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 Cook 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. For those who dined at both counter service restaurant on the “improper” time, you’d suppose we have been loopy with these picks. 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 achieved 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 once we dined at Contempo Cafe a grand complete of 1 time. A giant 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 huge cause 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 buddies, 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 on the subject of 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 a variety of “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 changing 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. Positioned within the Grand Canyon Concourse on the fourth flooring, Contempo Cafe is actually the subsequent door neighbor of Chef Mickey’s.
Contempo Cafe affords Cellular Order (for the total menu), grab-and-go fridges with pre-packaged meals, and money registers that can help you place orders in-person. Solid Members will sometimes 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 mentioned.
For those who 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 via the tech-wizardry of this little machine (assuming it’s working). Usually, they simply hunt round on the lookout for the corresponding quantity.
There’s additionally a pick-up spot for Cellular Order. In our expertise, all of those strategies of ordering are environment friendly and end in freshly-prepared and sizzling 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 larger, anyway.)
Most likely goes with out saying, but when you should buy refillable mugs…you too can use them.
As somebody who at all times orders water, my “assessment” of the Contempo Cafe beverage station just isn’t 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 continues to be higher than these large containers of Joffrey’s.
Not going to fake like I’m above it–I nonetheless drink loads of Joffrey’s at Walt Disney World and discover it far superior to Nescafe (keep in mind these darkish days of WDW espresso?!). However I do that as a caffeine-delivery mechanism. I can not think about consuming decaf Joffrey’s. That’s like shopping for non-alcoholic Miller Lite. Who does that?! However I digress.
By way of ambiance, Contempo Cafe is a blended 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 massive home windows.
I actually want Grand Canyon Concourse could be absolutely reimagined so it’s not as a lot of a hodgepodge–simply think about a cohesive mid-century trendy type–however I nonetheless love the vibe of Contempo Cafe as-is. That is very true when eating right here late at evening 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 prefer 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 depart Cousin Richie glad.
With that mentioned, 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 high school in The Area, and don’t have any scarcity of expertise with nice Italian beef.
This isn’t that, so beef snobs needn’t apply. For those who’re anticipating really distinctive Chicago-style Italian beef at a Walt Disney World counter service restaurant, you’ve gotten unrealistic expectations. For those who’re anticipating genuine something at WDW, you’re on the improper place.
What this beef sub affords is crowd-pleasing competence. The roll has simply the correct quantity 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 attractive, 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 certainly be laughed out of city…however by Walt Disney World counter service requirements, it’s good. Cravable-worthy, even.
Subsequent up, now we have the Vegetable Flatbread with Zucchini, Pink Onion, Roasted Pink Pepper, Roasted Tomato, Asparagus, Mozzarella, Parmesan, and Pistou completed with Balsamic Glaze and Chives.
What I most recognize in regards to the present ‘technology’ of flatbreads at Contempo Cafe is that they’re not-so-flat. I desire 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 considerable. Simply take a look at the flatbread!
Sarah ordered the Vegetable Flatbread, however I truly 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 quite 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 glorious and harmonious. They elevate what may in any other case be a reasonably pedestrian pizza into one thing particular. I liked it and would order it once more.
In contrast, Sarah thought it was a bit too heavy and indulgent–however she prefers more healthy meals. That’s not what I’m on the lookout for on trip, so this was good at fulfilling my ‘vegetable quota’ whereas additionally being scrumptious. Massive 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 way in which Sarah raved about this salad, you’d suppose it have been the best meals on earth.
Expensive reader, I guarantee you that this Kale Energy Greens Salad just isn’t, in truth, the best meals on earth. However you in all probability already know that. There are three useless giveaways that that is nothing extraordinary. These are the phrases: Kale, Greens, and Salad. (One thing one thing “Energy” truly might be good meals.)
She implored me to do this superlative salad. I did and provided some snarky comment (“tastes like rabbit meals,” perhaps?) as my assessment. “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 various, nearer to the standard of a desk service salad than a counter service one. She extremely, extremely recommends it. I truly 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 principle 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 related thought, 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 may increasingly not appear to be a lot, but it surely’s wonderful. 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 might 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 might simply be that the symphony of flavors with the cheeses and sauce masks it a bit. However my regular grievance about Disney counter service burgers is that they style low cost and are dry. That’s not the case right here.
That is improbable–extremely, extremely really helpful. The Contempo Cafe Patty Soften is so good that I don’t really feel a lot of a have to 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 out there at dinner.
There are 4 totally different choices for these: Grilled Hen, Grilled Shrimp, Crispy Tofu, or Braised Beef.
All bowls embody Cilantro-Lime Rice, Black Beans, Road Corn, Avocado, Pico de Gallo, Carrot, and Pickled Pink Onion.
Wanting one thing on the more healthy aspect, Sarah ordered the Grilled Hen Bowl. She discovered this to be effective. The hen itself was a bit on the dry and bland aspect (it additionally appeared just like the portion of meat was a lot smaller than mine, however that’s luck of the draw), however all the different components greater than masked that.
With out even making an attempt them, my assumption was that the Braised Beef Bowl could be the perfect of the bunch. This was primarily based on previous expertise–Contempo Cafe has had loads of braised beef dishes through the years which have been 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 glad with simply this beef plus some mashed potatoes and gravy!
Combined collectively, the meat plus the opposite components are simply flat-out improbable.
I’d go so far as to say that this Braised Beef Bowl is without doubt one of the finest counter service entrees in all of Walt Disney World proper now. (The Grilled Hen Bowl is nice, however there’s an enormous hole between the 2.) Except for the wonderful beef, the opposite toppings have been contemporary, flavorful, and well-seasoned. The road corn is a particular spotlight, and it’s additionally good to have precise, contemporary avocado as a substitute of watered-down guacamole.
The Braised Beef Bowl is one more extremely, extremely really helpful entree at Contempo Cafe. With that mentioned, I might personally be extra inclined to order the Patty Soften “for enjoyable.” Despite the fact 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, now we have the Monorail S’mores Brownie for dessert. It is 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 additionally 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 latest 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 essentially the most distinctive and finest 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 no 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 might simply be nostalgia speaking and eager for a bygone period of Walt Disney World as an entire. What I’m assured in saying is that there are no less than a half-dozen good to nice dishes at Contempo Cafe, together with a couple of 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 much wider immediately than it was through the aforementioned heyday of Contempo Cafe. As we’ve identified repeatedly, the present state of counter service in Magic Kingdom is gloomy. Contempo Cafe affords a handy and simple various to that–someplace you possibly can go for a noon break and even after the park closes for a late evening meal.
The underside line is that Contempo Cafe now has a variety of dishes which are filling, flavorful, and nice values for cash. There’s nonetheless fundamental theme park fare that’s in all probability finest ignored, however there are additionally now a variety of standouts. This isn’t sufficient to revive Contempo Cafe as #1 on our Checklist 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 a couple of 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? For those who’ve dined there beforehand (within the final ~5 years), do you suppose it has improved? For those who dined at Contempo Cafe throughout its glory days, how do you suppose the present menu stacks up? Agree or disagree with our assessment and restaurant redemption story? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
