Over the past decade-plus, we’ve had eight totally different #1 Walt Disney World counter service eating places. This has included spots in all 4 parks–Be Our Visitor in Magic Kingdom, Sunshine Seasons in EPCOT, Flame Tree BBQ in Animal Kingdom, and Docking Bay 7 in Hollywood Studios.
It has additionally included areas in Disney Springs, one Skyliner resort, and the Magic Kingdom monorail loop. That final group has been particularly essential, because the park itself has a subpar culinary scene–and that’s placing it charitably! Captain Prepare dinner’s, Roaring Fork, Geyser Level, and Path’s Finish have all ranked extremely at varied instances–however none have ever claimed the highest spot.
The 2 prime picks up to now have been Gasparilla Island Grill and Contempo Cafe. Sadly, neither have held that crown for lengthy. Should you dined at both counter service restaurant on the “improper” time, you’d suppose we have been loopy with these choices. As nice as they have been of their primes, there have been additionally instances when each have been arguably surpassed by Worth Resort meals courts. Fortunately, that point has handed. Each the Grand Floridian and Up to date Resort now as soon as once more have superlative counter service.
Of the 2, it’s Contempo Cafe that’s our focus immediately. Whereas we’ve dined at each a number of instances within the 6 months, we’ve completed Contempo Cafe greater than every other restaurant in all of Walt Disney World this 12 months. That isn’t meant to be excessive reward, so don’t get too excited simply but. Our meals on the Up to date are sometimes a matter of comfort, and that has been the case with each go to in 2024, too.
That is fairly the change of tempo from the prior few years after we dined at Contempo Cafe a grand whole of 1 time. An enormous a part of that was its extraordinarily scaled-back menu post-reopening. It was very fundamental and restricted, with about the one interesting dish being a grilled cheese sandwich. Tasty, however not precisely the top of Walt Disney World’s culinary scene.
The opposite massive purpose was the attract of Steakhouse 71. For some time after it opened, that was our #1 restaurant in all of Walt Disney World by way of frequency. There have been issues on the menu that appealed to each of us, it was a great spot to go along with pals, and through solo journeys, it was simple to get my beloved burger from the bar–good for a noon break from Magic Kingdom.
Child Bricker has kinda modified the sport with regards to eating at Walt Disney World. Whereas we are able to (and do) eat at desk service eating places, we don’t do bars. We’ve additionally discovered ourselves in quite a few “the clock is ticking” situations when getting out and in rapidly earlier than a meltdown is precedence #1. Or we simply wish to have a soothing meal in our room, and the Backyard Wing is rapidly turning into our go-to decide.
All of that provides as much as extra meals at Contempo Cafe.
Earlier than attending to the meals, let’s take a fast tour of this counter service spot. Situated within the Grand Canyon Concourse on the fourth flooring, Contempo Cafe is actually the following door neighbor of Chef Mickey’s.
Contempo Cafe provides Cell Order (for the total menu), grab-and-go fridges with pre-packaged meals, and money registers that will let you place orders in-person. Solid Members will usually ask when you’re eating in or taking your meals to go, however in our expertise, the plating of the meals itself has at all times been in to-go containers it doesn’t matter what we stated.
Should you order on the restaurant, Contempo Cafe makes use of a tracker system for ordering. After you order and pay, you obtain a tracker and place it in your desk. When your meals is prepared, it’s delivered to your desk, which the Solid Member locates by means of the tech-wizardry of this little machine (assuming it’s working). Usually, they simply hunt round searching for the corresponding quantity.
There’s additionally a pick-up spot for Cell Order. In our expertise, all of those strategies of ordering are environment friendly and end in freshly-prepared and scorching meals.
Like all counter service eating places on the resorts, refillable mugs can be found for buy at Contempo Cafe.
Walt Disney World has actually stepped up its recreation on the design of those within the final a number of years, however I nonetheless lengthy for the times of a return to resort-specific refillable mugs. For now, I’ll must accept our ever-growing assortment of resort Tervis cups. (They’re greater, anyway.)
Most likely goes with out saying, but when you should purchase refillable mugs…you too can use them.
As somebody who at all times orders water, my “overview” of the Contempo Cafe beverage station will not be optimistic. The water at all times has a blue Powerade taste. Kinda like including a lemon, besides not good.
Faucet water with a touch of blue Powerade remains to be higher than these large containers of Joffrey’s.
Not going to faux like I’m above it–I nonetheless drink loads of Joffrey’s at Walt Disney World and discover it far superior to Nescafe (bear in mind these darkish days of WDW espresso?!). However I do that as a caffeine-delivery mechanism. I can not think about ingesting decaf Joffrey’s. That’s like shopping for non-alcoholic Miller Lite. Who does that?! However I digress.
When it comes to ambiance, Contempo Cafe is a combined bag. Being proper subsequent door to Chef Mickey’s, it’s likewise loud. The setting itself is fundamental, and feels dated due to an eclectic (not in a optimistic means) assortment of carpets and tiles.
And but, we love Contempo Cafe. A part of that is undoubtedly nostalgia, however not all of it. There’s one thing particular in regards to the monorail gliding overhead, the attractive Mary Blair mural, and the big home windows.
I actually want Grand Canyon Concourse could be totally reimagined so it’s not as a lot of a hodgepodge–simply think about a cohesive mid-century fashionable type–however I nonetheless love the vibe of Contempo Cafe as-is. That is very true when eating right here late at night time after the park has closed and Chef Mickey’s has cleared out. It’s one thing particular.
Shifting alongside, our newfound “appreciation” for Contempo Cafe has coincided with not one, however two menu upgrades on the counter service spot. Let’s dig in…
First up is the Chicago-style’ Italian Beef Sub: Shaved Italian Beef, Mozzarella, Giardiniera, and Seasoned Au Jus.
I’d wish to suppose this was added to the menu as a synergy play with the Bear on Hulu, but it surely’s in all probability only a coincidence. Regardless, it’s a sandwich that would go away Cousin Richie happy.
With that stated, it ought to go with out saying (however I’ll say it anyway) that this “Chicago-style” Italian beef is nothing like what you’d discover at a gap within the wall spot in Chicago. Heck, it’s not even pretty much as good as Portillo’s down the road. We went to highschool in The Area, and haven’t any scarcity of expertise with nice Italian beef.
This isn’t that, so beef snobs needn’t apply. Should you’re anticipating really distinctive Chicago-style Italian beef at a Walt Disney World counter service restaurant, you have got unrealistic expectations. Should you’re anticipating genuine something at WDW, you’re on the improper place.
What this beef sub provides is crowd-pleasing competence. The roll has simply the correct amount of crispness and chewiness, doing an admirable job of absorbing the juices of the meat and dip. The cheese is likewise good and generously utilized, however to not the purpose that it completely smothers the meat. Talking of which, that’s additionally juicy and engaging, and there’s loads of it.
No, this Italian beef isn’t going to win any awards, and a restaurant serving it in Chicago would absolutely be laughed out of city…however by Walt Disney World counter service requirements, it’s good. Cravable-worthy, even.
Subsequent up, we now have the Vegetable Flatbread with Zucchini, Purple Onion, Roasted Purple Pepper, Roasted Tomato, Asparagus, Mozzarella, Parmesan, and Pistou completed with Balsamic Glaze and Chives.
What I most recognize in regards to the present ‘era’ of flatbreads at Contempo Cafe is that they’re not-so-flat. I choose a thicker, doughier crust and this delivers on that. To make sure, it’s not the very best high quality crust you’re ever going to have, but it surely’s miles higher than these at Pinocchio Village Haus or PizzeRizzo.
The toppings are extremely flavorful and plentiful. Simply have a look at the flatbread!
Sarah ordered the Vegetable Flatbread, however I really ended up liking it greater than her. The final flatbread I had at Contempo Cafe was a number of years again, and it was a relatively underwhelming and fundamental meat lover’s flatbread. An identical one nonetheless exists on the menu and if left to my very own gadgets, I might’ve ordered that. This was significantly better.
The variability and high quality of the toppings are wonderful and harmonious. They elevate what may in any other case be a reasonably pedestrian pizza into one thing particular. I beloved it and would order it once more.
Against this, Sarah thought it was a bit too heavy and indulgent–however she prefers more healthy meals. That’s not what I’m searching for on trip, so this was good at fulfilling my ‘vegetable quota’ whereas additionally being scrumptious. Huge win, from my perspective.
Talking of Sarah, her go-to at Contempo Cafe is now the Kale Energy Greens Salad that includes Greens, Farro Wheat, Quinoa, Roasted Candy Potatoes, Avocado, Pickled Onions, Toasted Garbanzos, Lime French dressing.
Sarah first had this on the finish of an extended Walt Disney World journey–her first time touring in over a 12 months–throughout which we “had” to eat at loads of unhealthy locations for the sake of analysis. The best way Sarah raved about this salad, you’d suppose it have been the best meals on earth.
Pricey reader, I guarantee you that this Kale Energy Greens Salad will not be, actually, the best meals on earth. However you in all probability already know that. There are three lifeless giveaways that that is nothing extraordinary. These are the phrases: Kale, Greens, and Salad. (One thing one thing “Energy” really may very well be good meals.)
She implored me to do this superlative salad. I did and supplied some snarky comment (“tastes like rabbit meals,” perhaps?) as my overview. “You sound like your dad,” she replied, the final word dagger that admittedly bested all of my dumb jokes in regards to the salad and shut me up.
Sarah was impressed by the freshness and the number of the totally different greens. Whilst Walt Disney World has actually stepped up its salad recreation, that is hearty and fairly diverse, nearer to the standard of a desk service salad than a counter service one. She extremely, extremely recommends it. I really discovered it to be fairly good–I’d take into account this as a great entree to share and offset an unhealthy indulgence.
And that’s precisely what we did throughout our subsequent meal at Contempo Cafe.
Subsequent up is the primary occasion–the 4-Cheese Patty Soften that includes 4-Cheese Grilled Cheese, Beef Burger Patty, Caramelized Onions, and Patty Soften Sauce. This was added to the menu comparatively just lately, changing the four-cheese grilled cheese (pictured three photographs above, subsequent to the salad). It’s a really comparable concept, however with meat.
We first had this Patty Soften proper round 11 pm after a really lengthy journey day and a month with out burgers. It was a revelation. Too good to be true, to the purpose that I felt compelled to strive it once more two nights later (“for analysis”) to substantiate that my style buds didn’t deceive me. And they didn’t–it was each bit as scrumptious the second go-round.
Critically, this will likely not seem like a lot, but it surely’s superb. It’s mainly the fan-favorite four-cheese grilled cheese, however with a burger within the center in addition to cheese on the skin of the sourdough, caramelized onions, and patty soften sauce.
I may swear that that is larger high quality beef than the usual Walt Disney World counter service burger, however I’m not 100% assured in that evaluation. It may simply be that the symphony of flavors with the cheeses and sauce masks it a bit. However my regular criticism about Disney counter service burgers is that they style low cost and are dry. That’s not the case right here.
That is incredible–extremely, extremely beneficial. The Contempo Cafe Patty Soften is so good that I don’t really feel a lot of a must spend the additional time or cash at Steakhouse 71 for that burger–even whether it is higher than this.
Different relatively-recent additions to the Contempo Cafe menu are the signature bowls, that are solely obtainable at dinner.
There are 4 totally different choices for these: Grilled Rooster, Grilled Shrimp, Crispy Tofu, or Braised Beef.
All bowls embrace Cilantro-Lime Rice, Black Beans, Avenue Corn, Avocado, Pico de Gallo, Carrot, and Pickled Purple Onion.
Wanting one thing on the more healthy facet, Sarah ordered the Grilled Rooster Bowl. She discovered this to be tremendous. The rooster itself was a bit on the dry and bland facet (it additionally appeared just like the portion of meat was a lot smaller than mine, however that’s luck of the draw), however the entire different elements greater than masked that.
With out even attempting them, my assumption was that the Braised Beef Bowl could be one of the best of the bunch. This was primarily based on previous expertise–Contempo Cafe has had loads of braised beef dishes through the years which were shockingly good. Ones you may describe as means higher than a counter service restaurant has any proper to be.
That description is apt for the Braised Beef Bowl. The meat is juicy, tender, and flavorful–I might’ve been happy with simply this beef plus some mashed potatoes and gravy!
Blended collectively, the meat plus the opposite elements are simply flat-out incredible.
I’d go so far as to say that this Braised Beef Bowl is among the greatest counter service entrees in all of Walt Disney World proper now. (The Grilled Rooster Bowl is sweet, however there’s an enormous hole between the 2.) Except for the fantastic beef, the opposite toppings have been recent, flavorful, and well-seasoned. The road corn is a particular spotlight, and it’s additionally good to have precise, recent avocado as an alternative of watered-down guacamole.
The Braised Beef Bowl is one more extremely, extremely beneficial entree at Contempo Cafe. With that stated, I might personally be extra inclined to order the Patty Soften “for enjoyable.” Regardless that the Braised Beef Bowl might be objectively higher, there’s simply one thing about that Patty Soften. It has an addictively good taste and texture combo that I discover myself craving proper now as I write this. I can’t say the identical in regards to the Braised Beef Bowl.
Lastly, we now have the Monorail S’mores Brownie for dessert. This can be a Fudgy Brownie with a Graham Cracker Crust topped with Marshmallow Crème and Chocolate Décor.
Neither of us cared for this. It was thick and chewy, but in addition dry and dense. The flavour wasn’t unhealthy, however the mouthfeel was simply the worst attainable combo that made it a slog to eat this factor. Don’t get me improper–I nonetheless ate the entire thing, however I wanted I might’ve tried one thing else.
Contempo Cafe has added a ton of recent desserts over the previous few months, however we haven’t had the inclination to strive them. Some do look fairly good, however I nonetheless miss the nice ole days when Contempo Cafe had probably the most distinctive and greatest cupcakes in all of Walt Disney World. I do know cupcakes are “performed out” now, however I’d nonetheless like to see the return of the Chocolate Peppermint Cupcake this Christmas.
Finally, it’s nice to see Contempo Cafe not less than partially restored to its former glory. I nonetheless don’t suppose it’s fairly pretty much as good as throughout its heyday round 2013-2016, however that would simply be nostalgia speaking and eager for a bygone period of Walt Disney World as a complete. What I’m assured in saying is that there are not less than a half-dozen good to nice dishes at Contempo Cafe, together with just a few craveworthy ones. And that’s not all–there’s depth and selection even past the highlights.
Maybe most significantly, the hole between the standard of Contempo Cafe and Magic Kingdom counter service eating places is way wider immediately than it was in the course of the aforementioned heyday of Contempo Cafe. As we’ve identified repeatedly, the present state of counter service in Magic Kingdom is unhappy. Contempo Cafe provides a handy and simple different to that–someplace you’ll be able to go for a noon break and even after the park closes for a late night time meal.
The underside line is that Contempo Cafe now has quite a few dishes which can be filling, flavorful, and nice values for cash. There’s nonetheless fundamental theme park fare that’s in all probability greatest ignored, however there are additionally now quite a few standouts. This isn’t sufficient to revive Contempo Cafe as #1 on our Record of the High 15 Counter Service Eating places at Walt Disney World, but it surely’s as soon as once more simply prime 10 and doubtless prime 5. That’s fairly the development from just a few years in the past!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever dined at Contempo Cafe within the final 12 months or so? What did you consider the meal? Should you’ve dined there beforehand (within the final ~5 years), do you suppose it has improved? Should you dined at Contempo Cafe throughout its glory days, how do you suppose the present menu stacks up? Agree or disagree with our overview and restaurant redemption story? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!