What are the "do not miss" restaurants at Universal?

[PammyK]

In general, the restaurants in the Universal parks are a solid average. Nothing terrible but nothing to write home about. Best bets for quick service are probably Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade and Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley. Springfield also has a nice variety of options between Fast Food Blvd and the taco truck.


Now to CityWalk...

• Many people rave about The Cowfish but I've dined there twice and found it overrated and overpriced with inefficient, though friendly, service. I think they get caught up in their own hype. There isn't really anything wrong with it, but it isn't a place I would choose or recommend.
  
• I've yet to have a bad meal at Vivo though sometimes their kitchen can get a little backwards. The fiochetti/fiochi (I think they've renamed it) is a favorite for me.
  
• Antojitos was better than I expected, given that I don't like cilantro, chili peppers or rice and beans and can't get past the fact that refried beans look like something you'd find in a baby's dirty diaper. Obviously, you can go down Kirkman and get better quality Mexican for a better price, but if you're already at Universal and don't want to drive, you could do worse. Plus, their Mariachi band is entertaining with their mix of classic Mariachi tunes and Mariachi versions of current pop hits.
  
• I've never been to Bubba Gump - they seem overpriced.
• I've been to Margaritaville a few times and have been unimpressed by the food. Generally I'll only go here for drinks later in the evening if a good band is playing.
  
• Pat O'Brien's is okay food-wise but I think there are probably better choices. Great bartenders though.
  
• Never tried the food at Bob Marley's.
• Breadbox is okay. A little pricey, I thought, but my sandwich was tasty and freshly prepared.
  
• Haven't tried the Hot Dog place.
  
• Moe's is Moe's - not much more to say.
• Panda Express is a typical Panda Express except with a higher volume than most locations so the food is probably fresher than you might be used to if you've dined at one before.
  
• Burger King is as expected except more expensive.
  
• Sushi Place - another one I haven't tried.

 

[SnapesGirl]

I'm a HUGE HP fan, but even so, I just didn't like the food at Leaky Cauldron or Three Broomsticks. It's nice to stop in and get a butterbeer and sit down a bit, but we just didn't go crazy for the food.

We really enjoyed our meal at Cowfish! Both my mom and I got different burgers and they were very moist and tasty! You can see pictures in my 2015 trip report (in my signature).

 

[TXTransplant]

The Leaky Cauldron and Three Broomsticks are beautiful restaurants...definitely worth a look. We had breakfast at both, and while the typical fare (eggs, bacon, etc.) was not great, it was edible. I thought the oatmeal at Three Broomsticks was very good.

As far as don't-miss restaurants for the food, I would have to recommend Emeril's Tchoup Chop and Islands Dining Room, both at the Loews Royal Pacific. At Tchoup Chop, I absolutely loved the shrimp chips (or whatever they are) that you get as an appetizer. I also like that you can order sushi and a variety of small sides rather than one large entrée. You can also get a free appetizer or dessert with purchase of an entree just by showing your park ticket. Islands Dining Room has the Wok Experience, which I think is a great value. It's an all-you-can eat, made-to-order stir-fry bar where you pick your protein, sauce, vegetables, and starch (noodles or rice) and they toss it together right there in front of you. The sauces were really good, and the selection of meats and veggies was extensive. The Wok Experience also comes with a pho bar, where you make your own pho (a Vietnamese soup). When my son is hungry, he is HUNGRY, so this was a great option since it's a buffet. It also seemed pretty healthy, too, since you can load up on veggies and can pretty much control how much of the less-healthy items (like the sauces) go in your meal.

I got frustrated with the restaurants at CityWalk during our visit because many of them didn't open until 5pm or later. The only (non fast-food) place we found open around lunch time was Margaritaville. Maybe this is a seasonal issue (we visited in November)? I wanted to eat at Cowfish, but we were not able to because did not open in time for us to eat and make it to the Blue Man Group. We ate at the pizza place a few doors down instead (it opened just a little bit earlier) and it was just ok (I wouldn't recommend it).

 

[Clemson Bama Fan]

Cowfish is one of our favorite Citywalk restaurants. We ate there twice during our vacation last year and have it penciled in for 3 trips this year. They now serve lunch. Antojitos is also very good. I really enjoyed their guacamole and I am not usually a guacamole fan.

 

[schumigirl]

Cowfish is one of our favorite Citywalk restaurants. We ate there twice during our vacation last year and have it penciled in for 3 trips this year. They now serve lunch. Antojitos is also very good. I really enjoyed their guacamole and I am not usually a guacamole fan.

Glad to hear another enjoying Cowfish........so far I've only heard good things about it and we are so looking forward to eating there once or twice.........

 

[phillymummer]

(1) I was planning on eating at Mythos. I showed my hubby the menu and he said there is nothing there he would order! He wants to go to Finnegan's just for the scotch eggs! How are the entrees? The seafood pot pie sounds good!

(2) I am not familiar with "British fare". What exactly is bangers and mash? And toad in the hole?! Cottage Pie? Ploughman's?

(3) Where can I find the big pink doughnut? I'm assuming somewhere in Simpson's land, but where?

 

[kbmartin]

(1) I was planning on eating at Mythos. I showed my hubby the menu and he said there is nothing there he would order! He wants to go to Finnegan's just for the scotch eggs! How are the entrees? The seafood pot pie sounds good!

Can't help you with that one...

(2) I am not familiar with "British fare". What exactly is bangers and mash? And toad in the hole?! Cottage Pie? Ploughman's?

Bangers and mash = sausage and mashed potatoes, I'm pretty sure.

(3) Where can I find the big pink doughnut? I'm assuming somewhere in Simpson's land, but where?

Lard Lad in Simpsons Land - I'm planning to try that, too!

 

[RMulieri]

So do we need a reservations for 3 broomsticks or leaky cauldron? How far in advance do you need to make reservations?

No you don't.They do offer a breakfast that is Counter service and you can make ressies for , but they aren't needed.They don't do ressies for lunch or dinner

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

(1) I was planning on eating at Mythos. I showed my hubby the menu and he said there is nothing there he would order! He wants to go to Finnegan's just for the scotch eggs! How are the entrees? The seafood pot pie sounds good!

(2) I am not familiar with "British fare". What exactly is bangers and mash? And toad in the hole?! Cottage Pie? Ploughman's?

(3) Where can I find the big pink doughnut? I'm assuming somewhere in Simpson's land, but where?

We LOVED Finnegans . It was our favourite in-park meal (followed closely by Confisco Grille) of the trip. Delicious food, and fabulous service. We didn't have the scotch egg, but our entrees (Newcastle Chicken for me, Misty Island Mixed Grill for DH) were absolutely wonderful.

Bangers and mash are sausages and mashed potatoes. Toad in the Hole is a sausage cooked into a kind of bread pudding (probably not the best description....its different than anything else I have ever had.......maybe this pic will help):



As the PP mentioned, the big pink donut can be purchased from the Lard Lad stand-alone kiosk in Springfield:



and you can also buy them from Lisa's Teahouse of Horror inside Simpson's Fast Food Boulevard.

 

[rucifee]

We ate at Cowfish last weekend, it was wonderful...we're already talking about going back.

 

[Princess Leia]

(1) I was planning on eating at Mythos. I showed my hubby the menu and he said there is nothing there he would order! He wants to go to Finnegan's just for the scotch eggs! How are the entrees? The seafood pot pie sounds good!

(2) I am not familiar with "British fare". What exactly is bangers and mash? And toad in the hole?! Cottage Pie? Ploughman's? As others have said it is sausages with mashed potatoes usually with gravy. Toad in the hole is sausages in a Yorkshire pudding batter with gravy. We like our gravy in the UK. Cottage pie is minced beef with a top layer of mashed potato which should be baked so it is slightly crispy.

(3) Where can I find the big pink doughnut? I'm assuming somewhere in Simpson's land, but where? We got ours at Lard Lads. A good one for sharing.

I would also recommend taking the very short walk from the entrance of Universal to The Kitchen at Hard Rock Hotel. It was very good. I'll be coming to it very soon in my Trip Report.

 

[phillymummer]

Thanks everyone! Should i make a ressie for dinner at finnegans? Or can we walk up? It will be a saturday.

 

[schumigirl]

Thanks everyone! Should i make a ressie for dinner at finnegans? Or can we walk up? It will be a saturday.

If you really want to eat there make a reservation. It can get busy.

We don't rate the food at all there. But you have try for yourself and see what you think.......I think there's better places to eat both in the parks, Citywalk and yes the hotels have excellent options.

 

[phillymummer]

We have only two days in the parks, so i want to stay in the parks to eat lunch and dinner. I dont want to take time walking to citywalk or a hotel and then go back to the park, even if they are close. If we happen to accomplish eveything we want, maybe then we will wander over to citywalk to try cowfish or eat at the restaurant at RP (tchop chop?). My hubby lets me do most of the planning and makes very few requests. If he wants Finnagan's and not mytho's- i will oblige!

TBH- im not interested in the entrees at the leaky caudren. I,ll probably just do breakfast there and save a lunch or dinner for the 3B.

 

[captainmoch]

I'd recommend Fast Food Blvd if you are a Simpsons fan. I haven't tried any of the HP places yet, but they certainly have a cool aesthetic if you are a Harry Potter fan.

 

[lilkarebear]

We always go to Mythos (Steak Medallions) & Finnegans. The food in the Simpsons area is good - I like the Krusty burger and the taco's at the stand are good. We usually eat somewhere in the Harry Potter areas (fish & chips, meat pies). I liked Margaritaville & Cowfish & Vivo. Bubba Gump is good too. The Islands Dining Room is good too - at Royal Pacific. Emeril's is good too but pricey.

 

[yankeepenny]

I love three broomsticks. also, eating at Dr. Seuss. actually, any CS meal at Universal is very good.