Last week we discussed the Contemporary resort, and this week we’ll be continuing on, talking about a restaurant inside. This restaurant, on the ground floor of the main atrium, used to be The Wave, and was recently rebranded as Steakhouse 71. Join us for our look at Steakhouse 71 at the Contemporary.
But First- Our Mousekecocktail
About Steakhouse 71
Steakhouse 71 opened officially on October 1st, 2021, as part of the 50th celebration. Its name pays homage to the opening of the Magic Kingdom, as it opened in 1971. I think this is a fitting place for this restaurant, as the Contemporary was one of two Disney resorts functioning on opening day! This, however, is not the first attempt of a steakhouse on a Disney property that boasts the opening year- Disneyland Resort had Steakhouse 55. Open from 2006-2021, this version had an old Hollywood style theme that was apparent. Hopefully, Steakhouse 71 will outlive its predecessor.
This particular space at the Contemporary space has had many iterations over the years. It used to be The Wave of American Flavors from 2008-2021. Before that, it was the Fiesta Fun Center, which was essentially an arcade.
The new retheme of the space has brought in a chic mid-century modern design. Ultimately, it pairs nicely with the new Incredibles overhaul of the rooms upstairs.
Steakhouse 71 offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, and you can check out the full menu here.
Mousekemom Tip
If you want to try several options, get the small plates. Especially if you have more than one person in your group, try to mix and match some options so you can get an idea of all this delicious menu has to offer!
Steakhouse 71 at the Contemporary
The dining area and lounge definitely have an upscale feel. Most of the options we ordered were heavy and great comfort food. We ordered four main dishes, which were all amazing in their own right.
The Wedge Salad
The Wedge Salad was fresh and delicious, but it was not a classic wedge salad. The dressing was a very tangy, not totally an obvious blue-cheese dressing. Pickled red onion and hard boiled egg made this wedge salad unique, but the veggies were definitely appreciated and delicious. Admittedly- we don’t usually meet the USDA’s fruit and vegetable requirements when on a Disney trip. As the age old saying goes, Disney calories don’t count, right?
Maple-Lacquered Pork Belly, Smoked Cheese Grits, and the “Perfect Egg.”
The maple-lacquered pork belly, smoked cheese grits, and the “perfect egg.” was great. Usually thick cuts of meat like that are too hard to eat, but it was really cooked perfectly. The “perfect egg” is really just a sous-vide egg, which you can’t beat at a normal restaurant. At Disney, of course it’d be excellent. We especially love the smoked-cheese grits though. I am not generally a lover of grits, but everything from the creamy texture to the rich flavor, made it a perfect pairing.
Steak "Frites"
We loved the Steak “Frites” which is a fabulously cooked Hanger Steak, It had Chimichurri that was amazingly flavorful, and Truffle Aïoli. Its easy to mess up a hangar steak, but it was so amazing. It’s a great choice if you’re not feeling like having a cut of massive, heavy steak. It came with Garlic-Parmesan Waffle Fries were rich, with a buttery flavor. They were absolutely addictive.
PB and J Wings
The PB and J chicken wings were the underdog this round- and you almost have to order these out of morbid curiosity. Do yourself a favor and get them! Made with a sweet peanut glaze, and jelly powder, they are fried to perfection. The frying gives them the perfect crunch when you bite into them. It was reminiscent of a Tai peanut glaze. They were also a great price. We love a value option!
Mousekemom Tip
We think you may love these wings if they has a little spice. BYOB… of sriracha- if you feel like you may want it!
Steakhouse 71: Hit or Miss?
We have to say Steakhouse 71 is DEFINITELY a HIT! Everything we tried, we enjoyed. They also had so many great options that we would love to go back and try, like the Turkey Club, Gourmet grilled Cheese, and of course you can’t forget all the fabulous cuts of steak.
We also love that you are able to order your food to-go. This option is great if you’re just wanting to head back to your room after a long day of Disney adventures.
If you aren’t able to snag a reservation, its also worth noting that the Lounge accepts walk-ins, and most of the menu is available there. The lounge is cozy and relaxed, which we definitely love.
Will you be booking Steakhouse 71 at the Contemporary for your next trip? Let us know in the comments below!
Can’t get enough? Listen to our Mousekemoms Podcast here.
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