Cancel at Le Cellier? Or: where to get a great steak at WDW

[geko29]

So I've always wanted to try Le Cellier, and have never thought of it until we were onsite, at which point of course they've been booked. So this time, about 3 months out, I checked, and the only reasonable time I could find (we prefer to eat around 5-5:30) was a 4:15 on Thursday, so I booked it.

Then I read this thread and started to second guess myself. Based on that, I'm considering cancelling and doing something like San Angel Inn or Restaurant Marrakesh (love Biergarten, but we're going to Oktoberfest 5 weeks after Disney) when we're in Epcot, and trying to find some solid beef elsewhere.

Compounding this is the fact that I'm from Chicago, and hence am a bit jaded when it comes to steaks. For reference, my favorite prior cuts have been:

1. Machinma (top rung of Waygu/Kobe) Tomahawk at Chicago Chop House (insanely expensive, but life-altering)
2. Bone-in Ribeye at Del Frisco's Double Eagle in Vegas
3. Delmonico at Pete Miller's in Schaumburg (Chicago suburb, this location unfortunately gone now)
4. Bone-in NY Strip at Gallagher's in Vegas
5. Espresso-rubbed Tomahawk at Rosebud in Chicago

I've got no compunction about dropping $300+ on dinner for four, and appreciate that the kid's menu at LC includes a steak--rather than just the standard chicken fingers and pasta--so I don't have to order a $40-50 entree for my 5yo. But I would be sorely disappointed if I could make a better steak at home. So what do I do?

 

[Zooey1972]

In my opinion there is no good steak at Disney. I am a huge fan of steak and the last time I went there I had steak at pretty much every meal and none of it was as good as Outback, and I ate at a couple of sig. resteraunts. (Narcosses and Brown Derby, steak at both).

They have some great food/resteraunts there, but they really drop the ball on steak.

And being from Chicago myself, don't even get me started on how bad their pizza is. They make the 80 cent pizzas from Walmart look Gourmet.

Off topic, but man I miss Chicago. I would mug an old lady for a Portillos beef right about now.

Edited to add I ate at le celier. Steak was nothing great. However the duck was really good, you should try that.

 

[gwynne]

I think Shula's provides by far the best steak at Disney.

 

[amberpi]

You will get better steak in Chicago or NYC. Obviously, V&A is not Peter Luger's. I love V&A but they are more modern french.

That said, you can find a good steak at WDW I think. Le Cellier just wouldn't be in the running - Shula's would be my first choice for a great steak and the atmosphere is much less crowded. The beef I've had at Bistro de Paris was outstanding, but honestly, we go there a lot and I usually can't pass up the duck I think the Yachtsman produces good steaks but its SO noisy and crowded, no thanks. I've heard good things about California Grill's steak and seen people eat and love it, but I've personally not had it, so I just want to throw that out.

 

[DVCMikey]

I would stick with your reservation. During the earlier dinner times as you have booked service and food seems to be alot better. Its not as busy it seems.

We used to go here every time we visited WDW but since its been so crowded and we wanted to try other places we skipped it. In recent years the service has fallen off but if you never tried it I would go for it.

The steak is great, the cheddar cheese soup is good enough to go just for that.

I would stick with your plan and go instead of worrying about finding another place.

 

[GeorgeG]

My vote goes to Shula's.

You can get a good steak at a number of Disney-run restaurants, but the consistency isn't there like it used to be. Last December we had the worst steaks ever at Hollywood Brown Derby, absolutely inedible! Yachtsman Steakhouse has been disappointing in recent years. The other so-called "signature" restaurants were all much better prior to being so designated. We now prefer to eat at restaurants not run by Disney. I've actually had a really good steak at Fulton's.

 

[MickeyluvsMinnie]

You have obviously eaten at some great Steak Houses. In my opinion, a top Steak House should serve "USDA Prime" and also should (dry or wet) age there own beef. The only 2 that I know of (there may be more) are Shula's and Yachtsman Steakhouse. I have been to both and they are both very good.

 

[geko29]

You have obviously eaten at some great Steak Houses. In my opinion, a top Steak House should serve "USDA Prime" and also should (dry or wet) age there own beef. The only 2 that I know of (there may be more) are Shula's and Yachtsman Steakhouse. I have been to both and they are both very good.

Yes, I'm a definite fan of dry aging in particular, which Yachtsman's apparently does themselves. However, the particular cuts at Schula's (which are wet aged) are more attractive. Decisions, decisions...

 

[pilferk]

So I've always wanted to try Le Cellier, and have never thought of it until we were onsite, at which point of course they've been booked. So this time, about 3 months out, I checked, and the only reasonable time I could find (we prefer to eat around 5-5:30) was a 4:15 on Thursday, so I booked it.

Then I read this thread and started to second guess myself. Based on that, I'm considering cancelling and doing something like San Angel Inn or Restaurant Marrakesh (love Biergarten, but we're going to Oktoberfest 5 weeks after Disney) when we're in Epcot, and trying to find some solid beef elsewhere.

Compounding this is the fact that I'm from Chicago, and hence am a bit jaded when it comes to steaks. For reference, my favorite prior cuts have been:

1. Machinma (top rung of Waygu/Kobe) Tomahawk at Chicago Chop House (insanely expensive, but life-altering)
2. Bone-in Ribeye at Del Frisco's Double Eagle in Vegas
3. Delmonico at Pete Miller's in Schaumburg (Chicago suburb, this location unfortunately gone now)
4. Bone-in NY Strip at Gallagher's in Vegas
5. Espresso-rubbed Tomahawk at Rosebud in Chicago

I've got no compunction about dropping $300+ on dinner for four, and appreciate that the kid's menu at LC includes a steak--rather than just the standard chicken fingers and pasta--so I don't have to order a $40-50 entree for my 5yo. But I would be sorely disappointed if I could make a better steak at home. So what do I do?

Best steak, on property, IMHO is at Yachtsman Steakhouse (the Yacht Club resort). It's better, IMHO, than Le Celliers...though Le Cellier has OTHER things that are better.

Off property (sort of) but in relatively proximity: Shula's Steakhouse.

Choosing between the two? Shula's.

Best in all of Orlando: Ruth's Chris (West Sand Lake Road). It's up near Universal Studios.....
Del Frisco's would be a close second..but they're a haul (out by Winter Park).

 

[DVCMikey]

I think Shula's provides by far the best steak at Disney.

There is a Shula's on property? Is it in the Swan or something?

 

[pilferk]

There is a Shula's on property? Is it in the Swan or something?

The Dolphin.

 

[gwynne]

Best steak, on property, IMHO is at Yachtsman Steakhouse (the Yacht Club resort). It's better, IMHO, than Le Celliers...though Le Cellier has OTHER things that are better.

Off property (sort of) but in relatively proximity: Shula's Steakhouse.

Choosing between the two? Shula's.

Best in all of Orlando: Ruth's Chris (West Sand Lake Road). It's up near Universal Studios.....
Del Frisco's would be a close second..but they're a haul (out by Winter Park).

Just for anyone not familiar, Shula's is in the Dolphin, right next door to the Yacht Club Resort. It's as easy to get to as any Disney owned resort at WDW.
Sometimes "off" property sounds like Kissimmee...or further...

 

[DVCMikey]

Best steak, on property, IMHO is at Yachtsman Steakhouse (the Yacht Club resort). It's better, IMHO, than Le Celliers...though Le Cellier has OTHER things that are better.

Off property (sort of) but in relatively proximity: Shula's Steakhouse.

Choosing between the two? Shula's.

Best in all of Orlando: Ruth's Chris (West Sand Lake Road). It's up near Universal Studios.....
Del Frisco's would be a close second..but they're a haul (out by Winter Park).

I agree. Yachtsman's is probably the best steak. Unfortunately the last and only time we ate there my wife was pregnant and was not feeling too well so she couldn't enjoy it. The service was pretty good. We tried to book a reservation for this next trip but the entire week looks sold out.

Does anyone know how hard it is to get a table if you just show up? we are staying at the boardwalk so its not far from us.

 

[pilferk]

Yes, I'm a definite fan of dry aging in particular, which Yachtsman's apparently does themselves. However, the particular cuts at Schula's (which are wet aged) are more attractive. Decisions, decisions...

I've had (on different trips) The porterhouse (the 24...though I've seen the 48..ye gods, what a monster), the KC sirloin and the NY strip.

They were all pretty amazing. I've had better (at the NYC location of Ruth's Chris, for example), but not much.

 

[pilferk]

Just for anyone not familiar, Shula's is in the Dolphin, right next door to the Yacht Club Resort. It's as easy to get to as any Disney owned resort at WDW.
Sometimes "off" property sounds like Kissimmee...or further...

Correct...I should have explained further (though I added the "sort of").

IMHO, Shula's has the best steak you can get to using some form of disney transportation.

 

[pilferk]

I agree. Yachtsman's is probably the best steak. Unfortunately the last and only time we ate there my wife was pregnant and was not feeling too well so she couldn't enjoy it. The service was pretty good. We tried to book a reservation for this next trip but the entire week looks sold out.

Does anyone know how hard it is to get a table if you just show up? we are staying at the boardwalk so its not far from us.

If you walk up, Sunday - Thursday, at dinner opening..they can usually get you in pretty quickly.

But an hour or so into service and your wait will USUALLY be quite long...depending on season and day of the week. Friday night, 20 min after they open, and there's a decent chance you get told they're booked and will try to fit you in "in a couple hours" (if at alll).

Doesn't hurt to try...and, let's face it, there's SO many options in the general vicinity...it would be easier to find something else if you get turned away.

Maybe make a "backup" (Cat Cora's is pretty good...though not for steak) and then try to get into Yachtsman?

 

[DVCMikey]

If you walk up, Sunday - Thursday, at dinner opening..they can usually get you in pretty quickly.

But an hour or so into service and your wait will USUALLY be quite long...depending on season and day of the week. Friday night, 20 min after they open, and there's a decent chance you get told they're booked and will try to fit you in "in a couple hours" (if at alll).

Doesn't hurt to try...and, let's face it, there's SO many options in the general vicinity...it would be easier to find something else if you get turned away.

Maybe make a "backup" (Cat Cora's is pretty good...though not for steak) and then try to get into Yachtsman?

Thanks. It seems like there are many locals to the Orlando area who eat there as well from how it looked the last time we were there.

 

[geko29]

Thanks for the input, everybody! At the moment, I'm leaning towards cancelling LC and booking at Shula's.

 

[Micca]

I think Shula's provides by far the best steak at Disney.

And even that may not measure up to some of the places the OP mentioned.Those are possibly some of the finest steakhouses in the U.S.
Forget LC for trying to match that. Enjoy something else.

 

[geko29]

We wound up cancelling our dinner reservation for Le Cellier in favor of going to Schula's last night, and it was pretty darn awesome. I had the Cowboy (bone-in ribeye, my favorite cut), wife had the filet, and my father-in-law had the Kansas City Strip. All were seasoned and cooked perfectly, and had a great flavor. I haven't decided yet if this knocks something off the top 5, but it there's no question it would be into a top 10 if I were to extend the list. This means it's EXACTLY what I was looking for, so thanks everyone for your recommendations.

To round things out, they had the best sauteed mushrooms any of us have ever had--so good we ordered a second round! Pity my mushroom-loving 5 year old refused to try them. Pity for him that is. He was more than happy with the fresh bread and his $5 mac and cheese (fresh, not boxed). Grilled asparagus was good, but would have been better without the balsamic glaze.

All told, dinner for four including 4 glasses of wine and a round of coffee/espresso came to $236. Very reasonable for this class of restaurant, I think. Only disappointments were that they didn't take Disney gift cards, which I should have checked in advance, and that my wife froze, even in her fleece jacket.

So again, thanks everyone for the recommendations, I never would have thought of looking at the Dolphin if not for the multiple mentions here. Perhaps we'll try Yachtsman's next trip, or our last night here if we find ourselves still flush with gift cards.