves Le Cellier. I went our first day in Disney and got the Mushroom Filet. It was horrible. It was over cooked, had no flavor and although I have never had risotto, it tasted like undercooked rice. Is that what its suppose to taste like? I have also read that the filet is super salty. Mine was not salty at all. I would have to say that this was the worst meal of my trip. My sister got the NY strip and it was really good as was the soup. Am I missing something? I am not a food snob but this meal was just not good. I thought Le Cellier may have been having an off day so I got the mushroom filet at the food and wine festival booth and although it was better it was not amazing. Not like the reviews I read. Maybe its just a matter of taste and its not to my liking Who knows.