I guess we are in the minority here, but having eaten in both last week we'd choose Le Cellier over Yachtsman's.
First lets talk about value. Le Cellier is simply a better value for your dollar if you are paying cash. If you are on the dining plan Le Cellier is even a greater value at one TS credit versus two.
But it shouldn't just be about the value when you are talking about eating out. Heck, the dinner prices at Le Cellier are up and the Mushroom Filet there now goes for $34.99, as compared to the $39.00 Yachtsman's filet. So neither is cheap! But what about the food? We have eaten at Le Cellier numerous times. I'll compare filets for this review. The Mushroom Filet at Le Cellier is excellent. It is a very good cut of meat. Good sized and very tender. Served with the mushroom risotto and the sauce it is extremely flavorful, and we always finish everything on the plate. As for Yachtsman's, I will say that their filet, the piece of meat itself, is a little better. A little more tender, a little more flavorful. But we are talking little more, splitting hairs really. Where we felt Yachtsman's fell short were the sides. The filet was served with a heap of mashed potatoes that were average at best. With the pretzel bread at Le Cellier they get the nod for bread. Perhaps the appetizers are a little better at Yachtsman's, but they are also more expensive. The desserts are better at Yachtsman's. But all things considered, and especially given the price/value, if we could only go back to one it would be Le Cellier. It will be a while before we go back to Yachtsman's because it just didn't impress us, and there are many other Signature dining locations that warrant a try.
A few other observations regarding these locations. Le Cellier is not a one trick pony on the Mushroom Filet. A new menu item is the coffee rubbed Kansas City (bone-in) Strip with a hazelnut butter sauce. Yeah, I thought the same thing. Coffee and hazelnut? Let me tell you.....it was excellent. I'd order it again in a heartbeat. Yachtsman's, on the other hand, was a disappointment for my alternate. I ordered the Waygu beef. $59 bucks for a steak....but we were on the dining plan, so what do I care? I was curious about this expensive Australian cut. The waiter did warn that it had a high marbleization and fat content, similar to a NY Strip. While the flavor and tenderness (for a strip, which usually aren't that tender) were very good, there was so much fat that eating it wasn't enjoyable. Of the 10 oz cut I must have left 2 oz on the plate that was pure, inedible fat. I don't know if this is typical of this piece of meat, or if it was just a poor butchering job, but my curiosity is satisfied and I'd never order it there again. On a similar note as above, the side with my steak was a heap of truffle mashed potatoes that was average at best.
So, Le Cellier impressed us on this trip for the umpteenth time, while Yachtsman's left us flat. It was good, even very good, but perhaps not worth the money or credits. As for signature dining, this past trip we ate at Narcoossee's, Citircos, and Yacthsmen's, and I'd put them in that order in terms of which is best. That said, Le Cellier is just an incredible meal for a single TS credit.
Just as an FYI, we have two children so this isn't an adult only meal. Also, we aren't on a DDP.
