Nascar cafe or Race Rock restaurant

[cam&chris]

My son is a huge Nascar fan - which restaurant would be better for lunch - Nascar cafe at Universal Citywalk or Race Rock restaurant on International Drive? Anyone been to both? It would be myself, 8 yr old son, 4 yr old son, my mother and father.

 

[MickeyMFan]

I have never been to the Race Rock restaurant, but my DH and I have been a couple of times to the Nascar one at Citywalk. I would definitely recommend this place. Inside are two life-size cars hanging from the ceiling and Nascar memorabilia all over the place! The food was really good too. Of course, there were huge portions of it. I think I even took half of my ribs home with me. Good luck and have fun!

 

[mom2of2]

I *could* be wrong BUT I heard that the Nascar Cafe at Citywalk was closed. At least with RaceRock the parking was free. At Citywalk you have to pay $10 I believe.

Check over at the Universal boards for confirmation of the closing

 

[AGrumpyFan]

we didnt have to pay to go to city walk .. but as far as nascar cafe closed i havent heard anything i was just at the nascar cafe in Tennessee in galtinburg and they said it was still open..

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Actually, from what I've heard Race Rock is now closed. Nascar Cafe closed for refurbishment & has now reopened at Nascar Sports Grille. CityWalk has free parking after 6pm I believe. We always stay onsite at Universal, so I'm not positive of the time they stop charging for parking, but I'm pretty sure it's 6.

ETA: Somehow, I missed the "huge Nascar fan" part of the OP. If he's really into Nascar, definitely go to NSG.

 

[AGrumpyFan]

the food at Nascar cafe is really good and at a resaonable price.. but i never been to race rock but i heard good things about it..

 

[Mari annie]

We went to Race rock 3 years ago, a PIT!

Don't know if it changed, hamburgers and soda========you can get that anywhere, the tables were dirty-never again.....
Like I said that was 3 years ago. The Nascar Cafe was open in Late Feb when we went.........

4.10 Sunny FL for 2 weeks cannot wait!

 

[Amity 3]

race rock did close, and the nascar cafe at citywalk did close and remodel as the nascar grille. the nascar grille is very cool, even if you're not a fan.

 

[sweetpeakaris]

I'm bummed Race Rock is closed. We were planning on eating there next week, our first visit was a pleasant one, my kids loved all the big cars and motorcycles. Anyone know why they closed?

 

[ducklite]

I *could* be wrong BUT I heard that the Nascar Cafe at Citywalk was closed. At least with RaceRock the parking was free. At Citywalk you have to pay $10 I believe.

Check over at the Universal boards for confirmation of the closing

I'll be at Cirywalk tonight and will look to see if it's open or not. You will have to pay $10 to park at Universal anytime before 6:00 pm.

Anne

 

[Jason71]

NASCAR Cafe is open at CityWalk--had a beer there last night. They replaced the outdoor bar with metal picnic tables, redid the gift shop, and just made the place feel more "open," not to mention more like a TGI Fridays/Applebees/Chilis.

Not sure what good it did, tho--while the rest of CityWalk was packed, there were only a handful of people there.

Surprised about Race Rock closing--it was never my favorite place, but there always seemed to be people there, and it definitely had its fans.

 

[PoohsFan1]

We have eaten at both NASCAR Cafe and Race Rock, we definately prefer NASCAR over the other. The food was good at both places but the atmosphere was a lot different. At Race Rock the decor in the restaurant was just a bunch of different driver's racing helmets and driving suits. They do have a couple of cars outside the restaurant that were cool. NASCAR Cafe, on the other hand had a car suspending from the restaurant and every half hour or so, the host would have someone annouce the "Driver's start your engines" and you would hear the sound of the cars starting, as if you were at a NASCAR race. As far as parking, I think if you are just going to City Walk, you still will have to pay the $10, therefore I don't know if you want to pay that just to go to the restaurant, however, if you are going to US/IOA anyway, then I would say you should definately check it out.

 

[PoohsFan1]

Forgot to add that when we went it was in 2005, so Race Rock may of closed since then...not sure though.

 

[Kellydelly]

We ate at Race Rock in late December (No clue if or why it would be closed now?). I think I'd suggest the Nascar Cafe at Universal instead.

 

[DOOM1001]

I'm bummed Race Rock is closed. We were planning on eating there next week, our first visit was a pleasant one, my kids loved all the big cars and motorcycles. Anyone know why they closed?

Another thread says it closed cause property values were increasing on I-Drive so the owners sold it to a company who used to own King Henry's feast dinner show on I-Drive years ago who are going to build a more upscale restaurant in it's place.Race Rock owners said they were doing good numbers but the property became too valuable to operate as Race Rock.The new restaurant is supposed to open late in 2007!