Unusual Breakfast at Steakhouse 71 is “Culinary Genius”

 by Beth Keating and Ray Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

August 16, 2023

 

We’ve been to Steakhouse 71 at Disney World’s Contemporary Resort before. In fact, we were there just after they opened post-renovations from the former “The Wave… Of Contemporary American Flavors.” As the hot new restaurant debuting in town, we couldn’t get anywhere near dinner reservations at the time. We could, however, get early morning breakfast reservations, so we decided to give it a try. 

And we liked it. (Check out the DisneyBizJournal review here.) But despite that fact, we still hadn’t returned for breakfast since that original visit. We have hit up the Steakhouse 71 Lounge a few times for the best-burger-at-Disney-World Stack Burger, however. (See DisneyBizJournal’s take on Disney World lounges here.)  This week, we decided to give the spot another go for the early morning hours, and oddly, still didn’t really end up with “breakfast foods.”

It was in the 8:00 a.m. hour, eyes barely open, when we were seated at the table in this modern-spin-on-mid-century décor dining room. But rather than the more typical eggs, pancakes, oatmeal or fruit plate offered on the menu at Steakhouse 71 (okay, there was espresso involved… we aren’t complete savages), we opted for the Florida Eggs Benedict ($19.00).  While that sounds breakfast-y, it was actually a crab-cake-based dish.  

 

Yes, I said crab cake. For breakfast.  You know, that savory, seafood delight that one usually scarfs up for dinner?  And it was AWESOME!  What a way to start the day!

 

The entrée included two-poached eggs atop a crab cake with Hollandaise sauce, all perched on Canadian bacon and a toasted English muffin.  A scoop of breakfast potatoes added a few more carbs to fuel the day. It was, as Shawn and Gus have proclaimed on Psych, one of our all-time favorite TV shows, “a flavor seizure.”

 

The crab cakes were of ample size (always a question when it comes to crab cakes), and the crab wasn’t minced, but instead offered in plump pieces. The breading on the cakes nicely served the crab, rather than dominating it. All of that would have been enough, but combining the crab cakes with poached eggs (done perfectly), Canadian bacon, and on an English muffin turned out to be culinary genius. Yes, this is a highly recommended breakfast.

Steakhouse 71 serves breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Then they reopen for dinner from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.   (If you don’t feel the need for dining table space, you can squeeze in a visit to the even more casual Steakhouse 71 Lounge, which stays open from noon straight through until 11:00 p.m.)

Named for the year Disney’s Contemporary Resort first opened, you enter Steakhouse 71 through a long hallway adorned with black and white photos of the construction of Walt Disney World, setting the stage for this tribute to Walt and to the park’s founding.  Many of the dishes at Steakhouse 71 are inspired by some of Walt’s (and Lillian’s) favorites, including Walt’s Prime Rib Hash ($18.00), also available for breakfast.  Seasonal pancakes ($15.00), omelets ($17.00), and a unique take on avocado toast ($13.00), served on a toasted sourdough bread with onion jam, are some of the other selections up for grabs.

 

If you are heading to the Magic Kingdom, you may discover that Steakhouse 71 is a great way to start your visit with Mickey, whether you make breakfast a sweet, or even a savory, choice. It’s just a quick monorail ride away. And don’t pass up the crab cakes when beginning your day.

 

__________

 

Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

 

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com; and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, the Alliance of Saint Michael novels, and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are their own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right? 

 

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