Trying two new Epcot restaurants, how would you rank

[Masonmj84]

San Angel Inn and Monsieur Paul relative to the other resturants in the park from an overall dining experience perspective?

FWIW, I've eaten at the following and would rank them as follows:

1. Via Napoli (just really like the pizza here)
2. Teppan Edo (enjoyed the food and overall experience)
3. Chefs de France (have enjoyed the prix fixe lunch)
4. Le Cellier (not signature worthy except for the filet)
5. Biergarten (not a huge fan of dinner/lunch buffets but we went for the unique atmosphere)
6. Coral Reef (just wasn't at all impressed with this place)

So I would most particularly be interested as to how you'd rank San Angel Inn or Monsieur Paul relative to any of the above (while realizing that Monsieur Paul is a signature and that YMMV relative to my rankings of the above 6).

 

[heidijanesmith]

I thought our meal at San Angel Inn was the worst meal I have had in or out of WDW.

We had terrible service, the food was awful and the cost was huge!

I agree with you about Coral Reef! We had a less than stellar meal there.

We have not been to Monsieur Paul, so I can not comment on this place.

 

[OneOftheB's]

We were not very impressed with Monsieur Paul, the food was okay (nothing special) and the service we received was really, really bad. Maybe it was the fact that we had 2 kids under 8 years old, maybe it was because we booked an early dinner (because we had younger kids with us and really wanted to eat more quickly and go before the youngest became bored and became a distraction to other patrons). It is one of the few restaurants DH never wants to try again, even though the kids are older.

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

I'd put San Angel 4th on that list, though we haven't tried 5-6. Atmosphere was cool, the entrees were good, service was fine, salsa was awful.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We love San angel. We were there in dec. Food and service were wonderful. Also for me I didn't think cost was high at all but that's a personal issue.

 

[OKW Lover]

San Angel Inn and Monsieur Paul relative to the other resturants in the park from an overall dining experience perspective?

Our opinion:

• Monsieur Paul is significantly better than the other Epcot restaurants for overall dining experience. Its also probably the most expensive.
• San Angel Inn is terribly crowded. To the point almost that you need to take alternate turns breathing. La Hacienda across the promenade is a significantly better overall Mexican restaurant.

 

[Disneylover99]

I would rank San Angel at the top.

People seem to complain about the crowded tables and slow service quite often. We like to eat lunch there as soon as it opens. We get a nice table overlooking the water and it is just starting to get crowded as we leave. We've had the best meals and the best service here early in the day before it gets too busy.

 

[piccolopat]

We were not very impressed with Monsieur Paul, the food was okay (nothing special) and the service we received was really, really bad. Maybe it was the fact that we had 2 kids under 8 years old, maybe it was because we booked an early dinner (because we had younger kids with us and really wanted to eat more quickly and go before the youngest became bored and became a distraction to other patrons). It is one of the few restaurants DH never wants to try again, even though the kids are older.

We've eaten at Monsieur Paul's three times and always enjoyed it. When you say you had bad service, what was the problem? We liked the slower, more European service but if you were in a rush I can see that being a problem.

 

[lovin'fl]

1. Le Cellier...have not been in years, since it was just one TS credit, but we used to love it there
2. Chefs de France...good food and a neat Prixe Fixe menu but not super friendly of a place
3. Biergarten...nice show and good food but sometimes a long slow buffet line
4. San Angel Inn...mostly for ambiance, food is just meh
5. Teppan Edo...we have better Japanese steakhouses at home and TE is way more pricier
6. Coral Reef...food is disappointing but ambiance is neat
7. Via Napoli...got a burnt flavorless pizza and service was terrible
* never ate at Monsieur Paul's

 

[OneOftheB's]

I have no problem with a European style service. It's not good service, in any location, when the waiter doesn't stop by to refill drinks, when it takes 20 minutes for him to return to take food orders and when you have to sit and wait for him to return to see if you would like dessert or drop off (and collect) the bill. We are familiar with the pacing of higher end dining, but we experienced poor service/slow service.

 

[VAtink]

We've only ate at half of those on your list, so I can't rank against them all, but we do prefer Monsieur Paul over the ones we have ate at. The food was fantastic, especially the dessert (family hasn't stopped talking about the dessert since we've been back!), plus service was great! Here is our rankings for the ones we've tried:
1. Monsieur Paul
2. Le Cellier
3. Via Napoli
4. Coral Reef

 

[OneOftheB's]

We've eaten at Monsieur Paul's three times and always enjoyed it. When you say you had bad service, what was the problem? We liked the slower, more European service but if you were in a rush I can see that being a problem.

It was slow/poor service, ie waiting 20 minutes to place our order, drinks not being refilled on a hot day in May, deciding to walk down the way for ice cream instead of waiting any longer to order and receive dessert, waiting for the server when we were ready to get our check and then pay our bill, leaving a table that had not been cleared at all, of any plates after paying our bill. I waited tables in college at a steak house and am pretty forgiving of waitstaff, up to a point when it's not an issue of a waiter being super busy and having a waiter that is either not very good or just doesn't care for whatever reason. For what it's worth, the food was good; I've had better at that price point and worse at WDW.

 

[amberpi]

Love MP and find SA very unique. I've spent so much time in Europe, this whole complaining about tables being "swished" just isn't even a thing for me. I try not to roll my eyes, but, the struggle is real.

Hacienda - is ok, but if you're not near the water after dark its a pass. Too many variables for meh food. After dark and by the water is pretty darn cool.
Teddan Edo - is just hibatchi, every town has a couple and the atmosphere is just hibatchi. Its NOT bad at all, but pedastrian.
Le Cellier - again, not bad, just not the best steak at all in WDW, but for sure, a darn good choice in Epcot.
Chefs De France - I find it to be a lot of food (and this is a turn off for me), and I hate the limited menu, but again, not a terrible choice, it can't get in the ring with MP or SA for me though.
Coral Reef - a restaurant I loved throughout childhood and until probably 2008-2009. You can't necessarily get a table by the tank, even you're willing to wait, and the menu is again limited and has been a disappointment. I will say, I've seen some recent reviews that make me want to try again.
Biegarten - its a buffet and I don't. I hear good things though!

So, I think you've got great places in very unique settings. The food at MP is outstanding, but I don't do the dining thing, so I don't know if that's limiting. SA, much like Blue Bayou, is one of the most original places you can eat in a themepark. You can get a better steak at your local Ruth Chris vs. LC, you can get better Mexican at any of the many great mexican celebrity chef places in any major city all over. You can get better french food at your local gastro pub. You can't get sitting next to a ride and volcano. I think that's cool. Maybe I'm a disnerd.

You didn't mention Spice Road Table (its unusual, and on the water, leisurely eating tapas any time of the day is pretty ok for me), Marrakesh (good food, and belly dancers? not as easy to obtain in most cities), or Rose and Crown. I'd pick any of these before the ones you mentioned and if you're looking for new...Seriously, Spice Road Table is easily one of my faves and would have to get in the thunderome with MP/SA (for very different reasons) for fave at Epcot.

Man, every thread makes me reconsider restaurants I don't get to enough. Argh. I'll let the last minute gods point me the right direction

 

[happymommy]

We ate at Monsieur Paul, when it was named Bistro de Paris. It was so nice! Very good service, and felt so away from the crowds. It was all 4 of us, and it was so expensive that DH wouldn't let me see the bill (I'm sure it was $500). Granted, we had wine pairings, and my foodie son ordered a lot of things off the adult menu too. They brought DD a kids menu, as she wanted more simple food.

Worst meal ever I've had at Disney was Chefs de France, the downstairs one. We actually ended up leaving, wasting two fricking hours. The manager was a total jerk. I can't even begin to tell you how bad it was.

San Angel Inn - just meh. Okay but nice ambiance.

 

[Anniefrances]

No experience with Monsieur Paul, but I have dined at San Angel a few times. I think the food is significantly better at La Hacienda (it is my fave TS in Epcot).

 

[rosiebean]

I've only been to San Angel Inn, but to put it in perspective with your list:

1. Via Napoli (we had an awesome meal at a great price)
2. San Angel Inn (I really like the atmosphere and found the food to be really good with just ok service. It IS tight inside! But that didn't bother me, I was happy having my margarita and watching the volcano erupt)
3. Chefs de France (I'm not in a rush to go back, but would go again)
4. Garden Grill (not on your list, but it falls close to Biergarten for me...I wouldn't go back to breakfast again but might give dinner a chance)
5. Biergarten (it's been years and years and years since I've been, and I'm not in a rush to go back, but...it's more attractive to me than...)
6. Coral Reef (just not impressed and would only go back to please family)

I haven't been to Teppan Edo, but a family member goes often and loves it for the atmosphere and said the food is good

Never been to Le Cellier or Monsieur Paul, so can't help there.