by Jeff Onorato
AllEars® Guest Blogger

My favorite restaurant to eat at when I visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the Hollywood Brown Derby. I absolutely love their Cobb Salad and Grapefruit Cake. Not to mention the refined setting and Old-Hollywood charm. Lately I have found myself eating there on almost every trip to Walt Disney World. So when I was planning my most recent trip I decided to break the mold and try something a bit different. I made reservations for the 50’s Prime Time Café instead. It’s located just around the corner from the Brown Derby next to Hollywood & Vine. It overlooks Echo Lake.

I had dined at the Prime Time Cafe once before, so I had an idea of what I was in for. For me, this restaurant captures what Disney World is all about. They serve good food at reasonable prices in a really fun, well-themed atmosphere. To say that the servers here “have character” would be a gross understatement though. I would be reminded of this on my most recent visit in August. This meal was during a solo trip to the World, so my experience there may not be atypical of what a family of five might encounter.

The décor of the popular lunch and dinner spot harkens back to the 1950’s and takes diners on a trip down memory lane. Pictured below are the check-in and waiting areas. Take notice of the hula-hoops tucked away next to the stove.

I had a reservation for 11:30 and was promptly seated upon checking in. The restaurant was quite busy at that time of the day. I strongly recommend making reservations if at all possible.

If you should have to wait, the Tune-In Lounge is open just next door to the Café. Not only do they have a full bar with a bevy of adult beverages, but the regular menu is available for guests here too. This is a great alternative for singles or last-minute walk-ups when the restaurant has no available seating. You can also have a seat in their “living room” while you wait for your table to become available. Smoothies, Flavored Sodas (vanilla, cherry), Milkshakes, Root Beer Floats and Malts are available for those who prefer a cold, non-alcoholic beverage. I especially like the signage outside. There is also a staircase which leads up to the Echo Lake apartments – home to many aspiring actors and actresses.

I always feel like I’m in an episode of Leave It to Beaver when I eat here. The checkered dining room is a maze of vintage kitchenettes, complete with Formica tables and vinyl chairs. Several tables throughout the restaurant are outfitted with small TV sets that play black-and-white sitcoms from the 50’s. These are fun to watch while you’re waiting for your meal to come out. All tables do not have these, so it’s important to request one if you would like a table with a TV.

The first thing I noticed when I sat down was an empty plate, cloth napkin, and silverware placed in the center of the table in a pile. I thought that was a bit strange initially. My server, Lisa, then made her way to the table. She pulled out a chair and sat down to join me. Now that she was comfortable, Lisa proceeded to tell me that she was my long lost cousin and went over the menu of what “mom” was cooking up in the kitchen. After our quick reunion, I placed my drink order. Lisa said she would be right back and instructed me to “set the table – do my chores” until she returned. All told, I got off pretty easy though. I overheard the table next to me receive a greeting of “What do you want?” from their server, er, cousin. It was all very comical and brought a smile to my face.

I started off with the Blue Claw Crab Cake ($8.49).

It was a decent sized crab cake for the price, and served over succotash with a sweet chili sauce which I really enjoyed. It was finished off with a garnish of crispy fried onions. Seafood Salad, Onion Rings, Chicken Noodle Soup, and an Iceberg Wedge with Blue Cheese dressing are a few other appetizer choices.

For my entrée, I had Dad’s Traditional Meatloaf ($14.99).

This was a mixture of beef and pork topped with tomato glaze and served with mashed potatoes and green beans. I was forewarned to “eat all of my vegetables” as the meal was presented. This caveat is nothing out of the ordinary at the Prime Time Cafe. The Meatloaf was very moist and tender, and the tomato glaze was perfect fit for it. It was similar to ketchup in taste and consistency. The sides were tasty too – the potatoes were topped with gravy and the green beans were nicely done in an al dente style. Entrée selections also include: Grandma’s Chicken Pot Pie, Mom’s Old Fashioned Pot Roast, Aunt Liz’s Fried Chicken, Artichoke and Ricotta Agnolotti, and a Grilled Chicken or Fish Sandwich.

After looking over the dessert choices, I decided on the S’mores ($4.79).

Dessert is not presented on a traditional menu here. Instead, your server will bring out a viewfinder to look through at the different selections offered. A flip through the slideshow will give you a glimpse of the other sweets: Dad’s Brownie Sundae, Boston-Cream Cupcakes, Seasonal Cobbler, and a “no sugar added” Cheesecake make the list. There wasn’t anything special or exotic about the S’mores I had, but they were awesome. They were just your basic graham cracker, marshmallow and chocolate. They really hit the spot. I’m looking forward to trying one of their Peanut Butter & Jelly milkshakes on a future visit.

This restaurant gets my top recommendation for families, especially multi-generational ones traveling with grandparents and kids. The tongue-in-cheek humor will definitely be a hit with children and grandparents alike. They are a participant in the Disney Dining Plan, with a requirement of 1 table-service credit and also offer Tables is Wonderland discounts. As of this writing the restaurant is not included in the Fantasmic Dinner Package. It’s also a great option if you’re in search of a less-expensive meal that won’t break the bank.

Prime Time Café fits in perfectly with the Studio’s nostalgic take on Hollywood. They dish up more of the light-hearted shtick that you encounter from the “Streetmosphere” performers that liven up Hollywood Boulevard. This is an interactive experience that you will want to play along with to fully enjoy. The 50’s Prime Time Café truly is a blast from the past.

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