EPCOT officially reopened a few weeks ago!

While we’ve been suuuper busy eating our way around the world during the Taste of Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, we could never forget about all of the GREAT restaurants in World Showcase!

During a recent trip to EPCOT, we decided to skip the Frothy Ramen (or, you know, just eat one later) and have dinner at Le Cellier, the signature dining spot in the Canada Pavilion.

Let’s check out all the ways this restaurant has changed since the theme park’s grand reopening, and of course, let’s taste the steak!

Atmosphere

Le Cellier is just a liiiittle bit hidden. In order to get to this spot, you need to walk though some gardens in the Canada pavilion. Once inside, you’ll feel like you’re sitting in a wine cellar, with stone arches, relatively dim lighting, and wooden tables.

It’s certifiably cozy and can be quite romantic!

Of course, we visited Le Cellier after Disney World implemented new health and safety regulations for their reopening. A lot of the things we’ve seen at other indoor restaurants were here, too. There were hand sanitizer stations and plexiglass at the host stand…

…we had a QR code food menu and paper drink menus…

…and tables were spaced out to encourage social distancing and limited capacity.

It made an already quiet and intimate dining experience feel even MORE quiet and intimate.

Eats

We were glad to see so many of our favorite dishes, like the Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup (*chef’s kiss*), remained on the menu!

We started off our meal the best way we know how…with a cocktail, of course!

We sipped on the Windsor Old Fashioned, which contains Canadian Whiskey with Muddled Fruit, Chocolate and Orange Bitters and a Splash of Soda for $15.

This cocktail was definitely on the sweeter side of the Old Fashioned scale, but we could tell the whiskey used was high quality, and it was definitely a yummy way to start our experience.

And then came that famous Le Cellier bread service.

This basket came with three breads that symbolize the different regions in Canada. The Pretzel Bread represents Ontario, which has the second-largest Oktoberfest; the Sourdough represents Yukon’s spring festival in which the territory welcomes back daylight; and the Multigrain represents the central Providences.

But you know what we really came here for… the STEAK!! We decided to switch things up from our usual truffble butter filet and try the USDA Prime New York Strip Steak. This steak was topped with Crispy Onions, had a Chimichurri sauce, and came with a side of Truffled Fingerling Potatoes as well as some blistered tomatoes. The meal cost $52.

We ordered our steak medium-rare, and it was simply delicious! Savory without too much saltiness.

We also found that the crispy onions added a nice textural element, and the chimichurri gave the stake an herby brightness, balancing out what would otherwise be a pretty heavy meal. There were some truly UNEXPECTED flavors in this dish, but it was just crazy enough to work wonderfully.

Because we LOVE to eat, we also ordered a side of Maple Whiskey-glazed Brussels Sprouts. This side dish costs $10.

And, you GUYS! These Brussels sprouts blew. us. away! They were perfectly crispy and the sweet glaze was honestly addicting. We had a steak and potatoes and we still ate ALL of our veggies. This dish could honestly convince even the pickiest eater that Brussels sprouts are delicious!!

We finished off our meal the way all great meals should be finished…with dessert, of course! We opted for the Maple Leaf Cheesecake for $12.

This cheesecake came with Crème Fraîche Whipped Cream, Strawberries, and Shortbread Cookies.

This dessert was a totally solid option, but if we’re looking for a post-dinner sweet treat, we prefer options in France and Germany. But a cheesecake is still a cheesecake!

Nosh Or Not

Head on over to Le Cellier if:

• You’re looking for a quiet, intimate dining experience — think date night!
• You LOVE steak and red meat. There is currently a seafood dish on the menu, but this place is all about the beef.
• You’re looking for a nice, long, and relaxing meal in dim lighting. This place is a great way to escape from the hustle and bustle and heat of EPCOT.

Skip Le Cellier if:

• You’re traveling with the kiddos. They may like the food here, but this place isn’t a fun, exciting dining spot.
• You’re dining on a budget! Steak entrees for dinner average well over $50 per person, which can get pricey fast.
• You’re going to spend the day riding Mission Space and Test Track. This meal is HEAVY. We love a nice, long nap (or show) after dining here.

Overall

Le Cellier remains a pinnacle of Disney signature dining. No matter when you go, you’ll be sure to get a quality meal and a cozy atmosphere in which to enjoy it. It makes for a great night out, especially if you’re good to go at a slower pace. If that’s what you’re looking for, we definitely recommend it!

But if you’re looking to hop on a thrill ride right after, or are trying to hit multiple major attractions, this might eat up too much of your time. You might be better grabbing a quite bite to eat (and saving some $$$) at one of the many quick service options in Epcot, or one of the non-signature table service restaurants.

As for our most recent experience? Overall, we really enjoyed our evening at Le Cellier! All of our food was super delicious, and we’ll totally relish an hour or so in a cool, quiet, air conditioned spot, especially in the middle of July!

Like table service at EPCOT? You HAVE to see what Biergarten looks like now!

Do you like dining at Le Cellier? Let us know your go-to order in the comments!