The Le Cellier Hype

[purple figment]

We've always had great meals and service at Le Cellier. Our favorite entree is the filet with mushroom risotto, but the NY strip steak, prime rib and salmon have also been excellent. I can also recommend the cheddar cheese soup, duck three ways and the bread sticks. Oh, and the chocolate "moose" for dessert.

Our next trip is later this year and we're looking forward to another good dinner there.

Kim T

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

Can someone explain what is so great about this restaurant? What am I missing? Should I try to get an ADR still? I just don't understand. I was going to book at the 180 day mark but there's many other restaurants we want to go to that either seem better or more fun.

Here's what I understand so far about Le Cellier.

• Small restaurant, very popular, difficult to get ADR, possible long wait to get seated.
• Great steak. But still some who give the steak a bad review.
• Limited menu, nothing unusual or spectacular, but still a place to get a good steak.
• Good value - 1 dining plan credit

This just seems like a place to get a good steak. But I can get that at home. And every signature restaurant and many others at Disney have good steak too. We like other Disney restaurants that have more interesting food, fun decor, entertainment, or characters.

I'm probably in the minority here....but I could probably get just as good of a steak around here, the problem? We RARELY go out to eat. It's not in the budget for us, DD has a peanut allergy so we're pretty picky about eating out in the first place, and DFs schedule is usually 2-12pm 5 days a week. SO when we're in Disney, I really look forward to sitting down at a restaurant and having a meal served to me for 7 days straight b/c those 7 days are really the only 7 days out of the year that we do to a restaurant. This year we went out on Mother's Day and my parents took me out last night. Other than that...haven't gone out to eat anywhere this year. And 1 TS credit and yummy steak and mashed potatoes and that cheddar cheese soup and chocolate "moose" yuuuum

 

[SnowWitch]

We've always had good meals at Le Cellier, not mind blowing but really good. If it becomes a 2 TS they will ahve to enjoy their menu selection, theres no way I would use 2 TS credits for Le Cellier, I would add an extra night at California Grill.

 

[SnowWitch]

We've always had good meals at Le Cellier, not mind blowing but really good. If it becomes a 2 TS, they will have to improve their menu selection, theres no way I would use 2 TS credits for Le Cellier, I would add an extra night at California Grill.

 

[mom2val]

I am happy to be able to say "yes I have eaten there" but I have no plans to ever eat there again. For me it was less than magical. I really despise feeling like I have no personal space. I have a very hard time tooning out the conversations of other around me- so it was hell for me to be so close to other tables. I did not enjoy my food: cheese soup nasty and my entree' had WAY to much truffle oil.

On the other hand --- Dh loved his steak and dd enjoyed hers.

 

[skier_pete]

By the way, has anyone here ever had the scallops at Le Cellier and if so, how were they? I never see their scallops mentioned in dining reviews.

OK, we were ones that doubted the hype for years...we tried it for the first time last year...while I wouldn't fall all over myself over the place, it was very very good. The irony is, the weakest thing about the food was the steak...I totally agree with PPs comments that steak can be made at home as good as at restaurants...but the steak was still very good. In fact, DWs had the filet which I thought was close excellent. (I had the KC strip, and just thought it was OK.

However, everything else we had was fantastic. The cheese soup was quite good...DW had the crabcakes that were great. The pretzle bread was sooo yummy. I substituted the rissotto side for the yukon gold potatoes, which were absolutely incredible.

And DMIL had the scallops - and they were just plain excellent. Desserts were equally stellar. I loved the smores desert.

So, here's my feeling - while we wouldn't DIE if we didn't get to eat here, it was well worth a dining credit, as it was clearly one of the best 1 TS credit meals we've ever had at WDW. Is the steak as good as a high end steakhouse where you would spend $45 for the steak alone? Nope...but it's on par with Outback, which we love...and yes it's way more expensive than Outback...but I wouldn't pay $30 per person for the buffet food outside of WDW either.

We actually asked for a few of the recipes, and received an e-mail with the Yukon gold au gratin potatoes a few weeks later. We also talked to our server quite a bit. You can have long conversations with ANY Candaian if you bring up hockey!

 

[Tommy_B]

I suppose it depends on your mind set and what your expectations are. I hate to break the news to people, but most of the restaurants in WDW are not "OMG amazing". You want "OMG amazing" food go to Las Vegas instead.

I buy into the ambiance and the theme. It DOES feel like a restaurant in Quebec or Montreal to me.

50's Prime Time DOES feel like a 50's diner with meatloaf, fried chicken, tuna casserole, etc.

The Brown Derby is just like the old Brown Derby in Hollywood as I remember it.

Don't look for the greatest food you've ever had, look for an experience that transcends mere food.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I also think the reputation is a lot of hype.
Last I ate lunch there I had a burger that came on a English muffin that was so hard a steak knife couldn't cut it.
The soup is anywhere from dull as dishwater to good. But not worth the hype.
Biergarten also has pretzel breadsticks. (Which I agree are great.)
LC is good. But I always wondered how busy it would be out in the real world.
I would not turn down eating there. But I wouldn't go out of my way either.
The beer cheese soup at Big River blows LC cheese soup out of the water, IMO.

 

[Forever Fairy]

My DH and I figured since everyone talks about it we'd give it a try. Even though we had an ADR, we still waited 30 minutes to get seated. I also agree with the other posters, you practically sit on top of the other tables and there really isn't a lot of privacy. We got sat at a 2-seat table and it was so small that it barley fit our plates.

The cheddar cheese soup and pretzel bread are excellent - but this isn't enough for us to warrant another try.

Overall, we felt we got better steaks from a local restaurant at home and have decided we'll try other locations instead.

 

[goofy4prez]

Le'Cellier is a good, not great, but good steakhouse. I personally find it to be on par or perhaps a little better than an Outback; this is not a negative because I do enjoy Outback.

With that said, I personally don't get the over-hyped and over- sensationlized euporia about Le'Cellier. Perhaps it's because it's a 1TS (for now) restaurant which makes it a very good deal on the DDP. Perhaps it's because it's such a comfort food with it being steak, or perhaps I'm just wrong about this place and need to be slapped upside the head. I just don't know for sure.

What I do know from my own personal experience and opinion(notice I said opinion and experience, not stated fact). is the place is very dark, very loud, the wait times of 45 minutes and longer past an ADR, having to try and nail down an ADR at the percise minute one is able to at 180 days out is just not worth it for me.

I will admit perhaps my opinion is somewhat negative based on my own experience. Being placed right next to the restroom entrance and hearing every flush of a toilet while eating, with a server station right behind your ear clanging and banging silverware, and being told by a very arrogant manager when we asked politely for another table and being told "we can sit there or we can find another place to eat this evening" had a real damper on our whole dining experience at Le'Cellier.

Sorry, I so much wanted to love this place, it did not rock my world, I didn't feel explosive goosebumps up and down my back with every bite, and time did not stand still as it seems to do for so many who love this place.

 

[Tistal]

I know this is like sacrilege on these boards, but I won't go to Le'Cellier again. I thought the cheese soup wasn't very good that everyone raves about, and the steaks were no better than the ones I can get at home at a steak house. Because it's just my DH and I, we get crammed into a small table in a corner usually and find ourselves piratically eating on top of the family beside us. I'd rather go to one of the other restaurants in world showcase or Coral Reef (that everyone on these boards seems to hate). I'm sorry, the lobster soup at Coral Reef

 

[missminniemouse]

Add me to the list of people who don't quite understand the Le Cellier hype. I always feel like I'm criticizing it, but I don't mean to sound negative. I genuinely don't understand why people rave about this restaurant so much. It's not bad, but its nothing more than a basic steakhouse. Doesn't every town in the country have a place comparable to Le Cellier? I am only in Disney for a few days a year. That means I have a limited number of available meals. I prefer to have them at creative, unique restaurants -- not somewhere I can feasibly go to any weekend at home.

That's exactly how I feel.

 

[Magic2000]

My DD & I always go to LeCellier at least once during our trip - sometimes twice. We're not on the dining plan, so we pay OOP. I don't think of it as a do-all, be-all restaurant, but we enjoy the food (love the cheese soup), DD loves the smores, and we've always had really good service. And I guess we've always been lucky that we're usually seated at a table for 4 even though sometimes its just the two of us. I don't feel crowded at all.

 

[twinboysmom]

When we ate there I was a bit disappointed. Thought it was just ok and our bill, quite shocking for what a considered to be a meal about as good as Outback. We don't use the dining plan but I think it is a good value for one TS credit. I agree that it is loud, crowded, and in my opinion, just not worth the difficulty it can be to eat there.
We always drive to WDW and usually venture offsite to eat at Charley's steakhouse. For the same price we receive much larger portions and a steak that is out of this world. The appetizers and desserts are great and while still casual, it is quieter than Le Cellier and our service is always great. Tables for 2 are roomy. There is a location across from Celebration for those who are interested.
Just my opinions......

 

[amshowers]

Well, Le Cellier is a must do for us. Yes, we enjoy the steaks, good apps and fab deserts. The ckn sausage and polenta is so good,the cheddder cheese soup is good, but not fantastic as it is hyped to be. I the maple creme brulee and my kids really like the smores,and choclate moose. I honestly go for dessert, but enjoy a good steak thrown in.

 

[BrerSam]

I don't understand the hype either, have eaten and thought it was nothing special.

Not planning to go back, would rather go to the rose and crown

 

[Kit'smommy]

I live near Tampa and we have several really great restuarants for steaks that DH and I go to frequently.

Still, we have enjoyed every meal (at least 6-7 over the last 5 years) that we have eaten there. It isn't Bern's or Charlie's, but they have good steaks and we have always had excellent service. They are especially good for a restaurant located in a theme park.

To each his own...

 

[bangzoom6877]

We're trying Le Cellier for the first time in a couple of weeks. We're expecting the quality to be that of a chain steakhouse like Outback. We're certainly not expecting Peter Luger or anything like that. We are paying OOP, no DDP for us. I made the ADR for dinner there at the 180-day mark, but I knew we still may not get it. Had we not been able to get it, we would have just gone somewhere else, no big deal.

I really think Le Cellier is so hyped up because it is a good deal on the DDP. I mean, you can get a $36 steak, a $3 soda and a $7 dessert for 1TS credit. I think that is what draws people to it so much. People like to feel that they got more than what they actually paid for, just like there are some people (and I know quite a few) who will eat themselves sick at a buffet just so they can walk away saying they got away with eating more food than what they paid for. It will be interesting to see if it is difficult to get an ADR there once it becomes 2TS. If we like it, we will return. If we don't see the big deal, we may not return. We are big steak people, and we may decide to try something like Yachtsman on a different trip.

 

[DisCopper]

I've eaten at every restaurant in EPCOT on multiple occasions (except Norway- can't handle the whole princess thing... sorry).

I've had experiences that range from great to poor at ALL of them except Le Cellier.

Le Cellier has always been consistant: the food is good (not GREAT!), the service has always been perfect, and I like the dark, cellar-type atmosphere (it's nice after a hot afternoon in the Parks).

I do agree that it's too small, and can get cramped, but that's not something that would run me off.

I think part of the hype has to do with the fact that you can get a decent steak at a 1 credit restaurant (and remain in the Park). There are lots of picky eaters out there who are nervous about trying rich, French food, or something exotic like Morocco. Especially in the US, there are many, many "meat and potatoes" people. There are also people who spent a lot of their lives on a budget, and don't dine out a lot. The appeal of the steak (even if they know nothing about the restaurant) has something to do with it. I was thinking about how easy it used to be to get into the restaurant, and then I realized that it really started becoming difficult when the Dining Plan kicked in.

 

[disneymegs]

If you're looking for a more formal, relaxed, steak or meaty dinner, go to the Yachtsmen Steakhouse in the Yacht Club. It had an awesome steak there (Ruth's Chris quality if you know what that is) and the total meal was wonderful. I got same day reservations and tried it for fun. They bring out two different kinds of bread. To put on the bread, they brought us roasted garlic, oil and balsamic vinegar, and butter topped with red sea salt. We were thrilled with just the bread. It was followed by a wonderful steak dinner. Our filets came with garlic mashed potatoes and caramelized onions. We got creamed spinach and truffle mac and cheese to share and both were excellent. I've never been to LeCellier, but after this I don't care to ever try. It can't be any better, and you'll never get a reservation that easy. The Yachtsmen Steakhouse is very roomy and the staff is very friendly and prompt. Definitely try it!