50’s Prime Time Cafe
Located at the Disney-MGM Studios
Lunch Review

We had managed a priority seating for 12:00 noon at one of the more popular theme park lunch spots at Walt Disney World and we were feeling pretty good about it. After checking in at a small desk located just inside we had a seat in the waiting area that is set up to look like a living room of the 1950’s. We sat on furniture that might be familiar to those of us that grew up in the “Leave it to Beaver” and “Father Knows Best” era, and even included a vintage TV playing reruns from the 1950’s.

The whole dining experience is meant to draw you into a tongue n' cheek retrospective of an era where families sat down at the kitchen table and Mom served them some good old fashioned wholesome food.

It was only about a 15 minute wait before the hostess called out that “Mom” was now seating the Evans kids. We were escorted to our table which is located in one of the many smaller rooms that make up this restaurant’s dining room. Each of these rooms follows the theme and is designed to resemble a kitchen of the 1950’s complete with children’s artwork displayed on the refrigerator. There were already several families seated at the 2 or 3 other tables scattered around “our kitchen” each in various stages of their meal. Our server who identified herself as “Sis” informed us that she would let “Mom” know what we wanted to eat, but that we were going to have to set the table ourselves and we better not let “Mom” see us wearing our hats in the kitchen during lunch.

With “Sis” gone to retrieve our drink orders we took some time to review the menu.
If you are not ready for a complete meal and would prefer a sandwich and salad “Mom” was far sighted enough to pick up some at the grocery store just for you. There were maybe 10 or so complete meals found in the Mom's Family Recipes section of the menu and about a half a dozen sandwiches or salads offered.

Feeling like we needed or wanted a little pampering from “Mom” we both settled on the Golden Fried Chicken - served with mashed potatoes, chicken gravy and house vegetables.

As “Sis” served our lunch she was quick to tell us that if we didn’t take our elbows off the table she would tell “Mom”. With our food now in front of us I began to enjoy the Fried Chicken Dinner that had been set down in front of me. I know “Mom” had not prepared my Fried Chicken, but the kitchen staff and servers had obviously put some effort, if not TLC in the preparation, because the chicken was tender and moist and the mashed potatoes were hot and tasty. The vegetables were surprisingly well prepared and not over done the way my mom used to make them.

A lot of the fun that the cast members who work at 50’s Prime Time Café have with their guests will depend on how receptive the guests are. We have eaten here on several occasions and enjoy the interaction and will even encourage it by calling our server “Sis” and asking why “Mom” is taking so long getting our food ready. This type of dining experience may not be for everyone but for these two Disney Guests who were about to depart for a world where lunch is often served without even a smile it was a fitting way to say good bye to Walt Disney World where even lunch can be fun.

Here is peek at some of what “Mom” had to offer.

Onion Rings - thinly sliced deep-fried onions with a spicy breading, served with horseradish cream sauce

Chicken Noodle Soup - hearty mixture of chicken, carrots, celery, onions and egg noodles

Country Club Salad - fresh garden greens and baby lettuce with your choice of dressing

Mom's Family Recipes

Open Faced Steak Sandwich - pan-seared 8 ounce NY Strip and mixed greens on toasted French bread topped with roasted tomato vinaigrette, garnished with Gorgonzola cheese and fried onion strings

BBQ Chicken Sandwich - BBQ spiced rubbed chicken breast grilled and topped with maple-glazed bacon, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato and creamy peppercorn sauce on a Kaiser roll with fries

Traditional Meatloaf - a blend of beef and pork topped with tomato glaze, served with mashed potatoes and house vegetables

Old-Fashioned Pot Roast - slow-roasted until fork tender, mashed potatoes, carrots, celery and onions

Turkey Sandwich - smoked turkey stacked on fresh seven-grain bread with lettuce, tomatoes, Swiss cheese and cranberry mayonnaise

Ham Sandwich - shaved ham piled high with Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, and honey mustard sauce on marble rye

Chicken Caesar Salad - grilled spice-rubbed chicken served over crisp Romaine lettuce tossed with traditional dressing and sprinkled with grated parmesan cheese and garlic croutons

Golden Fried Chicken - served with mashed potatoes, chicken gravy and house vegetables