Does LeCellier really live up to all the hype?

[KimR]

We ate at LeCellier back in 2000 and while it was OK, none of us were really overwhelmed. There are other restaurants we enjoy much more (Brown Derby, Flying Fish, Artist Point, California Grill, to name a few). I decided to give it another try this year, but could not get reservations. I'm shocked that this restaurant fills up so quickly unless it's improved considerably since we at there so many years ago.

I guess I'll try again right at the 180-day mark for next year, but really, is it that good or am I setting myself up for disappointment? Just what is it about this restaurant that makes it so popular?

 

[wildbill]

All depends on you. Some think it is the best, others don't. Look at the current menu and see if it appeals to your eating desires.

We think it is fabulous and at one TS credit an excellent value.

JMHO

Bill

 

[Tinkfan10]

My family is there now and they ate there their first night and loved it. However, my mom ranked Jiko the best meal of the trip so far.

 

[faindrops27]

Well, of course those that you mentioned are all 2 TS. So, they should be a few cuts above a 1 TS restaurant. I think it is a nice place to have dinner. Would I consider it above those you mentioned, no.

It is the 1 TS restaurant to have a reservation for. So, I assume, most people like it.

 

[Tricia1972]

IMHO the only restaurant that truly lives up to it's hype is Victoria & Albert's otherwise all Disney restaurants are hit and miss.

Now I personally enjoy LeCellier, it's one of my favorite restaurants on property. However I am in the minority in that I don't think that Disney food in general is the 'best food ever' which is the impression that I got overall from reading the boards before our Disney trips last year.

It made for a very hard adjustment for me when I started going to the restaurants. I had good food at many locations, Ok food at others, and bad food at some. Personally I think the love for Disney restaurants comes from either those that don't go out to many fine restaurants in real life or those that are so swept away in vacation and Disney magic that you could feed a person anything and they'd love it. But because I expected the 'best food ever' I was disappointed in even most of the good locations, I thought everything would be great.

I have my own magical items that make a Disney trip real for me. However, that doesn't make those items delicious to everyone - they're my special thing.

To everyone I say - try it once. You may just love it yourself. If you don't like something that 'everyone else' loves, don't feel bad. You aren't broken - you're just different and that's cool.

 

[Mermaid_Ariel]

Tricia is absolutely right. It's really not a good thing to rely on the hype to form expectations. I think that's why you find so many disappointed people afterwards. It's like seeing the trailers for Godzilla 2000 and all the hype of another Godzilla movie, and the movie bombed. Yet, I liked it. Why? Because, I didn't have high expectations for the movie despite the hype.

Go with what you think you might enjoy and try not to have too many expectations other than what's reasonable. Relax and try to have a good time. We liked all of the restaurants we went to despite some having negative reviews. Take everything you read with a grain of salt. Good luck!

 

[ransom]

Le Cellier is fine. But it's not our favorite restaurant, or even our favorite 1TS restaurant. YMMV.

 

[disneyfreak89]

My DH thinks Le Cellier has the best steak on property....others think not.

I think the place is a bit overated, but the food is good.

I don't care for the close proximity of tables though, can get a bit claustrophobic.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We ate there for the first time Oct 2006 dinner and lunch Feb 2007 and both times we really enjoyed our meal but it is not one of our must do's when we go to WDW....especially since they raised the price of the mushroom filet by $10 and removed the maple BBQ filet from the menu

 

[Praying Colonel]

We ate at LeCellier back in 2000 and while it was OK, none of us were really overwhelmed. There are other restaurants we enjoy much more (Brown Derby, Flying Fish, Artist Point, California Grill, to name a few). I decided to give it another try this year, but could not get reservations. I'm shocked that this restaurant fills up so quickly unless it's improved considerably since we at there so many years ago.

I guess I'll try again right at the 180-day mark for next year, but really, is it that good or am I setting myself up for disappointment? Just what is it about this restaurant that makes it so popular?

The restaurants you named named all are 2 TS credit restaurants. IMHO one of the things that makes LC so popular is it's a 1 TS credit restaurant and delivers above-average (not great, but above-average) food consistently.

 

[corky441]

IMHO, a good part of the hype is because it's sooooooooooo hard to get a ressie there.

The reason it's so hard is because it has one of the smallest seating capacities of all the restaurants on WDW property and it books up so quickly because of that.

The food is okay but it surely doesn't warrant all the hype...

 

[JT4Ever4Ever4Ever]

IMHO the only restaurant that truly lives up to it's hype is Victoria & Albert's otherwise all Disney restaurants are hit and miss.

Now I personally enjoy LeCellier, it's one of my favorite restaurants on property. However I am in the minority in that I don't think that Disney food in general is the 'best food ever' which is the impression that I got overall from reading the boards before our Disney trips last year.

It made for a very hard adjustment for me when I started going to the restaurants. I had good food at many locations, Ok food at others, and bad food at some. Personally I think the love for Disney restaurants comes from either those that don't go out to many fine restaurants in real life or those that are so swept away in vacation and Disney magic that you could feed a person anything and they'd love it. But because I expected the 'best food ever' I was disappointed in even most of the good locations, I thought everything would be great.

I have my own magical items that make a Disney trip real for me. However, that doesn't make those items delicious to everyone - they're my special thing.

To everyone I say - try it once. You may just love it yourself. If you don't like something that 'everyone else' loves, don't feel bad. You aren't broken - you're just different and that's cool.

Tricia, so true. However, and you mentioned this, the majority of Americans don't go to restaurants that are "better" than the ones in Disney World. They consider Applebee's and Red Lobster to be the creme de la creme. So if they are going to le celier one night, chefs the next, tutto the next.. they are going to think they are in heaven. As for me, I eat my mom's home cooking 6 nights a week and I love her cooking, but its a very nice treat to eat out at these nice restaurants in Disney World for 6 or 7 nights straight.

Also, the CS at Disney blows away what most americans eat for lunch at fast food joints like Mickey D's or BK. Give me Harbor House or Fish & Chips or Swarama Platter anyday over that junk!!

 

[Chelley00]

I think maybe the dining plan (free or not) has added to it. Not many people will pay out of pocket for Le Cellier, but if they have paid for the dining plan, why not??

 

[KatMark]

I think it is all a matter of personal opinion. We happen to love LeCellier and do it every trip and are excited that my best friend and her DH will be joining us this year. Is it as good as or better than the 2TS's establishments? I couldn't tell you--we've only been to Brown Derby and we did not like it at all, and we won't be dining at any of the others either. My DH and I prefer not to have to get dressed up on vacation. If we want a "fine" meal, we can go out any weekend in Chicago and get one of those. We are plain and simple meal lovers--we don't care for food that is dressed up and fancy. I think also that a lot of other people who are not on dining plan choose not to spend the money required for some of the signature restaurants and that is why LeCellier, although not cheap, is probably popular.

 

[JT4Ever4Ever4Ever]

I would actually argue that for the price, Disney Restaurants are about as good as you'll find. My family and I (party of 3) can go to Le Celier and have an awesome meal for $130.00. So yes, I can go to NY and Chi and spend 500 and get a better meal. But can I go somewhere, spend 130, and get a better meal?? Not sure about that one.

 

[Tricia1972]

I would actually argue that for the price, Disney Restaurants are about as good as you'll find. My family and I (party of 3) can go to Le Celier and have an awesome meal for $130.00. So yes, I can go to NY and Chi and spend 500 and get a better meal. But can I go somewhere, spend 130, and get a better meal?? Not sure about that one.

I agree about dining in a larger city. You need to have good local restaurants in smaller towns, and I am just very lucky that I do. We can get a great steak meal for a party of 4 (2A 2C) for $75, it would be much harder to do that in Chicago.

 

[JT4Ever4Ever4Ever]

I agree about dining in a larger city. You need to have good local restaurants in smaller towns, and I am just very lucky that I do. We can get a great steak meal for a party of 4 (2A 2C) for $75, it would be much harder to do that in Chicago.

There is also something to be said about diminishing returns. Disney prices are about as high as I want to spend on a meal, unless its some special occasion like a birthday or anniversary. Then I'll pay up for the experience but other than that, I'm very content with Disney Dinners.

 

[Tricia1972]

There is also something to be said about diminishing returns. Disney prices are about as high as I want to spend on a meal, unless its some special occasion like a birthday or anniversary. Then I'll pay up for the experience but other than that, I'm very content with Disney Dinners.

See, where I see Disney as overpriced for the quality of meal that I receive, you are very content paying that price for that quality of meal.

It's all perception and we are great examples of Disney Hype. Why some are happy (like you) and others think Disney dining occasionally falls short of the mark (like me).

I think it's fine food and I like LeCellier, but it certainly isn't the best steak I've ever had, even within that price point.

 

[LSchrow]

we find LC "just OK".
food is average at best, service spotty, nice atmosphere tho crowded.

imho, there are quite a few restaurants in WDW serving much better food, with more professional service in a nicer atmosphere

 

[CR88]

My wife and I love it. So far, it has been our favorite meal each of the last 3 years, but we have yet to eat at the others you mentioned, with the exception of Brown Derby. The filet and prime rib have been cooked perfectly each time and the pretzel bread and cheese soup was fantastic. We live close to Chicago and LOVE steak houses so we have eaten at some pretty good ones including Ruth's Chris, Morton's and St. Elmo’s. And while the filet wasn't as good as those, each time we have dined there it was pretty close...at half the price. Last year we did the Candlelight Processional Dinner Package with some extended family and they all said that it was their favorite. I have read some negative reviews lately though so I am not sure what to expect this year. We normally go in early December and it is not quite as busy as other times, so maybe that has something to do with it...not sure. Given that it is a 1 TS, it seems to be one of the better values if you are on the DDP.