New Le cellier Menu is up

[DisneyKevin]

Seems like on this board everything was better 10 years ago. It's amazing anyone ever goes any more, since everything is hated so much.

Everything was better 10 years ago.

Everything sucks now.



Le Cellier has achieved mythic proportions in the mind of some guests. Other's feel that the reputation has never been warrented

While the rhetoric has slowed, you will still here the occasional "My trip will be ruined if I dont get a reservation".

Le Cellier is a small venue by Disney standards. It seats approximately 40 people. It can be tough to get a reservation.

With that being said, I believe Le Cellier began to get this reputation by the fact that for a while, it was better than other Epcot restaurants. This is not saying much when it's being compared restaurants in Mexico and England.

It seems a few years back, that started to change yet again. Portions got smaller, prices went up, menu selections were decreased and those that were left were dumbed down to the lowest common denominator.

I have not been back to Le Cellier since we got burned a few Christmas Eve's ago, so the pendulum may have swung again.

At the current prices listed, Le Cellier will have to dazzle me to convince me to spend my dining dollars there when, Jiko, Bull and Bear, Narcoossee's, Citrico's, the Yachtsman Steakhouse and the California Grill are all very close by.

Who knows? Le Cellier might finally live up to it's reputation. If that does happen.....it will be an amazingfeat.

 

[starwood]

$34 for a salmon on the dinner menu!

 

[bicker]

You're correct regarding my overrated remark. I suppose if they've changed substantially, there is no way to know if they are still overrated. Regarding my overpriced remark, I can make that statement even without having tried the new menu simply because I can see the prices.

However, since you cannot know how good the place is, you still cannot conclude that the place is overpriced. The prices may be warranted by the new menu and service changes that they may or may not have made. Without eating there, several times, it is impossible to make a reliable appraisal about that.

Having said that, it almost surely will be overpriced, because everything at WDW has a premium applied that makes them "overpriced" in the general case. While we can quibble about the number, I figure that every price at WDW has a 35% premium applied for its location factor, being there in the resort complex. If you don't place a value associated with that location (either the value of Disney magic, or just the value of convenience), then you're going to see everything at WDW as overpriced. And since the general public typically isn't afflicted by pixie dust, practically everything at WDW will be overpriced in the general case.

I'm a vegetarian, so there's only one menu item on the menu that I'd consider. It sound very nice, with a very nice touch with the truffle butter. At $23, its actually priced significantly less than what I'd expect to pay for that meal at our local fine dining restaurants, such as Cafe Escadrille's Gourmet Room. So given the 35% premium, I'd peg the new Le Cellier at a quality level that much lower than Cafe Escadrille's Gourmet Room - probably somewhere closer to Cafe Escadrille's Cafe, here. If my haphazard and casual figuring is right, folks expecting the best-of-the-best should rethink their visit to Le Cellier... it just isn't expensive enough to justify that expectation.

 

[bicker]

Seems like on this board everything was better 10 years ago. It's amazing anyone ever goes any more, since everything is hated so much.

Everything was better 10 years ago. Everything sucks now.

I know exactly what you both mean. And having been here longer than that, and having been participating in online discussions of WDW for more than ten more years before that, I can recall how it always seems that things were always at their best about ten years ago, no matter what year we're talking about. Time fades the negative memories of the past, leaving only a distorted rosy view of how things really were.

I remember criticizing Le Cellier for its gristly steaks, on several occasions. I dug this 2006 post of mine out of the archives.

We've been to Le Cellier twice, once right after it opened, and once three years ago, at the height of its alleged supremacy. The steak quality sucked. And I do send steaks back when I ordered them medium-rare and they're delivered dry and gristly. And the replacement I received was no better.

We went back to Le Cellier right after that (others in our party insisted) and things were no better. So things were "bad" there practically since the venue was converted from a CS to a TS. In the linked article, I projected that the place had no more than a three year honeymoon.

Le Cellier has achieved mythic proportions in the mind of some guests.

It did have a following, but I suspect that was just because of the fact it was serving beef, in large portions if you wanted it (and incredibly bad-for-you but yummy cheese soup, and really good pretzel bread). That was perhaps blinding a lot of folks to the quality gap that actually had been there almost from the start. Perhaps as someone who had a tendency even back then to stop eating animals, I was not quite so forgiving of the quality gaps.

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

If you set up a thread asking what's a "must do" and what's a "must avoid", I bet you would have every restaurant and attraction on both lists.

For some reason, and this is not limited to this Disney board, people appear to be far more negative about the future than the past. I'm not sure if it's economy or just human nature (or both), but the majority of things in the past are seen through "rose coloured glasses", whereas any change whatsoever is judged by the doom and gloom police.

Various restaurants and attractions at Disney appear to have wide reputation swings, be it justified or not. One day they are the best thing since sliced bread, the next they are vilified. As I have only been going to WDW for a few years now, I can't really judge places as much as some of you. But to judge a new menu before even trying it, or for that matter hearing reviews of it seems premature to me.

Like others have said, calling a Disney restaurant overpriced is obvious. What in Walt Disney World isn't over priced? It's a matter of degrees, and what most people are willing to spend on vacation usually is more than at home (it's different for "locals").

 

[Alztybrn]

$9.00 for Cheddar Cheese Soup...Really????

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

$9.00 for Cheddar Cheese Soup...Really????

That seems reasonable, given that the tiny cup at Food and Wine was like $3.50.

 

[doconeill]

That seems reasonable, given that the tiny cup at Food and Wine was like $3.50.

You can't justify the reasonable-ness of the price based on an unreasonable starting point

I've said it before - I think LeCellier became uber-popular because of the dining plan, because it served North American staple food that at least 90% of the guests were familiar with. Most of the rest cater to different tastes and the guests may have not been familiar with the foods and not willing to risk their precious credits on a meal they may not like. So ADRs became impossible to get, which gave it legendary status which rivaled CRT. So then everyone HAD to get reservations there.

I don't know if the change to "signature" and two credits is to make it better, or make it less popular...

 

[persimmondeb]

Honestly, I think the "overpriced" partly depends on where you live, and what kinds of restaurants you normally eat in. Unfortunately my budget doesn't permit me to spend like that all that often, but there are several local fine dining restaurants that we're fond of that have comparable pricing. We ate there a couple of years ago out-of-pocket and found it neither overpriced or overrated.

Now, we did order carefully, so as not to run the bill up, and I think at least one person had an appetizer as their meal, but there were 6 of us, with a little wine and at least one dessert, and we were just over $200 for dinner. We were also expecting a civilized tourist establishment, not the best meal of our lives.

 

[goofy4tink]

Just read through the menus. I'm not sure of the worth now. If the quality is going way up, maybe...but a $15 burger...

That was my thought as well. I have a lunch ADR for next month...I'm just not sure if I'll be keeping it.

Seems like on this board everything was better 10 years ago. It's amazing anyone ever goes any more, since everything is hated so much.

But it was..... I've been going to WDW, at least twice a year, since '99. The dining, overall, used to be much better. I could get different things at different places. Now, there is a decided sameness to all the restaurants. Even the lounges have stopped any 'originals' and they all have the exact same menu!!
LeCellier, as already mentioned, is small so it's hard to accomodate a ton of people. And when in Epcot, people head to LeC simply because the vast majority want food that is familier to them. That's why it's easy to get a seating at Morocco!!
But is it worth it at LeC??? I'm just not sure anymore. There is no way I am willing to spend almost $9 for a cup of soup. And about $7 for some tomato/mozzarella?? Nope, not happening. But, that's my choice. Others feel differently.

 

[sshaw10060]

We ate at Flemings in Boston last weekend and the prices are comprable. The real question is the quality of the product they put out. If they serve top notch product with the service to match it's worth it. If not then it is a rip-off.

I think we'll have to wait and see. The opportunity to revamp the menu might result in markedly better food. I think the service and kitchen there has struggled in the past because they try to cram too many people in there and turn the tables quickly (even then you routinely wait an hour after your ADR to be seated). It may be that by raising the prices and increasing the number of dining credits (and improving the food) they'll have a top notch steakhouse and the masses will go elsewhere.

 

[bicker]

You touched a bit on the matter of 'originals' and 'sameness' - I think, though, that only a limited number of people (1) are going to make that distinction; (2) visit often enough, eating at enough TS restaurants enough, to come to appreciate those distinctions. That's not to say there aren't people who do, but rather that it is such a small group that it doesn't hold enough weight to justify the additional cost (including cost of managing the differences). Despite the tendencies of DISers, WDW is still mostly a destination resort, someplace that people visit once or very infrequently.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Personally, Le Cellier is a lot better than California Grill, and somewhat better than Jiko, but it really just depends on your personal tastes, and what you're willing to pay for.

 

[topolino]

Personally, Le Cellier is a lot better than California Grill, and somewhat better than Jiko, but it really just depends on your personal tastes, and what you're willing to pay for.

This is obviously a matter of opinion, and you've stated yours. Mine is completely opposite. I've been to all three restaurants multiple times and my worst experiences at Jiko and California Grill are still better than my best at Le Cellier. I'd add Yachtsman Steakhouse to the list of restaurants that, IMO, are better than Le Cellier.

Of course I haven't been to Le Cellier since the new menu, but I'd be surprised to find out that anything but the prices have changed substantially.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

This is obviously a matter of opinion, and you've stated yours. Mine is completely opposite. I've been to all three restaurants multiple times and my worst experiences at Jiko and California Grill are still better than my best at Le Cellier. I'd add Yachtsman Steakhouse to the list of restaurants that, IMO, are better than Le Cellier.

Of course I haven't been to Le Cellier since the new menu, but I'd be surprised to find out that anything but the prices have changed substantially.

Yachtsman is my favorite restaurant on property.

 

[topolino]

Yachtsman is my favorite restaurant on property.

Mine is Jiko at the moment, but Yachtsman is a close second.

If the changes at Le Cellier put it anywhere near Yachtsman, quality-wise, then that's a good thing. But I would still call it overpriced, as I consider Yachtsman, as good as it is, to be so. I just would've liked to have seen Le Cellier remain a lower priced option, and I would really have liked that it's reputation hadn't raised the bar as high as it did.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

I know everyone has different tastes, but, as far as I'm concerned, until Jiko, Yachtsmen, etc. get the Chocolate "Moose" then LeCellier wins.

 

[lugnut33]

Just my opinion:

Ate at LC several years ago and I wasn't impressed. Matter of fact we thought our dinner at Coral Reef was better. We have not been back since, nor do I even want to try to secure a ressie at the 180 day mark.

Personally, I'd rather jump in my car and head over to Sweet Tomatoes where I can feed my whole family for under $30 (as long as I have a 2 for 1 coupon). That's actually less than the salomn at LC. Actually, the cost of the cheddar cheese soup at LC costs as much as the unlimited salad buffet at Sweet Tomatoes.

 

[BriarRosie]

I am totally with Andrew on this one. Le Cellier has always been overhyped and not worth it IMHO. It used to be much, much better about ten years ago. Still the hype is not worth it. This menu is just more insult to injury. $7 for carrots? $23 for quiche? $7 for sauteed mushrooms? Honestly. I rather give my money to California Grill or Jiko.

That's because the chefs move around a lot. You know who worked at Le Cellier years ago? Brian Piasecki. You know where he moved to a few years ago? Jiko. And you know where he's been working for a little over a year now? California Grill. When talented chefs move to other restaurants, sometimes the restaurants seem better! (Jens Dahlmann was the executive chef for California Grill for many years, and he's now a VP, I think. He's been promoted, for sure.)

Seems like on this board everything was better 10 years ago. It's amazing anyone ever goes any more, since everything is hated so much.

It's not that we hate it, we don't. We just remember how much BETTER things used to be.

Le Cellier has achieved mythic proportions in the mind of some guests. Other's feel that the reputation has never been warrented

Not prior to the DDP in 2005 or 2006. Le Cellier got the mythic status because it was a place inside a theme park where you could get steak for 1 table service credit. And since it's literally a smaller capacity, it was then more difficult to obtain an ADR.

It seems a few years back, that started to change yet again. Portions got smaller, prices went up, menu selections were decreased and those that were left were dumbed down to the lowest common denominator.

Many people blame the Disney Dining Plan for that. I have been in agreement. Disney stopped allowing their high end places to serve foie gras in October 2008. That was a change I noticed (because I've loved how it was prepared at California Grill and Victoria and Albert's.) I think Disney has probably cut the food budget to the point where the people responsible had to dumb it down to fit the budget. They allow their signature restaurants to serve some better quality food because they can get a better return on profit through the dining plan or people paying out of pocket.

I would go to Le Cellier to try out the new dinner menu. Most people on the DDP will probably give up evening ADRs to conserve dining plan credits.

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

Truth be told, this will be our first Signature restaurant. We're using the dining plan, but my son wanted T-Rex for his birthday, so we're using the extra credit for Le Cellier (and my birthday).