When choosing a dinner location at Walt Disney World’s monorail resorts, guests will find a long list of restaurants that serve quality cuisine. Whether you’re looking for casual quick service, signature table service, or even a character meal, you’ll find a large variety of crowd-pleasing spots around Seven Seas Lagoon. Choose from the island influences of Disney’s Polynesian Resort, the coastal inspirations found at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, and the American fare that many enjoy at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort draws guests from all over Walt Disney World for its all-day-long character dining at Chef Mickey’s and the distinct dining experience at California Grill, located on the resort’s top floor. In addition to the outstanding options on the 3-course selection menu, California Grill provides sweeping views of Magic Kingdom and its nighttime fireworks show. One less-talked about restaurant found at the Contemporary that deserves its own recognition is Steakhouse 71.
Contrary to California Grill, Steakhouse 71 is situated on the bottom level of Disney’s Contemporary Resort and, yes, is primarily a steakhouse. The sleek and modern décor displays nods to not only the vintage 1970s but also to the citrus groves found in central Florida. Begin your meal with an appealing appetizer or a signature drink from their wine, beer, and cocktail directory. While it was truly difficult to choose, on our recent visit we ordered the shrimp cocktail and the French onion soup to try from the list of appetizers. It was evident that the shrimp were fresh, never having been frozen, and the soup was superb in its texture and flavor.
While entrees like shrimp, chicken, and vegetable wellington are also offered on the menu, for the main course we each chose a cut of steak. I opted for the 6-oz filet mignon and my husband ordered Walt’s favorite, the 12-oz roasted prime rib. Both included a side and a sauce of our choice. The peppery and tangy Signature Steakhouse 71 sauce was an easy and safe choice for added flavor, however, the steaks were cooked so perfectly, that the sauce was not necessary to make each bite enjoyable.
The generous portion of garlic mashed potatoes was creamy and delightful and the red wine-glazed button mushrooms were sautéed to perfection and very flavorful. Because there are so many appealing sides, we were tempted to add a side of charred asparagus or au gratin potatoes to share, but opted to save room for dessert instead and I am so glad that we did.
We were eyeing the Steakhouse 71 Chocolate Cake and all of its delectable layers as it passed by our table several times, but we ultimately chose the more gluten-friendly crème brûlée. The thin and crispy layer on top gave way to the rich vanilla and chocolate cream underneath. You can’t go wrong with this dessert that is topped with a plump variety of berries and freshly whipped Chantilly cream. Add a warm cup of coffee to leave your palette truly satisfied.
While Disney’s Contemporary Resort may be better known for other dining options, Steakhouse 71 is not to be missed. The signature steakhouse menu will allow you to choose your preferred elements of your meal and the knowledgeable servers and talented chefs will ensure your food is prepared exactly to your liking. It was a delicious meal and enjoyable dining experience that was not rushed. We will not hesitate to dine at Steakhouse 71 again in the future and would absolutely consider bringing our children with us to appreciate the sensational service and cuisine in its welcoming family-friendly atmosphere.
Have you ever dined at Steakhouse 71 at Disney’s Contemporary Resort? What is your favorite thing on the menu? Let us know in the comments below!
Featured Photo by Kent Hathaway.
Written by
Shelley Wehler
Contributing Writer
Shelley is a stay-at-home mother of two girls living outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. Her love of all things Disney has grown even more as she sees the magic come alive through the lens of her young daughters. She spends her free time keeping up with the latest in Disney news and daydreaming of her next trip to the parks!
