Best places to eat for a fam in US/IOA/SW?

[gopherit]

Educate me, please!

What are the best family places to eat?

I'm not necessarily talking about price -- I mean, quality of food and theming, perhaps a unique dining experience, and of course, conducive to family with 3 kids aged 6,10 and 11.

(For example -- at WDW we love Sci Fi because of its cool atmosphere, Ohana because of the theming and kebabs, Beaches and Cream because the burgers and desserts are so good and it's just laid back dining, ESPN because well, we love ESPN; Whispering Canyon because of the shenanigans... what are the US equivalents? We're not really looking to leave US and hit a chain restaurant, for example. Looking for whatever is there that's unique and good. We love character meals at Disney -- but honestly, not sure my kids would care about the US characters -- if they even have such a thing anyway.)

THANKS!!!

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

I am not familiar with any of the Disney dining places, so I can not tell you what is similar at the Universal Parks. I can tell you, however, that Mythos has both great theming and terrific food. It is a sit down restaurant and often requires reservations. We recently "discovered" Thunder Falls Terrance over in the Jurassic Park section of IOA. We ate our lunch while watching the "drop" for River Adventure. The theming was neat and we really enjoyed our meals. DH had the ribs and I had the chicken wrap. We both selected black beans and rice as our side. For Burgers, try the Burger Digs at IOA or Richters at the Studios. If you venture over to City Walk, Margaritaville can't be beat for theming, music, drinks and just plain ole fun.

 

[tampaman]

NBA City is outstanding! Mythos is very good also.

 

[wilma-bride]

Hard Rock Cafe at City Walk (beware, you can have a very long wait if you don't make ARs)

Definitely Mythos at IofA - it is fantastic. The Enchanted Oak Tavern (think that's what it's called) is also cool although haven't actually eaten there so not sure about the food.

And, of course, the Green Eggs and Ham cafe in Seuss Landing at IofA.

The only place I can think of at US is Monsters Cafe. It is quite cool also.

 

[Motherfletcher]

Mythos has the best food and the atmosphere is cave-like.
Margaritaville is great for all around fun and great burgers.
NBA City is a must for any basketball fans. Service and food are superb.
HRC is the largest in the World. Its slow but the burgers are the best at Universal Orlando.

 

[TigerLilly's Mom]

Mythos, Margaritaville, and Tchoup Chop are my favorites for atmosphere. Thunderfalls Terrace is good for food and the view of the River Adventure Ride. The Hard Rock Cafe is fun, but the food (in my opinion) is not so great. If you are sports fans, NBA City, and NASCAR Cafe are good and themed really well.

Don't miss the lemonade slushies and the Funnel Cake sundae at IOA. Yummy!

 

[gopherit]

Thanks, folks!

I had been wondering about the NBA City and NASCAR Cafe... both sound good for my crew! What's this Mythos place at IOA everyone is mentioning? (Told ya I was US/IOA clueless!) I'll have to check out its menu... it sounded greek to me (literally!)

What is there within US park? And pardon my ignorance -- but is City Walk open or is there an admission (or does your park pass cover it?) Margaritavile sounded like a good lunch on the day we arrive...

Keep 'em comng, folks -- any other faves?

 

[bubba's mom]

might this help you?? it's helping me....
http://allearsnet.com/uni/tp/us/us_rest.htm

 

[spatenfloot]

Finnegan's is very good food and not that expensive. The best thing is that it is rarely crowded. Located in US near the Mummy. The fruit plate there is HUGE!

 

[Bill Lumbergh]

When I go into Finnegan's for Happy Hour, that place is crowded!

I like the Enchanted Oak Terrace at IOA. Confscio's is pretty good for kids too. They can look at the stuff hanging from the ceiling.

 

[loribell]

We like Cafe LaBamba at US.

At IOA the Enchante Oak and Comic Strip Cafe is really good.

This summer we ate at Mythos and while I liked it really well, my mother and the kids, ages 6, 13, 18, and 20, all disliked it.

At City Walk we always eat at HRC and of course Margarittaville is always the first meal I plan! Try a Strawberry Margaritta, they are out of this world, absolute perfection!

It has been several years but when we ate at the NBA we were pretty disappointed in it. Would love to try Nascar Cafe, maybe next year!

We also always go to Cinnabon for breakfast and it is great. This summer DH walked over to Pastamore and got a slice of breakfast pizza, yummy!

Lori

 

[Mickey&Co]

Mythos, Margaritaville, and Tchoup Chop are my favorites for atmosphere...If you are sports fans, NBA City, and NASCAR Cafe are good and themed really well. Yummy!

I second that TigerLilly's Mom! We enjoyed all of the restaurants above during our past two visits to USF. As an added incentive...if you have AAA or APH you get a dining discount except for Tchoup Chop, so we went there for lunch and it was our favorite meal!

Enjoy!

M&Co

 

[ChrisFL]

Thanks, folks!

I had been wondering about the NBA City and NASCAR Cafe... both sound good for my crew! What's this Mythos place at IOA everyone is mentioning? (Told ya I was US/IOA clueless!) I'll have to check out its menu... it sounded greek to me (literally!)

What is there within US park? And pardon my ignorance -- but is City Walk open or is there an admission (or does your park pass cover it?) Margaritavile sounded like a good lunch on the day we arrive...

Keep 'em comng, folks -- any other faves?

Mythos is inside of IOA...and Ive eaten there several times over the years, never been disappointed, it is always excellent food, service and atmosphere.


NASCAR, MArgaritaville, NBA City are all at Citywalk and it is FREE to walk around (it's literally between US and IOA) all of their places.

Finnegan's is inside of US

 

[stinkerbelle]

omg...Margaritavill and NASCAR cafe in City Walk are great.
DH and I LOVE Mythos and Finnegan's. Best restaurants I've ever seen in a themepark!

I can't wait until September when we go back now! heheheh

 

[glawgirl]

Finnegan's is a great Irish-American sit down restaurant in Universal Studios. My DH and I always have lunch there. Also, you can catch the Blues Brothers show right outside of Finnegan's at noon. It is great food. I always have the fish and chips and my DH always has the bangers and mash.

Another great sit down restaurant in Universal Studios is Lombard's Seafood Grille. Their lobster bisque is very good.


Mythos in Islands of Adventure is a beautifully themed restaurant - it sort of looks like a huge cave and it overlook the Hulk rollercoaster (I believe). They have great appetizers and sandwiches. They also have great desserts.

Margaritaville is excellent. We eat there every time we visit Universal Studios. They do not accept reservations so try to go at an off time - that place gets super packed. Everything that we have tried has been great there.

 

[MartDM]

I got a reservation at Margaritaville last fall...have they stopped accepting them??

 

[glawgirl]

I can't remember if it's that you need to have a certain amount of people in your party to make a reservation at Margaritaville or if it's just impossible to get a reservation on a weekend there. I would def. try to go during the week and at an off time. The wait time on a Friday or Saturday night is definately more than one hour.