Brown Derby: Lunch, or Dinner, or No Difference?

[ChimCher-ee]

OK, so I've gone and done the impossible, booked a solo trip with a little luxury in mind. A whole new world--figuring out what do I do, when it's only what I want, and no one else?!

I'm just warming up, but first on my list is the Brown Derby. I'd like to know if there's any flexibility when I'm on the line, juggling ADRs. Is dinner better than lunch, and why or why not? Or is lunch just as good?

I've checked the menus and can't really see much difference, food wise, but I'd like to hear from people who know!

 

[loves to dive]

I've done both and have never seen any difference. But then, I always get the same thing. Cheese plate appy, Appy Cobb Salad (the entre one is huge can't eat it all) a white wine flight and for dessert a slice of grapefruit cake (which more often than not goes back to the room with me cause I'm too full)

 

[vettegirl]

Same menu for both lunch and dinner.

 

[jenjersnap]

They have in the past had just a couple lunch specific entrees, but the rest of the menu is an all day one.

 

[ChimCher-ee]

Thank you for your replies. It sounds like either will work, food-wise.

Is there any difference in the experience? Any small touches you see at one meal or the other?

 

[Dean Marino]

OK, so I've gone and done the impossible, booked a solo trip with a little luxury in mind. A whole new world--figuring out what do I do, when it's only what I want, and no one else?!

I'm just warming up, but first on my list is the Brown Derby. I'd like to know if there's any flexibility when I'm on the line, juggling ADRs. Is dinner better than lunch, and why or why not? Or is lunch just as good?

I've checked the menus and can't really see much difference, food wise, but I'd like to hear from people who know!

Either way - ChimCher-ee? You booked a really good restaurant . Good for you . The BD is perhaps the ONLY real Signature within a Park. Yes, I know others CLAIM to be .

 

[ChimCher-ee]

Either way - ChimCher-ee? You booked a really good restaurant . Good for you . The BD is perhaps the ONLY real Signature within a Park. Yes, I know others CLAIM to be .

Oh, I've only booked the room and dining plan so far -- too far out for ADRs, sadly. But I'm getting my information together, so I can be flexible with the CM making my reservations.

So, it seems everyone agrees: if no dinner spots are available, lunch will be just as great. Since last night, through, I've discovered this "Dine with an Imagineer" thing, which is a lunch in the bamboo room at BD. Do you know of it?

 

[kastoney]

We ate there last trip for the first time and were extremely disappointed. I will admit we are a bit of signature snobs and HBD wasn't even in the same league as the other signatures. I'd go for SciFi or 50s for lunch instead any day of the week and to either flying fish or yachtsman for dinner if you are looking to stay in the neighborhood

 

[loves to dive]

Thank you for your replies. It sounds like either will work, food-wise.

Is there any difference in the experience? Any small touches you see at one meal or the other?

As far as whether the experience is different from lunch to dinner, I don't think so. I've done both.

 

[robndani]

I was thinking about trying HBD for the first time in April. We've really been trying to hit up places we've never eaten before. At HS that's either HBD or Sci-Fi. I'm not sure if my DS will go for the movies at sci-fi, so we haven't tried it yet.

There seems to be mixed reviews, which I guess you can say for most restaurants in WDW!

 

[Networth]

Tried HBD in August, we have been avoiding it for years as we don’t like dinners in the park except WS. But HBD was the last signature we had not tried. Well I can say it was a great regular meal but it is far from places like Jiko, Citrico’s, Flying Fish etc. I think Disney needs to remove it from the signature list. That said the dessert was good, but we felt rushed it was far from relaxing.

 

[GPC0321]

There is a "12:00-3:00pm" lunch menu in addition to the regular menu. It's got some less expensive items.
I haven't ever been there but just booked it for lunch for our HS day in March. The Cobb salad and appetizers alone look more appealing than anything else offered at that park. I'm excited to try it!

 

[raddisneyfan]

I've been there only for lunch, but am pushing the budget and paying the extra for the Fantasmic dinner there in December on my next solo trip. As PP mentioned, there is a special 12-3PM menu available that has some different entrees; other than that, the menus for lunch and dinner are the same. No special experience at dinner as far as I can tell or that I've heard mentioned. I make some ADRs 180 days out always, but then usually make changes like crazy between then and when I get there. I tend to go at slower times of the year, so I don't really have problems doing this. No matter what you decide and what restaurants you decide to try, have a great time!

 

[SarahInMN]

I'd vote lunch. We usually eat at HBD for lunch once per trip - my husband loves their Cobb salad and generally we want to eat dinner at places that are only open at dinner (i.e. not "waste" a dinner at HBD when we could eat the same menu at lunch AND eat at another signature for dinner).

I am more "meh" on the HBD food but hubby loves the Cobb! I do however love their margarita flight. Just sayin.

edited to add: I couldn't think of a better word than "waste" = my intent was to express that we have a set number of dinner meals and if we can eat somewhere we want at lunch rather than dinner, then it conserves a "dinner" space for a restaurant that is not open at lunch.

 

[iona]

So, it seems everyone agrees: if no dinner spots are available, lunch will be just as great. Since last night, through, I've discovered this "Dine with an Imagineer" thing, which is a lunch in the bamboo room at BD. Do you know of it?

We did this a few years ago and really enjoyed it. I think it would be perfect for a solo lunch.