The hostess checked us in and said our table would be ready in a few minutes. I spied a bench and went to sit down.
How lovely!
Yet my anticipation was soon deflated when we were led to a table thisclose to other diners (the woman next to me shared my bench and we practically rubbed shoulders) instead of a more private booth. Tables that close together are awkward ~ we could hear every word of their conversation and could have easily stuck our forks into their food and tasted it.
This experience was not starting off well.
Then we were handed the menu.
Notice anything?
There was no prix fixe option. Thinking perhaps it was on a separate menu, I summoned our server.
“Don’t you have a prix fixe lunch?” I asked.
She was curt with her reponse. “That was a limited offer during Food and Wine.”
My blood pressure began to rise. I wanted to blurt out:
“No it wasn’t! I wasn’t even here during Food and Wine! My husband and I had it last December. My mother and I had it in May. And according to the menu on Disney’s site it was available all through the summer and into the fall!”
But in that split second I saw the look of desperation in Woody’s eyes. The one that said,
Please don’t make a fuss. And I knew I had to put on my big girl britches and let it go.
Instead these were the words that came out of my mouth: “
Oh. Okay.”
I knew I could order the soup, filet and dessert a la carte but in addition to the hefty price differential ($76 vs. $49) the portion sizes would be larger and I would not be able to finish all of it. I really wanted soup and wish there had been a choice of cup or bowl, but bowl was my only option. I decided to pair the soup with the wedge salad.
Woody meekly asked, “Is it okay with you if I order steak?”
Knowing he sensed I was already unhappy with our table and the menu change, I mustered a smile and said, “As long as I can have a couple bites!”
The arrival of pretzel bread lightened my mood. I had to stop myself from eating an entire stick before my soup came.
Hmmm.....does Le Cellier only cater to men?
My soup arrived moments later and I starting dunking that pretzel bread!
So yum! I ate two-thirds of the bowl and Woody finished the rest.
Our server brought my iceberg wedge salad with Woody’s filet.
Menu description:
Lemon Pepper Cucumbers, Toy Box Tomatoes, Edamame, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Pecorino, Avocado Green Goddess
As I began to taste this salad, every negative thought I’d had about Le Cellier melted away. The flavors blended perfectly together and the bacon? Heavenly!! The best bacon I have ever had! While it was a “hearty” salad it was by no means “heavy”. I loved every forkful.
Woody’s filet came with mushroom risotto. (Take note
@Doc Disney and
@blgauger and all you other mushroom risotto fiends!)
Oh. My. Goodness. I didn’t think any restaurant could match California Grill’s filet but this one did! I had my two bites and allowed Woody to savor the rest. He said the risotto was excellent too!
Happily satisfied, I did not think we’d want dessert. But our server handed us dessert menus and the peanut butter chocolate raspberry cake caught Woody’s eye.
However it came with coconut ice cream. Woody despises coconut.
But I don’t.
When our server returned I asked if the ice cream could be placed in a separate dish. She obliged.
The ice cream was a refreshing end to my delicious lunch. Woody was able to polish off the cake.
Le Cellier put me in a happy place after all, though not in the way I expected. I still hope the prix fixe lunch returns, but I learned I can make do if it doesn’t.
But not to sing its praise too highly lest it become too popular!
to make room for playscapes and food booths for the various Epcot festivals. < Sigh >
My sister and brother in law had a supposedly "terrible" meal there and won't go back and my Mom doesn't really eat meat or creamy soups or anything they have....