The Brown Derby Review

[*NikkiBell*]

I am a bit behind on the podcasts, but am currently listening to Kevin's review of The Brown Derby and salvating. This restaurant is something relatively new to us. We only have eaten there once and that was during Dine with a Disney Imagineer. I'm DROOLING thinking about eating there again and our next trip to WDW is far away (DLR planning now though!!!).

So, who can send me some Brown Derby FedEx packages?

 

[Launchpad11B]

We've never been but it's on the list!

 

[cdotla]

Oh yeah! Me too! Love the Brown Derby.

Just the feel you get when walking in those doors...so swanky old school Hollywood. And the food ain't half bad either!

BTW Nikki - your review on the podcast of your Dinner with an Imagineer was awesome. I loved it. Both for content and delivery. You are a total natural! Completely different from my stammering and stuttering when I left my 1st DisUnplugged voicemail - LOL!

 

[*NikkiBell*]

SO good! I didn't like the grapefruit cake, but definitely tried it because of all the hype. I thought it was too bitter to be considered cake.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

BTW Nikki - your review on the podcast of your Dinner with an Imagineer with awesome. I loved it. Both for content and delivery. You are a total natural! Completely different from my stammering and stuttering when I left my 1st DisUnplugged voicemail - LOL!

Thanks so much! I was nervous! lol It was fun to put together though. I think my next one (yes, there will be another muhahaha) will be even better.

 

[wishspirit]

Thanks so much! I was nervous! lol It was fun to put together though. I think my next one (yes, there will be another muhahaha) will be even better.

Ooooh! Can't wait!

I thought your last review was great!

 

[kaligal]

Kevin and John saying that the food isn't frou-frou, but regular food, makes me kind of want to go give it another try.

I've never enjoyed food with frizzle (or swizzle or whatever he said) attached to them. I don't like food where they pile it in the center and have a big weed sticking out of it. I just really don't like the stylish, high-end, sophisticated food that is sold in the expensive restaurants and would honestly rather have a burger at Denny's.

Most of the time I don't even know what the hell the food be. Descriptions like the Brown Derby has are great for cosmopolitan people who know what it all means, but confusing for me.

I ordered off of the kiddie menu at the Brown Derby because it all just sounded too frou-frou for me. I've been burned before ordering things like chicken cordon bleu, thinking, "Well, it's chicken. Chicken is chicken."

Maybe next time someone wants to go there I'll give it another shot.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

If you're interested, I wrote a blog last year from the perspective of my girls. They had a different take on the Cobb Salad than Kevin did...

http://www.disunplugged.com/2009/09/09/hollywood-brown-derby-a-kids-perspective/

 

[Stacy's a freak]

I had a great meal there in December, 2008! I was a solo in WDW then and it was a great relaxing meal. Great wine pairings. I think I had a white for my starter (shrimp something), a red for my main course (steak of some sort), and a port for dessert (with a flourless chocolate tort thing). So I guess I found the wine list enticing . It's a good thing I was taking WDW transport.

 

[Mr. Plutes]

Me and the little woman go there ever year. It's a great place to have a great meal. The staff is the best, and the Cobb salad is a must.

 

[dalt01]

Me and the little woman go there ever year. It's a great place to have a great meal. The staff is the best, and the Cobb salad is a must.

the little woman?????????????

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Kevin and John saying that the food isn't frou-frou, but regular food, makes me kind of want to go give it another try.

I've never enjoyed food with frizzle (or swizzle or whatever he said) attached to them. I don't like food where they pile it in the center and have a big weed sticking out of it. I just really don't like the stylish, high-end, sophisticated food that is sold in the expensive restaurants and would honestly rather have a burger at Denny's.

Most of the time I don't even know what the hell the food be. Descriptions like the Brown Derby has are great for cosmopolitan people who know what it all means, but confusing for me.

I ordered off of the kiddie menu at the Brown Derby because it all just sounded too frou-frou for me. I've been burned before ordering things like chicken cordon bleu, thinking, "Well, it's chicken. Chicken is chicken."

Maybe next time someone wants to go there I'll give it another shot.

If you don't want fancy plated food, I wouldn't go to The Brown Derby. It IS an upscale restaurant and YES, you will have food decorated as such. The food really is excellent though; don't let the descriptions or plating scare you away.

For those wondering, the Cobb Salad was absolutely excellent. I found everything from the plating to the textures to the taste just wonderful. I am what some might call a "picky eater" and was surprised to enjoy it as much as I did because it includes avocado (yeck!). I can't speak enough for this salad and restaurant for that matter. It really is such a wonderful experience. I so cannot wait to go back!

 

[cdotla]

If you don't want fancy plated food, I wouldn't go to The Brown Derby. It IS an upscale restaurant and YES, you will have food decorated as such. The food really is excellent though; don't let the descriptions or plating scare you away.

I totally agree. To give you an idea of how some of the food is presented, here are a couple shots of our meal:

 

[SaraMc]

I have been to this resturant several times and I love it. However saying that, we have found that when we go and bring our kids with us that we have had not so great service. When DH and I have gone just us the food has been amazing and the service unbelivable. When we have gone with the kids. Well lets just say, we will be waiting till they are older to go back with them.

 

[mjp12831]

SO good! I didn't like the grapefruit cake, but definitely tried it because of all the hype. I thought it was too bitter to be considered cake.

Agreed! The Tuna dish I had there last year was great, and I think I remember a really good crab cake app too. Grapefruit cake did not live up to the hype though - wasnt bad, but certainly not worth the fame it has.

 

[basketrn]

We went last year in June, walked right up without a ADR and got right in. I agree with the kids comment on the podcast. We took our 13 year old with us, and he didn't really enjoy it at all. But the adults LOVED IT!

Can someone post the cobb salad and dressing recipe?

 

[kafitty]

I've never enjoyed food with frizzle (or swizzle or whatever he said) attached to them. I don't like food where they pile it in the center and have a big weed sticking out of it.

Most of the time I don't even know what the hell the food be. Descriptions like the Brown Derby has are great for cosmopolitan people who know what it all means, but confusing for me.

please don't be afraid to ask your server for clarification!! That's what we're there for! It's our JOB to know what is in the food and how it's prepared. If the Brown Derby really is a high-end restaurant, then they are also probably doing everything from scratch, which means the dish can be customized to your taste and prepared how YOU like it. Yeah, waitstaff and cooks can have an attitude sometimes if someone goes *too* off-menu, but y'know what? You're the one who's money goes into our paycheck (eww terrible grammar there), so you deserve to get what YOU want.

i used to kind of be a picky eater too, until i really started to understand what goes into food and the preparation and stuff (see also: it's my JOB to know!). For instance: chicken cordon bleu is basically chicken stuffed with ham & cheese. Think about it: Chicken. Ham. Cheese. Each item by itself is delicious, so why shouldn't they be delicious together? (*insert scene from Ratatouille here*, haha)

i'm not trying to disparage or look down on your pickyness (my brother didn't eat anything but peanut butter sandwiches on white bread for the first, oh, 8 years of his life ), but i really encourage giving things a chance (well, maybe not when it costs that much $$, hahah). But please DON'T be afraid to ask for a little clarification!! Food is fun!