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Dining at The Hollywood Brown Derby

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Disney’s Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort is all about allowing Guests the opportunity to live out their own amazing Hollywood experiences and being stars. The Hollywood Brown Derby continues the experience by replicating the classic restaurant of the same name that was originally found in Hollywood. Situated at the end of Hollywood Boulevard, The Hollywood Brown Derby serves up contemporary American food in a beautiful setting that simply can’t be missed. Let’s check out just what makes this full service restaurant such an amazing experience for Guests to enjoy in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

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The original Hollywood Brown Derby Restaurant in California featured a large brown hat on the exterior serving as an example of the California Crazy style of architecture popular from decades ago. The Disney’s Hollywood Studios version of The Hollywood Brown Derby takes on a more understated elegance with a beige stucco exterior, burgundy canopy over the door, and a nod to the original with a neon sign in the shape of a brown derby hat. Once inside, Guests can enjoy an upscale environment with art deco details that pay homage to the golden age of Hollywood. A combination of vaulted and beamed ceilings give the dining rooms a grand feel, and dark wooden accents, tiled flooring, dark carpeting, and dark leather booths add a moody yet upscale feel. In addition to large chandeliers that throw soft lighting, bronze derby hat sconces can be found on poles throughout the dining area, lending extra charm and theming. The decorative highlight of The Hollywood Brown Derby are the caricatures that line the walls of the restaurant depicting Hollywood stars from every era and Guests are sure to love seeing how many they can identify throughout their meals.

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The Hollywood Brown Derby is open each day in Disney’s Hollywood Studios for both lunch and dinner and the menu focuses on contemporary American cuisine with some classics thrown in. A great way to kick off any meal at the restaurant is by ordering up a specialty beverage and Guests can choose from a wine list, beer list, non-alcoholic options including Joffrey’s Coffee and the EARidescent Sip-a-bration, or cocktails including classics like a Manhattan. The most unique option on the drink menu is the Grapefruit Cake Martini which pays homage to a famous dessert from the original restaurant and combines Deep Eddy Ruby Red Grapefruit Vodka, Stoli Vanil Vodka, a splash of cream, and a graham cracker rim. Guests can also indulge in several flights including Cognac, Grand Marnier, Scotch, and Sparkling.

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The starters menu at The Hollywood Brown Derby features a great combination of classics and inventive flavors that Guests will absolutely love choosing from to begin their meals. The Shrimp Cocktail is garnished with shaved fennel, cucumbers, and a traditional cocktail sauce, the Charcuterie Board features a chef’s selection of cheeses, cured meats, and accompaniments, and the Heirloom Tomato and Burrata Salad features shaved onions, Thai basil, gremolata, an a citrus vinaigrette. A light and fresh starter option is the Local Greens and Strawberry Salad which is plant-based and contains candied pistachios, black ash cashew cheese, and a champagne vinaigrette. Seafood lovers have several great starter options to choose from with the Oyster and Brie Soup featuring a crispy oyster fritter, champagne, and Meyer lemon-saffron aioli, the Tuna Carpaccio Nicoise with Kalamata olive toast, quail egg, and green peppercorn aioli, and the Sea Scallops with pork belly, stone fruit barbecue, and red onion gastrique.

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Moving on to the entrée selections at The Hollywood Brown Derby, the most well-known option is Our Famous Cobb Salad which features a bed of greens topped with rows of chopped spit-roasted turkey, bacon, egg, tomatoes, blue cheese, avocado, and classic dressing with the option to add chicken or shrimp. Other entrée options include The Brown Derby Signature Burger with bacon jam, cheddar, fried egg, Russian dressing, and hand-cut fries, the Wild Mushroom Risotto with herbs and chive-coconut nage, and the Free-Range Chicken a la King with herb spaetzle, sugar snap peas, and champagne sauce. Seafood options continue to be plentiful at The Hollywood Brown Derby with Ora King Salmon accompanied with grilled local corn, Fresno peppers, and sweet corn veloute, The Trout Amandine served with blue crab meat, roasted turnips, and a spiced brown butter sauce, and the Shrimp and Scallops Newberg tossed in a sherry cream sauce and served with blue crab toast. A special addition to the menu for the fiftieth anniversary is the Filet Mignon with Walt Disney’s Roast Beef Hash that is served with haricots verts, red wine sauce, and a fried egg just like Walt used to enjoy. Guests also have several enhancements to choose from to complement their meals including Deviled Crab and Orzo Gratin, Crispy Potato Cakes, and Grilled Asparagus.

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With so many indulgent and filling starter and entrée options, Guests might find it hard to save room for dessert when dining at The Hollywood Brown Derby, but the restaurant features some delicious options that can’t be enjoyed anywhere else! The Grapefruit Cake is the restaurant’s signature dessert featuring a vanilla sponge cake, grapefruit syrup, and cream cheese icing for a tangy and sweet combination that is popular with Guests and pairs perfectly with the Grapefruit Cake Martini. Other regular dessert options include a Chocolate-Coconut Cake, Decadent Flourless Chocolate Mocha Cake, and Crème Brulee with mint and lime macerated strawberries. The dessert menu is also featuring a special 50th Celebration Baked Alaska which features layers of strawberry-basil sorbet, vanilla gelato, and sponge cake coasted in toasted meringue and caramelized brownie bites.

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The Hollywood Brown Derby is a fantastic combination of relaxing and upscale atmosphere and indulgent American cuisine that Guests love returning to time and time again. With nods to the original restaurant in California through architecture, décor, and actual brown derby hats, Disney’s Hollywood Studios version truly transports Guests to the golden age of Hollywood and offers meals not to be missed at the Walt Disney World Resort.

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About Caitlin Kane

Caitlin Kane has been visiting Walt Disney World since she was a child and has developed a deep love and appreciation of the Disney Parks with a particular interest in the small details and history that can be found all around. Visiting every chance she gets, Caitlin loves to enjoy the ambiance of the Disney Parks and try something new every time. She can often be found eating and drinking her way through the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, riding the Haunted Mansion, sipping on a Lapu Lapu, pretending Illuminations: Reflections of Earth was still in existence, and enjoying seeing the magic through the eyes of her children. When not in WDW, Caitlin can be found at home in New York dreaming of a ride on Living with the Land and counting down the days until her next trip.