Birthday Dinner arrival day - Strongwater Tavern or Toothsome?

[elfling8]

DH's birthday is the day we arrive, April 17! We land at MCO at 2, and are taking Universal's service to RPR. We (Me, DH, DD16, DS14) want to get situated at the hotel, checked in, get our bearings, tickets etc, then have a nice celebratory dinner. I'm guessing by the time we are settled it will be closing in on peak dinner time, and it is a peak crowd time.

I'm wondering if it might be better crowd wise to do Strongwater Tavern as it is in a hotel, vs Toothsome which is very popular and on Citywalk? Any thoughts food/crowd/timing wise much appreciated! Other options also entertained! The only picky eater is DD - she doesn't eat beef or much other meat. Will eat any fish, veggies, not a huge tofu fan but will eat vegetarian dishes, loves pasta, potatoes ("beige food" we tease her - LOL)

 

[Robo56]

I would go and look at the RPR sticky Schumigirl has set up. Have a look at the menus for Jakes, Islands Dinigroom and Orchids which are all located at RPR.

Strong Water Tavern at Sapphire Falls is very good, but has more of a tapas offering. Amitista Cookhouse is very good. You can also look at their menus on the Sapphire Falls sticky.

See which restaurant will fit your birthday fellas wishes and family dietary needs.

I have eaten at all the above and all are great options.

When you check in at RPR Resort desk they usually ask if you are celebrating anything. Let them know you are celebrating your hubby’s birthday. RPR is a beautiful Resort with lovely folks who work there.

Also let the restaurant know you are celebrating too. They try to make it special if possible.

No matter which one you choose have a lovely time.

 

[tony67]

Toothsome is definitely a theme park experience so probably not what you are looking for - but it is pretty good. i always stop[ in there at least once.
Strongwater Tavern is excellent - but check out the menu - it is mostly Tappas as Robo56 stated. This is pretty much my first stop when I get to Universal
I really like the food at Islands Dinigroom, but it is nothing special IMO
I was very disappointed with Jakes in RPR - I had heard a lot about it, but found the staff to not be very personable
That's all my experience though - and your may be completely different as Robo56 basically said - review the menus and photos in those various stickty threads at the top of the forum and then decide

 

[christophfam]

I was going to suggest a restaurant at citywalk that takes reservations so you don’t have to deal with a wait on your travel day when everyone will probably be a bit tired but it looks like everything is booked. I wouldn’t do stongwater for a family dinner as it is more a bar with tapas, unless that’s what you’re looking for. I’d suggest you make a reservation at Islands, Jakes or Amitista soon. My vote would be Amitista as it's new bright and beautiful, but check out the menus and see what suits your family best.

One other option would be to download the cowfish app and get on the waitlist on the boat ride over to citywalk. This would only work if you aren’t in any rush to eat and want to wander around citywalk for an hour or so before dinner. Cowfish is close to the few shops that are in citywalk, Toothsome is not.

 

[schumigirl]

There are vegetarian and seafood dishes in Strong Water.....the online menu is not up to date so don't go by that.....

Amatista is decent, but isn't spectacular enough for me to have a birthday meal in......

Toothsome we haven't ever enjoyed our food there but many do.

At RP you have Jake`s, Islands restaurant which offers the Wok experience on certain nights, and every night during peak times, as well as the regular menu. And you have Orchids sushi bar which are all excellent.....we always enjoy our meals in all three places and staff are incredibly friendly......and as you have just arrived you may not want to wander far......any of those would be excellent choices...

 

[elfling8]

Thank you for all the tips and suggestions. Sending menu links to the birthday boy and see what he would like to do.

We do love tapas - dd could get her own small plates and the other three of us would be happy sharing.
Sushi also good for all of us - dd will eat the cooked fish, veggie, california rolls - so both Cowfish and Orchids a good choice. Any word on how Orchids will be run with the lobby refurb?
Am thinking we might save Amistata for a late breakfast or lunch park break one day. Maybe with a pool hop.

Thank you for taking a peek at the reservations christophfam. I hadn't looked yet, and thought that might be the case. Hopefully staying onsite will help us there a bit with waits.

 

[schumigirl]

Thank you for all the tips and suggestions. Sending menu links to the birthday boy and see what he would like to do.

We do love tapas - dd could get her own small plates and the other three of us would be happy sharing.
Sushi also good for all of us - dd will eat the cooked fish, veggie, california rolls - so both Cowfish and Orchids a good choice. Any word on how Orchids will be run with the lobby refurb?
Am thinking we might save Amistata for a late breakfast or lunch park break one day. Maybe with a pool hop.

Thank you for taking a peek at the reservations christophfam. I hadn't looked yet, and thought that might be the case. Hopefully staying onsite will help us there a bit with waits.

Once the refurb starts, Orchids Sushi is being temporarily relocated in the private dining room in Islands restaurant......that was where the Club Lounge was relocated to while it was refurbed.

Amatista is lovely for breakfast........

 

[christophfam]

Thank you for all the tips and suggestions. Sending menu links to the birthday boy and see what he would like to do.

We do love tapas - dd could get her own small plates and the other three of us would be happy sharing.
Sushi also good for all of us - dd will eat the cooked fish, veggie, california rolls - so both Cowfish and Orchids a good choice. Any word on how Orchids will be run with the lobby refurb?
Am thinking we might save Amistata for a late breakfast or lunch park break one day. Maybe with a pool hop.

Thank you for taking a peek at the reservations christophfam. I hadn't looked yet, and thought that might be the case. Hopefully staying onsite will help us there a bit with waits.

I’m going to be there at the same time so was looking.

And a tip about lunch... one of my family’s favorite things to do is eat poolside for lunch. Nothing better than being served while you lounge in the sun. Both RPR and SF have great poolside food, either at your chair or the small outside dining area by the pool bar.

 

[elfling8]

I’m going to be there at the same time so was looking.

And a tip about lunch... one of my family’s favorite things to do is eat poolside for lunch. Nothing better than being served while you lounge in the sun. Both RPR and SF have great poolside food, either at your chair or the small outside dining area by the pool bar.

We totally need to do that at least one day! Planning on 2 mornings of EE for HP, one each park since they will both be open. Hit the big stuff then have a break in the afternoon and back for evening.

 

[imprint]

We totally need to do that at least one day! Planning on 2 mornings of EE for HP, one each park since they will both be open. Hit the big stuff then have a break in the afternoon and back for evening.

Yes, that's definitely a great way to utilize the benefits of staying on-site.