Hollywood Brown Derby, Dinner, 09-22-08
Let me just say before I get going on this review....
Happy Election Day 09
MICKEY FOR PRESIDENT!!
Hope everyone has had the chance to vote today......
The only vote that don't count is the one that isn't placed!
Also, I hope everyone had a great Halloween. This has always been a celebrated day for us, because it is my Mom's Birthday! We enclosed our porch, put up webs, added some lights, some sound, and put tiki torches in the front yard... it was a blast. I dressed up like a mad doctor and stood behind a table that was set up like a lab. We gave out those aluminum Mountain Dew bottles that have the artwork on them and yo-yo's , we were the hit of town. Then after trick or treating our little one won the community costume contest, in her cute little pumpkin witch outfit!
Ok ok.... I know .... On with the review!
Our reservation was for 5:10pm, we arrived right on time. There was about a 5 minute wait and we were escorted to our table.
We booked the Fantasmic package, so that we didn't have to show up to early or wait in line for the show.
For those who don't already know what the Fantasmic package is... it is a fixed priced meal that included the appetizer, entree, dessert, and beverage. You can get this on the dining plan. At the end of your meal you receive a pass for special entrance and seating for the Fantasmic show as part of the package. You do not have to enter the show directly after eating, you can go do other activities after dinner and enter the show when you are ready, with reserved seating waiting for you. You can see pictures of the pass that was given to us with all the details at the bottom of this post.
I had heard some pretty negative things about this place, but just to let you know ahead of time... our experience was on the good side!
Appetizer
DW
Cremini Mushroom Chevere Raviolo - Served with Sweet Fennel, English Peas and Tomato - $9.00
If you like mushrooms, this was good! Sometimes you get a mushroom dish and cannot taste them, but in this case the mushroom flavor was dominant! About the right amount for an appetizer, not a sharing dish.
DD
Roasted Sea Scallop - with Double Hardwood Smoked Bacon, Summer Pea Risotto, and Sweet Lemon Aioli - $9.00
This is a very small portion, but every last bit of the amount you do get is delicious. The bacon flavor complimented the scallop very well. Everything was very tender. The risotto portion of the dish was done very well and went together great!
JoJo didn't really care for the cheese atop this dish so she passed it on, and Mary was able to add a bit more to her ravioli. JoJo lifted her plate and looked around, when she was finished, I think she was looking for more.
ME
Blue Jumbo Lump Crab Cake - with Potato Crust, Green Cabbage Slaw, Dijon Mustard and Remoulade Sauces - $11.00
Yes... Crab cakes again, LOL!!! I enjoyed this appetizer. The potato crust made this more crispy than the normal crab cake and the sauces that came along with this were a nice touch. The slaw was creamy with good flavor.
Entrees
DW
Char-grilled 12 oz New York Strip Steak - Served with Herb Roasted Red Potatoes, Cremini Mushrooms, Tiny Onions, and Cabernet Syrup - $33.00
A perfect size steak to satisfy! Done to perfection with good flavor, not as tender as some steaks, but tender enough to still enjoy! Again more mushrooms, so this and the appetizer were great compliments to each other.
ME & DD
Roasted Sterling Silver Pork Rib Chop - Served with Mustard Spaetzle, White Cheddar, Rainbow Chard, Vinegar Onions, and Pan Juices - $27.00
We both enjoyed this very, very much! The pork was juicy and parts of it were so tender it cut with a fork! I really like spaetzle, and this didn't disappoint at all! Wonderful flavor and we also like onions which topped off this dish perfectly!
Desserts
DD
Banana White Chocolate Toffee Tower - Served on a cocoa almond cookie and Bananas "Foster." - $8.00
JoJo enjoyed all of this dessert except for the crunchy decorative part that was attached. It was creamy banana heaven!
DW
A Brown Derby Original! Grapefruit Cake - Light layers of yellow cake with fresh grapefruit cream cheese icing. - $6.00
One of us just had to have the signature dessert here, so Mary decided it would be her, though she was just a bit nervous about it. The sweet and tart of this cake were wonderful, more sweet than tart, and the layers of creamy were wonderful! A happy smile with the outcome of this selection, and we wouldn't hesitate to order it again.
ME
Flourless Chocolate Cake - Served with Port Wine sauce, fresh berries, and sweetened creme fraiche. - $8.00
I could not have been any happier with my selection! The ladies were all very envious of my decorative Aurora chocolate, so I had to share this with them. I am the biggest chocolate lover that I know.. I am addicted to put it lightly! This chocolate being served with the port wine, which is my drink of choice, was just perfection. To add to the greatness of this dessert I ordered some Port to finish it off with! The fresh berries and creme were a great compliment!
Beverages
DD Iced Tea
DW Coke... What else would it be lol
ME Hot Tea
I ordered a hot tea without really looking at what was on the menu, I like most all tea so no big deal and I drank what she brought, but.... our server brought me breakfast tea??? I seen the tea on the dessert menu later and there were plenty of selections available, so I just cannot figure why she brought me that kind to go with my dinner. Oh well, live and learn... make sure to be specific about your tea.
Food & Beverage $ 140.97
Tax $ 9.17
Total $ 150.14
extras... one glass of 20 year Port......$12.00 + tax
This was just an added treat for me on this occasion!! I love port and with the dessert I was having this was the perfect opportunity to enjoy some! I also don't normally get to have a 20 year port so this was a real treat!!! I think I licked the glass clean...LOL
Service
I had heard of many people thinking that the CM's here were rude.... we did not experience this at all. Our check in was great, our hostess was great, and the server well she was just fine, could have been better, but got the job done.
Atmosphere
We liked it here, it didn't feel very exclusive but it was an enjoyable atmosphere. We were seated in the center at a table, this is something that we will change the next time we go. I think a big part of the experience here is sitting in the booths. We enjoyed looking around at all the pictures on the wall and found several of them to be repeated.... the funny thing is, that most of the ones we found to be duplicated were very close together.
Food
The food was all very good! The portions here are almost all on the small side, not somewhere that we would ever consider sharing a meal. Everything was very well presented and all served at the right temperatures.
Overall
As much as we enjoyed it here, I don't quite understand it being a 2ts charge on the dining plan. The total price here including the wine, was less than many of the single credit locations we ate at. I do understand it being defined as signature, because of the presentation and taste of the food. If you are paying out of pocket for this meal, I would consider it to be one of the better values on property. We felt very comfortable here, while in another location this could be a dress code place, being in the park it was very casual. The volume of sound in here was a bit loud but not too bad. There were a couple celebration dinners taking place here, and the cakes that were brought out to them were very nice.
your Narcoosee's review. DH and I are dining there our first night in the World.
. The last time I dined there (this April) I had ordered tea and they brought out this decorative box (decent size I might add/I am sure there is probably some fancy name for it) that opened up and I was able to choose whatever tea I wanted...sounds like you did not get this option 
. Maybe next time!
