Where to eat at Universal Orlando including menus

[englishrose47]

if you are talking about the quick counter service, no, that is the same as the one you used 3 years ago.

i'm not sold on the other dining plan they have.

We didn't use any plan the last time . paid OOP. I was just wondering if reservations were needed now. Last time we were able to get in wherever we chose without ressies and there were 10 of us . I am not sure which restaurants are on the plan etc!!!

 

[macraven]

i remember that now.
for the sit down places, anyone can make reservations.
that would include those in the park for confisco, mythos, finnegan, etc.

if you went to a place such as blondies for lunch and you had a large group, stop by the place earlier in the day and see if they could rope of tables and hold them for you and the group.
you might have a better chance for that if you ate outside of the normal busy food period hours/lunch, dinner.

 

[ParkscopeJoe]

With an upcoming 4 night stay at Universal, we are thinking we will do at least one decent restaurant per day.

So far my choices include
NBA City,
Finnegan's,
Bubba Gump, and
either Margaritaville or Confisco Grill.

For quick (inexpensive) meals we are thinking of trying
the Leaky Cauldron,
Bumblebeeman's Taco truck,
Monster's Cafe (for the decor mainly),
Thunder Falls Terrace,
Red oven Pizza Bakery, or
The Bread Box.

FYI we have eaten at Three Broomsticks, Mythos, Hard Rock Cafe, Mel's Diner, Margaritaville, Bubba Gump's, Antojitos, Jakes at RPR, Bula Bar at RPR, Burger King, Panda Express, Circus McGurkus on previous trips.

Also for consideration is Bob Marley–A Tribute to Freedom just for the atmosphere more than the food.....not sure the menu would be for my teen girls liking.

I am looking for advice/guidance so that we don't make any unfortunate mistakes and obviously I need to shrink my list a little. Thanks again!

I cannot recommend NBA City nor Bubba Gump. I recommend looking at Backwater Bar instead of Confisco. Same menu as Confisco, first come first serve at a bar out back. Instead look at Cowfish (burgers and sushi options all are fantastic) or Vivo (fresh Italian food, my parents said it was the best meal of their last trip including everything at WDW) in City Walk. If your heart is set on Margaritaville then try the hut infront of the restaurant, smaller menu and drink options but quicker food more like counter service. And of course I cannot recommend Tchoup Chop enough.

Red Oven is FANTASTIC. Counter service with table service perks. Food is reasonably priced and VERY GOOD, Via Napoli quality or better. Pro Tip: Red Over delivers to anywhere in City Walk! Monster's Cafe I cannot recommend, instead focus on Fast Food Boulevard or Leaky Cauldron at USF. In IoA I swear by Thunder Falls Terrace and Three Broomsticks. Haven't been to bread box yet but I hear mixed things.

 

[macraven]

found the answer

 

[TaylorsDad]

it has been one of the restaurants that are a hit or miss for some people.

one person can rave on the food being lush while another walks out of there thinking, why in the world did i waste my time and money there.....


i'm in the group of......i can't wait to go back and try another entree there....
i have always had excellent service and food.
never have been disappointed.

and it has been one of few places where i can go solo and still get a great places to sit and feel very welcomed there by the staff.

Exactly. Last October we ate there and it would be kind to say the service and food were a bit underwhelming. However, last week this was one of our favorite meals. The food was great and the service was by far best of all the places we ate.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

Love Vivo Italian Kitchen on City Walk

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

My understanding is that NBA City is closing the end of August and that Nascar Grill is being replaced with NBC Sports Grill and Brew (not sure when this will be open though). Either way, you will have a sports themed restaurant available to you and your sports nuts.

NBC isn't open yet. Not that close either

 

[Bluer101]

NBC isn't open yet. Not that close either

It will be open this fall.

It looks like they have gotten only a few things done but the whole structure and floor/patio has been redesigned. But they are moving right along and busy working 7 days a week and sometimes working late.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

It will be open this fall.

It looks like they have gotten only a few things done but the whole structure and floor/patio has been redesigned. But they are moving right along and busy working 7 days a week and sometimes working late.

That sounds about right.

 

[englishrose47]

Hope it is ready by mid October !!!!

 

[rucifee]

If you're in Islands and looking to stop for dinner, don't go to Mythos. Mythos was pretty terrible the last time we stopped in, the food was prepared well but it was tasteless like cafeteria food. That took us by surprise because we had just had dinner at Confisco Grill a week or two before and had the opposite experience there. The service is great, the views are spectacular, and the prices are reasonable..but the food, oh my no.

 

[macraven]

i've had some places where i have had lousy food before in the parks.
and those places are the ones all rave about.
then it makes me wonder if we all went to the same place...

guess any restaurant can have an off day.

 

[englishrose47]

i've had some places where i have had lousy food before in the parks.
and those places are the ones all rave about.
then it makes me wonder if we all went to the same place...

guess any restaurant can have an off day.

We had a great meal at Mythos a couple of years ago. I'd be interested to see if others had a bad experience also!!

 

[schumigirl]

We had a great meal at Mythos a couple of years ago. I'd be interested to see if others had a bad experience also!!

Never had a bad experience with food in Mythos.

We ate there four times last trip and every meal was as good as the last if not better.

I tend not to dismiss a place due to one persons, or my one bad experience.

 

[schumigirl]

If you're in Islands and looking to stop for dinner, don't go to Mythos. Mythos was pretty terrible the last time we stopped in, the food was prepared well but it was tasteless like cafeteria food. That took us by surprise because we had just had dinner at Confisco Grill a week or two before and had the opposite experience there. The service is great, the views are spectacular, and the prices are reasonable..but the food, oh my no.

What did they say when you complained?

I would imagine they were very disappointed to hear your bad experience. It's a shame you didn't enjoy your meal.

 

[rucifee]

What did they say when you complained?

I would imagine they were very disappointed to hear your bad experience. It's a shame you didn't enjoy your meal.

I didn't complain, it wasn't bad enough to do that or have it comped but I probably wouldn't go back.

 

[englishrose47]

Never had a bad experience with food in Mythos.

We ate there four times last trip and every meal was as good as the last if not better.

I tend not to dismiss a place due to one persons, or my one bad experience.

I agree, we did not have a bad meal while at Universal before .Mythos was one of the best , and was on my list for this Fall. I am still hoping NBA will be open then as that was another great one. I go to Disney more often and there are very few that I tried once and will not try again,then if it is bad it is off the list for good !! No 3rd strike LOL

 

[macraven]

i started going to universal in 1993.
have been there yearly ever since.

i was bound to hit an eatery or two that ended up disappointing me in that 22 year span.
same think for when i go to the motherland.

i don't point out which place i have been dissatisfied with except i have posted that monsters cafe and Mels are two i won't repeat.
i'm not even tempted to return to either of those places.

 

[rucifee]

i started going to universal in 1993.
have been there yearly ever since.

i was bound to hit an eatery or two that ended up disappointing me in that 22 year span.
same think for when i go to the motherland.

i don't point out which place i have been dissatisfied with except i have posted that monsters cafe and Mels are two i won't repeat.
i'm not even tempted to return to either of those places.

We ate at Mels last weekend, the worst part was all of the tour kids standing around shaking their ponchos off into everyone's food not caring that they didn't buy anything or that they were literally touching us as we were eating. All that mattered to them was that it was raining outside and they wanted no part of that. The food at Mels wasn't great, not by a long shot, but it wasn't bad enough that we wouldn't go back. Monster's Cafe is off of our list though. I might stop in to get a drink.

 

[schumigirl]

I agree, we did not have a bad meal while at Universal before .Mythos was one of the best , and was on my list for this Fall. I am still hoping NBA will be open then as that was another great one. I go to Disney more often and there are very few that I tried once and will not try again,then if it is bad it is off the list for good !! No 3rd strike LOL

Yep.....no 3rd strike from us either.........liked NBA too, but we really will miss NASCAR........we usually ate there three times a trip and never had a bad meal or service either........looking forward to trying the replacement this year if it's open.......hope it is!