The former location of the Wave of American Flavors has transformed into Steakhouse 71 for the 50th anniversary in 2021. Located on the first floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort it is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Today we are just going to take a look at our experience of coming here for dinner.
Steakhouse 71 is named for the year Disney’s Contemporary Resort first opened, Steakhouse 71 harkens back to the design style of the 1970s, reimagined in a contemporary, comfortable and sleek way. Throughout the restaurant, you will notice some Florida flair, such as Orange Bird and citrus groves.
Quick Breakdown
- Service: Table-Service
- Type of Food: Steak, Allergy Options
- Price: $$
- Location: Contemporary
- Disney Dining Plan: Yes, 1 Credit
- Discounts: Annual Passholder
- Features: Reservations, Alcohol
- Good For: Casual Dining
- Menu: Official Disney Dinner Menu
Photo Tour Around Steakhouse 71
Steakhouse 71, which gets its name from the year the resort opened, has a sleek yet comfortable décor with fun design elements from the ‘70s and hints of our Florida heritage with subtle sightings of the beloved Orange Bird and citrus groves.
The entrance to Steakhouse 71 does have steakhouse vibes with the rich stained wood but the stark bright white contrast gives it a very modern vibe.
Once you pass through the entrance the hall is covered in photos of important moments of the creation of Disney World as well as moments from when it first opened. Some have not ever shown publicly before! Make sure to take a look before you get seated for your meal.
The outer rim of the restaurant includes all booth seating, the perfect option for larger parties.
In the middle area, you will find the space filled with 4 top and 2 top tables. They are sleek white tables with comfortable plush chairs. Everything gives off a very mid-century modern vibe.
This may just look like a jumble of modern shapes but take a deeper look. Do you start to see Space Mountain, Astro Orbiter, and a monorail?
This series of canvases is to the left of the ones pictured above. The abstract castle in these is much easier to spot. If you are seated near these it would be fun for the whole family to see what other icons they see inside these paintings.
Steakhouse 71 Food
French Onion Soup
Of course, getting the french onion soup was a must. The flavor was very strong and had a lot of wine flavor added to it. It was a much different blend compared to the french onion soup served over at Be Our Guest. The soup is a combo of Rich Beef Broth, Crouton, and Gratinée Cheese. The waiter mentioned it was actually a special 5 cheese blend. I was pleasantly surprised with how much cheese was packed into this and I didn’t feel like they overdid the bread with is always a plus.
Fork & Knife Caesar Salad
This fancy-looking salad is a combo of Caesar Dressing, Croutons, and Shaved Parmesan. This is one of the top Caesar salads we have on Disney World property. The dressing was super creamy and just perfect. Hoping that one day they decide to bottle this dressing up and sell it.
Steakhouse 71 Chopped Salad
This salad is comprised of Chopped Iceberg, Cucumbers, Grape Tomatoes, Carrots, Dried Cranberries, Goat Cheese, White Balsamic Vinaigrette, and Brioche Croutons. This was a perfect hot weather salad, it was nice and light and wasn’t overly filling before the main course. It was honestly big enough if you wanted to split it with someone else in your party.
6-oz Filet Mignon
The steak is served with a choice of one (1) side and one (1) sauce. Above the filet is paired with a side of mashed potatoes and the Chimichurri sauce. Some of our favorite filets are still at California Grill and Yachtsmen Steakhouse but this was still a really good preparation and a fraction of the price of the previously mentioned restaurants.
Prime Rib
The prime rib is tied for the most expensive meat cut option and its size made up for it. It was a solid option and with the added Yorkshire pudding that comes on the side, you get a little extra with this cut of meat.
6-oz Top Sirloin Steak
This is the sirloin steak, paired with the mac and cheese. I had high hopes for the mac and cheese but it was a letdown in my book. It didn’t really have much flavor and it had more of a gritty texture like they used too much flour when making it.
The steak on the other hand was a 10/10. I wasn’t expecting much since it was a cheaper cut of steak but it actually was perfect. While the filet was definitely more tender the sirloin was very tender and had lots of great flavor. I would definitely order this cut of steak again.
8-oz Beef Tenderloin Medallions
This is the other most expensive entree on the menu. The tenderloin is served with a choice of one (1) Side and one (1) Sauce. What makes this different from the filet is butcher cuts it in a special way. Tenderloin medallions are cut in smaller thick circles verus just one big filet cut. It’s a great value with two 4 oz full slices of tenderloin and we enjoyed this one just as much as the filet we had previously.
Sauce Flight
While not on the menu, Steakhouse 71 offers a sauce flight for you to get an opportunity to try out all the sauces that are an option for the steak on the menu. When it was brought out it was paired with a card that named all the sauces offered and a description of each.
Red Wine Sauce: a Bordelaise inspired sauce featuring a Bordeaux style blend of wine that is reduced with a veal demi and finished with butter.
Whipped Horseradish Cream: cream infusted with horseradish for 24 hours. Whipped with a touch of lemon juice and toppped with chives.
Au Poive: A classic French peppercorn sauce that we prepare with peppercorn melange (black, white, pink and green peppercorns), brandy, cream, veal dmei and aromatics.
Chimichurri: Freshly chopped herbs and aromatics mixed with fine extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar.
Bearnaise: A popular derivaative of the classic French Mother Sauce Hollandaise. Flavored with a tarragon vinegar reduction and freshly minced tarragon.
Signature Steakhouse 71: A signature house made steak sauce featuring 20 different ingredients including: tamarind, tomato, dried fig, vinegars, anchovy and citrus peel.
Wild Mushroom: A hunter’s sauce with origination in wild game hunting in which foraged mushrooms were collected to be enjoyed with grilled or roasted meat.
Florida Sustainable Fish en Papillote
On the evening we were dining there this was a Grouper dish. It came out much like a fish bake with the cooking paper and all. The fish is Shrimp, Fried Potatoes, Asparagus, Baby Carrots, and a Lemon Beurre Blanc. With the light sauce it was a perfect meal after a hot day, did I mention it gets super hot here in the summer, and a full day in the parks is a lot. While the picture may make it hard to make out, there was a sizable chunk of fish under all those potatoes and veggies.
Desserts at Steakhouse 71
Steakhouse 71 Chocolate Cake
The most impressive dessert option off the menu, 15 layers of whiskey-infused chocolate cake, chocolate mousse, and raspberries. Why 15 layers? There is one layer for every floor at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. It really outdid itself as the tallest chocolate layer cake at Disney.
Crème Brûlée
There is something so special about this Crème Brûlée. It’s a mix of chocolate and vanilla! To be specific this dish is Vanilla and Chocolate-layered Crème Brûlée, Fresh Berries, topped with a Chantilly Cream. It was a generous portion, the perfect size for my husband and me to split. Loved the unique spin on this and would definitely get it again when we go back.
Dress Code for Steakhouse 71
There is no offical dress code for Steakhouse 71, it’s a very causual restaurant. Jeans, tanks, flip flops are all welcome options when eating here.
Steakhouse 71 Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Cheaper option that feels like a signature dining spot without the price tag
- Super close to the Magic Kingdom
- Filled with historical peices, great for those who loove Disney history
Cons:
- Slow meal service, don’t come here if you are in a rush
- Noisy when restuarant fills up, not for those looking for a quiet meal
Conclusion on Steakhouse 71
This is a great addition to the Contemporary resort. The menu selection is great with a think more reserved options that all will enjoy compared to the old menu. The other shocking surprise was the lower prices here, this is a far cry less expensive than California Grill but it’s still a great food option. Only steps away from the Magic Kingdom this is a great location as well.
After reading our Steakhouse 71 dining review, if you are interested in booking a reservation for Steakhouse 71 you can do so through My Disney Experience. We have found it pretty easy to scoop up a reservation here. It helps that this restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Want more dining tips? Check out our Best Disney World Restaurants recommendations along with Worst Disney Dining Sit Down Restaurants. If you are visiting with young ones read our Best Places to Eat with Kids at Disney World.
I have been visiting the parks annually since my parents first brought me at just a year old. Recently I was able to fulfill my life long dream of being a Florida local and moved from the wintery Northeast to the sunshine and fun of central Florida. Now I am hoping to share my Disney knowledge with you so you can have the best vacation possible!
