Like Brown Derby?

[momfor4]

If you have been to Brown Derby for dinner what is it like?? Really upscalee or moderate? how is it with 4 kids? The menu looks good- but I was curious what anyone thought?

How about the Garden Grill? what is it like? Characters when? How is the food? Is it ok for children to go there??

 

[MouseWorshipin]

If you like the menu at the Brown Derby, by all means, go! Kids are fine - it is a theme park! I know there is a kids' menu because I ordered off of it (me and my juvenile palate!)

I'm not sure what "upscale" means, although I've been hearing that word for a few years now. If you mean more expensive than others, yeah, I guess it is a little more. If you mean the food a little frou-frou, yeah, it is. But people who like that stuff really like the Brown Derby. If you mean that people get dressed up, no they don't. Bunch of park guests.

The Garden Grill looks like a great place to eat, but I haven't due to that juvenile palate of mine. If they ever start serving regular old food, I'll be there in a second. If you like that food, definately go - and let us know how it went!

 

[maria & rossi]

We love the Brown Derby and the kids are fine. You don't have to dress up and you get a great meal without feeling uncomfy in your shorts and t'shirts. We always go at least once and usually do the fantasmic package. I'm sure you'll love it.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Agree--not "upscale" at all--but a nice looking restaurant with good food.

 

[bicker]

Brown Derby has been among our favorites for many years, but this is the first time we brought the kids with us, and we were shocked just how badly we were treated. I used to love promoting this restaurant, but after our recent experience with their indifferent service to children, no more.

The food, however, I do have to say, was excellent.

 

[lillygator]

We went along with our two girls who were 3 and a 4 month old. We were treated wonderfully and it was a great meal. The only part I didn't like was we were seated all the way to the right upon entering and the chairs are on a "tile" floor so they were slick. Had I know I would have requested to sit in the main room, which we will request next time.

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

The Brown Derby is one of our touchstones - we like to go there every visit for the Cobb salad and grapefruit cake at lunch. We've been with our kids and grandkids, and many times with just the two of us, and I don't recall being treated differently. We've always had a good time.

 

[KimR]

Brown Derby has been among our favorites for many years, but this is the first time we brought the kids with us, and we were shocked just how badly we were treated. I used to love promoting this restaurant, but after our recent experience with their indifferent service to children, no more.

The food, however, I do have to say, was excellent.

You might have just gotten a bad server. This is one of our favorites as well and we have eaten there 3 times with the kids and have never had bad service. The first time we went our waiter was wonderful; he fussed over and catered to our children, treating them like royalty. The service wasn't as good at subsequent meals but was still above average.

 

[SeaSpray]

Is the Cobb Salad at lunch large enough to share?? We're going to Boma for dinner that night so I want a relatively light lunch. We'd probably share an appetizer and dessert too. I've seen pictures of the Cobb Salad, but it's hard to get a perspective on the size. lol

 

[mlg32]

We did Fantasmic pkg last May with DD5 and DD4 and it was awesome, my fav meal the whole trip. The service was beyond excellent and I must say our waiter was totally hot. He was from Australia and I was drooling over the food and him. My DH thought I was hysterical(I was 6mths preg.). Can't wait to go this year!

 

[melomouse]

For lunch, the Cobb salad - plus grapefruit cake for dessert ? - - would be more than enough to share, I think. The Cobb salad is chopped, however, which is a different style from other "Cobbs"! Nonetheless, chopped or whole, it is an awesome treat.

Checked out your website Seaspray - obviosly good times, great pix and many wonderful family times. Thanks for sharing - gotta love your soundtrack!!!

melomouse

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I wouldn't worry about taking the kids to Brown Derby, I mean it's Disney World, and it's in a theme park. Though it may be a little more "boring" to them then other restaurants. I loved it there, the service was good, and the food was fantastic. It is a little more pricey then some of the other places, (probably the most expensive in MGM,) but I think the food is well worth the price.

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

The Cobb salad is cut up in a way that, indescribably, makes it taste light and refreshing. I don't know why the way it is chopped makes a difference, but it does. I would not personally share it, even with a big dinner coming, and we share a lot of meals. We do share the grapefruit cake, though, and we always leave feeling comfortably full.

 

[mytwotinks]

My DS and I were there with our 3 daughters (3,4,7) in June. We had a great time and they really enjoyed it. The only thing one of them didn't care for was the soup. I think that they got to choose from chicken noodle soup or a little salad for their appetizer. The soup was pretty mature (carrots and celery in it) for kids. My daughter (3) handed it back to our waitress and said "I don't eat green soup." My neice (4) loved it and ate the whole bowl. Unfortunately she got really sick the next day (strep throat) and my 3 year old was convinced that her green soup made her sick. I won't be getting her to try that anytime soon! We were on the Fantasmic package and we could order anything we wanted for our set price. It was a great way to do it. We came out way ahead! Can't wait to do it again.

Ask for a booth. My 3 year old fell asleep and we were able to let her lay down and we enjoyed a really relaxed dinner!

 

[momfor4]

thanks for the tips! It sounds great and think we will plan on it. I did mean "upscale" as to being a bit more $$$ and dressy. Does anyone dress up for dinners at disney?
What is the fantasmatic package????
Is the dining plan allowed with this??

 

[maria & rossi]

Fantasmic package allow you to enter fantasmic 30 minutes before the show starts and they have reserved seats for those on the package (insteaed of lining up for a few hours before) . The Brown Derby is a 2 table service points on the dining plan but there are other restaurants in MGM that also do the package and the are only 1 TS point). Hope I've made some sense. I think the package is great especially with kids as they get restless waiting around.

Maria

 

[SeaSpray]

For lunch, the Cobb salad - plus grapefruit cake for dessert ? - - would be more than enough to share, I think. The Cobb salad is chopped, however, which is a different style from other "Cobbs"! Nonetheless, chopped or whole, it is an awesome treat.

Checked out your website Seaspray - obviosly good times, great pix and many wonderful family times. Thanks for sharing - gotta love your soundtrack!!!

melomouse

Thanks for the opinion on the salad, and for the nice comments on my web site

 

[lovesdumbo]

Thanks to OP for asking the question. I just got off the phone from making my BD Fantasmic ADR for me & my DD(7 the next day). A special trip for just the 2 of us.

We are starting off the trip with Garden Grill dinner. Both are new to us.

I'm getting very excited!

 

[Carnotaurus]

It's a character meal, you know, and the restaurant revolves. The fun factor is high.

The food was my favorite back when it was simple farm food. The menu has changed twice in the last year or so -- to fancy and then back to a fancier version of the old menu. I haven't been since then, but I'm optimistic. Their flank steak and catfish were always DEELISH.

We always get great character interaction here, maybe because you kind of have your own space to interact with the characters without sharing them with other diners.

As for the Brown Derby, I wouldn't share the salad unless you're an especially light eater. Share the cake, though. I think you're fine to take kids, but the mood in there is a bit more elegant than most Disney restaurants.

 

[DisneyAunt]

I have to give the Brown Derby a big THUMBS DOWN.

We booked a Fantasmic DInner Package when we were there in November. It was my birthday and I wanted to have a nice dinner, cake and to go see Fantasmic. My father who was traveling with us is very ill and this may have been the last birthday he is to spend with me. I really wanted to make it special.

What a disaster......It took forever for us to get our food, refills on drinks, and then our waiter forgot about us. Here is the what really upset me I was on the verge of tears. THEY LOST MY BIRTHDAY CAKE!!! Everyone in my group was very dissappointed. The waiter had the manager come over to explain that they didn't have my cake. At this point we didn't even have dessert or coffee and we didn't have time since Fantasmic was about to start. The manager didn't even seem like he cared. He did pack up the desserts that came with our package to go. The least he could have done was given us some sort of discount on our dinner. Nothing!!!!

Oh he did offer to give me fast passes for TOT.....I looked at him and laughed...here I was traveling with someone who was pregnant, 2 senior citizens one of which was visible ill, and 2 small children. Gee let me see.....no thanks.

I did manage to go back after Fantasmic to the Restaurant and let him know he ruined my birthday. I normally don't do things like that but it was really buggin me. When I was there I happened to run into a friend of the family who is a big wig at ABC in NY. All of sudden this manager decides to take interest on how he could make this all ok. No thanks!!

That's my story...so I will never eat there again!