Dive in to The Wave... of American Flavors!

*Please note The Wave permanently closed. In 2021, Steakhouse 71 opened in the same location.

Located off of the lobby of Disney’s Contemporary Resort is one of Disney’s often overlooked restaurants, The Wave... of American Flavors.  Opening on June 7, 2008, The Wave brought a fresh menu of organic and locally grown produce.  Healthier dining options and environmental friendliness were the main focus.   Images of tofu, leaves and granola are usually what people think of when hearing words like healthy and organic.  However, I can assure you, The Wave’s menu is so very much more than that!

Right beyond the check-in area on the ground floor and to the left, The Wave’s entrance is hard to miss.  Glowing blue lights shine their way through the almost tunnel-like hall leading to the restaurant’s bar and waiting areas.  Some guests feel it’s more for the adult crowd, and this is one of the most common misconceptions I have heard in regards to The Wave.  At first glance it may have a bar and lounge type of feel, but rest assured it is a family friendly restaurant – complete with a kid’s menu.  And while it may not be decorated with Mickey or Princesses, the atmosphere is warm and comfortable.

Once checked in and ready to be seated, guests will be taken to the dining room located beyond the wall that separates it from the bar.  Warm hues offer a calm and cozy environment, which is great after (or before) a day at the parks.  After being seated, you’ll quickly notice that the entire restaurant has come together in waves.  The carpet, the ceiling, the lights, the curtains and the seat backs have a flowing pattern which really ties everything in well.

The Wave serves guests breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the day.  The Wave’s Signature sweet potato pancakes are waiting to be enjoyed for breakfast along with more traditional options like eggs Benedict, omelets, and avocado toast.  Previously The Wave was doing a buffet breakfast, while the buffet is not available some of these items are still on the menu.

Breakfast selections from the buffet

For lunch, stop in for delicious sandwich options like a signature burger or the classic Reuben.  Appetizers and dessert are also available on the lunch menu.

If you’re a lover of appetizers, the menu has some delicious choices.  Seasonal soup or salads, or a more adventurous cauliflower taco are the perfect way to kick-start your appetite.  My entrée was one of the most delicious meals I’ve had on property.  I opted for the grilled beef tenderloin, which was cooked to perfection and accompanied by the yummiest potato and onion gratin.  We also thoroughly enjoyed the seasonal soup which was chicken and corn chowder and seared gnocchi with forest mushrooms, sweet potatoes, and rainbow swiss chard in a brown butter-parmesan-sage cream.  Along with these choices we tried, guests can order a variety of other dishes that can change seasonally.  For the little ones, cheeseburgers, grilled chicken, and penne pasta are some of the items that make up the Kid’s menu.  After you’ve enjoyed your dinner and are ready to end your visit to The Wave with a sweet treat, take a look at the dessert menu.  

Seasonal Soup - Chicken Corn Chowder

Salmon (Fish dishes change seasonally)

Beef Tenderloin

Seared Gnocchi

The Wave has another signature dish that it is getting to be quite known for, however it is not currently on the menu at this time.  We hope it makes a comeback as we just loved it!  It's listed as an appetizer but if you aren't super hungry also makes a great meal. It's the "bacon and eggs" pork belly, runny egg yolk, and cheesy grits - yum! 

Bacon and Eggs

Manhattan at the Wave Lounge

While it may not be as popular as the other table service restaurants at the Contemporary, it’s still a good idea to make an Advanced Dining Reservation at the 60 day mark if you plan on dining at The Wave.  However, one of my favorite parts of The Wave is the Wave Lounge, which is a beautiful bar area that is currently serving the full restaurant menu, but sometimes has it's own small bites menu that is also delicious.  If you are a smaller party and don't mind dining at a bar, this is a great choice for a walk up dining experience.  Our party of two was able to wait only about 10 minutes for a spot to open up (complete with social distancing from other parties) for a great meal after Magic Kingdom closed for the evening. 

 

Do you miss The Wave or are you excited by the new replacement? Let us know in the comments!