During the last decade-plus, we’ve had 8 other #1 Walt Disney Global counter provider eating places. This has integrated 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 integrated places in Disney Springs, one Skyliner lodge, and the Magic Kingdom monorail loop. That closing workforce has been particularly an important, for the reason that park itself has a subpar culinary scene–and that’s hanging it charitably! Captain Cook dinner’s, Roaring Fork, Geyser Level, and Path’s Finish have all ranked extremely at quite a lot of instances–however none have ever claimed the highest spot.
The 2 most sensible selections prior to now were Gasparilla Island Grill and Contempo Cafe. Sadly, neither have held that crown for lengthy. In case you dined at both counter provider eating place on the “incorrect” time, you’d assume we have been loopy with the ones picks. As nice as they have been of their primes, there have been additionally instances when each have been arguably surpassed by means of Price Lodge meals courts. Fortunately, that point has handed. Each the Grand Floridian and Fresh Lodge now as soon as once more have superlative counter provider.
Of the 2, it’s Contempo Cafe that’s our center of attention lately. Whilst we’ve dined at each a couple of instances within the 6 months, we’ve executed Contempo Cafe greater than every other eating place in all of Walt Disney Global this 12 months. That isn’t intended to be prime reward, so don’t get too excited simply but. Our foods on the Fresh are continuously an issue of comfort, and that has been the case with each and every consult with in 2024, too.
That is reasonably the trade of tempo from the prior few years once we dined at Contempo Cafe a grand overall of 1 time. A large a part of that used to be its extraordinarily scaled-back menu post-reopening. It used to be very fundamental and restricted, with about the one interesting dish being a grilled cheese sandwich. Tasty, however now not precisely the top of Walt Disney Global’s culinary scene.
The opposite giant explanation why used to be the attract of Steakhouse 71. For some time after it opened, that used to be our #1 eating place in all of Walt Disney Global in relation to frequency. There have been issues at the menu that appealed to either one of us, it used to be a great spot to move with buddies, and right through solo journeys, it used to be simple to get my liked burger from the bar–best for a noon ruin from Magic Kingdom.
Child Bricker has kinda modified the sport in relation to eating at Walt Disney Global. Whilst we will be able to (and do) devour at desk provider eating places, we don’t do bars. We’ve additionally discovered ourselves in plenty of “the clock is ticking” situations when getting out and in briefly earlier than a meltdown is precedence #1. Or we simply wish to have a soothing meal in our room, and the Lawn Wing is readily changing into our go-to choose.
All of that provides as much as extra foods at Contempo Cafe.
Earlier than attending to the meals, let’s take a snappy excursion of this counter provider spot. Positioned within the Grand Canyon Concourse at the fourth ground, Contempo Cafe is actually the following door neighbor of Chef Mickey’s.
Contempo Cafe gives Cellular Order (for the total menu), grab-and-go refrigerators with pre-packaged meals, and money registers that will let you position orders in-person. Solid Participants will normally ask when you’re eating in or taking your meals to move, however in our enjoy, the plating of the meals itself has at all times been in to-go boxes it doesn’t matter what we mentioned.
In case you order on the eating place, Contempo Cafe makes use of a tracker machine for ordering. After you order and pay, you obtain a tracker and position it in your desk. When your meals is in a position, it’s introduced on your desk, which the Solid Member locates throughout the tech-wizardry of this little software (assuming it’s operating). Ceaselessly, they simply hunt round in search of the corresponding quantity.
There’s additionally a pick-up spot for Cellular Order. In our enjoy, all of those strategies of ordering are environment friendly and lead to freshly-prepared and sizzling meals.
Like any counter provider eating places on the inns, refillable mugs are in the stores at Contempo Cafe.
Walt Disney Global has in point of fact stepped up its sport at the design of those within the closing a number of years, however I nonetheless lengthy for the times of a go back to resort-specific refillable mugs. For now, I’ll need to accept our ever-growing selection of lodge Tervis cups. (They’re larger, anyway.)
Most probably is going with out announcing, but when you’ll be able to acquire refillable mugs…you’ll be able to additionally use them.
As somebody who at all times orders water, my “overview” of the Contempo Cafe beverage station isn’t certain. The water at all times has a blue Powerade taste. Kinda like including a lemon, aside from now not just right.
Faucet water with a touch of blue Powerade continues to be higher than those large boxes of Joffrey’s.
Don’t get me incorrect–I drink a large number of Joffrey’s at Walt Disney Global and in finding it some distance awesome to Nescafe (take into accout the ones darkish days of WDW espresso?!). However I do that as a caffeine-delivery mechanism. I will not consider ingesting decaf Joffrey’s. That’s like purchasing non-alcoholic Miller Lite. Who does that?! However I digress.
In relation to environment, Contempo Cafe is a combined bag. Being proper subsequent door to Chef Mickey’s, it’s likewise loud. The surroundings itself is fundamental, and feels dated because of an eclectic (now not in a good manner) collection of carpets and tiles.
And but, we adore Contempo Cafe. A part of that is surely nostalgia, however now not it all. There’s one thing particular concerning the monorail gliding overhead, the pretty Mary Blair mural, and the huge home windows.
I in point of fact want Grand Canyon Concourse can be totally reimagined so it’s now not as a lot of a hodgepodge–simply consider a cohesive mid-century trendy genre–however I nonetheless love the vibe of Contempo Cafe as-is. That is very true when eating right here past due 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 now not one, however two menu upgrades on the counter provider spot. Let’s dig in…
First up is the Chicago-style’ Italian Red meat Sub: Shaved Italian Red meat, Mozzarella, Giardiniera, and Seasoned Au Jus.
I’d love to assume this used to be added to the menu as a synergy play with the Undergo on Hulu, but it surely’s most likely only a twist of fate. Regardless, it’s a sandwich that would depart Cousin Richie glad.
With that mentioned, it must pass with out announcing (however I’ll say it anyway) that this “Chicago-style” Italian red meat is not anything like what you’d in finding at a hollow within the wall spot in Chicago. Heck, it’s now not at the same time as just right as Portillo’s down the road. We went to college in The Area, and don’t have any scarcity of enjoy with nice Italian red meat.
This isn’t that, so red meat snobs needn’t practice. In case you’re anticipating really remarkable Chicago-style Italian red meat at a Walt Disney Global counter provider eating place, you’ve unrealistic expectancies. In case you’re anticipating original anything else at WDW, you’re on the incorrect position.
What this red meat sub gives is crowd-pleasing competence. The roll has simply the correct quantity of crispness and chewiness, doing an admirable process of absorbing the juices of the meat and dip. The cheese is likewise just right and generously carried out, however to not the purpose that it utterly smothers the meat. Talking of which, that’s additionally juicy and attractive, and there’s a large number of it.
No, this Italian red meat isn’t going to win any awards, and a cafe serving it in Chicago would definitely be laughed out of the town…however by means of Walt Disney Global counter provider requirements, it’s just right. 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.
It’s been some time since we had a really just right flatbread at Contempo Cafe. I used to like the Marinated Red meat Flatbread, and there have been a few different rotating choices that have been in point of fact prime quality. But it surely’s been some time since the ones days.
What I maximum recognize concerning the present ‘era’ of flatbreads at Contempo Cafe is they’re not-so-flat. I choose a thicker, doughier crust and this delivers on that. To make sure, it’s now not the best quality crust you’re ever going to have, but it surely’s miles higher than the ones at Pinocchio Village Haus or PizzeRizzo.
The toppings are extremely flavorful and ample. Simply take a look at the flatbread!
Sarah ordered the Vegetable Flatbread, however I if truth be told ended up liking it greater than her. The closing flatbread I had at Contempo Cafe used to be a number of years again, and it used to be a relatively underwhelming and fundamental meat lover’s flatbread. A equivalent one nonetheless exists at the menu and if left to my very own gadgets, I’d’ve ordered that. This used to be significantly better.
The variability and high quality of the toppings are superb and harmonious. They lift what would possibly another way be a quite pedestrian pizza into one thing particular. I liked it and would order it once more. Against this, Sarah concept it used to be a little bit too heavy and extravagant–however she prefers more healthy meals. That’s now not what I’m in search of on holiday, so this used to be best at pleasing my ‘vegetable quota’ whilst additionally being scrumptious. Large win, from my standpoint.
Talking of Sarah, her go-to at Contempo Cafe is now the Kale Energy Vegetables Salad that includes Vegetables, 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 Global commute–her first time touring in over a 12 months–right through which we “had” to devour at a large number of dangerous puts for the sake of study. The way in which Sarah raved about this salad, you’d assume it have been the best meals on earth.
Pricey reader, I guarantee you that this Kale Energy Vegetables Salad isn’t, in truth, the best meals on earth. However you most likely already know that. There are 3 useless giveaways that that is not anything strange. The ones are the phrases: Kale, Vegetables, and Salad. (One thing one thing “Energy” if truth be told might be just right.)
She implored me to check out this superlative salad. I did and presented some snarky statement (“tastes like rabbit meals,” possibly?) as my overview. “You sound like your dad,” she responded, without equal dagger that admittedly bested all of my dumb jokes concerning the salad and close me up.
Sarah used to be inspired by means of the freshness and the number of the other greens. Whilst Walt Disney Global has in point of fact stepped up its salad sport, that is hearty and reasonably various, nearer to the standard of a desk provider salad than a counter provider one. She extremely, extremely recommends it. I if truth be told discovered it to be beautiful just right–I’d imagine this as a just right entree to percentage and offset an dangerous indulgence.
And that’s precisely what we did right through our subsequent meal at Contempo Cafe.
Subsequent up is the primary tournament–the 4-Cheese Patty Soften that includes 4-Cheese Grilled Cheese, Red meat Burger Patty, Caramelized Onions, and Patty Soften Sauce. This used to be added to the menu comparatively just lately, changing the four-cheese grilled cheese (pictured 3 pictures above, subsequent to the salad). It’s an overly equivalent thought, however with meat.
We first had this Patty Soften proper round 11 pm after an overly lengthy go back and forth day and a month with out burgers. It used to be a revelation. Too just right to be true, to the purpose that I felt forced to check out it once more two nights later (“for analysis”) to verify that my style buds didn’t mislead me. And they didn’t–it used to be each and every bit as scrumptious the second one go-round.
Critically, this would possibly 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 heart in addition to cheese at the outdoor of the sourdough, caramelized onions, and patty soften sauce.
I may swear that that is upper high quality red meat than the usual Walt Disney Global counter provider burger, however I’m now not 100% assured in that evaluate. It might simply be that the symphony of flavors with the cheeses and sauce masks it a little bit. However my customary grievance about Disney counter provider burgers is they style reasonable and are dry. That’s now not the case right here.
That is improbable–extremely, extremely beneficial. The Contempo Cafe Patty Soften is so just right that I don’t really feel a lot of a wish to spend the additional time or cash at Steakhouse 71 for that burger–even supposing it’s higher than this.
Different relatively-recent additions to the Contempo Cafe menu are the signature bowls, which can be simplest to be had at dinner.
There are 4 other choices for those: Grilled Rooster, Grilled Shrimp, Crispy Tofu, or Braised Red meat.
All bowls come with Cilantro-Lime Rice, Black Beans, Side road Corn, Avocado, Pico de Gallo, Carrot, and Pickled Pink Onion.
In need of one thing at the more healthy aspect, Sarah ordered the Grilled Rooster Bowl. She discovered this to be superb. The hen itself used to be a little bit at the dry and bland aspect (it additionally appeared like the portion of meat used to be a lot smaller than mine, however that’s good fortune of the draw), however the entire different substances greater than masked that.
With out even making an attempt them, my assumption used to be that the Braised Red meat Bowl will be the perfect of the bunch. This used to be in response to previous enjoy–Contempo Cafe has had a large number of braised red meat dishes through the years which have been shockingly just right. Ones chances are you’ll describe as manner higher than a counter provider eating place has any proper to be.
That description is apt for the Braised Red meat Bowl. The beef is juicy, mushy, and flavorful–I’d’ve been glad with simply this red meat plus some mashed potatoes and gravy!
Blended in combination, the meat plus the opposite substances are simply flat-out improbable.
I’d pass so far as to mention that this Braised Red meat Bowl is likely one of the perfect counter provider entrees in all of Walt Disney Global presently. (The Grilled Rooster Bowl is just right, however there’s a large hole between the 2.) With the exception of the fantastic red meat, the opposite toppings have been recent, flavorful, and well-seasoned. The road corn is a undeniable spotlight, and it’s additionally great to have exact, recent avocado as an alternative of watered-down guacamole.
The Braised Red meat Bowl is but some other extremely, extremely beneficial entree at Contempo Cafe. With that mentioned, I’d for my part be extra susceptible to reserve the Patty Soften “for amusing.” Even supposing the Braised Red meat Bowl is most likely objectively higher, there’s simply one thing about that Patty Soften. It has an addictively just right taste and texture combo that I in finding myself yearning presently as I write this. I will be able to’t say the similar concerning the Braised Red meat Bowl.
In the end, now we have the Monorail S’mores Brownie for dessert. It is a Fudgy Brownie with a Graham Cracker Crust crowned with Marshmallow Crème and Chocolate Décor.
Neither people cared for this. It used to be thick and chewy, but additionally dry and dense. The flavour wasn’t unhealthy, however the mouthfeel used to be simply the worst imaginable combo that made it a slog to devour this factor. Don’t get me incorrect–I nonetheless ate the entire thing, however I wanted I’d’ve attempted one thing else.
Contempo Cafe has added a ton of recent truffles over the previous couple of months, however we haven’t had the inclination to check out them. Some do glance reasonably just right, however I nonetheless omit the nice ole days when Contempo Cafe had essentially the most distinctive and perfect cupcakes in all of Walt Disney Global. I do know cupcakes are “performed out” now, however I’d nonetheless love to peer the go back of the Chocolate Peppermint Cupcake this Christmas.
In the end, it’s nice to peer Contempo Cafe a minimum of partly restored to its former glory. I nonetheless don’t assume it’s reasonably as just right as right through its heyday round 2013-2016, however that might simply be nostalgia speaking and eager for a bygone technology of Walt Disney Global as an entire. What I’m assured in announcing is that there are a minimum of a half-dozen just right to nice dishes at Contempo Cafe, together with a couple of craveworthy ones. And that’s now not all–there’s intensity and diversity even past the highlights.
Most likely most significantly, the space between the standard of Contempo Cafe and Magic Kingdom counter provider eating places is some distance wider lately than it used to be right through the aforementioned heyday of Contempo Cafe. As we’ve identified again and again, the present state of counter provider in Magic Kingdom is unhappy. Contempo Cafe gives a handy and simple selection to that–someplace you’ll be able to opt for a noon ruin and even after the park closes for a past due night time meal.
The secret’s that Contempo Cafe now has plenty of dishes which can be filling, flavorful, and nice values for cash. There’s nonetheless fundamental theme park fare that’s most likely perfect omitted, however there also are now plenty of standouts. This isn’t sufficient to revive Contempo Cafe as #1 on our Record of the Best 15 Counter Carrier Eating places at Walt Disney Global, but it surely’s as soon as once more simply most sensible 10 and most likely most sensible 5. That’s reasonably the advance from a couple of years in the past!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever dined at Contempo Cafe within the closing 12 months or so? What did you bring to mind the meal? In case you’ve dined there in the past (within the closing ~5 years), do you assume it has stepped forward? In case you dined at Contempo Cafe right through its glory days, how do you assume the present menu stacks up? Agree or disagree with our overview and eating place redemption story? Any questions we will be able to allow you to solution? Listening to your comments–even whilst you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please percentage your ideas beneath within the feedback!
