REVIEW: My Fave Thing at EPCOT’s Le Cellier IS NOT What You Might Think

When you talk about the BEST restaurants in Disney World, there are a lot of opinions, but one EPCOT restaurant has been mentioned a lot over the years: Le Cellier.

Now, we’ve had some pretty great meals at Le Cellier in the past, but we decided to revisit the restaurant to see if it still meets our high expectations of it.

Background

You’ll find Le Cellier in the Canada Pavilion in EPCOT’s World Showcase. You’ll have to walk through the gardens in the pavilion to reach it, but you’ll find it if you follow the signs pointing the way.

You’re looking for the chateau.

Here, you’ll find Le Cellier.

Here’s what you need to know about dining at this restaurant.

Atmosphere

Once you enter through the doors, you’ll descend into a cozy cellar (because “le cellier” means “the cellar” in French). It even has stone walls. Now, we’ll warn you…this restaurant is very dark. The whole idea is that you’re also dining in a cellar with very dim lighting. So be sure to have the flashlight app on your phone handy because you might need it.

Most seating is standard tables and chairs, although there are booths available, too. There are candles on the tables, too, which adds to the cellar ambience.

But enough about that, what are we eating?!

Food & Drinks

You start the meal with Bread Service with Salted Butter. Our favorite was the pretzel bread, which is salted and is the perfect combination of bread-meets-pretzel. The multigrain roll was also really good, rich, and hearty.

First up, we grabbed the Signature Poutine, made with Hand-cut Pomme Frites, Cheese Curds, Cheddar, and Cabernet Demi for $19. Poutine is a traditional comfort food Canadian dish, so if you’ve never had it, we recommend it. It’s absolutely wonderful here, and you get enough that it’s very shareable.

Although this is considered kinda’ junk food in Canada, it’s elevated here to fit Le Cellier’s vibe. The cheese has a nice sharpness to it that adds to the flavor. The Cabernet Demi is a great choice over the usual gravy you’d find with poutine, and it adds a hint of sweetness. Those fries are also delicious (they’re the kind that still have some skin on them).

We can’t go to Le Cellier and not order the Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup. This soup is famous…for good reason. It has Moosehead Pale Ale and Nueske’s Applewood-smoked Bacon in it and costs $15. This soup is still iconic and has such a wonderful depth of flavor that includes those rich cheddars. If you love cheese, you have to get this soup.

Of course, Le Cellier is a steakhouse, too, so we had to try the 12-oz. New York Strip Steak for $62. It comes with a side, so we went with Crispy Brussels Sprouts. Even better, though? You can get a Sauce Flight to go with that steak for $9. You’ll get Chardonnay-Truffle Butter, Cabernet Demi, Cognac-Peppercorn, Béarnaise, and Sauce Verte.

The steak is solid and was cooked perfectly as we requested (medium rare). It wasn’t the best New York Strip we’ve ever had, but it was bold in flavor and tender. There was a nice seasoning on the crust of it, too, although we might have liked just a touch more pepper in that seasoning.

The Crispy Brussels Sprouts were more soft than they were crispy, but they were delicious, especially with the sweet maple glaze. They were cooked so well, though, and there was some crisp to the ends of the leaves, but it’s very light. The golden raisins were also a nice touch.

The sauces with the Sauce Flight were all really good, although you’ll want to go a little easy on the demi, because a little goes a long way. The bearnaise and peppercorn were probably our favorites, but yours might be different. We will say that if you’re looking for the best sauce, ask your server. The sauce flight isn’t really worth it unless several people in your party are ordering steak.

We also tried one of the plant-based options, the Roasted Cauliflower Steak, which is served with Beluga Lentils, Vine-ripened Tomatoes, Tahini, Dukkah, Garden Herbs for $38. This was shockingly good. It was beautifully prepared and had a bit of crispiness. It even held up like a meat steak would, but it was still easy to cut into.

The outside had a roasted crust with a light smoky flavor and some nice caramelization that brought out the flavor of the cauliflower. The tahini added some tangy and earthy depth to the flavors. The herbs on top added a nice bit of freshness with each bite. The lentils had the taste and texture of really fine, soft black beans. They were flavorful in a Middle Eastern way that we really liked.

Then it was time for dessert. The Maple Crème Brûlée is served with Chantilly, Gooseberries, and Tuile for $15. The maple flavor is very strong with this. It’s also a little thicker than a traditional crème brûlée. It is very indulgent, but it isn’t TOO heavy. If you love maple, it’s a real winner.

We also tried the plant-based The Wine Cellar’s Banana Split made with Roasted Banana Frozen Dessert, Pizzelle, Bing Cherries, and Chantilly for $13.  This was another huge surprise. The flavors of this dessert just POPPED. The banana was caramelized, which really took the flavor up a notch. Then the almond-tuile wafer added a bit of lightness.

It all sat on top of a coconut-based ice cream drizzled with chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and some dark, luxurious cherries. Every flavor worked to make this dessert that much better.

Every component of this dessert was considered very carefully by the chefs, and we would 100% order it again.

Magic or Tragic?

This Disney World restaurant is a must-visit if…

• You’re celebrating a special occasion. This restaurant feels special, as it is, and it’s perfect for a birthday, anniversary, or any other special moment in your life. It’s also perfect for a date night.
• You’re looking for an upscale table service experience. Le Cellier feels special, and the servers and the food make you feel special, too. This is fine dining at its…well…finest.
• You want plant-based options.  We admit that the plant-based options here surprised us because so many restaurants treat those dishes as an afterthought. That is not the case here. Each plant-based dish we tried was well-thought-out and delicious.

You should skip this Disney World spot if…

• You’re on a budget. Since this is a fine dining experience, a meal here can get pretty pricey. If you’re on a strict budget, you might want to stay away.
• You want a quick meal. If you’re just looking for a quick bite to eat, you won’t find that here. This is a more relaxed meal experience that requires a bit of time to enjoy.
• You don’t like eating in the dark. We’re not joking when we talk about how dark it is in here. Reading the menu is nearly impossible without grabbing your phone. If you prefer your meals well lit, skip Le Cellier.

Le Cellier has been a staple at EPCOT for as long as it’s existed in EPCOT, and for good reason. This classic table service experience still feels special with fantastic food that the chefs have really put some thought into, even if you’re on a plant-based diet. The service is also generally incredible, and the menu has a variety of options to please just about anyone.

In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for more restaurant updates from Disney World and beyond. Make sure you stay tuned to AllEars for the latest Disney news and more!

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Have you eaten at this Disney World restaurant before? Tell us in the comments.

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