REVIEW: Yep, You Can Still Find One of Disney World’s BEST Burgers Hiding in a Hotel

For far too long, many Disney World visitors have been sleeping on restaurant lounges. Believe it or not, many restaurant lounges are as good, if not better, than the restaurant they’re connected to.

One such lounge is the Steakhouse 71 Lounge, which we frequent. Well, we recently revisited the lounge to see if it’s still one of our favorites, so come along with us as we give you a full review.

Background

You’ll find Steakhouse 71 and its lounge on the first floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, just past the front desk. The restaurant and lounge’s vibe is nostalgic, with the “71” in its name referring to the year that Disney World opened. The walkway leading to the restaurant has lots of Disney World history and memorabilia on the walls. It officially replaced The Wave…of American Flavors in October 2021.

Here’s what you need to know about dining at this restaurant.

Atmosphere

Once you reach the check-in desk for Steakhouse 71, you’re pretty much in the lounge. This open area has a long bar with seating around it.

An adjoining area has more comfortable chairs and couches. If you’re dining at the restaurant itself, you can wait in this area for your reservation. However, if you’re just visiting the lounge, grab a seat wherever you want and get ready to order some food and drinks.

The atmosphere is very 1970s and cozy.

Food & Drinks

The good news is that if you choose to dine in the Steakhouse 71 Lounge, you don’t need a reservation. However, it is first-come, first-served, so you may have to wait a while if it’s busy. You also won’t find the restaurant’s full menu here, but there are still plenty of food dishes to choose from, including Crab Cakes, Macaroni and Cheese, Wings, the Stack Burger, and more.

First up, we grabbed the Steakhouse 71 Onion Rings for $10. These onion rings are hand-breaded with a Plant-based Spicy “Ranch” Dipping Sauce. Now, these onion rings are pretty hyped up by just about everyone, so we had high expectations. They have a beautiful breading on them and even have a nice crunch after sitting out for a little while.

Then you’ve got that beautiful onion flavor that pairs with the spicy ranch dip. Now we will warn you, the spicy ranch has a kick!  It’s like the same zesty dip you get at other restaurants with onion rings, but they turned the heat up a notch. The onion rings are a little greasy and messy, in the best way possible, so make sure you have napkins at the ready. Are they the best we’ve ever had? Well, we’re not sure we’d go THAT far, but let’s just say that we would 100% order them again. If you like a classic onion ring, you’ll love the ones here.

We also ordered the Bacon & Eggs for $15, which is a dish made with Maple-lacquered Pork Belly, Smoked Cheese Grits, and a “Perfect” Egg. Now, we didn’t see this on the menu we were handed, but it’s on the online menu, and our bartender mentioned it. It’s a slab of pork belly, rather than actual bacon, so think elevated bacon, if you will. It’s greasy with a nice brown sugar coating that makes it caramelized. Again, though, it’s not REALLY bacon.

The egg is nice and runny, and it sits on top of a bed of grits, so all of that mixes together for a nice combination of flavors. Combined with the sweetness of the pork belly, the whole is just a well-balanced dish. It might sound like breakfast, but it’s really something that works any time of the day.

We can’t turn down macaroni and cheese, so we also ordered the Loaded Macaroni & Cheese for $12. It’s served with Applewood-smoked Bacon and Jalapeño. This mac and cheese is so creamy, and the flavor is sharp and rich. The bacon adds a nice saltiness, while you get a bit of a kick with the jalapeños. We will say the jalapeños are pretty spicy, but not quite as spicy as the dip with the onion rings. But you’ll still want something to drink with this.

We also appreciated the bread crumb topping and the way the bacon and jalapeños seemed to be spread out through the sauce. If you like spicy macaroni and cheese, this is it.

Finally, on to the star of the show! We also ordered the Stack Burger for $24, made with Signature Beef Blend, Pork Belly, American Cheese, Lemon Aïoli, Red Onion, House-made Pickles, and a Brioche Bun served with a choice of Petite Caesar Salad, Steak Fries, or Pasta Salad. We’ve loved this burger before, so does it still hold up?

The answer is a resounding “yes.” Starting with the fries, we’ll say they’re lightly seasoned and are a nice, thick fry that isn’t exactly a steak fry.

Then there’s the burger. You get a LOT of juicy meat, which works so well with the creamy melted cheese. Then there’s that hint of citric flavor with the lemon in the aïoli. The addition of pork belly is a step up from bacon, and we’re here for it. The red onions and pickles add additional flavor and crunch. We’d say this is still one of the best burgers in Disney World.

It’s also important to note that there used to be Waffle Fries instead of Steak Fries, and after having both…we have to say the Waffle Fries win. Please, Disney, bring them back!

To drink, we picked up the BlackBerry-Orange Spritz for $16.50, made with Ketel One Peach & Orange Blossom Vodka, Rockey’s Botanical Liqueur, Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, and Blackberry. This is a refreshing and fruity drink that should satisfy just about anyone. It almost has a sangria vibe, but lighter.

You do get a hint of orange taste, and the blackberry adds a touch of tartness. It’s the perfect drink to sip on while you’re eating.

Magic or Tragic?

This Disney World restaurant is a must-visit if…

• You want to chill in a retro lounge. This is a great spot to have some cocktails and bites.
• You can’t get a reservation for Steakhouse 71. The best part of dining at Steakhouse 71 Lounge is that you don’t need a reservation, and you can still try a few things from the restaurant menu, like the Stack Burger.
• You need a break from Magic Kingdom crowds. If you’ve just had enough in Magic Kingdom and need a break for food and drinks, you can just hop on the Monorail and be at Steakhouse 71 Lounge in mere minutes.

You should skip this Disney World spot if…

• You want a quick service meal. Although this isn’t considered a table service restaurant, the lounge service is not as fast-paced as a traditional quick service restaurant.
• You have small children in your group. There aren’t real seating options for parties here, and the food options are probably not enough to satisfy picky eaters, like kids.
• You don’t like crowded bar scenes. This lounge can get pretty busy, and at times, it can feel like any other bar with a big game on the TVs above the bar, which could take you out of the Disney magic.

Overall, we love visiting Steakhouse 71 Lounge in the middle of a busy Magic Kingdom day. The bar is a nice escape for adults away from the chaos of the parks, plus it has some nice drinks and delicious bites if you’re feeling thirsty or hungry. It’s also a great option if you don’t have a reservation for Steakhouse 71.

In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for more restaurant updates from Disney World and beyond. Make sure you stay tuned to AllEars for the latest Disney news and more!

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Have you eaten at this Disney World restaurant before? Tell us in the comments.

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