Where to Eat at Universal Studios

[Old Ride Operator]

We will be first-time visitors to Universal Studios and would appreciate advice about where to have lunch and perhaps dinner while we are there.

Thanks!

 

[Robinrs]

Welcome, Old Ride Operator!

Boy would I like to hear the origin of THAT name....

Would you be visiting IOA on your trip? If so do visit Mythos and Confiscos. Both restaurants are wonderful. If you do a search on the site you will find lots of reviews of these restaurants.

 

[sha_lyn]

at USs we liked the irish pub. If I rmeber right it is the only sit down place at US but I might be wrong. Many like monster cafe but we had a terrible meal there (did have fun imbarrasing DS doing the time warp though).

 

[Old Ride Operator]

Thanks to MOM and Sha_lyn. Unfortuantely, we will only be able to do US.

Old Ride Operator worked on the Jungle Cruise and Rainbow Caverns Mine Train (predecessor to Thunder Mountain Railway) in the early 60's and is excited about the visit to US and WDW in February.

 

[Nan]

We enjoyed the Monster Cafe, (see trip report for more details) and Mel's. Many folks complain about Mel's, but the food tastes just like drive-in food to me. Just so you aren't expecting gourmet burgers or anything like that - it is a fun dining experience. Lombard's Landing is a sit-down restaurant in the Amity area. We had dinner there on our first trip last year. The atmosphere is lovely and the food was tasty, too. These are the only places I have eaten at US.

Have fun! US is great!!

Nan

 

[webray]

We usually go outside of US and eat at City Walk. The Irish Pub is ok, if you really want to eat inside...this is probably the best place, but, you will be much happier if you walk out to City Walk and eat. Food inside Universal has typically not been very good. Food at Islands of Adventure however is wonderful!

 

[Rose Wilde-Irish]

Hello, I'm new to the forum but I spent 10 years or so on property at Universal. I'm more familiar with the Studios than IOA, but here's my tips for eating venues:

Sit down restaurants: Basically, there are two. Lombard's Landing in San Francisco and Finnegan's in New York. Both are good, but Finnegan's is more like a truly Irish Bennegan's. Their appetizers are good, however. Lombard's is more upscale, and is the more expensive.

Counter service is extensive, and includes Boulangerie (sp, I never got that right) in Hollywood, Monster's Cafe in Production Central, Louie's in NY, Mel's Drive In in Production Central, Animal Crackers (open air) in the Fieval's area, Richter's Burgers in San Fran, and the International Food Bazzar in Amity. There are also multiple small carts or other spots to pick up snacks and munchies. I've never been to Monster's so I can't vouch for it. Of the burger places, I prefer Richter's to Mel's; the burgers are patties as opposed to the more compressed burgers of Mel's, the portions seem larger and they just taste better. Mel's has good shakes, though. Louie's has excellent pizza and tortellini. The IFB is more like a mall food court and the food is...accordingly. Boulangerie has huge sandwiches and deserts to die for.

Universal does not police bags that you bring in, so bringing in snacks is an option. Unless you get a locker, whatever you bring in, you lug with you, however. And if you get a locker, you have to hike to it to get what you want.

The few places I've been in IOA are as follows: Croissant Moon Bakery is pretty much IOA's Boulangerie. There's a stand right across from CM that sells fantastic funnel cakes. The Fire-Eater's Grill has fantastic boneless chicken zingers. I've actually bought the Zingers there and then walked over to the Enchanted Oak Tavern, which has fantastic ambiance. You feel like you're inside of a giant tree. I'm not too keen on the food there, however (hence the transporting of the food). They have a small full service bar as well inside the Tavern. Additionally, there's a fantastic slurpee-type place in Jurassic just over the bridge from Lost Continent that I adore. (I go for the blueberry or tangerine most often). They're non-alcoholic, but you can also get them with a shot of alcohol for those that prefer that.

Enjoy your trip!

Rose

 

[Robinrs]

Hey, thanks for the explanation, and I'm sure you're not OLD!