Staying on-site for first time...dining?

[doconeill]

We are staying on-site at Universal for the first time for a couple nights next month. We've been over at IOA a couple times in the last few years, but not to the old park since 1997. We're completely newbs when it comes to dining at Universal.

Since we are staying on site (Royal Pacific), we apparently have "priority seating" - what does this particularly entail? Is there the option of ADRs? Are they needed?

What places at each park, or Citiwalk, or Royal Pacific, might you recommend? We'd be looking for decent value as well as food.

As part of a couple of private events, I've had food at Mythos and Three Broomsticks, but I don't know if they were really indicative of their available menus. The food at Mythos was pretty good though.

Is there a site like AllEars that would have menus and costs?

 

[gschmerl]

There is a "sticky" thread on the Universal/IOA forum that goes into details on dining and posts some menus. Check that out:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2681315
We love Mythos and also love Tchoup Chop at the Royal Pacific.
The universal Orlando site also lists all the restaurants:
https://www.universalorlando.com/Restaurants/50-Great-Restaurants.aspx

 

[sandyplayer]

Priority seating means before walk ins, not before reservations. If you want a specific time or don't want to wait, makes reservations. Many are through open table.

We loved Mythos. We also loved Margaritaville, as much because we asked for a table on the deck to hear a guy on a guitar, really gave it that Jimmy Buffet feel.

We thought the Three Broomsticks breakfast was the worst we ever had. But others say differently.

 

[Rileygirl]

On the darkside Doconeill? Haha.

The sticky at the top is the best way to go to find about options.
I love Mythos. I love Margaritiville, especially sitting out on the porch, and the kids must do Bubba Gumps - if you like seafood and specifically shrimp, you will like bubba gumps. Its not like disney (at least not yet) that if you dont have an ADR you will be shut out. I have not been there for a year or two, but walk ups were easy to do, maybe sometimes a bit of a wait. It was also super easy to book the restaurants the day before or day of, with the concierge, so you could make up your mind last minute. Its just a much more relaxed, vacation like pace for everything at Universal. The FOTL should knock your socks off. It did mine!

We have also done the Palm. The food and service were OUTSTANDING, but so was the bill

I actually prefer the counterservice at Disney, but maybe its because I am familiar what all the different options are in each of the parks, and know my favorites. I am still not familiar with the CS at Universal.

I think some of the TS's available at the hotels, parks and citywalk blow Disney's TS's out of the water. WAYY better. (there are also some rumoured to be not so good and I have avoided them, so I dont know how they compare)

The convienience of staying onsite is fantastic. The resort areas and walkways are beautifully landscaped, and its enjoyable walking from RPH to the parks. The boats are lovely too.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[macraven]

Since we are staying on site (Royal Pacific), we apparently have "priority seating" - what does this particularly entail? Is there the option of ADRs? Are they needed?

What places at each park, or Citiwalk, or Royal Pacific, might you recommend? We'd be looking for decent value as well as food.



Is there a site like AllEars that would have menus and costs?

you're gonna have fun at the darkside.
plenty of good places to chow down.

without knowing the types of foods you like, i might be off base suggesting places for you to try.

at rph, Tchoup Chop is good, very good.
they have specials on some months that make dining there reasonable.
this month it is the $30 for the 3 part menu.

bula grille is by the hotel pool and has a snappy type but thorough menu.
good choices. last year i ordered the nachos..........huge portion for under $10. only ate 1/4 of it.
they do happy hour from 5:00 on.

Jakes is inside the hotel and has a decent selection on the menu.
not expensive for table service.

Islands is the largest restaurant on the 1st floor of the hotel and has a great breakfast buffet.
also menu for morning.
kids room also for all meal times.
for dinner, the menu is an Asian flair.

i used to always eat dinner here but i'm not that fond of asian food.

orchard court lounge is ala carte for breakfast in the hotel lobby every day from 6 am to 11:00 am w/ noon closing on the weekends.
not expensive.

you are a 6 minute walk away from city walk from rhp.

my favorite place there is Latin Quarters.
www.citywalk.com is where you can get the current menus, specials, prices for all the places at citywalk.

at the studios, i hit Boulangerie as it is homemade sandwiches.
i go with the tuna on the crossiant each time.
comes with a slice of cantaloupe and strawberry for under $10.
i think i paid $8.79 last year with my ap discount.
don't know if any price change has happened in the last 9 months i was there.

Louies has great pizza/salad, meatball sandwiches and gelatto.
Finnegans is table service and has a great variety on the menu.

neither place will break the bank.

if you have AAA and spend XX, you can get a 10% discount off of food and merch in the parks and cw.

at ioa, i always eat at crossiant moon in the port of entry, and confisco grille.
confisco grille is a more than one time place that i eat at each trip.
(but i am there for 11 days)

blondies has made to order sandwiches.
not regular park food.

you can find the complete menus for all of them online.
www.universalorlando.com

the only time you really need to make a ressie at the table service places is when you have a large group. (margaritaville)
showing your hotel card will put you ahead of the walk ins on the list.

the time you will find crowds at the restaurants in city walk is soon after the park closes.

check out the sticky damo created, food, menu for more opinions of places to eat.
there are things i could rave about but the person reading it might gag on that menu.

if i want to eat at mythos, and the park looks pretty packed, i make the ressie at the kiosk in city walk.
i show my hotel card which helps.
only have done the ressie for mythos twice in all my stays onsite.

usually do a walk up or have my name put on their list for a ressie the morning of.

post again if you have questions.

 

[Rileygirl]

Wow

Nice post Raven. I got to book mark it.

~A

 

[doconeill]

Awesome info...thanks...

Well, we thought we were going to extend by a day due to a deal, but the agent got the amount wrong, so we're down to two days, so we may need to pick and choose differently...

 

[damo]

There are menus at www.universalorlando.com for all table service restaurants. I've linked to them in the sticky. For all the counter service restaurants, there are photos of the menus in the sticky as well.


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2681315