Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano Review
Mama Melrose’s is an Italian restaurant in Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World. This dining review features food photos, thoughts on the quality, our experiences here, value for money, and how Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano compares to other themed table service options at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
In terms of basic background info, Mama Melrose’s participates in the Disney Dining Plan and also accepts the Tables in Wonderland card for a 20% discount. Unless you’re ordering the Charred Strip Steak, Mama Melrose’s is typically not a good use of table service credits on the Disney Dining Plan. Out of pocket, you can generally do well at Mama Melrose’s, with a few entrees under $20, and others just above that amount.
This review comes as many readers have been encouraging us to revisit Mama Melrose, a restaurant at which we hadn’t dined in nearly a decade. We weren’t impressed with what we had at the time, but weren’t necessarily averse to the menu. The bigger sticking point for us was the restaurant’s theme, which we feel is boring as compared to alternatives at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Unfortunately, our recent experience at Mama Melrose’s was not a positive one. When restaurants have been recommended to us by many people, it makes it a bit more difficult to do reviews like this. I felt a bit guilty reading comments replying to our scathing review of Tony’s Town Square. It’s certainly not my goal to make people feel badly about things they enjoy.
If you are a fan of Mama Melrose’s and might be upset by it discussed in an unflattering light, maybe stop reading now? Our disappointing experience at a restaurant doesn’t negate your enjoyment of it, and we certainly aren’t of the belief that our opinions are the gospel. As with Tony’s, we can understand why some people like Mama Melrose’s, and reasonable minds may vary on it (or any restaurant at Walt Disney World, for that matter). If it’s any consolation, Mama Melrose’s doesn’t take the crown from Tony’s Town Square as “worst Italian cuisine at Walt Disney World.”
With that said, let’s start by taking a look at the restaurant’s theme and backstory…
Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano is a Disney-MGM Studios original, dating to the early years of the park. Originally, the restaurant was to be part of an expansive Muppet Studio area, and would be called the Great Gonzo’s Pizza Pandemonium Parlor, which would feature a variety of props and gags.
By the time those plans fell through, the Great Gonzo’s Pizza Pandemonium Parlor was already in development. Needing to be reworked without a Muppets connection, Imagineers came up with the official storyline that a young girl from a small village in Italy fell in love with Hollywood and set out for America with dreams of a career on the big screen.
To pay the bills, she cooked for her friends in showbiz. She had a larger than life personality, and studio moguls dubbed her Mama Melrose, after Melrose Ave. The nickname stuck, and eventually, she opened an Italian restaurant at the behest of her Hollywood friends, which showcased her eclectic and vivacious personality.
Housed in a prop storage and equipment warehouse in an area that was used by the studios for shooting movies based in New York City’s Little Italy, Mama Melrose quickly became a popular spot. Serving Cal-Italian cuisine, Mama Melrose’s earned a reputation as “where Italy meets California in the heart of the Backlot.”
In summary, the backstory is that this is a Cal-Italian restaurant on a backlot in Los Angeles, that is used for filming scenes set in New York City’s Little Italy. This means the fake for-the-cameras setting is New York City and the peel-back-the-curtain “behind the scenes” setting is Los Angeles. Italy is not the setting, but there’s Italian-inspired ‘stuff’ on display because of the Little Italy connection.
If you’re confused, you are not alone. The original Disney-MGM Studios got a little too clever (in my opinion) with how it framed these setting-within-a-setting restaurants, and none of them work as well as the official backstory suggests. It’s the same deal at Sci-Fi Dine-In, but I’d argue that the theme works fine there if you just ignore the behind the scenes elements, which are easy enough to do.
By contrast, spending a little time perusing the walls and details at Mama Melrose’s is more confusing than anything, as it’s a hodgepodge of stuff from Italy, New York City, and Southern California with little discernible reason as to why it’s all there. Well, now you know why, but that explanation is probably still a bit lacking.
Setting aside the official backstory, the decor in Mama Melrose’s is not terrible. It feels like the home of an eclectic grandma who proudly displays every random things her friends and family have given her, with little rhyme or reason as to why.
Nevertheless, Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant and 50’s Prime Time Cafe are both much stronger options than Mama Melrose if you’re wanting a fun option at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Those are the crème de la crème of themed dining at Walt Disney World, and both are at roughly the same price-points as Mama Melrose.
Mama Melrose’s is more homey and charming than it is themed; it’s like the precursor to Buca di Beppo. In my estimation, that’s part of the problem. This atmosphere is now synonymous with the Buca di Beppo chain, and those restaurants arguably do it better. It doesn’t matter that Walt Disney World did this first.
If you’ve been to that chain, you might think, “oh, this is the Disney version of Buca di Beppo” upon entering Mama Melrose’s. In fact, I’d say Mama Melrose’s is similar to Buca di Beppo in more ways than one. Speaking of which, let’s move on to the food portion of this Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano review…
Bread service is pretty typical, with standard rolls accompanied by some olive oil and herbs.
The bread was warm from the oven and doughy, and were surprisingly tasty. Much better than the cold/old crusty bread I was half expecting. So far, so good.
Continuing with the House-made Italian Meatball with Marinara, Fresh Ricotta, and Basil. This is a special blend of…none of us can totally remember. I think short rib and pork.
Regardless, it was surprisingly good, with the meatball itself being flavorful and rich without being overly fatty. Everything about the dish was of a higher quality and attention to detail than we’d find in any of the entrees.
Likewise, I really enjoyed the Mushroom Flatbread (“Roasted Cremini and Button Mushrooms with a Roasted Vidalia Onion Spread topped with a Fontina and Asiago Cheese finished with Balsamic Reduction and fresh Herbs.”)
The mushrooms were hearty and savory, and the creaminess of the spread and cheese worked well with the tang of the balsamic reduction. There was perhaps a tad too much balsamic, but this is still something I’d absolutely order again, if I returned to Mama Melrose’s, and it’d be a go-to appetizer elsewhere.
For my entree, I had the Seasonally-inspired Chef’s Selection, which was braised short rib over risotto.
This was probably the highlight of the entrees, which isn’t saying a ton. While I did a terrible job with this photo, you can see the pool of oil at the bottom of the dish; the overly greasy, fatty, and creamy nature of the dish dragged it down. I can get behind an indulgent plate of short ribs, but this was just too much.
Not terrible, but too heavy–especially on a hot day in a theme park. The portion size is also much larger than it probably appears in the photo. I ate it all…and felt like taking a 3-hour nap afterwards.
Sarah ordered the Polenta Cake, Mushroom, and Herb Cauliflower (“Polenta layered with Sautéed Mushroom, Spinach, and Red Pepper with a Cashew-Cheese Sauce.”)
The thinking here was that this would be healthier and lighter relative to the rest of the menu. It was not. As you can see, this was also very oily, and that somehow didn’t do anything to enhance this relatively flavor-less dish. The vegetables weren’t fresh, and there was nothing interesting about it.
I tried this as well, eager to see if Walt Disney World’s improving vegan options had spread to Mama Melrose’s. They have definitely not.
Next, we’ve got the Mama’s Italian Pasta with Shrimp (“Spaghetti tossed with Roasted Garlic, Tomato, fresh Basil, and Asiago-Herb Crostini”).
As far as options at Mama Melrose’s go, this is a fairly safe option. Neither the pasta (overly-chewy) nor the shrimp (also overly-chewy) will wow you, but at least there’s a lot of it…I guess?
Finally, the Seafood Cioppino (“Shrimp, Mussels, Calamari, Fish, and Spaghetti tossed with spicy Cioppino Sauce”).
If you like rubbery seafood in bland sauce from a can, this is perfect for you! In fairness, there is a generous portion of seafood here and the spicy tomato sauce isn’t half bad, but it’s nothing special. Not a terrible choice if you find yourself at Mama Melrose’s and don’t want something richer.
Having had our fill of oily, salty, heavy, and large entrees (plus, if we’re being fair, delicious appetizers), none of us were in a position to have dessert. That’s slightly unfortunate, as there are a variety of traditional options that I generally love, and prices aren’t too bad. Oh well.
Overall, Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano is one of our least favorite restaurants at Walt Disney World. First and most obvious is that the entrees just are not good. However, even if you are craving comfort food, you can just as easily get that in a much better setting at either 50’s Prime Time Cafe or Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant. If you want good Italian cuisine, you’re better served by a multitude of restaurants at Walt Disney World, including a couple that are a short walk from Disney’s Hollywood Studios. That leaves Mama Melrose’s in no man’s land; even if you get what you deem to be a satisfactory meal here, you could’ve done better elsewhere.
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Your Thoughts
Have you dined at Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano? Do you agree or disagree with our review? What do you like or dislike on the menu here? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Mama Melrose was the worst restaurant experience we’ve had at WDW. Agree with Tom’s review. I’ll just add that the steak with mac and cheese was so tough I was sawing away with my steak knife until giving up and requesting a replacement. The new one they brought out after a long wait was so salty I couldn’t eat it. We wasted 2 hours of our day here.
I originally loved eating here and raved about the steak and macaroni and cheese but have completely changed opinions. The 2 times we went in a 6 month period it was amazing. the steak was amazing and I couldn’t get it out of my head lol. We went back in August and it was terrible. our server was the slowest man ever. He took forever to bring our drinks, pushed certain foods on us and made us uncomfortable. I again ordered the steak but it wasn’t the same. I had maybe 2 bites and that was it. Not sure what happened but we will not be back. My bff ordered the chicken parmesan and it tasted like a child mixed things together to make it. Awful!!
I’ve honestly never even heard of this restaurant before…. and can’t even really think of its exact location off the top of my head. Guess I’m not missing out on much.
It’s all about the Fantasmic! Priority seating
Very upset with Mana Melrose. Had a reservation since February 2019 and I have the deluxe dining plan. Was told that they are running late and that I’d have to wait 20 mind or more after my reservation time. Well everyone that knows Disney knows you have to plan way ahead and that there are others things that are planned after dinner.. at least that’s how my family and I are. Well needless to say we canceled our reservation and ate a shit meal at backlot Express. Dont know if I’d get the deluxe dining plan anymore due to not getting my money’s worth.
Sounds like you two ordered very wrong. My family and I swear by the charred steak and 4 cheese macaroni. We actually make a reservation at MM every single trip. Definitely a very heavy meal…hit Tower of Terror right after MM. Not a good idea. Also, I don’t think 50’s Prime Time is the superior choice for HS restaurants. I could get the same options at Golden Corral.
Agree that the steak is very good. It was even better than he one I ate at Kona cafe by quite a bit. Don’t know about Golden Corral bc I never ate there but I do think 50s is over rated but I did enjoy the pot roast there.
We ate at Mama Melrose’s once. It was ok – nothing to gush over, and nothing to really complain about. Our favorite at Hollywood Studios is the 50s Prime Time Cafe.
Mark, your insult to Olive Garden is unwarranted. Olive Garden is much better than Tony’s. Tony’s is like the pizza hut of the Italian restaurant word. Nasty.
So, now I feel safe trying Tony’s. It is clear you and I have completely different views of food/restaurants. We always do MM’s because it the best Fantasmic dining package value, we don’t care for H&V, and HBD is more expensive. So, first, the steak at MM is the best steak or meal I’ve had on property. I’ve been to both sci-fi and 50’s (& HBD) and while it was fun and interesting, the food didn’t come close to MM. HBD was good but not mouth-watering-still-talking-about-it-when-we-get-home good. Still glad to have all your reviews! It’s a tough job but somebody’s gotta do it, right?
Let’s not get carried away here folks. I will defend Tom because I believe he has good taste. Clearly we are talking about a subjective issue in which Tom is simply suggesting that the food at Mama Melrose is mediocre, but DON’T feel brazen enough to waste your taste buds and money at Tony’s! That place does not know how to do Italian food. It’s like going to, dare I say, the Olive Garden. Enjoy the Magic Kingdom and all it has to offer but leave the park and get some memorable Italian fare at Disney Springs. Instead of having a poor meal at MK, your family will talk about that tasty Italian dinner at Terralina Hand Crafted Ristorante for years to come.
Mark, your insult to Olive Garden is unwarranted. Olive Garden is much better than Tony’s. Tony’s is like the pizza hut of the Italian restaurant word. Nasty.
We enjoy lunch our lunches at Mama Melrose but we stick with salads and flatbreads pizzas. We did entrees there once at dinner ,they were ok but would rather spend the money back home at Carrabba’s or Maggiano’s. As for theming maybe it is our age but we don’t care about at any Disney World restaurant.
Mama Melrose will always hold a special place in my heart. I have never had better service or kinder staff than when we ate there. My daughter became very ill and they literally bought her new clothes, gave her a place to lie down, brought her ginger ale, showered us with extra attention including light up toys for her and her brother. They were so much nicer than they needed to be. And as I recall, our food was good. Steaks with mac n cheese. YUM!
Too bad but man come on short ribs at an Italian restaurant? Mistake #1, going in with a I am going to hate this place does not help and any, any kind of mishap is hugely amplified, Mistake#2…….Should have gone in with open mind and just sit back and enjoy it! Sad to hear you did not enjoy the meal and to be fair to you we have not been back in 10 years and I am sure lots can happen, bummer to hear…….thanks as usual for the reviews, good job, keep them coming!
We love Mama Melrose. I always order the steak with macaroni and cheese which is amazing. I can agree with the decor and design it definitely needs something different. Maybe make it more of a steak house or something. That steak is absolutely delicious.
Six years ago the Charred Steak with the pasta and cheese was very flavorful!
Two years ago it was replaced with Skirt Steak and frites…….just OK
Last year the Chared Steak was not as good! The Steak was good , but the Pasta and cheese did not have that intense flavor as before
I’d go back again to do it over!
I’ll be back in August:) hopefully it will be yummy again. We were just there in February and I can see your point with the mac and cheese.
We also love the steak with macaroni and cheese. Looking forward to having it again this trip in June.
I would say you ordered poorly except for the flatbread. While definitely not the epitome of Italian cuisine, it’s one of our top 2 in HS. The other choice being 50s, which again is not the epitome of American cuisine. Both are almost always better than Hollywood and vine, scifi or the most inconsistent signature, brown derby. With the tie ring of toy story land and upcoming Star Wars, we see ourselves bookie 2-3 days at the park in a 7 day trip. Mama certainly makes the cut, especially with the fantasmic package. Our go tos are the pizzas, steak, and anything with the campanelle pasta. They also have a great caprese salad for a light lunch, although I think tomatoes in summer at Disney are so much better than I get at home!