Sci-Fi Dine In vs. 50's Prime Time Cafe

I like to be able to see my food, so I choose 50's Prime Time...but you have to be in a good mood to go there! Don't go when you're grumpy from getting up too early or are stressed out!

I would have to say the Sci-Fi is my favorite of the two. I do agree it is very dark in there but....calories dont count if you cant see them! We are not likely to do either of these places for dinner. That said the Sci-Fi has what I consider better "lunch" time offerings. We will be having lunch one day at 50's Prime Time this trip. The friends we will be traveling with have never been there but have been to Sci-Fi. I think Mr Hubs and I would both agree it would be hard to do either of these places for dinner with The Brown Derby in the same park.

I have not done sci-fi since I was very young..but I LOVE 50's Prime Time! The atmosphere is so much fun and I think the food is great!. I am disappointed we didn't go there on our honeymoon trip. It was my first trip when I didn't go (I made my friends go when we were there with choir and thely oved it!) and I did miss it. We just have too many places we like to eat.

I honestly think the food is a little better at 50's Prime Time, but Sci-Fi has some good dishes as well. I really find the proximity of other people in the car a bit of a turn off. Neither one is an every trip experience for us, but we do 50's PT much more frequently than Sci Fi.

Sci-fi! Although I agree with Prime-time having better "meal" atmosphere, the sci-fi feeds my love of cheesy movies and it's a great place to grab a milkshake and fries and just enjoy the show for a while. The Sci-fi's turkey club sandwich is also very delicious.

I really liked the appetizers at Sci-Fi last time I was there. I wish the movie reel was a little longer though. You'd have to eat really fast not to get back to the beginning. 50's Prime Time's is too short too, but not by as much.

Of the two I love Prime Time. SciFi is a treat and I think it should be done..the atmosphere there is great but I've always thought that the food doesn't really match the place. Personally I want a burger and milkshake when I'm there not a steak sauteed in a red wine sauce.

Prime Time is just fun and the food is amazing! I love their fried chicken..and I'm from the south and usually not southern made fried chicken is no bueno!

I agree about the movie reel in Sci-fi. Cool concept, but they really need to make that longer!

I have to go with Prome Time. Not only a good meal but you may get to watch your best friend singing I'm a little teapot as a bonus floor show!

So true! It's not a restaurant for everyone, but it IS really fun when the server's on their game and you have a table of fun folks willing to run with the theme

Hi,

Whenever I think of Prime Time I think of ESPN's Chris Berman shouting, "NFL Prahhhme Taahme!" but it's "50's Prahhhhme Taahme!" Cafe. The food's better at 50's Prime Time but the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater is a must-do (ONCE!) for the cheesy movie reel. Desserts are incredible at either place.

Jim

Just as long as it's my friends and not me!

^^^^ Oh!! that gives me such a visual .

I wonder how good they are at spotting the people who want to watch but not take part? Do they push hard to get people involved?

We've never been to the Prime Time Cafe, and this is why! Haha.

I don't think we're the type for that atmosphere. WE enjoyed the Sci-Fi last time we went, but it was sooooo cold inside we could not wait to get back outside. Part of the whole "Freeze' em out so we make room for the next guests and people don't linger!" rotation plan, I believe

I absolutely hate 50s prime time. I'm a weird eater to begin with and I really don't like having attention drawn to me. So that combination plus the waiter and waitress service there yelling at me to eat was terrible. I couldn't eat a single thing on my plate. And I was upset. I really don't like to be bothered when I eat.

I love the sci-fi. Always been a fave but this summer I got sick after eating there. I guess I will go back again and still would go there over 50s.

I've often wondered that, too. I'm sure that the veteran servers can spot 'em a mile away, but when you're new on the floor, how do you know who to "push" to get involved and who to leave alone? Thinking about it, that element of entertainment, acting, and gauging your "audience" is a second job for these servers!

I've gotten Ketchup squirted on the table in front of me so I didn't put my elbows on the table! That waitress was into it!

I think they ARE really good about that..we went and our waitress poked good fun at us but it was minimal..the guy she gave the hardest time was the guy who was giving her a hard time right back! We had a waitress at Whispering Canyon who knew we really just wanted to eat & not get real into it and she was good about just talking to us and gently ribbing.

Oh yeah the more you push, the harder they push back! But I think they are pretty good at spotting the people that just want to eat and not be involved. I'm a pusher though.

Is "pusher" a synonym for "trouble maker?"

I think I'm going to go with 50's Prime Time as the better eatery. Sci-Fi was ok.. but the food was "eh". I've only had lunch there though... I do think that kids would be more excited about Sci-Fi than 50's Prime Time, so when I go in March, I'm taking the godchildren there for dinner (so I can try out their dinner menu)
I really had a lot of fun both times I ate at 50's Prime Time... and yes, it did seem our "Mother" knew who to pick on. The first time I went, we had a big group.. about 6.. and she spent a lot of time entertaining us. The second time I went, it was only my brother and myself.. so she pretty much just brought our food. (he got in trouble for snitching that I didnt eat my green beans, but he didnt have to sing)

so to sum up.. if I had to choose between the two, I'd choose...
Mama Melrose. lol!

Re: the proximity thing, in Sci-Fi do they just stick you in a car with people you don't know then? I remember from when I went as a kid that the cars were pretty small, so with people I know I wouldn't care, but with strangers I can imagine it being a little...awkward?

I just ask because we have an ADR for there, and there will just be two of us.

50's prime time, it's more interactive and the foods better.

Sci fi is fun, but it's just a glorified mc donald's as far as the food is concerned. Plus the movie reel is too short.

They might stick you in a car with other people You can always ask to sit at a picnic table, where you'll be alone, but it's not as much fun

Actually Admin, we like to go to Sci Fi for lunch, and usually ask for one of the space ship tables (picinic tables as you call them). You can really interact with the cast members there and you have much more room to eat. You can pretty much guaranty being able to walk up and get in right after they open, without an ADR, if you ask for one of those tables for lunch. We have done that several times. With the Prime Time, I think you pretty much have to have an ADR, or your not getting in!

Yes..but..in most cases the cars sit two in the front two in the back. We went and we had the back of the car (just Dave & I) and another couple sat in the front. Their backs were to us so it wasn't like we had to force conversation with them like at Beirgarten.