Written by Kevin Baxter
Published: July 30, 2004 at 2:13 AM
Actually, that little blurb doesn't do the restaurant any justice. I have been three times and even though it is just a restaurant, it is probably my second favorite thing inside Disney/MGM.
The fun begins right after giving the front desk your name (for Priority Seating call 407-WDW-DINE up to ninety days before your trip) and you are told to wait in the "living room." The waiting room does look like a fifties sitcom living room, but with WAY more televisions, which feature clips from 50s era television shows. We were delighted on our first visit when we were asked if we were the "Baxter kids" before being seated.
The dining area is not themed as a dining room, but as MANY dining rooms. Having so many smaller rooms makes this one of the better sit-down restaurants in the parks, because the single-room restaurants can be so loud. With all that goes on here, one room would make this an almost intolerable experience.
While there are television sets all over the dining rooms, they don't create the noise. That aspect is left to the serving staff, who play your relatives. Your server will introduce himself or herself as Cousin This or Aunt That and they all refer to Mom back in the kitchen. And they refer loudly. They also yell at each other and sometimes at the customers. One Aunt demanded I set the table as she sat down to chat with my tablemates.
If this is something you don't find humorous, then I suggest you try the Brown Derby instead. Because this is the type of goofiness that the Prime Time is all about. Expect to be reprimanded if your elbows are on the table. Or if you don't finish your vegetables. "Relatives" aren't beyond punishment, which can take the form of running around the dining room like a superhero. They'll also set adults up with Little Mermaid bibs for those eating seafood. Even if it is a seafood pasta!
Of course, this would all be for naught if the food sucked. Not that it can compare to the Brown Derby or most of Epcot's wares, but it does suffice. Appetizers tend to fall into staples like onion rings, soup and French fries, though the fries do offer toppings like gravy, cheese or chili and cheese. There is a trout dip and fried cheese, for those interested in something a little different. I have tried the fries with cheese, and they did the job quite nicely. One friend is an onion ring fiend, and was very pleased with hers. The only problem was the sheer size of the portions. Had we known, we probably would have just shared the fries.
As for entrees, there are actually more offerings at lunch than at dinner, though the extra offerings on the lunch menu tend to fall into the sandwich category. I did order the Turkey Sandwich once, with soft seven-grain bread and some tasty cranberry mayonnaise, but it certainly wasn't the best I have ever had. Okay, not great.
I have also had the Chicken Pot Pie, which I enjoyed very much, even with stuff like broccoli and onions in it. Bleah! One thing about pot pies I like is how big the veggies usually are, making them easy to pick out. I have also sampled from friends' plates and have found the generous Sauteed Shrimp Pasta delicious, though I usually prefer my seafood with smaller noodles than the penne pasta they offer. The pancetta and Shiitake mushrooms helped make up for the penne, somewhat. I have also sampled the Golden Fried Chicken, which many rave about, but in the age of chicken fingers I have grown too accustomed to having ranch dressing on my chicken, so a little chicken went a long way for me here.
On to dessert! The offerings here tend to be diner staples like sundaes, shakes and cakes. My friends and I are in love with Dad's Super Sundae, something the menu does not do justice. Sure, it mentions a brownie with vanilla ice cream covered in fudge and caramel. It doesn't tell you about the whipped cream, the Cracker Jacks or the M&Ms all over it. Or the size! This thing is immense! The last time we visited we were still full from lunch, so we told them we wanted just dessert. I was warned by my Aunt that I couldn't eat an entire Super Sundae. Clearly she is a distant Aunt as she don't know me and ice cream! That thing was history in no time. A friend had the Cherry Cobbler, with ice cream, and I was forced to help her out with it. It was good, and I normally love cherry cobbler, but it was no Super Sundae. The cheesecakes are also fine, but nothing out of the ordinary.
If you want a fun meal with average-to-above-average food, then you can do no better than the 50's Prime Time Cafe. Prices are very reasonable and are in line with what you would pay for a meal at any chain restaurant outside the park (Denny's and the like excluded). Alcoholic drinks are also available and can be obtained without a meal in the Tune In Lounge, which is "next door" but not really. Same building. So go see your "family" and remember to keep your elbows off the table!
My TPI Rating - Personally, I give it a 9-Outstanding, but since a lot of that is because I am sick of most of the rest of the park, the normal rating would probably be an 8-Commendable.
Sort of.
The first two times I ate at the Prime Time Cafe, I *hated* it. I wanted waiters to help me enjoy my meal, not berate me throughout. And I wanted top-quality food from a sit-down, full-service restaurant with theme park prices. The rave reviews this place got on TPI left me mystified.
Then I quit thinking of Prime Time Cafe as a restaurant and began thinking of it as a live show where the cast happens to serve you food, and my attitude toward it changed 180 degrees. Indeed, I've thought about switching Prime Time from the restaurant listings to the attractions to make this point. As performance art, or interactive theater, the Prime Time Cafe is innovative, immersive and hilarious. Well worth your visit, if you've got the metabolism to burn off an extra meal during your trip.
Unfortunately, I don't. So one visit to this restaurant (with the proper attitude) to experience the show is enough for me. I'd rather spend my calories eating a meal at a more satitsfying *restaurant* and leave the show-watching for Fantasmic or Festival of the Lion King.
And as Kevin pointed out, the prices are reasonable, so it's a nice place for a light lunch, such as a sandwich or something of the like.
While on the subject, I don't think the food is as good at the Sci-Fi Dine In, but it's a similar experience. I always enjoy being warned not to get fresh with my girlfriend in the backseat of our "car." And those cheesy sci-fi trailers and newsreels entertain me to no end.
As far as the type of food you can expect, those familiar with Romano's Macaroni Grill will find Mama Melrose very similar in the types of food that are offered. I strongly suggest the Portabella mushroom appetizer! Priority seating for Fantasmic is offered here, and I have been moved to write the company on more than one occasion to compliment the staff on their extrordinary service standards.
This is the only restaurant I eat at when I´m in MGM. During my first visit there I noticed that my table was missing it´s Viewfinder with the dessert menu in it, so I casually went to grab one from an open table. One of the cousins from a completely different section saw me and started yelling at me that I shouldn´t grab things that don´t belong to me and I was relegated to stand in the corner for five minutes while he "went to tell mom." Another time, my ex-girlfriend was full and couldn´t finish her green beans and our cousin made the announcement to the rest of the section that she had to do the airplane in order to be allowed to leave the table. Great stuff.
As for the food, the meatloaf was always a favorite of mine there, until I tried the fried chicken. Now that´s the only thing I eat there. Also, if you´re looking for a special treat, you should order the PB&J milkshake. (I´ll be damned if it doesn´t taste EXACTLY like a PB&J sandwich.)