We have back our trip up one day so I moved one of our dinners back, but now I have a day open. We will be at the Studios (sorry forgot my acronyms). We have free dining and have been to the Sci-Fi Dine-In. Suggestions that keeps us close to or in that park. Don't want to do a Signature Dining.
They have Mama Melrose Ristorante Italiano, '50s Prime Time Cafe along with Hollywood and Vine at Studios. Those are good choices. Hollywood and Vine is a buffet restaurant. The Epcot resorts are also close by. Boardwalk I believe is the closest to Studios and its an easy walk.
My favorite is the Sci-Fi or 50's. If you've never eaten at 50's, I would go there. Not much else impressive at DHS. I would consider walking to the Boardwalk. Kat Kora's restaurant is good!
Troy I know you said no signatures, but brown derby really is the best HS had to offer table service wise. Sci if is the next best with 50's coming 3rd but I'm not sure how soon I would return to either of those. As it's been said, you may be better off getting the boat to somewhere in the boardwalk or even somewhere in world showcase in Epcot near France or UK (chef Des France was a nice meal!)
Our Very Merry 24 nighter Nov/Dec 15
Watson's go West May 15
The one with all the birthdays Oct 14 4 Big Birthdays and a Vow Renewal thrown in
The OMG trip June 14 30th Birthday present from the hubs
Girly trip March 14 A last min cheapy week
September 13 our first all DVC stay
TR May 2013 the last min bargain trip offsite
Oct 2012 TR with a cruise!big family trip featuring the beach club, AKL, the dream and a villa offsite
TR on a budget May - June 2011offsite condo
TR Sept - Oct 2010 big family trip in an offsite villa
I'm not very impressed with any of the HS resturantes so I never eat there. I would suggest walking to the Yatch and Beach Clubs and going to the Cape May Cafe. Its a seafood buffet and its very good.
I would walk to the Yatch Club and go to the the Captains Grill. It is not signature nor is it a buffet. And although we have never tried just walking up Without reservations, I bet you could get in.
I would take the boat from HS to Yacht Club and go to the Captains Grill, it might be quicker.
Mama Melrose is a family favorite.
Are you thinking of trying for a Fantasmic package?
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Troy, lots of great suggestions here! But I wanted to give you two websites which always help me a great deal when choosing where to eat.... You may already use these but I have been surfing them for about an hour and can't get over how amazingly helpful they are!
The first is Disney Food Blog.
http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/disney-world-restaurants-guide/
You can check out all of the restaurants in Hollywood studios. She does reviews of all of them, with pictures!
Then to help me along, I like to look at the menu's and prices to get an idea... She also posts the links to the menu's but I usually already have a tab open with this site...
Second site, Allears.net
http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm
There is a list with every menu in Disney World.
I would take a look and choose which ever restaurant speaks to you! 
"There's a great big beautiful tomorrow just a dream away"
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http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/forum/karli-and-marks-honeymoon-pre-trip-report
http://www.facebook.com/KarliInWonderland - My Disney Facebook page with live updates while i'm in the parks!
I'll second Disney Food Blog...I read them religiously. They go into enough detail that you'll have an honest idea if it's your "type" of restaurant or not.
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Have you made a decision yet? Xx
Our Very Merry 24 nighter Nov/Dec 15
Watson's go West May 15
The one with all the birthdays Oct 14 4 Big Birthdays and a Vow Renewal thrown in
The OMG trip June 14 30th Birthday present from the hubs
Girly trip March 14 A last min cheapy week
September 13 our first all DVC stay
TR May 2013 the last min bargain trip offsite
Oct 2012 TR with a cruise!big family trip featuring the beach club, AKL, the dream and a villa offsite
TR on a budget May - June 2011offsite condo
TR Sept - Oct 2010 big family trip in an offsite villa
I know its hard to believe but we are going to just wing it..lol We have every day planned out and decided to just see where our noses take us.
If you have not been to 50's, I would dine there. I've also heard good things about Mama Melrose too....