Restaurant Review: Disney's Hollywood Brown Derby

May 13, 2009, 10:14 AM · Over the next several weeks I'll be posting my reviews of the finalists in this year's Theme Park Insider Awards' "Best Theme Park Restaurant" competition. This week it's Disney's Hollywood Brown Derby, which really took me back in time -- not to the 1930s of the original BD but to 20 years ago when this version first opened along with what was then Disney's MGM Studios theme park. How things change, and yet not.

Read the full review at scottjosephorlando.com [link updated], and submit your rating for The Hollywood Brown Derby on TPI's listing page.

Replies (9)

Robert Niles

May 13, 2009 at 10:56 AM · Thanks, Scott. I'm looking forward to reading all of these!

TH Creative

May 13, 2009 at 11:13 AM · Scott is the best of the best when it comes to writing restaurant reviews. No one knows the cuisine community in Central Florida!

James Rao

May 13, 2009 at 11:41 AM · Love the review, however, I liked the Grapefruit Cake and thought it was a real nice dessert. Sweet & rich, but light tasting at the same time. Wonder if they have changed the recipe since my 2007 visit?

Joshua Counsil

May 13, 2009 at 12:46 PM · For too long, I have been trying to dine here. Something, usually the scheduling of Fantasmic, always gets in the way.

I will make an effort in the future to dine at the Derby, if only for the ambiance. And I will ensure I dine after 9pm, if possible, when the place is mostly deserted.

Bill Willin

May 13, 2009 at 3:37 PM · It was said that this was one of Walt Disney's favorite desserts(grapefruit cake) and that this is why they included it on the menu at The Derby, check the Disney Magazine for either Fall 2004 or the original article on Summer 1999. Thing I also saw it in one of the parks cookbooks, but haven't had a chance to look it up.

Anthony Murphy

May 13, 2009 at 3:52 PM · The service there has always been fantastic!

Doug Kelley

May 14, 2009 at 8:37 PM · I've eaten here maybe six times, usually for lunch. I like the decor and the service is always good. But the food isn't all that great; it's unexciting and not very original. Still, it's probably the best restaurant in the park but I'd rather go outside the park to eat or grab something more casual.

Todd Houts

May 15, 2009 at 6:17 AM · Looks like the referenced review site "remodeled" a day or two after this posting. The new URL to see Scott Joseph's review is: http://www.scottjosephorlando.com/component/content/article/51-american/330-disneys-hollywood-brown-derby

Robert Niles

May 15, 2009 at 8:27 AM · Thanks for the update. I've fixed the link in the article.

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Restaurant Review: Disney's Hollywood Brown Derby

Replies (9)

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