Vegan Disney Food Review: Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Mama Melrose. Who is she? And why is her vegan food so dang tasty?! Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano is a hidden vegan gem and as far as I’m concerned, the best place to eat in DHS.

Vegan Disney Food Review: Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Mama Melrose is tucked away in a corner of the Backlot at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World. You’ll find it just past PizzeRizzo and at the exit of Muppet Vision 3D.

Vegan Disney Food Review: Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Vegan Disney Food Review: Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano Atmosphere

The interior of the restaurant is about as home style Italian as you can get with both tiled and wooden floors and stuccoed walls giving way to red brick. Photos of celebrities and graffiti line the walls as twinkle lights and cured faux meats and cheeses hang overhead.

Vegan Disney Food Review: Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Vegan Disney Food Review: Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Seating in the main dining room is predominately wooden tables and chairs with a few cozy booths nestled around the perimeter along with banquettes. There are five seats at the bar, which is full-service and available for guests without reservations.

Vegan Disney Food Review: Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Vegan Disney Food Review: Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Vegan Disney Food Review: Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Vegan Disney Food Review: Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Vegan Disney Food Review: Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Statues, old records and grape vines accent the walls as handmade pastas dry in the window.

Vegan Disney Food Review: Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano Vegan Options

All meals at Mama’s start with complementary bread service which just so happens to be vegan as-is. The Italian rolls served here come with a dish of herb and garlic olive oil for dipping. Try to control yourself with the bread though. It’s so good you’ll want to eat a ton of it but there’s so much more on the menu you’ll need to save room for.

Vegan Disney Food Review: Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

There are several items on the appetizer and entree portions of the menu that can be easily modified vegan and one dedicated entree that is vegan right off the menu as-is.

Vegan Disney Food Review: Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

When dining with friends I always ask to split two items from the appetizer section of the menu. A pizza and a salad. Sounds so unassuming, but let me tell you, there is nothing ordinary about either one of these.

Let’s start with the modified Mushroom Flatbread ($15). The crust is already vegan and instead of tomato sauce, this pizza is topped with a decadent roasted vidalia onion spread, roasted cremini mushrooms and button mushrooms. The entire pie gets a sprinkling of vegan mozzarella cheese in lieu of fontina and asiago cheese and a dusting of fresh herbs. The flatbread is normally finished with a balsamic reduction, however the reduction contains honey. Trust me. You’re not going to miss it.

All of this gets crispy, melty and gooey in an authentic wood fired brick oven.

Vegan Disney Food Review: Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Vegan Disney Food Review: Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Mushroom Flatbread

The pizza is cut into six decent sized slices which makes it perfect for sharing.

Vegan Disney Food Review: Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Mushroom Flatbread

Next up off the appetizer menu is the modified Seasonal Italian Salad ($11). This isn’t a delicate starter salad. This is a hearty, meal-in-and-of-itself salad.

The Seasonal Italian Salad is well, seasonal, so the components change from time to time. On this particular visit it was filled with romaine lettuce, spinach, warm vegan focaccia, butternut squash, asparagus, kalamata olives, tomato, onion, cucumber and lemon-tarragon vinaigrette. Skip the feta cheese.

Vegan Disney Food Review: Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Seasonal Italian Salad

Vegan Disney Food Review: Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Seasonal Italian Salad

The newest addition to the menu is the Plant-based Arancini ($13) which consists of a single breaded and deep fried rice ball which sits on a coconut cucumber cream accompanied by a gazpacho salad with a fennel gastrique, sriracha emulsion and fresh basil ribbons.

Plant-based Vegan Arancini at Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Plant-based Vegan Arancini at Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Plant-based Vegan Arancini at Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Plant-based Vegan Arancini at Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Vegan pasta with marinara is available here but do not order it.

For your entree be sure to order the Polenta Cake, Mushroom, and Herb Cauliflower ($19). This dish is unlike anything served anywhere on Walt Disney World property and requires zero modifications.

Vegan Disney Food Review: Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Polenta with Cashew Cheese

Plated you will find a slice of crispy fried polenta beside a roasted cauliflower steak. This is topped with a sauté of spinach, red bell peppers and mushrooms. The piece de resistance is the creamy cashew cheese sauce that ties the whole dish together. You get crispy. You get tangy and you get creamy. It’s the perfect bite.

Vegan Disney Food Review: Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Polenta with Cashew Cheese

Vegan Disney Food Review: Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Polenta with Cashew Cheese

For dessert, get the Cappuccino Affogato ($9). This affogato consists of one layer of chocolate espresso ganache and a layer of cashew custard. It is served in the tiniest cappuccino cup with a chocolate coffee bean.

Vegan Cappuccino Affogato at Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Vegan Cappuccino Affogato at Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Along with a dusting of cocoa powder outlining a coffee spoon, are two more chocolate beans and a delicious almond brittle.

Vegan Cappuccino Affogato at Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Vegan Cappuccino Affogato at Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Vegan Cappuccino Affogato at Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Trust me when I say you will not leave Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano hungry! The restaurant is always consistent with the food and reservations are highly recommend.

Looking for a master list of ALL the vegan options in Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Check out our comprehensive guide here: What’s Vegan in Disney’s Hollywood Studios?

The Complete Guide to Every Vegan Food Option in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World

WANT TO REMEMBER THIS OPTION? Save the “Vegan Disney Food Review: Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios” pin to your favorite Pinterest board.

Vegan Disney Food Review: Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

More from Suzannah Mitchell Otis
Vegan Options at The Hollywood Brown Derby in Walt Disney World
There are three vegan options available for both lunch and dinner at...
Read More
0 replies on “Vegan Disney Food Review: Mama Melrose’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios”