The Myth that is LeCellier

Zip-a-dee-dude-da

If only I could find a woman like Tinkerbell!!
Joined
Apr 19, 2005
Messages
390
Sorry to offend those who love it...... But what is the deal on these Boards and in the Disney On-Line Community about LeCellier. I have been there afew times and it's fine, I guess, but there are many better options for dining at WDW. Heck Shulas and Yachtmans serve a far better steak than LC. It seems this establishment has been overhyped to the point it is heresey to speak poorly of it. It tastes like cheap steak to me. The bread is Good. The Atmosphere to me is cramped and crowded. (LIKE A CELLER...GET IT). I remember when this place was a buffeteria counter service resturaunt. Why does Le Cellier have such a good reputation, is it the cheaper(in comparison) price to other spots? Is anyone with me. Its not that LeCellier is BAD I just dont get why so many rave about it so much.pirate:
 
I have a few thoughts...

1. It used to be MUCH better. Perhaps it just takes awhile for the news to catch on.
2. The prices are high, so when folks are on the DDP, it looks like a great deal.
3. Part of the hype with LC comes with the difficulty getting an ADR there. Folks just don't always realize the reason it's tough to get into is because it's small.

With that all said, I still love the Filet and risotto. However, after eating there the last few trips, we refrained from it in December and have no plans to hit it in June.
 
Well, we happen to like Le Cellier; but I agree there are other places in Disney with equally good food. And Le Cellier is definitely one of the more crowded places - you are so right about that. The tables for "2" and "4" are no more than 6 inches apart...no such thing as a private conversation in there. They might as well shove 'em together & say it's the same seating as at Biergarten:laughing:. But a couple of points about your post: Shula's and Yachtsman's are both more expensive places so it's not really an apples-to-apples comparison there (or steak-to-steak, as this case may be, lol.)

AND, Le Cellier is only one TS credit on the Disney Dining Plan, so it's a good steak option for those using the DDP. Yachtsman's takes 2 TS credits per person, and Shula's is not on the Disney DP at all. So that's another reason Le Cellier is so popular.
 
I think Le Cellier became more popular with free dining, since it is one of the better one credit restaurants. Alot of people are also very picky with what they like, but unless you are vegetarian ...going to a steakhouse is a pretty good bet that there will be something you like on the menu. I have eaten at Le Cellier several times and can honestly take it or leave it. I did make a ressie for this trip because dbf has never been there and I think he would enjoy it. However, I've never had a bad meal there, but I do dislike how close together the tables are and it can be very loud!
 

I agree, DH and I have been here once after hearing all the hype about it. I don't get it either, it wasn't all that great. I mean it wasn't bad but it wasn't very good either. Plus we felt like we were sitting at the same table as the people next to us we were so close. I don't think we will go back anytime soon.
 
It's basic meat and potatoes.
It's one DDP credit.
It's located inside a theme park.
The soup tastes like bacon and people love bacon.
It's also a very small restaurant. The capacity is only about 150.

Put all that together and you have the only restaurant that sells out regularly at the 180 day booking window (for dinner at least). Sure you can go to Yachtsman or Shula's - but Yachtsman is 2 credits and Shula's isn't on the dining plan at all, you have to fork out big bucks to go there.

I do know that before the dining plan, there's no way Le Cellier was this popular. After 2005 it exploded.

My favorite Le Cellier story was the couple who walked up to the podium on a visit in May and asked what the earliest was that they could be seated for dinner. The response was "August."
 
Honestly, we have only ever had nice quiet romantic meals there with fabulous service. It isn't a myth for some people. I mean, we got a 2oz poor of icewine and we hit it off with our server so well he just filled the glass up, and made a joke about it. I think it is like any restaurant...for some people it is amazing and for others it is hit or miss. For us, it has been amazing every time. I think the reason it is booked up, as a previous poster stated, is that it is a small restaurant (not that people don't realize that it might not be that great). We usually have great service everywhere, but at Le Cellier it has always been amazing. We are easy people to please though, and having been servers ourselves, we don't mind waiting for service. It is just like any restaurant at Disney...sometimes its perfect and sometimes everyone has a bad day.

And by bad day, I mean...maybe the server's kid is sick, or the cook as an atrocious headache. So I just try and enjoy the people I am with and not worry about the people around me doing everything right. If its great...awesome! If it stinks, I still had a good time!
 
Interesting thread!

My expectations were l-o-w when we went this past November because of all of the negative reviews that it had been getting on the boards. We were pleasantly surprised by a nice meal and good service. I would have to say that it was in the top 5 dining experiences we have had at WDW.

Am I going to try to book it again for our next trip? Probably.

Am I going to be terribly disappointed if I don't get the ADR? Absolutely not. The Wave is much better, IMHO.

My DH has been to Shula's and he raves about it. Oh, how I wish it were on the DDP!
 
We've enjoyed it every time. Guess it is a personal opinion thing. Been there about 4 times and each time was a great experience. Well prepared food and great service. It DOES get a lot of hype, but I don't really listen to that. All I can rely on is my experience, and I enjoy it quite a bit. Why would anyone be offended that you don't feel the same? Just don't go if you don't like it. Trust me, those of us who do will thank you for it!

:thumbsup2
 
we like the food... :confused3
The steaks are just OK, but I go for the sides.
LOVE their mushroom risotto (I ordered it specifically for our wedding dinner buffet). Their salmon dish was always good. And when they used to have the maple spoonbread... oh man oh man oh man... I'm drooling just thinking about it. And their asian shrimp appetizer was great too. Not sure if they still have those. Seems like all the stuff I love slooooowly disappear.

And of course the bread.

And no, not a big fan of the cheese soup.

So yeah, I still make an ADR when we go to WDW. If people starting to not like it then maybe it'll make it easier for me to get a ressie... :lmao:
 
I've never been there, but family friends of ours also rave about it. Thanks for the info though, because I'm a picky steak eater since my DH and father in law are such good cooks, especially with filet. I won't waste an ADR there!
 
We had a wonderful meal there the first time we went. We totally agreed with the majority DIS opinion that the place was great, so we booked for our following trip and it was truly horrible. The server was terrible, food was not even cooked and just tasted bad. The bad experience far outweighed the good one and so we will never again be trying to get this ADR!
 
I've never loved this place like others do, it's just okay for me, liked it better when it was a cafeteria type restaurant. The only thing that I really "love" is the soup, but I'll wait to get it from the stand at F&WF instead of eating there. I prefer Chefs de France for an equivalent DDP level restaurant.
 
The soup tastes like bacon and people love bacon.
:rotfl2::rotfl2:

You just gave me a great idea. I'm going to start a restaurant that serves nothing but bacon and tell people they can't possibly get a reservation and I'll be an instant success:rotfl:
 
The other Disney dining establishment that is a myth is Beaches and Cream. A generic malt shop that receives an almost cultish, pyschotic level of hype due to the mere fact it is (a) hard to get into (again due to small size and the fact you can't make ressies at it) and (b) a single menu item that is nothing more than a big pile of B- grade supermarket ice cream buried under K Mart sweets.
 
The other Disney dining establishment that is a myth is Beaches and Cream. A generic malt shop that receives an almost cultish, pyschotic level of hype due to the mere fact it is (a) hard to get into (again due to small size and the fact you can't make ressies at it) and (b) a single menu item that is nothing more than a big pile of B- grade supermarket ice cream buried under K Mart sweets.

I was unaware that Beaches and Cream had a cult like following, but I don't read these boards that often, so maybe I missed this. Regardless, its a family favorite of ours. The food is nothing exciting, just burgers, hot dogs, and the ice cream is edy's (I believe), but we love it anyway. To be honest I have no idea why, but it's one of those places where I really feel like I'm on vacation.
 
I've never had anything other than a fantastic meal there. Different strokes man...
 
Sorry to offend those who love it...... But what is the deal on these Boards and in the Disney On-Line Community about LeCellier.
I have often wondered the same and written posts asking that question. It seems an immeasurable component of Le Cellier's success and popularity is the advent of the dining plan. It costs just one credit and offers basic food that the average guests recognize and enjoy. I don't quite understand the hype. To those who appreciate Le Cellier, isn't there a restaurant in your hometown with equal or better food? Maybe I am spoiled by growing up in the New York area, but Le Cellier has just never seemed special to me.

The other Disney dining establishment that is a myth is Beaches and Cream. A generic malt shop that receives an almost cultish, pyschotic level of hype due to the mere fact it is (a) hard to get into (again due to small size and the fact you can't make ressies at it) and (b) a single menu item that is nothing more than a big pile of B- grade supermarket ice cream buried under K Mart sweets.
It seems there is a growing bandwagon of people who agree with you. I still love Beaches & Cream, primarily for the atmosphere. It's cute and charming, evoking nostalgic memories of the beach. I look forward grabbing a seat at the counter after dinner and indulging in a milkshake or a sundae.
 
Guess i never thought of the ddp thing.......i think the fact it is small and it is hard to get a ressie makes it even more attractive to people.
 
The other Disney dining establishment that is a myth is Beaches and Cream. A generic malt shop that receives an almost cultish, pyschotic level of hype due to the mere fact it is (a) hard to get into (again due to small size and the fact you can't make ressies at it) and (b) a single menu item that is nothing more than a big pile of B- grade supermarket ice cream buried under K Mart sweets.

While I totally agree that Le Cellier is overhyped, I can't say that I agree with you about B&C. There aren't too many places that offer a quick, simple meal that also serve grilled cheese. To us, it's a notch above quick service, but perhaps even better than just a notch because there's literally NO quick service where my son can eat a meal. It's a staple for late lunches for us when we stay at BC and we never find it hard to get into. Of course, we know when to go. And the staff remembers us - there's one woman who has served us many times and she always comments about how tall our son is getting and remembers his name.
 





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