Le Cellier was "OK", quick review

[global_mom]

We dined at Le Cellier on Oct. 16th for my b-day dinner (39th ). It was me, DH, DS12, DD9, DD6. This was our first time at Le Cellier and we were pretty excited as we had heard good things. I had also read some negative reviews so we were prepared for anything. We were on the DDP.

We arrived at 7:15 for our 7:30 ADR. They were running behind which was not a problem b/c they really cant control how fast, or slow, people are going to eat. The hostess thought they were about 15 mintues behind but we were not seated until 8:20. Luckily the KidCot station for Canada is located next to the restaurant and its CMs were kind enough to let our daughters make 6 masks while we waited for the table.

Our server, Matt, was great and friendly. The area around our table was pretty dirty, tons of food on the floor. I know that they are very busy and there are tons of kids but it would be nice for them to at least sweep up the large food items from the floor. The bathrooms were nasty.

The filets were great! The mashed potatos were great! The mousse dessert was scary and sort of icky. DH ate it but the kids and I only took a taste. Other than the mousse we liked the food. The atmosphere was quite rushed and we really felt like we had to hurry to make room for the next guests.

While we plan to return in March, we were a bit disappointed with the overall experience. It was not bad, just not as great as we had hoped but the filet is worth a return.

 

[Doc Goofy]

I'm with you - it's good but not great. The steaks are pretty small too! But it's a place I generally like to go when it's available. But, I'm not devastated when it's not. The filets are just as good - if not better - at California Grille and Hollywood Brown Derby. I DO like Canada at EPCOT, though!

 

[MenashaCorp]

We ate lunch 10-18 at LeCellier, an ADR I felt fortunate to get given this restaurant's popularity. While we waited to be seated, I was shocked to hear a party of six walk up and be told "no problem!" The number of empty tables also didn't fit with the apparent lack of ADR availability The Disney reservation "system" is a mysterious thing. The food was passable at best including the much-lauded filet. This steak could never be compared to that at Brown Derby or CA Grill, both of which I'd had earlier in the week. The worst part was how rushed we felt. Our server even held off turning in our appetizer order while we waited to order our entrees, a strategy so often recommended to avoid this rush job. I assume "Le Cellier" must be French Canadian slang for "Fast Food..."

Yes, the cheese soup was good, but for this place to be so sought after is a complete mystery to me.

 

[Princess_Michelle]

Wow, I can't believe how hit or miss these things are. We were at Le Cellier on Sunday, Oct. 7th and we had a great time. The place was clean when we went, so were the bathrooms. Our waiter was STELLAR, I don't know if that has to do with the fact that we were NOT on the Dining Plan. We didn't feel rushed at all, and actually spent quite a long time at the table. Our ADR was for 6:20 pm, and it didn't take us long to be seated. We all thought the food was really good, and it was the best meal of our trip. I should add, that we are used to eating out at nice places at home, so it's not like we went in w/o any experience....

I'm not trying to say you guys are lying or exaggerating or anything. I just find it so weird when reading reviews to compare it to my experiences, and sometimes, they are just exact opposites, and sometimes they are the same. It's something I'll keep in mind from now on.....

 

[global_mom]

Wow, I can't believe how hit or miss these things are. We were at Le Cellier on Sunday, Oct. 7th and we had a great time. The place was clean when we went, so were the bathrooms. Our waiter was STELLAR, I don't know if that has to do with the fact that we were NOT on the Dining Plan. We didn't feel rushed at all, and actually spent quite a long time at the table. Our ADR was for 6:20 pm, and it didn't take us long to be seated. We all thought the food was really good, and it was the best meal of our trip. I should add, that we are used to eating out at nice places at home, so it's not like we went in w/o any experience....

I'm not trying to say you guys are lying or exaggerating or anything. I just find it so weird when reading reviews to compare it to my experiences, and sometimes, they are just exact opposites, and sometimes they are the same. It's something I'll keep in mind from now on.....

It does seem that there is often a "hit or miss" situation with restaurants anywhere and often at WDW due to its size. We have been to restaurants that we loved on the same day that others did not like them at all. The time of the ADR can sometimes affect things like the cleanliness. We got into Le Cellier at 8:30 which could explain the difference in the cleanliness from a much earlier ADR. Still no excuse for the proper cleaning to be overlooked.

Please do let me say again that our server was great! He took very good care of us and was kind and attentive. He could not help how fast the kitchen turned out the dishes so he was not the one who was supplying the "rushed" feeling. We were on the DDP and have NEVER experienced a difference in service based on the DDP or OOP. Many folks do seem to notice a difference so maybe we have just been lucky but it has truly never been an issue for us and we have used the DDP on 5 seperate trips for a minimum of 5 nights on each trip. It will be interesting to see if there will be differences in service once the 2008 DDP goes into effect.

It was definately a "good" meal just not a "great" meal but we will be going back for the filet and taking friends with us on the next visit. It was fun to try something new.

 

[suzimar57]

we're passing on le cellier this trip - last couple of years, we've gone and it's been "eh...alright" - nothing spectacular, just ok - steaks tasted as good as we get here at the outback steakhouse - didn't like how there are so many tables seatedthisclosetogether....

 

[Goingtoseethemouse]

Oh I am so disapointed! I have reservations for next Tuesday. I hope it's a "hit" night that night!

 

[Rustysmom]

We ate there at the end of August and it was wonderful and I sure hope it's as great when we eat there again n 11 days, out of pocket. Yikes!

 

[Minniespal]

Thanks for your review.

 

[MenashaCorp]

Oh I am so disapointed! I have reservations for next Tuesday. I hope it's a "hit" night that night!

OK, I admit I went a bit postal jumping on Le Cellier. Sorry. I would say as many here have that any restaurant experience is very server-dependent, WDW or otherwise. I was worried with our CA Grill ADR at 6p that we would be rushed and have to leave, come back for fireworks at 9. Completely not the case; so I'm sure with realistic expectations (it's just a restaurant, not the sine qua non of your trip as Kevin Klose would tell you) you will do fine at Le Cellier - which is actually French for "Try the cheese soup, eh!"

 

[G's mommy]

We have eaten at Le Cellier many times, lunch and dinner and have always had a good experience. Don't let one or two bad reviews change your mind. Go and try it for yourself. Every restaurant at WDW has good and bad reviews.

 

[satman1962]

We went for the first time this past August to see what the fuss was about and found the service and food to be good. (Although the mushroom rissoto was really salty.)

That being said I still don't think it deserves the hype it gets.

Reviews are so subjective though....Enjoy!

 

[abeyst]

I've wondered how it would be lately, too. It's been so great for so long, but I finally got an ADR. But they did change chefs, and I wondered if that would change things.

 

[Luv2Roam]

We have eaten at Le Cellier multiple times and have enjoyed each meal. I think Le Cellier is very good, but not up to high on the pedestal standards I read about here.
I would be disappointed if I could not eat there. I think there are other places just as good.

 

[anabelle]

The worst part was how rushed we felt. Our server even held off turning in our appetizer order while we waited to order our entrees, a strategy so often recommended to avoid this rush job. I assume "Le Cellier" must be French Canadian slang for "Fast Food..."

That's funny because when we went there last year they made us feel like they were in no hurry to serve us. It took forever.

 

[KKB]

Wow, I can't believe how hit or miss these things are. We were at Le Cellier on Sunday, Oct. 7th and we had a great time. The place was clean when we went, so were the bathrooms. Our waiter was STELLAR, I don't know if that has to do with the fact that we were NOT on the Dining Plan. We didn't feel rushed at all, and actually spent quite a long time at the table. Our ADR was for 6:20 pm, and it didn't take us long to be seated. We all thought the food was really good, and it was the best meal of our trip. I should add, that we are used to eating out at nice places at home, so it's not like we went in w/o any experience....

I'm not trying to say you guys are lying or exaggerating or anything. I just find it so weird when reading reviews to compare it to my experiences, and sometimes, they are just exact opposites, and sometimes they are the same. It's something I'll keep in mind from now on.....

We WERE on DDP & have nothing but rave reviews! Excellent service, lovely ambiance. We are from Nebraska, and I always say that unless I am in the Midwest, to NOT order steak or I will simply be disappointed. DH had 14 oz. NY strip & Mom had 7 oz. filet---perfectly cooked, and so tender you could cut them with a fork! I had salmon, best I've ever had...Mom said second only to Alaskan salmon!

I thought the moose was cute, and tasted like chocolate mousse...DD9, self-proclaimed chocoholic ate up every bite!

Certainly a bad server or a bad time can tarnish your experience. We had wonderful meals with adequate service. I loved Narcoosees...came for the lobster...saw butternut squash risotto w/ the scallops on the menu (had this WONDERFUL risotto at Le Cellier)..it was NOT good, and somewhat tarnished my opinion of Narcoosees. I do now realize that had I ordered the lobster like I had planned to, it would have been fab top to bottom.

We had TERRIFIC meals at WDW...service was efficient to extremely personable; never rushed or rude. We did not love everything we ordered, but were remarkably happy with most of it! Dessert is one area WDW needs to work on; that was the area we were least satisfied with overall. Usually LOOKED wonderful, but did not always taste that way, though there were a few wonderful ones.

 

[global_mom]

Dessert is one area WDW needs to work on; that was the area we were least satisfied with overall. Usually LOOKED wonderful, but did not always taste that way, though there were a few wonderful ones.

We sure agree with this. The desserts always look so good but often they tasted like they came from Sam's Club (nothing wrong with Sam's club, I shop there all the time). There are some that are very yummy.

 

[Busymom85]

Thanks for your review. Hope we don't have to wait as long. At least there was something for your kids to do.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

Well, I will find out what all the hype is about in Dec....one of the reasons I think this is such a tough place to get into...not jsut the popularity due to its fans....I have read the dining area is on the small side, so not accomodating alot of guests.

 

[global_mom]

Well, I will find out what all the hype is about in Dec....one of the reasons I think this is such a tough place to get into...not jsut the popularity due to its fans....I have read the dining area is on the small side, so not accomodating alot of guests.

It did seem smaller than I had imagined it would be but the tables are very very close together. We were at a table for 6 next to a table for 2 and my DD jumped right into the next table's conversation b/c we were so close to them!