Hollywood Studios only has 5 table service restaurants (with more to come). But it is home to some of the most fun, with the strongest theming in all of Walt Disney World. Most are more about the experience than the food, so will strongly depend on your travel party and interests.
Hollywood Studios Table Service Restaurants
50’s Prime Time Cafe is, unsurprisingly, 1950's themed. Set in your 'Mom's kitchen', all the cast members serving you are 'family members'. Make sure you mind your manners and eat your veggies or you'll hear about it - they'll dole out punishments, have you stand in the corner or feed you your greens. Although, if you don't want to take part in the fun, you can let your server know. There are also black and white TVs all around the restaurant, showing 50s shows. The food is American - meatloaf, fried chicken, pies. This is a marmite restaurant - you'll either love it or hate it, but it is exceptionally well themed and a fairly unique experience.
The Italian restaurant in Hollywood Studios is Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano, serving Italian food, with a Californian twist - not a theme I've ever fully understood if I'm honest. Most reviews of this restaurant will tell you the same thing - it is hugely inconsistent. Some times it is excellent, others times very disappointing. We don't really recommend it for that reason - there are more reliable restaurants available.
Sci-Fi Dine-In Restaurant is a really fun experience - sit inside a convertible car, and eat your meal while watching clips of 1950s sci-fi and silly horror on the big screen at the front of the restaurant. There are also a small number of picnic-style tables at the back of the restaurant, so make sure you request a car when you check-in if that is important to you. The menu is 'all American', consisting of steaks, burger, chicken wings etc. It does have a few cons - you're sitting in rows in the cars ,which can be more challenging for families with young children and we found it a bit too dark. But, like 50s Prime Time Cafe, this is a really fun and pretty unique experience, so worth trying at least once.
Hollywood Studios Restaurants: Character meals
Hollywood and Vine Restaurant is a buffet character meal. For breakfast it offers Disney Junior Play 'n Dine - an opportunity to meet characters from Disney Junior, while starting the day with an American style breakfast buffet - Mickey waffles, omelettes, fresh fruit etc. Currently, you can meet Fancy Nancy, Vamperina, Doc McStuffins and Roadster Racer Goofy. If you've got little ones that watch these Disney Junior shows then we can definitely recommend this meal. The food itself has mixed reviews - although we've always enjoyed it. You can meet Sofia, Vamperina and Doc elsewhere in Hollywood Studios, but we prefer the interactions at the meal, as well as avoiding the queues!
For lunch and dinner Minnie hosts dinner parties in Minnie’s Seasonal Dining - the food and theme of this meal changes throughout the year - examples being tinseltown, spring, summer, halloween and 'holiday' at Christmas time. She is joined by various characters, but typically Mickey, Donald, Daisy and Goofy. The cuisine is American, with some seasonal dishes, served buffet style. The food itself can be a little hit and miss - and we personally prefer other character meals with the same characters on property (Tusker House in Animal Kingdom is our favourite), however this is a popular meal that many people love.
Hollywood Studios Restaurants: Signature Dining
The only Signature restaurant (more expensive, fine dining) in Hollywood Studios is Hollywood Brown Derby. This is inspired by the Brown Derby in Hollywood, themed to the 'Golden Age' of Hollywood, and is officially licensed to replicate it it as much as possible. It has consistently good reviews, for both the food and the service, and as such, it is popular and worth getting your reservation early.