Don and Dave Shula

Shula's is certainly the most upscale steakhouse on Disney property. The Yachtsman Steakhouse over at the Yacht Club is downright dressed-down and informal alongside Shula's. The surroundings are very "clubby" -- dark wood paneling, dim lighting, gold-framed football photos on the walls, formal, attentive service from the staff -- this is one of the few places on property where dresses and sports jackets feel "right" (although nobody blinked at our shorts and polo shirts).

The main course menus are painted onto footballs ("pass" it around the table), the various steaks (from a 48 oz. porterhouse on down) and 4 lb. lobsters are displayed on a roll-around cart, potatoes and veggies are only available as side orders, the wine list is excellent (but some wine list choices rival the price of a decent vacation).

Main course menu

Fortunately, the preparation lives up to all those trappings. We can't fault the service, or anything we tried. The steak and salmon were superior, and the hashbrowns are simply to die for, Simba!

This is a serious steakhouse, at very serious prices -- the kind of place you take a client when it's time to seal a really big deal. As they say in some circles, "If you have to ask, you can't afford it!" Entree prices (which range from $18.95-$65.95) are printed on the football menu, but nothing else is -- we discovered only upon asking for "menus" just how much those side orders cost (4.95-7.95). Prices are not volunteered for appetizers, salads, vegetables, or desserts -- when we requested a menu, they hand-wrote their list on a sheet of paper for us.

Tasty Tidbits:

• Shula's Steak House was named one of the top 10 steak houses in America.
• The restaurant is decorated with Miami Dolphins memorabilia and photos, representing the 1972 undefeated season under Coach Don Shula, the "winningest coach."
• The restaurant accommodates 175 diners.
• Shula's Steak House only serves dinner, but there have been rumblings of adding lunch hours later.
• The music you hear (and will always hear) is Frank Sinatra.
• No kids menu is available.
• A cigar menu is available, but cigar smoking is only permitted in the smoking lounge.

48 oz. porterhouse

Shula's Steak House Orlando
at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
1500 Epcot Resorts Blvd.
Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830
407-934-1362

Copyright (c) 2002 - PassPorter Travel Press/MediaMarx, Inc.
Permission received for reprint.

Article by Jennifer Watson and Dave Marx
Authors of PassPorter® Walt Disney World®
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