A Brown Derby Challenge

[cd&kids]

I joined these boards 6 years ago and I don't think I've ever read one thread about Brown Derby without the words "Cobb Salad" in it! I realize it's their signature dish (just like the real restaurant in Hollywood) but we're thinking of trying the restaurant for the first time on our August trip and I'd love to read about all the other stuff on the menu and whether it's really worth the hype and relatively high prices.
Thanks!

 

[Aimeedyan]

We had a fantastic lunch there 3 years ago; I went and dug through my pictures to show you and I am not sure that any of our entrees are still on the menu! None of them look familiar.

I'll be interested in hearing more recent reviews as well.

 

[laughinplace199]

I recently had a beef filet there that was excellent. You could cut it with a fork, it was so tender. My friend is a vegetarian and the tofu dish is her favorite in all of WDW. We eat at HBD every trip! I love the atmosphere and we've never had a bad meal - and we've never, ever ordered a Cobb salad.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Can I ask what kind of beef filet it was? I read conflicting menus on wdw.info and allears.net. Could you describe it for me? Did it have lobster butter sauce, I'm very allergic to lobster and read online that one their steaks has it. Thanks so much!

 

[laughinplace199]

Can I ask what kind of beef filet it was? I read conflicting menus on wdw.info and allears.net. Could you describe it for me? Did it have lobster butter sauce, I'm very allergic to lobster and read online that one their steaks has it. Thanks so much!

I don't recall it having any lobster butter sauce. I don't like lobster, so I'm sure I would have noticed. My DD has food allergies and the WDW chefs are very good with allergies, so even if the menu says it has lobster butter, you can talk to the chef and ask him/her to come up with a safe alternative for you.

 

[triplefigs]

DH had the steak and I had the fish (was Halibut that night). Both were very good. But the best was the Cobb Salad. They even gave me the recipe to bring home.

 

[DisMN]

Well aside from the delicious Cobb Salad LOL .........which I've had for both, the main course and the appetizer as well......

we've also had a seared salmon dish with mango chutney, lobster bisque soup, a creamy asparagus soup, scallops as an appetizer, various steaks, shrimp fixed several ways as appetizers and main courses, DH had some kind of pork dish and we've shared a varied assortment of after dinner treats and every single item was deliciously prepared and fresh.

Still, ya got to love that Cobb Salad, how different it is compared to any other Cobb Salad you've ever had anywhere else.

(Cobb Salad = said 4 times. Is that a record for a single post?)

 

[wdwluver]

They have very good bread

Unfortunately, the only other item I had was the Cobb Salad. I also loved the story that my waitress told me about it as she was mixing it for me.

 

[only1alexa]

I joined these boards 6 years ago and I don't think I've ever read one thread about Brown Derby without the words "Cobb Salad" in it! I realize it's their signature dish (just like the real restaurant in Hollywood) but we're thinking of trying the restaurant for the first time on our August trip and I'd love to read about all the other stuff on the menu and whether it's really worth the hype and relatively high prices.
Thanks!

LOL. I just ate there a few days ago and had the salmon. Don't remember how it was prepared but I do remember asking to substitute roasted potatos for the spinach. The whole thing was EXCELLENT! The potatos were incredible and the salmon was great. DD had the kids fish stick thingy and I ate some of that too LOL. I had the flourless chocolate cake for dessert - it was incredibly rich and just a tad heavy for my taste, but very good. I'd pay to eat there again!

 

[cd&kids]

I also read all the time about the grapefruit cake -- which I really want to try -- but ALL the desserts sound great.
The flourless chocolate cake, as just mentioned -- but also the pumpkin cheesecake, double vanilla bean creme brulee. I mean -- wow!

 

[Sabor]

I would stay away at all costs ... We used to be Brown Derby fans and would eat there every trip.. This place has gone downhill over the years and after three straight dissapointments we will not be back.... the last time 5 out of a party of nine got extremely sick , to the point of not even being to make it through Fantasmic ( we only went there for dinner package).

Along with the food , the service and atmosphere hav also declined quite a bit.

 

[AJKMOM]

I think the very first Cpbb salad was made at the Brown Derby Restaurant in Hollywood, California. That is why they push it, it's a tradition.

 

[Mad4Mickey]

I also read all the time about the grapefruit cake -- which I really want to try -- but ALL the desserts sound great.
The flourless chocolate cake, as just mentioned -- but also the pumpkin cheesecake, double vanilla bean creme brulee. I mean -- wow!

Man I dream of that grapefruit cake so good I swear I would love for them to sell it outside of the BD because the food and service have gone down hill in the last few years. I started eating there in 96 and it was always a must till about 2 years ago .

 

[SnoweyWhite]

On our last trip, we ate lunch at the Brown Derby, and if I remember correctly a few of us got the grouper and thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

I really liked the grouper there. I also loved the grapefruit cake.

My DH does love the Cobb salad, but I could take it or leave it!

I think it is the best restaurant in the Studios!

 

[PrincessPaczki]

We have res. for our August trip, and was wondering if it is really worth the 2 ts. on the DP. We have never eaten here before.

 

[Katiebell]

Man I dream of that grapefruit cake so good I swear I would love for them to sell it outside of the BD because the food and service have gone down hill in the last few years. I started eating there in 96 and it was always a must till about 2 years ago .

Check at Starring Rolls for the grapefruit cake -- they sometimes have it.

 

[MouseFan Down Under]

I too have reservations there for my upcoming September trip. I booked it as the Fantasmic! package.

Being that it is 2 TS credits, and a "selected menu" do we get an appetizer with it?

Thanks

 

[daisy112878]

We really enjoy the Brown Derby and ate there in Oct, Nov, and Dec of last year. Each meal was very good. Dh doesn't like the cobb salad so he usually gets another app. Last time they had a special shrimp app that was really good. For entrees, I usually get the fillet which in my opinion is better then Le Cellier but not as good as Jiko. It didn't have lobster in the butter sauce. It was a melted butter with parsely. So yummy. Dh goes between the pork chop, grouper, and ahi tuna. All are very good and he's never been disappointed. The only thing I would say is the BD lacks in desserts in our opinion. The desserts just do not stand out to us.

 

[megrod74]

We ate there in April and I had this:
Agnolotti Pasta with rock shrimp, artichoke hearts and fried peppers tossed in extra virgin olive oil and shaved garlic $19
It was delicious, not heavy like I was worried about. Just the right amount of food.
Our service was ok, not stellar but not bad.