Tucked away in the country of Canada in Epcot, sits one of the most popular steakhouses at Walt Disney World, Le Cellier. You may visit Epcot several times before even discovering this hidden gem. Le Cellier Steakhouse is themed after the wine cellars of the chateau-style hotels, Le Chateau Frontenac and Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Canada. The quaint restaurant is a meat-lovers choice for lunch and dinner.
As you walk into the cellar, you will see wine racks, wine, metal, lots of dark wood, stone arches, and earth tone colors. You truly get the feeling you are in a wine cellar in Canada. The flickering candle chandeliers offer intimate lighting for dining.
Le Cellier appetizer menu includes nine different choices including meats, salads, and cheeses. The only meat entree is the Black and Blue Beef Steak Tartar. The Black and Blue Beef Steak Tartar comes with a “Hot Spring Egg” and pommes gaufrette. Some other appetizers include the Assortment of Artisanal Cheese, Dungeness Crab Salad, Selection of Beets, and Seared Scallops. The Dungeness Crab Salad comes with cucumber soup, avocado, radish, and Meyer Lemon Oil. The Selection of Beets includes Chioggia, Golden Beets, Baby Beets, Mâche, Pistachio, and Purple Haze Goat Cheese. The Seared Scallops comes with Cannellini Bean Puree, smoked bacon, spring garlic, and mushrooms.
The delicious salads and soups are one of the favorite menu items at Le Cellier, including the Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup made with Moosehead Beer and bacon. The salads include the Heirloom Tomato Salad with red onions, Minus “8” Vinegar, and smokey blue cheese; the Steakhouse Caesar Salad with crisp romaine, aged parmesan, and pretzel croutons; and the “Le Cellier” Lobster Chopped Salad includes mixed field greens, Haricot Verts, avocado, tomatoes, and “ Lake Meadows” egg. Appetizers range from $9-16 per dish.
All of the red meat entrees are Canadian raised beef, so you know you are getting authentic Canadian dishes right in Orlando. The red meat entrees include “Le Cellier” Mushroom Filet Mignon, Grilled Bone-In Rib-Eye, Braised Short Rib, and Canadian “Prime” New York Strip. Picking just one entree is always a challenge for meat lovers! The “Le Cellier” Mushroom Filet Mignon is an 8 oz. Canadian AAA Beef Tenderloin with wild mushroom risotto and white truffle-butter sauce. The Grilled Bone-In Rib-Eye is a 16-oz Bone-In Rib-Eye with herb-parmesan potato wedges and maple-pink peppercorn-butter. The Braised Short Rib includes Rutabaga Mash, baby carrots, and picked pearl onions. Canadian “Prime” New York Strip is a 12-oz Strip Steak with Gruyère-Yukon Gold Potato Gratin, wilted spinach, and Vin Rouge Reduction.
Le Cellier also features two white meat entrees including Kurobuta Pork with baby spinach, wild mushrooms, fried cheddar cheese pasta, and smoked tomato reduction or Roasted Free-Range Chicken with marble potatoes, braised artichokes, spicy chicken sausage, and roasted shallot butter. For seafood entrees you can enjoy Pacific King Salmon or Pan-Seared Pacific Cod. The Pacific King Salmon is accompanied with cauliflower, baby beets, carrots, and olive tapenade and the Pan-Seared Pacific Cod features artichoke, tomato, baby vegetables, and Dungeness Crab Beurre Blanc.
This restaurant also features a vegetarian dish called Potato-Leek and Goat Cheese Quiche. This entree is served with melted leeks and truffle-butter sauce. Entrees range from $35-43 per dish. Your server can recommend a Canadian wine to enhance any of these entrees. You can accompany the entrees with several side items including “Poutine” Fries, Creamed Spinach, Roasted Marble Potatoes, Baked Macaroni and Cheese, Cauliflower Gratinee, or Sautéed Mushrooms. My favorite is the “Poutine” Fries with Canadian cheddar, truffle salt, and red wine reduction. The side items range in price from $7-8.
Save room for dessert! Le Cellier features a Trio of Chocolate, Heirloom Apple Tart, Lemon Cheesecake, No Sugar Added Chocolate Mousse, and Sorbet. The dessert highlight is the Trio of Chocolate with Canadian Chocolate Mousse, chocolate sorbet, and warm chocolate almond cake. Pair this dessert with a delicious cup of coffee for the perfect dining experience at Epcot! The desserts range in price from $8-10.
Le Cellier is considered a Signature Table Service restaurant for dinner and requires (2) sit down meals on the Disney Dining Plan. You can make Advanced Dining Reservations with your travel agent or by calling 407-WDW-DINE. Be sure you make your reservation early. This restaurant does book up quickly. Le Cellier also has a cancellation policy of $10 per person if you cancel less than one day prior to reservation or if you are no-show.
One of the most popular entrees is the Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup. Bring a little Disney World to your home with this delicious recipe.
Ingredients:
- 5 cups milk, warmed
- 1⁄2 pound bacon
- 10 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup celery
- 2 each red onions, finely chopped
- 1 1⁄2 cups flour
- 1 quart chicken stock
- 1 pound cheddar cheese, shredded
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 1⁄2 teaspoons Tabasco sauce
- 3 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 12 ounces slightly warm ale
Method of Preparation:
- Slowly heat milk
- Brown the bacon first, then render until crisp
- Add the butter and melt
- Add celery and onions, cook until translucent
- Add flour and mix thoroughly to form a roux
- Add chicken stock and simmer for three minutes
- Add warm milk and stir vigorously to thicken
- Cook out roux until thickened (it should not have a starchy taste)
- Reduce heat to low, add cheese, and stir until melted
- Season with kosher salt, pepper, Tabasco, and Worcestershire sauce
- Just prior to serving, add warm ale
- Garnish with cooked bacon and fresh chives
