restaurants at disney yacht club resort

Wandering In Disney

A disney theme parks blog.

Yachtsman Steakhouse Review

Yachtsman Steakhouse is a table-service restaurant in Walt Disney World’s Yacht Club Resort. Termed as a signature restaurant, Yachtsman Steakhouse would require two credits on the Disney Dining Plan (when applicable) and has higher prices than the usual sit down spot at WDW although they do offer Annual Pass and DVC discounts. The restaurant specializes in, you guessed it, steaks and is one of the few true steakhouses on property. In this post, we’ll review the restaurant’s atmosphere, food and value.

While I’ve had the pleasure to eat at many and most of Walt Disney World’s restaurants, Yachtsman Steakhouse seemingly was the one that I kept missing one way or another. There was always another restaurant to try or money to save and then the restaurant had a long closure due to COVID before opening late this summer. With the opportunity to finally catch the white whale, this yachtsman took advantage. I’m so sorry, that will be my last nautical/yachting/Moby-Dick joke of this post.

As much as I love red meat and consider myself a good carnivore, I’m not as drawn to steakhouses as some other restaurants. I don’t think they offer as much room for imagination in their offerings and I usually like seafood just as much as most steak. A steakhouse really has to wow me for me to feel like it’s worth the price, especially relative to other fancy restaurants. Thankfully, Yachtsman Steakhouse went above and beyond my expectations.

The restaurant makes no bones about who they’re appealing to. Immediately upon entry, guests are met by the dry-aging room also known as (by me) the meat room! The room is tucked away to the left of the kitchen and seating area. It’s an impressive room filled with incredible cuts of meat.

Inside of the actual restaurant, the restaurant is themed similarly to the rest of the Yacht Club. There’s some New England style architecture and heavy nautical theming. Warm wood tones abound along with a deep turquoise giving Yachtsman Steakhouse a masculine yet inviting feel.

There are several dining rooms throughout the restaurant, all of them are pretty light and airy. I wouldn’t say the restaurant is overly decorated or trying hard for a modern aesthetic, instead Yachtsman Steakhouse knows what it is and does that well. My favorite feature of the restaurant are the beautiful windows and ceiling on the far right of the dining room. Many of the windows in that area arch out giving the look of a captain’s quarters. I like these small, understated touches that make the dining room somewhat unique.

Let’s move on the menu , where the atmosphere of the restaurant takes its cues. There’s a few different offerings on the menu but everything revolves around the steak. Writing this while hungry was an absolute mistake.

Being a signature restaurant, Yachtsman Steakhouse offers a great bread service. The onion pull apart roll is perfectly flaky and delicious. It’s served warm and matches wonderfully with the roasted garlic or Himalayan salt butter that comes with the bread service.

There’s also multigrain cherry rolls, and I liked these almost as much even if they are supposedly healthy! The cherry gave them a nice pop of flavor.

Moving on to the entrees, I ordered the 16-oz Rib-Eye Steak which comes with Blue Cheese-Shallot Butter and is served with one accompaniment selection. The Rib-Eye was cooked a perfect medium rare and was exceptionally tender. The flavor of the meat alone was delicious and the Blue Cheese-Shallot Butter added to the rich and creaminess. This was huge and extremely rich. I had next to no chance of finishing this in one sitting but it was exceptional!

We also tried the 8-oz Filet Mignon which is served with Cognac-Truffle Butter and served with one accompaniment selection. This wasn’t as gigantic as the Rib-Eye but it was just as delicious, if not more so. The meat was even more tender, to the point where I’m not sure that you needed a steak knife to cut it. I preferred the Truffle Butter to the Blue Cheese Butter, although it was even more rich. Everything about this dish melted in your mouth.

Yachtsman Steakhouse was all an exercise in how much someone could eat and that included the sides. The mashed potatoes were delicious and, I say this in praise, you could really taste the butter in them. They were very smooth and paired well with the meat.

While I liked the mashed potatoes, the potato-leek gratin blew it out of the water. What’s better than buttery potatoes? Buttery potatoes with cheese on top of them. Yes, it was another dish in the line of heavy foods but I would be happy to eat a bowl of this anytime.

Each of the steaks came with one accompaniment and the option we didn’t have was the french fries. We have had those at the next door Crew’s Cup Lounge and they are outstanding, as well.

There were several sides that you can add to your meal and we decided to go with the Roasted Seasonal Mushrooms. While I didn’t think the mushrooms quite lived up to everything else on the menu, they were fresh and delicious. They paired well with each of the steaks and I’d be interested in trying any of the other sides there.

In the name of research, dessert seemed like a necessity 😉 We ordered the Yachtsman’s Chocolate Cake and it was a good decision. Here’s what it looks like when it is cut open!

The layers are made up of Dark Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Decadence Cake, Mixed Berry Curd, Peanut Butter Crunch and Mousse. Needless to say, this was very rich, delicious, and too much food. The menu does say it serves two and that is certainly accurate! The Mixed Berry Curd offset some of the richness of the chocolate. While maybe a little much for me, this was one of the most impressive desserts I’ve had anywhere.

I haven’t mentioned the prices here because they’re all very high and I thought I’d get the praise out of the way. All of the steaks are between the $50-$60 range with the sides under $15 and the cake at $19. While it’s a lot, I didn’t think this was out of line with real world steakhouses. The quality of the food certainly matches up to that. I do think there are more creative restaurants at Disney World where you can spend about the same amount but whether you should choose them over Yachtsman Steakhouse depends on how much you like steak.

Overall, Yachtsman Steakhouse is one of the best restaurants in Walt Disney World. While it may not be inventive or modern in its design, it’s a restaurant that has exceptional food and fits in well within the theme constraints. The only negative is the steep price although I’d consider it fair. For meat eaters, it doesn’t get much better than this.

Overall Rating – 9.5/10

Have you been to Yachtsman Steakhouse? Let us know your thoughts or any questions you might have in the comments below! Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Check out our  Disney World Trip Planning Guide  to help you out. If you enjoy what you’re reading here on Wandering in Disney, you can subscribe to the blog via WordPress or email. All of those links are on the right side of this page. Thank you for reading, we really appreciate it!

Share this post with your friends!

Categories: Restaurant Reviews

Tagged as: Disney World , Disney World Dining , Walt Disney World , Yacht Club dining , Yacht Club Resort , Yachtsman Steakhouse review

3 replies »

• Pingback: Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Trip Report – Part 1 – Wandering In Disney
• Pingback: Our Favorite Restaurants in Epcot – Wandering In Disney
• Pingback: Walt Disney World's Best Dining Value - STK Lunch Review - Wandering In Disney

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Subscribe to blog via email.

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Email Address

Top Posts & Pages

• Tokyo DisneySea Attraction Rankings
• Tokyo Disneyland Attraction Rankings
• The Best and Worst Months to Visit Tokyo Disney Resort
• Tokyo Disney Resort Fantasy Springs Vacation Package Review
• Disney's Five-Year (Construction) Plan
• Using Priority Pass at Tokyo Disneyland
• Tokyo Disney Resort Trip Planning Guide
• Tokyo DisneySea's Fantasy Springs Review
• Tokyo DisneySea 1-Day Itinerary
• Disney California Adventure Attraction Rankings

Like Our Facebook Page

Discover more from Wandering In Disney

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

Yachtsman Steakhouse Dining Review

By: Author Patty Granger

Posted on Last updated: August 6, 2023

Yachtsman Steakhouse is a signature restaurant at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. This spot specializes in steak and it serves up what we think are the best steaks on Disney World property. Inside you will find a richly themed coastal New England restaurant much like the theming in the rest of the Yacht Club Resort. It’s a great setting for a nice romantic meal. Let’s take a look at our full Yachtsman Steakhouse dining review.

Yachtsman Steakhouse Quick Breakdown

• Service: Table-Service
• Type of Food:  Steak, Chicken, Allergy Options
• Price:  $$$$
• Location:  Yacht Club
• Disney Dining Plan:  Yes, 2 Credits
• Discounts: Tables in Wonderland, Annual Passholder
• Features: Reservations, Alcohol
• Good For: Steak, Special Occasions
• Menu:  Official Disney Dinner Menu

A Tour Around Yachtsman Steakhouse

The entrance of this restaurant is marked in a beautiful golden sign. Not this restaurant is tucked into the back of the Yacht Club Resort. You have to go past all of Ale and Compass first so if you feel lost don’t worry it really is that far of a walk off the lobby of the hotel.

When you enter be sure to look to the left to take a look at the trimming station. This is where they cut the steaks for the evening. If you have to wait for your table, it’s fun to watch the head butcher prep all the steaks don’t miss out if you see him working in the meat room.

All of Yachtsman Steakhouse steaks are aged in this room for a minimum of seven days. The Kansas City steak is actually aged even longer at twenty-one days! I think this aging process is why you get the best steaks here out of all the places on Disney property.

We like the nice open space here that overlooks the Stormalong Bay Pool area. Unlike other Disney spots, we found the tables weren’t crammed in and there was plenty of space to breathe. As you can see Disney also uses Christmas time as an opportunity to add decorations to Yachtsman Steakhouse. The garlands and wreaths are NOT up year round.

When seated definitely take in your surroundings and don’t forget to look up! Here is a look at the details in the ceiling at Yachtsman Steakhouse.

This is a look at the back room. It was a great quiet place to be seated away from everyone else. If you have a later reservation the restaurant does tend to fill up and get on the louder side. Being nestled away in the corner helped with noise a lot.

This menu is from a couple of years ago. While paper menus are still available on request Disney has moved to reading the dining menu via your phone. They will place a QR code at your table when seated. Then you can scan the code with your phone’s camera and access the menu.

Yachtsman Steakhouse Dishes

The following are a few of the dishes we have tried from their menu. Keep in mind that beef is the heart and sole of the menu here. I think steak is where they shine and you will have the best meal experience.

Complimentary Dinner Rolls

Yachtsman offers something really special with their bread service, in addition to standard sourdough rolls, you’ll also find onion rolls. Be careful, the onion rolls are addictive! To accompany the bread, you’ll receive salted butter and a ramekin of roasted garlic!

French Onion Soup

Pretty standard French onion soup, large cup. The only disappointment here was the bread was quite burned and actually some it wouldn’t even soften in the hot soup.

Lobster Bisque

If you are a lobster fan this is your appetizer here. I was shocked at the amount of lobster chunks that were in this soup. The cheese crouton covered up the pile they placed in the back. It was nice and creamy and when you broke the crouton in it was a perfect pairing.

Caesar Salad

This twist on the Caesar Salad was a win in my family. The salami was a perfect touch and well-loved. Plus you can’t go wrong with that cheese crouton am I right?

Strip Steak

Here is a look at the Strip Steak paired with the potato gratin side. The potatoes are super cheesy and creamy it was a great pairing with the steak. The crispy onions on top of the steak were a perfect accompaniment.

The flavor was amazing in this prime rib. Do you also get it for the crunchy amazingly seasoned outside part? Hmmm, maybe that’s just me! This was the dish I got and loved it.

8-oz Filet Mignon

I was really impressed with how the filet just melted away in my mouth. The quality here is really the best I have had on Disney property, even beating out my favorite place to eat, California Grill. I feel like the amazing oak-grilled flavor that comes through may have played a big role in this.

12-oz New York Strip Steak, Prime

If you love strip steak you will want to order this from Yachtsmen Steakhouse. It’s a hit every time. We like to pair it with potatoes au gratin. 

Lobster with squid-ink pasta

Here is a look at the Lobster with squid-ink pasta. Honestly, this one just didn’t win with my taste buds. The lobster on this occasion with a little chewy and the sauce didn’t pair as well I hoped.

Chicken Cordon Bleu

On our second trip back here I decided to go wild and crazy and get the chicken dish at the steakhouse. I was of course not disappointed with Yachtsman’s unique spin on Chicken Cordon Bleu. It’s officially titled, Chicken Cordon Bleu All-Natural Bell & Evans. I was expecting ham and cheese but instead, it was a honey-roasted chicken, with the best part lobster mushrooms! Under that pile of chicken, there was some fancy rice that was new to me. In hindsight, I wish I just went with the amazing mashed potatoes they serve up here.

Truffle Mac and Cheese

Oh my, truffle mac and cheese! If you are a mac and cheese fan you have got to try this one. Also, those crunchy onion strings on everything really was the perfect topper to the meal.

Creme Brulee

Somehow my husband managed to save room for dessert, I don’t know how he did it. After our meal, we decided to do the full Epcot World Showcase loop to walk off all the cheese bread. I was still stuffed after that! Anyhow back to dessert, if you know my husband no surprise he had his eye on the Creme Brulee here. The vanilla custard and fresh berries got two thumbs up. We thought the size was good for the price, not shown in the zoom-in shot above but the dish is a decent size.

This was a look at the creme brulee from when we went in 2021. The toppings this go-around were, Pickled Local Blueberries, Orange, and Candied Meyer Lemon. Again this was a winner and we would definitely get this dessert again.

Strawberry Shortcake

This dessert was giant! The strawberry shortcake came accompanied with Macerated Florida Strawberries, Vanilla Bean Shortcake, Chantilly Cream, and Strawberry Gelato. If you opt for this dish it’s the perfect sharing size. Everything was so fresh and the lemon flavor on the bottom added a refreshing summer taste.

Dress Code for Yachtsman Steakhouse

When dining at Yachtsman Steakhouse you are asked to adhere to the minimum dress code requirements at this Signature Dining experience. Dressier attire is also welcome. Please explore the minimum dress code requirements:

Men must wear khakis, slacks or dress shorts and collared shirts. Jeans may be worn if in good condition. Sport coats are optional.

Women must wear Capri pants, skirts, dresses, or dress shorts. Jeans may be worn if in good condition.

Not permitted are tank tops, flip-flops, swimsuits, swimsuit cover-ups, hats for gentlemen, cut-offs, torn clothing, and t-shirts with offensive language and/or graphics.

Yachtsman Steakhouse Recommendation

Overall our Yachtsman Steakhouse dining review is the steak can’t be beaten here. The filet just melts in your mouth, the strip steak was full of flavor as was the prime rib. It is important to note the pricing here was expensive so this one, at least for us, will be saved for celebrating those special occasions. We were shocked to find that the portions on the side were very large here. At other signature spots on Disney property, it’s normally a much smaller pairing with the main course. Had I known I would have skipped the soup and just waited for the main course.

I really have to say the service here is another thing that sets this restaurant apart from the rest. All the waiters are well-trained and not new. My husband even commented that he didn’t ever see our waiter but whenever we needed anything she was suddenly there with whatever we needed. We got refills before we realized and even extra onion rolls when we got low!

If you are interested in booking a reservation for Yachtsman Steakhouse you can do so through My Disney Experience. We find reservations are rather easy to make here last-minute. If you have eaten at Yachtsman Steakhouse be sure to share your own review in the comment section below!

Want more dining tips? Check out our  Best Disney World Restaurants recommendations along with  Worst Disney Dining Sit Down Restaurants . If you are visiting with young ones read our Best Places to Eat with Kids at Disney World.

I have been visiting the parks annually since my parents first brought me at just a year old. Recently I was able to fulfill my life long dream of being a Florida local and moved from the wintery Northeast to the sunshine and fun of central Florida. Now I am hoping to share my Disney knowledge with you so you can have the best vacation possible!

Wednesday 5th of February 2020

I am glad that you had a great visit; mine was not. For me, your comment that the server was nowhere to be seen, but then suddenly your every need was fulfilled was only similar to my experience in that the servers were nowhere to be seen.

Accommodations

Theme parks, disney cruise line – what you need to know, cruise line ships, disney private islands, recent walt disney world, recent disneyland, disney world reviews, other park reviews, recent reviews, allears style, newsletter home, recent disney and florida attractions news blog.

• NEWS: The FIRST Christmas Tree Has Arrived in Disney World!
• CONFIRMED: Maleficent, Cruella De Vil, and Captain Hook Are Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios Soon!
• Disney World Cast Members Are Literally Begging You To Stop Breaking This Rule.
• Why Disney, WHY?! Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party Just Got Confusing.
• AllEars TV: Every Ride in Magic Kingdom WITHOUT Lightning Lane? -- ONE DAY CHALLENGE
• ( view all posts )

What to Eat at Disney’s Yacht Club

Have you ever stayed at Disney’s Yacht Club ?

If you have, you know how well-located this beautiful resort is and you probably have discovered that there are a LOT of food options in the area. But did you know that the resort itself has some great food ? Let’s take a look at what you should eat there!

As we touched upon, when you stay at the Yacht Club, you also have access to all the food in the EPCOT resort area. That includes everything at Disney’s Beach Club Resort , Disney’s BoardWalk Inn , and the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin .

But if you’re staying at the Yacht Club and don’t want to stray too far, you’ve still got a lot of great food to choose from. Here’s everything you should eat there!

The Market at Ale & Compass

The Market at Ale & Compass is the Yacht Club’s grab-and-go meets gift shop location. The food here isn’t a lot to write home about, but you’ll find some great seasonal snacks here! If you stop in here for breakfast, you can also get some Mickey waffles to take back to your room.

Need a refillable mug ? Here’s where you would buy it AND refill it.

Crew’s Cup Lounge

So you didn’t get reservations at Yachtsman Steakhouse? No problem! The menu at Crew’s Cup Lounge features a lot of the Yachtsman Steakhouse favorites, including the Yachtsman Signature Bread Service , which includes Sourdough, Onion Pull-apart Rolls, Roasted Garlic, and Butter.

You can also get the delicious  14-oz Roasted Prime Rib and  Truffle Fries here.

Ale & Compass Lounge

Likewise, if you can’t get reservations at Ale & Compass Restaurant or just want to grab something from the menu of that restaurant without the actual table service experience, head to the Ale & Compass Lounge. Here, you can grab the Parker House Rolls and Spread,  which includes Bacon Jam, Pub Cheese, and Citrus Butter.

You can also get one of the best burgers in Disney World here, the  Bacon and Vermont Cheddar Burger .

Yachtsman Steakhouse

If you do manage to snag a reservation for Yachtsman Steakhouse, you’re in for the best steak in Disney World. The 8-oz Filet Mignon is downright incredible here, but we’ll also tell you to order those  Truffle Fries , we previously mentioned.

For starters, the  French Onion Soup  here is also really good.

Ale & Compass Restaurant

One thing you CAN’T get at the Ale & Compass Lounge is breakfast and there are some standout breakfast items at Ale & Compass Restaurant. If you love chocolate, do NOT miss the  Dark Chocolate Waffles , which are served with Dried Cherry Compote, Espresso-Mascarpone Cream, Chocolate Shavings, and your choice of Sausage or Bacon. However, you’ll probably also want to try the Blueberry-Bacon Pancakes . The  Breakfast Buffet here is also pretty solid.

For lunch and dinner, this is also where you can get those delicious  Parker House Dinner Rolls  and that  Bacon and Vermont Cheddar Burger with  Truffle Fries .

When it comes to dessert, though, the  12-Layer Chocolate Cake is another must for chocolate fans — it’s a Flourless Chocolate Cake and Ganache served with Milk-Coffee Chantilly.

So if you’re staying at the Yacht Club or somewhere nearby, now you know about even MORE dining options in the area. If you’re looking for even MORE dining options, be sure to check out our reader reviews of EVERY restaurant in Disney World.

Planning a trip to Disney World and don’t know where to start? Be sure to visit our planning section — we’ve got all the resources you need to plan the perfect vacation!

Join the AllEars.net Newsletter  to stay on top of ALL the breaking Disney News! You'll also get access to AllEars tips, reviews, trivia, and MORE! Click here to Subscribe!

Have you dined at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort? Let us know where you ate and what you had in the comments!

Trending Now

A Disney ride is officially closing forever to make room for a new ride.

Several major Disneyland attractions will miss time in November.

There's an exciting DVC perk that Disney has just confirmed for 2025 AND added more...

Cast Members care about your safety so make sure to listen to this rule at...

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is watching three more disturbances in the tropics.

Avoid making this ride mistake the next time you visit Disney World.

The new Disney Villains show coming to Hollywood Studios is now casting for some starring...

We've gotta talk about how Disney World refuses to bring back hotel package delivery and...

This is way too complicated.

Disney has officially released the 35th anniversary collection for 'The Little Mermaid'!

Disney's upcoming earnings call will summarize the year for the company and there are some...

Here are the biggest trends in Disneyland right now!

The very first Christmas tree is now up in Disney World! Check it out here.

See the newest Disney Starbucks tumbler coming SOON!

These NEW Disney gift card deals are WAY too good to miss.

We've finally got PRICING details for Lightning Lane Premier Pass on its launch day in...

NEW Happy Meal toys are available at McDonald's!

A Disney executive has passed away.

Listen, Magic Kingdom, we love you, but this ONE THING you do confuses EVERYONE and...

NOW is the time to buy gift cards at Sam's Club!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow us on Social!

Copyright ©1996-2024 AllEarsNet, LLC, All Rights Reserved.