My New Must-Eat Meal at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
We’ve been singing the praises of dining at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for years, which has an underrated and well-rounded restaurant roster. It’s not the #1 park at Walt Disney World overall, but I would argue that it’s a strong contender for #2, and easily ahead of Magic Kingdom.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios excels at themed dining, with two of the Best Themed Restaurants at Walt Disney World in 50’s Prime Time Cafe or Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant. Both of those restaurants are polarizing among fans, but we love them. Oga’s Cantina is another fun themed option, although it’s a one and done for most Star Wars fans.
Other top picks include Minnie’s Seasonal Dine (one of our favorite character meals), Toy Story Roundup Rodeo BBQ (it probably won’t warrant a re-review, but I just had a shockingly enjoyable meal here last week), and Brown Derby, which is one of the rare in-park Signature Restaurants (also just had my best meal at Brown Derby in years, which will warrant a re-review).
Then there’s the counter service restaurant roster, which includes multiple options on our list of the Top 20 Counter Service Restaurants at Walt Disney World. This includes two counter service restaurant where I dine more than all of the other restaurants at Walt Disney World:Â ABC Commissary (#1) and Docking Bay 7 Food & Cargo (#2).
On top of that, there’s also Ronto Roasters in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Woody’s Lunch Box in Toy Story Land, the latter of which is a fan-favorite. And even some of the other counter service restaurants have a good item or two.
Then there’s another option, which ranks highly on our list of the 25 Best Bars & Lounges at Walt Disney World: BaseLine Tap House. Since it opened, this spot has quietly become a not-so-hidden gem, and a favorite among diehard WDW fans.
BaseLine Tap House is a bar, lounge, and quasi-counter service restaurant in Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World. It’s one of the best spots in the park to do a light meal or grab drinks, and offers surprisingly good ambiance despite its unassuming appearance.
BaseLine Tap House is nestled between Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater and the former Streets of America, directly across from the entrance to what used to be Muppets Courtyard (lots of defunct areas around these parts!), which is currently a construction wall-lined corridor as work is underway to transform this area into Monstropolis.
If you’re entering Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge from its main entrance, you’ll see BaseLine Tap House on your right while approaching the Figueroa Street Tunnel. (The photo below is roughly the view of Monstropolis construction from BaseLine.)
I’ll admit that when BaseLine Tap House was first announced, I wasn’t overly excited. Part of that was losing another fan-favorite, the Writer’s Stop. I feel like a dinosaur writing this since no one talks about the Writer’s Stop anymore, but nothing topped stopping in there towards the end of the Osborne Lights, grabbing a Carrot Cake Cookie Sandwich and warm drink, and crashing on a couch for a bit (IYKYK, I guess).
The theme and concept art for BaseLine Tap House and Grand Avenue never did much for me. The bar’s backstory is that it pays homage to the building’s former life as the Figueroa Printing Company, a mom-and-pop print house that had ties to the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank.
Unlike the rest of the park, Grand Avenue is set in present-day Downtown Los Angeles and it just feels cold by comparison. That’s probably because it was intended as overflow for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which was never needed. Now, it’ll become overflow for Monstropolis, and likely one of the busiest areas in Disney’s Hollywood Studios come 2028.
Baseline Tap House has indoor and outdoor terrace seating, and this is what ultimately turned things around for me with regard to the restaurant. While I still think the theme and backstory are bland and uninteresting, the atmosphere back here is sublime.
Sitting below those popcorn lights on a cool evening is wonderful, especially as guests leave this area of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. BaseLine Tap House is a not-so-hidden gem both in atmosphere and in terms of what’s served.
It’s amazing how BaseLine Tap House manages to hide in plain sight. Despite being one of the best dining & drinking spots in DHS, it’s seldom slammed. You can usually find a table outside, and often, it’s pretty peaceful.
Here’s a look at all of the food on the menu from a past meal at BaseLine Tap House.
You might recall that in our Best Snacks at Disney’s Hollywood Studios post, one of the entries was “Anything at BaseLine Tap House.”
Unfortunately, the Coffee-Rubbed Rib-Eye Beef Puff has since been removed from the menu. That was my favorite dish, and the whole reason I used to dine at BaseLine Tap House. Without that, I haven’t dined here at all in the last two years. Until Summer 2026…
One sleeper hit at BaseLine Tap House is the Avenue Chips, which are House-made Ranch Kettle Chips served with Beer Cheese Fondue.
I don’t have anything profound to offer about the Avenue Chips. They are similar to thicker-cut kettle chips that you’ll find around Walt Disney World. I’m generally a fan of these chips, and think they’re high quality.
The twist here is the ranch dusting on the chips themselves, paired with the beer cheese fondue. It’s addictively delicious, and makes these a fun snack or side that exceeds expectations.
The downside is that these chips are $7, for a portion that’s about on par with a counter service side and at comparable quality. You’ll have countless opportunities to try chips like these during a normal Walt Disney World vacation. Given that, I’m not sure the ranch dusting and fondue, delicious as they might be, elevate these chips enough to warrant standalone purchase status.
The newest addition to the menu at BaseLine is the Pepperoni Flatbread. Now that nearby PizzeRizzo is closed and no longer serving up the world’s finest rat pizza, BaseLine Tap House has stepped up to fill the void. And maybe I’m going out on a limb, but I’d say this is better than pizza made by rats.
This pizza has mozzarella and pepperoni with red sauce, and is topped with ricotta and hot honey. That last part is the kicker, and what elevates this dish into something unique. The large lumps of ricotta pair well with the hot honey flavor, which offer a playful bit of sweetness and spiciness that enhance without overwhelming. It’s still perfectly approachable for all palates.
The crust is another highlight. It’s soft, chewy and more substantial than a garden variety WDW flatbread, making this more of a filling pizza than you might expect given the small size of the dish. Topping that is the red sauce, mozzarella and pepperoni, all of which are more or less what you’d expect. It’s really the generous dollops of ricotta and drizzle of hot honey that define the dish.
This Pepperoni Flatbread might have an unassuming name on the menu, but it’s a must-order. Not only that, but it’s enough to make BaseLine Tap House a Walt Disney World dining destination to seek out.
The Pepperoni Flatbread at BaseLine Tap House is not without downsides. Although there are six pieces, it’s definitely a smaller dish. Given the location, this is likely meant to be finger food paired with a light beer or cider, as opposed to a standalone meal.
Then there’s the $17 price tag. At roughly $4 more expensive than a standard counter service flatbread, I feel that this is “worth” the cost given its higher quality. At the same time, it’s more expensive than my beloved Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese right around the corner at ABC Commissary.
There’s also the issue of tipping. BaseLine Tap House is a walk-up location, but there is the option to tip Cast Members. I’m not going to go down this particular rabbit hole, but it’s one of the “grey areas” covered in our Guide to Tipping at Walt Disney World.
For whatever it’s worth, I do tip at Baseline Tap House, but that’s almost entirely a matter of what the experts would dub “guilt tipping.” I don’t think you actually need to tip in this scenario.
Regardless, it made my total over $30 for what you see in the above photo. That’s a lot for a counter service meal, especially when an equally filling dish that I love just as much is right around the corner at ABC Commissary for $12.79.
While we’re here, let’s revisit a couple of long-time staples on the menu at BaseLine Tap House.
Next up is the California Cheese and Charcuterie Plate: A Selection of California‑inspired Soft, Aged, and Blue Cheeses, Cured Meats, House-made Spreads, Pickled Items, and Crisp Lavash.
This is a fun assortment of meats and cheeses, delivering some surprising quality on the cheese front. Sarah found the meat to be a bit on the fatty/greasy/processed side, but I thought it was delicious. The presentation is great, too.
Finally, the Bavarian Pretzel with Beer-Cheese Fondue and Spicy Mustard.
This is a fan-favorite, and for good reason. It’s right up there with the pretzel in Germany as Walt Disney World’s best. Honestly, pretzels are not my go-to snack in the parks, but this is so far and away superior to the standard issue Mickey Pretzels that you’d be foolish to get those as opposed to “splurging” on this if you’re in the mood for the snack.
This is also a more unique delivery mechanism for the beer cheese fondue, so if you’re having trouble deciding between this and the Avenue Chips, pick the pretzel.
Among Walt Disney World fans in the know, BaseLine Tap House scores points for its beers on tap.
Not only is there a good variety of California beers, but a 20 ounce draft is $12.50. That’s pretty solid by Walt Disney World standards, especially when you consider that this is craft beer. (Note that these used to be 22 ounce drafts. Shrinkflation strikes again!)
The bottom line is that BaseLine Tap House is a great place to spend a relaxed afternoon and early evening after finishing up the highlights of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Even after Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened and construction commenced on Monstropolis, BaseLine Tap House has managed to retain its low-key charm. It’ll be interesting to see how, if at all, the upcoming Monsters, Inc. land changes the vibe here.
In the here and now, most Walt Disney World guests pass by the nondescript BaseLine Tap House while scurrying to Star Wars or Toy Story Lands. Even as BaseLine Tap House has become an open secret among diehard WDW fans, it still isn’t that popular. Don’t make the same mistake as (almost) everyone else: stop here and savor the setting, and the delicious menu!
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Your Thoughts
Have you tried the new Pepperoni Flatbread topped with Ricotta and Hot Honey? Anything else you enjoy at BaseLine Tap House? Favorite foods or beers on tap here? What about the atmosphere and vibe of the place? Do you agree or disagree with our review? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Tom, have you tried/reviewed the updated Buffalo Grilled Cheese? I saw that the recipe was changed (possibly due to a vendor change) and it isn’t the same. I’m desperately hoping they will revert to the old recipe, but am curious to get your take in the interim.
I’d rather you didn’t publish reviews of Baseline. Now the secret will get out, and it will become the DHS drunken-madhouse version of outside the Rose & Crown.
There are tip options because its a bar, not just ‘counter service’!
I work at a concession bar and once in a while someone who is just getting a snack complains to me that the terminal asks for a tip. I always point out that this is a bar and they go ‘Oh yeah, sorry’.
We were just there this week and still lamenting the loss of The Writer’s Stop, always got a treat from there and was a nice place to take a rest. I still also miss Starring Rolls bakery
I loved grabbing a coffee at the Writers Stop on chilly nights!!!! I’m betting this spot will change again, once Monstropolis is completed.
The Writers Stop was one of our two favorite places in all of WDW, a nice little nook to take a rest and have a huge cookie. Our family refuses to try the Taphouse as it would feel like a betrayal .
Getting a charcuterie board with no meat and double cheese can be requested. The last time we ate there recently, there was a new person in the kitchen and the board came out with just the meat removed. I know portions are shrinking but holy heck! The bartender who took my order saw my reaction to the meager serving and said, “Hang on a minute!” The board went back to the kitchen and returned with a double cheese serving and an explanation about a new person in the kitchen. I’m sure I can get the flatbread without meat, too.
I only have room in my heart for one super generic eatery, God bless ABC Commissary!
I had a trip recently and the food across the park was consistently good and often better than expected. Brown Derby was great, but the standout was the duck and burger at Kona Cafe. Even Plaza was good which I had heard is usually awful.
I don’t think I could do honey on pizza, we have Brown derby booked next month- maybe our favorite place in all DW also we finally were able to book scifi diner so are hoping it lives up to the hype- for quick service though the ronto wrap is pretty fire.
My family really likes 50s Prime Time Cafe. We have wanted to try the Sci Fi Dine Inn, but I consistently hear the food there is below lackluster. Has their food improved of late?
Regarding tipping at Baseline; might I suggest people treat this like resort fees at so many non-resorty hotels…resist! It’s an odd American custom that needs to be reigned in… and used for more appropriate tipping situations. (BTW, I work part-time at a retail establishment and always hit “no tip” before I spin the screen around for the customer’s signature.)
It’s a bar. People tip bartenders.
We ate there a couple of days ago and were pleasantly surprised with the pizza. Agree about the hot honey and the ricotta plussing the item, otherwise it would just be pretty ordinary. It’s a shame that they don’t have a stronger charcuterie offering considering it’s a taphouse. We always love the ambience there and were able to have a lovely time sitting outdoors taking advantage of the cloud covering.
I don’t remember the Writer’s Stop but I must have seen and passed it a bunch of times. Probably never stopped there because we would have had a bunch of children with us. I do remember those great Osborne lights and may have some of those glasses around here in one of the many boxes of forgotten souvenirs buried in the bowels of our home.
As for Baseline we’ve had the Charcuterie board once and the pretzel another time. Both are fine. We don’t drink so not a destination for us. Sorry but there isn’t enough hot honey sauce in the world to make a New Yorker buy a $17 flatbread pizza the size of my hand. I have a very big hand. And you know what they say about guys with huge paws. We need a slice bigger than our heads.
But I will back every thing you said about the restaurants and quick services at HS. Glad to hear you had a great meal at the Brown Derby as we”ve been there a few times but not in awhile so we have it planned for August. Look forward to that review.
Don’t know if we’ll ever get back to the Toy Story BBQ with so many better choices. I wonder if you had a “shockingly ENJOYABLE meal there” because there was no tired temperamental baby and exhausted exasperated wife looking to you for help? ENJOYABLE was the key give away here.
That looks good, but wow $17 is high for pizza/flatbread. Particularly at that small size. I’ve actually never been inside Baseline, and only a few times at Writer’s Stop, but we did enjoy the ambiance.
I love the Tap House, but I had not seen the flatbread. That picture makes me want to book a trip right now! I am concerned with all the great reviews the “little secret” of Baseline Tap House is going to cause longer lines. 🙂
That pepperoni pizza looks and sounds amazing! My issue with HS QS is so much of it is out in the blazing sun (we generally visit in August). When you say indoor terrace seating is that in AC?
It must be air conditioned inside or it would be stifling when ordering and it hasn’t been. We always eat outside.
I was thinking the same thing, Liz…I’ve never eaten here because I thought the dining was just outdoors. I’d be curious to hear what the inside is like…
I looooved The Writers Stop! Ah, glory days of MGM!