Those who think UO food is better than Disney--where do you eat?

[jenhelgren]

I know I have read multiple posts on the boards of families who prefer Universal food over Disney and with this being our first trip I would love to know where you eat. We are foodies on vacation and like to try it all. We have had okay to spectacular food at Disney but never had a meal that we could complain about or would review badly. I was researching some UO restaurants on Yelp last night and got really about what I saw!! I know that everyone has their own opinions and usually take one poor review very lightly but there were tons of terrible reviews for the UO restaurants. We will be staying onsite for 4 days and I need some serious food options!! Thanks in advance!

 

[macraven]

Check out damo's food sticky

Pictures are included with menus

 

[tony67]

Yelp gets just as many Disney fanboys as anywhere else so you really need to weed through the reviews - that is the same for everywhere with Yelp IMO

Yelp is very good for the most part - but it's not perfect. Just to give an example there is a place we have been going for years that has really amazing Chinese food.
The service our last time there was terrible - I gave them a pass and did not comment on Yelp.
I checked them out on Yelp the other day and there were a bunch of reviews about how great this server was - most of the people had very few reviews and it seemed obvious to me they were friends of this person or were put up to it. Most of the recent very good reviews had her named explicitly - very unusual for someone who got orders wrong, delivered stuff that had obviously sat too long and complained about having six tables.

My point is there are people with agendas on Yelp

Anyway back to your question - both Emeril's locations are really good and since Emril has sort of fallen of the face of the earth as far a celebrity chef's go - it's not hard to get in and they have some great deal at lunch time. I prefer Emeril's Orlando - but the one at RPR is very good as well.

Cowfish is really unique and very good IMO.
Methos is rated the best theme park restaurant year after year from what I recall - and I have always enjoyed it.
Finnegan's Bar is typical pub food - not amazing but it is a great time and there are usually locals in the bar to chat with

There are really no sit down restaurants at Disney I am milling to pay for OOP - I find they way overpriced for the quality - but I have not been since Disney Springs opened - so that may changed.

As for quick service Disney and Universal are on par for the most part - I did prefer Universal in the past - but lately they are pretty close. Last time I was there they had the same crappy buns that Disney used on burgers and hotdogs.

I really enjoy the taco Truck though - that is worth checking out for a quick bite.

 

[bumbershoot]

Ah, we aren't "foodies", though bad food can ruin my day. (Sad but true...it's something that started when I was expecting DS and has food aversions galore and never truly left)

I love the veggie burgers at Richters. DS is mad for the cheese tortellini at Lombards. The potato leek soup at 3 broomsticks is almost always good, and if the chef did something wrong that day and it's bad, let them know!

I haven't eaten at mythos because the last time we looked the main veggie thing was Pad Thai and I cannot stand that dish. I should look at the menu again.

Veggie sushi at RPR.

I don't know; we eat there and we are generally happy. It's the same for WDW though.

 

[kbelle8995]

I like Cowfish. The bento box was really tasty.
Jake's, I've never had a bad meal there. Relaxing and delicious food.
Leaky Cauldron has a Banger sandwich that's to die for.

I also like that you do not have to make ADR's most of the time.

 

[saskdw]

We have stays of 6, 10, and 11 nights onsite at UO as well as 6 stays onsite at WDW ranging from 10-16 nights. So with those long onsite stays we have eaten a lot of food at both places...lol.

As far as quick service food goes it's a wash. It depends on what you order and which place it's from, but I wouldn't say either place has a clear advantage.

As a whole I would say that the UO table service restaurants provide better value for the dollar. I find that the average decent sit down meal at UO is a little cheaper than WDW and the food quality is equivalent or better. Of course we have our favorite and go to places at both. We have never had a "horrible" experience at either place.

Pretty much all the sit down places at Citywalk and the UO resorts have good food. Everyone will have their favorites. Hard Rock Cafe at Citywalk is a place we eat at 2-3 times every trip. Always good food and they do a great job of moving people through there. It seats alot of people and they manage the tables very well.

We had a good meal at Cowfish last year. Enjoyed Jakes at RPR a couple times. We had really good food at NBC Sports Grill one time and mediocre food there on another night, so hit and miss there, but fun atmosphere if you like sports. Mythos at IOA has always been great food for us. We've had good food at Margaritaville, The Kitchen (Hard Rock Hotel), and Orchid Lounge (RPR).

I just find if a good meal is $100 at WDW, a similar meal is $80 at UO. But we've had good experiences at both.

 

[Squirlz]

For quick serve we like the Simpsons food court. Krusty Burgers and the Chicken and Waffle sandwich are great! We tried the Taco Truck first but found their offerings to be way too salty. Some people sat down by us with Krusty Borgers and we literall threw our tacos away and went to get burgers.

 

[macraven]

The darkside is very good in giving you your money back if you can't eat it

And sometimes they will ask if you want something else in exchange without any additional charges

This I have done before at a few places

Have returned to some of them and it was totally a different experience

 

[VacaPlanner2012]

Confisco's at IofA has always been a better option for my family than Mythos.
Although just counter service, we enjoy Louies at the Studios best, Simpson't was OK, but the Big Pink Donut is the best snack bargain. For $5, that thing is huge!
As for CityWalk - I could not believe how much we enjoyed Vivo - it was absolutely remarkable! We are Hard rock Cafe regulars - just love the atmosphere/food combo. Also was very impressed with NBC Sports, although I had heard some negatives about it. Standard fare, but appetizers were fresh and cooked properly, meal was equally as good, and cheesecake was great.
Hotels - It's hard to pull me away from RPR Orchid Court sushi, it is total yum! The nachos at Bula Bar are ridiculous, and I though Jake's was just fine. Loved the pizza over at PBH at Sal's, just fantastic.

 

[Sparkly]

QS is much of a muchness, both have pretty standard theme park fast food. Circus McGurkas was terrible in 2013, but then so was Cosmic Rays. I enjoyed my hot dog at the Monster Cafe, just like I enjoyed mine at Casey's Corner. Prices are about the same as each other too.

 

[schumigirl]

QS is much of a muchness, both have pretty standard theme park fast food. Circus McGurkas was terrible in 2013, but then so was Cosmic Rays. I enjoyed my hot dog at the Monster Cafe, just like I enjoyed mine at Casey's Corner. Prices are about the same as each other too.

Those are places I would never recommend at universal. Circus McGurkas is definitely cheap and not so cheerful......more canteen food than anything.

OP........there are some wonderful places in Universal parks and Citywalk to eat in.......have a look at damo's sticky which has all the menus available for you to peruse.........

Thunder Falls Terrace and Louie's definitely tower above expectations for counter service.........

We all like different food and have different expectations............Citywalk has fantastic options like Cowfish, Margaritaville and NBC Grill........as do the hotels........Sal's pizza at PBH is excellent for a lunch. Pizza is the best onsite at Universal.

RPR has Jakes Bar........outstanding for food and atmosphere..........Bula Bar for poolside options........so many good choices.........Orchids Lounge for some of the best value Sushi around, Islands Dining room and Tchoup Chop are all fabulous.

You'll have plenty of excellent choices...........

 

[sheila14]

Has anyone paid the $45 for the Lombardi food n cinema on the water

 

[schumigirl]

Has anyone paid the $45 for the Lombardi food n cinema on the water

Yes there are some that have done it and enjoyed it.

For me, no need.

There are plenty of places around the lagoon to see the show and fireworks you don't need to book this.

However, Lombards does have excellent food. We always enjoy a meal here at lunchtime.

 

[kbmartin]

Cowfish is good. My DH loved the Tropical Storm roll. I'm not a sushi fan and was getting nauseous from the heat, and they allowed me to order a kids' meal bento box with a burger. Their shakes were VERY good. We particularly liked the Rice Krispie Treats shake. (Super sweet though!)

I will also mention that the restaurants in the Harry Potter lands are also very good. We love the fish and chips there.

 

[jenhelgren]

After just menu glancing Thunder Falls was on our list and that was one of the restaurants with terrible reviews. Most stated that food sits under heat lamps for hours and is dry and disgusting. The menu will please everyone but like one of the other posters bad food will ruin my day on vacation..lol. So I decided to reach out for some advice and suggestions from the pros!!

 

[macraven]

kind of depends on what type of food you prefer to eat.

chicken, red meat, pasta, etc

dinners, burgers, pizza, salads, etc

fish is decent at jakes, 3B's, finnegans, lombards
burgers are a hit or miss at Mels, Monsters, captain america


i have eaten at thunder falls and most of the times, it was great.
a few times, not so great.

better to eat there during the main dining periods as it is fresh then.
go at the off times of around 2:30-3:00 and the meat can have a sunburn from the heat lamps.

places that make the food to order usually has good food.
confisco grill, finnegans, lombards, mythos, and some of the counter service stands in the park.
fire eaters grill is good when it is a regular meal time period.
blondies always fresh sandwiches, made while you watch.

i have to stop talking about food now as it makes me want to blow my diet.......lol

 

[schumigirl]

After just menu glancing Thunder Falls was on our list and that was one of the restaurants with terrible reviews. Most stated that food sits under heat lamps for hours and is dry and disgusting. The menu will please everyone but like one of the other posters bad food will ruin my day on vacation..lol. So I decided to reach out for some advice and suggestions from the pros!!

I agree........sometimes I read reviews of places I've gone and wonder if the reviewer had ever actually been to the same place I was thinking of.

Thunder Falls like Mac says can be excellent or just ok.........but I would never describe it as disgusting........if anything ever looks dry in any counter service just ask for fresh........we did that in Simpsons food court last time. Never a problem.

 

[Sparkly]

I still want to try a Krusty Burger next trip. What's the general opinion on those? (I kind of wish they had built a Krusty Krab in the kid zone area to go with the spongebob shop in there, 9 year old me would have been BLOWN AWAY to have tried a real Krabby Patty!)

 

[schumigirl]

i have to stop talking about food now as it makes me want to blow my diet.......lol

Lol.......me too.......I missed lunch today and trying to stop myself nibbling on everything till we get the BBQ out.........carrot sticks don't do it.........

 

[macraven]

I enjoy all the food at the Simpson section
Have had everything there since it opened

Taco truck portions are small and only one of what they offer suits me

Burgers are good but I prefer the chicken waffle sandwich with the tots

This is the area to get the Lards Lad pink donut

The mini's there are not good
Got to go with the large pink donut