Which Restaurants?

[cinderjenna]

Hi!

I have booked 5 nights in HRH from 30 sep-5 oct!

Trying to make some loose plans as to where to eat.. any recommendations? Two adults, no kids, we like to eat late so after the parks close most likely.

Ive only ever previously ate in Hard Rock Cafe so any ideas welcome!
Looking for 3 nights restaurant choices as one night will be HHN and one i plan to go to cheesecake factory and do a bit of shopping!

Thoughts so far are The Kitchen and Jimmu Buffetts.. any experiences?
Also do I need to book well in advance like Disney?

Thanks!!

 

[francie57]

We ate at The Kitchen a few trips ago and it was very good. We love Jimmy Buffets - a must do each year. Not sure how late the parks are open when you go but in Universal Finnegan's Pub is really really good.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Mythos (in IOA) is a pretty cool experience, but they're only open for lunch. I really like Bubba Gumps too, and I'm not a fan of seafood. If you've never eaten there, you should.

 

[gschmerl]

If the parks are open late during your stay, Mythos is open for dinner. When the parks close early, Mythos closes at 3 PM.
We love Tchoup Chop which is Emeril's restaurant at the Royal Pacific. Also Islands restaurant at the Royal Pacific.

 

[patster734]

A couple years ago, we did the Kitchen when staying at HRH. Pretty good food with no wait. That should cover 1 night.

For the other 2 nights, I'd suggest Margaritaville and Hard Rock Cafe. Margaritaville's atmosphere is usually very fun in the evening, with Jimmy Buffet music playing and stilt walkers entertaining the crowd. Hard Rock Cafe is also fun with Rock-n-Roll music playing.

For a third choice, I like Bubba Gumps. It also has a vibrant atmosphere with Forrest Gump memorabilia decorating the walls. I've also heard good things about Latin Quarter, but I haven't had the chance to try it. On our last visit, one night we attempted to eat there, but it was reserved for a private party, along with several other nearby restaurants.

One restaurant that I don't like is Pastamore, which is disappointing because I love Italian food. I've tried it twice now and have found the food bland both times. I have seen some positive reviews of Pastamore on this board, so it could be just my personnal taste.

 

[gschmerl]

Oh yes...I forgot the Latin Quarter..love it!

 

[Kae]

If the parks are open late during your stay, Mythos is open for dinner. When the parks close early, Mythos closes at 3 PM.
We love Tchoup Chop which is Emeril's restaurant at the Royal Pacific. Also Islands restaurant at the Royal Pacific.

It is the best we have eaten at quite a few of Emerils places & this one is one of the best. It is not what you would call a Tradtional Emeril menu but the staff is outstanding, the food is great & the place it self is beautiful.

Kae

 

[kirbsam]

cant beat the palm right at the hard rock.

 

[cbsnyber1]

During our December trip we ate at Mythos (lunch), Tchoup Chop, Bob Marley's, Bubba Gumps, and Margaritaville. Of these I highly recommend Tchoup Chop - visually beautiful, interesting menu, and the food was great (I had the short ribs - falling off the bone good). The back wall of the restaurant, I guess about 20' tall, was the spirits storage area - they used a ladder to retrieve the ones up top. I did a sake flight they offered. Having never tried sake, it was, uh, interesting.

The second best meal was at Mythos - go for dinner if available. Probably the most unique interior I've ever seen in a restaurant (like you are in a giant cave or underground cavern) and the food was outstanding. I had the blueberry/pistachio crusted pork topped with bleu cheese crumbles - outstanding! Do take some time to look around while in there.

Bob Marley's was good, not great, but if you like Caribbean style food the menu will appeal to you - probably the only place at Universal you can get fried plantains (bananas).

Bubba Gumps - good, not great: a large notch above Long John Silvers, which it reminded me of; and we love Margaritaville - great party atmosphere. The volcano nachos easily will feed two. These latter two are great casual restaurants when a good time, not necessarily great sit down food, is the goal.

Overall, we liked them all and would go back to any of them.

 

[johnnyr]

Are advanced dinner reservations required at any of the restraunts mentioned?

 

[patster734]

Are advanced dinner reservations required at any of the restraunts mentioned?

Dinner reservations are strongly encouraged to Tchoup Chop, sometimes a few months in advance. Reservations can be made at opentable.com or calling Tchoup Chop directly. Here's their website: http://www.emerils.com/restaurant/7/Emerils-Tchoup-Chop/

For the other restaurants, if you're arriving at Citywalk in the morning, prior to visiting one of the parks, you can make a reservation at the dining booth located near the entrance of Citywalk.

If you're staying at one of the Universal hotels, many Citywalk restaurants offer priority seating by showing your room key. You could still experience a long wait with the room key priority seating on weekends and during the busy periods. Bubba Gumps doesn't offer room key priority seating, nor is it available at either Emeril restaurant.

 

[cinderjenna]

Wow thanks for all the replies! Just been looking at some food pics of the universal restaurants here on the Dis and wow mythos looks amazing! as do the volcano nachos from margaritaville!

Think it'll prob be mythos for lunch, as we like to eat bout 8pm ish and think the parks will prob close at 6ish in early oct?

Then theres margaritaville, the kitchen, tchoup chop, the palm, and latin quarter! Still got a bit of reading to do I think! haha

 

[U2_rocks!]

Kirbsam, you mentioned The Palm - we really want to eat at a good steakhouse, and we aren't getting one to fit very easily into the rest of our trip, so we thought of The Palm while we're at HRH. My DH is looking for a steakhouse that's "all about the steak". He doesn't care much about atmosphere, sides etc. - he just wants a really great, pretty large, steak. We'll also have our 3 kids along (ages 7 - 10, and pretty good in restaurants) - will it be OK for them?

Also, does anyone know when you can start making Open Table reservations? We were thinking of booking The Palm through there, and Tchoup Chop.

 

[YoMickey]

We are straying away from Disney this year. Spending 7 days at RPH in August. We will be watching this thread closely.

We were there about 5-6 years ago. All I can remember is that the breakfast buffet at RP was good and I concur with the previous comments made about Margaritaville.

 

[callysz]

Could anyone confirm what the dress codes are like at the restaurants? We've only been to Disney before and know it is very casual and we can go straight from the parks to dinner. Curious to know if Universal is similar?

 

[patster734]

Could anyone confirm what the dress codes are like at the restaurants? We've only been to Disney before and know it is very casual and we can go straight from the parks to dinner. Curious to know if Universal is similar?

All restaurants are casual except for Emeril's at Citywalk, Emeril's Tchoup Chop at RPR, The Palm at HRH, and Mama Della's Restaurant and Bice Restaurant at PBH. Those restaurants are more business casual, with some fexibility.

Here the suggestion for the The Palm which applies to the other mentioned restaurants:

Resort or Business casual attire is recommended. However, smart-casual attire is completely acceptable. We ask for no beachwear in the restaurant and no sleeveless shirts for gentleman.

 

[amshowers]

Tchop chop and the Palm are fantastic, and not to be missed. Mythos, Latin Quarter is very, very good. Pastimore, was good. Hard rock, Margaritaville are a lot of fun,but we usually do a couple of appetizers and drinks. I think the apps are way better than their entrees.

 

[bkfree]

It will also be our first Non Disney trip to Orlando and our first visit to Universal. We are staying onsite. We have two children who are 9 and
11. I will be celebrating my birthday(50) while we are there. Of the restaurants mentioned, which are the most kid friendly while also will offer us a nice adult time also.

 

[patster734]

It will also be our first Non Disney trip to Orlando and our first visit to Universal. We are staying onsite. We have two children who are 9 and
11. I will be celebrating my birthday(50) while we are there. Of the restaurants mentioned, which are the most kid friendly while also will offer us a nice adult time also.

My vote is Margaritaville! Usually in the evenings they have stilt-walkers that make balloon animals which children enjoy. They also have a nice selection of alcohol drinks which the adults enjoy. And everybody enjoys it when the Margaritaville Volcano erupts!

 

[aclov]

Restaurant.com has gift certificates for Bice