le cellier worth it (for us)?

[collegejunkie]

managed to score a dinner ADR at le cellier for this upcoming wednesday 2 nights ago (!!!). wasn't exactly positive i wanted it, but knowing that it's nearly impossible to get reservations there, i snagged it up.

here's my dilemma: we're from new york and have great steaks all the time, both at home and at restaurants. looking over the menu, it's pricier than what we pay at home and much more than what we had been looking to pay for TS restaurants. i convinced the rest of my party that it might be worth it because of how good the reviews are. now that you know that, do you think it's worth it for us? is it the best steakhouse ever or is it more just the atmosphere that people go for? we went to chefs de france for lunch last week and really enjoyed it, so i don't know if it would be better to go back to chefs instead.

any input will be appreciated

 

[TiggerFan3590]

We went to Chefs for lunch and Le Cellier for dinner on our recent trip and REALLY enjoyed Le Cellier. The food was VERY good, the steak was one of the best steaks I have ever had.... Chefs was very good also... I would suggest keeping your ressies and enjoy the dinner...

 

[figment_jii]

I agree with the PP. We ate at Les Chef and Le Cellier at the beginning of December and enjoyed both. The filet mignon with mushroom risotto and white truffle butter at Le Cellier was my absolute favorite dish of all during the trip. If you managed to get an ADR, I would absolutely go to Le Cellier.

 

[cbg1027]

If you are used to great steaks, maybe Le Cellier is not the smartest choice. It's certainly not 'the best steakhouse ever'.

I really like it there, but for their non-steak items. I don't think the steaks are in any way bad, but they're just an average 'good' steak to me, not something you couldn't get elsewhere. So why bother paying theme park prices for an average steak?

I would keep the reservation and order other items, like the Cheese Soup, Tomato Stack, and Maple Creme Brulee!

The atmosphere is neat, but it's not the most exotically themed restaurant. I think part of Le Cellier's popularity is just purely because it's hard to get an ADR for. I also think it's popular because people on the DDP can get a steak for 1 TS credit. It will be interesting to see what happens when it becomes a signature.

 

[MistressMerryweather]

Definitely wouldn't go for the steak. The atmosphere and the pretzel bread, however, I wouldn't pass up.

 

[OhThePain]

IMO, Le Cellier is one of the top overrated restaurants in Disney. The steaks aren't anything great and everything has always tasted way too salty. The pretzel bread is pretty good, but it all goes down hill from there. We have given LC a few chances to impress us and it never has. It's on about the same level as an Outback Steakhouse or something along those lines, maybe a small notch above, but it's not a big enough notch to be worth paying those prices.

 

[tinkandpan]

I never get the hype over this place. I guess if you are on the dining plan, it being only one credit makes it a great choice. But if you are paying OOP - no way. The steaks aren't that great. Esp if you have access to the steakhouses in NYC. We too are from there and i would put this on par with one step up from The Outback steakwise, let alone anywhere near like a Smith and Wollensky or Maloney and Porcelli or any of those. The pretzel bread is tasty, the cheese soup is okay if you like heavy cheesy things. But ofverll, there are much better choices IMO.

 

[coconutprincess]

While I LOVE Le Cellier, in your situation, I would say its not worth it!

 

[moepanz]

I also am from NY (Brooklyn originally) home of Peter Luger Steak House. I tried LC 3 times. I have to say the 1st time I was very impressed. My favorite thing was the Prince Edward Island Mussels. Yummy. The cheese soup that everyone flips out over was good not amazing but good. The pretzel bread yes I will admit was awesome, the steak was good, nothing outrageous but fine. The maple creme brulee was incredible!!! No complaints. Now the 2nd time the food was flat out gross. I was shocked it was so bad. I remember the people at the the table next to us were saying "what the hell happened to this place" The 3rd time we went for lunch it was just OK nothing special at all. Bottom line LC is no Peter Luger or Ruths Chris for that matter. I hear there are much better steak places on property but you made need to satisfy you own curiosity LC. Have a great trip!!! I have also learned to take the food reviews here with a grain of salt when I saw someone post that the pizza at the POP was the best pizza they ever had

 

[Hopefully]

While we have enjoyed Le Cellier, it no longer is even the best steak on Disney property. Given your description, I do not think it is worth it for you.

 

[goofy4prez]

I wouldn't cancel Le'Cellier, but I would advise you to go into this place with caution to the wind. IMHO, it is an average steak house that is very far from being great. The euphoria of this place just amazes me. Personally, I don't even think this place has the best steak among the 1TS restaurants.

Perhaps, because it's a 1TS on the DDP(for now) makes this place seem to be better than it is. Plop that average slab of beef on a plate with the risotto (fancy for white rice) covered in mushroom sauce and call it a signature restaurant and I bet this place becomes as popular as ABC Commissary is to cs ( all right, I agree that may be stretching it. LOL)

But hey, to each their own, and we all have different tastes and opinions.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

I wouldn't cancel Le'Cellier, but I would advise you to go into this place with caution to the wind. IMHO, it is an average steak house that is very far from being great. The euphoria of this place just amazes me. Personally, I don't even think this place has the best steak among the 1TS restaurants.
But hey, to each their own, and we all have different tastes and opinions.

I agree with your assessment. For the OP they should not go with great expectations for the best steak they have eaten.

 

[fla4fun]

Le Cellier does seem more expensive than the other TS restaurants I've visited on property lately. But I still go. Personally, I prefer their appetizers and sides instead of the regular meals. I love the chicken chipotle sausage and polenta, and then either get a side of mashed potatoes or a side of mac and cheese to go with it. It's typically more food than I can eat and I get to enjoy the ambiance without breaking the bank.

OP, if you haven't been, then I would go. If you have been, and you think something else would be a better choice, then that is your decision. But I'd at least try the restaurant one time.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

Just dined at LeCellier earlier this month. If you are expecting a good steak, then NO, don't go. I went just to find out if the hype is deserved... it's not. The food was good, but really just average (or a little below average) compared to the other restaurants we went to. The mussels were tiny and the cheese soup was yuck - bland and visually unappetizing. And you could be in for a long wait to be seated. We waited about 30 min. but when we were leaving, people said they were waiting an HOUR!

There are MANY other restaurants in Epcot I'd rather dine at.... Here's 3 I'll suggest.

Flying Fish Cafe at the Boardwalk Inn - The mussels were huge and delicious. Other appetizers and seafood entrees were the best. Great service. This is a signature 2 credit meal if on the dining plan. Entertainment in the evening on the boardwalk just outside the restaurant.

Coral Reef - I had the NY strip steak here and it was every bit as good as Le Cellier. Everything else was delicious, great service. We had a table right next to the window and watched the fish and sea turtles during lunch.

Biergarten - Suprisingly good for a buffet. We enjoyed everything. Great pretzel bread too (like LeCellier). Plus you get German music and entertainment. Affordable prices for the buffet... I also had a liter of beer (good draft beer!) for only $12.

 

[rubato]

We are from Kansas City, so we are used to 'really' good steaks. I went to Le Cellier this January and was very disappointed in the quality of their steak. I also didn't enjoy eating in the basement atmosphere even though my fav italian restaurant here, in KC, is a basement feel. I've never eaten at Chefs, so I don't know which I would choose, in your situation.

 

[TinkandGoofy'sMom]

Le Cellier is delicious in my opinion. I really enjoy the caesar salad, cheese soup, mushroon filet with the risotto and the bread. I don't know if it is the "best steak" in WDW, but if it's not, I also think others might be just as expensive, if not more expensive. I think its worth it!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

managed to score a dinner ADR at le cellier for this upcoming wednesday 2 nights ago (!!!). wasn't exactly positive i wanted it, but knowing that it's nearly impossible to get reservations there, i snagged it up.

here's my dilemma: we're from new york and have great steaks all the time, both at home and at restaurants. looking over the menu, it's pricier than what we pay at home and much more than what we had been looking to pay for TS restaurants. i convinced the rest of my party that it might be worth it because of how good the reviews are. now that you know that, do you think it's worth it for us? is it the best steakhouse ever or is it more just the atmosphere that people go for? we went to chefs de france for lunch last week and really enjoyed it, so i don't know if it would be better to go back to chefs instead.

any input will be appreciated

It doesn't sound like you'll think it's worth it. IMO, LC has the most overpriced steak, for the quality, at WDW. That's saying a lot, since this is WDW & you're pretty much paying for location over quality in all the restaurants. The steaks will not live up to $40 steaks in most any other location. On the plus side, if you're on the dining plan, it's a great value. I do agree it's worth going once & ordering appetizers, salads, soups, & desserts, if you're worried about being disappointed in the quality vs. price pf the steaks. You should always try it for yourself. Keep in mind the often touted pretzel bread is very closely related to a soft pretzel. I wouldn't try using that as a selling point, as if LC is the only place to get this amazing bread.

FWIW, for those paying OOP, a much better steak can be found at most of the signature restaurants & the non-Disney signatures for just a few dollars more.

 

[Tara922c]

We went this past May, and thought the food was our best meal all trip. We both had the Cheddar Cheese soup, which was amazing, and I have the filet which I thought was really good. We also shared a side of mac and cheese with dd2, and it was a good choice. Being said, we were on the meal plan, so the price didn't matter. The steak was good, BUT I have had steaks that are just as good, if not better, at home. I think it is a great place to go to have a good steak while in the parks. It is becoming a signature dining place in March, so in May I would like to try and get a lunch ADR, just for the soup! We are major soup people. (I will make soup when it is 100 degrees outside)

 

[collegejunkie]

after talking about it with my party again, i think we are going to give up the ADR and hopefully make a different family happy. we agreed to try it next year when we've tried a bunch more of the restaurants, as we're trying about 6 others this week for the first time and we tried a few last week.

i'll be canceling it soon so if anyone is interested.. PM me and i'll help set it up (but be quick! it's for wednesday night!)

 

[maminnie]

We have eaten at Le Cellier a number of times and always enjoyed the meal and experience.

I would recommend it based on our experiences.

Enjoy.