It’s no secret that I LURVE the Bull and Bear Steakhouse at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando. This place is phenomenal, and with a location in the middle of Walt Disney World property, it’s well worth trying if you haven’t been there yet.
Entryway
Now, perhaps you don’t have time for a full, multi-course meal, but you’d still like to pamper yourself and your taste buds? I now have the perfect solution thanks to the Bull and Bear’s new lounge menu!!
Bull and Bear Bar and Lounge area
Have you ever wanted to pretend you’re Marilyn Monroe or Clark Gable, out for an evening in a luxurious Hollywood lounge? That’s exactly how you’ll feel surrounded by plush seats (pillows!!), sparkling white tablecloths, dark wood, and a fabulous staff of servers. The best part? You’re in a lounge, which means you get all of the Bull and Bear flavor with a lower check total!
Eats
The new menu debuted at the Bull and Bear a couple of months ago, and we got the chance to go in and sample some of the new dishes!
Menu - click image for larger version
Don’t be fooled; the prices reflect the quality of the food, but trust me — it’s well worth it! We started out by sampling the new-and-improved bar snacks in the lounge.
Wanting to appeal to different tastes and all of your taste buds, Chef David Sears decided on a trio of accompaniments you wouldn’t expect!
Bar Snacks
Next up on our tasting menu: the Shrimp and Grits with Tasso Ham and Tomatillo Chutney. Now, how cool is this presentation? Chef Sears wanted to include a smoked flavor, but didn’t want it to be too strong. His solution? Add a touch of smokiness by serving the plate under a dome of flavor!
Shrimp and Grits Presentation
How do they do it? Trade secret… 😉
Shrimp and Grits Presentation
The shrimp and grits did have a mildly smokey flavor, and the touch of tasso ham gave it the perfect salty accent! Delicious.
Shrimp and Grits
Next, we sampled the Chicken Confit with lemon scented risotto (risotto!!!) and artichokes en barigoule. First off, “confit” means that the chicken has been immersed/submerged in flavor, so already we’re on the right track for a delicious dish.
The chicken was exceptionally moist and flavorful — that lovely saltiness that so few chicken dishes actually achieve. And when you serve risotto, you know I’m going to be happy. The light side dish was a great compliment — especially for a lounge meal.
Chicken
And here’s the pièce de résistance… the Bull and Bear BURGER! Yes, Chef Sears has created the best burger in the universe.
I know, I know. You’re thinking: “How can it be better than a ________ burger??” (Fill in the blank with your favorite burger of all time…for us, it’s Snuffer’s.) But just listen to what’s included in this “burger:” braised shortrib. Yep — in addition to the other wonderfulness that is this burger (Ossau Iraty cheese, truffle onion marmalade, confit tomato…), there’s an extra layer of explosive flavor right in the middle. Here’s a cross section so that you can see the layers of flavor of which I speak…
Burger Close-Up
And speaking of flavor, you’ll also get an incredible sauce on the side. Trust me, this is the king of all burgers.
Burger Presentation
But we’re not done, my friends. Nope; I wanted to share with you another shocker from the evening. We were served the Bull and Bear Lounge’s vegan cheesecake. Yep — vegan. And it was amazing. I know you think I’m crazy, but it was the creamiest cheesecake I’d ever had. And though the crust tasted like thick graham cracker/butter crust, it was made of chick peas! No kidding!
The cheesecake was served with a bed of wild strawberries — a sweet/sour accompaniment that was very nice.
Vegan Cheesecake
Seriously, you guys, I can’t WAIT to have that cheesecake again. It was one of my favorite desserts from the whole trip.
So, if you haven’t been over to Bull and Bear yet, I hope that the introduction to their less expensive, but just as impressive, lounge menu will tip the scales for you. It’s well worth a visit — you won’t be sorry!
See our in-depth review of Bull and Bear here.
Thanks to the Waldorf Astoria Orlando for providing this tasting in the lounge. While I wasn’t in any way obligated to write about the food here, I couldn’t wait to tell you about that off-the-chain burger and the amazing cheesecake. Hope to see you there!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
Oh my that burger looks A-mazing! I’ve often wondered about the bar menus at the signature restaurants at Disney. Is it typically the same chef preparing the food, say for the Yachtsman’s Crew Cup lounge as in the dining room? I’d rather relax in the lounge and eat tapas style anyway!
looking at the menu… my eyes could not get past “truffle deviled eggs” — TRUFFLE DEVILED EGGS?!? Good Lord I have to try that! and AJ, how did you know I’ve always wanted to pretend to be Marilyn at a posh resort bar? 😉
great review, thanks!
I can attest to the awesomeness of the burger…I can’t wait to have another!
That better be a damn good $35 burger!!
It’s great to see cutting edge, modern food available at WDW even though the Bull and Bear isn’t a Disney restaurant. As the say – a high tide raised all boats – but those prices are a bit daunting.
Heather — The burger is truly to die for. Best burger I’ve ever had before or since. And usually the chefs doing the cooking in the lounges vary. For example, in Crew’s Cup, it’s the Captain’s Grille kitchen cooking.
Marci — We have a photo of the truffled deviled eggs on our very first review of Bull and Bear!!
Deej — I’ll go with you!!
NT3 — Oh, it is, my friend! It’s massive, plus you get fries and a salad 🙂
Alan — The next time we’re in WDW at the same time, we’re goin’ to Bull and Bear Lounge — my treat!
Were you able to make a reservation for the lounge? Thank you!