Best restaurant for 1st night???

[3mousehouse]

Our first trip ever to US/IOA and we leave in 2 days!!! For Disney, I usually have the entire week compulsively planned (touring plans, ADRs, etc.) like a well run military operation. I feel very slack in that I have done NONE of that for this trip. I hope it will turn out OK! Anyway, I'd appreciate any suggestions for our first dinner the first night. We are arriving on Sunday and we are staying at PBH. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[patster734]

My suggestion is Margaritaville. Be sure to show your room key to the restaurant attendant for priority seating. My other suggestions are Hard Rock Cafe and Bubba Gumps although Bubba Gumps doesn't have priority seating for Universal hotel guests.

 

[THUNDERMOUNTAINMOMMA]

I. too think Margaritaville would be a great place for your first night. It always puts me in that tropical mood!

 

[damo]

Will you be going to the parks that day?

 

[3mousehouse]

Yes, we are going to the parks but the parks close at 7pm. (That's a whole other thread, but WHY do the parks close so early?? I know there are still a lot of spring breakers coming in! )

 

[damo]

Parks close early if the attendance is expected to be low.

If you have had a full day at the parks by 5 pm, try Mythos. I don't know what time they would be closing.

It is fun to do something rather themed on the first night.

We really, really like Sal's Deli and PBH but it is not fancy. We love to get a big pizza and salad and eat outside while the opera singer is performing from the balcony above.

 

[patster734]

Parks close early if the attendance is expected to be low.

If you have had a full day at the parks by 5 pm, try Mythos. I don't know what time they would be closing.

It is fun to do something rather themed on the first night.

We really, really like Sal's Deli and PBH but it is not fancy. We love to get a big pizza and salad and eat outside while the opera singer is performing from the balcony above.

 

[Metro West]

I. too think Margaritaville would be a great place for your first night. It always puts me in that tropical mood!

Another vote for Margaritaville and the Porch of Indecision.

 

[FireandIce]

Another vote for Sal's !

 

[goofie4goofy]

Since you are staying at the PBH, for the first night I would choose Mama Della's. I don't know about you but the first night of our vacation we are a little tired from travelling and don't feel like schlepping around after a long day. It's also nice after dinner to walk around the piazza, get a gelato or coffee sit at a table and people watch. To get back to the PBH, from citywalk, you have to get the water taxi. So it is not as convenient as dining at the PBH.

I know everyone loves Margaritaville, but I ate there on 3 seperate trips and all 3 times it made me sick to my stomach. JMHO, the food is terrible. Bubba Gumps is not that good either.
We love Mythos, but always eat there for lunch because we go when it is low crowds and the park closes at 7 --Same for Finnigans - Excellent burgers!!

I just realized -- we will be there in 20 days

 

[LeslieR]

Is Sals better for lunch or dinner? Thanks

 

[momandseandodisney]

do they have many table services like DIS? Do you need to make reservations so far in adv. like DIS?

 

[damo]

Is Sals better for lunch or dinner? Thanks

It is good for both and a late night snack. It is very casual.

do they have many table services like DIS? Do you need to make reservations so far in adv. like DIS?

There are lots of table services and reservations are usually made a few days before or the day of depending on the season.