Bad experiences with Le Cellier and Crystal Palace

[NYDisGuy]

I never posted this last August when I went, but when I was on the Free DDP we chose to go to Le Cellier and Crystal Palace. First, the great thing with Le Cellier was my DGF and I both had the cheese soup which was delicious and the pretzel breadsticks. However, we must have went there when it was the last day for the summer interns because our service was horrible. We saw our waitress twice the whole dinner. The manager actually brought out our entrees to us. We never got a drink refill and we both ordered filet mignon's well done, and when they came out they were bleeding. We sent it back and they brought the same ones out and they were cold and still bleeding. Am I missing something with this place? Everyone raves but this experience really killed it for me, not to mention someone said its a romantic environment, yet you are sitting 2 feet away from the next table and everything echoes, especially crying children

As far as Crystal Palace, the food was great but not one character came over to our table. We were third on line at 8 a.m. but for some reason the characters had to take a break after they visited two tables. When they came back (30 minutes later) they went to the other side of the room. Our whole side was basically ignored, it gave me a negative impression.

I probably wont go back to crystal palace, but I wanted to know if Le Cellier is any different, maybe I just hit it on a bad day?

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I think you hit both on a bad day.

At Le Cellier my steaks have always been cooked correctly, though it has always been loud and crowded there.

I've also always loved the characters at CP. I've always seen everyone that's been there, and I've never noticed there breaks lasting more then five minutes.

 

[kirbydog48]

We went to Le Cellier last Wednesday and it was our best dining experience for our entire stay (maybe because ds7 went to the Neverland Club, so it was just me and DH!). Our waiter was Pattrick and he was fantastic, very attentive. He brought us extra pretzel bread for my soup, made sure our entrees were to our liking, made recommendations, brought out three kinds of wine for me to taste (each taste was about 1/2 glass, so I was a bit looped when we left!). The only thing that wasn't great was my dessert. I'm a creme brulee fan, and it was reallly burned on top, but I was so stuffed by then I didn't care. Give it another chance, I thought it was excellent.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

We went to Le Cellier last Wednesday and it was our best dining experience for our entire stay (maybe because ds7 went to the Neverland Club, so it was just me and DH!). Our waiter was Pattrick and he was fantastic, very attentive. He brought us extra pretzel bread for my soup, made sure our entrees were to our liking, made recommendations, brought out three kinds of wine for me to taste (each taste was about 1/2 glass, so I was a bit looped when we left!). The only thing that wasn't great was my dessert. I'm a creme brulee fan, and it was reallly burned on top, but I was so stuffed by then I didn't care. Give it another chance, I thought it was excellent.

I think I had Pattrick when I ate there in December. Very friendly guy.

 

[Lostgirlz]

I will have to look at our reciept, but I think we might have had Patrick also. We were there for our first trip to wdw, and honeymoon he went ABOVE and BYOUND. I mean by leaps and bounds. Told us to relax try both wines then tell him what we liked insisted we sit for a moment with both of them before choosing. I have NEVER had such awsome service as we did with him the entire meal was GREAT, so great my husband got sick to his stomach the next day, but I suppose that's what happens when you eat a whole shrimp cocktail, plus pretzel bread with MY chedder cheese soup (we shared it) along with his 14oz steak. I could not believe how HUGE that was and he ate it all. The waiter told us the only other person he has ever seen eat all my husband ate was a 12 y/o boy and his parents later came back and said he puked lol. My DH is NOT in any way shape or form a big guy, so he stuffed himself, but he told the waiter it was the best steak he has ever had in his life, and that even though he knew he needed to stop he just couldnt lol. I say you hit both on a off day cause we had a great breakfast at Crystal Palace, and awsome dinner at Le Cellier.

 

[The Sweetness]

Here's a hint that I have learned, as a person who loves steak, but cannot deal with the blood. I order a steak other than the filet, when I can. The filet seems to be the thickest cut, and therefore, the hardest to get cooked the way I like (medium well). When I *do* order a filet~ I make sure to mention that its fine with me if the steak is butterflied, so that it can be cooked to my liking. (really, the restaurant should suggest this, if you don't). I have never had a problem this way. The cook fly's the steak, it gets cooked perfectly (for me) and I enjoy my filet.
IMHO, filets are the most difficult cut to cook medium well

BTW~ noise level is to be expected in ANY WDW restaurant, whether n the park, or the resort. I wouldnt count on quiet under any circumstances (other than ordering room service, and even then, if you happen to be close to the pool, you can still forget about the quiet IMO. And just as a side note, IMO, not having drinks refilled is a sign of bad service, but having your food brought out by someone other than your waitress is not

 

[jpolak]

Hello fellow Long Islander! We just ate at both places last week (see my presidents week reviews) and we had the complete opposite experience. Both places were fantastic. I think you may have hit them both on bad days. I would absolutely give Le Cellier another shot. That place was fantastic.

 

[NYDisGuy]

Here's a hint that I have learned, as a person who loves steak, but cannot deal with the blood. I order a steak other than the filet, when I can. The filet seems to be the thickest cut, and therefore, the hardest to get cooked the way I like (medium well). When I *do* order a filet~ I make sure to mention that its fine with me if the steak is butterflied, so that it can be cooked to my liking. (really, the restaurant should suggest this, if you don't). I have never had a problem this way. The cook fly's the steak, it gets cooked perfectly (for me) and I enjoy my filet.
IMHO, filets are the most difficult cut to cook medium well

BTW~ noise level is to be expected in ANY WDW restaurant, whether n the park, or the resort. I wouldnt count on quiet under any circumstances (other than ordering room service, and even then, if you happen to be close to the pool, you can still forget about the quiet IMO. And just as a side note, IMO, not having drinks refilled is a sign of bad service, but having your food brought out by someone other than your waitress is not

Thanks for the steak tip. I usually do but with all the good reviews I trusted that the steak would come out right. And I can tolerate noise level, but someone said it was a quiet romantic setting, which I learned it wasnt. I was just stating that the waitress dissappeared. And what kills me is the DDP tips her the 20% and she came to our table twice in 1 1/2 hours. Maybe ill ask for patrick next time

 

[NYDisGuy]

Hello fellow Long Islander! We just ate at both places last week (see my presidents week reviews) and we had the complete opposite experience. Both places were fantastic. I think you may have hit them both on bad days. I would absolutely give Le Cellier another shot. That place was fantastic.

Hey Suffolk County here! Yea i figured we might of hit Le Cellier at a bad day, most of the waiters said they had to go back to Canada the next day so im sure working was the last thing on their minds. Crystal Palace just left a bad taste in my mouth so we may just do Ohana's.

 

[The Sweetness]

I hope I dont end up resenting the auto 18% tip at any of my TS At least, however, I wont be disapointed by the lack of quiet/ romantic settings (somehow, I just wouldnt expect that, unless I was staying w just DH, w/out my own kiddos in a delux. and we were ordering breakfast or dinner in

 

[canwegosoon]

Is there any way you were seated on the right at the CP...The times that I have been there, we have always been seated on the left as you come in, and the characters always seem to be there. I have wondered if the RT side is for people who want less character interaction(because I think I have been asked). I'm not saying that it is your fault, just sorry to hear that Crystal Palace was a dissappointment to you. Also I have had very mediocre experiences at Le Cellier and have wondered What are people raving about . I have had better steaks at MM, Tonys and COncourse steakhouse...so who knows...luck of the draw

 

[jpolak]

Hey Suffolk County here! Yea i figured we might of hit Le Cellier at a bad day, most of the waiters said they had to go back to Canada the next day so im sure working was the last thing on their minds. Crystal Palace just left a bad taste in my mouth so we may just do Ohana's.

Where in suffolk? We are in Port Jeff. If I had to choose between Crystal Palace and 'Ohana, 'Ohana wins easily.

 

[MeandMyBoys]

Hi!! I'm in Port Jeff too! I was going to comment on this thread because I've eaten in both places, but when I saw that some of you were neighbors, I just had to!!

Le Cellier was the best meal we had on our trip last August. We're going back in September and it's definitely on my list of places to make an ADR for.

The Crystal Palace can be tough. The food is your basic buffet style food and can be good or bad, and I do think that the character interaction seems to be the most limited. When we ate there in August, the handlers were very quick with the characters. Take a picture, get an autograph and move to the next table!!

On the other hand, when we ate in August of 2005, it was towards the end of the dinner rush and we had great character interaction. Pooh came and stayed by our table for quite a while and entertained the boys by juggling honey. I think it depends on many factors.

 

[SnowWitch]

Le Cellier is a must every trip for our group. Last summer was the first time I was not pleased with my meal. We had 4 steaks, 3 out of 4 were prepared spot on. Mine was not. I had ordered mine med and it came out done, well done. After declining a new steak and assuring our server I would be fine, the manager showed up, inquiring and insisting they make another plate. I declined again, I was pregnant and not feeling so great anyway. They comped my appetizer, dessert, and drink. I was amazed since I expected none of this. So we have ADR's again for this summer. Great service and everyone else's meal was great.

 

[NYDisGuy]

Where in suffolk? We are in Port Jeff. If I had to choose between Crystal Palace and 'Ohana, 'Ohana wins easily.

Wow thats close to me, I live in Moriches.

Le Cellier is a must every trip for our group. Last summer was the first time I was not pleased with my meal. We had 4 steaks, 3 out of 4 were prepared spot on. Mine was not. I had ordered mine med and it came out done, well done. After declining a new steak and assuring our server I would be fine, the manager showed up, inquiring and insisting they make another plate. I declined again, I was pregnant and not feeling so great anyway. They comped my appetizer, dessert, and drink. I was amazed since I expected none of this. So we have ADR's again for this summer. Great service and everyone else's meal was great.

Thanks for the input. After reading most of these I can come to the conclusion that it was probably the waitress and not the restaurant.