Interesting review of Le Cellier on Theme park insider

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I find it curious that since Disney "created" signature restaurants the quality has gone down and the prices have gone up. You have to admit they are a marketing genious. Tell the tourists they are getting something speciall and they will not only believe it, they will also pay more for it.

We had lunch at Le Cellier not long ago and were very dissapointed. They used to have what was probably one of the best burgers in WDW. I can only assume the new executive chef was on crack when he decided to gourmet the new offering into a pile of slop. It is now one of the most expensive burgers in WDW, which would be okay with me for the old burger. My wife had chicken crepe that did not impress her at all. And the NY Strip? Someone at the table next to us had one and it looked like a basic $13 steak! Really, folks, $42 for any NY Strip, anywhere, is robbery!

The service was excellent and the atmosphere was, well, what it is, even though I'm sure plenty of tourists must think all Canadians dine in their basements on a regular basis.

I predict that before the year is out the new executive chef will be sent off to rehab and Le Cellier will return to what made it so popular in the first place. Until then, Le Cellier is off our list.

I think you're getting some of the changes muddled in your head. Lunch was mostly unaffected by the new chef; that burger has been on the menu way longer than the new chef has been there. And the strip steak at lunch is way less than $42. It's the dinner one that's more expensive because it's prime, and that price is the same as other signatures that have strip steak (Yachtsman, Flying Fish).

And your comment about atmosphere applies to all the World Showcase restaurants - not all British people eat at pubs all the time, not all Japanese people always eat hibachi, not all German people eat meat-laden buffets, not all Norwegian people eat in ancient castles with princesses, and not all Mexican people always eat dinner inside a pyramid next to a river. The one pavilion that probably does the best job of actually representing its nation would be France, given its upscale bistro, casual cafe option, and patisserie, but even then it's just a generalization of what people eat. No reason to pick on Le Cellier in that regard.

And what made Le Cellier popular was the fact that it was a 1-credit steakhouse with some more expensive entree choices. So while people can no longer get that value, now the food is actually better. This is so unlike the changes that Disney usually makes (cutbacks and toned down offerings combined with discounts to increase perceived value), so I'm very happy with this change.

And while I'm a fan of the new dinner menu, I won't argue that lunch was very bad when I was there.

 

[minnie56]

I see you're from Canada so I have to ask...

Is that typical of burgers in Canada? I've never seen a burger with spniach leaves and maple syrup before, but I've never had a burger in Canada. I'm also a very "plain" eater and like more basic foods (burger, bun, catsup, and maybe cheese). I agree that we all have different tastes.

Mine had this...

Le Cellier House Burger - with roasted mushrooms, pancetta,maple barbecue, Black Diamond Cheddar, and crispy onions

And the Maple was in the BBQ style sauce...

It's not a typical every day burger..I can get that anywhere.

 

[goofyintoronto]

To be frank, i think Le Cellier blows. I was very disapointed in my steak: it was tasteless & fatty. The cheese soup was simply blah. I honestly dont understand the hype??? I wont be going back.

 

[goofy4prez]

To be frank, i think Le Cellier blows. I was very disapointed in my steak: it was tasteless & fatty. The cheese soup was simply blah. I honestly dont understand the hype??? I wont be going back.

WOW, and to think that I am tough on Le Cellier......

I'm not sure If I could say my experience was that bad, it was just rather average...

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

WOW, and to think that I am tough on Le Cellier......

I'm not sure If I could say my experience was that bad, it was just rather average...

Why do you refuse to go back to Le Cellier if your experience was simply average? I had terrible meals there, but if I hadn't tried the new menu, I would've missed out on a place I now enjoy (for the record, it doesn't matter to me what other people think - if I only chose places that are popular here, I would probably be a lot more disappointed in my dining experiences).

Similarly, I've had bad/mediocre meals at Artist Point, Jiko, Narcoossee's, and Citricos. If I never went back to those places, I would've missed out on some really great meals. Yachtsman and Flying Fish, we've been to both a few times and neither especially impressed, which is why we're hesitant to return. But I don't think one meal that wasn't terrible is enough of a reason to never return to a restaurant. It's not like any of Disney's restaurants are consistently outstanding anyway, IMO.

 

[goofy4prez]

Why do you refuse to go back to Le Cellier if your experience was simply average? I had terrible meals there, but if I hadn't tried the new menu, I would've missed out on a place I now enjoy (for the record, it doesn't matter to me what other people think - if I only chose places that are popular here, I would probably be a lot more disappointed in my dining experiences).

Similarly, I've had bad/mediocre meals at Artist Point, Jiko, Narcoossee's, and Citricos. If I never went back to those places, I would've missed out on some really great meals. Yachtsman and Flying Fish, we've been to both a few times and neither especially impressed, which is why we're hesitant to return. But I don't think one meal that wasn't terrible is enough of a reason to never return to a restaurant. It's not like any of Disney's restaurants are consistently outstanding anyway, IMO.

Here's the biggest reason, and perhaps a big reason why I am so tainted in my experience with Le Cellier. When we were there back in January 09 we waited 45 minutes past our ADR to be seated. Once we were escorted to our table it was located right next to the entrance to the restrooms and located between two server stations. We asked our greater if we could be relocated. She told us she would get the manager. When we saw the manager we were very polite in asking if we could be seated in another locations. Her words were, "There is no other seating available." We then told her we would be willing to wait, her words were, " We could either sit here or we will need to go somewhere else to eat, there is no other table for you." This is not an exaggeration.

Having to sit 1 1/2 hours listening to toilets flush and clanging silverware at the one station, and grumbling servers complaining about tips and etc to each other at the credit card station that we were close to, made for a very disappointing experience. I can handle a bad meal (or average in this case) and chalk it up to just a bad night, but when a manager is that arrogant and rude, it has left no desire in me going back again. So with that, yes the food was average other than the cheese soup and pretzel bread which was good, the server was very good, but the manager really tainted the whole experience....

And now you know the rest of the story....

 

[KungFoomF]

Having to sit 1 1/2 hours listening to toilets flush and clanging silverware at the one station, and grumbling servers complaining about tips and etc to each other at the credit card station that we were close to, made for a very disappointing experience. I can handle a bad meal (or average in this case) and chalk it up to just a bad night, but when a manager is that arrogant and rude, it has left no desire in me going back again. So with that, yes the food was average other than the cheese soup and pretzel bread which was good, the server was very good, but the manager really tainted the whole experience....

And now you know the rest of the story....

We sat in this exact spot in December 2010. It was right at lunch time opening and the restaurant was only just starting to function. Therefore the bathrooms went unused for most of our time. But believe me, I totally feared what you described and the only reason we didn't ask to be moved was because we showed up with an extra person in our party and they still took us. I didn't want to push our luck.

But I personally would say the food is above average. "Great" by Disney standards, but not "great" by real world standards.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Here's the biggest reason, and perhaps a big reason why I am so tainted in my experience with Le Cellier. When we were there back in January 09 we waited 45 minutes past our ADR to be seated. Once we were escorted to our table it was located right next to the entrance to the restrooms and located between two server stations. We asked our greater if we could be relocated. She told us she would get the manager. When we saw the manager we were very polite in asking if we could be seated in another locations. Her words were, "There is no other seating available." We then told her we would be willing to wait, her words were, " We could either sit here or we will need to go somewhere else to eat, there is no other table for you." This is not an exaggeration.

Having to sit 1 1/2 hours listening to toilets flush and clanging silverware at the one station, and grumbling servers complaining about tips and etc to each other at the credit card station that we were close to, made for a very disappointing experience. I can handle a bad meal (or average in this case) and chalk it up to just a bad night, but when a manager is that arrogant and rude, it has left no desire in me going back again. So with that, yes the food was average other than the cheese soup and pretzel bread which was good, the server was very good, but the manager really tainted the whole experience....

And now you know the rest of the story....

That sounds like a very bad experience. We had similar issues during our last meal at Ohana, which is one of the large reasons we won't return there. Ohana used to be a favorite, but the service reached a point where it wasn't worth it anymore.

When we spoke to one of our Le Cellier servers about the change, we were told that for a while, the restaurant was operating more on a quantity vs. quality basis. The extremely limited demand shifted the focus from preparing great food to getting customers in and out, and keeping tables full. Your experience definitely fits that description. The other signatures that I can think of right now (California Grill, Artist Point, Jiko, Narcoossee's, Citricos, Brown Derby) have bathrooms that are isolated from the dining area, so that wouldn't be an issue. But I don't expect LC to reconfigure that arrangement. The least they could do is put more space between some of the tables.

 

[GeorgeG]

I think you're getting some of the changes muddled in your head. Lunch was mostly unaffected by the new chef; that burger has been on the menu way longer than the new chef has been there. And the strip steak at lunch is way less than $42. It's the dinner one that's more expensive because it's prime, and that price is the same as other signatures that have strip steak (Yachtsman, Flying Fish).

And your comment about atmosphere applies to all the World Showcase restaurants - not all British people eat at pubs all the time, not all Japanese people always eat hibachi, not all German people eat meat-laden buffets, not all Norwegian people eat in ancient castles with princesses, and not all Mexican people always eat dinner inside a pyramid next to a river. The one pavilion that probably does the best job of actually representing its nation would be France, given its upscale bistro, casual cafe option, and patisserie, but even then it's just a generalization of what people eat. No reason to pick on Le Cellier in that regard.

And what made Le Cellier popular was the fact that it was a 1-credit steakhouse with some more expensive entree choices. So while people can no longer get that value, now the food is actually better. This is so unlike the changes that Disney usually makes (cutbacks and toned down offerings combined with discounts to increase perceived value), so I'm very happy with this change.

And while I'm a fan of the new dinner menu, I won't argue that lunch was very bad when I was there.

Yes, the burger is not new, but it's not what it used to be, either. I don't think people from those countries eat in setting portrayed in Epcot, either, but Disney has marketed those settings and many, many posters on this board seem to justify high prices by the atmosphere no matter how bad the food is. Lunch, dinner, table service credits, atmosphere, whatever, a very good NY Strip Steak in a very good setting is worth about $20, tops! Okay, it's Disney, it's a vacation, you may have just spent a few hundred dollars on souvenir keys chains, so I suppose it makes sense to spend, oh, maybe $24 on a strip steak...

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Yes, the burger is not new, but it's not what it used to be, either. I don't think people from those countries eat in setting portrayed in Epcot, either, but Disney has marketed those settings and many, many posters on this board seem to justify high prices by the atmosphere no matter how bad the food is. Lunch, dinner, table service credits, atmosphere, whatever, a very good NY Strip Steak in a very good setting is worth about $20, tops! Okay, it's Disney, it's a vacation, you may have just spent a few hundred dollars on souvenir keys chains, so I suppose it makes sense to spend, oh, maybe $24 on a strip steak...

But the burger isn't the fault of the new chef either, regardless of what it used to be. And the idea of a good $20 strip steak in a good setting these days seems highly unrealistic anywhere I've been in the real world, let alone Disney.

Relative to other Disney restaurants, the dinner I had at LC is worth it OOP. If there's any restaurant that serves extremely overpriced, bad food in an atmosphere that keeps people coming, it's Coral Reef. Sad to think that used to be one of WDW's nicest restaurants before the DDP.

 

[TDC Nala]

I'm going for dinner in May. Won't be ordering steak, I never do. I would like to try the duck. And the fancy poutine.

Nine bucks for the cheese soup though...forget that.

 

[grafxgirl]

We finally tried it on our last trip. It was good, but we think The Turf at Saratoga Springs is much better.

 

[goofyintoronto]

WOW, and to think that I am tough on Le Cellier......

I'm not sure If I could say my experience was that bad, it was just rather average...

LMAO!! Im not very forgiving what can I say? If i have a bad or even mediocre meal somewhere, I wont return to that place. Why would i return for another bad meal?? I dont give second chances. LOL! So ya, le cellier blows and it remains on my "disney restaurants that blow" list.