|
This week's restaurant review is for Auberge de Cendrillon, in Disneyland Paris' Fantasyland.
Auberge de Cendrillon (or simply Auberge as we'll call it, for easiness sake) is an expensive character dining location, that offers lunch and dinner in the company of Suzy, Perla and the Disney Princesses.
Auberge is designed after the Tremaine's stately French home, and the theme throughout tells the story of Cinderella.
There are murals, glass engravings, stained glass windows, and pumpkin chandeliers that all add to the ambience and mood of the restaurant.
The restaurant is beautifully designed, and comes complete with Cinderella's pumpkin coach in the courtyard.
The setting is quite formal, and the experience is a table service one.
You have to chose from a set menu, of which there are fairly limited options for such an expensive experience, I think.
The menu is, for the want of a better phrase, "very French". We have dined here several times, and I have to say it's not my most favourite place in the world! The food has improved over the years, but it's definitely an acquired taste.
For example, to most people, roasted vegetables would be served hot. Not in Auberge. They are cold, on purpose. If you're not expecting it, it's quite a shock!
France is notorious too for under-cooking meat. If you are a "well done" person, you need to ask for the food to be cremated, and even then it'll be more like medium-well.
For starters, I actually think the soup is pretty good, but I haven't seen it on the menu recently. I'm not sure if it has been removed completely, or if you can still ask for it.
Dessert is a set trio of items all served together, and again, is pretty good.
I think the biggest problem really, is if you order a starter that is particularly French, and then the mains are not anything to write home about anyway, you could have a pretty dire experience. But, on the other hand, if you order the right starter (I'd definitely say the soup is the safest option, if available), and you order the goose option, or potentially a dark meat but ensuring it is cremated, then along with dessert, you could end up with thinking Auberge is not bad.
You get one drink included, called the Prince's Cocktail. It's a non-alcoholic mixed fruit drink, and it's quite nice.
Of course, one of the primary reasons for wanting to dine here is that it is the Resort's only dedicated Princess dining venue.
At every meal you are pretty much guaranteed Suzy, Perla and Cinderella. Quite often Prince Charming is in attendance too, and on rare occasions the Fairy Godmother.
Other Princesses and Princes join Cinderella, but these can vary day to day. You might find here any random combination of Princess Aurora and Prince Phillip, Snow White and the Prince, Belle and Prince Adam, Ariel and Prince Eric, Rapunzel, or Princess Tiana.
Disneyland Paris is the only place in the world you can meet Princess Aurora in her blue dress, and where you can meet the Beast in his human form of Prince Adam! Though it should be noted that Princess Aurora's dress colour may change - sadly - once she receives her new dress design from the US Parks. It is unknown at present if they have designed a new blue one for her, or if it'll become the new standard pink one.
As with any character meal, the characters will walk around the dining room, greeting each family at their table as they dine.
Overall, I would say that if you are a big character fan, then meeting Princess Aurora in her blue dress and meeting Beast in human form could make the expense worthwhile - but of course they aren't guaranteed at any given meal, as the characters rotate depending on which member of royalty is available that day.
If you're a fan of trying new food styles, or not much phases you, again, you might not care so much, but I would definitely err on the side of caution for most non-French guests.
Before we look at the prices, let's take a look at some more interior photos we have taken over the years, detailing some of the exquisite details and superb theming that this restaurant has to offer.
Lunch and dinner both offer the same menu, and prices start from €65 (about US$88!) per person for adults, and €29 for children aged 3 through 11 inclusive.
Annual Passholders receive a maximum of 10% discount no matter what pass they hold, and Shareholder Club members receive 15% on presentation of a valid Shareholder's Club card and ID.
Reservations are recommended, and can be made at any guest service location at the two theme parks, any Disney Hotel concierge, or by calling the Disney Dining line up to 30 days in advance on +33 1 60 30 40 50.
You can leave your comments by clicking here, where you will be magically transported to our forum.
Dan.
 |