Is LeCellier over-rated ?

[eliza61]

I'm probably the only person on DIS who doesn't really like it. I've been there twice, and though I liked the pretzel breadsticks (and not the others at all) and the cheese soup for my appy, I didn't like anything else much at all. And I'm not a picky person, I just didn't enjoy the meal enough to see what all the hype was about, there were many other places I enjoyed more.:

Nope, definitely not the only one.

I went 3 times. I kept reading all these rave reviews on the dis. people went so far as to say it was the "best steak" they ever ate.

It was ok. Definitely not worth the money they charge for it. And in no way worth 2 table credits.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

We love it but we after several disastrous service issues, I started making the latest reservation possible and it's been lovely ever since. The food has always been delicious. Haven't tried it since the menu change, I guess we'll have to wait and see when we try it if it's still as good or better!

I'm a big fan of beer cheese soup and I love their spin on it!

 

[epcot.girl]

It's not 'ZOMG SOOO AWESOME!!!' or anything but I always have a lunch there when I'm in WDW. I really like the cheddar cheese soup (one of my favourite soups at home is cauliflower cheese so no surprise really). I've never had problems getting a reservation either, but that may be because I'm quite flexible about my eating times.

I doubt I'd spend 2 credits on a dinner there though.

 

[StalkerX]

I'd have to say, yes. For me it's the atmosphere. While I love that dark basement feeling of Le Cellier, it's just way to crowded. I feel like I'm in a really expensive store and when I walk around I have to be extremely careful not to knock things off a shelf (hit people while they are trying to enjoy a meal). The food is outstanding, just for me, it's overrated because the atmosphere is just too, tight.

 

[CoolDisneyKitten]

Yes.

 

[Ro Z]

Very much overrated! I think it was popular because it has what people are looking for. Nice steak and potato meals. It was great before the change. So because if the popularity they decide to change it to a signature! Supply and demand! This should be a 'HELLO" to the other TS in the world! Give us the food we want! We don't do the DDP, we get a better deal with our AP room discount. So now these prices are crazy! I agree with StalkerX that it is too tight! There are other great places to eat without that feeling like you are with the people next to you. Sometimes I don't want to make new 'friends'!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I like Le Cellier, but I don't think it's the best restaurant on property. I wouldn't even say it has the best steaks on property, I think Yachtsman Steakhouse is better, and the filets at Jiko and Narcoossees too.

But I do like Le Cellier, especially for lunch, and I think the appetizers there are really good. The cheddar cheese soup there had always been one of my favorite things in the World, and the tomato stack is really good too.

 

[chipndales]

I think it's way overrated which disappointed me. I too heard about how hard the ressies were to get, and the day I was able to make my ressies, I booked online, got a time, and got myself excited to finally try it after four years!

My dd and I went and neither of us really enjoyed it. It wasn't the worst food I'd ever had, but we definitely won't be going back. We tried the soup which always gets such rave reviews and found it too spicy, and the pretzel bread which was so so, and the filet which is pretty much what you can get at any Outback/Bugaboo steakhouse. Eh. It didn't make my mouth scream for more.

 

[disneydreamin'fromGA]

DF and I ate there this past December for the first time and we thought it was fabulous! We ate there to celebrate his college graduation and it was a very nice meal. Although we loved it and had AMAZING service I don't think we'd go back for dinner considering it is now going to be 2 TS credits...not sure I'd consider it a signature dining experience.

 

[fla4fun]

I think the problem with Le Cellier for the past few years (say, maybe 2008-2010) was not that it was stellar or awful, but that it was so inconsistent. I had two lunch ADR's the same trip and one was the best meal and service of the trip, and the other was the worst. I have eaten at Le Cellier twice this year and there seems to be more of a focus on better service than I'd been seeing recently, and my food both meals was very good. So if you haven't been recently, it might be time to give them another try. If they can keep the momentum going, they'll live up to the hype.

 

[tinacaplan]

Personally, I have mixed feelings. We had lunch there this past February. Service was great and the atmosphere was nice. We were there right when it first opened in the morning and the servers all sang O Canada before taking us in to our tables. It was cool. The food on the other hand... it was OK. The soup was yummy, as was the pretzel bread. I ordered the fillet and it was so salty. Not to the point of being totally inedible, but still...just too much. IMO, the meat is not on the same level as Ruth's Chris or other high end steakhouses. Don't know what dinner is like now that its gone to a signature.

 

[jsgrand0]

Hello! Never been to Le Cellier, but will be there on October 5 for a 12:55 lunch..booked 180+4 days out couldn't get the 4th, but got the 5th..going for lunch, to use 1ts, using 2ts at Yachtsman! We like good, American food, so our ADRs are Planet Hollywood (for experience, on arrival) Trail's End, Chef Mickey's, Le Cellier, Yachtsman, Beaches & Cream (no ressie needed), and we will leave the last one up to the kids once we are there! 1 TS meal each day...can't wait!!

 

[magicmonette]

We got back on 5/6 and had 11 hours of FOOD TALK on the drive home! LOL! Prior to this trip, we had eaten to live but the DDP made us live to eat! The Le Cellier was so-so over all compared to our other meals. That said, I would say my Poutain (sp) fries was one of the best single dishes on vacation, but steaks were just steaks. We think that Ruth Chris steaks are better. I do not believe it is worth spending 2 credits each at this restaurant. Jiko and Artist Point are worth the 2 credits in our oppinion.

The service was outstanding at each place that we ate. I was a server in college and am very picky about service. The servers made the meal a memory!

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

^Just wondering, did you eat lunch or dinner there? I would assume dinner, since I feel the dinner poutine is substantially better than the lunch version.

Glad that you enjoyed Artist Point and Jiko. Artist Point is my number one signature, and Jiko is in third (behind AP and California Grill). While I really enjoyed my dinners at LC, I wouldn't put LC above any of those restaurants, or Hollywood Brown Derby and Narcoossee's.

 

[magicmonette]

yes dinner. and we like CG too. I suppose it really boils down to the fact that we just have very good steak places in our area--Ruth Chris for one. we have nothing like Jiko or AP. they were just fantastic. Sanaa was a terrific lunch too. it wouldn't be in the DINNER league with the others.

 

[walkdmc]

I think so. We ate lunch there in Nov. 2010 and it was okay. I remember thinking, "I can't believe all the hype over this place", as we were finishing. Nothing tasted bad, the service was decent, but I've had food as good from chain steakhouses.

 

[LittleWonders]

We went for an early dinner in September 08 and we thought the meal was okay. The pretzel bread was good, the cheese soup was okay, mushroom streak was good. I think we will try other resturaunts in Epcot before going back.

 

[goofy4prez]

Glad that you enjoyed Artist Point and Jiko. Artist Point is my number one signature, and Jiko is in third (behind AP and California Grill). While I really enjoyed my dinners at LC, I wouldn't put LC above any of those restaurants, or Hollywood Brown Derby and Narcoossee's.

I agree with this opinion, especially Artist Point, I love it. However, for me I have to put Narcoossee's in there before Jiko. But in truth, when it comes to Jiko, Cali Grill, and Narcoossee's, I enjoy all three of them.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I agree with this opinion, especially Artist Point, I love it. However, for me I have to put Narcoossee's in there before Jiko. But in truth, when it comes to Jiko, Cali Grill, and Narcoossee's, I enjoy all three of them.

I used to like Narcoossee's much more than I do now. However, the last two entrees I had there were both disappointing. The surf n' turf was not amazing. I didn't enjoy the filet which was covered in a rather flavorless onion sauce. The potatoes were heavier than I expected. The broccolini and lobster tail were just there. To be honest, I enjoyed the filet and lobster tail I had at Outback three nights ago more than the Narcoossee's surf n' turf, and it was half the price. In addition, the vegetarian entree at Narcoossee's was pretty bad. It was like 4 random side dishes, whereas Artist Point, California Grill, Hollywood Brown Derby, Jiko, etc. offer a composed vegetarian meal. That said, the appetizers and desserts at Narcoossee's are always fabulous, as is the view, and I learned my lesson (stick with fish entrees, not the lobster). Narcoosee's is in my top 5, and I am surprised by the "plain" and "ordinary" comments it receives. The dishes at Narcoossee's are more elaborate than the filet at California Grill with barbecue sauce and potatoes, or the steaks at Yachtsman with potato and sauce.

So again, while I happened to have some great meals at Le Cellier, I still think other signatures top it. I would agree that lunch is overrated (and a lot of people like it due to LC's perceived value on the DDP), but dinner had some great surprises on the menu. And contrary to most on the boards, I don't rank Flying Fish or Citricos very highly (even though I love seafood and Mediterranean cuisine in the real world). My opinion is largely based on my most recent experience at each of these restaurants, and that's where Disney's inconsistency creates some disparity between my views and those of others. You never know what'll happen on a given day, but that's why you just have to try something if the menu interests you. That's why I'm trying Flying Fish and Yachtsman again in about a week (as well as Artist Point, the incumbent favorite) - I would be overjoyed if I could return to the boards and rave about my meals there.