Remember the "old" Brown Derby?

[Uncleromulus]

When it was relatively kid free and quiet. With a piano player playing on the grand piano. And the Catwalk Lounge where you could relax on those plush chairs and have a drink.
Anybody else miss that??

 

[Jerseygirl63]

It was a real treat to go and relax and feel like an adult for a hour or two!

 

[Dreamfinder2]

I do remember, with all that linen and nice flatware. Brown Derby, along with the Bistro in Epcot, are still my two favorite in-park restaurants. I remember, too, when the Coral Reef first opened, it had a nice elegant vibe.

I also remember the Gulf Coast Room at the Contemporary, the Papeete Bay Veranda and Tangaroa Terrace at the Poly, Flagler's at the Grand Floridian, Ariel's at the Beach Club, the Lake Buena Vista Club at what is now Downtown Disney, the Empress Room (and the Fisherman's Deck and Steerman's Quarters) on the Empress Lily, the Fireworks Factory at Downtown Disney, and I could go on.

It'd all be pretty sad, but there are plenty of new places I like, too, and I hope I'm never too much of a geezer to embrace change. I'm OK with restaurants closing as long as there are new good spots to take their place. I'm really looking forward to trying The Wave in May, for instance. I still believe the best of the Disney restaurants are just fine.

 

[cdtommie]

I miss the Catwalk. We used to go up there a get a Boddington's (or three). And the Derby raised their lunch through the roof last year. We used to go for lunch every trip but no more.

 

[billfatora]

Yes... I do remember the "old" Brown Derby... and, as "DreamFinder2" said, The Empress Room on The Empress Lily (remember the "flower basket" salad) and The Fireworks Factory.... WOW ! What memories. But I also agree... as long as the the "old places" are replaced by "new places", well... new memories are made with them.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

When it was relatively kid free and quiet. With a piano player playing on the grand piano. And the Catwalk Lounge where you could relax on those plush chairs and have a drink.
Anybody else miss that??

We had a great meal @ HBD last Oct., but I agree with you on the atmosphere. It would be nice, if WDW had a few more upscale, "quiet" restaurants. To me, if it's chaotic & loud, it's not really fine dining.

 

[rjthkids]

I think I remember a long time ago when the restaurant in Cinderella's castle was called "St. Stephen's Table" or something. I know it was "Stephens" because that was the name of the person I went there with. I think we just walked right up and asked for a table and were seated immediately. That certainly wouldn't happen anymore! LOL

 

[Pakey]

When it was relatively kid free and quiet. With a piano player playing on the grand piano. And the Catwalk Lounge where you could relax on those plush chairs and have a drink.
Anybody else miss that??

I remember.

 

[TDC Nala]

I think I remember a long time ago when the restaurant in Cinderella's castle was called "St. Stephen's Table" or something. I know it was "Stephens" because that was the name of the person I went there with. I think we just walked right up and asked for a table and were seated immediately. That certainly wouldn't happen anymore! LOL

It was King Stephan's, which was always interesting because King Stephan was Sleeping Beauty's father and there's no telling why he would have a restaurant in Cinderella's castle.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . It would be nice, if WDW had a few more upscale, "quiet" restaurants. . .

1) Nah.
2) Won't happen.
3) If it did, they would put them under DDP.
4) Then, we are back to the same problems
. . . loud adults who don't know how to behave in nice restaurants
. . . loud children who don't know how to behave in nice restaurants
. . . people interested in pigging-out instead of nice dining
. . . declining nemu items as the eatery balances costs vs DDP reimbursement

5) It will soon become the same DDP-destroyed dining experience.

 

[pixie08]

Ahhh yes I do remember this. It was the BD of my child and teenage years. It was our favorite family place (my brother and I, however were extremely well behaved children or we would not be allowed to dine with my parents!) anyway brought DH 2 years ago when we got married. I talked it up so much but it was nothing like those days....ahhh I do miss that place but I feel like many of the restauraunts have become this way. Another place we used to love and dine at frequently as a family was coral reef...back 10 years ago when they had good food and kids did not run all over the place