Brown Derby or Mama Melrose?

[KeriWDE]

We've eaten at both of them in the past. My husband wants to eat at Brown Derby. I think our daughter and I will enjoy Mama Melrose more.

We're on the DxDP, so we are good with either one. We also have plenty of credits, so the 2 credit issue with BD isn't a big deal.

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

We love the Brown Derby, especially for lunch. The reason that we do not like MM is one of the reasons we love HBD- the service. We've never had anything other than excellent service at HBD, but I our meal at MM was a catastrophe thanks to our lack of good service. Really, we almost didn't make it to a 7:00 showing of F! with a 3:30 ADR at MM.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

If food quality is your #1 consideration, this isn't even close. We think HBD is the best restaurant, by far, in any of the parks.


Disclaimer: We still haven't tried Le Bistro in France for some reason, so that one doesn't count.

 

[catne]

we like Mama Melrose (have eaten there several times on Fantasmic package) but service was very, very slow 2 out of 3 times. Just ate at Brown Derby in January, and our party of 3 adults all loved it...fabulous service, too. If credits are no issue, I definitely vote for Brown Derby.

 

[kellypooh]

I've eaten at (and loved) both but I voted for Mama Melrose.

The BD is fabulous but the portions seemed small for the price...something that was an issue to all of us, especially my then-teenage son with the hollow leg! It was by far the most expensive meal of our trip and we all walked out still hungry.

I've never had any problems with the service being too slow at MM -- could be the Bellini's talking, though.

 

[sjs314]

I have to agree with kellypooh about the portion sizes at BD, we went myself, DH and my DS and his friend both 18, the three men did not find their portion sizes filling. If you are not big eaters BD is fine not worth 2 credits on the DDP in my opinion, but I would go with Mama Melroses.

 

[aubriee]

I have to agree with kellypooh about the portion sizes at BD, we went myself, DH and my DS and his friend both 18, the three men did not find their portion sizes filling. If you are not big eaters BD is fine not worth 2 credits on the DDP in my opinion, but I would go with Mama Melroses.

Same here, plus we got really, really bad service the last time we ate at BD. The meal took forever and we had to send another waiter to look for our waiter twice (after we finished our entrees and then again to get the check).

 

[DisneyFamily123]

We really liked Brown Derby on the Fantasmic Package in 2010.... came back for a lunch later in the week too! It's closer to Fantasmic than Mama Melrose. But if I was using the dining plan and just wanted to use 1 credit, Mama Melrose was fine too in 2009. But the food was MUCH better at Brown Derby.

Brown Derby review - link in my signature below.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I guess the portion size at HBD depends on how much you're used to eating. On our last visit, we had 4 in our party. My DH, an 18 yr. old boy, an 18 yr. old girl, & myself. We shared the cobb salad appetizer for 2 between the 4 of us. Later we all had an entree, then couldn't finish 1 dessert between the 4 of us. The portion size was plenty for us. My only problem with it was that I didn't have enough room for my own dessert. To be fair, we think WDW's portion sizes at most non-signature restaurants are too big. Like I said, I guess it's what you're used to.

 

[Jaybrad]

Brown Derby by far the better!!

 

[dr&momto2boys]

No contest in my mind! I've always had terrible service at MM. We're taking our family to HBD and we have 3 little kids! I think they'll like it just fine.

 

[vinotinto]

I didn't vote because we have only been to HBD, but we had an early dinner there in September and the atmosphere, service, food presentation and menu was all lovely. The tuna app was so beautifully presented, we did not want to eat it.

The place was mobbed though, and one of my lamb chops was raw on the inside (I ordered it medirum-rare, but there is a big difference between medium rare and literally uncooked in the middle), which I attribute to the kitchen being rushed. Portions were not small, nor huge. I thought they were normal. The bananas signature dessert was the weakest of our table.

I think being on the DxDP is a good way to try it. You get so many credits and it includes appies, which were excellent here. We were on the DxDP and thought it was worth the 2 credits.

 

[LBlovesM&WDW]

We've been to MM once and while it was good, it did not compare to HBD (food or service).

 

[MJMcBride]

as price is no object, I think the Derby is superior

 

[KristiLyn]

HBD! We are going to try "dining with an imagineer" at hbd this year!

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

In 2002, 2003, and 2006, we had the best quality food at Brown Derby. We returned in 2008, and it was awful. My sister ordered the Noodle Bowl, which tasted like a frozen tv dinner meal. I ordered the ahi tuna (which doesn't seem to be on the menu anymore) and asked for it rare. It was way overcooked--well done, even. So I was really disappointed.

The Wood Grilled Tuna at Mama Melrose's was perfection. I have been back for it twice more, and all three times it has been outstanding!

 

[Castillo Mom]

We experienced bad service and bad food at MM. Although the food at HBD is overpriced, the food is good. There are very few decent eateries at HS.