Toby's Dinner Theatre
4.7(2.6K)google
3.8(189)yelp
theaterPerformancefoodDate SpotIndoorNight-Friendly
Overview
Toby's Dinner Theatre is a dinner theater based in Columbia, Maryland.
Practical Info
Mon10:00AM – 8:00 PM
Tue10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Wed10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Thu10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Fri10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sat10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sun10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Suggested Duration2.5-3.5 hours
Best TimeAn outstanding year-round indoor theatrical attraction. Booking a Friday or Saturday evening performance (doors open at 6:00 PM) is highly recommended; it grants you ample time to feast on the premium buffet layout before the floor transitions directly into an immersive 360-degree theater-in-the-round.
Getting ThereCentrally located at 5900 Symphony Woods Road, adjacent to Merriweather Post Pavilion. Driving is easiest: from US-29, take the MD-175 W exit, follow Little Patuxent Parkway, and turn right onto Symphony Woods Road. The venue offers a massive, free on-site parking lot steps from the door.
Travel Tips
- Utilizing a strict theatre-in-the-round layout with active cast runway intersections, latecomers are barred from entering the main house and legally held in the lobby until the first full act concludes.
- The ticket includes the standard buffet; however, dynamic specialty cocktails, alcoholic bar beverages, and waiter gratuities are separate charges that must be settled 15 minutes prior to curtain rise.
- The auditorium climate control is rigidly locked at 65°F to counter heavy stage lighting output; spectators must pack a personal insulated jacket or heavy wool shawl to remain comfortable during the show.
Reviews
Positive
- Unrivaled audio-visual intimacy; the unique theater-in-the-round staging ensures no table is ever more than 30 feet from the actors, putting you right in the performance.
- Highly entertaining tradition; the professional cast members double as your incredibly friendly buffet servers before the curtain rises, creating delightful interactions.
- The buffet catering is fantastic and regularly replenished, serving up prime roast beef, fresh local seafood, a broad salad bar, and decadent hot desserts.
- Incredible value for money; a single ticket bundle covers an all-you-can-eat gourmet buffet and a Broadway-quality live show, with plenty of free municipal parking outside.
Heads up
- The dining room floor plan is packed tightly; during the pre-show buffet rush, the narrow aisles between tables become heavily congested and chaotic to walk through.
- While water and basic hot tea are included, any specialty soft drinks, beer, wine, or themed cocktails carry a heavy added markup and must be paid for separately.
- The central air conditioning inside the auditorium is kept freezing cold to offset the heavy stage lights, making it uncomfortably chilly for audience members without a sweater.
- A few extreme side-angle or rear tables suffer from minor blocked sightlines when massive stage props are used, and designated ADA wheelchair slots are strictly limited.