Counter service at the parks

[ang]

This is our first trip to Universal and we are so used to disney.
My question is...how does the counter services compare to disney? The hamburgers, pizza? Are the same? Good tasting?

I been to other ride parks and there hamburgers suck.

Any info would be great!!

 

[Metro West]

This is our first trip to Universal and we are so used to disney.
My question is...how does the counter services compare to disney? The hamburgers, pizza? Are the same? Good tasting?

I been to other ride parks and there hamburgers suck.

Any info would be great!!

I like the food at Universal better than Disney but it depends on where you eat. I would recommend Comic Strip Cafe and Thunder Falls Terrace at IOA and Louie's at the Studios for good counter service.

 

[ang]

I like the food at Universal better than Disney but it depends on where you eat. I would recommend Comic Strip Cafe and Thunder Falls Terrace at IOA and Louie's at the Studios for good counter service.

Thank you so much ...I need all the help I can get.

 

[Metro West]

Thank you so much ...I need all the help I can get.

Are you looking for anything in particular or just general ideas?

 

[ang]

Are you looking for anything in particular or just general ideas?

Hi Metro West,

I am looking for good ideas and different foods..I can't eat hamburgers every day.
I make a list for my stay with what they offer...I hate wasting time wondering around looking for place to eat and deciding. We will be there for 6 days and staying at Royal Pacific Hotel.

Thanks!

 

[Planogirl]

You'll find places like Richters that serve ordinary burgers but also greater variety throughout the parks. Metro West listed some with different menus than the standard burgers. We also like the Beverly Hills Boulangerie in the Studios.

 

[Metro West]

Hi Metro West,

I am looking for good ideas and different foods..I can't eat hamburgers every day.
I make a list for my stay with what they offer...I hate wasting time wondering around looking for place to eat and deciding. We will be there for 6 days and staying at Royal Pacific Hotel.

Thanks!

I rarely eat burgers at Universal...If I'm at IOA for lunch, I always get the chicken wrap and fries at Thunder Falls Terrace. The wrap is pretty big and it's always good. Before I discovered the wrap, I used to eat all over the place. Comic Strip Cafe has a wide variety of food choices. You can pick from Italian, Chinese and American dishes including seafood. I like the themeing too. Also...if you like sandwiches, check out Blondie's...their sandwiches are huge!

At the Studios, I've eaten just about everywhere but I usually find myself back at Louie's for the best theme park pizza ever! They also have pasta and salads which are also good. Another place...which is off the beaten path so to speak is the Midway Grill which has Nathan's famous hot dogs. Two things to remember: the hot dogs are huge and they are GOOD! I had the chili dog with fries and I didn't think I would be able to finish it.

I think you'll find the portions in general are much larger than at Disney and you will get discounts off most places with your AP or AAA card. Don't forget that!

 

[ldo]

we liked three broomsticks over a WWHP. Dinner for family of 4 was $50, pretty reasonable for chicken, ribs, etc. Also, if you are not on a specific meal plan, you can eat at citywalk. over by the movie theater, there is a moes and panda gourmet. Very convenient if you are switching parks anyway, or taking the boat back to hotel.

 

[ang]

we liked three broomsticks over a WWHP. Dinner for family of 4 was $50, pretty reasonable for chicken, ribs, etc. Also, if you are not on a specific meal plan, you can eat at citywalk. over by the movie theater, there is a moes and panda gourmet. Very convenient if you are switching parks anyway, or taking the boat back to hotel.

Is this a restaurant or counter service?

 

[Planogirl]

Is this a restaurant or counter service?

The Three Broomsticks is counter service and pretty good. They also have an attached bar area.

 

[ang]

Thanks everyone!! I greatly appreciated it!! This helps me a lot.

 

[amym2]

We were looking forward to eating at Three Broomsticks, but when we were there WWOHP was so crowded we couldn't have even gotten into that section until it was past lunchtime (and we were there when the park opened).

We ate at Thunder Falls Terrace instead and it was really good. The rotisserie chicken plate at $9.99 was really big enough for two people. DH and DD shared a burger there and said it was edible. Not sure how it compares to Disney, since we usually avoid eating counter service at Disney. The one time we had Disney burgers, they were disgusting.

 

[schumigirl]

I think Universal food generally is better than what is available at most Disney places.

I would reiterate Thunder Falls is excellent, never had anything less than gorgeous in there......and very filling.

Louie`s pizza is delicious and I am going to have to try Blondie`s and Nathans as I have never tried them......sounds lovely.

As you are staying at RPR....their pool bar food is wonderful. I don`t eat a lot of burgers......but the ones we had there were fantastic.......very healthy tasting as they were so fresh. But it`s a good menu with plenty of choice.

And as said above there are places at Citywalk that are good also

 

[Tink2Day]

I rarely eat burgers at Universal...If I'm at IOA for lunch, I always get the chicken wrap and fries at Thunder Falls Terrace. The wrap is pretty big and it's always good. Before I discovered the wrap, I used to eat all over the place. Comic Strip Cafe has a wide variety of food choices. You can pick from Italian, Chinese and American dishes including seafood. I like the themeing too. Also...if you like sandwiches, check out Blondie's...their sandwiches are huge!

At the Studios, I've eaten just about everywhere but I usually find myself back at Louie's for the best theme park pizza ever! They also have pasta and salads which are also good. Another place...which is off the beaten path so to speak is the Midway Grill which has Nathan's famous hot dogs. Two things to remember: the hot dogs are huge and they are GOOD! I had the chili dog with fries and I didn't think I would be able to finish it.

I think you'll find the portions in general are much larger than at Disney and you will get discounts off most places with your AP or AAA card. Don't forget that!

Like I said before in agreement, those wraps are YUMMY.

The slaw/salad on them has the best tasting dressing....spicy yet not too.

 

[ladylinda65]

i agree that Thunder Falls is the best counter food in IOA. If you are looking for variety I would go with either Comic Strip CAfe or Circus McGurgus.

On the Universal side I hear that Mel's is great (haven't eaten there in a while). But either way I agree that the counter food at Universal is much better than at Disney.

if you are going to be there all day I would recommend the meal deal. At IOA you get to eat all day at either Circus, Comic Strip or Burger Digs and it is not a bad deal for $19.99.

If you are going to both parks I believe you can add dining at both parks for like $4 more.

I am not a lover of Three Broomsticks only because it is crazy busy in there and they basically serve the same food as Thunder Falls and Finnegans.

Good luck!

 

[Planogirl]

I am not a lover of Three Broomsticks only because it is crazy busy in there and they basically serve the same food as Thunder Falls and Finnegans.

Except for the wonderful butterbeer....

 

[ang]

We ate at Thunder Falls Terrace instead and it was really good. The rotisserie chicken plate at $9.99 was really big enough for two people. DH and DD shared a burger there and said it was edible. Not sure how it compares to Disney, since we usually avoid eating counter service at Disney. The one time we had Disney burgers, they were disgusting.

Thanks for the info! The Chicken dish sounds really great! Oh , My family eat the counter services a lot because of our budget. We avoid the high price of restaurants. WOW we really enjoy the hamburgers at Disney compare to other places we been. Of course I not a big hamburger person my DH is..

I think Universal food generally is better than what is available at most Disney places.
I would reiterate Thunder Falls is excellent, never had anything less than gorgeous in there......and very filling.
Louie`s pizza is delicious and I am going to have to try Blondie`s and Nathans as I have never tried them......sounds lovely.
As you are staying at RPR....their pool bar food is wonderful. I don`t eat a lot of burgers......but the ones we had there were fantastic.......very healthy tasting as they were so fresh. But it`s a good menu with plenty of choice.
And as said above there are places at Citywalk that are good also

Thanks so so much for the info!! Can't wait to try those counterservices..The Louie's and Thunder Fall at the top of my list! My DS will love to try Nathans.
The pool Bar sounds really good! My hubby and kids with love that.

Like I said before in agreement, those wraps are YUMMY.
When I saw the menu of Thunderfalls, the wraps is the first thing that caught my eye!! Can't wait to try them!!

The slaw/salad on them has the best tasting dressing....spicy yet not too.

Thanks for this info, I am really a salad girl!

i agree that Thunder Falls is the best counter food in IOA. If you are looking for variety I would go with either Comic Strip CAfe or Circus McGurgus.
On the Universal side I hear that Mel's is great (haven't eaten there in a while). But either way I agree that the counter food at Universal is much better than at Disney.
if you are going to be there all day I would recommend the meal deal. At IOA you get to eat all day at either Circus, Comic Strip or Burger Digs and it is not a bad deal for $19.99.
If you are going to both parks I believe you can add dining at both parks for like $4 more.
I am not a lover of Three Broomsticks only because it is crazy busy in there and they basically serve the same food as Thunder Falls and Finnegans.
Good luck!

Thanks for the info!! I haven't look into the Meal deal yet. We are planning to have dinner at the restuarants. I still have to look into. So far, my DD wants Hard Rock Cafe( just so she can she ate there) and I picked Jimmy buffets Margaritaville.

 

[ang]

I rarely eat burgers at Universal...If I'm at IOA for lunch, I always get the chicken wrap and fries at Thunder Falls Terrace. The wrap is pretty big and it's always good. Before I discovered the wrap, I used to eat all over the place. Comic Strip Cafe has a wide variety of food choices. You can pick from Italian, Chinese and American dishes including seafood. I like the themeing too. Also...if you like sandwiches, check out Blondie's...their sandwiches are huge!

At the Studios, I've eaten just about everywhere but I usually find myself back at Louie's for the best theme park pizza ever! They also have pasta and salads which are also good. Another place...which is off the beaten path so to speak is the Midway Grill which has Nathan's famous hot dogs. Two things to remember: the hot dogs are huge and they are GOOD! I had the chili dog with fries and I didn't think I would be able to finish it.

I think you'll find the portions in general are much larger than at Disney and you will get discounts off most places with your AP or AAA card. Don't forget that!

Thanks!! I am writing everything down..My DH loves hamburgers, so I wanted to pick places that offer other things for me. I can't live on hamburgers.

 

[christophfam]

I think Universal food generally is better than what is available at most Disney places.

I would reiterate Thunder Falls is excellent, never had anything less than gorgeous in there......and very filling.

Louie`s pizza is delicious and I am going to have to try Blondie`s and Nathans as I have never tried them......sounds lovely.

As you are staying at RPR....their pool bar food is wonderful. I don`t eat a lot of burgers......but the ones we had there were fantastic.......very healthy tasting as they were so fresh. But it`s a good menu with plenty of choice.

And as said above there are places at Citywalk that are good also

I second and third everything said here! I LOVE Louie's pizza and if you're on a budget you'll appreciate the fact that you can buy a whole pizza at a very reasonable price. Much cheaper than buying a burger/fries for everyone in the party.

I noticed you'll be at the RPR in June. Our families favorite thing to do in warm weather is to eat dinner (or lunch) by the pool while the kids go in and out of the water. The food is delicious! We've had wraps, nachos, burgers, salads and the kids like the chicken fingers. One thing to note here is it is table service and the tip is added in so don't tip twice!

 

[IdesOmarch]

I personally think counter service is generally much better at Universal. There are several spots that have real quality meals, with corn, chicken etc., not just burgers. Terrace falls at Jurassic Park is one of the best. Have not been to the new HP land yet but I hear that counter service is basically the same as when it was the Enchanted Oak tavern and is very good. And much better than your typical Six Flags park where most of the food is

Also, keep in mind Universal is not a thrill ride park or coaster park like Six Flags, big misconception. It is very much like Disney in that it is a "theme" park. For example, the Jurassic Park area is huge and gives you the feel you are actually in the movie, same with HP from what I've seen and heard. The old Universal park is like riding in the movies where the rides are themed with whatever movie they are based on. Spider man ride is phenomenal and is like you are living inside a Spiderman comic book etc., Although there are a few good coasters, it is not a coaster park at all really.