If you are a creature of habit, Disney World might be a tough place for you right now.

While some things in Disney World have remained the same, we’ve seen a TON of changes too. Menu overhauls, price increases, construction changes, supply shortages — there’s a lot going on. Over at 50’s Prime Time Cafe in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the menu has gotten a revamp, with some brand NEW items and some returning favorites. So just what can you expect if you stop by this fan-favorite spot now? We went to try it out and we’re taking you with us!

Atmosphere

Hop in friends, we’re going to…the 50’s?! 50’s Prime Time Cafe is a restaurant located in Disney’s Hollywood Studios that truly embodies that retro feel.

The restaurant is themed to make you feel like you’re back in Mom’s kitchen. You’ll be served by Cast Members claiming to be your cousin, uncle, or other “family members” — and they’ll treat you like it too!

No elbows on the table! Lay out the utensils on your own! Don’t forget to finish your veggies! It really is like being back at home!

The inside of the restaurant truly takes you back in time with that retro design carried throughout the furniture.

We’re at 50’s Prime Time Café in Disney’s Hollywood Studios trying allllll the new menu items! pic.twitter.com/GxrgVJ5kjD

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) June 7, 2022

 

 

 

You’ll even find old back-and-white TVs here showing old clips.

If you’re looking for a unique spot to eat in Disney World that isn’t full of characters but is still jam packed with fun and entertainment, this is your place.

We just want to make a quick shout-out to the Cast Members here. The Cast Member who served us our meal was phenomenal! She really knew her stuff, was helpful, and had all of the commentary and humor needed to turn this dining experience into something special. The Cast Members really make this place shine.

Just remember that the Cast Members are in character! Don’t take them too seriously. This is all meant to be fun! The theme and humor can definitely catch people by surprise though, so it’s something you’ll want to be prepared for.

Okay, back to the restaurant! Inside, you’ll find standard tables and chairs, booths, and those awesome tables with the TVs right near them (you might want to request one of those!).

There are multiple rooms for dining. And if you can’t snatch a reservation but still want to grab a drink, check out Tune-In Lounge, which is connected to the restaurant.

For our meal at 50’s Prime Time, we pulled up the menu on our phone via the QR code, grabbed our paper napkin and utensils…

…and sat down to eat!

Menu

In terms of eats, 50’s Prime Time Cafe serves up dishes that are as classic as its theme. But things here have CHANGED.

On the appetizer menu, 2 NEW items have arrived — the Jalapeño Popper Deviled Eggs and the Creamy Tomato Soup. Note that on the menu it only lists “Deviled Eggs” as the item and instructs guests to ask the server about today’s selection — so the flavors there could vary.

In terms of the entrees, the big change here is that Grandpa Jean’s Chicken Pot Pie is BACK. This is a renamed and slightly different version of a dish we’ve had here in the past. The entrees also still include a number of dishes that are staples of this spot like Aunt Liz’s Golden Fried Chicken, Cousin Megan’s Traditional Meatloaf, and Mom’s Old-fashioned Pot Roast.

More big changes come with the desserts. New to the menu is a Grasshopper Bar, a Lemon Meringue Pie, a Pineapple Upside Down Cake, and a dessert made for the little ones called The Stained Glass Dessert. The Stained Glass Dessert isn’t listed on the adult dessert menu online, but instead is listed under the allergy-friendly kids’ create your own selection. If you want to give it a try, just be sure to ask your server for it!

At 50’s Prime Time, you’ll also find a kids’ menu with appetizers, entrees, sides, and a kids drink.

The menu also features non-alcoholic drinks (the Peanut Butter & Jelly Milk Shake is a MUST-GET!), cocktails…

…wines…

…and beers.

There are also allergy-friendly items available. Now, let’s eat!

Eats

For our meal, we started with the Roasted Tomato Soup, priced at $9. This dish is made of a Savory Blend of Plum Tomatoes, Onions, Herbs, Garnished with Focaccia Croutons.

The tomato soup was oh-so-yummy! Our reporter who tried it fully admitted that they are not a tomato soup fan, but they really enjoyed this dish. The plum tomatoes gave it a more unique flavor, and the added onions and herbs balanced out the tomato flavor.

It had a nice level of pepper and even some basil to it, which added some great spice (in terms of flavor, not heat). It was also slightly chunky, which we enjoyed. That helps add a bit more texture. This soup is one you have to chew, not one to just slurp, so keep that in mind!

You can tell the dish was really made with real plum tomatoes as they added a wonderful sweetness, with a hint of saltiness in the dish rounding things out.

The croutons on top were slightly crunchy and added a really nice texture to the soup. But be warned: if left too long in the soup they will go all mushy on you!

Next, we got the Deviled Eggs from the appetizer menu, priced at $11. During our visit these were Jalapeño Popper Deviled Eggs. Again, remember that this is an item that can change. You’ll want to ask your server what flavor of deviled eggs is available during your trip.

First on the menu: APPETIZERS!

Jalapeño Popper Deviled Eggs
The Creamy Tomato Soup

Which would you want? pic.twitter.com/E0v590eNfW

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) June 7, 2022

 

 

 

The Jalapeño Popper Deviled Eggs featured bacon bits, cheese, and breadcrumbs. The eggs themselves were nice and chewy on the outside, just as they should be, with the yolk wonderfully blended and placed on the inside.

It was slightly cheesy and had a bit of that bacon flavor from the bacon pieces. There was a jalapeño on top that added a bit of a kick, but wasn’t overly spicy. If you’re not into spice, you could take the jalapeño off, since that was really where the kick came from.

The eggs were soaked in jalapeño juice, which is what gave the eggs that yellow tint. The main spice seemed to come from the jalapeño on top though. But overall we’d say that if you don’t like jalapeños at all, you should stay away from this!

Our reporter who tried these shared that they normally don’t like deviled eggs (simply because they don’t like eggs), but these were actually really good (even for them!). The combination of the bacon, cheese, and jalapeño, plus the little breadcrumbs (which added a nice crunch) was great.

Our biggest issue here is the price. For $11 you just get 4 deviled eggs. We really wish there would have been more there for that price.

For our entree, we tried the returning Grandpa Jean’s Chicken Pot Pie, priced at $24. This dish is made with a Traditional Pastry Crust Filled with Chicken, Potatoes, Carrots, Celery, Onions, Corn and Peas.

You already know we had to get Grandpa Jean’s Chicken Pot Pie Wish you could smell this!

: 50’s Prime Time Café pic.twitter.com/buiYesblCM

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) June 7, 2022

 

 

We have had a chicken pot pie at 50’s Prime Time in the past, though it’s generally been called Grandma’s Chicken Pot Pie and featured some slightly different items (previously Grandma’s pot pie featured vegetables, including button mushrooms and bright green peas, as well as chicken and that signature puff pastry on top).

So what’s this version like? Well, the pastry crust is super crunchy on the outside. It almost reminded us of a croissant, but in a good way!

The peas and the corn, however, were not our favorite. They basically tasted like they came out of a can, so…not an ideal situation. The carrots, celery, and onions, on the other hand, all tasted nice and fresh and had a great crunch to them. So, some wins, some losses there.

The pot pie says it features potatoes and we did search for them, but really struggled to find them in there. The gravy was super light and creamy and (from what we tasted) tasted like it had a milk base. There was a slight amount of pepper to it which added a bit of bite, but only if you really search for it (so don’t worry about being overpowered by that pepper).

The chicken was really moist and tasted fresh. It didn’t have much seasoning or flavor on its own, but when paired with the other ingredients in the dish, was good.

Overall, it was a good chicken pot pie! If the corn and peas had felt fresher, that would have really taken this to the next level. More potatoes would have also been good. But still, if you are looking for a pot pie that feels like it was cooked at home, this is a decent choice!

Just don’t go into the dish expecting to be slapped in the face with flavor. It’s more of a gentle tap, as the flavors in the dish were pretty subtle.

Of course, we HAD to get dessert. For our meal we first went with the Grasshopper Bar, priced at $8. This treat features mint white chocolate mousse with chocolate chips on a chocolate chip cookie topped with whip cream and chocolate chips.

This dessert was AMAZING — so fluffy and light! If you like chocolate, do not hesitate — this is the dessert for you!

The white on top of the mint was a white chocolate mousse, while the green was a light mint with a chocolate chip cookie bottom. It’s all topped with whipped cream and chocolate chips.

Time for dessert #1!

Grasshopper Bar — Mint white chocolate mousse with chocolate chips on a chocolate chip cookie topped with whip cream and chocolate chips pic.twitter.com/LilvTRc6c7

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) June 7, 2022

 

It was light and not overly sweet. That bottom cookie was wonderfully chewy and fresh, and the chocolate chips added a great crunchy texture compared to the fluffiness of the mousse.

Actually, we would have liked MORE cookie on the bottom to add more texture/crunch to balance the mousse. But still we think this is a win for chocolate and mint fans.

Finally, we ended our meal with the STAR of the show — the Stained Glass Dessert. This dessert is made with whipped Pineapple fluff studded with cubes of strawberry, lime, and orange gelatin.

It’s not listed on the regular dessert menu but (as we mentioned above) is listed as one of the create-your-own selections/sides for the allergy-friendly kids menu. We were able to ask for it on its own and get it for $3.

And last but not least, dessert #2

The Stained Glass Dessert — Whipped Pineapple fluff studded with cubes of strawberry, lime, and orange gelatin pic.twitter.com/wPXjp0nBXH

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) June 7, 2022

It’s basically cubes of jello made to look like stained glass. Y’all this treat is giving us major childhood vibes. Also, anyone else feel like they’re back at a buffet with those cubes of jello on the buffet line for dessert? (C’mon, you know what we’re talking about!)

Okay, but aside from looks, how does this thing taste? Well, folks, sometimes simple really is best. This dessert was INCREDIBLE!

It was so light and refreshing, we couldn’t get enough! We loved all of the Jell-O flavors that had been mixed together. It felt like eating fresh fruit but in dessert form! It wasn’t not overly sweet and the fact that it was served nice and cold made it so refreshing!

Seriously, there’s not a thing we’d change about this one (except maybe asking that they serve us MORE because it’s that good!).

If you love Jell-O, trust us when we say you’ve GOT to try this.

And that’s it for our lunch! So, should you eat here, particularly after these menu changes? We’ve got thoughts!

Nosh or Not

Stop by 50’s Prime Time Cafe if:

• You’re looking for a fun environment that gives you food and a show: There might not be a full dinner theater going on here or a character experience, but 50’s Prime Time Cafe delivers on entertainment via its hilarious Cast Members. If you’re okay with being heckled and having a bit of fun, this could be the perfect place.
• You are looking for classic eats that’ll feel like mom’s cooking: The whole theme of 50’s Prime Time Cafe is that it’s mom’s kitchen, and the menu delivers on that. Fried chicken, meatloaf, chicken pot pie — these are comfort foods that’ll really make you feel at home. They’re not the most unique things in the world, but if you’re okay with that, then you could really enjoy this.
• You’re looking for a meal that won’t break the bank: While this isn’t the cheapest meal you can have in Disney World, it’s also not the most expensive. Entrees range in price from $17 to $27. Of course, the $27 entrees aren’t exactly cheap, but they’re not as bad as the $62 you’ll spend per adult at Be Our Guest (taking into account that the $62 does include more than just an entree). So if you’re looking for something nicer than a quick service but not as expensive as some of the signature spots, this could be a good middle ground.

Skip 50’s Prime Time Cafe if:

• You’re looking to eat in peace and quiet: The Cast Members here are truly playing a role/character, and they play it well. They’ll heckle you, poke fun at you for putting your elbows on the table, and truly treat you the way that family does. So if you don’t want to get heckled, don’t want to be made fun of (in a sarcastic way), and don’t want to play along with the story of this place, SKIP this spot.
• You’re looking for a place that feels very open and spacious: The seating here is all indoors and is a bit cramped in spots. If you’re looking for a place where things feel really spread out, consider heading elsewhere.
• You want food that is fancy or really unique: If you want something that’ll make you feel fancy (like, pinkies up fancy) this isn’t it. You’ll be better off heading to a place like The Hollywood Brown Derby in Hollywood Studios for a fancier meal. Also, if you’re an adventurous eater looking for unique snacks you can’t find anywhere else, this isn’t exactly it. You’ll find more unique food items over in EPCOT as you dine around the World.

Overall

Getting a dining reservation at 50’s Prime Time Cafe can be a bit tough, so just be sure to try and plan well in advance or keep checking back. Dining reservations appeared to be all full at first, but after repeatedly checking Disney’s website, we were able to find something, so it pays to be persistent!

Again, we’ve gotta give it up for the servers here. Our server was FANTASTIC. They played their character role perfectly — giving both mean and nice vibes, and they really stuck to their acting the whole time. But they also knew the food and the menu well, were playing with the guests, and really made things special.

Our good came out super fast too — which was kind-of a surprise given how busy they were at the time of our visit.

Overall, the food is really good, and we truly enjoyed some of the new additions (the desserts we had were fantastic, the deviled eggs won over even an egg-hater, and the tomato soup was really great as well), but it’s the environment and the Cast Members that really make this place special.

What do you think? Is 50’s Prime Time Cafe a “must” for you? Will you be making a special trip just to try their newer/returning items? Tell us in the comments!

Looking for other spots to eat in Hollywood Studios? Click here to check out our listing of Hollywood Studios restaurant, or click here to see our ultimate guide to eating in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

You can also check out our video below where we RANK every single restaurant in the park! And, as always, stay tuned for more Disney news and reviews!

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Are you a fan of 50’s Prime Time Cafe? Tell us in the comments!

The post REVIEW: 50’s Prime Time Cafe Has a REVAMPED Menu and We’re Giving it a Try first appeared on the disney food blog.