Just returned from most bizarre 2 credit meal @ Brown Derby!

[Tiger926]

Since we are on Deluxe Dining Plan for 15 days and have some Concierge stays, we have tried a few Signature restaurants that we've been meaning to try (our 5 year is a little foodie!)

Just returned from a most wasteful 2 credit meal at Brown Derby - my hubby is still saying "WTH!"

We were promptly seated for our ADR at 6:30 and it took forever for our server to arrive at our table. It then took forever once he arrived to get our beverages. He finally came to take our appetizer order, and they took forever. A table that was seated 10 mins. after us, received their entrees before we got our appetizers! Our server did not bring us our appetizers, nor did he bring us our food (other servers did) - he also didn't clear our tables and messed up several orders. The food finally came, and it was just ok. My hubby's steak was undercooked, my chicken dish was good (cranberry rice) and my daughter's grilled chicken was average. All our server did was refill my water and then messed up dessert - he didn't clear the table once during dinner, so we had to put plates on the floor. My hubby's Cobb Salad was missing the turkey as well.

We still left a 15% tip as we were just perplexed by the whole experience. Such a waste of 2 credits - our total bill was $105.00, so not worth 2 credits (food is just average at best). I did check out menu at All Ears, and remember there being more food choices and higher menu prices, but I guess I was wrong? The prices are not that high at all, so Disney has just designated this a Signature restaurant due to the name?

Is this how it always is, or, did we just get them on a bad day? Tiger :)

[KatMark]

Since we are on Deluxe Dining Plan for 15 days and have some Concierge stays, we have tried a few Signature restaurants that we've been meaning to try (our 5 year is a little foodie!)

Just returned from a most wasteful 2 credit meal at Brown Derby - my hubby is still saying "WTH!"

We were promptly seated for our ADR at 6:30 and it took forever for our server to arrive at our table. It then took forever once he arrived to get our beverages. He finally came to take our appetizer order, and they took forever. A table that was seated 10 mins. after us, received their entrees before we got our appetizers! Our server did not bring us our appetizers, nor did he bring us our food (other servers did) - he also didn't clear our tables and messed up several orders. The food finally came, and it was just ok. My hubby's steak was undercooked, my chicken dish was good (cranberry rice) and my daughter's grilled chicken was average. All our server did was refill my water and then messed up dessert - he didn't clear the table once during dinner, so we had to put plates on the floor. My hubby's Cobb Salad was missing the turkey as well.

We still left a 15% tip as we were just perplexed by the whole experience. Such a waste of 2 credits - our total bill was $105.00, so not worth 2 credits (food is just average at best). I did check out menu at All Ears, and remember there being more food choices and higher menu prices, but I guess I was wrong? The prices are not that high at all, so Disney has just designated this a Signature restaurant due to the name?

Is this how it always is, or, did we just get them on a bad day? Tiger :)

We went five years ago and I swear we had the same server! :confused3
We did not like the food either...my DH and I both had steak and it was bland and his was undercooked. He then had the grapefruit cake for dessert and said it was the most disgusting thing he had ever eaten. We usually give every restaurant two tries, but we just can't seem to breakdown and use two table service credits for a meal we just weren't happy with.

[Luv2Roam]

Funny. Four of us just dined there last night. (And none of us had been there in years.)
We were not on a DDP.
We all enjoyed our meals, but thought it was too much without a discount and would not be worth 2 credits pp on DDP.
On a deluxe DDP for multiple days I would probably certainly consider it.

[DaisyD]

I didn't realize it was a 2 credit restaurant. I've always thought it was just about average theme park food. We don't even waste our time there anymore.

[eeyoregon]

We went five years ago and I swear we had the same server! :confused3

And I am convinced that the same server used to be at Mama Melroses!!!! :rotfl:

Well double crappola....I JUST hung from making a lunch ADR there for August...think I might change especially since it's a 2 credit sucker!

I will NEVER go back to Mama Melroses and we have Sci-Fi booked for dinner so I don't know what other table service to do at HS??? We had horrible food at Primetime and then menu does nothing for my 12 yr old.

Any suggestions for something outside of the park that wouldn't waste a ton of time??

[VMK_Mouse]

I am sorry you had such a terrible experience. I have not dined there yet. I will say, you were much more generous with your tip than I would have been. As a matter of fact, I would have been asking for his manager long before I had to place a dish on the floor.

[TSM1993]

I have to agree with those that are saying BD is a waste of 2 credits. When we were there they didnt even know how to cook our steak properly. Our service seemed to take forever also. Not going back.

[the workman family]

We ate at the brown derby about 2 1/2 years ago and we loved it. We are doing the fantasmic package there. This is where my family wanted to eat. Every restaurant has inexperienced help. I would not base one bad server on never eating there again. If there is a problem tell the manager, if the food is awful send it back. It doesn't matter if you are on the DDP or paying out of pocket- we are the customers and the customers are always right. At least that is what I was taught when I was a server.:thumbsup2

[RACHELSMOM1]

We are still kicking ourselves for wasting 2 credits on BD last month. Our experience was so similar to the OP. Never ever again - and my DH is still talking about how bad it was. I had read such good reviews and was so looking forward to dining there - such a waste of time and dining credits (there were 5 of us, so that is 10 credits wasted.).

[auntfrannie]

I've never had a problem with the food or service there. But it's definitely not worth 2 credits. I keep expecting them to be bumped off the signature list like The Coral Reef was. Good food just not up to the level of the other signature restaurants.

[Mackey Mouse]

I am so sorry that happened to you, but can I just say here, there would have been no way that server would have gotten by with that kind of service to my family. No way would I have to put my dirty plates on the floor, I would have gotten up from the table, gone to the front desk and asked to speak to the manager...

Not for these prices and using 2 credits on DDP....should you have to put up with that kind of service.. Also, no way would I have left him 15%.. not with that kind of service..

[suzimar57]

wow, what a shame you had such horrible service!!

but me, i would have found a manager and complained while there

and yes - 2 TS is too much for this restaurant - sometimes the service is excellent, but when it's not, it's awful it seems....

[Brewmeister]

To tell the truth, after studying all of the menus and reviews of the DHS restaurants, my DW and I decided to simply eat at the CS places on the day that we plan on hitting this park. The Sci-Fi was the only one that came close to holding our interest, but based on the menu and reviews, we decided against it.

[Stinky_Pete]

Well double crappola....I JUST hung from making a lunch ADR there for August...think I might change especially since it's a 2 credit sucker!

I had lunch at HBD in December. We chose to pay OOP rather than use credits. You might want to consider that. I only had the cobb salad and a cocktail, so 2 TS would have been a waste.

Oh, and BTW - sorry about others experiences but I have always had excellent food and service at HBD.

[vt_disney_fan]

We still left a 15% tip as we were just perplexed by the whole experience.

I'm "perplexed" by the fact that you left a 15% tip? What for? If it was as bad as you say, you should have complained to the manager, or left no tip with a note saying why.

If there's no penalty for bad service, the bad service often doesn't change...

[tiger4me2]

wow, what a shame you had such horrible service!!

but me, i would have found a manager and complained while there

and yes - 2 TS is too much for this restaurant - sometimes the service is excellent, but when it's not, it's awful it seems....

I agree the OP should have asked to speak a manager. No excuse for such lousy service. I think the manager should be aware of it. :)

[disneyfav4ever]

I've always liked Brown Derby, but the last time I ate there, the entrees were just average. Maybe it's going downhill? I'm eating there again this trip, I guess I'll find out then.

[bkhibiscus]

Another on the waste of 2 TS credit bandwagon here...Food wasn't bad, but we felt when compared to Cali Grill as a Sig, no way!

[clkelley]

Wow, after reading this I'm amazed that Brown Derby is a 2 credit restaurant and Coral Reef isn't. Me and DH went to Coral Reef last September for lunch. Our service was amazing, our food was excellent, our tab was over $100 for two people for lunch!!! It was only 1 credit each.

[Uncleromulus]

My own opinion is that Fantasmic pretty much destroyed the Derby. I can remember the old days, when they had a piano player, the bar and lounge were open, the place wasn't mobbed with kids (and families having nothing more on their minds than just getting in and out to see Fantasmic) and the food was excellent.

[disneyfav4ever]

Wow, after reading this I'm amazed that Brown Derby is a 2 credit restaurant and Coral Reef isn't. Me and DH went to Coral Reef last September for lunch. Our service was amazing, our food was excellent, our tab was over $100 for two people for lunch!!! It was only 1 credit each.From what I've read recently Coral Reef is getting better, and Brown Derby is getting worse.

I think part of the reason it's a two-credit meal is because it's the only "nice" restaurant at MGM, but AK and Epcot don't have any two-credit meals, so that really wouldn't make any sense.

[TarzansKat]

I feel badly that you had such poor service there. I think this can happen at any restaurant on the property, for example, I had an excellent meal at Coral Reef last trip but our waitress left much to be desired.

I've always had a good meal and good service at the Brown Derby, but my tastes are simpler. I usually like the Cobb or the noodle bowl, so I can't speak as to the quality of other dishes, and I'm a big fan of the grapefruit cake. All I can say is, is it worth 2 TS? To me, it depends on what else we plan on doing during our trip, and we really are not a fan of any other restaurant in MGM, so to us, yes it's "worth" it. That being said, are there other places we could use those 2 credits, sure. But with a three year old, I find this to be an excellent place to have a nice meal and get out of the heat of the park for a while. But again, to each their own. :goodvibes

[blondinkaya]

Maybe it was just a bad day? We did the Fantasmic package w/dinner there last Wednesday and didn't have any issues. Service was a little slow, but at least we were inside and out of the sun.

[dogodisney]

At least that is what I was taught when I was a server.:thumbsup2

Many years ago when I worked in retail we were taught same thing. Today is seems that way of doing business is the exception, not the rule. :confused3


I agree with the others. I would not have left a tip. :sad2:

[2giddy4wdw]

Back in 2002 we ate there and had a horrible server. We were on the old food plan back then. He even told us that we could tip him more if we wanted to. Well we made the mistake of not saying anything. The food was still really good.

A few nights later we were eating at Artist Point and we started with one server, and told him that we were on the food plan. Then all of a sudden we had a different one. We made the joke that it was because we were on the food plan. And she said no he was just leaving and asked what we meant by that. We told her the story about BD and she asked if we would mind telling her manager. Well the manager came out and we told her everything. She was really disappointed because she used to manage that place. She asked us if it was ok if she contacted the manager of BD. Then she asked if there was one thing she could do to make up for it, what could she do. Our DD really had wanted to eat at the castle but we couldn't get reservations. Well the next day when we got back to our room there was an invitation from Cinderella personally inviting us to breakfast. And a message from the manager of the BD asking us to meet with him.

Breakfast was great!!! And we did meet with the manager, he was very dissappointed in his server. He asked us if there was anything he could do. We really didn't know what to answer. So he gave us a coupon for a future dinner there for 4. Along with his employee number. We did use it the following year and he was right there the night we used it.

So it does pay to say something. We regret not going right to the source when it happens. We learned our lesson, and had to talk to a manager at Ohana.

Always speak up!!!

sorry so long!

[noahdove]

I would have asked for a manager and if one didn't come within a reasonable time, I would have left the restaurant, food or no food, bad server, and I certainly wouldn't have left a tip of any kind and most likely I wouldn't have paid for what I did receive..