World Showcase at Epcot has long been the epicenter of Walt Disney World’s culinary culture, and visitors to the France pavilion can now enjoy more economical epicurean delights, thanks to a recently added Chefs de France Prix Fixe menu.
Chefs de France, the iconic Parisian bistro at the heart of Epcot’s France pavilion, was among a handful of upscale dining establishments that didn’t initially reopen last spring with the rest of the Walt Disney World Resort, and when the restaurant finally returned in October 2020, it featured a greatly reduced bill of fare. However, there’s good news for Francophile foodies, in the form of a Chefs de France Prix Fixe “Menu Francais” that provides a three-course lunch or dinner (beverages included) for only $49.50 per person (plus tax and gratuity).
Perhaps because it’s considered too fancy by many families, you may be able to find a table at Chefs de France on relatively short notice. We arrived at the park early on a Friday afternoon and were able to secure dining reservations through the My Disney Experience app for later that same evening.
We only had to wait a few minutes after checking in outside the restaurant before being seated at our table, which was properly distanced from other diners.
Some tables have been designated off-limits to improve spacing, and paper menus have been replaced with QR codes that link to Chefs de France’s online menu.
With the reduced seating capacity, Chefs de France feels less crowded and noisy than on past visits, a welcome change that helps the restaurant’s atmosphere live up to its elegant decor.
Chefs de France still provides a la carte options, but we were intent on trying out the Prix Fixe deal, which allows diners to choose any appetizer, entrée, and dessert offered on the regular menu.
Every meal at Chefs de France starts with a hot, crusty mini-baguette from the Les Halles bakery next door. Combined with a pat of sweet cream butter, it’s a perfect way to warm up for the feast ahead. Just be careful not to fill up on bread before the real meal arrives!
For appetizers, we selected the Salade de chèvre chaud (baked goat cheese)
with walnuts, fresh grapes, tomatoes, and endive; and the casserole of Burgundian escargots baked in parsley and garlic butter.
The salad was very fresh, especially the crisp endive, and served in a very generous portion.
The escargots were a little light on the garlic, but they were far plumper and less rubbery than those served at the festival food booth.
For the entrées, we selected the Boeuf Bourguignon with baby onions and carrots, and the broiled salmon with rice and Champagne Sauce.
The classic wine-braised beef dish was every bit as rich and hearty as you could hope for, with a crave-inducing Cabernet sauce you’ll want to lick off the plate. This dish is traditionally made with tougher, fattier cuts of meat, and some of my portion wasn’t quite as tender as I’d have liked. Also, I don’t remember Julia Child serving this dish atop buttered linguini, but the starch helps soak up the delicious sauce, making for a very filling meal.
The salmon, on the other hand, is ideal for lighter appetites. The fish was cooked a perfect medium rare, giving it a buttery texture without a hint of dryness. The accompanying rice and green beans pair perfectly with the fish, picking up the lemon and wine flavors from the sauce.
To wash all this down, the Chefs de France prix fixe menu also includes a glass of Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon. This is your basic Georges Duboeuf house wine that normally sells for $7.50 a glass, but it’s perfectly drinkable and comes in a surprisingly generous pour.
Last but certainly not least, the Prix Fixe dessert selection includes a classic Crème Brûlée and a Valrhona Chocolate tart.
The brûlée scorched sugar surface was beautifully burnt, and the custard underneath had a perfect harmony of vanilla and egg yolk. The chocolate tart had a velvety texture and wasn’t overly sweet, but I personally prefer a more bitter dark chocolate.
Nothing goes with dessert like a hot cup of coffee, and the Prix Fixe meal includes a cappuccino, espresso, or similar European brew. Alternatively, you can request a soft drink with your meal.
Take note that a meal at Chefs de France is far more leisurely than your typical rushed theme park restaurant experience, so plan your touring schedule accordingly. Our meal lasted over two hours, allowing us to exit Epcot after the park had closed to all other guests.
We even had the opportunity after dinner to check out a portion of the France pavilion’s Ratatouille expansion, which is scheduled to open later this year.
New restrooms recently opened in this area, and the upcoming crepe restaurant is now visible.
The bottom line is that, although the restaurant’s selection and preparation can’t quite match a genuine gourmet table like the still-shuttered Monsieur Paul, Chefs de France is the closest you’ll currently get to fine French fare inside a theme park.
Moreover, the Prix Fixe Menu Francais represents one of the best dining values inside any Disney park. For $49.50, we received $67.27 worth of food and drink, a savings of $17.77 (or 26%) per person. Order the most expensive items on the menu, and you’ll save $26.77 (a whopping 35%); even picking the cheapest selections still saves you $9.97.
At this price point, the only real competition for Chefs de France in Epcot is Germany’s Biergarten, which costs $3.50 less and includes all-you-can-eat Bavarian food and live Oktoberfest-style entertainment (but no alcohol).
Whichever restaurant you select, we’re certain you’ll come out stuffed and satisfied. If you’re anything like us, you’ll be moving pretty slowly after your Chefs de France indulgence. Take long enough to exit, and you might find yourself with the very last vehicle in Epcot’s parking lot!
For all there is to see and do at Walt Disney World, check out The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, or to plan your family’s trip to Orlando, check out The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids. If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe to our YouTube channel and sign up for our newsletter here. Be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
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1 Comment
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Wow! I was intrigued by the picture of a tantalizing dish I couldn’t identify, the little crispy bread rounds on top of spinach, [er, parsley?]–who knew it was finger-bite-sized escargot!? Your lovely photos of the various dishes are mouth-watering, and the elegant, grand dining rooms–I could enjoy a two-hour meal! But it’s the moody landscapes that really spoke to me. The lonely vacant lamp-lit boulevard, the brooding dark skies, the glowing orb of Spaceship Earth, even the empty parking lot makes a statement, no words needed! Great story and pix!
