Walt Disney World offers lots of options for truly unique dining, and at 50s Prime Time Café, diners are in for a one-of-a-kind meal with ‘family’.

That’s because Prime Time Cafe is built around the classic 1950s home, with family recipes coming from the kitchen and kitschy decor everywhere.

Speaking of the classic 1950s home — something to note about this restaurant is that the waitstaff are encouraged to interact with the guests as though they’re family. This means that you can be sent to the corner or be told to sing I’m a Little Teapot in front of the whole restaurant if you put your elbows on the table or don’t finish your vegetables. It’s always fun to see Uncle Bruce singing I’m a Little Teapot, don’t get me wrong — but if that kind of interaction isn’t on the menu for YOU, you can always ask your server to tone down the antics with your table.

Even the menu has a family feel, including drinks From Dad’s Liquor Cabinet and meals with names like Cousin Megan’s Traditional Meatloaf and Mom’s Old-Fashioned Pot Roast.

The kids’ menu likewise pays homage to our Disney family with Mom’s Meatless Meatballs and Grandpa’s Grilled Chicken as well as Goofy’s Salmon.

And remember: if you need allergen info, you can find it online, now!

I started this meal with a Peanut Butter and Jelly Milkshake — see the recipe here! The milkshakes at Prime Time are classic, and the PB&J is a delicious combination of vanilla ice cream, peanut butter, grape jelly, and milk. It’s totally dessert-worthy if you’re not into it as a starter.

One of my faaaaavorite things to eat here — and I get it on pretty much every visit — is Fried Herb and Garlic Cheese. This is basically fried Boursin and it’s soooooo delicious. For a few years they took this off the menu, but it came back in 2012 and I was thrilled! The toasty bread is a good, simple vehicle for the cheese.

The Chicken Noodle Soup is as straightforward as it gets: chicken, a few vegetables, and wide egg noodles. Got a picky eater in tow? This is a no-fail, if they’re into soup!

Beer-Battered Onion Rings are massive, crispy, and golden brown. I love ’em! The accompanying horseradish sauce is a funky partner — a little spicy, a little creamy — but if you want to go for ketchup instead, they’re still awesome!

Grandma’s Chicken Pot Pie is a delicious entree choice. It’s packed with vegetables, including button mushrooms and bright green peas, and it’s topped with a square of puffed pastry. Large pieces of chicken round out this filling dish. The flavor could be more pronounced, but it is a guest favorite.

The kids’ version here is just about the same size — and it comes with Mickey-shaped puffed pastry instead. Speaking of which: where’s the Mickey-shaped pastry love for the grown ups?!

Perhaps the most well-known item on the menu here is one that allows diners to try three of the restaurant’s top dishes on one plate. It’s called A Sampling of Mom’s Favorite Recipes, and it’s a good way to get a taste of everything if you’re having trouble deciding. The Sampling includes servings of Cousin Megan’s Traditional Meatloaf, Mom’s Old-Fashioned Pot Roast, and Aunt Liz’s Golden Fried Chicken.

Portioned sides include mashed potatoes with brown gravy and seasonal vegetables (carrots and green beans on my visit). My favorite of the three items is always the chicken, but my husband prefers the pot roast. What’s your favorite?

Desserts at 50s Prime Time will probably look familiar to you. First up: Warm Apple Crisp a la Mode. This is a bowl of canned apple pie filling, basically, topped with a brown sugary, oaty crisp. When served warm with ice cream, it’s a little overwhelmed by melted cream, but it’s all soupy and delicious when mixed together. And I’m okay with it!

Mom’s Brownie is a rich dessert, featuring a muffin-like heft of chocolate brownie topped with another massive scoop of ice cream. There’s nothing inspired here, but if you like a brownie that’s not overly cake-y, this will work for you!

Overall

Woo, 50s Prime Time Café is a tasty and fun place to dine, where the waitstaff is part of your family, and you better keep your elbows off the table! The unique dining experience here is part of the charm, even if the food is simple and comforting rather than innovative and forward-thinking. But, of course, that’s what you’re here for!

My recent experiences here have confirmed previous reviews — the food is fine, but definitely mass-produced. You won’t find huge attention to detail on the plate here, and you’re visiting 50s Prime Time mostly for the experience rather than the food.

Service has been both great and horrible on my visits in the past few months, so it’s going to be a mixed bag depending on what server you get. On this recent trip, we were most definitely forgotten for long stretches of time — waiting for drink refills and finally having to ask for the dessert menu and the check.

50s Prime Time is iconic — and one of the most “imagineered” restaurants in Disney World, which is why I continue to recommend it. It’s interesting and fun and one of few truly themed restaurants here. But go in with your eyes open and don’t expect too much from the service or the food.

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