Hollywood Brown Derby Review: Sophisticated Cuisine with Old-Time Hollywood Feel

Step back in time with me to a dining experience reminiscent of Hollywood’s Golden Age. The Hollywood Brown Derby, located on the corner of Hollywood and Sunset Blvd. in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, serves contemporary American cuisine sure to please! Continue reading for my honest review of The Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant.

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The Hollywood Brown Derby: A Pleasant Surprise

Ok, I’ll be honest, The Hollywood Brown Derby was not on my list to dine at when reserving restaurants at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the two days my family and I went in June. We needed a place to eat and we luckily scored all of our top choices (Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater and 50’s Prime Time Cafe). So why not try this classical replica of a fancy restaurant from my side of the states: Hollywood? I have to admit, I should have known better! This restaurant was absolutely amazingly!

The decor is old-time Hollywood sophistication. In true Disney fashion, the inside of the restaurant replicates the original Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant with hundreds of caricatures decorating every wall.

The Hollywood Brown Derby: For Starters

When browsing the menu (we had both our phone and a provided menu), our server provided us with a basket of warm rolls with a side of the creamiest butter sprinkled with Hawaiian sea salt. Never had I ever tasted something so melt-in-your-mouth delicious that tickled my taste buds.

My husband ordered a classic Manhattan, decked out with Luxardo cherries while he read the menu.

We each started our meal with an appetizer. My dainty daughter ventured out and chose the Lobster Bisque. The server slowly poured her soup into her awaiting bowl which was quite the presentation. My daughter loved it (and I sampled it as well). It was delicious!

My eldest daughter and I shared the sea scallops. The dish is served with a savory pork belly stone fruit barbecue in the middle of two scallops over a red onion gastrique. This appetizer was delicious and I highly recommend it!

The Hollywood Brown Derby: Onto the Main Course

A burger is not just a burger at the Hollywood Brown Derby. Both my daughters ordered the Brown Derby Signature Burger and to this day we replicate the fried egg on top of all our burgers we make at home. The burger is garnished with bacon jam and Russian dressing. The hand-cut fries were scrumptious.

I ordered the Free-Range Chicken a la King and I was not disappointed. The moist chicken melted in my mouth. I’m not a big fan of peas, I actually dislike them, but quickly changed my mind when I ate the puréed sugar snap peas served as a garnish with my chicken. The sugar snap peas and the chicken all rested on a generous amount of champagne sauce. I highly recommend this dish!

My husband ordered the Filet Mignon Steak Diane. His cook-to-order steak arrived just as he ordered it: medium. The steak sat on top of silky mashed potatoes and three large asparagus with a drizzle of brandy-mustard cream. He loved it!

Unfortunately, we didn’t save any room for dessert! Believe me, we tried! If I were to have ordered something, it would have been the Grapefruit Cake!

Hollywood Brown Derby Review: Final Thoughts

The food at the Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant was fantastic! I would definitely eat here again! My family and I highly recommend it!

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