Spotlight on Steakhouse 71 at Walt Disney World

The announcement of a new restaurant at Walt Disney World is always a cause for celebration!  

While there are hundreds of locations to grab a bite to eat throughout Disney’s Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom theme parks, and many more in Disney Resort Hotels and at Disney Springs, a new offering is simply irresistible to most Guests – this writer included!

Steakhouse 71 opened at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Hotel in 2021, and we can’t wait to visit it this spring!  

Until then, we’ve turned the spotlight on this new table service restaurant, so Guests know what to expect when dining there.

History

Repeat Guests at Walt Disney World, especially those who have stayed at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, may know that another restaurant formerly occupied the space that is now Steakhouse 71.  

The Wave… of American Flavors used to call this location home, but it closed during the summer of 2021. We ate at The Wave on a previous trip to WDW, and loved it, so its replacement has some big shoes to fill!  

Steakhouse 71 opened as part of celebrations for the 50^th Anniversary of Walt Disney World in the fall of 2021, which we think is a pretty auspicious way to open a restaurant.

Location

You’ll find Steakhouse 71 in the lobby of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, on the first floor, past the check-in desks for the Hotel. If you’re not staying at the Contemporary, never fear – it’s a cinch to get here!  

Plan a meal here on a day when you’re visiting Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park. You can either take the walking path from the Park (it’ll take maybe 10 minutes), or hop on a Monorail – it stops inside the Resort, and yes, you should absolutely take a moment to admire the sight of Monorails zooming through the building before you head to the restaurant.

What’s in a Name?

Why the number 71, you ask? Well, the name of the restaurant is a sweet homage to the year Walt Disney World and Disney’s Contemporary Resort itself opened their doors to the public – 1971, of course.  

When you’re approaching the restaurant, lining the walls you’ll see black and white photos that depict key moments in WDW’s construction. They’re well worth taking a moment to appreciate before you arrive for your reservation.  

Fun fact: over in California at the Disneyland Hotel, Guests could once dine at a similar restaurant named Steakhouse 55, a nod to the year Disneyland opened. Steakhouse 55 closed before its counterpart in Walt Disney World opened.

Theming

Not all Guests consider theming an important factor when choosing a restaurant at WDW. After all, this is a steakhouse – you probably came here for the steak, right?  

But to satisfy aesthetes out there for whom atmosphere is as important as culinary excellence, we’ll delve into the theming of Steakhouse 71.

It’s perhaps not surprising given the restaurant’s name that its décor should also take its cue from the year 1971. Inside, Guests will encounter a mid-century modern theme that’s muted and nuanced enough to appeal to those who aren’t the biggest fans of the style.  

Geometric shapes feature heavily in the wallpaper and flooring, but not so prominently that you’ll leave with a headache. Seating is reminiscent of a cafeteria, which lends itself well to the mid-century vibe. And the lighting fixtures are so fabulous, you might just find yourself sourcing similar fixtures for your own home. Keep an eye out for rogue Orange Birds or citrus trees, a nod to the restaurant’s Florida location.

Mary Blair

Previous Guests of Disney’s Contemporary Resort will be familiar with the artwork in the Grand Canyon Concourse designed by iconic Mary Blair, who was also a chief designer for the attraction “it’s a small world”.

Blair’s colorful, delightfully whimsical mural tells the story of the Grand Canyon and faces four different directions.   

If you’re dining at Steakhouse 71, you’ll find Mary Blair artwork adorning a wall of the dining room, tying the restaurant in perfectly with the lobby.

Eats

Now, for the reason you’re here – the food! Steakhouse 71 serves up breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  

Prices will be higher if you’re visiting at dinner, but compared to other table service restaurants, the pricing is downright reasonable here.  

Unsurprisingly for a steakhouse, the menu is a carnivore’s dream but is by no means limited to steak. Tenderloin Medallions, Filet Mignon, and New York Strip sit alongside Florida Sustainable Fish, Chicken Chasseur, and Yorkshire Pudding. Plant-based options like the Vegetable “Wellington” can also be found.

Fans of The Wave’s most requested appetizer, Bacon & Eggs, featuring Maple-laquered Pork Belly, Smoked Cheese Grits, and the “Perfect Egg”, will be thrilled to see that this classic remains on the menu.

Lounge

Steakhouse 71 boasts a lounge-slash-bar area, which is great news if you weren’t able to snag a reservation at the restaurant proper.  The lounge features a separate menu offering bites like Steakhouse 71 Onion Rings, Shrimp Cocktail, Loaded Macaroni & Cheese, and PB&J Chicken Wings, a creation so unique we might just have to sit in the lounge so we can experience it!

The drink menu at the lounge is the same as it is in the table service area.

Bottom Line

We enjoyed one of our favorite all-time meals in Walt Disney World at The Wave… of American Flavors, so we were sad to hear of its closing in 2021. Like always at Walt Disney World, though, when one attraction or show or restaurant closes, traces remain for Guests who look hard enough.  

With its fresh take on mid-century modern design, its Mary Blair artwork, and tantalizingly creative dishes, Steakhouse 71 is on the shortlist of restaurants for our next trip to WDW.  Will it be on yours?