Les Chefs de France Dinner Review
*This gluten free dining experience took place in June 2021. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies.
Dinner at Chefs de France
Chefs de France, located in the France Pavilion in Epcot, is a non-Disney owned restaurant that offers classic French cuisine. It’s a location that, quite honestly, I’ve avoided for years — having heard hit or miss reviews of the food and the special dietary needs accommodations. Brandon and I decided to finally give it a try since we’re hoping to dine at every restaurant at Disney World at least once. On this visit, we had dinner in the late afternoon as they transitioned from lunch to dinner in the hopes that it wouldn’t be too crowded in the restaurant.
COVID-19 & Reopening Notes
On this particular visit, we made reservations in advance since we planned it ahead of time. If you’re having a hard time finding options, especially in Epcot, we always recommend checking the My Disney Experience app a day or two ahead of when you’re interested in dining at a restaurant. We actually get a lot of last minute dining options this way, so it’s always worth checking.
When we arrived at the restaurant, we were able to check-in either through the app itself or by speaking with a cast member at the restaurant’s entrance. Both work well, and we had no issues getting seated for our meal. However, we have had a few restaurants require us to also check-in at the restaurant with a cast member in addition to using the check-in feature on the app. So, it’s always good to double-check a restaurant’s current practice with check-in.
On this specific visit, we noted that the restaurant was not implementing any social distance seating and were seated at a small two top table very close to another party. Because we were not comfortable with the seating, we did ask if we could be seated where there was a bit more space and were accommodated in our request. If you have any concerns about seating, it’s always worth mentioning to a cast member to discuss options. The restaurant was busier than expected on our visit, so we always recommend doing what you feel most comfortable with.
We also recommend checking Disney’s current guidelines and recommendations. On this visit, mask rules were different than they are currently at the Disney Parks & Resorts, so it’s always worth checking before you go.
Atmosphere
Chefs de France is a decidedly French restaurant, and you will feel like you have been transported to Paris when you dine there.
Chefs de France Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
From the exterior to the classic French style inside, the restaurant reflects the theme and location really well.
Chefs de France Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Both Brandon and I really liked the tiled floors and the other charming decor like the ceiling lights and tile work. In some ways, the restaurant seems a bit dated, but there is a lot of charm in the classic design that feels like it’s been this way since it opened in Epcot.
Chefs de France Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
We were seated in an area right by the large windows at the front of the restaurant. We both said it was great for people watching and were glad to see a bit more space between these seats than some of the tables further in the restaurant. During the day it was bright and cheerful and a very pleasant dining area. It would be nice to see what it looks like inside at night too.
Chefs de France Table / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Each table had paper placemats with the Chefs de France name and culinary hat designs — which was a nice touch.
The Food
Because Chefs de France is not owned and operated by Disney, they do not have an allergy-friendly menu. Most non-Disney owned locations also have somewhat different protocols for handling special dietary needs. So, it’s always good to speak with your server about the options and if you can speak with a chef or manager.
Chefs de France - Brandon with QR Code Menus / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
In our case, our server facilitated some of our questions with the chef. But, we did see a chef come out to several tables. So, if you feel more comfortable speaking to a chef directly, it’s always worth asking.
Chefs de France - Gluten Free Bread / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Both Brandon and I were served a bread service. Brandon received a classic French baguette with butter. I was served this gluten free roll and butter. You can also ask for extra virgin olive oil in place of butter if you’re dairy free. I do not know what brand of gluten free roll that they used. I did ask our server if she could ask the chef, but we never did find out what brand it was.
Overall, it was nice to have a bread option, but I have to admit, it wasn’t great. The inside of the roll was almost entirely air and the roll crumbled and fell apart pretty easily. I much prefer the Bloomfield Farms brand rolls that Disney is currently using at their restaurants.
Chefs de France - Gluten Free French Onion Soup / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Brandon and I opted to get the prix fixe meal which came with an appetizer of our choice, entree, dessert, and glass of wine. For my appetizer, I ordered the French Onion Soup which could be made gluten free by swapping the bread option out. My soup included the gluten free roll that I had chopped up into small pieces and topped with cheese. This dish is gluten free but does contain dairy.
Of the French Onion soups that I’ve had, this was just OK. If you like soup and especially like getting French Onion soup, it’s definitely worth getting — because if you’re gluten free, its not always an option when eating out. It was also a huge portion, making it a great value for the 3-course meal. I’m really glad that I tried it, but I would opt for a different appetizer if we go back to Chefs de France.
Chefs de France - Goat Cheese & Endive Salad / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Oddly, Brandon’s options were more limited than mine at Chefs de France due to his chicken allergy. The French Onion soup, for example, is made with chicken stock. The server told us that the chef recommended that Brandon order the Baked Goat Cheese Salad with endive. However, when the dish arrived, we noted that the goat cheese was just a standard wedge of cheese instead of baked. Our server said that whatever breading they use had some issue with chicken — something that seemed odd to us, but we were glad that it was served plain for him instead. This was also an option if you are gluten free and would be served exactly the same way.
Brandon really liked this salad a lot. He loves cheese and said the goat cheese was great. He also really enjoyed the vinaigrette in the salad too. I think we both wish we would have gotten each other’s appetizer, but overall, we both had a decent option to start off our meal.
Chefs de France - Gluten Free Salmon / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
For my entree, I chose the Baked Salmon with rice and a champagne sauce. This was the dish the server told us would be the easiest for me to get without modifications. I like salmon and rice, so it seemed like a good fit for me too. This dish is gluten free and contains dairy. But, you can get it modified to be dairy free as we learned from one of our blog readers when we saw her at the restaurant.
Overall, I really liked this entree a lot. The fish was well cooked and tasty. I liked the pesto-style sauce on the salmon and the mix of lemon and lime citrus. The rice and vegetables were pretty plain but paired well with the salmon. The champagne sauce had a mild flavor to it, and you could taste the champagne ever so slightly. I would definitely order the salmon again.
Chefs de France - Beef Tenderloin / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
For Brandon’s entree, he chose the Grilled Beef Tenderloin. Due to his chicken allergy, he could not have the sauce that normally comes with the dish. But, he said that the steak was flavorful and the mashed potatoes were extremely creamy and rich. If you’re gluten free, this would be another option. If you’re dairy free, you would need to swap out the very dairy-filled mashed potatoes from this entree.
Chefs de France - Kids Chocolate Mousse / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
As a gluten free diner, I was told my only primary dessert option was creme brûlée, which I’m not a fan of. Our server checked with the chef and mentioned that the chocolate mousse on the kids’ menu was also an option. I had asked about macarons which I had heard from Paleo Disney might be a dessert option when dining here but was told that they were not available.
I decided to get the chocolate mousse and goodness was this a rich dessert. If you’re gluten free and like chocolate — this was a very decadent option. It was so rich and thick that it almost had the consistency of frosting. If you’re dairy free or vegan, fresh fruit is the only other option available on the menu.
While I liked this and found myself eating the entire thing, it was definitely a dessert that I wouldn’t get every time because it was so decadent. If you’re a chocolate fan, you’ll definitely want to consider ordering this.
Chefs de France - Creme Brulee / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Brandon ended up ordering the Creme Brûlée, which is gluten free, as mentioned. He said that the best part of the creme brûlée was the caramelized sugar on top of the dessert. He said it was good as far creme brûlée goes, but like me, isn’t necessarily the biggest creme brûlée fan. If you like this kind of dessert, Brandon said he would recommend it.
If you want to hear more about our experience at Chefs de France, check out our vlog on our YouTube channel from the visit.
Overall
We found Chefs de France to be a just OK restaurant for our special dietary needs. We were glad to know that the restaurant can accommodate and that we could eat there safely. The food itself was good, but we both though for the price that we would probably choose another restaurant in Epcot instead. I will say that for the value, the prix fixe meal was a good bargain given it included a beverage option like a glass of wine — so if you’re looking for a meal that includes appetizer, entree, and dessert, this could be a good bet for you. We’re both really glad we finally decided to dine at Chefs de France, but it may be a bit before we go back again. We both would really like to check out Monsieur Paul located above Chefs de France and for which we’ve heard great things.
Have you been to Chefs de France? What was your experience dining there?