Reviews of Brown Derby Lunch/Dinner
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Menus at Hollywood Brown Derby
Reviewed by nlg0517 Review Date: 01/12/2016
Rating: (9) Recommended
We had lunch in the lounge of the Derby during our Nov. trip. Overall, it was an excellent experience. Originally we were sat at a tall table with no shade but once a table with an umbrella opened our server, Younes, helped us move. He was the best! His saying through our meal was, "If you pay, it's yes!". I had the Cobb salad and my husband had the slider combo. The Cobb salad is fantastic! The only complaint with the sliders was my husband doesn't like duck. I'm sure Younes would have changed it for beef if he'd asked. Also, I wanted a slice of the grapefruit cake which Younes brought no question. My husband called it my $36 cake slice but it didn't cost that much. This meal was by far our most expensive meal even though it was just small plates and drinks but it was my birthday so we over looked the cost.
Pros:
Great food, excellent serviceCons:
CostlyReviewed by John Review Date: 12/05/2015
Rating: (10) Recommended
The Brown Derby is one of the Gems of Hollywood Studios. The food is great and the service is very good. The only downside was they no longer offer the Grapefruit cake, but offer mini deserts which include a small grapefruit cake.
Pros:
Great food and serviceCons:
Mini desertsReviewed by snovak Review Date: 11/08/2015
Rating: (9) Recommended
Had dining reservations Oct.23rd for a late lunch. We arrived 15 minutes early and were immediately taken to our table, even though the restaurant was very busy. We haven't eaten here in a very long time, but we will be back. The meal was one of the best we had during our 13 day stay. I had the fettucini and my sister had the salmon...both were excellence, and the trio of desserts was a perfect ending to a great meal. It's a tad bit expensive, but well worth it.
Pros:
great atmoshpere, wonderful foodCons:
tables very close togetherReviewed by allec999 Review Date: 10/01/2015
Rating: (9) Recommended
Ate lunch here on Sept 16 as part of the Fantasmic! lunch package. Food was excellent, service impeccable. My first time trying this upscale restaurant, and it did not disappoint. For lunch, it was quite expensive, but the Fantasmic seating process - being allowed to arrive within a 20-minute window of time rather than waiting for 45 minutes or more - was worth it. May not be back for awhile, but if you're looking for upscale, give it a try.
Pros:
Food, Fantasmic seatingCons:
priceReviewed by grandflo89 Review Date: 07/07/2015
Rating: (10) Recommended
I dined here alone on May 23 for lunch. I was seated inside to the left on an upper level. The view was great, as I could see all of the restaurant from this view. I ordered a Maker's Mark neat to start tings off. I then ordered the filet which was cooked perfectly and I also opted for the cabernet pairing suggestion. The wine was outstanding. Someone had done their homework on this one. For desert I opted for the three mini deserts. One , a double vanilla crème brulet that was great, and an even better grapefruit cake. I can't remember the third, but it was quite tasty. I will be coming back here with my wife in February. She is sick of me raving about how great the meal was and wants to see it for herself.
Pros:
themingCons:
noneReviewed by lcjens Review Date: 01/30/2015
Rating: (10) Recommended
Split the appetizer portion of their Cobb salad, was just the right size for 2. Had the Pan-seared Porcini Powder-dusted Pork Tenderloin, the Charred-glazed Filet of Beef and the children's Grilled Breast of Chicken. All was very good and for dessert we did the trio picking the Grapefruit Cake, Banana Toffee cake and Warm Blueberry cobbler...yum!
Pros:
Great service and good foodCons:
noneReviewed by CinCin Review Date: 11/18/2014
Rating: (9) Recommended
I dined here Nov. 2014 as part of a dinner/Fantasmic dining package. I expected this to be a bit ritzier than it was but then again, it's in the middle of a theme park. So it's a bit disappointing to look around and guests aren't dressed up and there is a mismatch as the setting is elegant and so old California feeling with the white and dark woods and the mission style. It was a bit loud inside with all the diners so it isn't a quiet refined meal either, but it was delicious and offered dining options not available anywhere else with good service and a great escape from the parks for a while. This is the only The Hollywood Brown Derby remaining. The food was actually really good. I had the famous cobb salad as an appetizer and had them hold the tomatoes, which was no problem at all. When they say the salad is finely chopped, they mean it. For a comparison, pico de gallo is slightly chunkier. I wasn't sure about the blend of flavors in the cobb salad, they were all very bold and very unique and it took a couple of bites to get used to the unique flavor adventure, but I did end up eating all but a couple of bites so it is something I would order again just not the large portion though as the appetizer size was plenty. I am not a big blue cheese fan and tolerate it in tiny doses but I do enjoy flavor and as a foodie I had to give the salad a try. For my entree, I chose their signature steak and it was delicious! It came with potatoes and a green bean/carrot mix of roasted vegetables. Mmmmmm. I had the grapefruit cake for dessert. It isn't listed on the menu, only as a mini on the dessert trio sampler, but I asked about it and the server brought me a full sized slice. Before I ordered it I had no idea what to expect but I will say that it was quite tasty and not really that tart and not too grapefruity at all. It was not too sweet either and a nice refreshing dessert to my wonderful meal. During my meal the server brought my paper fastpass ticket to my table and it allowed me access to special seating without the standby line for hours to get a seat. The seating they had reserved for the FP section was fantastic. Prime viewing location in the center and high enough up to get a great view. The package was a great deal and I really enjoyed the show, but I will happily return here just to dine too. The menu offered several tasty choices, but I would order the same meal exactly again, it was that good.
Pros:
Good food, good service, fastpass for Fantasmic, grapefruit cakeCons:
—Reviewed by lfigment99 Review Date: 11/17/2014
Rating: (2) Not Recommended
Had not been to Brown Derby for years, but wanted to have a good salad. Ate lunch there on Nov.15th. We ordered two appetizer Cobb Salads and also shared the Wagu burger with wife. We did not order any drinks other than water and our bill still came to $50 with tip.
I am confident that I could create my own extremely large salad with the very same ingredients at any grocery store salad bar for less than half the cost and it would be every bit as good if not better than the Cobb Salad at Brown Derby. While the hamburger was very good the bottom of the bun was so soggy it would not hold together. The six steak potato wedges were cold and tasteless.
It will be many many years before I return. I cannot imagine any universe where this restaurant would ever be worth two table service meals on the dining plan. There is no comparison between this restaurant and Narcoosee's or Yachtmans Steakhouse.
Gave the restaurant a two rating instead of a one because the service was good.
Pros:
Nice atmosphere, excellent serviceCons:
High priced food that was below mediocreReviewed by arielwatcher Review Date: 10/23/2014
Rating: (9) Recommended
We made advanced reservations months before our trip for a 1:30 lunch seating.
Haven't been to The Brown Derby in about 15 years. (Or at least when they had the piano in the middle of the room and did the Hollywood character skits).
We used the Tables in Wonderland discount program.
We were seated in the center section in a spacious booth.
Our Server was crisply dressed and knew the menu back and forth.
My husband had a Sam Addams Octoberfest and I had one of their signature Martinis. We felt miles away from the heat and sweating tank-top clad park patrons.
We enjoyed our respective meals for their taste and presentation (not so important what we ate, but that it was delivered timely and at the right temp.)
Their dessert choices involved picking 1 of 3 different desserts or 3 of 1. It comes plated on a rectangular chilled plate. The cost seems high versus the entree prices. That's a big down side as the 3 dessert servings are tiny.
The bill arrived accurately- deducting the TIW 20% discount which we returned to the server as his service deserved it.
It won't be an annual meal, but it was nice to go back this trip.
Pros:
Escape from the crowdCons:
PriceReviewed by rhjohnston Review Date: 09/13/2014
Rating: (9) Recommended
If you eat at the Derby make sure it is your only big meal because you will leave feeling quite full. We did the Fantasmic package but I don't believe I would do it again. It is a fixed price and includes an appetizer, entrée, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage plus rolls. It's just a lot of food and we could have reduced our bill and stomach by just ordering entrees and then splitting a dessert. The fantasmic seating it entitled us to was nothing special. We visited in September when crowds were low so maybe during peak times it makes more sense. The atmosphere in the restaurant is up scale with caricatures of celebrities on the walls. It's a nice break from the noise and crowds with the advantage of great food.
