Contempo Cafe Dinner Review

*This dining review took place in December 2019. It includes information about gluten free options, in addition to dairy free, fish/shellfish free, cabbage free, peanut free, hazelnut free, and chicken & turkey free options.

Dinner at Contempo Cafe

Contempo Cafe, located in Disney's Contemporary Resort, is a quick service restaurant that serves classic American fare -- from burgers and sandwiches to pizza. Recently, we had dinner at Contempo Cafe with my family when they were on vacation at Disney World.

Atmosphere

Contempo Cafe is located on the Grand Canyon Concourse of the Contemporary Resort. This is where Chef Mickey's, shopping, and the entrance for the monorail are all located. It's definitely a hub, and you'll find that Contempo Cafe is situated directly in the middle of it all.

Contempo Cafe Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

In my opinion, the theme of the restaurant itself is pretty bland. There's really not much to it. It's some basic seating and an ordering area. But, what the restaurant lacks in theme is made up for by the amazing atmosphere of the Grand Canyon Concourse.

Contempo Cafe - Ordering / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

One of my favorite things about the concourse is watching the monorail and looking at the Mary Blair art designs. The 90 foot mural of It's a Small World is directly next to Contempo Cafe, and it's always so much fun to look at.

Contempo Cafe - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

There is a good amount of seating in this quick service restaurant. But, it can get pretty busy. We did see a lot of guests ordering food to-go while on their vacations. We had a rather large party, so we were able to put together several sets of tables for our group of 10 people.

The Food

When dining at Contempo Cafe, guests with special dietary needs will need to speak directly to a manager about options. In the past, the restaurant did offer an allergy-friendly menu, but I haven't seen one for this location in years. In my opinion, talking to a manager or chef directly is a much better option at quick service locations, especially at resort locations where you can discuss options and modifications.

On our recent visit to Contempo Cafe, manager Kelsey was absolutely fantastic and really went above and beyond to ensure that both Brandon and I had safe and delicious meals.

Contempo Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I decided to order the Barbecue Chicken Pizza based on Kelsey's recommendation. It was served on Udi's Gluten Free Pizza Crust layered with Barbecue Sauce, Allergy-Friendly Chicken Tenders, Triple-Cheese Blend, and topped with a Kale-Apple Slaw. The pizza does normally come with caramelized onions, but Kelsey said she wasn't sure about potential cross-contamination issues.

Can I just say how wowed I was by this pizza? It doesn't look all that appetizing, but the flavors were absolutely incredible. I loved the combination of the crispy allergy-friendly chicken tenders with BBQ sauce, lots of cheese, and the Kale-Appple Slaw. The slaw was the real star of the dish! I would definitely get this again, and I'm so glad Kelsey convinced me to try it.

On a side note, if you're dairy free, the restaurant does carry Daiya brand dairy free & vegan cheese, as well.

Contempo Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon's meal turned out to be a bit of a disappointment, but he was very appreciative that Kelsey worked to make sure his meal was safe. He really wanted the Contempo Smokehouse Burger but too many of the components were no deemed safe for his special dietary needs. He ended up with a Bunless Bacon Cheeseburger with Baked French Fries. This dish was gluten free, fish/shellfish free, cabbage free, peanut free, hazelnut free, and chicken & turkey free.

As we learned, Contempo Cafe has a dedicated allergy fryer that cooks allergy-friendly chicken tenders in it and does not currently offer a vegan fryer. This meant that Kelsey needed to bake Brandon's fries. He actually really liked them and said he thinks he prefers the baked versions to the fried ones.

The restaurant also warned Brandon against many of the bread options due to potential peanut cross-contamination with the bread production. You'll want to talk to the manager about options and use your best judgement with regard to cross-contamination. We were able to get him a gluten free bun that was peanut free.

Contempo Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For dessert, I did try out the Flourless Chocolate Cake. This is naturally gluten free (contains dairy), but Kelsey did get me a fresh one that was not housed in the bakery case to avoid cross-contamination concerns. While it wasn't my favorite dessert, it was very good. If you're a chocolate fan, you will really enjoy this particular option because it's very rich and chocolatey. For those with peanut and tree nut allergies, Kelsey did advise Brandon to avoid this dessert.

Overall

While Contempo Cafe hasn't always been my favorite quick service restaurant on property, I was pretty impressed with the food on our recent visit. Not only were the gluten free options great, but the Disney Cast Members there really went above and beyond to help ensure we had a safe and delicious meal. We likely won't dine here a lot because it was a challenge for Brandon to find many options, but we're both glad to know that we can get a meal here if we're at the Contemporary Resort.

Have you been to Contempo Cafe? What did you think of the special dietary needs options?

Contempo Cafe -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Contemporary

*This dining experience took place in August 2015.Contempo Cafe, located at Disney's Contemporary Resort, is the resort's standard quick service location. While I can't say I've ever been blown away by the food options here, I do love the atmosphere and the fact that I can watch the monorail whiz by as I dine.On this particular occasion, I stopped by for a quick lunch and was hoping to get something a bit different, or at least, not allergy chicken tenders. After reading the allergy friendly menu ahead of time (thanks to Gluten Free in Orlando), I was hoping to get the Maine Lobster Sandwich.After speaking with a manager, who confirmed the sandwich was also dairy free, I ordered this along with French fries. The restaurant gives you a pager, so I spent some time taking in the sights while my food was being prepared.The sandwich itself was fairly pricey, and after eating it, I didn't think it was worth the money. The sandwich was overly mayonnaised which took away from the fresh taste of the lobster. There was a good amount of lobster in this sandwich, but I preferred some other versions, like the one I had at Raglan Road.  Still, it was nice to be able to order a lobster roll.Overall, I liked my meal well enough at Contempo Cafe. It's not a location I frequent much, but I'm glad that they have safe options and have expanded their gluten free menu offerings a bit.Have you been to Contempo Cafe? What did you order when you dined there?

Contempo Cafe -- Breakfast -- Quick Service -- Contemporary

*This dining experience took place in February 2014.Contempo Cafe, located in Disney's Contemporary Resort, offers fast and convenient fare for guests who are in the resort. Set right in the hustle and bustle of the fourth floor, guests dining at Contempo Cafe can enjoy the sights and sounds from Chef Mickey's and watch the monorail whiz by. On this particular occasion, I stopped by for a quick breakfast. Having had less than stellar breakfast here before (yuck, horrible allergy Mickey waffles), I decided I just wanted a side of eggs and a side of the famous Disney stringy bacon.It took quite a while for the manager to come by; in fact, they had to page her multiple times. When she arrived, I knew what I wanted and let her know that it was just basic scrambled eggs and bacon. Easy enough. She took care of that while I paid, and in fact, my food was ready before I had even paid - so I guess that makes up for the long wait time beforehand.Taste-wise, these were nothing to write home about. The eggs were fine, if not a little bland, and the bacon was the same bacon you can get pretty much anywhere at Disney. It certainly wasn't memorable, but it was solid and my stomach thanked me for having something in it. I will say that I'm not a fan of their breakfast potatoes here (the same ones as next door at Chef Mickey's) and their breakfast turkey sausage is really not great either. But, if you're looking for a quick basic breakfast, this place has got you covered.I'd give this experience a 6 out of 10. Nothing of note to report. Just blah and bland.

Contempo Cafe -- Breakfast -- Quick Service -- Contemporary

*This dining experience took place in September 2013.

 The Contemporary to me is classic Disney. It's really an iconic resort and truly gives you a feel of nostalgia. With the monorail whizzing through the resort, it's hard not to love everything about the Contemporary. Their quick service location, Contempo Cafe is right in the center of it all. It's located near the monorail station and directly next to Chef Mickey's. In general, it's a great quick service spot to grab a quick bite for special diets.

 On this particular visit, my family and I grabbed breakfast here before heading to the Magic Kingdom. Now you know I'm a big fan of table service breakfast, but I will say that quick service can be really quick and efficient. I adore the Mara for example (see review HERE); it's probably my hands down favorite quick service breakfast spot. Contempo Cafe offers a hearty breakfast, though perhaps not quite as good as others. It's not bad if you're at the Contemporary though.When you order with a special diet here at the Contempo Cafe, you head to the pick-up station, which is rather small. Check with a cast member and explain that you have a dietary need. For me, I usually have a good idea what I want here, but it's always good to check with the cast members. The manager met me and she was fairly new (she just moved from Michigan, my home-state, less than 2 months ago), so she wasn't completely sure of everything and had to check. I told her I wanted the bounty platter because I could get allergy Mickey waffles (my weakness!). The eggs she said are usually dairy free (scrambled eggs that is) and that the potatoes and other items except the biscuit would be OK as well. So I waited and checked out the restaurant. It was quite busy!

Dining area--I love the view of the artwork

I also noticed while waiting that Rapid Fill (the new refillable mug program) was installed and available for purchase, though it didn't look like the machines were actually working like they were supposed to yet (i.e. they were installed and you could use them but they weren't fully functioning). I also noticed that Rapid Fill is only on the soda machines, not coffee and tea.

 Finally my food was ready, and I went to pick it up. I noticed right away that there was a nice "hidden" Mickey on my lid. Can you spot it?

No so hidden Mickey!

Most of my breakfast was just fine. I liked the eggs, but they were nothing to write home about. The bacon was also good. The turkey sausage...not my cup of tea. I found it too spicy and really thin and weird tasting. I think I recall not liking this before, but it had been so long I thought maybe they had changed it. The potatoes are the exact same ones next door at Chef Mickey's--a little spicy though! Now the Mickey waffles...uggg...this was a fail. 1) They used straight Namaste which to me doesn't taste as good and 2) they didn't cook them all the way through. They were a gummy, nasty mess. Also, the only syrup they had was the corn syrup based kind and not the real maple syrup. Yuck!! I can handle that if the Mickey waffles are at least good to begin with. But both? No thank you.

Next time I will head to the Mara!

Overall, I feel sort of so-so about this breakfast. Some things were good and others, just mediocre at best. Those Mickey waffles were cold and gummy. Not the way I envision my beloved allergy Mickey waffles! Right now, I think I'd skip this for breakfast unless I was staying at the Contemporary (and even then I might think of other options). I'm giving this a 6 out of 10. Just so-so.

Contempo Cafe -- Quick Service -- Lunch/Dinner -- Contemporary

*This dining experience took place in December 2012.

Contempo Cafe Entrance

Just a quick review of Contempo Cafe. My family and I popped by here to split a lunch before our early dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern. As per usual, I asked for the manager and planned on ordering a plain chicken sandwich. I was hoping to add the yummy remoulade sauce that came with the mahi mahi sandwich (one of my fav sandwiches there) to dip my fries in; however, I was met with bad news. The tartar sauce (as they refer to it) now has sour cream in it. So, sadly, no sauce for me. I ended up ordering just plain chicken sandwich and french fries (we ordered an extra side too to split). Nothing too spectacular.

View of Contempo Cafe seating area

 It's been a while since I've had the chicken sandwich here, and I wasn't too keen on the herb marinade. It was just so-so. I actually preferred the chicken the way it used to be a long time ago and I almost wished I had ordered the allergy friendly chicken tenders. Since I was splitting the sandwich, the others in my party ate it with toppings from the toppings bar (I never get items from toppings bar for fear of cross contamination, but rather ask for the items in the back from the manager).

Chicken sandwich (plain) on Udi's bread with two sides of fries

Overall, this was an OK meal. Nothing special for a quick snack, but satisfying enough to stave off any hunger for the day. It's also a very convenient location when staying at the Contemporary, so despite this experience, it's one of my standbys when staying at Bay Lake Towers.I'd give this experience a 7 out of 10.

Love the small touches, even in the recycling bins!

Contempo Cafe -- Lunch -- Quick Service -- Contemporary

*This dining experience took place in September 2012. This experience also includes a gluten, dairy, and soy free review.

Contempo Cafe located at Disney's Contemporary Resort

It's been a while since I've been to Contempo Cafe for a meal. I often stay at Bay Lake Towers since it's my home resort in DVC and also because it's really convenient for the seasonal parties that are held in the Magic Kingdom. This time we were going to the Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, so it made for a natural choice to stay there. I tend to visit Contempo Cafe when I stay there because it's a nice convenient place to stop by for a meal. Plus I get a lot of different choices, which I love.On this trip, I met up with a friend who also has food allergies (his are gluten, dairy, and soy). First up, for my order I was craving some type of hot sandwich. The manager on duty said she could make the Spice Crusted Mahi sandwich gluten & dairy free. Awesome! I love fish sandwiches, so I was great with this. Plus, it sounded like something different, which I was really in the mood for.

Spice crusted mahi sandwich with french fries, coleslaw and remoulade on the side.

I also got fries with this, and I asked for the coleslaw and the spicy mayonnaise (i.e. remoulade) which were supposed to top the sandwich to be on the side. I admit, I tend to order on the side in case I have a reaction, plus if it is a sauce and I have fries I tend to dip them. Hey, what can I say? A girl's gotta have her dipping sauces!The french fries were nothing spectacular, just fries. The sandwich didn't come on a Udi's bun (which was slightly weird), but on Udi's bread. Still, it tasted just fine to me. I personally love the Udi's products. The fish was really good. I love mahi mahi, so I was excited about this with the spices. It was a blackening seasoning on it. Very good. The manager did show me the jar with the ingredients, but unfortunately, I'm blanking on the brand. It was GF/DF though. I admit, I kind of skipped the slaw because my stomach was a little touchy (Crohn's), and I don't often react well to raw veggies. I did dig into the mayonnaise though, and it was delicious. Very good. It was spicy and relishy, and overall very tasty. I put some on the sandwich and I used the remaining portion to dip the fries in. I was a happy girl! Overall, I would not hesitate to order this sandwich again. It was really good and the sauce was divine. I liked that it had some flavor to it and wasn't just a plain Jane grilled fish sandwich. Definitely a new favorite sandwich for me!*Note: As of December 2012, the tartar sauce (remoulade) is now not dairy free. It contains dairy in the form of sour cream.My friend had a little more difficulty with options because of the soy allergy. However, he opted for a chopped salad. He had a variation of the chicken chop salad on the menu, with the addition of bacon. He also got oil and vinegar on the side instead of a regular dressing.

Chicken chop salad - modified

Overall, he said it was really good, and looking at it, it looked pretty tasty. And considering that his salad bowl was empty by the time we were done with lunch, I'd say it was a winner.In general, I'd say Contempo Cafe is a solid place for a meal. It's a good value with lots of options, and I find this more "upscale" than regular fast food. Another solid 8 out of 10. I'm looking forward to heading here to eat in December for the Christmas party!

Contempo Cafe -- Counter Service -- Breakfast

Adult Bounty Platter with a side of scrambled eggs

Because I had eaten at Contempo Cafe for two dinners previously, I knew more or less the routine of how to order food at this counter service. I was able to speak with a manager prior to ordering at the kiosk. She said I could get the Adult Bounty platter with a side of eggs since I wasn't getting the french toast (I later ended up getting a different breakfast platter but that was on the day we left). This was fine by me. I can always eat more protein in the morning. Once I got to the cash register, the CM told me that I'd have to pay for the eggs as a snack. Um, but I was just doing what the manager told me to do. So, I ended up using my dining plan snack credit for it, b/c they refused to keep it as part of the meal, but I guess I understand that it would be too confusing plus I can see people trying to get away with getting free food (I paid for my dining plan and did not get it free, since I'm a DVC member and was staying at BLT on points). Either way, it was fine.

The food for the most part was OK. Really nothing special. It was kind of cafeteria style breakfast--kind of bland but edible. The only thing I didn't really like was the turkey sausage which was probably the worst turkey sausage I've ever had. It was really gross and unappetizing. No one who ate that thought it was good, so it wasn't just me!

Overall, nothing special. But definitely lesson learned--make sure you double check about ordering sides of things with a meal--special diets or not. 5 out of 10 for mediocre food.

Contempo Cafe -- Counter Service -- Lunch/Dinner

*This dining experience took place in October 2010.

Contempo Cafe -- take 2!

I got to be very familiar with the Contempo Cafe on this trip--we ate lunch/dinner here twice and breakfast here twice. For this meal, I forgot to take the picture of my food before digging in because I was soooo hungry--but I'll post the 3/4 eaten pic :)

I knew that Contempo Cafe was currently serving the allergy friendly chicken tenders, so I wanted to get those. I ordered those with fries and got a French Meadow brownie and soda. Overall, while nothing major or special, it sure was tasty. I love those things! Although, I sure wish they would serve a different kind of barbecue sauce in this food court b/c it's the same kind I encountered at ABC Commissary (I believe it was Heinz?) and it has gluten in it. What happened to the safe bbq sauce, people!? Overall though, it was a good meal (you can tell, since I was scarfing it down), and the chicken tenders still remain one of my standard counter service meals each trip.

Whoops, I got hungry and ate most of my food before taking a picture!

Another solid meal from Contempo Cafe--a 7 out of 10 for decent food and service.

Contempo Cafe -- Counter Service -- Lunch/Dinner

Staying at Bay Lake Tower, we had a great location and access to yummy restaurants and a decent counter service. Contempo Cafe is located in Disney's Contemporary Resort (which is connected by a walkway to Bay Lake Tower). It reflects a newer type of counter service, in that it has a non-traditional ordering system. There are kiosks set up for you to order your food. Admittedly, this was a bit confusing to try out. Our first day, we grabbed lunch here. I wasn't sure how it worked with allergies, so I found a CM who was working the food counter. They then got a chef for me. The chef then asked me what I wanted, and I mentioned that I was interested in the honey lime chicken sandwich they had. He said that without the bun and cheese, that this would be safe. He did offer me a tapioca bun, but I politely declined, as I tend to avoid yeast (It messes with my Crohn's disease). He said he could do a bed of lettuce with the chicken, which I was happy with. He also said their fries were used in a dedicated fryer. So, we went with that. He then said I had to order the item on the kiosk and then when I went to the cashier (who gave you a wait remote) to tell them that I had an allergy, so they could flag it. It was a bit confusing at first, but once I got the hang of this, I was able to figure it out when we ate there 3 more times. The honey lime chicken was fabulous! They also put salt and pepper on the fries which was a nice touch (and other times I ate there they did not do this).

Honey Lime Chicken with fries and a gluten free/dairy free Brownie (used a CS credit for this)

This was definitely a great meal. Overall, I'd give it a 7 out of 10--solid, but slightly confusing system.