As Disney’s “HOLLYWOOD” Studios turns closer to their new theming, you can still find one place to transport you back into the Golden Era of Hollywood: The Brown Derby!
When you walk in the door, you're transported back in time. The sights and sounds bring you back to the golden era of Hollywood found in the wonderful movies of the past! As a matter fact, you'll feel like a star just walking into the Brown Derby down as you enter a long corridor and travel under a brown arch canopy.
As you enter, the first think you'll see is a sketch of the original Brown Derby in Hollywood, California. The location is long gone, closed around 1975, and has been transformed into many things but now exists as a vacated building on the corner of Hollywood and Vine. Back in the day, the biggest movie stars would visit - it was the place to be. In fact, this is the very location where Clark Gable proposed to Carol Lombard.
The only Brown Derby still standing is at Walt Disney World. Here in Florida, we have copies of famous celebrity sketches on the walls (the real ones from Hollywood were left to the Maître d’ in Mr. Cobb’s will). Mr. Cobb sold a few at auction (Disney acquired several, kept in the Disney Vault) and kept the rest.
It might seem out of place to have this restaurant at Disney's Hollywood Studios considering the transformation the park is going through, but the connection goes back to 1989 when the Studios first opened. Mr. Cobb, who owned the Brown Derby in Hollywood, once served Mr. Grauman of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in the restaurant after midnight and came up with a very famous snack for him to eat - the famous Cobb salad! And in DHS today, Grauman's Chinese Theater is adjacent to the Brown Derby!
As a tribute to Mr. Cobb, I couldn't eat at the Brown Derby without trying the famous Cobb salad (finely chopped Romain lettuce, bacon, blue cheese, tomatoes and famous dressing)! It didn't disappoint! (Note: I had to modify my salad to fit my diet, so no tomatoes, dressing or extra blue cheese for me)
The Brown Derby has a limited menu. As of this week, you'll find steak, airline chicken and pork on the list with a vegetarian dish. They do have a variety of wonderful desserts and coffees available, but in my opinion, it's really the atmosphere that stands out at this location, even though the food is spectacular! The next time you're in Disney's Hollywood Studios take a step back in time and pop into the Brown Derby for a little respite in your day. I guarantee you'll love it!
