nancycg56
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2004
- Messages
- 682
Who ~ DH, 47
Me, 47
DD, 20
Background ~ We left Virginia for Ft. Lauderdale Florida (driving) on July 21. We spent a night in Port Ste. Lucie with DHs brother and continued on to Ft. Lauderdale on the 22nd and checked into the Lago Mar Resort for DHs 30th high school reunion weekend. We drove up to Universal and checked into RPR on the 25th. This is our first trip to Universal since 1997. DS (22) stayed home because of work and he doggie-sat our dogs for us. I spent most of the trip feeling guilty. We all enjoy dining out and are willing to try anything once!
All breakfasts were on the run ~ usually in the parks. The only place we thought was bad was the Cinnabon place at Citywalk ~ the buns seems like they sat for quite awhile. I would never go back there. We usually skip lunch but every once in awhile, one of us decides we need to eat lunch.
July 25
NASCAR Café (Dinner) ~ We stopped in here on our way back to RPR about 5:30. We were seated right away next to the window which was nice. The restaurant was about half full. Our server was great and very helpful. We shared an order of O Rings to start and they were good. We love, love, love onion rings and these did not disappoint. I ordered a Mushroom Swiss burger, DH ordered the Pork Barbecue Sandwich, and DD ordered the Ribs and Chicken Barbecue Combo. We eat lots of barbecue here in Virginia and both DH and DD said their meals were very good. The entrees were huge and none of us finished. We enjoyed this restaurant and would definitely eat here again ~ it was fun! Total for the meal, including tip was $56.87.
July 26
Confiscos (Lunch) ~ We needed a place to get out of the heat for awhile and this place fit the bill. We walked in about noon and were seated right away. Again, the restaurant was about half full but became about three-fourths full while we were there. I ordered a Croissant Club Sandwich which was very good. DD had the Chicken Caesar Salad and for the life of me I cant remember what DH had. We were satisfied with our meal and would definitely stop in again. Total for the meal, without tip was $38.
Margaritaville (Dinner) ~ I had made a PS earlier in the day for 5:45 and we were seated by 5:55 on the main floor with a great view of the volcano. This place was jammed!!!! I would never go there without a PS unless it is a slow time of year. We had a blast! DH is a HUGE Jimmy Buffet fan so he was in 7th heaven. We sang with the stilt walkers, clapped, got balloon hats and just had fun. We started the meal with Volcano Nachos which were great and DH had Sam Adams and DD and I had sodas. I ordered the Crab Cakes, DH had the Jambalaya, and DD ordered from the kids menu ~ a grilled cheese, veggies, and mashed potatoes. All were excellent although DH thought the jambalaya was a little dry ~ he likes his a little soupy. DH had the Key Lime Pie for dessert, DD had ice cream, and I had a tropical drink which I cant remember the name of but it was blue and went down very easy! We spent about 2 hours at the table ~ very relaxing and fun! Total for the meal, without tip, was $79.18.
July 27
Emerils Tchoup Chop (dinner reservation made before I left home through opentable.com) ~ This is the best meal I have eaten in several years. The restaurant is beautiful and the food is unbelievable. Each table has three servers and rarely did we have to ask for anything. They even put your napkin on your lap for you. We all started with drinks ~ DH had a Mai Tai, I had a Tchoup Chop Chop, and DD had a non-alchoholic banana something that was not on the menu. The drinks were very good but potent. They also bring shrimp puffs (they look like fried pork rinds) with a ginger soy dipping sauce and they are gooooood!!! For starters we all chose something different to share ~ I had the spring rolls, DD the egg rolls, and DH the barbecued shrimp. I thought they were all good but we decided the shrimp was the best. The spring rolls were veggies and herbs rolled up in rice paper with a carrot dipping sauce. I thought they were good but DD and DH did not like them at all. DDs egg rolls were pork and quite meaty but very good. The shrimp won hands down. For the entrée, I had the NY strip with garlic mashed potatoes, fried maui onions, asparagus and teri sauce. DD had the Kobe beef short ribs with rice, red beans and sweet potato crisps, and DH had the filet mignon with potatoes, brie and onion crisps. All were excellent ~ we each tried each others meal. The steaks could be cut with a fork and the ribs fell off the bone. There was a ton of food, too, and we had to leave room for dessert ~ I had the coconut crème brulee and DD had the pineapple upside down cake with ginger ice cream. DH had another Mai Tai. I cannot say enough good things about this restaurant ~ it was the best. We would go back in a heartbeat. Total for the meal, without tip, was $197.
July 28
Cirkus McGurkis (lunch) ~ We were looking to sit out of the heat again and came upon this place so gave it a shot. DH slept in the booth while DD and I got lunch. It is basically a pre-plated meal but it was good. DD had spaghetti marinara and DH and I had fried chicken with mashed potatoes. The Cat in the Hat cookies are so cute so we bought one and DD and DH shared it and said it was very good ~ not too sweet. If you are looking for a quick meal in a place that the kids will love, this is it! Total for the meal, $30.82 ~ no tip since its cafeteria style.
Lombards Landing (Dinner) ~ we tried making a PS for this earlier in the day since its one of our favorites but were told they had none left so we took a chance and just showed up at the time we wanted (6ish) and there were only 3 or 4 occupied tables. We were seated right away next to the window. I have no idea why they said there were no PSs left. DD and I had shrimp cocktails and DH had clam chowder for starters. The shrimp were very good ~ not chewy as they sometimes tend to be in restaurants and DH said his soup was excellent. For our meal, I ordered the grilled chicken Caesar salad, DH had the mahi mahi and DD had fish and chips. All the entrees were excellent as usual and DHs mahi was yummy! DD had a chocolate chip cookie and ice cream concoction for dessert which she said was very good. Total, without tip, $91.50.
We were totally satisfied with our choices and would go back to all the restaurants (except the Cinnabon place).
Me, 47
DD, 20
Background ~ We left Virginia for Ft. Lauderdale Florida (driving) on July 21. We spent a night in Port Ste. Lucie with DHs brother and continued on to Ft. Lauderdale on the 22nd and checked into the Lago Mar Resort for DHs 30th high school reunion weekend. We drove up to Universal and checked into RPR on the 25th. This is our first trip to Universal since 1997. DS (22) stayed home because of work and he doggie-sat our dogs for us. I spent most of the trip feeling guilty. We all enjoy dining out and are willing to try anything once!
All breakfasts were on the run ~ usually in the parks. The only place we thought was bad was the Cinnabon place at Citywalk ~ the buns seems like they sat for quite awhile. I would never go back there. We usually skip lunch but every once in awhile, one of us decides we need to eat lunch.
July 25
NASCAR Café (Dinner) ~ We stopped in here on our way back to RPR about 5:30. We were seated right away next to the window which was nice. The restaurant was about half full. Our server was great and very helpful. We shared an order of O Rings to start and they were good. We love, love, love onion rings and these did not disappoint. I ordered a Mushroom Swiss burger, DH ordered the Pork Barbecue Sandwich, and DD ordered the Ribs and Chicken Barbecue Combo. We eat lots of barbecue here in Virginia and both DH and DD said their meals were very good. The entrees were huge and none of us finished. We enjoyed this restaurant and would definitely eat here again ~ it was fun! Total for the meal, including tip was $56.87.
July 26
Confiscos (Lunch) ~ We needed a place to get out of the heat for awhile and this place fit the bill. We walked in about noon and were seated right away. Again, the restaurant was about half full but became about three-fourths full while we were there. I ordered a Croissant Club Sandwich which was very good. DD had the Chicken Caesar Salad and for the life of me I cant remember what DH had. We were satisfied with our meal and would definitely stop in again. Total for the meal, without tip was $38.
Margaritaville (Dinner) ~ I had made a PS earlier in the day for 5:45 and we were seated by 5:55 on the main floor with a great view of the volcano. This place was jammed!!!! I would never go there without a PS unless it is a slow time of year. We had a blast! DH is a HUGE Jimmy Buffet fan so he was in 7th heaven. We sang with the stilt walkers, clapped, got balloon hats and just had fun. We started the meal with Volcano Nachos which were great and DH had Sam Adams and DD and I had sodas. I ordered the Crab Cakes, DH had the Jambalaya, and DD ordered from the kids menu ~ a grilled cheese, veggies, and mashed potatoes. All were excellent although DH thought the jambalaya was a little dry ~ he likes his a little soupy. DH had the Key Lime Pie for dessert, DD had ice cream, and I had a tropical drink which I cant remember the name of but it was blue and went down very easy! We spent about 2 hours at the table ~ very relaxing and fun! Total for the meal, without tip, was $79.18.
July 27
Emerils Tchoup Chop (dinner reservation made before I left home through opentable.com) ~ This is the best meal I have eaten in several years. The restaurant is beautiful and the food is unbelievable. Each table has three servers and rarely did we have to ask for anything. They even put your napkin on your lap for you. We all started with drinks ~ DH had a Mai Tai, I had a Tchoup Chop Chop, and DD had a non-alchoholic banana something that was not on the menu. The drinks were very good but potent. They also bring shrimp puffs (they look like fried pork rinds) with a ginger soy dipping sauce and they are gooooood!!! For starters we all chose something different to share ~ I had the spring rolls, DD the egg rolls, and DH the barbecued shrimp. I thought they were all good but we decided the shrimp was the best. The spring rolls were veggies and herbs rolled up in rice paper with a carrot dipping sauce. I thought they were good but DD and DH did not like them at all. DDs egg rolls were pork and quite meaty but very good. The shrimp won hands down. For the entrée, I had the NY strip with garlic mashed potatoes, fried maui onions, asparagus and teri sauce. DD had the Kobe beef short ribs with rice, red beans and sweet potato crisps, and DH had the filet mignon with potatoes, brie and onion crisps. All were excellent ~ we each tried each others meal. The steaks could be cut with a fork and the ribs fell off the bone. There was a ton of food, too, and we had to leave room for dessert ~ I had the coconut crème brulee and DD had the pineapple upside down cake with ginger ice cream. DH had another Mai Tai. I cannot say enough good things about this restaurant ~ it was the best. We would go back in a heartbeat. Total for the meal, without tip, was $197.
July 28
Cirkus McGurkis (lunch) ~ We were looking to sit out of the heat again and came upon this place so gave it a shot. DH slept in the booth while DD and I got lunch. It is basically a pre-plated meal but it was good. DD had spaghetti marinara and DH and I had fried chicken with mashed potatoes. The Cat in the Hat cookies are so cute so we bought one and DD and DH shared it and said it was very good ~ not too sweet. If you are looking for a quick meal in a place that the kids will love, this is it! Total for the meal, $30.82 ~ no tip since its cafeteria style.
Lombards Landing (Dinner) ~ we tried making a PS for this earlier in the day since its one of our favorites but were told they had none left so we took a chance and just showed up at the time we wanted (6ish) and there were only 3 or 4 occupied tables. We were seated right away next to the window. I have no idea why they said there were no PSs left. DD and I had shrimp cocktails and DH had clam chowder for starters. The shrimp were very good ~ not chewy as they sometimes tend to be in restaurants and DH said his soup was excellent. For our meal, I ordered the grilled chicken Caesar salad, DH had the mahi mahi and DD had fish and chips. All the entrees were excellent as usual and DHs mahi was yummy! DD had a chocolate chip cookie and ice cream concoction for dessert which she said was very good. Total, without tip, $91.50.
We were totally satisfied with our choices and would go back to all the restaurants (except the Cinnabon place).
