Which to choose for date night?

[sking5844]

I made my 180 day reservations this morning and got both an early Cali Grill and a later Chefs De France. I also have the ability to get a 8PM for Le Cellier right now if I want it. Our plan right now is to leave the kids with the grandparents and go back into Epcot and tour the world showcase as adults without kids, meaning snack booths and booze!

With that said, which dinner would you choose if you were us? I am leaning towards one of the later items so that we don't get too full to enjoy the snack booths at the world showcase, but didn't know if Cali Grill was that much better than our other two options.

 

[KelNChrisKYDis]

It would depend on what you're doing earlier in the day, in my opinion. My hubby & I had the opportunity to have a "date night" during our family trip last month as well. We did not have park hoppers and spent the morning and afternoon at MK with our family. We went to California Grill for dinner, and had planned on viewing the fireworks from the restaurant, but our reservation was a tad early, and we weren't super impressed with the view. We opted to go to Disney Springs afterwards to browse, have a few drinks, and get dessert at Amorette's.
I'm not very familiar with Epcot's snack booths post-F&W or how much opportunity there is, so I can't speak to that, but WS at night with my husband without our kids was the highlight of our couples only trip from Oct. It's a great experience!!
I have never eaten at Chefs or at Le Cellier so I'm not good opinion for that choice.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

If your plan is to go to EP and tour WS, I wouldn't go to Cali Grill first especially when there are equally good restaurants in the EP area. My question is, if you are going to snack around the world, do you really want a dinner ADR? If yes, of the two, we prefer Le Cellier, but that's a pretty heavy meal after snacking around WS. I would actually suggest Spice Road Table for dinner (if the menu appeals). They have great small plates and tasty cocktails. Or don't make an ADR at all and see how you feel when you get there. EP is the one park where you can typically get an ADR on the fly and you may even have luck as a walk up (we walk up to Spice Road Table just about every trip).

 

[DisDreaming4116]

I'd cancel Chefs de France and have a romantic dinner at Monsieur Paul.

 

[GusGusTheMouse]

In all honesty, that seems like a lot of food and walking around for one evening. We usually do one or the other. There are enough food stalls and drink stations to definitely make a meal out of it. ADRs also take a considerable amount of time. If you are going to go the ADR route, I personally did not enjoy our "date night" at Chefs De France. It was very loud and most two person tables are incredibly close to one another, so not much privacy...

I've never been to Le Cellier or Cali Grill, but a steak house or an all-you-can-eat seems like a lot of food for right before, or after, walking around for more food/drinks. I would ditto the others recommendation to maybe choose one of the other. Have an amazing date night!

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

I'd cancel Chefs de France and have a romantic dinner at Monsieur Paul.

i also suggest Monsieur Paul. It costs more but it is quiet and relaxing. I like Chefs De France a lot but it is noisy and crowded and has lots of kids. My second choice would be Calif Grill....and I might even just order a variety of appetizers (2 or 3) and drinks and dessert...

 

[gharter]

If you will be in EPCOT, definitely Monsieur Paul. Probably the best restaurant in EPCOT. Expect to take at least 2 hours.
If you won't be in EPCOT, then California Grill. You could still do California Grill early and take the monorail to EPCOT and do world showcase.

 

[Scifidiner]

chefs de France, but then I'm of French ancestry

 

[goofyintoronto]

I loved Chefs de France. Great food! Cali Grill and Le Cellier though, i've had disappointing meals at both. So i'd pass on those two.

I agree with a poster who said a dinner ADR and snacking around the world might be too much.

i also suggest Monsieur Paul. It costs more but it is quiet and relaxing. I like Chefs De France a lot but it is noisy and crowded and has lots of kids. My second choice would be Calif Grill....and I might even just order a variety of appetizers (2 or 3) and drinks and dessert...

It is disney world though...there are children everywhere. And there are no more children at Chefs/France than there are at any other restaurant. Esp now that Ratatouille no longer appears.

 

[mdmama76]

My H and I are doing an Epcot date night in August and my plan is to wander, snack, and drink. I can't commit to one restaurant with all that food out there to sample!

 

[drwadadli]

As far as a date night, I would agree with some of the other posters and go for Monsieur Paul. It is quieter and more romantic that Chef de France. We go to Monsieur Paul when we want a date night or have something to celebrate. If we couldn't get there then we would do Le Cellier.

As far as date night, the one place I wouldn't recommend if California Grill. IMHO (or IOHO....in our humble opinion), California Grill is so overrated with good food (NOT great) and that the only thing it has going for it is the view. It was very noisy including the bar area. It was not a quiet romantic restaurant as all the other signature dining restaurants (except The Hollywood Brown Derby, which is why we don't eat there either) are. The food was just okay but nothing to "write home" about. I have had better sushi at Kona Island. I think the only thing it has going for it is the view to watch the fireworks but then again you can find great other great views at 'Ohana or the beach of the Polynesian Village. If you take the view out of the picture, California Grill would not be a signature restaurant and I am sure that most people wouldn't love it as much as they do. We were there in 2013 and I understand that they have changed head chef's since then. I have also been told to ask for the Monterey Room if we ever go back as it is quieter than the main dining room. I want to give it another try but my wife also wasn't very impressed with it on the first time. I know there are a lot of people that rant and rave about the California Grill but to us, it is the most overrated signature restaurant at WDW. When you look at the signature restaurants throughout WDW, they are all quiet romantic couple restaurants and for us, California Grill is the furtherest from that.

 

[lovin'fl]

I'd grab the later Le Cellier.

 

[GAN]

As far as a date night, I would agree with some of the other posters and go for Monsieur Paul. It is quieter and more romantic that Chef de France. We go to Monsieur Paul when we want a date night or have something to celebrate. If we couldn't get there then we would do Le Cellier.

As far as date night, the one place I wouldn't recommend if California Grill. IMHO (or IOHO....in our humble opinion), California Grill is so overrated with good food (NOT great) and that the only thing it has going for it is the view. It was very noisy including the bar area. It was not a quiet romantic restaurant as all the other signature dining restaurants (except The Hollywood Brown Derby, which is why we don't eat there either) are. The food was just okay but nothing to "write home" about. I have had better sushi at Kona Island. I think the only thing it has going for it is the view to watch the fireworks but then again you can find great other great views at 'Ohana or the beach of the Polynesian Village. If you take the view out of the picture, California Grill would not be a signature restaurant and I am sure that most people wouldn't love it as much as they do. We were there in 2013 and I understand that they have changed head chef's since then. I have also been told to ask for the Monterey Room if we ever go back as it is quieter than the main dining room. I want to give it another try but my wife also wasn't very impressed with it on the first time. I know there are a lot of people that rant and rave about the California Grill but to us, it is the most overrated signature restaurant at WDW. When you look at the signature restaurants throughout WDW, they are all quiet romantic couple restaurants and for us, California Grill is the furtherest from that.

I’m not questioning your opinion, but I’ve been there at least 6-times over 10-years or so it has lived up to a signature restaurant in every way on each visit. If you pulled it out of WDW it would easily stand on its own. The atmosphere is mildly bustling not intimate, which I don’t think it was ever intended. It’s Disney, Ive been to Citrico’s which is another signature and had a date-night dinner ruined by a couple kids ...it can happen anywhere at WDW. You make good points. But food quality, service, wine list, atmosphere ...all considered -it is one of the best on property.

 

[Lisa F]

It doesn't matter what order you do it in, you need to choose between dinner or snacking around the world, unless you get apps and drinks at dinner only or maybe drinks and desserts at a late night dinner.

 

[sking5844]

Thanks everyone. I think we will keep the reservations and see what the menus of the festival of the holiday booths offer before we cancel.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I wouldn't do both. Pick either dinner or drinking and eating around the world. But not both on the same night.

My SO and I did a planned date night by going to Cali Grill and watching the fireworks from the deck. It was magical.

Another night the kids wanted to stay at SAB (We stayed at Beach Club) instead of head to Epcot. We left them at the pool and did some drinking and eating around the world. This was in August so no booths. That was so much fun!!

If I had to choose one I would pick just drinking and eating around the world.

 

[Belleofthehouse]

i also suggest Monsieur Paul. It costs more but it is quiet and relaxing. I like Chefs De France a lot but it is noisy and crowded and has lots of kids. My second choice would be Calif Grill....and I might even just order a variety of appetizers (2 or 3) and drinks and dessert...

I completely agree. Date night means no kids. Including other people’s kids. If you’re going to eat in the park I think Monsier Paul is a much better choice. Enjoy your evening!!

 

[MikeOhio]

I completely agree. Date night means no kids. Including other people’s kids. If you’re going to eat in the park I think Monsier Paul is a much better choice. Enjoy your evening!!

Agreed, I like Chefs alot but it's very loud and always tons of kids. Monsieur Paul is quiet, romantic, and very few kids. I just ate there last week and there was only one kid under 10 in the entire restaurant. Food is very high quality as well.

 

[Ed597]

I made my 180 day reservations this morning and got both an early Cali Grill and a later Chefs De France. I also have the ability to get a 8PM for Le Cellier right now if I want it. Our plan right now is to leave the kids with the grandparents and go back into Epcot and tour the world showcase as adults without kids, meaning snack booths and booze!

With that said, which dinner would you choose if you were us? I am leaning towards one of the later items so that we don't get too full to enjoy the snack booths at the world showcase, but didn't know if Cali Grill was that much better than our other two options.

If you don’t get California Grill at Fireworks time they have a monorail dinner that sounds like a good date night. Or if you want to walk Epcot after do Monsieur Paul it’s a better French restaurant. Good Luck, Have Fun !