The saddest part of any vacation is leaving. My mom and I decided to go out with a bang this time around, and spent the last night of our Disney vacation having dinner at Monsieur Paul. Located in France in Epcot, Monsieur Paul is described as “fine dining,” as opposed to the “family friendly” label that comes with Chefs de France, which is located on the first floor of the same building. Please allow me to offer two suggestions: take the labels seriously, and make a reservation.
There are only two countries in Epcot that I’ve visited in real life; France is one of them. The other is Morocco, but that’s another story for another day. So, because of my firsthand knowledge of Paris, I can say without a doubt that Disney’s attention to detail in creating France and Monsieur Paul is impeccable. The décor, even down to the windows and use of mirrors, is exactly what I would expect to see in an upscale restaurant in Paris.
I love the lighting fixtures!
The view is lovely; the restaurant sits on the second floor of the building, overlooking the World Showcase. We were still working on dessert when the fireworks of Illuminations started; the windows provided an excellent view of the show. No worries about missing out if your reservation is later in the evening! I even saw a couple who were not seated near a window ask to be moved to a window seat; they were accommodated as soon as a table was available.
The wine list is extensive, featuring wines from different regions of France. I like to consider myself at least somewhat knowledgeable of wines, but I was completely overwhelmed by this list. Fortunately, our server, Guillaume, was very knowledgeable, and extremely helpful in pointing us in the right direction. He even brought me a sample of the wine he recommended to me so I could try it before committing to an entire glass. It was excellent, and paired perfectly with my dinner.
Guillaume’s wine suggestions were on point!
The food menu is not nearly as extensive as the wine menu. It features appetizers, soups, salads, and main courses. We decided to forgo the appetizers, soups, and salads, in favor of saving our calories for dessert. I opted for the red snapper, which was delicious. It was beautifully prepared, covered by potato “scales,” and accompanied by a rosemary and chicken jus sauce. The sauce was amazing – it complemented the fish and potatoes perfectly. The side of spinach was also nice, but was overshadowed by the fish.
I love the potato “scales” on the red snapper - so pretty!
My mom chose the beef filet, which she described as the best she’s had in year. It was accompanied by potatoes and truffle mushrooms, topped by a gouda and mushroom mash, and a red wine sauce. It looked so good - I was jealous! The presentation of both dishes was beautiful, and the taste, again, was amazing.
The filet definitely made me jealous!
We moved on to dessert with the highest of expectations – and were not disappointed. My dessert was a chocolate almond cake with a chocolate and raspberry filling, and a scoop of hazelnut ice cream. As Guillaume explained, the cake is baked with a piece of chocolate and raspberry inside; when you cut into it, the chocolate and raspberry run out in the most amazing lava cake you can imagine.
I’m not a coffee drinker, but my mom is. She ordered coffee to go with dessert, which is prepared in a French press. She loves a strong brew, so this was perfect for her. Guillaume brought the entire press to the table, and filled her cup halfway, as is done in Europe. She was delighted with the coffee; I was delighted with the presentation. The coffee spoon, too, is completely authentic, and is what is provided with coffee and tea in both France and Spain, where I lived for a year. This is the sort of attention to detail that I referenced in the beginning – and it is a huge part of what makes the experience of a Disney vacation so special.
The coffee spoon made me so happy! I miss Europe.
We left Monsieur Paul completely in love with it. I’m already excited to go back the next time I visit Disney World.
Have you ever visited Monsieur Paul? What did you think of it? Let me know in the comments!
I invited you to join me on Facebook at Upon A Star Michelle, on Twitter @uponastarmichel, and on Instagram @uponastarmichelle.