Le Cellier vs Chefs de France

[Time Traveler]

We have a dinner reservation at Le Cellier for our January trip but lately we've been hearing that its quite overrated and has been going downhill recently. The loss of the maple filet and various other things have made us possibly think of eating at Chefs de France instead. We have a reservation for Jiko where we'll most likely all get filets so not having steak isn't an issue.

Any input?

 

[princssdisnygina]

We have a dinner reservation at Le Cellier for our January trip but lately we've been hearing that its quite overrated and has been going downhill recently. The loss of the maple filet and various other things have made us possibly think of eating at Chefs de France instead. We have a reservation for Jiko where we'll most likely all get filets so not having steak isn't an issue.

Any input?

OMG! We started choosing Chefs de France years ago over Le Cellier! The filet there is AMAZING! We love the onion soup and everything else that goes with it! I would DEFINITELY choose Chefs de France over Le Cellier any day! I do not think you would be disappointed!

Gina

 

[Pakey]

I would also go to Chefs over Le Cellier.

 

[Katiebell]

We had dinner at Chefs our first night -- food was good, service was horrendous. We had lunch at Le Cellier -- food was wonderful (Mushroom Filet was the best steak I've ever had, and DH had the cherry sorbet for dessert which was amazing), and the service was very, very good. I'd definitely go back to Le Cellier -- Chefs was ok, but after the awful service (which was probably just a fluke), I think DH would rather have a funnel cake for dinner than ever go back. There are reviews of both, with pics, in the first couple of pages of my trip report.

 

[TigerKat]

I would choose LeCellier over Chefs. We've been to both and while Chefs was good, LeCellier was excellent!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Add us to the Chefs over LC club.

 

[princesswendy720]

This is slightly off topic...but I've read alot of reviews of Chefs de France complaining that the server wasn't very attentive. Having spent quite a bit of time in Paris studying abroad I'd have to say that it's a cultural thing...they won't even bring the bill over unless you ask them to because the understanding is that you've paid for your meal and you should be able to sit there in piece without being distrubed for as long as you like. It's a totally different experience than being in an American restaurant where the server is constantly checking up on you. Maybe this is the attitude that some of the French servers at CdF have and it is something most people aren't used to by any means.

...back to the topic...I can't speak from experience but I chose Chefs for our upcoming trip. To me, the atmosphere seems more appealing and so does the menu. I eat mainly for the overall experience, and I know that I can get a good filet in a lot of restaurants. Plus I'm a little nostalgic for the French bistros I miss so much.

 

[onelilspark]

I've stopped bothering trying to get Le Cellier. It's not worth it when there's so many other great places. Chefs is one of my favorites. I'd also place Tutto Italia and Tepan Edo above it.

 

[MickeyNicki]

First of all Jiko is the most amazing place ever for a filet so good choice

I would pick Chefs over Le Cellier any day, the menu is more appealing and tons of choices and the atmosphere is much better

 

[stace1214]

I loved Le Cellier... our server was fantastic and the food was outstanding. Our experience at Chefs was not good at all.....definitely Le Cellier for me, hands down.

 

[kat3668]

Le Cellier hands down! no contest!

 

[MJMcBride]

I think Le Cellier, while a solid restaurant, is a bit overrated. I like Chefs de France better

 

[Katiebell]

This is slightly off topic...but I've read alot of reviews of Chefs de France complaining that the server wasn't very attentive. Having spent quite a bit of time in Paris studying abroad I'd have to say that it's a cultural thing...they won't even bring the bill over unless you ask them to because the understanding is that you've paid for your meal and you should be able to sit there in piece without being distrubed for as long as you like. It's a totally different experience than being in an American restaurant where the server is constantly checking up on you. Maybe this is the attitude that some of the French servers at CdF have and it is something most people aren't used to by any means.

Well...our server at Chefs wasn't merely inattentive...I don't mind a server leaving us alone as long as we don't appear to want or need anything. He was, unfortunately, shockingly rude. Maybe it was just a bad night for him, but it pretty much ruined what would have otherwise been a nice meal. He wasn't from France -- he was from Monaco, according to his name tag -- so I don't know what, culturally, to expect service is like there.

The restaurant was pretty, nice atmosphere, the food we had was good -- not fabulous, but again, might have been an off night, or what we ordered wasn't the best on the menu, or something like that...but we enjoyed ALL of our other meals much more. Of all the places we ate in September, Chefs is the only one we wouldn't go back to.

However, we only had one dinner at Chef's and one lunch at Le Cellier, so there are others who post here that have a lot more experience with both restaurants.

 

[Time Traveler]

I've stopped bothering trying to get Le Cellier. It's not worth it when there's so many other great places. Chefs is one of my favorites. I'd also place Tutto Italia and Tepan Edo above it.

I made sure to get a reservation for Tutto Italia, there's no way we'll miss it with all the great reviews we've seen!

Thanks to everyone for the feedback, we're most likely going to reschedule that night to Chefs.