Skip to main content

Hollywood Brown Derby


The Hollywood Brown Derby is Disney's Hollywood Studio's Signature Dining establishment serving lunch and dinner, known for dishes such as the famous Cobb Salad and the Grapefruit Cake.  You'll be transported back to the golden age of Hollywood when you walk inside and see the walls lined with caricatures of celebrities and rich dark wood tones.  

The menu here was updated as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations so we were excited to give it a try!  The meal started with some lovely rolls and butter with fancy sea salt which was delightful.  I also started the meal with what I believe was an old fashioned but can't find the cocktail list now so can't get the exact description for you, I apologize.  It was great though.  

We started off our meal with some appetizers as per usual, because I just tend to really love appetizers.  However, none of them were really jumping out at us but then our server said the magic words "pork belly" when we asked what he recommended and we perked right up. We had missed it because it's a garnish on a scallop appetizer, and neither of us are scallop fans.  They were wonderful in accommodating us and gave us all pork belly and no scallops.  This was SO GOOD.  I'm sure if you like scallops it would be even better since that is how it was supposed to be enjoyed,  but this pork belly was cooked to perfection and the stone fruit on top (I think it was peaches) balanced the saltiness of the meat.  We also opted to try the Local Greens and Strawberry Salad which is the plant-based appetizer but was the perfect lighter-way to start the meal.  After a few days of heavy eating in the parks, this salad was just what we needed.  
Sea Scallops (without the scallops) Pork Belly, Stone Fruit Barbecue, Red Onion Gastrique
Local Greens and Strawberry Salad with Candied Pistachios, Black Ash Cashew Cheese, Champagne Vinaigrette (Plant-based)
Being "wowed" by the appetizers we were ready for some great entrees ahead.  We of course had to try the new dish celebrating the 50th, Filet Mignon with Walt Disney's Roast Beef Hash and then couldn't resist the opportunity to get the Famous Cobb Salad (except I hate bleu cheese so much to Elizabeth's dismay I ordered it with cheddar).  Unfortunately our steak was not cooked right the first time it came out, it was vastly undercooked for our liking but it was quickly rectified by our service team and once we had a properly cooked steak we were able to dig in.  In our opinion, there are better steaks on Disney property, but this wasn't bad by any means.  The veggies were beautifully cooked but the star was definitely that roast beef hash.  The hash was so unique and if that was Uncle Walt's recipe, Disney has been holding out on us for 50 years with that one!  The Cobb salad was delightful as always.  It's light because it's a salad but decadent because cheese, avocado and bacon.  Delicious! 
Filet Mignon with Walt Disney's Roast Beef Hash with Haricots Verts, Red Wine Sauce served Walt's way with a Fried Egg
Our Famous Cobb Salad with Spit-roasted Turkey, Bacon, Egg, Tomatoes, Blue Cheese, Avocado, Classic Dressing. 
At this point we were too stuffed to try dessert this time.  So we got our check and called it a night. If we hadn't had such amazing meals this trip, this would be another great dinner, but our other ones this trip were just so good that I don't think I'll be rushing back here this time.   I will say I've also been here for lunch not too long ago, and their Signature Burger is also wonderful, so I think I might go back for lunch next time! 

What are your thoughts on the Hollywood Brown Derby?  Let us know in the comments below!

*In-park dining at table-service restaurants requires a park reservation and valid admission for the same park on the same date for each person in your party ages 3 and up. Dining reservations do not guarantee admission to the park.

Maci Schau

Maci is an avid foodie and loves trying out new restaurants and seasonal food offerings in the parks.  You can email Maci at maci@kingdomkonsultant.com.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

5 Ways To Get Psyched For Your Disney Trip!

Hey-Howdy-Hey, Disney Guys and Gals!      Is anyone familiar with Barney Stinson's "Get Psyched" Mix? Anyone? How I Met your Mother Fans? Ok, great! So you totally get where I'm going with this! If you have no idea what I am talking about, you can watch a clip  HERE!  Basically, the theory is that no matter what's going on in your life, you can get yourself psyched up and ready for something awesome to happen, all by listening to the right piece of music. Playing off of that theory, I feel that one of the very best things about a Disney trip is actually  preparing  for it, or getting psyched! You can have a whole bunch of crappy stuff happening in your life at the time, but if you have a Disney trip on the horizon... even if it's 564 days away, you have something to look forward to and enjoy preparing yourself for. In fact, many Disney fans, (myself included), pretty much get from one day to the next by preparing for upcoming trips. You may even book a ne

Mythos Restaurant at Universal's Islands of Adventure

Located on The Lost Continent of Universal's Islands of Adventure, Mythos is an award-winning, full-service restaurant that offers an otherworldly experience. If you've ever been to Universal's Islands of Adventure, you've undoubtedly walked by this restaurant with its towering rock formations, waterfalls and ancient figures carved into the side of the building. The restaurant has been calling to me for years and I was finally able to give it a try. When you enter the restaurant, it feels like you've entered a cavernous grotto from another world. There are oceanic and mythical touches throughout the indoor dining room and there's also outdoor seating with great views of the park. View from our table The menu features a mix of Mediterranean, Asian and American cuisine including Spanakopita Dip, Pad Thai and a Bacon Cheeseburger. There's also a kids menu for little ones and a dessert menu featuring Chocolate Banana Gooey Cake.  On our first visit to Mythos, we

Bigfire Restaurant Review

Bigfire is, in my opinion, a great addition to Universal CityWalk at the Universal Orlando Resort. Having been a huge fan of Emeril's which was previously in this location, I was skeptic, but quickly put at ease once we were inside and met our server and have been back several times since. After a full day in the parks, we had a pretty late dinner on the agenda so we started in the lounge attached to the restaurant.  The cocktail selection is quite extensive, with bourbon drinks being the star here. My Manhattan was delicious and set the tone for a great meal ahead! The bar is also a great stop if you don't have a reservation, I found the bartenders friendly, attentive, and making great drinks! The open kitchen is a great feature as you enter the dining room.  The décor is modern yet cozy with touches of plaid throughout.  The highlight is of course the "big fire", where they wood smoke a variety of meats for the entrees. We started the meal with some wine a