Le Cellier, now?

[can]

We ate at Le Cellier on Fri., 4/1, and while it has always been our very favorite, I am not so sure we will return there. We liked the menu the way it was, not so happy about the changed menu. The server did explain to us about it now being a "signature" menu and at the end of the dinner before we left when he asked what we thought I told him that quite honestly we would have preferred the old menu.

My daughter isn't a big steak eater, she ordered the roasted chicken, for $30. I just don't see where a NY strip steak with an au gratin style potato justifies a $42 price tag. Have had just as good, if not better, with more to the meal for the same price or less.

Our server did say more and more people were asking for Le Cellier to be an "upscale" restaurant. Not sure why, no one dresses "upscale" when visiting the parks. Certainly can't see how a family of four or more not on a Disney Dining plan could afford. There were four of us, two had meals, two had soup or salad and a side with all of us having dessert and our dinner bill with tip was $205.

The other thing my daughter pointed out was that we had a 6 pm reservation, and when we left about 7:20-7:30 pm, there were quite a few open tables and not many waiting outside to be seated. This was unusual as we have been there just before closing with every table filled and people still waiting to get in.

So, next time we visit WDW, we will probably try a different restaurant as the changes Le Cellier has made weren't what we felt as favorable or positive.
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[JenSop]

Well, I haven't been there since it was switched to signature for dinner, but we've been regular diners at Le Cellier for years and just love it. I really have never had a bad experience there. I usually get the filet, but have also occasionally tried some of the other dishes there. And I've always found the service to be impeccable. Seriously - excellent.

I think the problem is, is that people read these great reviews and build up unreasonably high expectations for Le Cellier. It's a restaurant - it's not going to change your life. (The only restaurant that I've repeatedly heard to be life-changing is V&A's.)

But they'll serve you great food with fabulous service and that's the Le Cellier we love!

 

[goofy4prez]

I think the problem is, is that people read these great reviews and build up unreasonably high expectations for Le Cellier. It's a restaurant - it's not going to change your life. (The only restaurant that I've repeatedly heard to be life-changing is V&A's.)

But they'll serve you great food with fabulous service and that's the Le Cellier we love!

You are right, the expectations are unreasonably high. But when people read reviews that say, best steak I have ever had in my life, or the mushroom fillet just melts in your mouth, or best dining experience I have ever had, or I love it, or the mushroom fillet is to die for, or Le'Cellier is heavenly, of course people are going to have high expectations. What would one expect? A great steak that is better than most places available with a melt in your mouth offering. After all, this is what everyone is saying.

Actually, I think it is a combination of things. I believe it's unreasonable high expectations based on over-inflated praise of Le Cellier. I personally believe most loved (notice past tense) this place because it was a comfort food restaurant offering steaks at a 1ts credit on the DDP. Now that it has become a signature, the praise does not seem to be as favorable. All of a sudden that best steak in their life (mushroom fillet) is not worth using up 2ts, why not, after all wasn't it the best piece of beef that ever crossed the taste buds of many who shared a review?

I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be cynical, I think Le Cellier use to be just an average to perhaps just above average steak place among the many out there like a Longhorn or Outback. However, because it was in Disney it was offering a good value on the dining plan. Now that it's signature, that can no longer be said.

For me, it was average food with good service ( in spite of the manager refusing to move us away from the restroom entrance and server station). And unlike your experiece (which I truly am glad you love LC) is the reason I highly doubt I will use a 2TS to visit this place.

I guess opinions are like backsides, we all have one.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Now that it has become a signature, the praise does not seem to be as favorable. All of a sudden that best steak in their life (mushroom fillet) is not worth using up 2ts, why not, after all wasn't it the best piece of beef that ever crossed the taste buds of many who shared a review?

Bad example. People don't want to use 2 credits on the mushroom filet because it's still available for lunch where it only costs 1 credit.

If Le Cellier is concerned about their dinner popularity, they would remove the filet from their lunch menu, which would end up forcing a number of people to go for dinner (while some people would just refuse to go). But they aren't doing that.

 

[Bickimook2]

...Your Keg must be better than ours, because the one in Kitchener specializes in shoe leather.

Serious Ken this comment made me lol I haven't been to Le cellier but we have it booked for our honeymoon next month and I am very curious as to why the credits were increased but they are only 1 at lunch. Is the menu more elaborate or is it just like better cuts of steak for the dinner menu? I originally figured they increased it to monopolize on the fact that it is so popular

 

[goofy4prez]

Bad example. People don't want to use 2 credits on the mushroom filet because it's still available for lunch where it only costs 1 credit.

I don't think it's a bad example. So many over the years have raved it was the best steak they have ever had anywhere in their entire life; that is some high praise. If it was the best thing ever, I would think 2ts is just a formality in order to enjoy the finest piece of steak that so many claim it is, anywhere. But I do agree with you, as long as it's on the lunch menu, why use a 2ts for dinner. I wouldn't use a 1ts on it, let alone a 2ts.

 

[Tiggerfan40]

I was just sooo happy that I scored a reservation at Le Celier at this late of a date for our trip 1st week of May!!! Now reading these posts I am thinking about canceling it? We are not on any dining plan. Is it worth paying the $$$$ to eat here without being on a dining plan? We have never eaten here before and it will just be DH and I. I have been trying to get a reservation for a long time, should I keep it or not?! Thanks!

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I don't think it's a bad example. So many over the years have raved it was the best steak they have ever had anywhere in their entire life; that is some high praise. If it was the best thing ever, I would think 2ts is just a formality in order to enjoy the finest piece of steak that so many claim it is, anywhere. But I do agree with you, as long as it's on the lunch menu, why use a 2ts for dinner. I wouldn't use a 1ts on it, let alone a 2ts.

Still a bad example. If before the menu change, people considered it the best steak they've ever had, then the lunch version is the one that they consider best, meaning they'll be as happy as they previously were with the version that's half the cost. It's basic economics that explain why people wouldn't pay twice as much for the same thing when they could get as much benefit at the lower price.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I was just sooo happy that I scored a reservation at Le Celier at this late of a date for our trip 1st week of May!!! Now reading these posts I am thinking about canceling it? We are not on any dining plan. Is it worth paying the $$$$ to eat here without being on a dining plan? We have never eaten here before and it will just be DH and I. I have been trying to get a reservation for a long time, should I keep it or not?! Thanks!

OOP, I would definitely say a lot of the menu is worth it. Lobster chopped salad, steak tartare, poutine, truffle crushed potato, salmon, cod, duck, etc. I really enjoyed everything I tried.

In fact, Le Cellier dinner is less worth it if you're on a DDP, because most people want the mushroom filet anyway, which is available at lunch. It's not logical to pay 2 credits when the dish is available for 1 credit, hence some of the backlash.

Honestly, I've had terrible meals at LC before the menu change, but I'm very happy I tried the new dinner menu. In fact, if I never returned to a restaurant after having one negative/mediocre meal there, I would've certainly missed out on some fantastic experiences at Jiko, Artist Point, Citricos, Narcoossee's, and yes, Le Cellier.

 

[goofy4prez]

Still a bad example. If before the menu change, people considered it the best steak they've ever had, then the lunch version is the one that they consider best, meaning they'll be as happy as they previously were with the version that's half the cost. It's basic economics that explain why people wouldn't pay twice as much for the same thing when they could get as much benefit at the lower price.

Still don't think it's a bad example. Many people including myself do not like to eat their largest meal in the middle of the day, especially in an amusement park where they are going to still run around in the heat, ride roller coasters, spinning rides, and etc.

But again, I do not disagree with you the lunch price is a better value.... As for the lunch menu, I have a feeling Disney is going to re-evaluate things in the next several months and do some more changes. I would not doubt the mushroom fillet will be removed from the lunch menu and made a dinner only. I believe the only reason why it is still on both is because they did not want to make this transition to fast.

I personally believe as a business major and someone who owns a successful business (myself), that WDW has to be somewhat concerned about the lack of enthusiasm in professional reviews and the lukewarm at best response from the overall public concerning Le Cellier. I believe that Disney is going to have to do more than what they have done to get people to see this place worth going to as a signature. I'm not saying it will not be, but IMHO, in it's current state of being, it is not worthy of being a signature aside from a couple of new menu items.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Still don't think it's a bad example. Many people including myself do not like to eat their largest meal in the middle of the day, especially in an amusement park where they are going to still run around in the heat, ride roller coasters, spinning rides, and etc.

But again, I do not disagree with you the lunch price is a better value.... As for the lunch menu, I have a feeling Disney is going to re-evaluate things in the next several months and do some more changes. I would not doubt the mushroom fillet will be removed from the lunch menu and made a dinner only. I believe the only reason why it is still on both is because they did not want to make this transition to fast.

I personally believe as a business major and someone who owns a successful business (myself), that WDW has to be somewhat concerned about the lack of enthusiasm in professional reviews and the lukewarm at best response from the overall public concerning Le Cellier. I believe that Disney is going to have to do more than what they have done to get people to see this place worth going to as a signature. I'm not saying it will not be, but IMHO, in it's current state of being, it is not worthy of being a signature aside from a couple of new menu items.

I'm at business school right now! And I have to say I was surprised (from a business standpoint) that they changed LC to a signature restaurant. The operation that they previously had seemed to be very profitable - high volume of customers, not-the-best quality offerings, and high prices for a 1-credit restaurant. Le Cellier had a niche as the 1-credit steakhouse, and this change will not only reduce demand, but it also puts LC in direct competition with the already established Yachtsman Steakhouse.

But Disney isn't an ordinary business. They have a captive audience consisting of resort guests and DDP users. Word of mouth from past years will still keep people booking LC, even if it's not as booked as it used to be (for the record, most of the signature restaurants are rarely booked up). And while some people online have been vocally indifferent about the new offerings, from what I saw at the restaurant everyone was really enjoying the new food. Disney is actively finding out what people think of the new menu, but they're finding out from people who are actually there, trying the food. I don't think any of these online fan sites represent Disney's clientele as a whole, so while the impression here might be that LC's new dinner is a flop, things are probably completely different in Disney's eyes. And knowing how greedy Disney is, I don't think they'd have a problem reverting back to the old setup if the signature dinner is producing at a loss relative to the 1-credit dinner.