Le Cellier new menu? OFFICIAL New Menu Discussion

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I'm extremely upset about the changes to dinner. This is my family's first vacation in 18 years and my mom and I worked extremely hard on making the ADR's to restaurants that everyone would be happy with. We looked through all the menus carefully and made our reservations accordingly. It never crossed my mind that with it becoming 2-TB that the menu would be changing. My family is paying OOP and Mom and I had figured that at least 2 of the 4 of us would eat off the Chef's Favorite Menu which was a good deal for the amount. Now the entrees we thought we would be enjoying are no longer on the menu and no more Canadian Moose???? We've always wanted to try LC but now I'm having my doubts. What a bummer!

I know that a lot of people didn't expect the menu to change, but for months the WDW website has said that Le Cellier dinner will be upgraded to signature status with "an exciting new menu," so the info has been out there.

 

[gometros]

Does anyone know if, when you call Disney to make a Le Cellier reservation, do you have to give a credit card number now that it is a signature dining experience?

I just made an ADR for 5/15 for lunch through he website. Nothing was required of me, other than to click on the terms and conditions. I can't wait.

Btw, this is all your (that's a collective your ) fault. This thread has been making me so hungry and made me miss WDW, that I convinced my wife we need a weekend get away, so I made reservations this morning. I wasn't willing to wait for our October vacation.

 

[Ctsplaysinrain]

I'm really finding this whole situation kinda "humorous." I'm wondering if the "real truth" is now coming out. I tried Le Cellier, in July 2010.. I was very excited because of all the hype etc... Well, It was such a let down- I found the food inedible almost because of the salt and my kids weren't all that excited by the burgers either etc..Even the desserts were - huh? We got the Moose and the Smores. They looked pretty but had really no taste. The smores was just kinda yuck- hard and no taste.. Really, it was one of the worst meals we have had at Disney.. Ok-maybe it was an off day? I tried the soup ( that everyone almost dies over) again during F&W.. Again, it was just as salty and I couldnt eat it... So, I decided it wasn't just an off day... SO, I really just didn't get all the raves etc about LeC..

So, now, the prices have gone up a little bit. I just looked at old menu and the Filet has only gone up 6.00, the soup 2.01- other prices about the same.. Now, everyone is saying OMG- I would never eat there for that price- not for that quality etc.. How can a small price difference make
so many people upset? I guess the food never was THAT good? I just can't quite understand how this restaurant can go from "everyone's fave to OMG I'm never eating tehre again" in less than a week.
I'm heading down there this week- I have a reservation on Sat night.. I'll give it one more chance.. I'm hoping the new chef and new menu have made it "signature worthy."?

 

[Suellen]

As to the kids topic... well be a parent and be realistic if your kids can behave. If you are unsure ~ are you willing to take them and leave without eating? If not skip it.

I also don't care if it is McDonalds or a $1000/per plate dinner. I don't want to be disrupted by someone else's children while I'm eating.

I'll probably just look at you and feel sorry for you ~ but really it is disruptive to everyone around you.

I hope the mushroom risotto survives the new menu... if not we may go someplace else at Epcot. It really is my favorite meal there!!

Anywho.... I resent restaurants that tell me I can't bring my kids there. They know how to behave and I know if for some reason they are in a mood to not take them there and we would get a sitter. It is such a generalization that kids under X age can't be trusted at a fancy restaurant.

 

[ObsessedDisPlanner]

We have ADRs for Le Cellier with my DH and my DD (5), she is EXCELLENT at restaurants, we actually get told quite often you wouldnt even known she was there so we plan on bringing her with.. HOWEVER!! I just called Disney Dining and they told me that it costs 2 TS credits for her to eat off kids menu (which is the same as most other TS restaurants) with the exception of having FILET as an option, HOWEVER.. I have to pay the upcharge for her to eat filet on the plan (I have DXDP)! has anyone experienced this to be true? DO they charge you add'l for your child to eat the Filet?!

 

[Billabongi]

As to the kids topic... well be a parent and be realistic if your kids can behave. If you are unsure ~ are you willing to take them and leave without eating? If not skip it.

I also don't care if it is McDonalds or a $1000/per plate dinner. I don't want to be disrupted by someone else's children while I'm eating.

I'll probably just look at you and feel sorry for you ~ but really it is disruptive to everyone around you.

I hope the mushroom risotto survives the new menu... if not we may go someplace else at Epcot. It really is my favorite meal there!!

Anywho.... I resent restaurants that tell me I can't bring my kids there. They know how to behave and I know if for some reason they are in a mood to not take them there and we would get a sitter. It is such a generalization that kids under X age can't be trusted at a fancy restaurant.

To your question the mushroom risotto is still there, it's with the mushroom filet.

 

[squirrel]

We have ADRs for Le Cellier with my DH and my DD (5), she is EXCELLENT at restaurants, we actually get told quite often you wouldnt even known she was there so we plan on bringing her with.. HOWEVER!! I just called Disney Dining and they told me that it costs 2 TS credits for her to eat off kids menu (which is the same as most other TS restaurants) with the exception of having FILET as an option, HOWEVER.. I have to pay the upcharge for her to eat filet on the plan (I have DXDP)! has anyone experienced this to be true? DO they charge you add'l for your child to eat the Filet?!

They never charged before and we were on the DDP. Both my nieces each trip got the steak option off the kids meal.

 

[TDC Nala]

They never charged before and we were on the DDP. Both my nieces each trip got the steak option off the kids meal.

There was never a charge for children on DDP to order beef at Le Cellier, but things are different now, at least for dinner. It's entirely possible that your child will be charged to order something with a regular surcharge. and yes, it's two credits for the children also.

I didn't eat there this weekend but I was told that there is no more Chefs Favorites three course menu for dinner at least...so if you were planning on getting that appetizer on regular DDP I think you have to make other plans.

And as far as "catering to children..." no, the signature restaurants don't cater to children in the same way that character meals do (the emphasis at those meals is on the children), even if they do have a children's menu. But well-behaved children are welcome at any WDW restaurant except Victoria & Albert's. If you allow your child to scream constantly, run around the restaurant, approach other diners' tables or throw food, then yes, you are going to get the "looks."

I got the impression that it is no longer part of TIW. Does anybody know? Better yet, how can I get a list of restaurants participating in TIW?

Le Cellier is owned and operated by Disney. As far as I know, all Disney-operated TS restaurants accept TIW (and the former DDE) and always have.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I just had another fabulous meal at Le Cellier, and this time I sampled several dishes: the asparagus, cheddar soup, lobster salad, chicken sausage, filet, cod, truffle smashed potatoes, sugar free chocolate mousse, and lemon cheesecake. Will post pics later, but I've been very impressed with the food!

 

[quirty30]

We have ADRs for Le Cellier with my DH and my DD (5), she is EXCELLENT at restaurants, we actually get told quite often you wouldnt even known she was there so we plan on bringing her with.. HOWEVER!! I just called Disney Dining and they told me that it costs 2 TS credits for her to eat off kids menu (which is the same as most other TS restaurants) with the exception of having FILET as an option, HOWEVER.. I have to pay the upcharge for her to eat filet on the plan (I have DXDP)! has anyone experienced this to be true? DO they charge you add'l for your child to eat the Filet?!

Dining at Le Cellier in the past, there was a $2 upcharge for the steak on the kids menu, however, we were never charged the extra $2 when on the DDP. But I am almost positive that the kids' steak option was NOT specified as a filet. Perhaps this is where the confusion sets in?

Here is a link to the new Le Cellier Kids Menu; it shows a $2 upcharge for "grilled steak." No specific reference to a filet. I don't know if it's changed or not, but I'm pretty darn sure that the steak they served my kids in the past was not a filet.

 

[minnie56]

I ate at Le Cellier tonite and it was wonderful!!!! Not one complaint..food was excellent..filet delicious. DH had the pork and also thoroughly enjoyed.

That said..I ate at the Yachtsman Steakhouse last Friday and it was disgusting from the food to the service. In fact, with the exception of tonite..the food overall has been pretty abysmal. The Dining plan in my humble opinion has been the worst thing for dining at Disney..

 

[TDC Nala]

Le Cellier and Yachtsman are both on the dining plan and always have been - not sure how the plan has ruined Yachtsman and other restaurants but Le Cellier is better than ever.

Whatever Disney is doing to ruin restaurants (and I can think of very few that have been actually ruined, just downgraded in experience) it's going to do with or without a dining plan.

 

[ObsessedDisPlanner]

Thank you guys! When I called they told me Filet, I doubted it was,but was just interested in steak in general, if you haven't been upcharged, Ill think about keeping res. otherwise was gonna try Yachtsman where they personally write on the Disney web page how they have an extensive kids menu thats not just typical "kids" choices. So I have some thinking to do!

Anyone know if the portion sizes for sides is big? My DH can EAT!! Does anyone have pics of sides?

 

[TDC Nala]

To the above poster - did you call WDW-DINE? They cannot tell you with any certainty what individual restaurants serve or what their policies are.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Okay, here's some pics:

Chocolate Raspberry Milkshake - no complaints, it tasted like dessert:

Steak Tartar with Hot Spring Egg and Pommes Gaufrette - the beef, runny egg, sweet pickle, and crunchy potatoes were delicious together:

Cheddar Cheese Soup with Moosehead Beer and Bacon - nice, creamy, and salty. We enjoyed dipping the breads in it (the bread hasn't changed):

Lobster Chopped Salad with Haricots Verts, avocado, tomato, and egg - loved it. The vinaigrette was delicious and not too heavy:

Chicken Chipotle Sausage with Roasted Corn Polenta and Sweet Onion Jam - this hasn't changed, but it's still a nice balance of spicy and sweet.

Asparagus Gratinée with Canadian cheddar and bacon (sauce on the side) - good, but I thought it was odd how the asparagus took on a meaty, cheesy flavor:

Duck Breast and Leg Confit with Cheddar Bread Pudding, Swiss Chard, and Pepper Jelly - the jelly was sweet, the chard was savory, the confit was crispy, and the bread pudding was soft. I liked the contrasts:

Filet with Wild Mushroom Risotto (shown here butterflied and with sauce on the side) - my mom loved it, and she's not a steak fan:

Seared Gooseberry Cod with Braised Oxtail Ravioli, Bok Choy, Shiitake Mushroom, and Oxtail Consomme - I liked how a bite of cod tasted extremely different if I combined it with either the boy choy or ravioli. Very good dish:

Poutine - fries with Canadian Cheddar, Truffle Salt, and Red Wine Reduction. Delicious, the truffle flavor makes a huge difference.

Here's the old poutine for comparison. Very standard, and the new dish is much better:

Truffle Smashed Potatoes - I loved this side. I was happy that the potatoes weren't completely mashed, and the dish wasn't loaded with butter or oil. The potato and truffle flavors shined:

Mont Blanc Semifreddo - white wine sabayon with chilled fruit soup (it was mango). A very fruity dessert with a kick from the wine flavor. I really liked it:

No Sugar Added Chocolate Mousse with Berry Compote and Raspberry Sorbet - not too sweet but very decadent, a very nice option:

Lemon Cheesecake with a Citrus Salad and Mandarin Orange Gelée - the cheesecake was light and fluffy, and the gelée added an interesting texture. I really liked this dessert:

Overall, we found the food to be great. Le Cellier was better than our meal at Jiko (which was our favorite on our last trip), and my mom actually said it's her favorite Disney restaurant now. So while the dishes might not be the best value on the DDP, we definitely felt our food was worth it for a Disney restaurant. In addition, both of the servers we had, Jackie and Lauren, were very good and knowledgeable. I'm very happy that we tried the new Le Cellier; I think the changes are definitely for the better, as far as food quality goes.

 

[marivaid]

Great pics, DonaldDoleWhip. Make me almost regret canceling our ADR for next week but we decided that it wasn't "that" kind of vacation.

The pics also answer my question about the tartare, I'd always thought that you couldn't serve raw meat in Florida and that tartare does look like it was a bit cooked.

 

[mstmp]

I just had another fabulous meal at Le Cellier, and this time I sampled several dishes: the asparagus, cheddar soup, lobster salad, chicken sausage, filet, cod, truffle smashed potatoes, sugar free chocolate mousse, and lemon cheesecake. Will post pics later, but I've been very impressed with the food!

I would LOVE to see a picture of the lobster salad and could you tell if it was really good or just ok? Thanks

 

[mstmp]

Nevermind, I should have finished reading the post's. Thanks for the pictures. Interesting how they put boiled eggs with lobster. I love both, just never saw them together (I am from the east coast) and love anything with lobster. can't wait to try this!

 

[rrbar]

So is the raspberry shake shown in the picture above included as a drink on the dining plan?

 

[owensmama2007]

no coffee rubbed steak anymore ? No cream cheese mashed ? what are they thinking ??? this really bums me out. I hope they don't throw out the pretzel bread ! Honestly though, it's not really all that great a 2TS menu..... I'd rather go to Yachtsman's or Narcoossee's. I guess we'll see how everyone reviews the new changes!

My thoughts exactly!

I came over here to see if anyone had any experience with the new menu as I believe I'm canceling our ressies for May 15th (if anyone is wanting any for that day!).

I don't like the new menu and really hate it if my pretzel bread is gone!