Le Cellier - Should I Give it Up for another Epcot Restaurant?

[goofy4prez]

If you've never been there then give it a try.

I personally think this place is way, way, way, over-rated and over-hyped; but as a pp stated, once this is a signature restaurant in a few months I doubt it will become a "must do" restaurant.

My own experience was a good but not great steak, buried in some musroom sauce that had the taste and texture of a can of Campbells Musroom soup poured over rice (oops risotto).

 

[DONALD38]

Little over a week ago we tried Le Cellier for the first time. We were excited that we actually were able to get a ADR. We thought the atmoshere was nice and the server we had was great. I love eating steak and thought the staeak here was very good. Not the best I've ever had but it was good.

It was good that we had a chance to try this place. But it is not worth 2 TC in the future. It will be interesting the turn out it will have when it changes in 2011.

 

[laura74]

If the main reason you want to go there is to try the cheddar cheese soup, I read somewhere here that you can get the soup and pretzel bread to go. That would be a good option for lunch one day.

 

[eliza61]

If the main reason you want to go there is to try the cheddar cheese soup, I read somewhere here that you can get the soup and pretzel bread to go. That would be a good option for lunch one day.

Which always makes me giggle, it's now 2 ts and people are going their raving about the soup?

I'd probably try flying fish, OP. le Cellier is way overrated imo and not even the best steak on site.

 

[laura74]

Which always makes me giggle, it's now 2 ts and people are going their raving about the soup?

LOL. That IS funny.

 

[Tammy296]

Go with your gut instinct....

where do you truly, really, madly, deeply wanna eat? IF that's the place, then go for it.

There ARE tons of steak places at WDW...Captain's Grill, Kona, and Coral Reef being a few of them...my BF tried them all and found them equally as good (for steak) believe it or not. Coral Reef didn't even live up to its seafood hype (in my eyes and I'll never step foot there again). I don't personally see the hype in Le Cellier except for the cheddar cheese soup but I also hear it's on the IFW menu this year at the Canadian booth (as you walk by) so I don't really think I'm missing out by not going to Le Cellier this year

Just have a great time either way!!

T

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I have a 6:30pm dinner ADR for Le Cellier.... I know I should be jumping for joy I have this ADR.... I thought I should keep this ADR so I can unravel the mystique of this place... but it just seems like any old steak place.... Am I wrong? I think I would get the cheese soup and 1 of the steaks.

And the restaurants I'm thinking about going to instead are quite easy to get an ADR...

Restaurant Marrakesh - went here for lunch in 2009 and just loved this place! The food, service, music, belly dancing... everything was great!

Flying Fish Cafe - never been here but the menu is very appealing! We are already going to Flying Fish Cafe another night... we could go twice the menu sounds so good. (or change our other night at FFish to something else).

San Angel Inn - already have a lunch ADR but could pick a different place for lunch and do dinner instead. Never been here but looks like a fun place to dine with the decor and music.

We already have these ADRs at other times - Coral Reef, Chefs de France, Biergarten, Garden Grill.

Umm.. it's any old steak that's not cooked very well.

IMHO this resturant is a victim of it's own success. Food has suffered as the staff just "churns" out steaks with little regard to quality etc....

 

[Checkers]

My DH & I are going to WDW in a few weeks and we have an ADR for dinner at LeCellier (we will not be on the DP) and I have been going back and forth about cancelling. We ate there last year and it was just mediocre and is definitely not worth 2 TS credits (next year) so it will be interesting to see if they change their menu. The Yachtsman Steakhouse at the Yacht Club offers a better quality of steak, imho.

 

[RebeccaB]

If your ADR is for a party of 4 on October 7th, then you should definitely try a new restaurant, because I can't get in! Seriously, Le Cellier is my absolute favorite restaurant in Epcot. Other than the fact that is is pretty crowded (like Les Chefs de France, Coral Reef, and just about any other) I like the atmosphere. It's cool and relaxing after a hot, busy day in the park. I can cook a delish filet, but I love their mushroom filet! I am still trying everyday to get an ADR for my upcoming trip.

Enjoy!

That's rather creepy, as our adr is for Oct 7th . I'll keep my fingers crossed for ya.

 

[bamagirl@hrt]

That's rather creepy, as our adr is for Oct 7th . I'll keep my fingers crossed for ya.

That's funny! I do keep trying every day. I did get Crystal Palace for breakfast on 10/8; it's the other one I've been trying for. This is the first time I've not been able to get into LC, but I also didn't plan this trip a year in advance like I usually do either!

 

[WDWGeek1971]

Flying Fish Cafe - never been here but the menu is very appealing! We are already going to Flying Fish Cafe another night... we could go twice the menu sounds so good. (or change our other night at FFish to something else).

I've eaten everywhere you've mentioned, and of them, Flying Fish is my favorite. If you can, eat there early in your stay so you can go back. I did a solo trip about 24-30 months ago and ate there because I could sit at the bar. I was less than impressed the first time--5 or 6 years ago. Anyway, it was so good I ate there every night that trip (only 3)--at the bar--and had something different and wonderful every night. Now, it's the one "must do" restaurant on my ADR list for every trip. Give it a go.

IMHO, it would still be a great restaurant if they plopped it down in San Francisco or NYC.

 

[RebeccaB]

That's funny! I do keep trying every day. I did get Crystal Palace for breakfast on 10/8; it's the other one I've been trying for. This is the first time I've not been able to get into LC, but I also didn't plan this trip a year in advance like I usually do either!

What are your dates and where are u staying?? Maybe we'll run into each other We'll be at the Crystal Palace on the 3rd.

 

[bamagirl@hrt]

What are your dates and where are u staying?? Maybe we'll run into each other We'll be at the Crystal Palace on the 3rd.

We'll be there October 6-11. We're staying at CBR for the first time. We actually weren't planning to go to WDW this year. Last October was our big 9 night, stay at BCV, do everything, last-trip-for-several-years trip. But, I ended up having surgery the day before we went, so I couldn't do water parks or roller coasters or tours. This year is a bonus to do some of what we missed last year. The count down is on & we can't wait!

I hope you have a fabulous trip as well! So far, the extended forecast is looking cooler than the first week of October last year.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

Wonderful to hear everyone's thoughts. Thank you! It's always interesting that some restaurants get extremely mixed reviews. I'm close to canceling Le Cellier (Dec. 7) and sticking with Flying Fish (2nd time in this trip) or Marrakesh.

Le Cellier gets the most mixed reviews. People either love the steak or hate it. Some compare it to Outback (and I think Outback's steaks are terrible and tough). But there's another steak chain called Texas Roadhouse that is affordable and their steaks are great, very tender.

Marrakesh gets some pretty rough reviews. But we had a great lunch experience there. Not crowded, super service, great food, and loved the music and belly dancing.

One of the things I like about Disney is the possibility of being entertained at a meal... characters, music, etc... That, we don't get at home..... Actually at home, our version of formal dining is usually Chinese or Pizza/Sub delivery! With a 5 yr old, there's only so much formal dining to do.

 

[carrie1626]

DEAR ORIGINAL POSTER:


OK, you've peaked my curiousity. It looks like you're staying at a value resort this Dec. Is free dining available during your stay? And do you plan on spending that much time in Epcot to have 4 ,maybe 5 TS ADR with Le Cellier in Epcot? I 'm just curoius, that's all!

I'm sure what-ever you have planned, works for you
I'll share my two cents: if you really want to go the LeCellier, GO!!! and find out for yourself. I wouldn't give up doing something I wanted to do because people say they don't like it- just as many say they DO!!!

 

[shortchange1026]

I would cancel. Le Cellier isn't as good as it once was, it's a shell of it's former self in my opinion. Had a bad dinner there after having a fantastic one a few years earlier and we won't be back any time soon.

 

[blondietink]

Shula's at the Swolphin has the best steak dinner at WDW.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

DEAR ORIGINAL POSTER:
OK, you've peaked my curiousity. It looks like you're staying at a value resort this Dec. Is free dining available during your stay? And do you plan on spending that much time in Epcot to have 4 ,maybe 5 TS ADR with Le Cellier in Epcot? I 'm just curoius, that's all! QUOTE]

No problem with the curiosity, feedback welcome!

The free dining is not available for our check-in date but it would not have saved us more than the 25% off room rate discount we have. 25% off the value resort rate is not much, but I'll take it! Deluxe Dining Plan for 9 nights, all lunches and dinners are table service, a few character breakfasts. Usually just eat light breakfast in our room.

Total time planned for Epcot is 9 hours Future World, 15 hours World Showcase. We could probably squeeze it into less days, and if we do, we will do it.

We will do everything in FW except Mission Space and Ellen's Energy Adventure (will probably skip it). Test track and Soarin a few times each. Nemo stuff more than once. Characters. Never did innoventions so will spend a full hour there I guess.

A lot of time in WS because of all the Christmas stuff. Candlelight Processional (and wait time), holiday story tellers, Santa Claus, Music and entertainment at each country, boat rides in Mexico and Norway, 1 or 2 of the movies, and characters. We did very little of WS on our last trips.

12/3 Arrival Day -- At MK from lunch to 5pm (MK closes for MVMCP), then to Boardwalk Inn for Flying Fish Cafe, then either a little time in Epcot Future World or HS to see Osborne Lights before heading back to resort.
FW = 1 hour

12/4 -- HS during day (includes EMH), MK in evening until 10pm closing.

12/5 -- Will sleep late since up late 12/4, to Epcot for early lunch at Coral Reef, some Future World attractions, early dinner at 1900 Park Fare, then MVMCP. FW = 3 hours

12/6 -- HS from lunchtime through Fantasmic and Osborne lights.

12/7 -- Epcot for morning EMH, then to Cape May Cafe character breakfast at 9:20 (might arive a little earlier). Chefs de France at 1pm, Candlelight Processional at 5pm (no package), dinner after (6:15 Le Cellier or Marrakesh or 7pm Flying Fish). Park time will be mixed Future World and World Showcase. Back to resort after dinner (getting up early next morning). FW = 3 hours, WS = 4 hours

12/8 -- AK all day...

12/9 -- MK and MVMCP (not sure yet if going 2nd time to the MVMCP, if not then will probably go to HS for Osborne Lights again or do Mini-Golf.

12/10 -- Sleep late and then Epcot all afternoon, Candlelight Processional? at 5pm (no package) and evening through illuminations. Lunch at Biergarten, Dinner at Garden Grill. FW = 1 hour, WS = 8 hours

12/11 -- Going to Epcot mostly just for lunch at San Angel Inn, , then to MK via monorail. FW = 1 hour, WS = 3 hours. Will skip the WS part if we covered it on an earlier day.

12/12 -- Departure day. MK in late morning and for a late lunch.

 

[nbs2]

I'll share my two cents: if you really want to go the LeCellier, GO!!! and find out for yourself. I wouldn't give up doing something I wanted to do because people say they don't like it- just as many say they DO!!!

This seems to be the strongest endorsement I can think of for making either choice, but making it your own. I'm pretty sold on checking out LC when we get there, but if I can swing a change in my Akershus ADR, I'd drop it in a heartbeat. Why? Because I want to try both, but I put a slight increase in my time convenience above LC and below Akershus.

Once you figure out what you want to do in an ideal situation - and it sounds like you have - do it. It sounds like in your heart of hearts, you want to go back to Marrakesh - if that's what you decide to do, I'm sure that you will have a great time. If you hold on to LC, I hope that is fun too. Either way, I suspect you'll have a great time.

 

[MyTwoPrincesses]

I am probably cancelling my Le Cellier lunch reservation. I made it due to hype, but DH and I never go out for steak here. I won't even eat the cheddar soup, as I don't eat bacon... I am probably switching for Les Chefs de France for lunch. The prix fixe lunch menu looks more appealing to me. I am already over the limit on DDP credits though due to a lunch at CRT... so it makes sense to go to Chefs, as it is affordable to pay for lunch OOP - it's what I'd pay for a nice lunch when meeting up with friends at home.