Bistro De Paris

[Laurafoster]

Ok Honest Opinions - i want to take my parents out for a special meal at somewhere we havent been before. Ive looked at some menus and think i am going to go for the Bistro.

What do people think about this? also is it hard to get the ADR's for this place>?

 

[mtemm]

dh and I went several years ago and it was one of my favorite all time meals at wdw (number one being california grill...we had a window seat and the mk fireworks were going off during dinner). Bistro had wonderful food and an adult atmosphere...perfect since this was pre-kids for us. very romantic, and since world showcase is one of our favorite places in the World, it set off a great night for us. I wish we could go this trip, but we are bringing the kids for their first trip and I will not bring them to bistro. sigh. maybe next trip, hopefully they will be old enough for one of the kids clubs and dh and I can sneak over.

Not sure how hard it is to get ADRs. I know it was one of the first ones we made. we went in october (this was probably in 1997). I would say make them as soon as you settle on a date.

hope you enjoy!

 

[lovmy2girls]

Bistro can only be made 30 days out.

 

[hamlet35_2000]

Ok Honest Opinions - i want to take my parents out for a special meal at somewhere we havent been before. Ive looked at some menus and think i am going to go for the Bistro.

What do people think about this? also is it hard to get the ADR's for this place>?

This was a great meal. We just got back, and it was truly one of the best meals we had at WDW, the other one being the California Grill (just like the the previous Poster...great minds think alike I guess). The presentation for the food is the best on Disney Property, and the food itself is exquisite. I had a beef tenderlion that was melt in your mouth perfect, and my partner had lobster that was fantastic (according to him, I don't eat lobster). The service was impeccable, and wasn't rushed like it is in some WDW restuarants, and the atomsphere and views of the World Showcase are great. This would be an excellent choice for a special meal.

PS Previous poster is correct that ADR's can only be made 30 days out, but when we went two weeks ago there was plenty of room in the dining room.

 

[gismo1554]

I am a fussy eater and I actually enjoyed it. I only booked the table the day before and it didn't seem too busy. It was fantastic food and really nice service (I went on my own and the server made me feel really welcome and set down and chatted with me)

Thanks
Sarah

 

[PrincessAurora]

I am really sorry to report this but it was mediocre at best. 98% of the dishes were bland. It was really overpriced for what you receive in my opinion. I had been looking forward to this and was really disapointed.

Here is my review with pictures:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1028850&page=2&highlight=bistro
Starts on post #17

 

[RedsoxMickey]

Ok Full disclosure first.

About 21 years ago I actually worked at Chefs and Bistro.

I had to work at Chefs for a long time before I was even allowed in the kitchen at Bistro. Only the best get to go up stairs.

That was a long time ago and things change.

I think Bistro is one of the most romantic places. V&A is number one but is a bit out of the way and we feel compelled to dress up. Yes, better food can be had out of the parks at several locations.

You just feel transformed from all the hustle by going up a few stairs.

I would actually not recommend the Chefs tasting. Go off of the regular menu or ask to talk to the chef and tell him to be creative (I used to love that - and trust me people got an unbealivable meal)

We will be leaving the kids at a kids club and enjoying a meal at Bistro in couple of weeks.

 

[PrincessAurora]

Then I wish I had you as my Chef RedsoxMickey because I couldn't believe the banality of the food. Why would the Tasting Menu not be recommended? I thought that was the Chefs show off opportunity and not the other way around. Can you give me some insight?

Thanks!

 

[RedsoxMickey]

Then I wish I had you as my Chef RedsoxMickey because I couldn't believe the banality of the food. Why would the Tasting Menu not be recommended? I thought that was the Chefs show off opportunity and not the other way around. Can you give me some insight?

Thanks!

Applogizing up front for the spelling

The Tasting menu is usually set up by manager and executive chef (not the guy doing the cooking) and costed out accordingly. As far as I remember not alot of variation in the menu from day to day. Most of the food is portioned and preped off property at a commisary.
The chefs (folks actually cooking the food and gettting all sweaty, so you hardly ever see the real folks cooking the food) have no creative license over the standard that is being set for you. They also take into account the length of time it takes to turn tables (easier to turn tables with standard menu) when planning menus. The more times a table turns the more money they make.
Although I loved it and have many fond memories at times it got very tedious. You need to get a lot of people served on a given night.
Every now and again I would have somebody ask for the chef to either come out or be asked to be creative. OH JOY - A break from the norm.
This is why it is fun cooking for and you will often see great reviews of places from Vegatarians. They are giving people with tedious jobs a break from the Norm.
Think about it how many times do you think the folks in the Kitchen have to plate up the "tasting menu".
I have worked at other places with regular crowds and they do have real "tasting menus" or specials.

 

[PrincessAurora]

Thanks Mickey! This gives me a new perspective. I live in Oakland, just 15 minutes away from San Francisco where I have access to some great food. Chefs menus were always changed weekly or daily based on ingredients and what the Chef wanted to do that day. I had no idea (though I should have) that a "Chefs Tasting Menu" in Epcot would be different and not as good.

This now inspires me to give this place another try as the atmosphere was great, it was just the food that bummed me out.

 

[Sarnia]

Applogizing up front for the spelling

The Tasting menu is usually set up by manager and executive chef (not the guy doing the cooking) and costed out accordingly. As far as I remember not alot of variation in the menu from day to day. Most of the food is portioned and preped off property at a commisary.
The chefs (folks actually cooking the food and gettting all sweaty, so you hardly ever see the real folks cooking the food) have no creative license over the standard that is being set for you. They also take into account the length of time it takes to turn tables (easier to turn tables with standard menu) when planning menus. The more times a table turns the more money they make.
Although I loved it and have many fond memories at times it got very tedious. You need to get a lot of people served on a given night.
Every now and again I would have somebody ask for the chef to either come out or be asked to be creative. OH JOY - A break from the norm.
This is why it is fun cooking for and you will often see great reviews of places from Vegatarians. They are giving people with tedious jobs a break from the Norm.
Think about it how many times do you think the folks in the Kitchen have to plate up the "tasting menu".
I have worked at other places with regular crowds and they do have real "tasting menus" or specials.

Thanks for this insight, very interesting to know. I've got to be honest and say that i've never asked for a Chef to be creative as I thought I would be being a pain, and would probably annoy them. Great to hear from a Chef's perspective how they would react

We have been to Bistro several times over the years and it has always been the best meal of the trip.

 

[RedsoxMickey]

Thanks for this insight, very interesting to know. I've got to be honest and say that i've never asked for a Chef to be creative as I thought I would be being a pain, and would probably annoy them. Great to hear from a Chef's perspective how they would react

We have been to Bistro several times over the years and it has always been the best meal of the trip.

Please note it has been a long time since I worked at Bistro and I am not sure how much freedom is given today.
I will plan to post a review when I get back from my Bistro dinner in two weeks on August 23rd.

 

[BobLefty61]

I was their in May with my family (four total people). We had a very early reservation, and were one of the first few tables seated.

I have no complaints about the food. Prices were high, but I expected that. Ambience was sensational...we felt like we were back in Paris (where we had our honeymoon 13 years ago).

But...

The service, while fine at first, turned out to be terrible. It took FOREVER for us to get our main courses. They apologized a few times, but after awhile the apologies started to wear thin.

Slow service is sometimes a "hit and miss" type of thing, so I'm guessing (hoping) that you won't have the same problem. Make a reservation and enjoy it. It IS a special place to have a meal....

 

[Tiffer]

What is the price per person?