Derby Dinner Playhouse
Review guidelines:
1 Fork = I would rather eat dog food.2 Forks = I would eat there if I was starving.
3 Forks = Not bad; someplace I would occasionally consider eating.
4 Forks = A good place to eat; I will put it into my rotation of places I dine frequently.
5 Forks = One of my all time favorites!
One caveat to note – I am allergic to fish and seafood, so if you are looking for those recommendations, you will have to consult someone else.
Because I have a daughter-in-law with Celiac and a really good friend who is Vegetarian, I will try to point out whether those options are present when I review a restaurant.
Sunday, March 3, 2013 - Lunch
Derby Dinner Playhouse
525 Marriott Dr.Clarksville, IN
(812) 288-8281
Located just across the Ohio River from Louisville (via I-65, exit 1) is Derby Dinner Playhouse, a longstanding dining and entertainment venue. The typical setup, as with most dinner theaters, is the stage in the center and tiered seating encircling the stage. Reservations are strongly recommended as many of their shows sell out way in advance.
My husband and I have been going to Derby Dinner Playhouse for years and we always have a great time! He is a big theater buff, so tickets to a variety of plays are always good gift ideas at our house.
The meal is buffet only. The rotation of offerings change, but I have never had a bad meal there. The hot entrees and side items on this occasion were: Carved baked ham, fried chicken, baked fish, pasta with mushrooms and other veggies, country green beans, oven roasted potatoes, glazed baby carrots, corn, and dinner rolls (I might have forgotten a side or two). There was also a cold salad bar with a decent variety of toppings and dressings as well as several very good prepared salads such as the pot luck favorite – broccoli, bacon, onion, and sunflower seeds. The buffet includes coffee, tea, or milk but soft drinks are an extra charge. Dessert is pre-ordered from a menu at the end of the meal and served during the intermission. Desserts are huge – word of advice here – share!! The sweet offerings included:ice cream sundaes, brownie sundae (giant or mini sized), NY cheesecake, apple pie, carrot cake, and orange/pistachio cream cake. The dessert offerings generally change with the play. I ordered the orange/pistachio cake and it was indescribably good!
On this occasion, we saw Little Shop of Horrors. My husband had seen the movie many years ago, but I had not. It was very cute and the plant puppets were awesome. We have seen a wide variety of shows here over the years. The theater cast never disappoints with their great performances. They are especially good at the murder mystery genre. The play lasted approximately 2 hours with one 15 minute intermission where dessert is served. The prelude to the show is a 5-10 minute opening by the Cliff Notes vocal group – some of whom double as cast members. The play (matinee price) and buffet lunch, not including dessert was $36 per person. There are several discounts available for groups, seniors, and children.
Derby Dinner Playhouse would probably warrant a 5 Forks rating if it weren’t more of a special occasion venue for us out-of-towners. If you are looking for a great afternoon or evening out (only an hour’s drive from Lexington), I highly recommend Derby Dinner Playhouse. They also have children’s theater performances mixed in with the regular performance season.
Gluten Free Options – none advertised.
Vegetarian Options – there are quite a few vegetarian options on the buffet.
For a schedule of shows at Derby Dinner Playhouse or to purchase tickets, check out their website:http://www.derbydinner.com/
0 comments