Today we are time-traveling to the 1950s for a meal and a show at Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Guests will be able to enjoy all-American cuisine and various sci-fi movie clips. I grew up dining at this restaurant, so I already have a strong love for it, but it has been a while since I last ate here. When I say a while, I mean years. I am beyond excited about this experience because the restaurant recently added new plant-based options. This dining experience is listed as a unique/themed dining experience, and Disney also notes that reservations are accepted.
Before jumping into the food, I want to discuss the interior. The theming in here is my absolute favorite. When we used to eat here on vacation, it also made me feel like I somehow entered the movie Grease. There are cars that fill the location that serve as tables for guests. Small tables are available if you don’t want to sit in one of the cars.
It is also very dark inside the restaurant, so I apologize that some of these pictures are not the best. The seating and the lighting does not make for great photo spots regarding food. To me, the best part of the experience is the huge screen playing various trailers of sci-fi movies. Throughout the loop, Walt Disney appears, which always warms my heart.
Appetizers
I ordered the Spinach and Artichoke Dip with Cashew Cheese for my appetizer. This dip is made with a blend of spinach, artichoke, red peppers, cauliflower, cashew cheese, and oat milk, served with homemade chips. The best part is that this whole dish is plant-based. I had high hopes for this $13 dish, which didn’t meet my expectations. I did enjoy it, though.
What threw me off was that it was a bit on the sweeter side, but I think that’s because of the oat milk. I also wished that this dish’s red pepper pulled through more. Everything else about it was great. The consistency was perfect, making for an excellent dip for the french fries that came with my meal. If I had to rate it, I would give it a 6 out of 10.
Craig ordered the Sci-Fi smoked wings. This dish comprises smoked chicken wings tossed in a porter barbecue sauce with a house-made pineapple and poppy seed coleslaw. Unfortunately, this only came with four disappointing wings, especially since it cost $15. Craig said they were okay, and Ryno tried them and said he enjoyed the wings.
Ryno ordered the Fried Dill Pickles, served with ranch and horseradish dipping sauce. This dish cost $12 and came with a good amount of pickles. He also mentioned that the horseradish was the way to go regarding the dipping sauces. The biggest takeaway is that he would’ve rather had Craig’s appetizer.
Entrees
The primary food type here is burgers because you are at the drive-in. There’s nothing better than a burger and a milkshake while watching sci-fi movies.
I ordered the Flying Saucer Impossible Burger. This burger is made with a grilled plant-based burger, grilled portabello mushrooms, cashew mozzarella, garlic-tomato “aioli,” nut-free pesto, lettuce, and tomato, and costs $22.
This entire burger is plant-based, and no dairy can be found in this or other animal products. I really enjoyed this burger and am mad that I didn’t finish it. I just got so full quickly because I also ordered a milkshake with my burger. The milkshake I ordered was the Cookie Shake, made with plant-based milk and cookies topped with coconut whipped cream. This shake was delicious, and I would go back to get that. The shake cost $7, and I think it is 100% worth it. I would rate my burger an 8 out of 10, and the shake was perfection.
Craig ordered the Drive-in BBQ Burger, made with the signature blend of beef and house-made seasoning served on a brioche bun topped with 9-hour smoked pork, bourbon-bacon jam, cheddar, lettuce, and barbecue sauce. This jam-packed sandwich costs $23.
He upgraded his side to beer-battered onion rings, and they looked great from where I was sitting. Craig mentioned that he wished they had added some crunchy onions to the sandwich to give it that texture it was missing but that it was a good burger. He did share this with Ryno, and his only comment was that, at some points, it felt like all he was tasting was the flavor from the bourbon-bacon jam.
Ryno ordered the Pork on Pork Burger, which is made with grilled house-made pork patty topped with roasted pork belly, white sharp cheddar, caramelized onions, cabbage coleslaw, and a house-made Carolina mustard. When Ryno was talking about his $23 burger, he mentioned how he loves adding coleslaw to dishes like this because it adds texture to the sandwich. He also noted that Carolina mustard sauce really stood out to him.
Desserts
As I stated above, I ordered the plant-based shake, which I counted as my dessert even though I enjoyed it with my meal. I highly recommend ordering this shake if you are someone that eats plant-based. I grew up eating burgers and milkshakes, and I can do that here at Sci-Fi Dine-in makes me very happy.
Craig ordered the Out-of-this-World dessert served with pineapple mousse, passion fruit cosmic swirl, and a spiced lime spaceship garnished with a blood orange coulis. They don’t tell you that it comes on top of a massive piece of chocolate cake.
Craig tried each layer independently and said the chocolate cake was the worst part. He described it as being dense and dry, which is never good when it comes to cake. The pineapple mousse had more of a flan type of consistency which threw him off, but he did really enjoy the spiced lime spaceship. This confusing dessert that wasn’t out of this world cost $10.
Ryno ordered The Red Planet, a white chocolate cheesecake with spiced blueberry compote on graham cracker tart with a matcha sponge with golden candied almonds. His dessert of the two they ordered was clearly the winner. Ryno loved the blueberry compote that sat under the dessert and mentioned that he loves desserts with a graham cracker crust. This dessert is priced at $9.
Overall Thoughts
I came in already as a fan of Sci-Fi Dine-in and was very excited to dine here again. When I was younger, we used to visit this restaurant all the time, so stepping back into that space brought back so many memories for me. I grew up going to Johnny Rockets as a kid with my dad, where we’d get burgers and milkshakes, and when we came to Disney, this was our spot. On this trip, I could make new memories, try new food items, and feel that sense of nostalgia.
This highly-themed restaurant is perfect for families or groups with picky eaters or who want to eat familiar foods. They do have more than just burgers. The menu has salads, two types of pasta, and a grilled chicken sandwich. So you see, there really is something for everyone. I think that’s what I love about Sci-fi; no one feels left out here. Be sure to look around when you are walking around the restaurant. They have memorabilia everywhere, and you won’t want to miss it. Don’t just look side to side; be sure to look up too.
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