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You are here: Home / Blog / Chefs de France All Day Menu Review at Epcot

Chefs de France All Day Menu Review at Epcot

October 18, 2016 ~ 11 minutes read18 Comments

One thing that I’ve struggled with for years, and something that I’m not ashamed to admit, is where to put “(Les) Chefs de France” in an alphabetical list of Epcot restaurants. On one hand, “Les” is clearly visible on the signage over the restaurant’s entrance as well as over the menus on display on both sides of the entrance. On the other hand, no “Les” appears on the “Experience the Tastes of France” sign closer to the front of this picture.

It’s Chefs de France on the front of the menu itself, sans Les, with the trademark symbol at the end of the name.

At DisneyWorld.com, “les” shows up from the drop-down menu if you type just “chefs de” into search, but does not appear anywhere in the text.

On the menu page, “Les” appears at the top, but not underneath.

On the official Bocuse Group site, they show the “Chefs de France” logo without “Les.” But then on the link provided, they include it. But then if you click said link, it forwards to a page that doesn’t!

Maybe this discussion is too soon for LSU fans.

Whatever you want to call it, “Chefs de France, Les” is the casual table service restaurant on the left side of the France Pavilion underneath the more upscale Monsieur Paul, which is classified as a signature restaurant that begins seating at 5:30pm for dinner.

Larger: https://i2.wp.com/easywdw.com/reports13/chefs_de_france_all_day_menu_epcot.jpg

Like a lot of theme park restaurants in recent memory, Chefs de France moved to an all-day menu late last year and in turn, eliminated a number of the less expensive options available earlier in the day. Above is the current menu that we’ll break down shortly.

Below is the old lunch menu from earlier last year:

Larger: https://www.easywdw.com/reports8/chefslunch.jpg

The Prix Fixe menu in the center is now $16 more expensive or an increase of 67%.

Of course, three of the four prix fixe entree options are more upscale now, so it is not exactly an apples-to-apples comparison, but the current menu also eliminates past favorites like the Croque Monsieur, in addition to all of the other less expensive items under “Sandwiches, Crepe, et Quiche.”

This Crรชpe ร  la Tartiflette de Savoie (Crรชpe from the Alps) filled with smoked ham, onions and potatoes, topped with melted reblochon cheese would have set you back just $15.99 last year. That’s slightly over half of the current average entree price.

But there is perhaps no reason to dwell on the past. And while the new menu sees higher price points overall, there are still less expensive options.

The (Les) Tartes des Chefs, for example:

Discount-wise, Chefs also accepts Tables in Wonderland only for lunch, so keep that in mind if you are a card-carrying member.

While it doesn’t make a lot of sense to go Prix Fixe if you’re paying out of pocket and planning on ordering the otherwise $18.99 Gratin de Macaroni, there may be some value with one of the pricier entrees and with a Disney Dining Plan table service credit, you would add the appetizer to your meal.

But theย eight regular price entrees that remain on the menu arrive with an average cost of $29.88, which is on the high side. That makes it more expensive than the full buffet at Biergarten in Germany for example, or just shy of a $35 large specialty pizza at Via Napoli, which would easily serve three hungry adults.

Atmosphere-wise, Chefs is bright, airy, and charming during the day with high ceilings and long windows that offer some fun people watching opportunities.

Two-tops lining the windows offer a bit of romance from my experience, at least when it is two Disney lifestyle bloggers sharing the complimentary baguette and then arguing over who is going to pay for the single house salad.

For True Romance, you might consider Monsieur Paul upstairs for dinner.

Here is the current menu:

I have not had an opportunity to try Paul after Chefย Nicolas Lemoyne took over in May, but there doesn’t yet look to be a ton of new offerings. I think most new Disney chefs, and particularly those that work for an owner whose father was Paul Bocuse, start out fiddling with the accompaniments before switching out major components of entrees.

But with price increases downstairs and the lack of discounts at both French restaurants at dinner, Paul may be the more attractive choice for couples or those with kids concerned that Skipper Canteen’s Arepas may be a bit too straightforward. Paul’s Beef Tenderloin above (which is a previous preparation with the roasted mushroom on top) should be a much nicer cut than what you’ll receive downstairs for just $8 more money.

You can check out my initial Paul review here and a followup as part of this post here. Above is a Roasted Duck Breast entree that would set you back nine more dollars than the duck entree downstairs.

Helen and family were nice enough to invite me out to lunch. If you ever see me making a Star Wars pun in the future, it was sourced directly from her son.

Meals typically begin with freshly baked, still-warn baguettes delivered to the table avec mostly frozen pre-packaged butter.

And while I don’t pine for it quite as much as the onion rolls from Yachtsman Steakhouse, the reliably crusty, chewy bread with a soft interior is above average and a nice way to begin a meal whether you want to save a few dollars by skipping other appetizers or not.

Here’s an example of one of those “good value” flatbreads referenced earlier. This $12.99 A la flamme Alsacienne – Alsace specialty Flatbread with crรจme fraรฎche, onion, and bacon.

This could work as a shareable appetizer or a relatively substantial full size entree for a potentially smaller appetite. The salty, flavorful bacon contrasts nicely with the tangy richness of theย crรจme fraรฎche and the slightly sweet, delicately sauteed onion. ย The crust is thin and crispy and while it might be a bit better with properly sourcedย fromage blanc, it’s a more unique take on “pizza” than you might expect. Highly recommended as an appetizer.

Another reliable option is the $13.99ย Tomate et fromage de chรจvre (Tomato and Goat Cheese Flatbread). Again, the crust on this one is paper thin, which can make for a slightly more messy affair as there is more of a sauce/cheese component here than with theย Alsacienne entry. But it is again a sizable “pizza” with just enough goat cheese to get a little in every bite and Chefs does a nice job of preparing these to just the right crispness.

This is admittedly not the finest picture of the $8.99 Soupe ร  lโ€™oignon gratinรฉe (French Onion Soup) topped with Gruyรจre cheese. This soup is typically served piping hot, which I appreciate, with a thick layer of (probably-not-actually) gruyรจre cheese that gives way to a flavorful stock that’s packed with onion and some chewy bites of French bread. I don’t think that I have tried all of the French Onion soups on property, but nothing is coming to mind that stands out as considerably better. Another good choice.

A venerable favorite, the $18.99 Gratin de Macaroni (Macaroni Baked) with cream and Gruyรจre cheese is a decadent entree that is one of the most gushed about on property. I’m not real sure what to say about this other than imagine a very large plate of al dente pasta topped with a lot of cream and a lot of cheese and then baked. It will markedly shorten your life, ย but then the election is right around the corner, ย so you might want to book those vacations in the next few days. I wish seven or eight bites could be served up in a precious lilย cocotte dish as a side as this is a heaping, heavy portion. If you are a group that doesn’t mind passing plates around, you might plan to order it more as a side to share among a few people.

I ordered the $32.99 Fruit de mer ร  la provenรงale – Seared scallops, shrimp, mahi-mahi, clams served in a white wine broth with artichokes, celery, carrots, cauliflower, mushrooms, and coriander with red pepper oil.

It was a considerable amount of high quality, expertly searedย seafood with two large shrimp, two sizable scallops, two pieces of mahi, four clams, and an assortment of vegetables in a light broth with just a hint of zesty pepper that was soaked up nicely by the scallops and cauliflower in particular. The mahi was appropriately flaky and provided some additional heft. I was impressed by the quality and portion size of the seafood – there was very little filler and it was seemingly freshly prepared, which isn’t always typical of Chefs. It was a lot closer to something that I would have expected to be served upstairs for seven or eight more dollars.

Chefs offers a cocktail menu:

In addition to wine:

Previous reviews here, here, and here discuss more of that.

The dessert menu:

Each will set you back $9.75.

The Meringue aux fruits rouges – Meringue Basket with fresh Berries, Vanilla Cream, Raspberry Sauce, and Strawberry Sorbet.

This is a light, sweet way to end a meal with a nice assortment of fresh fruit and raspberry sauce inside of a cute, crispy meringue basket with a sizable scoop of fresh sorbet next door.

The Gateau au Chocolat – Chocolate Layer Cake with Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Sauce, and Mint Chocolate Ice Cream is a more decadent choice, but the layer cake remains light and the ice cream adds a refreshing component. Both were very good and while they are similar to what you can order throughout the Pavilion, I thought they did a nice job presenting each dessert here.

So, Les Chefs de France…

The lack of a less expensive lunch menu may or may not be a bummer. As a local visitor, I liked to plan a meal here when I was in the mood for a less expensive, low key lunch that was only marginally more expensive than the quick service bakery next door. When inviting visiting friends that are already paying what seems like an arm and a leg for airfare/tickets/hotel/etc. a menu with four or five options under $15 is always welcome. But during that time, I often complained about food that arrived out of the kitchen with a conspicuous amount of punctuality and an attention to detail that was often lacking.

And feel free to interject with your thoughts on meals in the last 10-12 months, positive or negative, but perhaps Chefs has taken a turn towards a higher quality, more consistent experience. Quality costs money and while some of us deeply entrenched in the blogosphere blame the Disney Dining Plan for price increases, third party restaurants like Chefs de France are potentially trying to serve up better food at a higher price point. On the other hand, Chefs is probably now making more money serving fewer people during the afternoon hours as the reimbursement price for a Dining Plan credit exceeds what most guests used to pay out of pocket during the early daytime hours.

But some of the more sizable flatbreads and other appetizers may potentially bring down costs and those on the Dining Plan will find reservations more easily available during the earlier hours when eating here is now “just as good of a value” as later in the day when prices used to be higher. Out of pocket, it would be pretty easy for a couple to share one of the two reviewed flatbreads and the seafood entree for around $50 combined and leave perfectly satisfied. That’s a bit less than the average price of two entrees at other restaurants.

If you do visit Chefs and carry Tables in Wonderland, you may want to take into consideration that your discount applies to seatings through 3pm. If that discount is irrelevant, then you might consider a reservation that begins 30 to 45 minutes before sunset. That will give you an opportunity to be seated and order while enjoying the sunshine beaming in and then experience some of the ambiance after dark. Request a window table in the main dining room for the best promenade views. Those looking for a more intimate experience should consider what they’re likely to order and whether climbing the stairs to Paul makes more sense.

Chefs offers a less-than-ideal view of IllumiNations, but you may consider a later meal for a unique perspective. Like most restaurants, Chefs seats through around ten minutes prior to official close and for the first hour of evening Extra Magic Hours. So you can book dinner for 8:50pm with a 9pm close. One potential bonus of the late night reservation is that the restaurant will empty out considerably the later it gets and you can then enjoy a pleasant walk around World Showcase after everyone other than Bricker has left.

So Chefs will probably cost you more money than it would have last year or the year before, but there are some ways to bring down the overall cost and I think the experience should prove to be a more positive one more often than not.

You’ll still find me at Via Napoli.

Thanks again to Helen and family for the invite. We will check out the Boulangerie and some France Pavilion merchandise next.

Last modified: June 5, 2018 Filed Under: Blog

Comments

  1. Amber says

    October 18, 2016 at 10:49 pm

    Really enjoyed reading this and looking forward to the France Pavilion review as well–thought you might have forgotten about it!

    Reply
  2. Larry says

    October 19, 2016 at 8:08 am

    Loved the Miles reference. Many of us anticipate more without Les.

    As usual, your photos make me hungry to try the food. Good review!

    Reply
  3. Ric R says

    October 19, 2016 at 8:15 am

    I was at Chefs de France on Labor Day (Sept 5) and had a great meal there. We all opted for the prix fixe meal. Tables in Wonderland and the idea that this would be our biggest meal on property made that worth it to us. Not sure getting a 3-course meal here would have been worth it otherwise.
    French onion soup came out blazing hot as it should. BF enjoyed the lobster bisque. Two others ordered the salad. They enjoyed it, but getting salad instead of French onion soup or lobster bisque seems like a missed opportunity to me. And this salad didn’t seem like anything special.
    Three of us got the beef. Very enjoyable with enough served to feel satisfied. BF got the chicken and he enjoyed that. For dessert, the three others all got the chocolate swan. I would have been disappointed, but they all liked it. I got the berry meringue basket and it was perfect. Light and refreshing after some pretty heavy soup and beef. One of the sorbet options that day was raspberry, so I asked the waitress to substitute raspberry for the standard strawberry sorbet. I’m happy I did that.
    I’m glad we went and I’d recommend others give it a shot.

    Reply
  4. JulieHFJ says

    October 19, 2016 at 8:45 am

    If the name of this place is problematic, how about Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen? WDW is consistent in that usage throughout their signage, menu cover, website dining page, etc., but the rest of the web seems to refer to the place as Skipper Canteen or, further afield, Skipper’s Canteen. Dysfunctional Disney nomenclature 2.0.

    Reply
  5. Sg says

    October 19, 2016 at 10:38 am

    “Les” is just the French word for “the”. Alphabetize it as you would any restaurant starting with “the”. I think the same inconsistency happens with the Crystal Palace. (end boring and unsolicited contribution to your blog post, ha)

    Reply
  6. Shelly Johnson says

    October 19, 2016 at 11:28 am

    Me and my family will be at Via Napoli as well.

    Reply
  7. Phil says

    October 19, 2016 at 12:42 pm

    Party at Napoli’s ……. Baseball humor

    Reply
    • Mike says

      October 20, 2016 at 8:13 pm

      Go Tribe!

      Reply
  8. Iffy says

    October 19, 2016 at 2:42 pm

    It’s normal for French pizza-type dishes to be thin because you’re supposed to eat it with knife and fork. French people never eat pizza with their hands. I once made the mistake of trying to eat pizza with my hands when I was an exchange student in France and my ten-year-old host sister’s eyes almost bugged out of her head!

    Weirdly, French people don’t slice baguette bread, but rip pieces off the loaf. (For example, that’s how my host family did it.) So it’s not as if they refuse to eat with their hands, they just don’t do it with pizza for Reasons.

    Reply
  9. Jenn says

    October 19, 2016 at 10:41 pm

    We ate at Les Chefs de France in July on our honeymoon. We enjoyed it very much. We were on the dining plan, so I had the prix fixe menu with French onion soup, beef short ribs and the swan cream puff. The soup and beef short ribs were very good. I will pick a different dessert next time. My husband had the duck entree. He enjoyed it very much…he said the cherries tasted like they were soaked in alcohol and was like taking a shot each time he ate one…so if you want to save money on a cocktail. Haha. He had the chocolate cake and it was very good.

    Reply
  10. Jo says

    October 20, 2016 at 3:39 am

    Still miss the visit from Remy though ๐Ÿ™

    P.S. Paul Bocuse is still alive! He is 90 and still working! So he still is Jerome Bocuse’s dad ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  11. CMM says

    October 20, 2016 at 11:08 am

    I’m assuming the after hours maintenance staff doesn’t even bother looking in all of the bathroom stalls for people standing on toilets. They already know Bricker is there.

    Reply
  12. Dawn says

    October 22, 2016 at 11:04 am

    When we dined here last Remy was still visiting tables, and as an added bonus The Beast sauntered by on his way to his meet n greet. Since we were seated near the windows, and my girls’ were staring..he jumped at them…making them screech (which probably wasn’t what other diners anticipated in their experience..but it was a short disturbance รœ)…so that made it a fun meal. We thought the food was good then, no problems with quality at all and service was great. Granted this was a while back.

    Reply
  13. Dusty cheatham says

    October 23, 2016 at 10:38 am

    it has been 20 years since I have consumed food here. during my only visit I watched staff argue over who was sweeping the floor better in French . I was hooked on Disney forever after that .sigh…..

    Reply
  14. HelenB says

    October 23, 2016 at 4:24 pm

    It was wonderful to meet you and we very much enjoyed your company, Josh. It was out pleasure to have you join us for lunch!

    P.S. My son says he has more puns for you should you require any further inspiration.

    Reply
  15. Agnes says

    October 24, 2016 at 4:31 pm

    I hadn’t previously considered dining at Les Chefs ($18.99 for a veggie option of pasta and cheese seems a bit harsh), but the first photo of the interior of the restaurant is very striking and convincing.
    ….and please tell us the Star Wars pun!

    Reply
  16. Tigerlulu says

    January 2, 2017 at 11:00 pm

    Just drop the Les and never look back. We didn’t.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie Review and France Pavilion Merchandise at Epcot โ€“ easyWDW says:
    October 19, 2016 at 2:15 pm

    […] We continue our tour around World Showcase with a visit to the main quick service arm of the France Pavilion, after considering a review of the all-day menu and the current state of (Les) Chefs de France in this post. […]

    Reply

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