A couple dining questions

[New England Eeyore]

I've started to look at the menus on allears for Universal and Citywalk restaurants and I'm kind of excited. We've only ever eaten counter service there before but this time we're staying onsite for 2 nights so we'll have the opportunity to enjoy a few new ones.

I think I'll probably have the restaurant we want narrowed down but I don't think we'll want to commit to a time yet so I'd rather not make reservations ahead of time. In your opinion, on a weekday (Tues and Wed April 17 and 18) will we have a problem getting into Mythos for lunch or Margaritaville, Pat O'Briens or Bubba Gump for dinner without reservations?

Margaritaville seems like a fun place that would please all members of our family, but Pat O'Brien's and Bubba Gump caught my eye because they have po'boys and I them! If I wanted a po'boy and the fussy eaters in my family wanted a burger, which of the latter two restaurants would you choose?

Thanks for the help!

 

[MouseGirl]

I think timing is everything - we walked into Margaritaville with no reservations for lunch on our last trip (mid-March) at about 11:30 a.m. and were seated immediately, but by 12:00 there was a long line-up. If you go early you should be fine. Not sure about the other restaurants you have mentioned, but I'm sure others on the board can help!

Bon appetit,
MouseGirl

 

[Melisa1]

We always go to Margaritaville for lunch. We usually get there right when they open (11am I believe) and have no problems getting a table. It does fill up quick though.
Bubba Gumps is becoming a favorite for us as well. I think they have really good food and I like the atmosphere (kinda rustic). We usually try to get a table by the windows and you have a nice breeze and can people watch! Tough decision, I would try to do both if you can.

 

[yaytezIOA]

As far as food, there is something for everyone. I highly recommend Pat O Briens, simply for the Piano Bar....which younger people can go and see until the rest of CityWalk opens.

 

[highlander447]

Margritville is very good as is Mythos you can make a same day reservation at Citywalk dining reservations although if u are onsite your keycard gets u next available seating, not tried Bubbas yet have enjoyed a burger at Pats it was good plus it was a tuesday so drink was 2 for 1 plus annual pass discounts on food meant 15% off plus 2 free kids meals

 

[New England Eeyore]

Thanks for the info! It sounds like it'll be tough to narrow it down! Lots of good choices.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

April can be iffy depending on spring break and Easter. A quick check of the park hours can tell you if the parks/restaurants will be crowded. If the parks close at six or seven, you can generally expect light crowds.

O'Briens has a wonderful po'boy and burger. The atmosphere can't be beat, IMO. Although, Tuesdays are a happy hour type of night (two for one hurricanes) and it can get crowded. Another problem we've had recently with O'Briens is they do a lot of private affairs and actually close to the public during what most of us would consider the dinner hour. We tried to go for dinner and hurricanes our last trip in September three different nights over the course of the week and the outside was all roped off for private parties and we couldn't get in until after 11:00 p.m.

Another thing to keep in mind with O'Briens is after a certain time, they do charge a cover. I think it's around nine p.m. -- that's a guestimate. We try to shoot for dinner around 6:30 or so and sit outside by the fire fountains. We pay no cover and have very good dinner service.

As a po'boy lover (crawfish all the way!), I must say their blackened redfish dinner is to die for. Once we went, and they'd run out of crawfish. I couldn't get my must-do po'boy, so I had to "settle" for the redfish. I'm sold. Sorry, po'boy, but the redfish is outstanding!

We went to Bubba Gump's last trip since we just finally gave up on getting to eat at O'Brien's, and BG's was wonderful. I wouldn't hesitate to return.

 

[DiscoverUSF]

A very nice treat at the hotels is Emril's Chop Choup at RPR and Mamma Della's at PBH. Excellent service at both spots. Mamma Della's also has singers going from table to table in old Italian style.

 

[robvia]

Great advice about timing.

Rush hour at restaurants is Noon for lunch, and 8pm for the evening. Try to go before this time to beat the crowd. Otherwise you'll get a beeper and have to wait.

Mythos is best for lunch, because the closing hours vary.
For Margaritaville, they have stilt walkers that get the crowd going around 8pm, and it gets kinda noisy. If you want a party, go at 8pm. If you want things quiet, go earlier at 5:30pm.

If you go at 8pm, your onsite key will move you up on any list, to about 20 minutes. We went to Margaritaville at 8pm, waited 20 minutes walking around Citywalk taking pictures. Anyone else who walked up was told the wait would be 1 hour.