Firstly just want to apologise in advance for the lack of photos - obviously this shows how good the meal was, as we were too busy stuffing our faces.
Also, sorry if my comments on holiday pricing seem like I'm ranting - I'm not (she says whilst crossing her arms and scowling) - I just think it takes a little away from the normally superb value at Hollywood & Vine.
Anyway, on to the review...
11/23/2007 - Pt. 2
This was one restaurant which really surprised me. Wed considered cancelling the ADR because of the iffy reviews wed read on the DIS and other Disney sites, but in the end we REALLY enjoyed the meal.
We had an ADR booked for 6.30pm so that we could view the Osborne Lights beforehand (which were absolutely FANTASTIC by the way - a definite Disney must-see!!!). We arrived at H&V and waited about 10 minutes before we were seated.
The atmosphere of the restaurant is definitely better than Id expected. Its really well themed as a 50s diner with stainless steel abound and pictures showing Hollywood in the 1930s/40s.
The buffet is all in one long line - looking similar to a serving bar at a diner and although it looks massive to begin with, both sides contain identical dishes. Despite this though, the buffet itself is really good.
THE MEAL
To start with I tried some Caesar salad, endive and goats cheese salad, potato salad, spicy slaw, peel and eat shrimp with cocktail sauces, some olives and some cornbread. In the salad section, theres also a variety of cold pasta salads, breads and salad dressings, a beetroot based salad and mussels. The salads I tried were really tasty - I especially liked the endive and goats cheese salad, which was really interesting - and the peel and eat shrimp were also good. My parents tried a variety of the different items on offer and seemed to like everything - in fact about the only thing we didnt try were the mussels, as none of us are fans!
For the entrees, there was prime rib with horseradish sauce, chicken thighs with blackberries, herb crusted salmon, BBQ pork loin, seafood pasta, garlic mashed potatoes, green beans, vegetable couscous and a vegetarian rice dish. Also, at the kids station there was corn dogs, chicken strips and meatballs.
My mum and I tried a little of everything. I really enjoyed the prime rib (I absolutely adore horseradish, so I was in heaven!) and my mums favourite was the chicken thighs as she said the glaze was fantastic. The only thing I didnt like was the BBQ pork, which I thought was really dry.
Although my mum and I liked the selections on the buffet, my dad wasnt as impressed. He had three major complains: 1 - no soup (not the soup issue again!!
), 2 - no carved meats, 3 - not enough beef dishes. As hes not a fan of salad, pasta or even chicken for that matter (and he says hes not a faddy eater!
), he ended up eating some corn dogs and meatballs from the kids station along with his pork and prime rib. Luckily, he was much more impressed with the dessert selection!
The dessert table is opposite the main buffet and contains a range of mini handcrafted desserts such as key lime tart, carrot cake, orange cheesecake, pineapple upside down cake - my Mums absolute favourite - and double chocolate cake - which was DIVINE!! There was also apple cobbler, berry cobbler, rice crispie treats, chocolate mousse, jelly and a soft serve ice cream station. Oh and last, but most certainly not least, the mascarpone snicker cheesecake - which is one of the BEST desserts Ive eaten at WDW!
Although theres no specific server interaction at H&V, our server was really attentive and even gave us hot chocolates to take out of the restaurant with us for the journey out of the park.
The only criticism I would make of H&V was that by the end of the meal we felt a little rushed, as one side of the buffet had closed and it almost seemed as if they were closing up shop on us - but then again I guess we didnt start eating till near 7pm.
Also, during the time we went, holiday pricing was in effect. Although this isnt the fault of the restaurant and it doesnt deter from the fact it was a really good meal, we did feel that it wasnt as good value for money and wasnt to the same standard as other $28 buffets like Boma for example.
COST
$86.97 (3 buffets inc drinks with holiday pricing in effect) ($71.97 without holiday pricing)
RATING
Atmosphere: 3
Quality of food: 3.5
Value for money: 3 (wouldve been 4 without that darn holiday pricing, as for $24 it is excellent value)
Would I eat here again? Yes, definitely! - Just not with holiday pricing in effect
Up next - drinking in the Irish spirit (literally!) at Raglan Road...
) But I LOVE the New York vanilla cheesecakes you get in the US - I find them more tangy and do they not tend to have more of an oaty bottom?
Maybe it's because I'm a slow eater, and it has to start out hot, in order to still be warm when I'm finishing. 
Glad to hear you had a great dinner. 
Sorry it's been a while - I've been so busy with work and then trying to decide whether to do more study and having lots of job interviews 
and then last weekend I went to watch the football team I support in one of the biggest cup tournaments in the Enlish league - they lost 
but I had a great weekend in London nevertheless 
They also invited anyone else who was celebrating an anniversary to join them. As it was the 30th anniversary of my parents' first date only a week before the meal, they joined in as did a number of other couples and then everyone received their leis. I thought that was really special and sweet 
