Mama Melrose or Hollywood Brown Derby

[dgagnon519]

I currently have Hollywood Brown Derby booked for our Fantasmic Dinner package. We are doing the deluxe dining plan so I was trying to get alot of signature dining in. I am wondering if this one is worth it. I was wondering if anyone has been to both and can compare them based on
Food?
Decor?
Service?
Kid friendly?

 

[KatMark]

We have always had good food and good service at Mama Melrose (we have gone the last three years with the package). We did Brown Derby five years ago and did not like it. We had terrible service (our waiter acted as if he didn't want to be bothered and there were only FIVE tables occupied the whole time we were there--and he had ours and one other; he was not helpful when we asked questions about menu, etc.); the food was mediocre at best--my steak was very fatty and my husband's was not cooked right--twice. My DH also HATED the oft talked about grapefruit cake--he said it was the worse thing he had ever tasted in his life. Now, we usually give each place two tries thinking perhaps the first time it was just an "off time", but we have never gone back because there are too many other places we have wanted to try and we have done the dining plan the last three years and don't think Brown Derby is worth two credits. The restaurant itself was very nice.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

I vote for Mama Melrose

 

[ChelleinNC]

Brown Derby is our absolute favorite restaurant on property We have been there 3 times in the last year and each meal was incredible.
To answer your questions,
Food: Excellent! The menu changes seasonally (a little) the blackend grouper, salmon (w/marscapone polenta ) filet, roasted pork rib chop and the tuna are all fantastic. We've never had anything left on our plates and have even considered licking them clean

Decor: Old Hollywood elegant. You really feel like you've left the themepark, but it's not too "fancy schmancy" If you're celebrating anything or just want to surprise someone, ask them when you check in if you can get a phone call. You'll be seated in a big old booth and they'll bring the "old fashioned" phone to the table and plug it in (just like they did at the original Brown Derby in the old days). My DS got a phone call from Goofy

Service: Above & beyond service Extremely helpful, attentive (without being overbearing)

Kid Friendly: Yes, as long as you have kids that can sit for dinner. It's not a "loud" restaurant, but it is kid friendly. DS 11, actually got to tell the Chef in person that they have the best hotdogs on property

It's been several years since we've been to MM. We've had good & ok meals there.

HTH

 

[Redbudlover]

Brown Derby is one of my two favorite restauransts on site - the other being the Flying fish. The service has always been impeccable and the food superb.

That said I am trying to convince people not to go to my favorite places so I don't have to worry about getting ADRs.

 

[ransom]

We've been to both. Mama Melrose was OK. Brown Derby was great!

We'll be doing Brown Derby again this year. Mama Melrose? That always seems to get pushed to "next year."