Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina has been introduced as the most recent desk service restaurant coming to Walt Disney World in 2025. This publish covers official particulars of the signature steakhouse, what it’s changing, when it’s opening, and ‘outdated man yells at cloud’ commentary in regards to the newest modifications at considered one of our favourite Deluxe Resorts.
This new restaurant is coming to the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, which introduced that the opening of its latest celeb chef restaurant, Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina, that can be part of the resort’s formidable lineup of 23 eating places and lounges. That is simply the newest of a number of modifications on the three Swolphin Resorts.
The biggest of those is the $275 million funding in visitor room overhauls and conference area enlargement and modernization. We’ve coated that at size elsewhere, however the important thing takeaway should you’ve missed the current protection is that the renovation of all 756 visitor rooms and suites within the Swan resort is now completed. The brand new-look is clear and recent, but it surely’ll disappoint anybody who favors the old fashioned type of colourful and highly-themed room designs.
Simply final month, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts additionally introduced Lagoon, an all-new eating & sport room expertise. Lagoon purports to supply the newest in interactive gaming, from thrilling new releases to timeless classics (which means retro and trendy arcade video games).
Extra notably, Lagoon options a number of bowling lanes. This isn’t an amenity that exists at some other on-site resort at Walt Disney World, and is a pleasant addition. We’re huge followers of the bowling alley over at Common’s Cabana Bay Seaside Resort, and whereas this doesn’t look like on par with that, it’s a pleasant plussing.
Lagoon additionally affords a small eating area with a menu consisting of sunshine bites and American consolation meals. From what I’ve seen of the menu, it’s shockingly costly–overpriced even by Walt Disney World requirements. Regardless that it was simply introduced a few weeks in the past, this area had been beneath building for not less than the final a number of months. Lagoon truly opened final week! (Figured this was a great place for double-dipping on that replace and this new announcement of a signature steakhouse coming to the Swolphin.)
Turning to Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina, the James Beard Award-Profitable chef and restaurateur will deliver his celebrated, re-imagined trendy tackle the quintessential American steakhouse to Walt Disney World! The restaurant will serve up premium cuts of beef and seafood infused with international flavors.
Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina will showcase the three major parts of the award-winning chef’s culinary philosophy: product, approach and presentation. The restaurant menu may even function decadent signature desserts, accented by world-class beverage choices.
“The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin continues to differentiate itself with its meals and beverage program,” mentioned Sean Verney, space common supervisor of the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin. “Welcoming Chef Mina to our culinary choices continues to push us ahead in our efforts to supply visitors heightened eating experiences.”
“The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin is the best location for Bourbon Steak,” added Mina. “Their robust dedication to culinary excellence aligns completely with our imaginative and prescient at The Mina Group. We see it as a perfect partnership, and I sit up for spending time with the native workforce to understand this dynamic new undertaking. Every Bourbon Steak is uniquely designed to signify the setting it’s in, and I’m excited to unveil what we now have in retailer for Orlando.”
Based on the restaurant’s official web site, Bourbon Steak started its journey within the wealthy culinary panorama of California, setting the stage for what would change into a nationwide image of culinary excellence and innovation in steakhouse eating. Bourbon Steak prides itself on bringing patrons on an unparalleled culinary journey that started beneath the visionary steerage of award-winning Chef Mina. Its story is considered one of ardour, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of excellence in steakhouse eating.
On the core of Bourbon Steak’s menu is a tribute to the basic American steakhouse, elevated by Chef Mina’s modern method to delicacies. The restaurant’s signature choices embody prime cuts of beef, recent seafood, and an in depth choice of wines and spirits, together with uncommon and classic bourbon picks which have change into an indicator of the Bourbon Steak expertise. Over time, its delicacies has developed to incorporate seasonal and regionally sourced components, reflecting Bourbon Steak’s dedication to freshness and taste.
Per the restaurant, eating at Bourbon Steak is greater than only a meal; it’s an expertise. From the second you step by its doorways, you might be enveloped in an environment of sophistication. Bourbon Steak’s attentive workers is devoted to offering impeccable service, making certain that each facet of your go to is ideal. The elegant but snug decor creates the best backdrop for a memorable night, whether or not you’re celebrating an important day or just indulging within the pleasures of a nice meal.
As The Mina Group continues to increase its footprint globally, Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina would be the restaurant’s third location in Florida, together with Miami and a just lately opened location in Delray Seaside. Will probably be the tenth location in the US, becoming a member of the lineup of Bourbon Steakhouses in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Washington, Nashville, New York, and Orange County.
Bourbon Steak will substitute Shula’s Steakhouse within the Walt Disney World Dolphin, which is able to take reservations by June 14, 2025. The anticipated debut of Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina is mid-Summer season 2025.
Turning to commentary, I’ve blended emotions about this information and I’m in all probability not the one one. As quickly as I learn this announcement, I assumed it might be changing Shula’s Steakhouse.
That fabled soccer chain has closed quite a lot of eating places lately, one thing I solely know as a result of I just lately discovered that the situation in Indianapolis closed over 5 years in the past. After doing a little digging, I found this was a standard pattern, with many inns ditching Shula’s Steakhouse for extra ‘trendy’ ideas.
To be sincere, we don’t have a lot nostalgia for Shula’s Steakhouse at Walt Disney World, since we didn’t eat someplace we might dine at “house” again once we lived within the Midwest. However I’d think about different longtime Walt Disney World followers will lament this loss from the angle of sentimentality. Shula’s Steakhouse has been round for 30 years, since earlier than BoardWalk opened and turned this into the Crescent Lake Resort Space. (It’s gotta be an enormous blow for some diehards to lose each Jellyrolls and Shula’s in the identical 12 months.)
With that mentioned, it makes full sense that inns, together with the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resorts, are changing Shula’s Steakhouse with new ideas. It additionally is sensible to modify to an upstart restaurant with outposts in main cities that appear to be well-regarded.
Even when the change is polarizing amongst Walt Disney World diehards, Bourbon Steak will doubtless be extra fashionable with common visitors. It’ll undoubtedly be an enormous hit with the conventioneer crowd, which makes up an enormous slice of the Swolphin’s enterprise. Fancy and dear eating places are, unsurprisingly, fashionable amongst these paying with OPM.
I might additionally hazard a guess that the title “Don Shula” carries much less cachet than it used to, even in Florida. Except you’re an NFL fan–and an older one–you in all probability don’t know who that’s. By way of title recognition, Shula’s Steakhouse throughout its prime would principally be equal to Marino’s Steakhouse right this moment.
Truly, even that’s too dated. It’d be extra like Brady’s Steakhouse. (Personally, I’d desire “Peyton’s Plates Place” however we’re going with Florida soccer figures.) Level being, Don Shula retired just a few a long time in the past and isn’t precisely a draw to modern prospects–not less than, not the type eating places are attempting to draw.
That brings me to what’s type of disappointing about this information, not less than to me. That is going to make me sound like a curmudgeon, however I’m type of “over” trendy restaurant ideas. Don’t get me unsuitable–I really like envelope-pushing delicacies, fusion meals, and modern concepts. However what? There’s already loads of that. It’s getting performed out.
Typically it’s good to have a steak the scale of my head accompanied by an enormous pile of potatoes. Nothing fancy. Only a scrumptious minimize of beef, perfectly-prepared in a conventional method, accompanied by extra carbs than I ought to eat in every week. The type of meal that can depart me completely satisfied in abdomen and spirit, able to go to mattress and get the very best night time of sleep doable. Meals doesn’t at all times have to be a culinary journey, generally it may simply be a heat hug.
With regards to Walt Disney World, I do know I’m not alone on this sentiment. I can plainly see what’s fashionable. Heck, if something, I’m extra adventurous than the common visitor. Judging by the strains for the french fries, mac & cheese, and Canada cubicles at EPCOT’s Meals & Wine Competition, common visitors love easy consolation meals greater than the flowery fare.
To be abundantly clear, I’m not suggesting an all-or-nothing method. It shouldn’t be one or the opposite. Each modern nice eating and luxury delicacies can co-exist.
Stability is the secret, and to be honest, there are many crowd-pleasing eating places throughout Walt Disney World. However it does look like the present pattern is in direction of extra ‘auteur’ chef-driven ‘culinary journeys’ on the higher-end eating places. A few of that is enjoyable and implausible, however a few of it’s simply exhausting.
That is simply generalized outdated man yells at cloud stuff, not geared toward Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina. I don’t know something about this new restaurant past what’s within the press launch and obtainable on their web site. Maybe readers who’ve Bourbon Steak of their cities will assuage my fears, confirming that Bourbon Steak is one thing particular and unpretentious.
For all I do know, this could possibly be customary flowery press launch stuff, and Chef Mina might truly serve up a imply and satisfying steak the scale of my head. Possibly it’s the very best of each worlds with regards to distinctive preparation and nice cuts of meat. It’s doable I’m getting all labored up for nothing. Wouldn’t be the primary time, nor the final.
One optimistic about this from my perspective is that Shula’s Steakhouse is closing in June, and Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina is opening in mid-Summer season 2025. That’s a fast turnaround time, which suggests they’re not reimagining the restaurant itself, turning it into some fake fashionable spot with an industrial design or who is aware of what else.
Good. The present inside is timeless, with the look of stylish steakhouse within the conventional type. Maybe this is only one of many silver linings, and Bourbon Steak may even be in that spirit. All of this ranting will probably be for naught!
Finally, I simply don’t wish to lose the old fashioned type steakhouses in pursuit of chasing flash within the pan culinary traits. There’s one thing to be mentioned for locations like Yachtsman Steakhouse or Turf Membership and even Le Cellier. The identical was true of Shula’s Steakhouse. My hope is that this new idea threads that needle, with a meat-forward focus that can knock me off my socks and put me in a meals coma. Sorry for the rant, I’m simply uninterested in leaving eating places hungry after dropping over $150 for 2.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the brand new Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina changing Shula’s Steakhouse within the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Lodge? Disenchanted to lose the 1995 restaurant, or happy to see one thing new? What’s your tackle this rant about old fashioned steakhouses versus trendy culinary journeys? Different ideas on anything mentioned right here? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
