Step Back into the Golden Age of Hollywood at The Hollywood Brown Derby in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

When you're visiting Disney's Hollywood Studios and you're looking for a real Hollywood-style dining experience you'll want to stop by The Hollywood Brown Derby for lunch, dinner, or even a visit to the Lounge. It's a dining experience you won't want to miss.

Enjoy lunch or dinner at The Hollywood Brown DerbyEnjoy lunch or dinner at The Hollywood Brown Derby

The Hollywood Brown Derby was created as a replica of the original Hollywood Brown Derby. Check out the plaque outside that tells guests the location is modeled after the Vine Street Brown Derby built in 1928. The Hollywood Studios version is full of history for visitors to soak up including a map that displays the locations of the two original Brown Derby restaurants.

One of the best features of The Hollywood Brown Derby (other than the food) has to be the caricatures of celebrities that decorate the walls of the restaurant. The original restaurant featured a Wall of Fame and you'll want to take some time to look at the caricatures, you never know who you might spot on the wall.

Caricatures line the walls at The Hollywood Brown DerbyCaricatures line the walls at The Hollywood Brown Derby

The main dining room is filled with tables in the center of the restaurant in addition to cozy booths on the sides of the dining room. If you're visiting the Lounge area you'll be seated outside on the patio or inside in an "inside patio" area. Reservations aren't needed for the lounge.

The Hollywood Brown Derby is a signature dining restaurant which means if you're on the Disney Dining Plan it'll be two table service credits. But when you visit at lunch you get to choose from the lunch or dinner menu so you have a chance to either splurge at lunch or save a few dollars.

Side seating area at The Hollywood Brown DerbySide seating area at The Hollywood Brown Derby

Now let's talk about the food. If a restaurant was ever famous for its salad it would be The Hollywood Brown Derby and the Cobb Salad.

Diners can choose the Cobb Salad as an entree or as an appetizer. Either way you'll get to enjoy chopped greens, turkey breast, bacon, eggs, tomatoes, crumbled blue cheese, avocado, chives, and Cobb dressing. And if there's anything you don't want on the salad just tell your server.

Appetizer choices include Sweet Corn Bisque, an Artisanal Cheese Plate, and Crispy Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes. Lunch entrees include The Original Fettucine Alfredo (with or without chicken or shrimp), a Grilled Waygu Beef Burger, and a Noodle Bowl.

The famous Cobb SaladThe famous Cobb Salad

Entrees at dinner include Roasted Rack of Lamb, Crispy Duck Confit, Pan-seared Black Grouper, and a Charred-glazed Filet of Beef. These items can also be ordered at lunch if you're looking for a more filling meal.

And if you still have room for dessert you can choose a mini dessert trio that can include a Brown Derby Original Mini Grapefruit Cake, Warm Berry Cobbler, Double Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee, and more.

Dessert trio at The Hollywood Brown DerbyDessert trio at The Hollywood Brown Derby

The Hollywood Brown Derby is a very popular dining spot so we always recommend making Advance Dining Reservations. But don't fear, if you can't get reservations you can also stop by the Lounge where you can nosh on items including the Cobb Salad, Derby Sliders, and the Corn Bisque.

Have you dined at The Hollywood Brown Derby? We'd love to hear about your experience in the comments.

Many thanks to the Disney Food Blog for use of their photos.

ScottFL wrote on Tue, 07/07/2015 - 11:57:

ScottFL's picture

One of my favorites. Ironically, we've never had trouble getting a table for 2 without ADR's in the off-hours of the day, but have never had any luck getting a seat in the lounge.

MrHub wrote on Wed, 07/08/2015 - 22:44:

MrHub's picture

You have to hit the lounge early, but its great! we did an early lunch there and just got the sliders and a cheese plate, AWESOME!!!.

Always do dinner here once a trip usually. You have to know & enjoy the history surrounding this restaurant to get the true feel of it. Never had a bad meal or service here.

Just did meal with 9 of us, 5 adults , 4 children and we all had a fabulous experience and our waitress Ki Ki was great.

Alice wrote on Sun, 07/12/2015 - 19:09:

Alice's picture

Always go to Brown Derby, when at WDW
Best food ever and excellent service

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly. If you have a Gravatar account associated with the e-mail address you provide, it will be used to display your avatar.

More information about formatting options