Dining can often be overlooked at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The park doesn't have as many fun sweet treats as Magic Kingdom, or as many adventurous dishes as EPCOT and Animal Kingdom. Simply put, people come here for the attractions. However, you can find some tasty hidden gems if you know where to look. One of these underrated dining locations is Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano.
Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano is tucked away in Grand Avenue at Disney's Hollywood Studios (near the exit of Muppet Vision 3D). It may not look like much more than a dressed-up warehouse from the outside, but walking inside reveals a whole new narrative. The warehouse finds Italian life in the form of check curtains, string lights, hanging food items, and more. We find the overall tone to be very warm and inviting.
You will certainly feel "at home" from the moment you walk in to Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano. The staff here is very welcoming. They are also very knowledgeable of all menu items, and are prepared to answer all questions with Italian flair. Service here is excellent and you will not feel neglected at any time.
Continuing with our theme of pleasant surprises, the food at Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano is worthy of more attention than it receives. The food here has always been good, but we have found that the quality has only gone up recently. From the charred strip steak to the oven-baked chicken alla parmigiana (and everything in-between), you'll find a deep, rich pop of flavors in each dish. The polenta cake, mushroom, and herb cauliflower is an option for a more adventurous eater. Meanwhile, there's always spaghetti and meatballs for cautious eaters. Either way you will enjoy authentic Italian flavors in every bite. Now many of the foods at Mama Melrose's can be pretty heavy, so maybe don't go straight to The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror after dinner. Still, don't let that stop you from experiencing this delicious meal.
In years past dining at Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano came with a package that included preferred seating for Fantasmic!, the live nighttime show and firework display at Hollywood Studios. The package is temporarily unavailable and we do not know when it may return. We will keep our ears open for news, so check back for updates on the situation.
We see Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano as an underappreciated dining location at Disney's Hollywood Studios. For more information and a free no-obligation quote contact a TTC travel advisor today!