Steakhouse 71 Lunch Review
Steakhouse 71 is the primary, casual table service restaurant at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. This review of lunch at Steakhouse 72 shares why we dine here regularly. We’ll preview several menu items and discuss our overall dining experience. You’ll soon find out why we consider this location to be one of the best Disney Resort restaurants.
What I love most about Steakhouse 71 is that the location is only minutes from the magic. You’ll only need to exit Magic Kingdom and then monorail or walk to the Contemporary. However, it’s probably a good idea to check availability before you head that way. That said, I have found that I can usually get lunch reservations here more easily than for breakfast or dinner.
Steakhouse 71 is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Lunch hours are between 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Seating in the attached lounge is available after 2:00 p.m. While the lounge has a limited menu, it has been my experience that you can still order from the regular menu while the dining room is closed.
Steakhouse 71, formerly The Wave, was refurbished a few years ago for Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary. It underwent a name change during that time, and the 71 was added to celebrate the Contemporary’s 1971 opening.
A gallery featuring vintage photos is displayed at the entrance. If you are interested in Walt Disney World’s history, you might enjoy observing the collection.
Some of the pieces portray the early days of the Contemporary.
Steakhouse 71’s most popular menu item is, without a doubt, the Stack Burger. Unfortunately, I haven’t tried this item yet. But it gets rave reviews. You can preview the current menu on Disney’s website.
My mind often wanders to the sandwich portion of any lunch menu. Who doesn’t like a good sandwich? So, on my last visit, I ordered the turkey club. This item is described as oven-roasted turkey, apple-wood smoked bacon, lemon aioli, lettuce, and tomato served on Brioche. It comes with a choice of a petite Caesar salad, Parmesan fries, or pasta salad.
For this visit, I ordered the sandwich minus the tomato and requested a side of honey mustard. It was a sizable sandwich that I could have easily shared with someone.
But what impressed me the most was the pasta salad. It was refreshing and a nice change from the usual side of potatoes.
On a previous visit, I was intrigued by the gourmet grilled cheese. This item features toasted Brioche, Gruyere, smoked Gouda, shredded pork belly, caramelized onion jam, and arugula. I ordered the Parmesan fries with this meal.
It was another tasty sandwich, and I would gladly order it on a return visit. The waffle fries were also good. But I would have difficulty passing up the pasta salad, and I’ve yet to try the petite Caesar salad.
Lastly, Steakhouse 71 accepts mobile orders, so you can get away with ordering a kids’ meal. This is one of my favorite things to do when I’m hoping to enjoy something along the lines of table service that won’t break the budget.
Below is the 4 oz beef filet kids’ meal with mashed potatoes and broccoli. On this visit, I added the appetizer portion of the Steakhouse 71 chopped salad. When my order was ready, I took it upstairs and found an empty table and chairs on the resort’s 4th floor that looked out to Bay Lake. We have a separate overview with tips for placing to-go orders at Steakhouse 71.
It was an excellent meal, and I had more than enough food since I had ordered the side salad. It was also lovely to enjoy a quality piece of steak that didn’t cost $50.00 or more!
Ultimately, Steakhouse 71 is a dining option worthy of your consideration. If you’re at Magic Kingdom and need a break from the heat, keep this restaurant in mind. You can check the My Disney Experience app for a reservation on the fly. Additionally, it will list whether or not they have availability for walk-ups. However, it’s important to remember this location is often busy during prime breakfast and dinner hours. Those in a hurry to get elsewhere will probably end up frustrated. Like most popular table service restaurants at Disney World, it could take a while. So make sure to allow plenty of time to enjoy your meal.
For more on this restaurant, you might enjoy our Steakhouse 71 lunch review. If you would like to learn more about our experiences staying at the resort, you might also enjoy the following:
For more dining reviews, in general, see our list of Disney Restaurant Reviews. Check back with Resorts Gal for more updates around Disney World!
In the Comments
Have you had lunch at Steakhouse 71? Would you consider leaving Magic Kingdom for lunch in a more relaxed environment?
