LeCellier - so disappointing

[StEpHandMiKe<3Disney]

I did not have a good experience there either. We went in 2009 and it was very disappointing. I spent alot of time to get the ressie and then for it to be so bad, we will never go back.

 

[sssteele]

Le Cellier - excellent every time we've eaten there. Every time, and it's probably around 10.

 

[TiszBear]

Here is my 2 cents: if you are a DVC member contact member satisfaction via email. Explain to them what the problem was and give them as much informtion asyou have, date and time of reservation, if you have the name of the people you talked to and if not then their position. I have noticed that when I contact member satisfaction regrardig someting (the room or dining rservation) I not only get contactedby DVC but by Disney themselves, by phone and letter.

 

[akadada]

I agree. I think the dining plan has a lot to do with it.

Same here. . . we went in 2005, 2006, 2008. . . the food was overall great to good to hit or miss and over time it got worse. All of the signature dining we did in 2008 was good to great (Citricos, Flying Fish, Jiko, Cali, and Narcoosees), but the rest of the food was just okay if not outright horrible (Kona Cafe was one of the worst experiences we've ever had). For the rates Disney charges, it's a shame. We just cancelled our entire Disney package and are doing everything offsite and mixing up Disney and non-Disney dining. We just know we'll have a better time this way plus probably saving about $2,000 over a week.

 

[goofy4prez]

When I am given a bad table (with no alternatives) or a dirty table (that someone comes over and 'cleans' with a dirty old cloth, I just leave. I'd rather go hungry.

I would usually agree, but when you pay in advance for the DDP and there is no way your going to walk into a restaurant without an adr,we sure would have hated to waste a ts on a cs instead.

 

[disneyfan67]

Same here. . . we went in 2005, 2006, 2008. . . the food was overall great to good to hit or miss and over time it got worse. All of the signature dining we did in 2008 was good to great (Citricos, Flying Fish, Jiko, Cali, and Narcoosees), but the rest of the food was just okay if not outright horrible (Kona Cafe was one of the worst experiences we've ever had). For the rates Disney charges, it's a shame. We just cancelled our entire Disney package and are doing everything offsite and mixing up Disney and non-Disney dining. We just know we'll have a better time this way plus probably saving about $2,000 over a week.

From now on I will be doing a mix of onsite/offsite dining, mainly offsite and not worry about the hassle of ADR's and the cost. Halfway through the trip when I finally was disgusted enough with Disney dining, I got in my rental car and looked around. There was plenty enough options that were not only decent, but affordable, plus there was no need for reservations. On my first few WDW trips I was hesitant to drive around and go offsite, but not any longer. I always get a 1 bedroom villa when I book a trip as a dvc member so I have a full kitchen to work with. Between that and going offsite, Disney can keep their over priced, hard to get into some restaurants, generic tasting food. It's sounds harsh, but the quality now isn't what I was used to in the past and it's just not worth it. Plus it makes my vacation that much easier and affordable.

 

[TDC Nala]

I haven't been on the Dis in quite a while....too depressing! But, when is Le Cellier going signature??? Quite disappointing. The food was great when we ate there, but I definitely wouldn't consider it a signature meal.

March 1, and only for dinner.

I don't get rental cars, so no offsite dining. On my May trip I may get my local friends to take me to offsite restaurants. But in years of dining on Disney property my patterns have definitely shifted as to which restaurants I will patronize. Le Cellier is not all that exciting, although I did enjoy having birthday lunch there. The server was a hoot and I liked all the food I had. Although, none of it was steak; I don't order steak in restaurants.

What has been expressed here may be another issue with the dining plan (I don't use it myself). If anything goes wrong at the restaurant, if you've already paid for the food, they likely know you are not going to leave and forage for another place to use those DDP credits, no matter how bad the transgression. I remember also reading a thread once about someone who was served unacceptable food somewhere, but they didn't want to send it back because they were on the dining plan and didn't want them to offer to refund the credits - they didn't know whether or not they would be able to use those credits.

 

[ppony]

I'm sorry the OP had a poor experience. I think it's talked up so much on DIS that people expect it to be te end all be all. We liked it well enough but I wasn't thrilled. EXCPET that I got my meal, and I didn't like it AT ALL (can't remember what it was) but it was something I wouldn't eat, at all. Because I'm obese, I'm really picky about the calories I'll eat. I know it was the potato I didn't like now that I think of it. I told the server that and he brought me back an entirely new entree, w/o an extra charge. Our server was top notch and super friendly. Kept bringing is breadsticks we liked and bent over backwards for us though we didn't ask him to. My autistic toddler ws being incredibly difficult so I wasn't able to stay through the meal, but the server boxed up a bunch of things for me after I left and they came out w/ a foil swan/peacock for me.

Will I do it again? Probably. But it's not the best ever. To be fair though, any prime rib I have ever gotten has been almost half fat. that's what a prime rib is in most restaurants. Maybe the OP has been lucky to get it where it's not been that much but I never have which is why I don't ever order it anymore.

From now on I will be doing a mix of onsite/offsite dining, mainly offsite and not worry about the hassle of ADR's and the cost. Halfway through the trip when I finally was disgusted enough with Disney dining, I got in my rental car and looked around.

that's us now too. In fact, it was a factor in us buying into DVC. I was sick of spending a fortune for way overpriced ho-hum food. Last trip we ate on and off site about evenly and were happy w/ that.

4) My dad was an old army sargent, he use to have a saying. When one person complains you can dismiss that as whining, when 100 people complain you've got a problem. I think LC has problems

I love your dad! That is exactly why venting both at the time of the experience and later does IMO, do something. Disney reads boards too and they look at their bottom lines. If their bottom line indeed starts to suffer, they will, eventually address it. It's always waiting for the breaking point.

 

[diskids2]

Just adding to the 100 that are complaining. We ate at LeCellier two summers in a row and the first time, it was pretty good. The second summer (last summer), it was awful.

 

[minnie56]

I also hate the dining plan!!!! I wish they would do away with it and tell them every opportunity!!!

 

[TiszBear]

I agree with minnie56, my family can not stand the dining plan. When we check in for our ADR the cast members are surprised when we say no we are not on the dining plan. I can understand why Disney started it but it has caused alot of problems for people. I wish it would go away.

 

[minnie56]

 

[elainesj]

I started asking for resolution in the restaurant whenever we were unhappy. We were in Sci Fi and my dd thought the mac n cheese she ordered was gross. Her apple slices (which she loves at Pop's food court) was sour. I sent it back and they brought her out a burger and fries.

I had a similar problem at the Rose n Crown. I did NOT like my Guiness Stew and told our waitress after taking a few bites. She took it back and brought out a Shepherd's Pie which I loved.

as for LC, we ate there twice on our last trip. I had been really looking forward to it.

I did find the waiters that week for some reason were pushing the NY Strip steak really hard. Our waiter gushed about it so much dh ordered it. It was OK. My kids had the kids steak...and barely ate them. They were charred and dry. They much preferred my filet mignon - particularly the mushroom sauce. They did enjoy the cheddar cheese soup.

My filet was yummy, melt in your mouth steak and was great. DH really regretted being persuaded to switch to the strip steak.

I liked it enough that we decided to go back a 2nd time that week. I stuck to my filet mignon. I had liked the risotto but found it too salty. I asked for it to be made less salty but she told us it was made in a big batch so I skipped it and asked for the mashed potatoes instead which was yummy.

For my kids, I had gone in with the intention to ask them to give them a big bowl of soup each instead of the steak...but when I explained the experience we had before, our waitress said she would ask the chef to be extra careful with the kids steak.

dh decided to go with the burger to get a bigger bowl of soup because I was craving it.

The kids steak was much better this time around - she even brought them their own dish of mushroom sauce. and dh's burger was YUMMY. And my filet mignon was delicious as always.

 

[1hero2princesses]

Well when we went in 2009 our food was not very good. Truthfully one of the worst meals we had, but because so many people rave about it I was going to give it another chance, but not for 2 table credits or signature dining (have not decided if we will do the dining plan or not). Signature dining is just not in my budget. Wow - considering it was our worst meal I am really surprised this place is becoming a signature restaurant.

 

[ppony]

I also hate the dining plan!!!! I wish they would do away with it and tell them every opportunity!!!

Count me in too on that!

I agree with minnie56, my family can not stand the dining plan. When we check in for our ADR the cast members are surprised when we say no we are not on the dining plan. I can understand why Disney started it but it has caused alot of problems for people. I wish it would go away.

Same here! they're always surprised we're not on it. We're always met w/ great smiles when we say it. I alwaasy feel bad for thpse people I always over hear trying to figure out what is and is not on the plan. I don't want to think on vacation!

Back to the original topic, I did like my filet very much.

 

[ntautz]

I'm so sad your experience was a dud! We ate there in '09 and loved it. Although I always feel they rush you to much when you're on the Dining Plan. Come on, steak should be enjoyed, right?

We're hoping to try again this New Year's.
Best wishes for another adventure there!

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

This thread is almost 3 months old, and dinner was largely upgraded in March.

 

[bytheblood]

Le Cellier is normally one of my favorite restaurants and a must each trip. In Dec I was on the DxDDP and wanted to eat at Le Cellier before it became two credits. I was so excited to get not one, but two of those coveted ADRs for that week. My first meal was so bad that I round up canceling my second. I had the absolute worst waitress I have ever had at any restaurant. She was sooo slow, then finally brought my appetizer and entree at the exact same time. Uh, no I don't think so. I sent my supposedly med rare filet back and when I finally waved her down a good 30 minutes later to ask for another one, mine came back very well done. I waited forever for her to clear that plate and take my dessert order. When I finally got her attention and told her I was ready to order dessert, her response was, "Oh you want dessert too?". My favorite duck appetizer was changed to three little duck meatballs, my steak was inedible, the risotto was pure salt, so none of my entree got eaten, so yes I wanted dessert. She didn't even ask me why I had taken only one bite of my steak and one bite of the risotto.

You should have went straight for a manager.