Which would you choose - Le Cellier or Chefs de France?

[GrayC25]

Hi everyone! I am a newbie poster, but have been lurking for a while. My entire family is heading down to WDW in April 2010 and I have become the master planner for the trip (yay???). We are each picking one restaurant to eat at and I have been scouring the boards, trying to come up with a good choice. I have dietary restrictions (gastric bypass three months ago) and don't really know where I"ll be at, eating-wise, by that time. However, I've read great things about Le Cellier and Chefs de France and I seemed to have narrowed it down to one of those for my choice.

Which do you prefer? Or which do you think is better?

Also, is it better to have lunch or dinner there? We plan on taking breaks midday, so would you rather stay in the park over lunch or come back for dinner?

Thanks for all your help!

 

[winterman]

Can't comment on Chefs but we had dinner at Le Cellier in Sept. My meal was fabulous - crab & corn custards for appetizer and scallops for main course. Unfortunately, the scallops may not be on the lunch menu but mostly, the same things are available at either meal. BTW, if you like crab, the custards would be a good meal post gastric bypass.

 

[onelilspark]

I really like doing lunch. Esp. if you've just had the surgery, the portions are smaller. Plus the price is better! I like sitting down in a/c in the middle of the day.

Personally I'd chose Chefs over Le Cellier. I don't get the hype over Le Cellier, it's good, but I can make a better steak at home (which is usually my problem with steakhouses!) I really like Le Cellier's Cheese Soup, but given the choice, I'd pick Chefs' Lobster Bique every time. I guess that if I were to go to Le Cellier, I know I'd pick the filet. If I went to Chefs, I have multiple options that I would chose, that I know I enjoy. So I think it depends on what you're looking for. Neither is bad, but I would chose Chefs.

Edit: what I do for breaks is eat lunch, then head back to the hotel. Either doing sit down or CS.

 

[GrayC25]

Thanks for the suggestions. I LOVE crab, winterman, so that might be a good choice. I did really well with crab and crab cakes when I was in North Carolina for vacation post-surgery, so that is something I've been looking for on the Disney restaurant menus.

You guys have cancelled each other out with your restaurant choices - haha!

I am becoming aware that I am beginning to treat these ADRs like I do packing....how can I plan so far in advance? How can I know where and when I'm going to want to eat 6 months from now? How will I know where I'll be 6 months from now?

 

[GrayC25]

Anyone?

 

[MickeyNicki]

Chefs is awesome for lunch but terrible for dinner

LC is great for either meal

 

[GrayC25]

MickeyNicki - how can Chefs be great for lunch, but terrible for dinner? Please explain.

 

[Manda]

We ate at both last week and Chefs was a better experience and better food. I enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant over Le Cellier (been to Le Cellier several times previously, too - but 1st visit to Chefs). I love hearing the French hostesses calling out the party names in her French accent, too, LOL, as we wait. But if you're in the first dinner sitting at Le Cellier, you get to hear the waiters belt out O Canada in French and English.

Funny thing, the steak we received at Le Cellier for one of our meals seemed to be the exact same cut and preparation (both ordered medium and received very overcooked) as the one we received at Chefs. And, really, not that great either. At Chefs, though, it did have a tasty sauce included, so that helped. I don't really have a specific reason why I prefer one over the other though... I don't think you'll regret either.

 

[kwelch10377]

I don't think one is really better over the other. I would just look at the menus and whichever one appeals to you more go for it.

 

[PghLybrt]

Can i steal the thread a little bit?

For those of you just there was there a set menu for Chefs De France? I ask because I booked it for lunch but there is no way we will want a huge meal then, Maybe just a sandwich or a bowl of soup. I went on ALLEARS and the menu looks like a $30 fixed menu???? Was it?

 

[kwelch10377]

Can i steal the thread a little bit?

For those of you just there was there a set menu for Chefs De France? I ask because I booked it for lunch but there is no way we will want a huge meal then, Maybe just a sandwich or a bowl of soup. I went on ALLEARS and the menu looks like a $30 fixed menu???? Was it?

The fixed menu is an option, but you don't have to get it. If you scroll down more the rest of the menu is below the Prix-Fixe menu.

 

[rubato]

I couldn't make this decision either. So, we're eating at both while there. In fact, I talked the family into 5 out of 7 nights dining in Epcot! There's just so much to try!!!

 

[PghLybrt]

The fixed menu is an option, but you don't have to get it. If you scroll down more the rest of the menu is below the Prix-Fixe menu.

Thank you. I just panic instead of looking!

 

[MickeyNicki]

MickeyNicki - how can Chefs be great for lunch, but terrible for dinner? Please explain.

I had a solo lunch in June (pics and review in my June thread). The place was not busy, my soup was served hot and fresh, the rolls hot and fresh, the quiche was excellent, the side salad that came with it was wonderful and the profiterolles were the best. My server Vincent was very attentive and treated me like a Queen

We went for dinner a few weeks ago (pics and review in my Oct link) and had the same server...he was MIA the entire time. The soup and escargot came out cool not hot at all and had to be sent back. Took forever to get bread, drink refills, the check etc. DH had the filet, everything was room temp and the filet was not a good cut and had no flavor. The potatoes were terrible and the beans a bit rubbery. I had the short ribs, or should I say I had the FAT with a few strands of meat stuck to it...just terrible. The profiterolles were a bit stale too.

So I would go back for lunch in a heartbeat but not dinner.

 

[MickeyNicki]

Can i steal the thread a little bit?

For those of you just there was there a set menu for Chefs De France? I ask because I booked it for lunch but there is no way we will want a huge meal then, Maybe just a sandwich or a bowl of soup. I went on ALLEARS and the menu looks like a $30 fixed menu???? Was it?

When I went in June the fixed menu was $20...choice of soup, entree and dessert

 

[kiddo76]

Last week DH and I went to Le Cellier for lunch and Chefs for dinner. We liked both, but I thought Chefs was much better. Better atmosphere, more diverse menu, and cuter waiters.

I don’t get all the hype over LC. My steak was just ok, I’ve certainly had better. I would have been a little disappointed if I paid OOP instead of DDP. The quality of the steak is totally not worth what they charge, IMHO.

At Chefs I had the duck which was very good and DH had the short ribs, which were fantastic. I liked that my meal came with a vegetable at Chefs, which you have to pay extra for at LC. I also liked the bread at Chefs better than the breadsticks at LC (I love bread). We had crème brule at both restaurants, and both were fantastic.

I would definitely return to Chefs, but would only go back to LC if I were on DDP.

 

[tinkbyday]

I have never eaten at both but this December i am going to the Candle Light Procession and i am eating at Chefs De France because Tutta Italia was booked. The menu sounds good and i looked at the pictures and it looks beautiful. I would go to www.allears.net to look at the menus.

 

[GrayC25]

Thanks for the suggestions and advice everyone! I appreciate it

 

[snookiedoodles]

I have been to both, and for my next trip I booked both. If I were to choose between both, I would choose chefs.

Chefs has more interesting food (if that is what you are into) and great atmosphere.

LC had great atmosphere but it is a steak house. I have lots of them up here that are amazing. So I am not that impressed. I can have a steak anywhere. I really don't know what the hype is all about in LC. But the kids really want to go back to LC, so we are!

 

[lsugal]

They are both really good. On our last trip DH's favorite was Chefs and mine was LC. Those are the only 2 we are repeating on our upcoming January trip. You really can't go wrong with either.