I love French food. Like, really love it. And after enjoying it in Paris, I'm a little picky about it now (okay, a lot picky).
So when I had the chance to sit down at Chefs de France in EPCOT's France Pavilion, I was excited and a little nervous. Could it stand up to the real thing?
Let's find out.
The Atmosphere: Très Français
First things first: they nailed the vibe.
The atmosphere is very French. It reminded me of a few places I'd been to in Paris, and that's not an easy thing to pull off. Walking in, I felt like I'd left Florida for a little while. Points for that.
The Bread: A Great Start
French baguette
The meal kicked off with a French baguette, and it was exactly what you want. Warm, with a crispy crust and a soft, pillowy inside.
It came with a pat of butter sprinkled with sea salt. A very American touch, for sure, but I'm not mad about it. Salted butter on warm bread is hard to argue with.
(Tip: don't fill up on the bread. Although, spoiler, I used mine for a very good reason later.)
The Appetizer: Escargot de Bourgogne ($17.95)
Snails cooked in garlic parsley butter and topped with a puff pastry.
The flavor was great. Garlicky, buttery, everything you hope escargot will be. I'm not a huge fan of the puff pastry on top, but it didn't take away from the dish. If you're escargot-curious, this is a comfortable way to try it.
My Entrée: Suprême de Poulet Rôti ($39.95)
Airline chicken breast in a shallot and Merlot vinegar reduction, served with potato purée.
Okay. That sauce was to die for.
Excellent flavor with just a bit of that acidic bite from the vinegar. I couldn't taste the shallots much, but I could definitely taste the wine. And I used my bread to soak up every last bit I could. No shame. That's what the bread is for.
My Roommate's Entrée: Filet de Boeuf, Sauce au Poivre ($58.95)
Filet mignon, bacon-wrapped asparagus, and peppercorn sauce. It normally comes with potato au gratin, but he swapped it for potato purée.
He said the filet was cooked to a perfect medium-rare, which is exactly what you want to hear at that price.
Escargot de Bourgogne
The sauce, though? He called it "dirty" tasting. (He doesn't have the experience I do, lol.) I tried it, and it did have an earthy quality that I'd attribute to green peppercorn. It wasn't off-putting, but it's not something everyone is used to. If you like a cleaner, creamier pepper sauce, know that this one leans earthy.
Dessert? Not This Time
We didn't have room for dessert. But honestly, there are so many great dessert options throughout EPCOT that I didn't feel like I missed out.
So, Is It Like Paris?
Not quite at the level of Paris. But honestly, I wasn't expecting it to be.
What I did get was a really good meal in a charming setting, with a standout sauce and a perfectly cooked filet. That's a win in my book.
Suprême de Poulet Rôti
Would I Go Back?
Definitely.
It's a bit on the pricey side, so I'd save it for a special occasion or a date night rather than a casual "we're hungry" stop.
The Quick Take
Atmosphere: Very French, and it reminded me of Paris
Best dish: Suprême de Poulet Rôti (that sauce!)
Also good: Escargot de Bourgogne, and a perfectly cooked filet
Earthy alert: The peppercorn sauce on the filet has a distinct green peppercorn flavor
Price: On the higher side. Entrées ran $39.95 to $58.95
Best for: Date night, anniversaries, and special-occasion dinners
Want Help Fitting Dining Like This Into Your Trip?
Sit-down meals like this can book up fast, and the last thing you want on vacation is to be refreshing an app hoping for a table. I can help you decide which splurge meals are worth it for your trip and budget, and get reservations lined up so you can just show up and enjoy.
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