What restaurant on CityWalk?

[ChisJo]

Was wondering what restaurant you would recommend on City Walk for:

a) my boyfriends birthday...
b) my boyfriends first night ever in Orlando
c) my boyfriends first time ever at a Universal Park

We will be arriving on a Friday night, his birthday and staying at HRH and I was wanting to take him to City Walk and to a restaurant for dinner....He likes everything, but because it's his birthday, I wanted somewhere with a great atmosphere, good food, good drinks, and somewhere that he can really take it all in (it doesn't have to be fancy....he wouldn't care one way or the other!!)

Any suggestions??

Thanks - Jo

 

[Fan2CSkr]

Margaritaville or Hard Rock Cafe for his birthday would be fun.

 

[Flyin2MCO]

I'd like/suggest any of the following:

- Head right down to The Kitchen at the HRH. Decent food and a good way to start your stay at UO. After dinner catch the water taxi over to City Walk, stroll around, hit Margaritaville and Pat Obriens for drinks. Walk back to the HRH.

- If you have the cash and like "high end" food, make reservations at Emeril's and do the tasting menu...Sounds like your bf is low maintenance, so this may a bit over the top, but nonetheless it's a great experience.

- Do dinner and drinks at Margaritaville...lots of fun, high energy, ok food.

 

[gschmerl]

Get a table on the "porch" at Margaritaville and you'll be able to "take it all in".
Or....have a special fancy dinner at Emeril's or Emeril's Tchoup Chop and afterwards have sit on the chairs outside Margaritaville and enjoy some drinks and people watching.

 

[rodkenrich]

NBA City for the Jambalya (if you like spicyness).

 

[lovetheparks]

Another vote for Margaritaville!!

Since your are staying at the HRH, for late night, I recommend the Velvet Bar (Lounge?) It's oh so comfy and laid back and just a perfect way to end the day.

 

[sha_lyn]

Birthday- If you want special, Tchoup Chop, if you want fun Margaritaville
First night- the one of the above that you didn't pick for the birthday
first time in a Universal Park- Mythos

 

[macraven]

go to margaritaville and sit by the volcano

 

[ChisJo]

Thanks everyone....it sounds like everyone is opting for Margaritaville....I like that place too....wasn't sure if it was "the one" but since everyone seems to agree, I may have to take him there....Now the question remains - patio or by the volcano?

 

[gschmerl]

I must be alone on this, but I was not all that impressed with the "volcano". It's really no big deal. You said You wanted him to "take it all in". The porch would be the place for that. You can enjoy the atmosphere of Margaritaville and watch all the people going by in City Walk.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

I must be alone on this, but I was not all that impressed with the "volcano". It's really no big deal. You said You wanted him to "take it all in". The porch would be the place for that. You can enjoy the atmosphere of Margaritaville and watch all the people going by in City Walk.

I agree and they often have stilt walkers and balloon people as entertainment outside too. Live music, usually a dude playing guitar on the deck is an added bonus. Plus people watching is at its prime. You could do like my kids do and when you hear the volcano song run inside to the bar and watch it blow!

 

[PlutoLuvr]

I'm going to offer a different suggestion. We've been to Margaritaville before, and it just wasn't "all that" for us. (Although, the nachos in the food porn thread have us re-interested!). We just found it noisy, and the service left a lot to be desired. I don't know. Maybe it's just a FL thing, but restaurants like Margaritaville are a dime a dozen where I am.

Now, I will say we love grabbing a beach chair with a cocktail from somewhere else and people watching!

I'd recommend a dinner at O'Brien's in their courtyard with a nice big hurricane. The outside back patio is extremely romantic and has fire water fountains. The food is awesome, too. Everything from burgers to po'boys to blackened redfish.

After your dinner's done, I'd get a hurricane to go and a bag of beignets, then find a comfy spot either along the lake or find a beach chair in front of Margaritaville to relax and take in the scenery. I wouldn't venture too far from the hurricane to-go window at O'Brien's, tho.

This is what DH & I do on every trip for our first night

 

[Disney MAINEiac]

we stayed at HRH in Feb and I highly recommend the Kitchen or margaritaville (the volcano nachos at Margaritaville are great)

 

[bubba's mom]

I'd recommend O'Brien's with a nice big hurricane.

no surprise there!

...get a hurricane to go and a bag of beignets,

OH YUM!!!! I'm gettin' hungry for them beignets ...they are awesome!!! (can you get them at the "take out window"???)


To the OP: you could alwasy get a 'porch' seat by the door to the bar (where the volcano is)...best of both worlds!

 

[PlutoLuvr]

Bubba's Mom, I don't know if you can get the beignets at the take-out window. We usually just order them to go from our server at the end of our dinner and get a to-go cup for our hurricane.

I tend to doubt it, because the one side of the window is the bartender at the sports-type bar -- and that person is usually extremely busy. The other window is for merchandise and hurricane/bloody mary/mixer sales -- I think. I know that's what we've always bought at that closest window to the entrance.

Happy Friday

 

[bubba's mom]

thanks..... i will have to ask....why would they say "no"? i'm willing to wait. we got them from the bar the last time we were there......i'm gonna be there a week....darn, i'm gonna find out!

 

[ChisJo]

After your dinner's done, I'd get a hurricane to go and a bag of beignets, then find a comfy spot either along the lake or find a beach chair in front of Margaritaville to relax and take in the scenery

What are beignets and where do I get these? From O'Briens?

 

[macraven]

What are beignets and where do I get these? From O'Briens?

the best beignets i ever have had were on bourban street in new orleans.

they are a hot type of pastry rolled in sugar
have not had them at city walk.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

What are beignets and where do I get these? From O'Briens?

As my good buddy Macraven said, they're fried dough. They're similar tasting to funnel cakes or elephant ears, but the shape and presentation is different. They're solid rectangles, about the size of half a fist. They're put into a paper bag after being fried, and while they're still piping hot, a healthy dose of confectioner's sugar is poured over them, and the bag is then shaken vigorously. You are served the hot bag with the sticky hot goodies inside.

I've gotten them before at a stand in US during Mardi Gras, but we always get an order of them on the back outdoor patio of O'Briens. Their coffee is very good there, too, and is a perfect match for the beignets. Or you just get them to go.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

macraven, me too at Du Monde and you must have a Café au lait with them.
beignet ([bεn.je] pronounced ben–YAY
I had NO idea I could get them at O'Briens thank you PlutoLuvr! I believe I can plan a whole trip just around that thought!