What is the Deal w/Le Cellier?

[DisneyDoug2]

This year was our second time eatling here and it won't be on our list the next time we go to WDW. The food is no better then Outback or the Texas Road House but at Disney prices! But I have to say the cheese soap and the desserts make up for the short comings of the main coarse! Teppan Edo would be a better choice!

[antnyh]

Thanks again for the replies from everyone. Not to brag, but I fix a mean steak at home and it is very hard to find a place to beat it and especially for me to spend as much money as Disney charges.

[lockedoutlogic]

Le Cellier is good but completely overpriced....

This is just one of those Disney "things" that everyone gets fixated on and talks up into oblivion....

Chef Mickey's, the Polynesian, Caribbean Beach....

there are alot of things that people get obsessed with in WDW where the love far outweighs the substance

[LoriSan]

Hey LoriSan...where are you staying? We'll be there May 17th through the 24th and we will be at the CR.

I'll be at POP May 21-26. If you see a little boy laughing hysterically while running away from his exhausted Mommy, that's me

[DawsonAR]

We have always had trouble getting into LeCellier. We have tried it a few times and it has been hit or miss. A couple of times we had GREAT meals and the others.....just OK. I'm not sure we will try again for sometime. There are other places that seem to be right on every time.

[buzznwoodysmom]

We have often wondered why it is so popular. We have been a few times (by being flexible), but it's really just a steak house. Our family actually prefers the Coral Reef and Teppan Edo over Le Cellier.

Your post is exactly what I was going to post. We tried Le Cellier twice, once for lunch and once for dinner. Both times I left wondering what all the hoopla is for. We didn't like the cheese soup at all, and I love any kind of soup. This stuff tasted horrible. The only thing I thought was fantastic were the bread sticks. Other than that we make steaks at home that taste much better. In my opinion its average at best. We much predered Coral Reef and Teppan Edo, with Teppan Edo being our favoirte.

[FenwayGirl]

We have lunch ressies for May 18th. There were no dinner time reservation available for the week that we are at WDW....

[antnyh]

That is the week we are there. I know it is a ways off, but be sure to let us know how lunch was there.

We have lunch ressies for May 18th. There were no dinner time reservation available for the week that we are at WDW....

[joonyer]

We've eaten there once, several years ago. It really wasn't that hard to get our ADR as I remember. It was in February.

The meal we had steaks was good to very good, but it was not "to die for" - super "fantabulous" - "Oh my Gosh!" - "we've got to eat again" great. I felt that way about California Grill, but not Le Cellier.
The atmosphere, you are literally in a "cellar", was kind of interesting for a change, but not nearly as cool as Coral Reef or even San Angel Inn (which does not have as good food.)

Having been there once was enough for me. I don't know why it is so "crazy" popular. You can get as good or better steaks at a lot of good steak houses. I think that it's reputation outstrips its actual quality, not that its bad,, like I said, it's good or even very good. But it is not the best restaurant at WDW, not even close. But you would think it was from the way people go crazy trying to get an ADR there.

I would go there again if it was easy enough to get a table, but it is not worth waiting on hold for hours or making umpteen calls to try get an ADR there.

[kathymk616]

My family also thinks Le Cellier is very overrated. I suspect that part of the popularity is that, especially for families with picky eaters, it is the only "normal/regular American food" sit-down restaurant. (I use quotes not because steaks are "normal" food to me--I'm a vegetarian--but it is for a lot of families.) I mean, is it easier to have a meal with a kid who is used to things like cheese soup and steak, or one who is crying because they don't know what couscous is and they don't want to try it? I know that there are a lot of folks who love Le Cellier, and that it is genuinely popular amongst them, but don't ignore the fact that it is the "normal" option in Epcot compared to most of the other sit-downs.

[Checkers]

We "like" LeCellier and will probably try for an ADR in Sept. but if nothing is available, we won't be heartbroken. When we first started going there (about 10 yrs. ago), it was a must for us every trip but with its increase in popularity, we have found that both the food and service is hit or miss.

[disneynarula]

I also thought it was way overrated. I really don't understand the appeal. We had so many nicer meals at WDW.

[jonahbear2006]

We were told that the hardest to get into restaurants arent actually booked but that the concierge lounges have openings that they hold for club level guests and that this is why the harder to get into restaurants are nearly impossible. You almost have to get club level to recieve this and even then, it has to be at the resort that holds this restaurant's openings or there has to be a resort willing to switch an open reservation for the one you are wanting. politics.

[AdventurerKim]

I called Saturday (90 days out!) and got Le Cellier dinner reservations with no problem and at the time I wanted! It's true about Le Cellier that if you don't call 90 days out, it's tough to get dinner reservations there. We walked up for lunch on Thanksgiving day one year and got a table immediately, but that was only for two.

[antnyh]

IMO, this isn't true. We always stay club level and we can't get reservations if they aren't available. I think the difference is the fact that the concierge can keep checking while we are "playing" and then let us know if there is a cancellation. At least that is what has happened for us in the past.

We were told that the hardest to get into restaurants arent actually booked but that the concierge lounges have openings that they hold for club level guests and that this is why the harder to get into restaurants are nearly impossible....

[jonahbear2006]

IMO, this isn't true. We always stay club level and we can't get reservations if they aren't available. I think the difference is the fact that the concierge can keep checking while we are "playing" and then let us know if there is a cancellation. At least that is what has happened for us in the past.

well, we were actually told this by the concierge on the club level.

[DANAM]

Keep trying we went that same week last year and I didn't get dinner. So I called every day on my way home from work. It seems a little nuts but we ate there before and really enjoyed it. Finally after about 3 weeks of calling we got an 8pm reservation. Yeah I had to call about 20 times but I got it.

[Keasmom]

We have often wondered why it is so popular. We have been a few times (by being flexible), but it's really just a steak house. Our family actually prefers the Coral Reef and Teppan Edo over Le Cellier.

Their Cheese Soup and Pretzel bread make them a very popular place. I took a lunch reservation just to get in and the food was really good, really, really good and I am a picky foodie. I have had maybe 20 steaks that great in my life, BUT, the dinner menus is better and the steak was really small at lunch. The bread and soup make it such a hit, and that steak. Keep trying, call two times a day, ask again at checkin, and if you really want it, try just walking in and waiting. The concierge at our resort said most restaurants have about 15% no shows, so walk ins CAN get seated.

[Keasmom]

We "like" LeCellier and will probably try for an ADR in Sept. but if nothing is available, we won't be heartbroken. When we first started going there (about 10 yrs. ago), it was a must for us every trip but with its increase in popularity, we have found that both the food and service is hit or miss.

The service quotient is true. Since it was just my daughter and I, and I refused toi offer of wine, our server was a bit snippy and very short with us. We got our order in quick, and she had bread and salad on the table in minutes, she did ask us to hurry, (I did NOT) and she mentioned they had a large group we were preventing the seating of. We relaxed and enjoyed to food, I made a complaint to WDW about the service. But, that steak was worth it.