Bistro De Paris with a kid

[roxannex]

I made my ADRs today for our May trip and ended up making a reservation for Bistro De Paris (6PM). My husband says we ate there a long time ago just the two of us and we liked it, although apparently I'm already going senile because I can't remember. I did know that it was the pricier of the two french restaurants at epcot and that somehow we always end up at Chefs De France and I never think the food is very good.

Anyway....it will be us with our 3 year old son, who is generally pretty well behaved. But I read on a thread that kids are discouraged. I think a lot of the food at Disney is not so good (seems to have gotten worse over the years or I've gotten pickier) so I like the idea of food that is probably going to be very yummy. But are we going to be miserable attempting this or is it cool...it's Disney....there are kids everywhere?

I was going for Le Cellier but it was booked. We have done Teppan Edo to death and eat hibachi a lot at home.

 

[onelilspark]

Bistro is excellent. I have a review up in my dining report if you want to read it (link in my sig.)

BUT when we went, there were only a handful of kids there, and most were older, I'd say the youngest I saw was 7.

Though as you said, it is Disney, and you do have an earlier ADR...if he's well behaved...it's your call. But know that I didn't see many kids there, definitely less than what I see in other signatures.

Would you consider using the Kids Nite Out service?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

They do not have a children's menu at Bistro.

And the meal is 1½-2 hours in an envrionment that lends itself to quietness. Can your child stay (reasonably) quiet and inactive (no running around) for that length of time?

 

[commdoc]

Our 3 year old was very well received - he did say "bonjour" when we arrived and to everyone who came to the table though. They seemed to get a kick out of it and went out of their way to make him comfortable.

 

[roxannex]

ehhhhhh....this is not sounding so appealing.

Yes. He probably could be good for that amount of time, given silent Mickey Mouse cartoons on the iphone and numerous goodies pulled out of my bag, but do I want to deal with that while trying to eat my expensive dinner???? I don't know about 2 hours, though. We eat fast. (We have a 3 year old. LOL.)

Hmmmm...I may need to call back and switch reservations.

Actually, we're staying off site so we have all kinds of dining choices. I was just trying to make ressies because I'd rather have them now and cancel later if we want to.

Thanks for the input.

 

[onelilspark]

Any of the other signatures would be a great choice, but Bistro is a step above (which makes it a great romantic restaurant!) I'd wait until your son is a little older before taking him there.

I've always loved Jiko. For a nice meal, I'd go there with your son in tow! Citricos was also delicious. I saw many kids in there (some more well behaved than others!) I think Bistro is just an odd egg in the Disney restaurants.

 

[shellybaxter]

Any of the other signatures would be a great choice, but Bistro is a step above (which makes it a great romantic restaurant!) I'd wait until your son is a little older before taking him there.

I've always loved Jiko. For a nice meal, I'd go there with your son in tow! Citricos was also delicious. I saw many kids in there (some more well behaved than others!) I think Bistro is just an odd egg in the Disney restaurants.

Actually, I'm going to disagree. If you don't think your three year old can be reasonably quiet and sit without moving around for 2 hours then none of the signitures are a great idea. Signature restaurants are for fine dining. Parents who allow children to misbehave simply because "its Disney" are being rude. People are paying a lot of money to have a nice dinner and expecting a bit of a nice atmosphere is not out of line.

 

[Pakey]

We try to eat our final meal of every vacation at Bistro (all adults) and I've only once seen a child there. She was about 8 years old and did not look like she was enjoying such a formal atmosphere.

And I agree with shellybaxter. The signatures, (except for Brown Derby) are not located within an amusement park but at Disney owned hotels that are frequented by non-Disney goers. A certain level of appropriate conduct should be expected from all diners.

 

[roxannex]

Actually, I'm going to disagree. If you don't think your three year old can be reasonably quiet and sit without moving around for 2 hours then none of the signitures are a great idea. Signature restaurants are for fine dining. Parents who allow children to misbehave simply because "its Disney" are being rude. People are paying a lot of money to have a nice dinner and expecting a bit of a nice atmosphere is not out of line.

I generally agree with that, but it is a restaurant in the middle of a theme park. I certainly agree that parents who allow their children to misbehave are rude, but I would agree with that statement anywhere in public. Not just in Disney.

I would try Jiko but we are going to be in Epcot that night, which was why I was looking for a good restaurant there...emphasis on good. I could care less if it's fancy or not. I've just found that I've eaten a lot of bad food at Disney over the last couple of years. I like the junk food, but I need some real food too....you start to overdose on chicken nuggets and french fries!

I think we'll play it by ear. We may not even end up going to Epcot that night or maybe we'll just try a walk up somewhere early. Maybe we'll even get lucky and he'll fall asleep!!!!

Thanks!

 

[onelilspark]

Actually, I'm going to disagree. If you don't think your three year old can be reasonably quiet and sit without moving around for 2 hours then none of the signitures are a great idea. Signature restaurants are for fine dining. Parents who allow children to misbehave simply because "its Disney" are being rude. People are paying a lot of money to have a nice dinner and expecting a bit of a nice atmosphere is not out of line.

I think most of the other signatures don't take nearly as long. Also all of the other signatures (to my knowledge, I don't have kids, so it's not something I look for) have kids menus. If Bistro doesn't have a child's menu, it's not one I would take them to. The others are obviously more welcoming simply for that fact.

And when I said that some kids were more well behaved than others, that wasn't condoning that behavior. I was simply stating a fact. It's why I prefer dining later, when there are less children around and why I loved Bistro.

Anyways: point being, there are some restaurants on WDW property I wouldn't hesitate to go to if you're looking for good food. Jiko is one and if a child does get antsy (even the most well behaved children do...) there's the savanna right there to walk them out to. Flying Fish has gotten way over priced for what you get, I don't think it's worth it anymore. It's also gotten entirely too pretentious. I can't stand the place, otherwise it would be a good alternative for the OP for the Epcot night. I really enjoyed Spoodles when we went. I was pleasantly surprised by it because you don't hear much about it and in all my trips we had always skipped over it. It's not signature, but very good. As for the Epcot countries, I found Tutto Italia to be excellent, but I think a lot of that depends on what you order! LeCellier is another one I think is overrated. If you want a good steak and that's why you come here, I'd recommend checking out Yachtsman over at the Yacht Club instead, still very convenient to the back entrance to Epcot. My boyfriend and I for my birthday went to Kona after our Epcot day. Since Epcot and the MK resorts are so close, it was a quick hop and it was also excellent. We also ate at the Tangerine Cafe that day. It's quick service in Morocco, but it was excellent, definitely different than your standard park fare!!!

Hope that helps some.

 

[Kae]

Have you thought about Coral Reef? I would check out the menu. Another great thing to do at Epcot with kids is eat around the WS at the Counter Service places. At that age my kids would try anything if they were outside being pushed in a stroller.

Kae

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

At our last dinner at Bistro there was an infant there, and a table of a fairly large group of adults.

The infant was fine. The large group of adults were noisy and interfered with our ability to hear one another!

It's a theme park restaurant for all that, eh?

If you do decide to go, perhaps having some treats (whatever the child likes, grapes, ect.) to keep the child happy between courses may be a good idea.

It's not so much that you may eat fast, rather that it is a leisurely paced restaurant and that takes time.

If you choose not to go to Bistro, have you considered going to a restaurant on the "circle of resorts" outside the International Gateway? There are many there (YSH is one that serves nice food and children are often seen there)...

Enjoy!

 

[ga9497]

DH and I ate at Bistro de Paris about two years ago without the kids at about 8pm - there were a few kids there and were well behaved. I can tell you that some adults were loud and the restaurant really doesn't lend itself to a formal place

In addition A LOT of people where there in short, tshirts and flip flops that again doesn't make it a formal atmosphere.
It is a theme park restaurant after all but I do find that other signature restaurants tend to be quieter and more romantically themed
California Grill being the exception it is always loud and crowded in there

If your child can sit through a long dinner and is fairly well behaved I say go for it. They don't have a kids menu but the children I saw there all had pasta dishes so there is an option for the children

 

[kimpossible]

Here is another vote for heading through the international gateway. Our family loves Flying Fish. We have brought both our boys (now 8 and 3) several times there. Actually it is our 8 year olds favorite.

Your 3 year old will particulaly enjoy the dessert there (a white choc. puzzle that he can paint with food coloring...and a cupcake). Then he might get a kick out of the festivities on the Boardwalk...jugglers, magicians, etc.

 

[tgj]

Don't mean for this to sound harsh, but....

This is a place for adults looking to get away for a romantic dinner, not for kids. Although kids can go there, I just don't think they should.

There are PLENTY of better choices, not only for your child but for other diners as well....

 

[Pumbaa_]

Isn't Bistro booked just 30 days out? Are you going in May?

Take a look at the menu - is there anything on the menu your child will eat? There is no kids menu as a PP indicated.

Completely understand the want fo good food while on vacation TS can be hard though with little ones who are tired, had a long day, its hot, etc (and heck, on me too! )



Garden grill is another choice, while not up to the standards of Bistro, it does have Pluto!

 

[DannysMom]

I would try Jiko but we are going to be in Epcot that night, which was why I was looking for a good restaurant there...emphasis on good. I could care less if it's fancy or not. I've just found that I've eaten a lot of bad food at Disney over the last couple of years. I like the junk food, but I need some real food too....you start to overdose on chicken nuggets and french fries!

I think we'll play it by ear. We may not even end up going to Epcot that night or maybe we'll just try a walk up somewhere early. Maybe we'll even get lucky and he'll fall asleep!!!!

Thanks!

I agree with other posters, not the best choice for a 3 year old. Bistro was our "date night" restaraunt choice when my son was not quite 4, we left him in the room with a Kids Night Out sitter. He had a good evening and we had an adult evening.

For a "better" Epcot restaraunt that's more kid friendly, how about Tutto Italia? It looks like it's been getting good write ups lately. I like Marrakesh in Morrocco, but not everyone does, it's another menu to check out though, also very kid friendly. One that we're trying this year is Teppan Edo. (My son is almost 6 & very much a carnivore, give him some grilled chicken & steak & he's a happy guy.)