After many visits to Walt Disney World during which we frequented our tried and true dining favorites, on our last three Disney vacations, we were committed to trying new restaurants.  In May of 2014, we tried several new places.  In particular, the Boardwalk’s Flying Fish Café was a wonderful experience and we can’t wait to go back!  In October, Raymond and I discovered the hidden gem that is Citricos at the Grand Floridian.  In February of 2015, after years of hearing rave reviews, we finally had dinner at Yachtsman Steakhouse (Yacht Club) and what a dinner it was!

If you are looking for a steak in the Epcot area, bypass Le Cellier and walk on over to the Yacht Club!  The cozy atmosphere, the service, and the menu are a winning combination.  Raymond and I thoroughly enjoyed our dinner – from appetizer to dessert – and could not think of a single improvement that could have been made.

We checked in at the hostess station and were greeted by a lovely, charming woman from our home state of Louisiana.  She inquired if we’d dined at Yachtsman before and after hearing it was our first visit, proudly proclaimed that we were about to begin a new vacation tradition!  We were given our pager, but waited only moments before a young man came to show us to our table.  Because it was our first visit, he took the time to give us a tour and explain the process of beef aging and storage and steak preparation.  He was clearly proud of the dining experience Yachtsman offers guests and made simply being seated into an interesting experience.  The glass room of hanging beef was cool!  I joked that the butcher was one of the best animatronics I’d seen at Disney World and that they’d really stepped up their game in recent years – which made our young host laugh and comment that I was the first person to say that.  Go figure.

Our server continued the excellent hospitality and soon we were enjoying bread and butter and a glass of wine.  The butter is served with a roasted head of garlic along side.  If you love garlic (we do!), this is a fantastic way to start a meal!  Bread AND butter AND garlic = YUM!  Raymond and I always say we’re going to order different things so we can try more dishes, but at Yachtsman, we couldn’t do it.  We ordered the exact same meal.  To start, we both wanted a bowl of lobster bisque.  There are a staggering number of appetizers, cheeses, and an impressive charcuterie selection, but the bisque was irresistible.  Described as “Maine Lobster, Crème Fraîche, Preserved Lemon, Fine Herbes”, it was everything we’d hoped it would be – perfectly delicious!

Lamb, duck, scallops, tuna, even butternut squash waffles – the menu offers an amazing selection for a steakhouse, but we’d come for the beef!  Yachtsman is a steak-lovers paradise and offers steaks for every appetite.  Black Angus filet mignon, New York strip, roast prime rib, Kansas City strip steak, rib-eye, and even a whopping 32-ounce porterhouse for two…decisions, decisions!  We both decided on the filet mignon, which was the smallest steak on the menu at 8-ounces and came with a simple side of mashed potatoes and a cabernet wine sauce.

The true test of a steakhouse, to me, is not just the quality of beef, but the quality of preparation.  When paying $50 or more for an entrée, I want my steak prepared the way I like it best – seared dark and crusty on the outside while being warm and pink in the center.  I asked for medium and my steak arrived perfectly cooked.  Raymond and I were absolutely silent as we enjoyed our food, our attention focused on doing justice to the delicious meal.  In short order, those steaks were history!

There was a chocolate peanut dessert on the menu that caught my eye and curiosity, so I ordered one up for us to share.  Coffees all around (mine of the Irish variety), we tried our best to finish that delicious dessert, but were so full.  And happy.  We give Yachtsman a hearty four thumbs up and will absolutely be returning for another visit.

Have you tried Yachtsman Steakhouse?  Is it on your list of favorites?