Hollywood Studios Dining | Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano

One of our family’s favorite repeat dining locations at Walt Disney World is a bit off the main path, but worth a stop in if you love Italian cuisine! Located in the Grand Avenue area at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano offers a delightful mix of Italian dishes in a fun, themed setting. This table service restaurant is worth a visit if you’re looking for a different type of meal during your theme park day. 

(Added 1/24/25 – It was recently announced that Mama Melrose’s will close to make way for the new Monsters Inc. land addition at Hollywood Studios. The restaurant will be serving their final meal on May 10, 2025. So make reservations soon if you want to experience this dining location at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.)

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My husband is of Italian lineage, so finding the right Italian restaurant is an important endeavor in our family and this is one place that he has asked to get repeated reservations at Walt Disney World. On one of our recent trips, we even celebrated his birthday there!

We enjoy the bread service, pasta, and wood-fired pizzas. And it also worked out well that they had gluten free options for my daughter that has to avoid wheat. There are photos of celebrities that line the walls, grape vines throughout, and fairy lights accenting the background. It is a charming setting to enjoy a mid-day meal.

Mama Melrose Ristorante Italiano offers a delightful mix of Italian dishes in a fun, themed setting. Whether you’re a fan of Italian cuisine or just looking for a nice place to relax, Mama Melrose delivers a satisfying dining experience. With tasty food and a welcoming vibe, it’s worth considering during your Hollywood Studios adventure.

Plan your Hollywood Studios day using our free guides and park day itinerary pages!

Mama Melrose Ristorante Italiano Overview

Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano is a hidden gem tucked away in the Grand Avenue area of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This cozy, Italian-inspired eatery is the perfect spot to escape the hustle and bustle of the park and enjoy a relaxed, mid-day meal.

Our family likes this meal on days we want to fill up for a full theme park day, and it our family’s travel party preference of sit down meals at Hollywood Studios – even over Hollywood Brown Derby! (To be noted: When I’m at Disney’s Hollywood Studios with Disney friends, we often end up at Hollywood Brown Derby because of the ambiance and wide variety on the menu, so this is also another great option for a sit down meal.)

We consider some of the other themed dining at Hollywood Studios like 50’s Prime Time Cafe, Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater, Round Up Rodeo BBQ, and Hollywood & Vine to be a different type of meal, because those meals all include either kitschy, immersive theming or character dining, which we would gravitate towards on different types of trips.

We would consider Mama Melrose’s and Hollywood Brown Derby to be the two “regular” table service dining options at the theme park. When you want a nice meal that doesn’t need to be overly themed. 

Menu Highlights

You will find a menu filled with classic Italian dishes. Options include:

• Appetizers: Crispy Calamari, Caesar Salad, and Marinated Fresh Mozzarella.
• Entrées: Spaghetti with Meatballs, Shrimp Campanelle, Chicken Parmesan, Oven-baked Chicken alla Parmigiana, and the Charred Strip Steak.
• Flatbreads: Margherita Flatbread and Italian Sausage & Pepperoni Flatbread.
• Desserts: Tiramisu, Gelato, and Chocolate Cannoli Cake.
• Kids’ Meals: Options like Spaghetti or Cheese Pizza, perfect for little ones.

With this wide variety, there’s something to satisfy every craving, whether you’re in the mood for pasta, pizza, or classic comfort food.

Inside you’ll find twinkling string lights, eclectic decor, and the warm aroma of Italian comfort food filling the air, Mama Melrose’s offers a welcoming ambiance that feels like dining in a rustic trattoria. It’s a fantastic place to recharge before heading back out for more park adventures.

The menu at Mama Melrose’s is a crowd-pleaser, with something for everyone in the family to enjoy. From hearty pasta dishes like the classic spaghetti with meatballs to flavorful flatbreads and creamy risottos, every dish is packed with rich, authentic Italian flavors.

If you’re a fan of seafood, the Mama’s Pasta with Shrimp is a must-try, and the Braised Pork Osso is a hidden standout for those craving a heartier option. Of course, no meal is complete without dessert—don’t skip the Tiramisu or the decadent Chocolate Cannoli Cake for a sweet finish.

We’ve been to the restaurant a number of times and have ordered pasta classics like spaghetti and meatballs, and Mama’s Pasta with Shrimp. On our last trip there the girls tried the Prosciutto and Honey Pizza (shown with gluten free crust) and the Mushroom Pizza.

One of the best things about Mama Melrose’s is how convenient it is for breaking up a busy day at Hollywood Studios. Its central location makes it easy to stop in for a leisurely lunch or an early dinner before catching a show or hopping on a ride. With air-conditioned comfort, friendly service, and delicious food, it’s a dining experience that feels like a well-deserved treat during a day packed with theme park excitement.

It’s no wonder Mama Melrose’s remains a favorite for many Disney-goers looking for a magical meal in the middle of their adventure!

Service Style

This is a classic table service meal at Walt Disney World. The cast member server will take your drink order and bring out a bread service, and each member of your party will order their own meal off the menu. Do note that a number of the meal options are very large portions, and could be big enough for two light eaters in your party to share.

We often find that Disney portions run quite large, and frequently do a combination of sharing entrees and appetizers so that we do not have a lot of food waste from our meal. 

Need help finding your dining reservation? Check out MouseDining.com – to help you scan available reservations and be alerted when your preferred time comes available! It’s the easiest way to score hard to find reservations!

What Makes the Experience Unique

Another standout feature is the restaurant’s focus on comfort and flavor. While Disney dining is known for its variety, Mama Melrose’s stands out with its dedication to hearty, homemade-style Italian dishes that feel like a warm hug. You feel comfortable and right at home!

The menu features thoughtfully crafted meals with bold flavors, from creamy pastas to wood-fired flatbreads. Each dish is served with a side of hospitality, as the cast members ensure your dining experience is both relaxing and memorable.

You can use the Disney dining plan here, and there is often a Fantasmic Dining package available with this restaurant choice as well. 

This is a quiet corner of Disney that almost feels like a well kept secret that we shouldn’t let out! 

Rating Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano

If you love Italian food, this restaurant is worth a try during your time at Walt Disney World. We like stopping by here when we are looking for a hearty meal during our theme park day, and as a bonus dining reservations for this location usually aren’t too hard to get.

If you know you’ll want to have a meal here, I recommend getting your reservation in advance so that you can plan it into your day. However if you’re looking to see what is available during your trip and this is one that pops up, our family personally thinks it is worth a try and we’ve returned to this one multiple times. 

The meal is a great value for the amount of food that you get, and our meal choices have always been spot on here. Buon appetito!