Les Chefs de France or Bistro de Paris?

[Robindianne]

Which do you prefer? And why?

Thanks!

 

[M5ward]

Les Chefs de France or Bistro de Paris? Two entirely different dining experiences. Les Chefs is a bustling, fairly loud restaurant while Bistro is a sedate, quiet fine dining restaurant. It really depends on what you are looking for as to which is "better." We've eaten at both places and enjoyed the food and service at both. It just really depends on the mood and ambience you're looking for.

 

[KYMickey]

Les Chefs de France or Bistro de Paris? Two entirely different dining experiences. Les Chefs is a bustling, fairly loud restaurant while Bistro is a sedate, quiet fine dining restaurant. It really depends on what you are looking for as to which is "better." We've eaten at both places and enjoyed the food and service at both. It just really depends on the mood and ambience you're looking for.

Perfect explanation! It certainly does depend on what mood you're in. We pursley like the quiet in the evening and the bustle during the day for lunch. The food at both of them is outstanding by Disney standards.

 

[Pakey]

While I think Chefs is okay for a casual lunch, we much prefer Bistro for dinner. For a few adults, it offers a much nicer atmosphere. They have a decent wine selection and the chocolate souffle is very good.

 

[ElizabethB]

Our last visit to Bistro was very disappointing (Nov. 2010). We went late, hoping it would be quieter. We went on a non-EMH night at Epcot, hoping that would help as well. When we arrived at 8:30 p.m., the place was jam-packed, with kids everywhere. I guess this is a result of the fact that kids can now order off the Chefs de France children's menu. Waiters were running at top speed, kids were at nearly every table -- hitting their siblings, pulling hair, etc. One table had one woman trying to care for five children. No one even contemplated leaving until after Illuminations, even though the view isn't very good. The place was worse than Chef Mickey's.

The kitchen was rapidly running out of food. The quality of my filet mignon was pretty poor and it was smothered in gravy, which seemed mostly an attempt to hide its poor quality. Dh ordered the scallops, which were fishy-smelling (meaning way too old to be served). They ran out of the potatoes that would have accompanied my steak and sent out something else (rice or something, I don't really recall.)

The place did not quiet down until after 10 pm. By then, the waiters were hurrying to finish up for the night.

The prices are very expensive. The quality did not match the prices. With wine, we were into this dinner over $350 for two.

We decided we would rather spend that money for a second night at V&A. We won't go back to Bistro.

 

[princssdisnygina]

Our last visit to Bistro was very disappointing (Nov. 2010). We went late, hoping it would be quieter. We went on a non-EMH night at Epcot, hoping that would help as well. When we arrived at 8:30 p.m., the place was jam-packed, with kids everywhere. I guess this is a result of the fact that kids can now order off the Chefs de France children's menu. Waiters were running at top speed, kids were at nearly every table -- hitting their siblings, pulling hair, etc. One table had one woman trying to care for five children. No one even contemplated leaving until after Illuminations, even though the view isn't very good. The place was worse than Chef Mickey's.

The kitchen was rapidly running out of food. The quality of my filet mignon was pretty poor and it was smothered in gravy, which seemed mostly an attempt to hide its poor quality. Dh ordered the scallops, which were fishy-smelling (meaning way too old to be served). They ran out of the potatoes that would have accompanied my steak and sent out something else (rice or something, I don't really recall.)

The place did not quiet down until after 10 pm. By then, the waiters were hurrying to finish up for the night.

The prices are very expensive. The quality did not match the prices. With wine, we were into this dinner over $350 for two.

We decided we would rather spend that money for a second night at V&A. We won't go back to Bistro.

Was the Bistro or Chefs because it sounds as if you were describing both? They are two different restaurants.

 

[aubriee]

Was the Bistro or Chefs because it sounds as if you were describing both? They are two different restaurants.

I believe she was describing the situation at the Bistro. She just said that since kids can now order off the Chef's de France menu from downstairs, that more people are now taking kids to the Bistro. In the past the taking of kids kids was discouraged by the fact that the Bistro didn't offer a kids menu, now they allow kids to order off a Chef's de France kids menu at the Bistro.

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Bistro! The atmosphere is more relaxing (less hustle and bustle) and romantic. I found the food and service to be better as well.

 

[johnsonet]

We absolutely LOVE Chefs de France. It's one of Disney's best, IMO.
Haven't been to Bistro in years but there was recently a GREAT review on the Disunplugged podcast! Check it out.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-podcast/

 

[grace&philipsmom]

We prefer Bistro. The kids enjoyed seeing Remy at Chefs though.

 

[Robindianne]

Thank you all for your thoughts. I'm listening to the review right now. Love the descriptions. Next question: can we see Illuminations from there enough to try for a specific ADR time?
thanks

 

[ElizabethB]

My comments were about Bistro (not Chefs de France). I would pick Chefs over Bistro because I expect noisy kids and mediocre food there. I didn't expect those things at Bistro.

Only a few tables for two along the wall at Bistro have any view of Illuminations, and it is only a partial view, blocked by many trees.

I listened to the podcast. I think it helped that the person reporting went on a Sunday night. That night probably is a bit slower than others. On the night we were there, the place absolutely "screamed" Disney -- where else would one find a roomful of noisy kids in a "high-class" and very expensive French Restaurant?

 

[Robindianne]

Ah, thank you Elizabeth. I'm sorry your dinner at Bistro was lousy. Hoping not to get flamed, but I do think restaurants of the V and A / Bistro type discourage children and I think that is one reason adults choose those restaurants: no antics. Nothing against kids, I have one and I was one

OK, next question, should we dress up a bit for Bistro? We didn't for Chefs but that was, as you've all pointed out, a different type of place.

Thanks again.

 

[Pakey]

Bistro used to be a place where people dressed (we dined here regularly prior to the addition of a children's menu). After reading Elizabeth's recent review, I'm not sure I'd bother. If children are eating there off the Chef's menu, I would assume that Chef's attire would work here too. It does in all of the other signatures.

 

[Robindianne]

Great. Thanks.