HS Table Service

50’s Prime Time Cafe Review at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

by josh on March 12, 2010

Wondering how 50′s Prime Time Cafe stacks up against the other Hollywood Studios Table Service Restaurants? Check out The Best Hollywood Studios Sit Down Restaurants for a comparison of the five Hollywood Studios restaurants in a variety of categories including Most Unique Menu, Best Value on the Disney Dining Plan, Best Value Out of Pocket, Best Atmosphere, Best Food, and Best Overall Restaurant.

Food Type: American “Comfort Food”

Dining Plan: 1 Table Service

Cost: For lunch, Appetizers: $6-$10 and Entrées: $12-$17.  For dinner, Appetizers: $8-$10 and Entrées: $15-$21.

Setting: The 50’s Prime Time Café is a nostalgic throwback to what I’ve been told was a simpler time.  The restaurant features a number of period piece knick knacks as well as televisions that show clips from various 1950s era shows.  The Prime Time Café takes great pride in the good behavior and manners of its guests.  Your server, who will go by the name “Mom” or “Dad,” may harass your group if you have a tendency to put your elbows on the table, don’t eat all of your vegetables, or have the audacity to wear a hat at the dinner table.  Spilling something is not recommended.

Advantages: This can be a fun atmosphere for those who get into it.  You should be able to order a shake or malt as your drink on the Dining Plan and they are delicious.  It’s fairly inexpensive.  Food is mostly good and portions are large.  I would recommend the fried chicken and s’mores for dessert, which would probably be plenty of food for two to share as well.

Disadvantages: Some people don’t appreciate being harassed throughout their meal (try to put on your sense of humor hat before entering).  The experience also relies heavily on your server; you may get one that is in character when you don’t want them to be or one that isn’t in character when you were prepared to have a fun time with them.  Kids menu is weak.

Value: Above average.  Although the experience relies on your server, the overall atmosphere and decorations are fun no matter what.  The food is usually good and won’t break the bank.  On the Dining Plan this is a fairly inexpensive meal, but I wouldn’t let that deter you from eating here.

Reputation: The 50’s Prime Time Café is probably the best and most consistent table service restaurant at the Hollywood Studios.  The food is relatively inexpensive, prepared well, and the service is fun.  Just be aware of the possibility that you may be harassed by “Mom” a bit (or a lot).  You should be able to request the type of server you would like as well as whether or not you want a table near a television to watch the clips.  Just don’t put your elbows on the table.

Overall Rank on The Best Hollywood Studios Sit Down Restaurants: 1st out of 5

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Hollywood Brown Derby Restaurant Review at Disney World

by josh on March 12, 2010

Wondering how Hollywood Brown Derby stacks up against the other Hollywood Studios Table Service Restaurants? Check out The Best Hollywood Studios Sit Down Restaurants for a comparison of the five Hollywood Studios restaurants in a variety of categories including Most Unique Menu, Best Value on the Disney Dining Plan, Best Value Out of Pocket, Best Atmosphere, Best Food, and Best Overall Restaurant.

Food Type: Contemporary American

Dining Plan: Two Table Service credits

Cost:  Appetizers: $8-$15, Entrées: $23-$40.  The menu has changed and is now the same for lunch and dinner.

Setting: The Brown Derby is a replica of the famous Brown Derby restaurant in Hollywood California.  The original, opened in 1929, was popular with celebrities due to its close proximity to major movie studios.  Although the original Brown Derby restaurants have all either burned down or otherwise closed, Disney’s version is still standing tall.  This is one of what I would imagine are very few restaurants in the world where the staff wears tuxedos and the patrons wear mostly shorts, flip flops, and Mickey ears.

Advantages: Generally, this is one of the quietest, calmest restaurants on Disney property.  The Cobb Salad, named after the original Brown Derby owner Bob Cobb, is one of the best you’ll find anywhere.  Easy to get a reservation.  Service is usually excellent.

Disadvantages: The atmosphere is a little odd with the staff dressed up and most of the guests in their Mickey shirts and Nikes.  Nothing about the experience feels like Disney World, which may or may not be a good thing.  Food is expensive and inconsistent.  No lunch menu.

Value: Average, out of pocket.  I do not think this is worth the two table service credits on the Dining Plan because it isn’t that much more expensive than some of the single credit restaurants.  The most expensive entrée ($40), dessert ($9), and non-alcoholic beverage ($3) at the Brown Derby would be about $52 or so.  At San Angel Inn, for one credit you could get the $33 entrée, $6 dessert, and $3 beverage and it would cost about $42.  Although Dining Credits are not all about money, the food at the Brown Derby isn’t that much better than many of the restaurants at Epcot or at the Disney Resorts.  However, if you have extra credits then this may be a reasonable credit expenditure if you are unwilling or unable to travel to the other Signature Dining restaurants.

Reputation: There are a lot of good and bad reviews out there about the Hollywood Brown Derby.  The meal depends a great deal on your expectations and the service your waiter provides.  This is a longer meal than most and is meant to be relaxed and savored.  Meals are not pre-plated or ready to go before you order them, which means it’s going to take longer than the 5 minutes it took for the entrées to come out at Chefs de France.  If you are antsy about getting back to the Park and riding the Tower of Terror a few more times, then this meal is likely not for you.  On the other hand, if a potentially quiet and relaxing meal sounds like something you might be interested in then this one of your best choices in any Park.  My recommendation would be to ask your server what he/she recommends and take that into consideration.  I would recommend the Cobb salad or crab cake, grouper or tuna, and banana toffee tower for dessert.

Although the lunch menu is no longer available, you should be able to go in at lunch and order the Cobb salad without any problem or embarrassment.  This restaurant usually isn’t full so they’ll be happy to have you.  If you are concerned, you can ask the front desk about your plans.  The Cobb salad and banana toffee tower make an excellent, relaxing lunch.

Overall Rank on The Best Hollywood Studios Sit Down Restaurants: 4th out of 5

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Hollywood & Vine Character Meal Buffet Review at Disney World

by josh on March 12, 2010

Wondering how Hollywood & Vine stacks up against the other Hollywood Studios Table Service Restaurants? Check out The Best Hollywood Studios Sit Down Restaurants for a comparison of the five Hollywood Studios restaurants in a variety of categories including Most Unique Menu, Best Value on the Disney Dining Plan, Best Value Out of Pocket, Best Atmosphere, Best Food, and Best Overall Restaurant.

Hollywood & Vine

Food Type: Buffet, Character Meal for Breakfast and Lunch

Dining Plan: 1 Table Service

Cost:

Character Breakfast: $26.99 for adults and $14.99 for children ages 3-9

Character Lunch: $26.99 for adults and $14.99 for children age 3-9

Dinner WITHOUT Characters: $30.99 and $15.99 for children ages 3-9

Setting: The interior looks like a 1950s era ice cream shop with plenty of booths and paintings of Hollywood scenes on the walls.  This is a character meal for breakfast and lunch that features JoJo, the Goliaths, and the Baby Einsteins.  Haven’t heard of them?  They’re from Playhouse Disney (don’t worry, I had to look that up too).  The characters are big and fun and kids will enjoy hanging out with them whether they recognize them or not.

Advantages: You can enter the park up to one hour early with an 8AM breakfast reservation.  The characters at breakfast and lunch are fun and children get to run around and play with them, unlike other character meals where everyone remains seated.  There is a wide variety of food as well as all-you-CAN-eat ice cream and toppings.  Breakfast is the best meal as far as food and character fun is concerned.  You can dine here with the Fantasmic Package with one table service credit on the Dining Plan.

Disadvantages: Food is mediocre at best, terrible at worst, with no stand out or unique items.  The characters need to be updated.  Restaurant can get loud, particularly with 100 children singing as loud as they can during play time.

Value: Below average.  $30+ for an Old Country Buffet quality meal is drastically overpriced.  The characters at breakfast and lunch are fun, but it’s unlikely anyone in your group will know who they are.  For one table service credit, you can eat here on the Fantasmic Package and get access to the roped off seating area which makes this a good value on the Dining Plan, especially during busier times when Fantasmic is likely to be full.

Reputation: Hollywood & Vine has one of worst reputations of any restaurant at Disney World.  Is it really that bad?  Not necessarily.  There is a wide variety of food and it is unlikely anyone will leave hungry.  Dinner includes prime rib, salmon, barbecue ribs, a variety of salads, vegetables, peel and eat shrimp, and a plethora of others.  Lunch choices are cheaper and include salads, ham, turkey, fruit, pasta, chicken, and the like.  The ice cream bar has soft service ice cream and a wide variety of toppings.  None of the food will be awe inspiring, but it shouldn’t be awful either.  Overall, this is a good value on the Dining Plan as part of the Fantasmic package, but it’s probably an overpriced option out of pocket, unless you have children and want a meal with these particular characters.

Overall Rank on The Best Hollywood Studios Sit Down Restaurants: 5th out of 5

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Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano Review at Disney

by josh on March 12, 2010

Wondering how Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano stacks up against the other Hollywood Studios Table Service Restaurants? Check out The Best Hollywood Studios Sit Down Restaurants for a comparison of the five Hollywood Studios restaurants in a variety of categories including Most Unique Menu, Best Value on the Disney Dining Plan, Best Value Out of Pocket, Best Atmosphere, Best Food, and Best Overall Restaurant.

Food Type: Italian

Dining Plan: 1 Table Service

Cost:  Appetizers: $6-$15.  Entrée: $12-$28.  There is now just one menu for lunch and dinner.

Setting: Based on scenes from Lady and the Tramp, Mama Melrose features bright colors, brick walls, cozy booths, and a wood-fired oven.  This is a much more casual affair than Tutto Italia in Epcot and the “fun” atmosphere is emphasized over fine dining fare.

Advantages: Part of the Fantasmic Package.  On the Dining Plan, this means you can order an appetizer, entrée, and dessert for one Table Service Credit.  Flatbread pizza is relatively cheap.  Chicken Parmigiana is also a favorite.  Atmosphere is relaxed and fun.  Large portions.

Disadvantages: Service and food are inconsistent.  If you want the Fantasmic Package out of pocket, you have to pay a fixed price of $35 which includes an appetizer, entrée, and dessert whether you want all three or not.  Children over nine may be scared of the menu because most entrées list onions or peppers as ingredients, but you should be able to order anything to your specifications.

Value: Average to Above Average.  Food is mostly inexpensive and portions are large.  A meal on the Dining Plan includes an appetizer and a ticket to the roped off area at Fantasmic, making this a good deal.  The $35 fixed price Fantasmic meal is a good value if you’re planning to order the more expensive items on the menu.

Reputation: Mama Melrose’s gets mixed reviews.  It is certainly not a great Italian restaurant, but it’s casual and fun which can be better than a stuffy fine dining affair.  The flatbread pizzas are a safe bet, but the other entrées are a mixed bag.  Service is hit or miss as well.  It’s certainly better than Hollywood & Vine, but the 50’s Prime Time Café is probably a better option if you haven’t tried any of the sit-down restaurants at Hollywood Studios.  If you’re in the mood for an Olive Garden like Italian meal then this should be an enjoyable experience.  Just keep your expectations low and you should be impressed.

Overall Rank on The Best Hollywood Studios Sit Down Restaurants: 2nd out of 5

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Sci-Fi Dine-In Theatre Restaurant Review at Disney World

by josh on March 12, 2010

Wondering how Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater stacks up against the other Hollywood Studios Table Service Restaurants? Check out The Best Hollywood Studios Sit Down Restaurants for a comparison of the five Hollywood Studios restaurants in a variety of categories including Most Unique Menu, Best Value on the Disney Dining Plan, Best Value Out of Pocket, Best Atmosphere, Best Food, and Best Overall Restaurant.

Food Type: American

Dining Plan: 1 Table Service

Cost:  Appetizers: $7-$11.  Entrée: $12-$23.  Similar prices and options for lunch and dinner.

Setting: This is one of the cooler restaurants at Disney and has the best setting of any restaurant at the Hollywood Studios.   You sit inside of a replica car and watch old black and white movie clips, trailers, and commercials on a large movie screen.  The ceiling is lit up like the night sky, complete with twinkling stars.

Advantages: This is a great retreat from the bright, hot sun.  Onion rings, burgers, and milkshakes are delicious.  The burger isn’t on the dinner menu, but if you ask for it they shouldn’t have a problem preparing one for you at dinner too.  Atmosphere is fun with or without children.  Milkshake counts as a drink on the Dining Plan.

Disadvantages: Most of the food other than the burgers and sandwiches isn’t particularly good and can get expensive for the quality.  The seating arrangements can get a little odd.  Generally, each “car” is two rows with two people per row that both face the same way, which means your party of three or more won’t be doing much conversing.  The restaurant is very dark, which may make it difficult to see the menu or move around for those with eyesight issues.  If your children are easily scared then the clips on screen might startle them, but nothing should scare anyone over the age of four or so and even then it’s rare that any child gets particularly upset.

Value: Average, depending on what you order.  The $20 pasta dish or $22 ribs are not recommended, both due to their cost and what you’ll get.  Otherwise, prices are in line with many chain burger joints and the ambiance is worth a couple extra bucks anyway.

Reputation: I would recommend Sci-Fi for anyone looking for a fun, relaxing lunch.  Although the food isn’t necessarily anything to write home about, the burgers and milkshakes are better than what you’ll find at any counter service at Hollywood Studios.  Since dining choices are slim at the Studios, Sci-Fi stands out as one of the two better stops here.  If I were trying to choose between the 50’s Primetime Café and Sci-F,i I would probably go with 50’s Primetime, because the food is better and the atmosphere is usually just as fun.  You’ll also be able to talk to each other more easily at 50’s and be able to see the menu as well as what you’re eating, something that isn’t always possible at Sci-Fi.  Nonetheless, if you’re planning two sit down meals or need a place to stop for a cool lunch, Sci-Fi is a great choice.

Overall Rank on The Best Hollywood Studios Sit Down Restaurants: 3rd out of 5

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