Monsieur Paul Restaurant in Epcot’s France Pavilion

Monsieur Paul has been open since December, 2012 but I had always hesitated to make a reservation to dine there because of the reputation of  Bistro de Paris, the former restaurant in the same location. Bistro de Paris was known to be very stuffy, overly formal and extremely expense. It has been open over a year as Monsieur Paul and I thought it was about time to give a try just for the sake of research.

You reach Monsieur Paul through a small doorway around and directly behind Chefs de France restaurant, tucked away just before you reach L’Artisan des Glaces. Once you are checked in, you are escorted to the second floor dining room via a staircase. There is a small elevator that will only hold one cast member as escort and one guest so it is only offered if you make it know that you will not be able to climb the stairs. The waiting area is small and won’t allow for more than 2 or 3 small parties to wait comfortably before being escorted upstairs, but we did not wait more than 5 minutes after checking in for our reservation. Once upstairs, I noticed the atmosphere is not at all stuffy. Upscale – yes, but not stuffy at all. It is definitely one of the nicest dining rooms on property, with tables along large windows overlooking Epcot®.

The menu is in French with English translation beneath and the staff is extremely helpful with making your choices. The restaurant offers an extensive wine, champagne and cocktail menu. A Prix-Fixe menu is also offered. My daughter suffers from a wheat allergy so the Chef came to our table to discuss her dinner choices. She was also served a separate basket of gluten free bread and all of her food was brought to the table on separate serving trays.

The cocktails are average cost for Walt Disney World® – averaging around $15 each. We enjoyed one cocktail each before ordering a bottle of champagne ($97)

Here is some of what we selected:

 Ravioli d’escargots, creme au persil (Escargot Ravioli with cream of parsley) $16

Soup aux truffles V.G.E. (Beef broth, oxtail, vegetables, black winter truffle, puff pasty) (choice of soup or salad with prix-fixe menu)

Homard du forestier, ceuf de cailles mollet, bouillon crème aux truffles noires (Maine lobster with sautéed mushrooms, mollet quail egg, creamy black truffle bouillon) $29. I apologize for this next blurry photo. This was one of the best appetizers ever created! The blurry photo may be due to the fact that a bottle of champagne had already started to flow – not really sure! My daughter, an Executive Chef in South Carolina, continues to say this is one of the best food items she has ever eaten.

Carré d’agneau du Colorado en croute d’herbes, pissaladiére Niçoise, cassolette de flageolet (Herb-crusted rack of Colorado lamb, Niçoise-style tart with goat cheese, onions and arugula, cassolette of flageolet beans) (choice of entree with prix-fixe menu)

Filet de boeuf grille forestier, puree de pomme de terre, sauce Bordelaise (Grilled beef tenderloin with mushroom crust, mashed potato, Bordelaise) $43 OUTSTANDING! The most tender beef tenderloin ever eaten! 

Overall, this is one of the best meals I have ever had in one of the parks. Removing the cost of cocktails and champagne, the cost for this meal was almost the same (just $12 more) as a meal two nights later at the Coral Reef in Epcot® and a much better meal and a much better atmosphere. The cost for myself and my daughter (food only) was $122. I will definitely be looking forward to going back again!

The restaurant does offer a children’s menu, but it is very limited. It only offers 2 appetizers  and 2 entrees – roasted chicken with mashed potatoes for $13 or filet mignon with mashed potatoes for $16 and 2 deserts.

Reservations are recommended and can be made on-line at: www.disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining or by calling (407) WDW-DINE.