If you like your steaks "well done" you might want to reconsider Le Cellier

[skiwee1]

What exactly is "an Outback quality steak"? I can tell you when I went to Ruth's Chris, a very high end steak house, that my steak (which was ordered medium) was tough and the juices ran all over the plate, a sign that it had not been allowed to rest long enough. It made me sick, i had nausea the rest of the evening. On the other hand, I have dined at Le Cellier and Outback more times than I can count. Often there have been members of our group who order their steaks well done. Sometimes the steaks are indeed thinner, but they are larger in diamater to make up for the lack of height. Im sorry that you felt your steak was cooked like "shoe leather" but I wouldn't generalize on the quality of any restaurant based on one dining experience.

We eat at Ruth's Cris all the time and always have perfect filets. Sorry your wasn't up to par!

 

[JennyMominRI]

We had lunch there for the first time just recently and we thought the atmosphere and the food were mediocre.

We won't be going back. I read so many reviews of LeCellier raving about the food. I honestly don't get it.

I had the same experience 2 weeks ago.. I was surprised because I had an excellent meal in August.It wasn't a *bad* meal,just ho-hum

 

[Belle5]

Ours was not butterflied. I wish it would have been.

We just had delicious filets at LeCellier in December. Two of us got ours well done and they were perfect! Our waiter told us that to get it well done that the chef butterflies it so as to get the thick middle cooked through. We eat at a lot of fine steak houses and they all do this. My mom was the one that got hers medium rare and it didn't come butterflied.

 

[Amyrlin]

Ok I work in a steakhouse, and I must tell you that you could not be more wrong. The reason you get a thin steak is cooking time, it is the same weight as the thick steaks but thinner. To cook a thick steak well done would take 30-40 minutes. If other steakhouses are cooking thick steaks well done they are placing a weight on it and burning the heck out of the outside. Placing a weight on it makes all the juices run out on to the grill.

I agree this is the case, alternatively they may be microwaving it to cook it in the middle before or afterit comes off the grill, I have seen that do9ne as well!

 

[Minniespal]

I completely agree with you!!! A well done steak seems to lose the natural flavor. I'm a medium rare girl!!!

Me too.

 

[ilovepcot]

DH and I eat twice a month (on average) at EPCOT. We *refuse* to return to Le Cellier for a meal despite the rave reviews. His steak was no better than a family type chain steak house and the salmon I ordered made me break out in cold chills with the first bite. Horribly mushy and nearly raw! I believe they're getting soooo rushed in trying to accomodate everyone that they aren't able to take time to cook meats properly.

 

[cuscott]

Ours was not butterflied. I wish it would have been.

I'm sorry but tell me what is the difference in your mind between a thin steak and a butterflied one? I am not trying to start a fight here, but you do realize a butterflied steak is just turning a thick steak into a THIN steak. It's the samething really. Just because the steak was thinner, it did not weigh any less then the thick steak.

 

[AUTUMN SUN]

My husband likes his steaks well done and always orders his filet butterflyed so we dont have to wait an eternity to get our meal!! : He has never had a problem this way. And I have to disagree about the dining plan. I think that people are using that excuse as a catch all for any food complaints at Disney now!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Without getting into the merits of Le Cellier vs Outback vs Ruths Chris, I know certain steakhouses will often finish off well done thick cuts (that aren't butterflyed) either in the oven, or (gasp) in a microwave. They will sear them first (for the "look") and then off to the oven.
And on the rare occasion I get steak, it's always well done and it's always "smaller" than the same medium rare piece that Mrs. U orders.
Steaks can be cooked properly well-done--it just takes longer and more "work" and I think that's why steakhouses don't care to prepare them that way--.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I had a good experience with my steak there. Ordered it medium well and they got it just right. Maybe it is a hit-or-miss type of thing.

Of course by the time I got my steak, I was pretty much full from the cheese soup and pretzel bread!

 

[bicker]

We've been to Le Cellier a few times since it opened, and it has always been a middling experience, with the steaks never living up to the reputation they've had.

 

[sweetpeakaris]

Ummm, I'm thinking I should change our ADR

 

[Kanga1]

Ummm, I'm thinking I should change our ADR

ME TOO! This is supposed to be our nice anniversary dinner...just the two of us. Anybody have a suggestion for another restaurant? (It needs to be in Epcot.)

 

[labdogs42]

ME TOO! This is supposed to be our nice anniversary dinner...just the two of us. Anybody have a suggestion for another restaurant? (It needs to be in Epcot.)

Yachtsman and Shula's are in the Epcot resort area. I'm planning to go to Le Cellier and Yachtsman during my trip in May, so I can compare them both for you when I get back!

 

[Kanga1]

Yachtsman and Shula's are in the Epcot resort area. I'm planning to go to Le Cellier and Yachtsman during my trip in May, so I can compare them both for you when I get back!

Thanks Jessica! Is it much of a pain to get over there? We won't have a car.

 

[antmaril]

ME TOO! This is supposed to be our nice anniversary dinner...just the two of us. Anybody have a suggestion for another restaurant? (It needs to be in Epcot.)

I would not have a romantic anniversary dinner at LeCellier. I didn't think it had any ambiance at all.

I'm not sure what to recommend, since we've always had our son with us on our trips, but I can tell you it wouldn't be LeCellier.

 

[Belle5]

Without getting into the merits of Le Cellier vs Outback vs Ruths Chris, I know certain steakhouses will often finish off well done thick cuts (that aren't butterflyed) either in the oven, or (gasp) in a microwave. They will sear them first (for the "look") and then off to the oven.
And on the rare occasion I get steak, it's always well done and it's always "smaller" than the same medium rare piece that Mrs. U orders.
Steaks can be cooked properly well-done--it just takes longer and more "work" and I think that's why steakhouses don't care to prepare them that way--.

I agree that a well-done steak may be somewhat smaller. My LeCellier steak was one that was significantly so. There was little flavor.

For the person asking me what the difference in a steak being butterflied and what I was served--I can only say you had to have seen it. I would be ok with a lesser quality steak house serving up a butterflied piece of meat to ensure me a fair sized cut. I would not expect this from a very high quality steak house. You must understand that this restaurant is often given reviews that would make it seem on par with that calibar of restaurant. I wanted the person who orders a well-done steak to know it was not, in our experience.

 

[Rhonda]

ME TOO! This is supposed to be our nice anniversary dinner...just the two of us. Anybody have a suggestion for another restaurant? (It needs to be in Epcot.)

If you're looking for a good steak, then I would highly recommend Shula's! It's at the Dolphin Resort - you can walk or take the boat directly from Epcot. They're pricey, but worth every penny, IMHO!

Another nice romantic dinner spot (but not steak) would be Palio at the Swan. Very good Italian food, strolling musicians, good wine! And, again, you can either walk or take the boat!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Belle5:
Sounds like what you got was just cooked over the grill, and way overcooked. Even a great cut of meat won't stand that and still taste (or look) good.
And you are right--I meant just a little smaller--well done meat tends to lose more of it's natural juices, and thus shrinks a bit more.

 

[Mermaid02]

For those thinking of changing plans because of this review- we had a FANTASTIC meal here in December. Everything was wonderful. We will definately go back here on our next trip! We don't eat our steaks well done however.