Bistro de Paris - still the same??

[Karabee]

One of my favorite and must go-to restaurants is Bistro de Paris. Unfortunately last time I was at Disney we weren't able to go and lately I've read some so-so great reviews. I'm getting very nervous about one of my favorite places which I will be enjoying in less than 3 weeks! Has anyone been there lately? I realize it's expensive, that's not an issue. I'm more concerned about the food and service. I know there will be some good and bad reviews, but anyone who has been there recently - how was it?

 

[BLTLDZ]

Well, DH & I went there on our honeymoon this past december.....I'm sorry to be negative, BUT we really did not enjoy it..... The place was not really crowded, and I found our server to be somewhat condescending...

DH & I are by no means rude, we are always very polite & friendly to our servers...but there was something about our waitor. Maybe this added to our dissatisfaction At any rate, we still did not enjoy our meal...

I had the sea bass..Not really remembering what DH had.
We had a much better meal at Citricos & Yachtsman Steakhouse.

We too were surprised at how lack-luster our meal was, after reading rave reviews on here for awhile..oh well. Hopefully, you will love it.

 

[LeCras]

Bistro used to be one of mine and DH's favourite restaurants. Tucked away, romantic and atmospheric, with great service, a lovely menu and a wonderful wine list. We spent many evenings sampling the tasting menu with wine pairings at one of the window tables, enjoying the limited view of Illuminations sometime around the cheese or dessert course.

Our experience in December couldn't have been more different.

We got the first indication that things had changed when we checked in downstairs. It was packed full of families with small children. I have nothing against children at all, but Bistro didn't use to appeal to young families. In December the lift seemed to be going all the time, transporting strollers upstairs. Honestly, I had never even noticed that there was a lift before.

We were eventually seated one row away from the windows. The dining room seemed much more brightly lit than before, and it was pretty much full. We ordered drinks and looked over the menu which had changed drastically. There were very few 'interesting' things on it, and no degustation menu. Our waiter arrived with some miniature baguettes which were pretty much rock solid, and we ordered starters, main courses and a bottle of wine.

The food arrived after just a few minutes, so it was clear this wasn't going to be a relaxed affair. My DH had ordered the escargot cassolette and I went for the smoked salmon since the blinis, horseradish and caviar cream sounded nice. It wasn't. There was nothing wrong with the salmon itself, but the dish had very little flavour. DH's cassolette was even worse, basically a large, lukewarm dish of rubbery escargots in a salty sauce. Apart from the salt there was really no flavour at all. He mentioned this to the server who apologised and shrugged.

The main course was unfortunately no better. DH opted for the rack of lamb, which was so fatty it was almost inedible. I went for the venison which was tough and overcooked.

Our server disappeared after our main courses had been delivered - thankfully he had left our bottle of wine on a ledge which I could reach. We had to ask someone to find him when we were ready to pay.

To say that this was a disappointing meal is an understatement. I'm afraid it's an emphatic thumbs down for me. We won't be going back, and it really breaks my heart since this place was very special to us.

Charlotte

 

[DisneyOHFan]

We were just there last weekend and we did not enjoy it. We had only eaten there once before (2 years ago and loved it then).

 

[Chelle's Belles]

Unfortunately I have to ditto what others have said. My husband and I visited in 2009 and thought we had discovered a wonderful, secret hideaway. It was perfect in every way and we were enchanted.

We eagerly went back on our next WDW visit and it was awful. The food was just OK, the servcie was average, and we were harassed throughout our entire meal by rude diners at the next table who talked about us audibly the entire time -- not because we were doing anything wrong, but b/c it was a "date night" for us, so we were dressed nicely and they apparently didn't approve.

We're skipping it this trip.

 

[Grumpy92]

This is good to hear. I have adrs for Bistro for a future visit. I am so glad all of you have posted the recent visit reviews. They have changed the menu recently and this was always a really good, quiet restaurant. Sounds like there have been some not so good changes.
Will have to rethink my ADR.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Bistro de Paris unfortunately has fallen victim to the penny pinching mentality of the Disney Executives. The restaurant shares a kitchen with Les Chefs, so gone are the wonderful creative special platters, gone is the quality. I miss it but can't justify spending a small fortune for mediocrity.

If you want a lovely meal, creatively arranged, using quality ingredients, I suggest trying Todd English's Blue Zoo at the Dolphin!

 

[BLTLDZ]

If you want a lovely meal, creatively arranged, using quality ingredients, I suggest trying Todd English's Blue Zoo at the Dolphin!

I second this!!
Blue Zoo is GREAT!

 

[Karabee]

Thank you all so much for your honest and recent reviews - even if it does make me sad
I think our second choice is Citricos which I had a lovely experience at last year. Hopefully that will be more worth the money based on what everyone is saying (although BlueZoo is on restaurant.com....).
Due to this change so late in the game, I will have to swap around a few ADRs, which leaves my Boma reservations in jeporady. Is a walk up for Boma easy if we are there early in the night?
Thanks again!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Thank you all so much for your honest and recent reviews - even if it does make me sad
I think our second choice is Citricos which I had a lovely experience at last year. Hopefully that will be more worth the money based on what everyone is saying (although BlueZoo is on restaurant.com....).
Due to this change so late in the game, I will have to swap around a few ADRs, which leaves my Boma reservations in jeporady. Is a walk up for Boma easy if we are there early in the night?
Thanks again!

This whole therad makes me I have an ADR there for 10/1. May cancel based on this.


I did hear a review not that long ago on the DIS podcast that was glowing... wonder when they went. Just checked reveiw was recorded June 29, 2011. Wonder if they changed again. I did hear that at one point they were letting kids order from the chefs Menu to encourage them, but then I heard that changed.

I think I will keep the ADR and if I get there and it's "overrun" with kids I will leave. Nothing against kids but if that's the 'atmosphere' then it's more likely we are aiming for "crank em in and out" since kids don't generally like fine dining

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) We patronize only five TS eateries in all of WDW.
2) Bistro was one of them.
3) WAS.
4) One of my favorites has severely gone downhill.
5) BADLY.
. . . too many kids, as they can order from Chefs kid's menu
. . . unique dishes are going away
. . . old favorites are being dumbed-down for budget reasons
. . . waiters seem less attentive
6) For the price, we are now skipping Bistro.
7) JUST NOT WORTH IT ANY LONGER.

NOTE: For as bad as Bistro is getting, Artist Point is improving.
Over the past 12-months it has made MAJOR gains in food
quality. It now replaces Bistro on our list.

 

[ElizabethB]

I second everything LeCras said. Dh and I had dinner there at 9 pm last November. The place was jam-packed with noisy kids. One woman was at a table for 6 -- with 5 children, including toddlers. The place was noisier and more chaotic than Chef Mickey's.

We were seated one row away from the windows. We ordered our favorite J Colombo Rhone. With our expensive wine order, the maitre d' came by and offered to re-seat us at a nicer table, which we should originally have been given. By then, however, we were settled in, so didn't bother.

We hoped things would improve on the noise and confusion front after the fireworks ended. They did not. The place remained noisy and chaotic until after 10, at which point the waiters obviously wanted to go home and started rushing us.

Our appetizers were okay, but the kitchen obviously was stressed. Dh's scallops were fishy and too old to serve. My filet came smothered in gravy which seemed an attempt to hide its poor quality. They had run out of the potatoes that accompany it and gave me rice instead.

With the wine, our dinner came to about $350. We decided that on our next trip, we would do a second night at V&A, rather than spend another evening at Bistro.

Interesting to hear about Artist Point, Rusty. We crossed that one off our list a couple of years ago. Based on your post, we may give it another try.

 

[BLTLDZ]

This whole therad makes me I have an ADR there for 10/1. May cancel based on this.


I did hear a review not that long ago on the DIS podcast that was glowing... wonder when they went. Just checked reveiw was recorded June 29, 2011. Wonder if they changed again. I did hear that at one point they were letting kids order from the chefs Menu to encourage them, but then I heard that changed.

QUOTE]

My best advice from me to you, would be to try it! It may surprise you. You won't know unless you try...

NOTE: For as bad as Bistro is getting, Artist Point is improving.
Over the past 12-months it has made MAJOR gains in food
quality. It now replaces Bistro on our list.

Totally agree with your assessment on AP. We loved it so much when we stay at VWL this past december, that we ended up going twice

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Went to Bistro for the first time in August. The food was pretty good, with the dessert being very good. That said, the food wasn't better than any of the resort signatures, IMO. The atmosphere was very loud and busy - lots of families and casually dressed people were in the restaurant. I was expecting this to be the second fanciest restaurant in WDW (after V&A). Instead, I've experienced more romantic atmosphere at quick service locations. My table was basically adjacent to the table next to me - I could hear every word they said (and it was rather awkward when they started discussing me and my food photography). Honestly, people always throw that complaint at Le Cellier, but I've never had issues there. My first meal at Bistro, I felt like I was having dinner with some very rude people next to me. Ironically, service was too relaxed. They wouldn't let me check in early because the restaurant was booked solid (I was shocked - even Le Cellier has let me check in early). Then, once I sat down, it took over 2 hours to get out (and I was by myself). I almost missed Illuminations as a result (I got out of the restaurant at 8:56 PM, so I didn't have time for a bathroom break). Overall, I liked the food, but nothing "wowed" me (except maybe the dessert) in the way that Artist Point, Citricos, Yachtsman, Jiko, Bluezoo, Flying Fish, and California Grill have done.

 

[ScoJo15]

I disagree with all of the negative reviews.

We ate there for the first time last October (I know...things may have changed in a year) and were blown away by the food, service and atmosphere! It's our first stop for us when we head back to the World this year (Sept 29th)

I find it odd that they would 'dumb down' a menu, seeing how it is NOT on any of the dining plans. Like any high class restaurant, the menu should be smaller in size and should change fairly frequently. When comparing menus online from last month as opposed to last year, I don't really find that much different. Most of the main foods are the same and they've modified the selections that go with them.

I tend to think the Pocast review mentioned earlier in this thread, which was raving about Bistro, is spot on. In no way am I changing my ADR's!!

 

[ScoJo15]

Furthermore, I just checked a menu from September of '10 and a current menu...doesn't look like anything has drastically changed! For Example:

Sept '10 - I ordered the Maine Lobster Riotto with veggies and Armoricaine sauce which was out of this world. Currently, they offer the Maine Lobster as a cassolette with vegetables, goat cheese ravioli and Armoricain sauce.

Sept '10 - My date ordered the Seared Sea Scallops that came with spinach, fennel and a saffron jus. They now offer the same seared sea scallops along with a parsley risotto.

Both menus offer the duck breast, beef tenderloin, lamb...and they now have a snapper instead of a sea bass (you have to change things up every once in a while!)

So...I guess ultimately I'll find out in a couple weeks but I just don't see much that has changed based on the menus.

I will be happy to report back!!

 

[BrightNotes]

Love this place!

 

[Uncleromulus]

I can't speak of any menu changes (as we don't do Bistro very often) but I can say that our visit late last year was to a far more noisy restaurant than our previous visit.
Kids everywhere, due no doubt to the ability to get food from the Chef's kids menu.

So at the very least it's no longer a quiet adult spot for dinner.

PS: If the kid business has changed back to the old ways (no kids menu of any sort) it would be a big plus!!

 

[garneska]

I just came back. This was the first time I have ever eaten at this restaurant. I consider myself a foodie (my ressies this trip were for Jiko, Bull and the Bear, Bistro, and V & A). I thought it was good. I had the goat cheese pastry and the scallops. My DH had the cold tomato soup and the red snapper. The highlight was the tomato soup. My scallops were also very good. They were not over cooked and seared nicely. The service was good (nothing spectacular but not bad either). We did have the crepes for dessert. I thought it was ok. I would have passed on dessert and eaten at Norway instead. The restaurant was not crowded, which may have helped. We got there at 5:30 so we were not rushed. While I liked it and tend to think it may be the best place to eat in Epcot, it was not my favorite from the list above. Of course I ate a Chefs de France once, did not enjoy it, and have not been back. It is a shame as it may have just been that off night or it could have just been me. If you want to go, then go. Any review someone gives will not be your experience.

 

[M5ward]

We ate at Bistro de Paris in January; this was our second visit to this restaurant. We usually make our ADRs for between 5:30 and 7:00, so we are eating at what I consider to be normal dinner time. That said, there were very few children in the restaurant when we were seated so it was pretty quiet. Our server was attentive and informative but not hovering. We never felt rushed, he made sure that we had everything we needed or wanted. Our food was excellent from start to finish.
During our meal, a family with young children was seated near us; I don't think the parents had researched food selections or what places accepted the DDP. After ordering drinks and sodas, they had a conversation with their server which seemed confrontational; they then left.
I do think there could be a little more space between the tables. I also think this is not a place for children unless they are exceptionally well behaved and can sit through a lengthy meal.