Always A Sure Bet: Dinner At The Brown Derby

Okay, I will admit it. I am a little obsessed with The Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World.

Actually, I am a lot obsessed with the Brown Derby in general.

Star-Studded Legacy

Disney describes The Hollywood Brown Derby like this, see:

Dine in an authentic replica of the famous Brown Derby, a Tinseltown landmark steeped in glamour and glitz. The walls are adorned with caricatures of famous faces—a tradition that began with the original restaurant—and the upscale atmosphere harkens back to the Golden Age of Hollywood.”

Beyond that amazing foreward, I believe my personal obsession dates back to The Rocketeer (Billy Campbell, above) mentioning “The Brown Derby” to his girlfriend Jenny (Jennifer Connelly); however, it could also date back to my watching re-runs of I Love Lucy when I was playing hooky home from school.

Lucille Ball and William Holden in LA at Last. Image: ClassicMovieHub.com

But, short of heading to Walt Disney World, the absolute best view of the actual Hollywood Brown Derby is in the movie The Five Pennies. Starring Danny Kaye.

And check out this poster!

“Step into the Golden Age of Hollywood at this warm, wood-paneled restaurant serving contemporary American cuisine.”

So, when I go to The Hollywood Brown Derby, I am visiting some old friends. And the caricatures on the wall — lit just so by the bowler hat lamps — feature more ghosts than The Haunted Mansion.

But, ostensibly, you’re there for the food.

And, short of a Dole Whip, there’s no surer bet than pan-seared sea scallops and roasted pork belly, Cobb Salad (finely chopped greens, turkey breast, bacon, egg, tomatoes, crumbled blue cheese, avocado, chives, Cobb dressing), French press coffee, and grapefruit cake (vanilla sponge cake with grapefruit syrup, grapefruit cheesecake, and grapefruit jam).

And don’t forget the bread.

It’s my idea of heaven.

Beyond The Cobb

Not everyone is salad-focused, though.

My last two trips in, my friends have tried two outstanding dishes.

My long-winded friend Jeff had Cioppino (lobster tail, scallop, shrimp, calamari, and seasonal fish braised in a tomato and seafood broth) when we visited in October.

“Delicious,” he said.

On my recent trip, my friend Jonny had Char-grilled Angus Filet (Lyonnaise potatoes, lemon oil, watercress, white onion sauce).

“As someone who used to eat steak at a lot of the country’s most famous steak houses, I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect from Disney’s rendition,” he confessed. “That said, the steak was cooked perfectly to medium-rare and tasted amazing with the house-made steak sauce and sautéed fingerling potatoes.”

He followed that up with Chocolate-Coconut Cake (with chocolate sauce, hazelnut cream, fresh raspberries).

“The flourless chocolate cake was delicious and surprisingly rich,” added Jonny.

I tried it. He ain’t kidding.

We licked the plates clean (if not the table).

And I am not exaggerating about this nostalgia-filled edifice. Sure, it’s a replica, but it’s the real deal.

Sadly, The Hollywood Brown Derby at Walt Disney World is the last bastion of the legendary restaurant chain.

Thank goodness that the legacy lives on at Disney Hollywood Studios. It is a must-visit on each and every WDW vacation.

Look Around The Place

Check out a gallery from my iPhone:

And if you want to read more about the history of Brown Derby restaurants (and catch a review of The Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge) have at it:

Salad Days: The Hollywood Brown Derby Cobb Salad