We’ve dined in some strange and unique places in Disney World!

We’ve eaten inside of cars, next to aquariums, and even in space (more than once, in fact). Disney’s pretty much the KING of themed dining, and so when we got the chance to go to a restaurant that feels like dining in mom’s kitchen, we were like “sign us UP!” The only catch? They might yell at us!

Does any of this sound familiar? If you’re a longtime Disney World fan or frequent visitor, you probably know exactly what we’re talking about. We recently took a trip to 50’s Prime Time Cafe in Hollywood Studios, and we ordered everything. Yep, EVERYTHING. So now, it’s time to break it down — what was the best? What was the worst? Is it worth your time and money to visit this spot?

Let’s dive in!

Atmosphere

50’s Prime Time Cafe is located in the Echo Lake area at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. To dine here, you’ll probably want to snag a reservation, but you can check to see if there’s walk-up availability on the day of your visit. (Though that’s not guaranteed!)

After you check in with the host’s stand outside, you can find a spot to chill out and wait. Prime Time is also home to the Tune-In Lounge, where you can grab a couple drinks whether you’re dining at the restaurant or not.

There’s also a small waiting area indoors that reminds us of a living room from the 1950s. How cute!

Once your table is called, you’ll be seated in one of the many dining areas of this restaurant — they’re broken up into several rooms. Some tables even have little TVs that play retro cartoons for you to watch while you eat. The vibe here is like you’re dining in mom’s kitchen!

So the schtick with this restaurant is that you’re eating with family, and your servers are your long-lost cousins. That means that if you misbehave during your meal, you just might get punished!

During our meal, we got in trouble multiple times for having our elbows on the table (whoops!) and we’ve seen others get reprimanded for not eating all of their vegetables. Beware, because the punishments can be EMBARRASSING. Two of our reporters had to dance and sing “I’m a Little Teapot” in front of the entire room.

Of course, if you don’t want to participate in the shenanigans, you can tell your server that you’d like to simply observe. They’ll be happy to respect that request.

Generally, the jokes and the teasing are the main reason that many people come to this restaurant. You’re in for an entertaining experience, no matter what happens!

Menu

The menu here is classic American comfort food with a 1950’s era kitsch for a good old-fashioned family gathering to take you back to a bygone era.

The main courses…

…desserts…

…and a few kid-friendly options.

There are even a few create-your-own kid options, too!

And a few specialty drinks for both kids…

…and adults!

Just don’t tell Dad that us big kids broke into his liquor cabinet! If that’s not what you’re looking for, then there are also a few beer options…

… and wine options…

…with a few more for good measure!

There are also several allergy-friendly menu options to review as well!

Drinks

Let’s start this meal out with some drinks! Who’s thirsty?!

We decided to have a little variety with our beverages, so part of our group ordered some of the alcoholic specialties on the menu, while tothers chose milkshakes. First up, we’ve got the Magical Star Cocktail that’s made with X-Fusion organic mango and passion fruit liqueur, Parrot Bay Coconut Rum, pineapple juice, and a souvenir multicolored glow cube. It’s $17.50.

This one was really sweet and we thought it basically just tasted like pineapple juice. You’ll probably like this if you’re a fan of fruity, rum-forward drinks. It’s definitely got that beachy vacation vibe flavor-wise! It’s a little on the pricey side, so it’s probably not a must-get in terms of drinks.

Next up was the Chocolate Martini for $15.50. It’s made with Mozard Chocolate Liqueur, Stoli Vanil Vodka, White Creme de Cacao Liqueur, and Frangelico Liqueur.

The reporter who tried this drink thought it was rich and smooth, but probably best saved for a drink at the end of your meal. The richness of the chocolate doesn’t exactly pair well with all the heavy homestyle food, so this would be a nice dessert drink instead.

And finally, there’s the After Shock. This off-menu drink is essentially just a shot of fireball and a Angry Orchard Hard Cider. The shot comes in a glass and you mix it yourself for $15.

We were hoping for a little more from a “secret menu” drink, but it was essentially just apple cinnamon cider. It’s a lighter drink, which was nice, but it’s overall pretty basic and it’s something that you can order anywhere.

Now, on to the REAL excitement — the milkshakes! We got two of Prime Time’s most popular flavors, starting with their signature shake, the Peanut Butter & Jelly Milk Shake for $9.

Y’all, this LEGIT tastes like peanut butter and jelly mixed together and it is DELICIOUS. So smooth and creamy and just sweet enough. An absolute must-try, especially for the novelty of it all.

And then there’s the classic Chocolate Milk Shake for $9 as well. This was thick (so thick it was hard to get it through the straw at first!) and very creamy.

The flavor was rich and delicious and it’s just overall a really good chocolate shake. We’d recommend it, but we’re still probably picking that PB&J shake first!

Now on to the FOOD.

Eats

Appetizers were up first to get us started!

We opted for the Beer-Battered Onion Rings with Horseradish Sauce first.

These come with horseradish sauce and ketchup for dipping on the side. These confused us a bit because some were easy to bite into and pull apart…

… and others were difficult because the onion slid out of the breading.

The horseradish was not spicy like we expected – it reminded us more of ranch dressing with the initial taste. We enjoyed them the best when they were hot and fresh. These cost us $12!

Then it was time to try the Roasted Tomato Soup.

This soup is a savory blend of plum tomatoes, onions, and herbs, and is garnished with focaccia croutons. However, our soup was lumpy, not creamy like some other soups.

Some of us missed the creamy texture, while a few of us didn’t mind the lumpiness. One thing we could all agree on was a strong note of the roasted tomatoes. Along with that strong taste we also had several herby flavors throughout. Overall this is one that was somewhat divisive with our team. This dish cost us $9!

Then we moved along to Cousin Amy’s Iceberg Lettuce Wedge.

This is actually a plant-based menu offering made of rice paper bacon, sliced red onions, cherry tomatoes, chives, and plant-based ranch dressing.

All in all, this was a pretty basic salad. The plant-based ranch tasted very similar to the homemade ranch that you get at any restaurant but nothing here was super exciting, it was all just fine. We didn’t really dislike it, but it’s probably not the best use of your money here. This dish cost us $11!

It was time to turn our attention to the Deviled Eggs!

When you go to order this one, before you do, you should ask your server about “today’s selection” because it could vary. On this particular day, ours were jalapeno deviled eggs topped with little slices of jalapeno, and there was jalapeno juice in the filling. They also came with bread crumbs on top, and we liked the texture that those added. The filling was nice and creamy.

The spices on the deviled eggs varied in levels! Some of us got really spicy ones and others got mild ones – it all boiled down to the jalapeno slice on top. Without the jalapeno slice on top, they’re not super spicy– you get most of the jalapeno flavor from the acidity in the filling.

We really enjoyed these and felt like they are a good twist on deviled eggs. Our server also noted that she expected the deviled egg flavor to change at some point in the future but didn’t know when. These cost us $11!

Next up was the Fried Herb & Garlic Cheese!

These are served with raspberry sauce, grapes, and apples, but ours also came with strawberries. The crostini was garlicky and buttery. The crust on the cheese was nice and added a little bit of texture to the smooth cheese.

The cheese was very smooth and herbaceous.

We all LOVED it. We could get this as an entree and be happy. We really wished it was served in a larger portion, but this one is on the smaller side since it’s meant to be an appetizer. The strawberry added a lot of brightness when you got it on the fork with a bite of the cheese. YUM. This was our overall favorite appetizer and cost us $10!

EDITOR’S UPDATE: Please be aware that, since this post was originally published, the Fried Cheese has been removed from the menu at 50’s Prime Time Cafe; however, a kind reader informed us that they were able to get it by request even after it was removed! So, it might be worth asking on your visit. 

Then it was time to dig into the real food. We tried a little bit of (almost) everything for our entrees!

First up, we ordered the Caesar Salad, which was romaine lettuce tossed with Caesar dressing, grated parmesan, and garlic croutons.

This was a surprisingly fresh salad with crisp, crunchy lettuce. It was pretty basic, but it had a lot of cheese on top and the croutons were delicious, so we didn’t mind!

We ordered this without meat, but you could order it with chicken for $17 or salmon for $19.

Next up, we tried the Sustainable Verlasso Salmon for $27. This seared fresh salmon was served with grain mustard-beurre blanc, fingerling potatoes with olive oil, and green beans.

Unfortunately, we thought this salmon was a little dry. But, the beurre blanc sauce was delicious! It was buttery and a little tangy, and it paired really well with the salmon. We really wish the salmon wasn’t overcooked, because this could have been a stand-out meal.

On the side, the green beans were al dente and very fresh and we loved them — but the potatoes were a little disappointing. They were a tad dry and bland.

You know we had to order A Sampling of Mom’s Favorite Recipes! This comes with golden-fried chicken, fork-tender pot roast, and traditional meatloaf with all the fixin’s.

To start, the chicken was pretty good and had a nice crispy skin.

It wasn’t on par with the chicken at Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming, but for what it was we really enjoyed it.

Next, the meatloaf was moist and tender and packed a fair amount of flavor.

We especially loved the glaze on top. It was sweet and added a nice touch!

The pot roast was pretty plain, unfortunately. It was tender enough, but it really didn’t wow us.

The flavors weren’t as developed as we would have hoped for a pot roast. Since you can order all of these mains as their own meal, we’d suggest ordering either the chicken or the meatloaf by itself.

On the side, the mashed potatoes were actually really good — much better than the potatoes served with the salmon. They were creamy and flavorful, and the gravy was savory and bold. The green beans were similar to the ones served with the salmon — al dente, fresh, and delicious.

Moving on to Grandpa Jean’s Chicken Pot Pie — we ordered this one for $24. This is a traditional pastry crust filled with chicken, potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, corn, and peas. 

Sadly, this was our least favorite of the entrees. It was very hearty, but it was also rather bland. The pastry wasn’t buttery and flaky like we would have hoped and the whole thing needed a fair amount more of seasoning.

Much of the filling tasted like it had come out of a can. There are better entrees here!

Next up, we got the 50s Prime Time Cafe Blue Plate Special — a seasonal alternative with all the fixings! For us, that meant Shrimp and Grits with Andouille Sausage.

This was one of our favorite entrees of the bunch! The shrimp were nice and juicy, and the andouille was tender and flavorful. It had a slight kick to it, but not every bite was spicy.

The grits themselves didn’t blow us away — they were lumpy instead of creamy, but the flavor was still good. The dish as a whole was pretty middle-of-the-road for Shrimp and Grits in Disney World, but we would order them again.

For our last entree, we got Cousin Harold’s Vegetable Garden, which is a seasonal alternative with all the fixings — for us, that meant a plant-based pasta dish with rigatoni pasta, plant-based chicken, capers, tomatoes, cucumbers, and marinara sauce. We actually really loved this, and it was a stand-out dish in the bunch!

The veggies were basically like a stew — the onions and zucchini had a nice crunch to them and the tomatoes were fresh and bright. The fake chicken was shockingly good, and it was hard to tell it wasn’t real meat!

This was a tad on the spicy side, possibly from red pepper flakes, so keep that in mind if you’re not a fan of spice.

Overall this was a great choice, even for non-plant-based diners!

Now it’s finally time for the most important course of our meal, DESSERT! There were quite a few delicious treats to check out, and even though we were struggling to eat any more at this point, we pushed through. Ya know, for science. 😉

First up is an iconic treat at 50’s Prime Time Cafe…it’s Dad’s Favorite Chocolate-Peanut Butter Layered Cake. This is made with layers of chocolate cake with what seemed to be peanut butter-chocolate mousse in-between for $8.

It was incredibly fudgy and rich, and very chocolate-forward but not too sugary. If you can handle lots of chocolate but don’t like overly sweet things, you would like this. We thought it was one of the best desserts, although our one complaint is that the peanut butter flavor was very subtle and we would’ve liked a little bit more of it.

Next we have the Traditional Warm Apple Crisp for $7.50, which is a plant-based dessert. This was  essentially an apple pie filling with oats sprinkled on top.

It’s served in a bowl, and the texture is very crunchy. The apples were crispy and lightly sweetened, and overall the flavor wasn’t bad. However, we do think we would’ve liked this more if we’d ordered it a la mode…which IS an option!

Another fruity dessert you can order is the Lemon Meringue Pie for $9. The lemon curd is very fresh and has a bright, strong lemon flavor. There’s a little bit of sweetness, but not so much to be overwhelming.

It comes with a raspberry sauce on the side that was very fresh and paired well with the lemon flavor-wise. The crust was soft and moist, making the perfect consistency for scooping with a spoon. The meringue on top was soft instead of crunchy, but we really enjoyed the blend of textures here.

And last but not least, we got the Pineapple Upside Down Cake for $9.50. It’s a very soft and moist vanilla cake base with pineapples on top and whipped cream on the side.

The pineapple slices are hard to cut but add a fun fruitiness. The juice from the pineapples almost gives us a rum cake flavor – it tastes kind of boozy. If you’re not interested in cakes with an alcoholic base, this might not be for you.

And even though we didn’t order it on this particular visit, we’ve had the Grasshopper Bar here recently. This treat features mint white chocolate mousse with chocolate chips on a chocolate chip cookie topped with whipped cream and chocolate chips.

It’s $9, and it’s fluffy, light, minty, and delicious. We absolutely recommend it!

Now that we’re all wrapped up on the food, let’s talk about our experience as a whole!

Overall

If you’re going to 50’s Prime Time Cafe, you’re probably going for the EXPERIENCE! There were a few standout food items that we enjoyed, like the PB&J shake, the fried cheese, Cousin Harold’s Vegetable Garden, the sampler platter, and the peanut butter and chocolate cake. However, most of the other things we ate were pretty standard.

There isn’t a lot on the menu here that will absolutely knock your socks off or blow you away, but the menu has plenty of crowd-pleaser options for the whole family. And if you like the fun, joke-friendly, side-splitting laughter atmosphere of watching your friends get embarrassed publicly, then we highly suggest it!

Nosh or Not?

Travel back in time and dine with your cousins if…

• You have some picky eaters in your party. Most of the menu here is filled with homestyle favorites, so those who don’t eat adventurously can probably enjoy this restaurant.
• You want a fun and quirky atmosphere. If you want to joke with your servers, laugh with your family, and watch a lot of wild shenanigans, this is the place for you!
• You love all things retro and 1950s. Just stepping inside this restaurant is like a blast from the past! They really do decorate the dining rooms to look like mom’s kitchen, and the old TV shows playing all around will put you in a nostalgic mood.

Stay in the 21st century and eat elsewhere if…

• The shenanigans make you uncomfortable. You can ask to not participate in the fun happenings at the restaurant, but unless there’s something on the menu you REALLY love, it might not be worth visiting otherwise. Especially if you’re not interested in just sitting an watching strangers get embarrassed.
• You want top-notch, knock-your-socks-off eats. The menu here is good, and most of the items we’d eat if they were put in front of us, but like we mentioned above — it’s pretty standard. There isn’t much here that is original or couldn’t be ordered elsewhere.
• You want a fast meal. Because of the happenings around the restaurant, this isn’t the fastest service you’ll get at a table service restaurant in Disney World. If you’re in a hurry, go elsewhere.

That’s a wrap on our visit to 50’s Prime Time Cafe! Stay tuned to DFB for more full food reviews from around Disney World and all the details you need to know before your upcoming vacation.

With DOZENS of places to eat at Disney World, we know it can be tough to plan your meals. That’s why we wrote the DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World. We have reviews, pictures, and details about every restaurant all in one digital download – along with ALL of our best tips and strategies from decades of Disney World trips. We’ve got a special discount code for DFB readers, too! Use WDW2023 at checkout for 25% off!

Click Here to See Our List of Best Restaurants in Hollywood Studios!

 Have you ever been to 50’s Prime Time Cafe in Disney World? Tell us in the comments!