The 50's Prime Time Cafe is a must see, experience, and eat restaurant located in Disney's Hollywood Studios! It can be found across from Echo Lake. From the park entrance head down Hollywood Boulevard and turn left towards the lake. You will find the restaurant on the left near the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. If you've opted for Disney Dining, meals here count as a table service.
Whether you were born before, during, or after this decade it's a walk down memory lane that will leave you filled with nostalgia! The ambiance is awesome, the food is amazing, and I promise, someone at your table is going to get yelled at. You will leave with a full belly and memories that will last a lifetime.
This is a sit down restaurant with very filling meals, but I would stop again just for a milkshake or dessert. 50's Prime Time Cafe opens daily at 11:00am but hours of operation vary. Reservations are recommended. Service is fluid, so there's a good chance even without a reservation, you should be able to get a spot. You may if you have to wait a bit but it will be worth it. The Tune-In Lounge does not take reservations, but seats people on a first come basis. We were told we would have a 45 minute wait, but no sooner did my daughter sit down on the floor in front of the television in the 50's style living room (exactly as a child of the 50's should) when they called us to our table.
From the front desk to the waiting area and every seat in the restaurant you will find reminders of the 50's. As my Mom looked around she said, "Oh, we had that." or, "I remember those." Our table and chairs were replicas from traditional 1950's kitchens (think vinyl and Formica) and our small black and white box television played shows my parents grew up watching and I remember from late night reruns as a kid. Of course it was all new to my kids, but I hope they appreciate it as much as I do when they're older.
Right off the bat I was excited about my peanut butter milkshake, absolute perfection, I seriously could have filled up on the milkshake alone. The food choices are phenomenal, think classic American comfort food, and I was excited that my kids would be eating an incredibly healthy lunch complete with whole wheat pasta, chicken, and vegetables. I had Cousin Ray's Vegetable Lasagna and my Mom had Aunt Liz's Golden Fried Chicken. Our dessert options included S'mores and a 50's Boston Cream Parfait.
The waitress played her part to a T and definitely earned her tip for the day. She yelled at me for not finishing my food and yelled at other diners for being on their phones or not making their selections fast enough, "Come on I don't have all day!" Thankfully most of us minded our manners when she was in sight. She sat and talked with people as if she were part of the family, listened intently and gave advice, whether it was wanted or not.
It's fun to look back and see where we were, maybe some of us wish we were still there, hopefully it makes us appreciate what we have today. Do you enjoy The 50's Prime Time Cafe? What are some of your favorite 50's memories?
