Contemporary Resort

California Grill

The California Grill's Entry is decorated with Wine Bottles from the Golden State (Photo by Brian Bennett)

Location

On the Contemporary's fifteenth floor.

The restaurant boasts one of the best views of the Magic Kingdom.  Watching Fantasy in the Sky from here is a spectacular experience! (Photo by Brian Bennett)

Menu (From California Grill's WDW Mini Menu © Disney)

• Cuisine: "California Style"

• Overview: This authentic "California Style" restaurant is located at the top (15th floor) of Disney's Contemporary Resort.  Its' colorful, casual atmosphere combined with a "live" stage kitchen create an innovative yet comfortable dining experience.  The menu of the California Grill is ever changing, inspired by the season and market.  A full spectrum of wines from California are available, with extensive by the glass wine programs offered daily.

• Sample Items:

  • Brick Oven Baked Flatbreads: Alderwood Smoked Salmon with Chive Sour Cream, Triple Cheese with Sun-dried Tomatoes and Basil Pesto

  • Sushi & Sashimi: Sushi Sampler, Nigiri Sushi Array, Dungeness Crab, California Roll, Yellowfin Tuna Tempura, Bonsai Roll

  • First Course:  Field Greens with Buttermilk Blue Cheese and Cabernet Vinaigrette, Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli with Sun-dried Tomato Nectar and Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Hobbs Country Ham with Grilled Maui Onions and Parmesan Breadstick.

  • Entrees:  Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Polenta and Balsamic-smothered Cremini Mushrooms, Tamarind Barbeque Beef Filet with Crushed Boniato and Buttered Swiss Chard, Spit-fired Chicken in a Soba Noodle Bowl with Black Trumpet Mushrooms and Miso Bouillon, Chili-crusted Rare Tuna with Crispy Vegetable Egg Roll and Micro Salad.

  • Desserts: Butterscotch Crème Brulee and Almond Biscotti, Banana Pecan Souffle with Run Custard Sauce, Chocolate Mocha Fudge Torte with Blood Orange Sauce.

• Prices: Very Expensive

The restaurant is well-known for it's great show kitchen (Photo by Brian Bennett)

Brian's Review

This is indeed a premier restaurant. Watching the goings-on in the open "show" kitchen was a lot of fun. The menu was extensive, and the choices were innovative. Our waitress was extremely efficient and friendly. My only complaint is the terribly long wait for a table...even with priority seating. One other point, the waiting area for this restaurant is a premium location for watching the Fantasy in the Sky fireworks...the lights are dimmed and the soundtrack is piped in, so you can really enjoy the show.

The sushi bar is a favorite stop for both locals and well-informed WDW guests (Photo by Brian Bennett)

Other Reviews

• California Grill (Virgina Lyman, September 2001)

• California Grill (Cindy Price, September 2001)

• California Grill (Alfonso Pelaez, August 2001)

• California Grill (Keith Blankenship, July 2001)

• California Grill (Clare H, May 2001)

• California Grill (Chris Varner, January 2001)

• California Grill (Andy McNamara, December 2000)

• California Grill (Scott Koba-Nelson, November 2000)

• California Grill (Julie Hauer, September 2000)

• California Grill (Hickey, 1998)

Chef Mickey's

Here's a top-down view of the restaurant.  Most of the seating is toward the back, only the waiting and serving areas are under the tall roof of the main concourse. (Photo by Brian Bennett)

Location

Fourth floor of the Contemporary, at the far end of the concourse (away from the shops).

Menu (From Chef Mickey's WDW Mini Menu © Disney)

• Cuisine: American Buffet

• Overview: Dine with Mickey as you enjoy a fabulous array of food on a state-of-the-art buffet.  Featured in the center, a pancake griddle for breakfast and a carving station for dinner meats.  An ever-changing menu will take advantage of seasonal offerings in the marketplace, which are served in casserole dishes or platters sitting directly on heated or chilled granite surfaces (no chafing dishes). Top off your dinner with "make your own" sundae bar or join Goofy at "Goofy's Cupcake Bar."

• Sample Items:

  • Breakfast Selections:  Scrambled Eggs, Cooked-to-Order Pancakes, French Toast, Sausage Roulade, Fresh Baked Delights, Various Cold Cereals, Jumbo Omelette, Oatmeal, Biscuits and Gravy, Warm Bread Pudding, Bacon and Sausage, Apple Strudel, Fresh Fruit, Juices, Freshly-brewed Coffee.

  • Dinner Selections: Premium Salad Bar, Peel and Eat Shrimp, Oven-roasted Prime Rib, Chef's Selection of Carved Meats, Chef's Selection of Seasonal Entrees, Variety of Fresh Seasonal Vegetables, Potato and Rice Selections, Special Children's Buffet, Dessert and Sundae Bar, Selection of Non-alcoholic Beverages.

• Prices: Expensive

Chef Mickey's is located in the spectacular concourse of the Contemporary Resort. (Photo by Brian Bennett)

Brian's Review

Chef Mickey's is contemporary in decor.  The buffet has a large selection of items including a number of items geared toward kids, plus roast beef, pasta, potatoes (mashed, French fries), and more. The desert bar includes make your own deserts.

Chef Mickey's, of course, is a premier character meal restaurant.  As a result, the place tends to be very busy and noisy with kids (young and old) everywhere! The Disney favorites are guaranteed to be about for autographs and photos.

Other Reviews

• Chef Mickey's (Joe Pierson, September 2001)

• Chef Mickey's (Bill Law, September 2001)

• Chef Mickey's (Michele, August 2001)

• Chef Mickey's (Debbie, July 2001)

• Chef Mickey's (Linda Coker, March 2001)

• Chef Mickey's (Ted Labouliere, March 2001)

• Chef Mickey's (Tom Ferris, March 2001)

• Chef Mickey's (Joyce Chance, February 2001)

• Chef Mickey's (Johnson, January 2001)

• Chef Mickey's (McCann, November 2000)

• Chef Mickey's (Roberts, November 2000)

• Chef Mickey's (Malcom, November 2000)

• Chef Mickey's (Ledford, September 2000)

• Chef Mickey's (Niklewski, 2000)

• Chef Mickey's (White, October 2000)

• Chef Mickey's (Rachel Wannemacher, June 1999)

• Chef Mickey's (Umbarger, 1999)

• Chef Mickey's (Mary, 1999)

• Chef Mickey's (Drake, 1999)

Concourse Steakhouse

Concourse Steakhouse has a very plain decor. (Photo by Brian Bennett)

Location

Fourth floor of the Contemporary, right next to Chef Mickey's.

Menu (From Concourse Steakhouse's WDW Mini Menu © Disney)

• Cuisine: American Steakhouse

• Overview: The Concourse Steakhouse features an a la carte breakfast menu with made-to-order omelettes, griddle cakes, and Mickey waffles.  Lunch menu highlights include refreshing fruit smoothies, great steaks, burgers, spectacular salads, and unique sandwiches.  Dinner includes phenomenal steaks from Midwestern corn-fed beef and the freshest seafood available.

• Sample Items:

  • Starters:  Grilled Portobello Mushroom with Roasted Polenta, Blue Cheese, and Tomato Vinaigrette, Pan-fried Crab Cakes with Sweet Mango Salsa and Chipotle Oil, Steakhouse Five Onion Soup.

  • Salad:  Steakhouse Caesar Salad with Crisp Romaine Croutons and Parmesian Cheese, Grilled Vegetable Stack.

  • From the Grill: New York Steak, Filet Mignon, Porterhouse Steak, Spicy Mandarin BBQ Glazed Pork Ribs.

  • Alternatives:  Pan-seared Sesame-crusted Tuna Steak, Herb-crusted Atlantic Salmon, Slow-roasted Prime Rib, Bacon-wrapped Wild Mushroom Stuffed Filet.

• Prices: Expensive

The restaurant's seating is open to the concourse, but brought into reasonable scale with the wall and ceiling framework. (Photo by Brian Bennett)

Brian's Review

Concourse Steakhouse is located right next to Chef Mickey's.  It is billed as a steakhouse, but the menu options are much more eclectic than that.  In fact, there were very few real steak options on the menu at all.  Service during dinner was ok, not overly amazing but reasonably attentive.  I really think that this restaurant is trying too hard to be a concourse level California Grill instead of having it's own identity as a good meat and potatoes restaurant.

The restaurant abuts Chef Mickey's so you end up with all of the noise and frantic atmosphere without the benefit of having the characters coming around.

Other Reviews

• Concourse Steakhouse (Dawn Hickman, May 2001)

• Concourse Steakhouse (Niklewski, 1999)

Food and Fun Center
Open 24 hours a day!

Location

On the Contemporary's first floor, beyond and to the left of the check in area as you come in the lobby.

Menu

• Cuisine: American

• Sample Items: Sandwiches, Salads, Desserts

• Prices: Inexpensive

Note:  The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Polynesian Resort, and Contemporary Resort are all connected by the resort monorail, so guests staying at those resorts are a short commute from the others and can easily enjoy any of their restaurants.

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