Chefs de France - a grand disappointment!

[NancyIL]

We ate lunch at Chefs de France Thanksgiving weekend, and both the food and service were very good.

Getting back to the OP's experience - how did you follow up on the cake that you never got? Did you get a refund? A sincere apology? Some compensation for your trouble?

 

[pixie08]

Well we have eaten there twice.

The first time was a year and half ago. We had the filet..it was not good at all (would rather have had LeCell) the server was indifferent, place overcrowded and noisy.

No we decided to give it one more try this past weekend as part of our CLP package. It was great. We had onion soup, short ribs and I had an apple crepe for dessert and dh had a great brulee. It was not sooo crowded, therefore not so loud and our server was such a sweet girl named Paloma.I should note our ressies were at 5pm, therefore early in the night which may have an affect???

So I guess it is so hit or miss. Will I go back? maybe. I would rather have Le Cell or Bistro.

 

[PamNC]

I get what you're saying - we used to love this place but the last couple of times it has been less than stellar. In fact, I don't think we'll be returning. The food is the main reason, it's just nothing spectacular and borderline "not good." I got the quiche and it was dried up. I don't think the service is that great - we had the same problem with a smarty pants server too. Oh well.

PamNC

 

[jessi1375]

I can sympathize with how disappointing it would have been to go to all the trouble to have the cake set up and then for it not to have been there. I would have been really upset!

That being said, we were at Chef's for my birthday in September and I could not have had a better experience. We did not special order a cake for me, but the wait staff all must have stopped by the table to say Happy Birthday, and I received a special desert and the chef came out to say Happy Birthday, I had a great time and a great birthday dinner!

 

[bavaria]

What an odd comment. We have met some really lovely young people there.

I am going to guess that the comment was in reference to the misperception of the French as rude. Personally, I can count on one hand the number of rude people I have met in France over the years, and I have spent a LOT of time in France....

I have however seen a lot of people being rude to the French, which may net them a different result.

I go back to my original statement that my experience at Chefs de France on some occassions was indifference.

And this really saddens me as Paul Bocuse was one of my idols when I trained in the kitchen. He and his son had heavy involvement in the restaurant, which is no longer representative of the quality I expect from him.

 

[Frothy]

Have to agree the standards in the French have dropped dramatically. I don't know whether there is more emphasis on turning the tables now but it's not been the typical french experience we've become accustomed to over the years.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Let's look at some facts . . .

1) They have had to add many more tables, so the atmosphere got ruined.
. . . this makes the restaurant really crowded
. . . the extra people make a lot of noise. just to talk
2) The waiters DO NOT get the 18% tip from DDP
. . . the non-Disney-owned eateries do not pay tips like Disney eateries
. . . the waiter's pay has suffered A LOT
. . . one reason why tips are no longer in DDP
3) The menu has been sanitized since DDP
. . . specialty items have been dumbed-down
. . . some specialty items have been removed
. . . the French menu is no longer as grand as it was two years ago

NOTE: It is hard to keep people motivated when their pay is cut and their work load is increased and the atmosphere is downgraded. Sure, the service should be better, but in this case, I do not blame the employees.

 

[Frothy]

Let's look at some facts . . .

1) They have had to add many more tables, so the atmosphere got ruined.
. . . this makes the restaurant really crowded
. . . the extra people make a lot of noise. just to talk
2) The waiters DO NOT get the 18% tip from DDP
. . . the non-Disney-owned eateries do not pay tips like Disney eateries
. . . the waiter's pay has suffered A LOT
. . . one reason why tips are no longer in DDP
3) The menu has been sanitized since DDP
. . . specialty items have been dumbed-down
. . . some specialty items have been removed
. . . the French menu is no longer as grand as it was two years ago

NOTE: It is hard to keep people motivated when their pay is cut and their work load is increased and the atmosphere is downgraded. Sure, the service should be better, but in this case, I do not blame the employees.

So who loses out? The paying customer.

And, I do blame the employees...partly. They obviously need to learn that they contribute to the whole business.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . So who loses out? The paying customer . . . And, I do blame the employees...partly. They obviously need to learn that they contribute to the whole business.

1) I do agree with both statements.
2) The customer is the one who eventually loses in the big picture.
3) But, it was not the servers choice to cut their pay and increase work loads.
4) I do know that attitude and service comes form the top, down.
5) Not the bottom, up

NOTE: As a president of a company, I spend more of my time on employee related issues (policies and motivation and quality) than on other company duties and functions. We have learned over the years that without satisfied and motivated employees, our quality and service wains - and the customer becomes dissatisfied. And, wouldn't you know, I learned this from Disney 12 years ago at their business seminars, and I still keep a copy of "The Disney Way" on my office book self.

 

[ElizabethB]

I second everything TheRustyScupper has said about Chefs de France. We used to love it -- and thought it was a wonderful opportunity to dine at a restaurant owned and operating by three of France's best known chefs, without having to fly to Paris.

Well . . . that was a long time ago. Our last meal a couple of years ago was a severe disappointment. The tables are now so close together you could as easily eat the meal at the next table as your own. The place was so noisy we couldn't even carry on a conversation at our table. The menu has been dumbed down and tasty things we loved have been removed from it. What's left is not very interesting. (The wine offerings are still not bad, I suppose because wine is not included in the DDP!) We've usually had good service, which is a tribute to the staff given the information TheRustyScupper has revealed about working conditions and tips on DDP.

We've solved the problem by not eating there anymore. But, we miss the old Chefs de France, which for years was a real favorite.

 

[christinou]

We have eaten there a few times, and the last time were very disspaointed with dinner. This past summer, we got stuck in a midday rain storm at EPCOT right by France, and decided to give it a try, lunch was lovely. So we have decided to now stick with lunch there and avoid dinner. Prices at lunch were also so much better.

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

My family and I had lunch at Chefs de France in August. THis wasn't my first choice but my daughter wanted to eat there since she loved the movie Ratatoullie (sp?). Our server, Servanne, was wonderful and attentive. Our location by the windows was lovely. However, the food was forgettable. I've dined in France as well and while french cuisine is not as spicy as I would like, the flavor wasn't there at all. If we didn't have free dining I would have been quite aggrivated.

We won't be returning to this restaurant anytime soon.

 

[missypie]

We had a very nice dinner there the Monday of Thanksgiving week. DD and I each had the lobster bisque and a goat cheese salad. They were both quite yummy. Everyone else liked the food, too.

 

[Tarheel Tink]

We had lunch there last Monday- greeting rather sourly by young man at the podium despite ear to ear smile from me. We were seated in a lovely window-side corner table but moved several minutes later to the next table? A moment later a group of 4 chefs took the table for lunch and discussion. OK, was that tacky or what? Employees get better seating than guests to the point they move us?

Service was adequate but as mentioned before, indifferent. We had 7 days of meals and this was the poorest. I standardly tip 20% but went to 15% for our server. I'll be giving this a pass in the near future and watch the boards to see if it returns to what it was. The greens in my salad were partially wilted and the tomatoes pink, hard and had a hard core still in it. Onion soup was good but too hot to eat for at least 20 minutes (same as previous visits- hard to complain about hot food, but seriously couldn't have it until my creme brulee was served).

I'm giving my business to the patisserie next door! The ham and cheese baguette was delicious. BTW, what is up with not offering dijon or any mustard at all? Only mayonnaise? Hello! Dijon, France....

 

[BensMom]

Well, from reading this, thank you for saving me from eating at the only restaurant in EPCOT I haven't experienced. I think I'll stick with Plan B, which is the new Tuto Italia, in which I have eaten twice in the last two weeks. Fabulous restaurant.

 

[debbiedoo]

wow, these reviews really make me think about dining here. . .

 

[michaelwilliammidd]

We use to dine at Les Chefs on most trips to WDW but because of experiences similar to those mentioned have since taken it off our list. Now we just stop by France for a quick pastry which is always delish! Love the Napoleon!

 

[TiggerGuy67]

I read awful reviews about this restaurant on this board. I am so glad we decided to try it anyway last week. It was right at the top of our list of restaraunts that we tried last week with only California Grille beating it out. The Lamb Shank was incredible. We will definitely go again. Yes, it was crowded and loud but not loud enough that we couldn't hear each other and my wife does not hear so well. Our server, Ludovic, was easily the best, most professional server we had during our entire 8 day stay.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

We had dinner at Chefs on 12/23 as part of the Candlelight Processional Package. The host & servers couldn't have been more pleasant and attentive. The food was good too.

I've read comments in this thread about how close the tables are to one another. I didn't find them any closer than at Le Cellier or San Angel Inn.

The menus have changed at many TS restaurants over the years - this has not only happened at Chefs.

I'm sorry if some of you have been dissapointed by Chefs. But I wanted to chime in and let those reading this thread know that not everyone has been disappointed and they may not be either.

 

[debbiedoo]

W

I'm sorry if some of you have been dissapointed by Chefs. But I wanted to chime in and let those reading this thread know that not everyone has been disappointed and they may not be either.

Thanks, I have learned that we all have different tastes, just like many did not like Ohana or Alfredo's -- when it was announced that Alfredo's was closingm THEN you started hearing good input.