The Best & Worst Hollywood Studios Restaurants

Roundup Rodeo BBQ review

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is known for its immersive lands and thrill rides, but there’s another thing that makes this a fan-favorite park…the food! With nearly 30 different places to eat including table service restaurants, quick service restaurants, snack stands, and lounges, there’s no shortage of places to fuel up for a full day in the theme park. But, if there’s one mistake you don’t want to make when it comes to dining in Hollywood Studios, it’s eating at the wrong restaurants.

While there are some really great places to eat, others fall short when it comes to the menu and quality of food. So, what are the best places to eat? And, what are the worst? Here are six restaurants to add to your must-try list and five to avoid!

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Best Hollywood Studios Restaurants

Roundup Rodeo BBQ: Best Table Service Restaurant

If you’re looking for a fun and immersive dining experience in Hollywood Studios, Roundup Rodeo BBQ is the best place to go! This table service restaurant is located in Toy Story Land and offers a unique atmosphere that turns you into an honorary toy and takes you into Andy’s backyard for a barbecue with some really great food.

The theming of Roundup Rodeo BBQ is top-notch. Everywhere you look, you’ll find hidden details and nods to some of your favorite Toy Story characters. And, while you eat, you’ll even get to play a few games with the gang!

Best & Worst Hollywood Studios Restaurants

The menu at Roundup Rodeo BBQ features family-style BBQ fare, including ribs, chicken, sausage, and more. The portions are generous, and the food is some of the best in the park. You’ll also get to choose from a huge variety of classic sides including including mac and cheese, fried pickles, and coleslaw. And, when you’ve eaten your way through the first serving, you can just ask for more, at no extra charge!

One thing to keep in mind is that Roundup Rodeo BBQ can be quite busy because it’s a brand-new restaurant, especially during peak times. So, if you know that you want to give this spot a try, be sure to make your dining reservation 60 days in advance.

Woody’s Lunch Box: Best Quick Service Restaurant

Prefer to grab a quick bite instead so that you can get back to all the rides? Well, there’s a reason that Woody’s Lunch Box has gained the reputation of being one of the best quick service restaurants in Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Located in Toy Story Land, this spot serves up American comfort food with a fun, creative twist that even your pickiest eaters will love.

Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner Woody’s Lunch Box has become well known for its signature dish, “Totchos.” Made with a base of potato barrels (or tater tots) and then topped with beef and bean chili, shredded cheese, and signature queso with tomatoes and corn chips, this dish is a crowd-pleaser. You can also find things like grilled cheese, a turkey sandwich, and a BBQ Brisket Melt on the menu too. And, it’s basically required that you top off your meal here with a Lunch Box Tart (which is like a homemade pop tart!).

Best & Worst Hollywood Studios Restaurants

Honorable Mention: ABC Commissary is another great quick service option for those looking for more adventurous eats or something different from typical theme park food. They offer a variety of international cuisine options, such as Mediterranean salads and tacos, as well as classic American favorites like burgers and a delicious buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich.

Hollywood & Vine: Best Character Dining Restaurant

Looking for a dining experience that combines great food with Disney character meet and greets? Look no further than Hollywood & Vine, the best character dining restaurant in Hollywood Studios!

Located on Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood & Vine offers a full buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with an extra helping of fun thanks to the presence of Disney characters. It’s important to note that the characters you can meet differ based on what meal you dine here for with Disney Junior characters meeting with guests for breakfast and Minnie and friends meeting with guests for lunch and dinner.

One of the unique things about this restaurant is that it offers a rotating character dining experience – Minnie’s Seasonal Dining. Throughout the year, the restaurant transforms to celebrate different holidays and events. For example, during Halloween, Hollywood & Vine hosts a Minnie’s Halloween Dine where Minnie and friends dress up in their favorite spooky costumes. And, during the holiday season, Hollywood & Vine hosts a Minnie’s Holiday Dine where Minnie and friends celebrate the season with festive attire and decorations.

In terms of food, Hollywood & Vine offers a variety of options to please almost anyone. For breakfast, you can enjoy classic breakfast items like scrambled eggs, bacon, and Mickey waffles. And, for lunch and dinner, you can choose from a variety of options including salads, soups, pasta, seafood, and more.

The Hollywood Brown Derby: Best For a Fancy Meal

If you are looking for a fancy dining experience to celebrate something special in Hollywood Studios, The Hollywood Brown Derby is the place to go. Modeled after the famous Hollywood restaurant, it offers an upscale atmosphere with a touch of old Hollywood glamour.

The menu at The Hollywood Brown Derby is American cuisine with a focus on seafood and steak. It’s not necessarily the most extensive, but it has a good variety of options to choose from. Just note that the prices are on the higher end, though, the quality of the food and service justifies the cost.

Ronto Roasters: Best For a Snack

Need a snack to hold you over to your next meal? Don’t skip Ronto Roasters! Located in Black Spire Outpost’s marketplace in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, this uniquely-themed eatery offers a variety of exotic meats and snacks that have become fan favorites over the years.

One of the most popular items on the menu is the Ronto Wrap. It is a pita wrap filled with roasted pork, grilled pork sausage, peppercorn sauce, and slaw. And, while that’s the most popular version of the Ronto Wrap available here, there are also several other varieties. For example, you can get a breakfast Ronto Wrap with eggs, pork sausage, shredded cheddar, and peppercorn sauce, or try a vegetarian version of the wrap.

In addition to the food, Ronto Roasters also has a unique atmosphere that’s worth checking out. You can watch the droid working tirelessly to turn the roasting spit, which adds to the overall experience.

Oga’s Cantina: Best Theming

While this spot isn’t technically a restaurant in Hollywood Studios, we can’t talk about the best places to eat in the park without mentioning Oga’s Cantina. Located in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, this bar is a masterclass in theming. From the moment you step inside, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported directly into one of your favorite Star Wars movies to a galaxy far, far away.

The attention to detail in Oga’s Cantina is impressive. The decor, music, and even the drinks all contribute to the overall atmosphere. You’ll be surrounded by that signature Star Wars atmosphere. And, the bartenders look like they’ve come straight out of the movies.

One of the highlights of Oga’s Cantina is the drink menu. The cocktails are all named after Star Wars characters and locations. Plus, most of them are served in unique cups or have some fun features. For example, the Yub Nub is served in a souvenir Endor mug, and the Fuzzy Tauntaun makes your lips tingle.

If this sounds like your Star Wars dreams come to life, you’ll want to be sure that you make a reservation early! This lounge books up fast 60 days in advance. And, even with the 45-minute time limit you have to dine here, late-minute reservations can be hard to come by.

Worst Hollywood Studios Restaurants

Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano: Worst Table Service Restaurant

There aren’t many places to avoid in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but one spot that tends to get bad reviews is Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano. While the restaurant has a unique theme and decent food, there are several drawbacks that make it one of the worst table service restaurants in the park.

The service at Mama Melrose’s can be hit or miss. Some guests have reported slow service and long wait times, while others have experienced rushed and inattentive service. This inconsistency can be frustrating for guests who are looking for a relaxing and enjoyable dining experience.

Additionally, the prices at Mama Melrose’s can be quite high for the quality of food and service. While the portion sizes are decent, the quality of the dishes may not be worth the high price tag. Ultimately, there are several other table service restaurants in Hollywood Studios that offer better value for your money. Though, it’s worth noting that this is the only place to get a full Italian meal in the park.

PizzeRizzo: Worst Quick Service Restaurant

The iconic Pizza Planet restaurant became PizzeRizzo back in 2016 and ever since the food has fallen flat. This quick service restaurant serves up pizza and other fast-food Italian options. But, unfortunately, it’s just not that good compared to other spots for a quick bite in the park.

The seating area here can get pretty cramped and uncomfortable during busy times, making it difficult to enjoy your meal. And, because of the crowd that this spot tends to draw thanks to its convenience, wait times to order and get your food can be quite long.

Plus, while the menu at PizzeRizzo may sound appealing, the quality of the food leaves much to be desired. The pizza is often overcooked and dry, with toppings that are sparse and unappetizing. And, the other Italian options, such as the meatball sub and the chicken parmesan sandwich do the job. However, they aren’t anything you’ll be writing home about.

Docking Bay 7: Worst For Picky Eaters

If you’re a picky eater, Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo might not be the best choice for you. The restaurant offers a unique dining experience with its Star Wars-themed atmosphere. But, the menu is on the more adventurous side because of this.

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Docking Bay 7’s menu features a variety of dishes inspired by the Star Wars universe. This includes things like the Braised Shaak Roast and the Fried Endorian Tip-Yip. While these dishes may be appealing to Star Wars fans looking for an authentic experience, you might find yourself straining to find a dish that picky eaters will enjoy.

50’s Prime Time Cafe: Worst For Introverts

Disney World is known for its immersive theming, and the theming at 50’s Prime Time Cafe might spell disaster for you if you’re an introvert. The restaurant’s theme revolves around a 1950s living room. And, the servers play the role of your mom, dad, aunt, or uncle. They will ask you to eat your veggies, clean your plate, and behave well. For some people, this interactive environment can be fun and entertaining. However, if you prefer a more low-key dining experience, you might find it overwhelming.

Best & Worst Hollywood Studios Restaurants

The restaurant’s atmosphere is cozy and nostalgic, with vintage decor and black-and-white TVs showing clips from classic TV shows. The menu features comfort food such as pot roast, fried chicken, and meatloaf, as well as milkshakes, sodas, and beer. The food is decent and the prices are reasonable. But, if you’re someone who wants to eat your meal in peace, we recommend passing on making a reservation here.

Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater: Worst For a Family Meal

If you’re looking for a family-friendly restaurant at Hollywood Studios, the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater may not be the best choice. While the concept of dining in a car-shaped booth and watching retro movie clips may seem exciting, it may not be the most practical for a family meal.

The restaurant is designed to make you feel like you’ve rolled up to a drive-in theater, cars, and all! So, instead of a traditional table, you’ll be seated in a car-shaped booth with two rows of seats that are facing the big screen, not each other. This can make it difficult to have a conversation and interact with each other during the meal. Some people in your party constantly have to turn around to talk to anyone seated in the back. Plus, the constant movie clips playing on the screen can be distracting and take away from any conversation.

So, get ready to eat your way through only the best spots in Disney’s Hollywood Studios! And, if you’re headed to any of the other Disney World Parks during your visit, be sure to check out our recommendations on where you should (and shouldn’t) eat in EPCOT, Magic Kingdom, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom!

Comments

What do you think are the best & worst Hollywood Studios restaurants? Did any of your favorites make the list? Let us know about the worst Disney World meal you’ve ever had in the comments!

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