The Sci-Fi Dine In is located near the Great Movie Ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The theme for this restaurant begins outside! As you walk up to the restaurant the sign looks like an old drive in sign with a Sci-Fi flair. There is a classic car out front where you can climb in and take pictures. Behind the turquoise car is a sci-fi movie style billboard with the Sci-Fi Dine In logo and picture. As you enter, it looks as if you are on the outside of a picket fence just as you would be at a drive in theater. The friendly cast members greet you and take you to your “parking spot”. Once you enter the fenced in area you are immersed in the drive in experience. There is a GIANT movie screen at the front of the restaurant. The screen shows clips from old Sci-Fi movies (mostly black and whites) with kids clips thrown in (such as old Tom and Jerry space themed clips and The Jetsons). You are seated in your classic car and greeted quickly by your server. All of the tables are in cars. The cars all face the screen. Most of the cars are set up with bench seats which sit two by two. If you are a party of 3 or more you won’t be able to talk to each other, except the person sitting next to you. We sat at a table for 6 which was a regular table between the hood and trunk of the car. The car still faced the screen but we faced each other. Each table is equipped with a (non-working) drive in movie speaker. As you look around you are surrounded by twilight and twinkling stars. The walls are decorated to look like a picket fenced in yard. There are trees and clouds and a few rooftops painted on the dark walls. There are stars everywhere. The kitchen is set up to look like the “Snack Shack” found at all drive in theaters.
The Sci-Fi Dine In was so quiet I felt like we had to whisper! If I hadn’t looked around to see a jam packed and crowded restaurant I’d have thought we were alone! And the kids…I didn’t hear a peep unless Tom and Jerry elicited a bit of laugher. I suspect the two by two seating is what kept the volume down, but it was enjoyable. We were able to have a conversation without having to yell over the noise. Our service could have been better, but was still ok. We had to wait a while to get refills on our drinks and for our bill. Our food, however, came out quickly.
The menu at the Sci-Fi Dine In is pretty short. I expected a full menu but I was still delighted with being able to get a smoked turkey sandwich with bacon and avocado. The cucumber/melon salad was delicious. Some of the other dishes were steak with salad wedge, and BBQ ribs with fries and slaw. Kids have the usual Kid’s Pick menu including pizza, beef and macaroni, mac and cheese, and hamburger. The food was great. Dessert included an a la mode apple crisp tart, chocolate mousse tart, fresh fruit salad, and caramel cheesecake (including caramel corn and M&M’s on top). Dessert was magnificent.
Overall the theme at the Sci-Fi Dine In is wonderful. My dad, who is a big Sci-Fi movie fan, and I absolutely loved this restaurant. My 4 year old was perfectly quiet the entire time, making my meal enjoyable, showing me he loved it as well. We used our table service credits from the Magic Your Way plus Dining food plan. If you are not on the food plan it seems a little pricey for what you get, but then again, so is everything else! I highly recommend the Sci-Fi Dine In for a fun theme meal.