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The Hollywood Brown Derby


The year was 1926 when Hollywood movie entrepreneur Herbert K. Somborn opened a coffee shop on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, Calif. He called it the Brown Derby because New York Gov. Al Smith was in town and was wearing his characteristic hat, a brown derby.

The stars came at first out of friendship, but when the restaurant moved in 1929 to Vine Street in Hollywood, Calif., many initial patrons, including Mary Pickford, Louella Parsons and Loretta Young, remained faithful, primarily because of the flawless service, fine food and 24-hour service. The stars made the Hollywood Brown Derby their second home, a place to see and be seen.

The stories are legendary: Clark Gable proposed to Carole Lombard at the Brown Derby, and Lucille Ball and Jack Haley fought a duel with flying dinner rolls -- a classic food fight that finally ended in a truce.

The chic atmosphere of the original Hollywood Brown Derby is re-created at Disney's Hollywood Studios in the 224-seat restaurant, with teak and mahogany accents, reproductions of the chandeliers and signature brass derby hat lamps. There are even reserved tables for newspaper columnists Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons (they’re entertainers, “on stage” to amuse diners), just as in the 1930s when they helped set the tone of the world’s movie capital.

Over the years, many celebrities were honored on the Derby’s walls with caricatures, a tradition that was started in 1929 by a young Polish artist who signed his portraits “Vitch.” Other artists followed over the years, and today the prestigious tradition continues. Reproductions of the originals line the walls at the new Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

The classic Cobb Salad is the restaurant’s most noted entree, created in 1937 by then-owner Bob Cobb. According to current owner Walter Scharfe, Cobb and theater magnate Sid Grauman prowled the restaurant’s kitchen for a midnight snack; the chopped combination of lettuce, avocado, romaine, watercress, tomatoes, cold chicken breast, hard-boiled egg, chives, blue cheese, bacon and French dressing resulted in a salad that Grauman ordered again the next day. It became an overnight sensation with customers.


Essential Information

Location
Hollywood Boulevard, Disney's Hollywood Studios

Type
Sit-down restaurant.
A la carte.

Included in Disney Dining Plan
Yes (2 credits)


Tips & Fun Facts

One of the Fantasmic Dinner Package restaurants.
Enjoy classic cocktails, poured tableside.
This location can accommodate most special dietary needs. Advance notice may be required and cancellation fees may apply. Please indicate any special dietary need at time of reservation booking.

The Cobb salad was invented at the original Hollywood Brown Derby by restaurateur Bob Cobb.


Advanced Dining Reservations

Reservations recommended. Book up to 180 days in advance (or up to 190 days for Disney Resort guests).
Call 407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463)

A credit card guarantee is required to make reservations. In the event that a cancellation is not made at least one day in advance, the credit card on the reservation will be charged $10 per person. Reservations can be cancelled at any table service restaurant podium, by calling 407-WDW-CNCL, at www.disneyworld.com/dining, or at any guest relations or resort front desk.


Reviews & Ratings

Recommended For

Teens
Adults
Seniors


Meals

Meals Served
Lunch, dinner

Average Cost for full meal
$20 - $40 per person

Typical Menu Items
The menu offers items such as roast pork tenderloin with polenta, red onion marmalade and apple pan juices; skillet-fired Florida grouper over almond-roasted baby greens with lemon-butter sauce; or a spice-grilled filet mignon, in addition to Derby originals.

Most popular menu items
Cobb Salad, Grapefruit Cake.


Nearby Attractions

Voyage of the Little Mermaid
The Magic of Disney Animation
Playhouse Disney Live on Stage

 


 

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