2006 - Present : Food Pics with Chat

[macraven]

Thanks for sharing your info!

 

[schumigirl]

Thanks for the pictures tony67, appreciate them and your opinion of the food. You certainly had some mixed experiences.

I agree with the crepes, I think they are dreadful and ours was like eating a sponge, rank!!! And yes, that is not Currywurst!!

But that apple pie does look lovely, I think I`d try that for sure.

 

[tony67]

Thanks for the pictures tony67, appreciate them and your opinion of the food. You certainly had some mixed experiences.

I agree with the crepes, I think they are dreadful and ours was like eating a sponge, rank!!! And yes, that is not Currywurst!!

But that apple pie does look lovely, I think I`d try that for sure.

Yeah I went just for the pie, I had seen it on the Pugh two channel and for $5 you cant beat it. I also liked being able to order a beer with it...and no expectation of a tip since its mobile order - that is a nice bonus on a $12 beer.

BTW - I wont be trusting the Pugh Two's food reviews (or reviews in general anymore) - the only thing they were right about was the pie. Rule 1 - NEVER trust an Influencer - I need to remember that.

 

[schumigirl]

Yeah I went just for the pie, I had seen it on the Pugh two channel and for $5 you cant beat it. I also liked being able to order a beer with it...and no expectation of a tip since its mobile order - that is a nice bonus on a $12 beer.

BTW - I wont be trusting the Pugh Two's food reviews (or reviews in general anymore) - the only thing they were right about was the pie. Rule 1 - NEVER trust an Influencer - I need to remember that.

I like them for one reason. I had never heard of them before, but they liked Carole`s Punch from Strong Water, so I`ll forgive them that.

But, I never watch vloggers nor go by reviews in general, influencers all have an agenda, I much prefer personal recommendations. I won`t be watching them or others going forward.

 

[tony67]

I like them for one reason. I had never heard of them before, but they liked Carole`s Punch from Strong Water, so I`ll forgive them that.

But, I never watch vloggers nor go by reviews in general, influencers all have an agenda, I much prefer personal recommendations. I won`t be watching them or others going forward.

Yeah eventually they all sell out - I get it.

The big one for me was the OI Meetup - I was there and I watched the insanity of people trying to get the appetizers - they did not mention it at all although the saw the feeding frenzy - they were standing right there. They were invited guests and reported it as such.
When people are paying over $200 a night for it then maybe be honest about it.

They had a very different experience than me to say the least.

 

[tony67]

Had a lot of Pizza this year as I was on a bit of a budget for the first time ever.

The best was Vivo - I've never been there before - did not even no they had a nice bar inside.
Pizzas are $20 and well worth it: they also give you free fresh baked bread and top quality Olive oil.
This is my new goto bar before HHN - the Bartender Germany was really professional and fun - he has been here for 15 years.

Italian Meat - $20
mozzarella, Italian sausage, pepperoni, San Marzano tomato sauce

Was really tasty and perfectly cooked.


Wild Mushroom & Truffle(V)- $20
truffle burrata, mozzarella, wild mushrooms, arugula, grana padano, truffle emulsion
This is what I expect from a quality pizza:



I also had pizza at Red oven - and its good and saves a few $$. The quality varies a lot depending on who is working. For example one time it came out very quickly and needed to be cooked more. Most times it was very good - not as good as Vivo - but good.


Alla Benno(ES, PS, SES, SS, TNS)- $16
prosciutto, pineapple, jalapeños, tomato sauce, mozzarella



This was the Fennel Sausage - it was decent but I expected sliced sausage not ground - crust was excellent though.


I also had
Big Eye Pepperoni- $15
tomato sauce, mozzarella, large pepperoni - it was OK but really needed to be cooked more.

Italian Meat- $17
large pepperoni, hot capicola, Italian sausage, speck, mozzarella, tomato sauce, oregano - again good - but nothing special

Beyond that I tried a slice at Louie's and its really not good at all - soggy and floppy and tasteless - never again - people think this is pizza? I hear so much praise for this place??

I also tried the Ogreroni pizza. For some reason I did not get a photo - but its a really nice dough and it was crispy and fresh even though it came out of a warning cart. Was very impressed with it and I'll be back.

lastly I tried a pizza at dockside - the problem with this place is if you don't get it when it comes out it can be sitting there for a long time - so I'll avoid it in future.

I had the breakfast pizza (flatbread I guess) at Dockside and I regretted it: Soggy floppy and tasteless

 

[tony67]

I also tried the pasta at Vivo - it was very filling and cooked perfectly:

Bucatini with Meatballs - $25
three house made meatballs, marinara, mozzarella
Fresh house made pasta, nice sauce - very impressed with it - but its a lot of food and between that and the free bread I was very full - probably why I wont order it again. I wish they did half portions - that is not uncommon in Italian restaurants.


Meatballs - $14
house made meatballs in marinara
So this is $11 cheaper than the pasta and meatballs. You sill get the free bread - so this is a great option.


Have to say I regret not going to Vivo over the many years of going to Universal - I always avoided it as theme park Italian food.

 

[tony67]

Large Warm Soft Pretzel(V)- $13.95
lightly salted, jalapeño queso, Bertman Ballpark mustard



The Giant Pretzel from NBC Grill - this is one of my go to items with a couple of beers.
This was better than I remember - very fresh and buttery like a pretzel should be.
I will say I think the mustard was bad - was a very foul taste. I am a big mustard fan and have 5 or 6 different mustards in my fridge at all times. The cheese sauce was very good though.

The beer selection is also excellent - must have 40 or 50 beers on draft - my go to is Ayinger with the pretzel:

 

[tony67]

Breakfast is not cheap at Universal so in the past I have tended to just get a breakfast sandwich at Starbucks - but the quality and options have really gone down hill. The new pesto one gave me indigestion all day. The chicken and maple one is not nice. Even the egg and sausage is pretty tasteless - so I looked for other options and just got my Extra Large Cold Brew Iced coffee at Starbucks - its the same as a small one at the Universal places.

I tries the sausage bites and the sausage sandwich at Cinnabon - one and done - was expecting more of a cinnamon roll with a sausage - not just the dough.

In IOA I'd recommend Croissant Moon Bakery - the Croissant sandwich was excellent and fresh - I wish they had a sausage one - but still it was very good. They also have a nice selection of pastry. I tried the Lemon Blueberry Brioche and although it was very fresh it was a bit too dry and needed more lemon. Still they had some great choices and everyone (including myself) seems to forget about this place.



In US, even though I don't like the Today show at all, the Today Cafe is pretty good.
The biggest issue I had is people (large families) with a dozen donuts sitting in the cafe eating them. They did not buy anything at the cafe but seemed to think they could take up several tables and eat their Voo Doo donuts.
I ran into this on several days - so even as a solo traveler finding a place to sit was a challenge.

This is my goto:
Breakfast Sandwich, Everything Croissant(FS, PS, SFS, SS, TNS)- $10.49
sausage, egg, cheese, smashed avocado and Divina tomatoes on an everything bagel seasoning croissant served with a side of fruit

 

[kimmar067]

Dinner and a show - what could be better?

 

[tony67]

Dinner and a show - what could be better?

Is this Universal? Pretty sure that Raglan Road in Disney Springs.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Pretty sure that Raglan Road in Disney Springs.

Ah, I was trying to figure out where it was.

 

[kimmar067]

Is this Universal? Pretty sure that Raglan Road in Disney Springs.

....oooops it is..... I didn't realize I was on a US/IoA thread....

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Halloween Horror Nights:

Wooden board eclair - "Spicy dark chocolate pastry cream filled éclair dipped in chocolate ganache with a bloody chocolate plank"
This was awesome! Board was quality chocolate, spicy pastry cream was indeed spicy, jam "blood" complemented nicely.


Twisted tater - only meh, the first inch (already eaten in photo) felt raw, rest was okay but a bit flaccid.

 

[Jessem1133]

Halloween Horror Nights:

Wooden board eclair - "Spicy dark chocolate pastry cream filled éclair dipped in chocolate ganache with a bloody chocolate plank"
This was awesome! Board was quality chocolate, spicy pastry cream was indeed spicy, jam "blood" complemented nicely.
View attachment 909715

Twisted tater - only meh, the first inch (already eaten in photo) felt raw, rest was okay but a bit flaccid.
View attachment 909714

Every year I get so excited for a Twisted Tater...and every year I ask my wife "Why did you let me buy this??!!?"

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Every year I get so excited for a Twisted Tater...and every year I ask my wife "Why did you let me buy this??!!?"

Yeah... this is the second one I've had and the second that wasn't that good. Hopefully I have learned.

 

[tony67]

Every year I get so excited for a Twisted Tater...and every year I ask my wife "Why did you let me buy this??!!?"

Yeah - I have to same the same about the pizza fries - really way overrated.

Didn't even bother this year.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Central Park crepe menu as of Nov 2024:



Had the brisket crepe which was really good & served on a plate (as opposed to handheld like their sweet crepes) - that made eating & especially sharing easier.

 

[mamapenguin]

Yeah - I have to same the same about the pizza fries - really way overrated.

Didn't even bother this year.

Agreed. The tots at Green Eggs and Ham are better. The pizza fries were disappointing.

 

[macraven]

This is still an active thread and hope more post on it.

New homies will learn a lot on this thread.