Dining at Universal

[SueP413]

Anyone have any suggestions as to where to eat at Universal? I like good food and don't mind paying for it.

[nicholaspaige]

I won't be too much help as we have only always eaten at NASCAR Cafe. DH and DS are HUGE fans of NASCAR so we started going there for "them" as a trade off to all the Disney princess meals we have eaten for DD.:D

The food there is good, it's just reg pub type food. BUt we go more to make DS happy.

Hope someone else can help!!:)

[LimeGreenCheri]

Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville!!! That was some of the best food I've ever had. I also loved the themeing of the resturant. The servers on stilts were a hoot. I really felt like I could be on the beach with no shirt, no shoes, no problems!

[Robin]

Universal has a special 'meal deal' offer.

For counter service, you can go through the queue as often as you want for another meal. The 2 park deal also includes a full service restaurant at Citywalk. The 'Free Movie' post shows the limited menus available at for the Citywalk part of the deal.

Drinks are not included in the 'deal'.

Universal: Meal Deal - Eat all day long (http://tagrel.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15284)

Free -Movie & Meal Deal has been reinstated (http://tagrel.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12983)

[MargaretJ]

I would venture to one of the places at City Walk or even the resorts. We happen to love Margaritaville & even like Hard Rock Cafe at City Walk. I really like Mama Della's at Portofino Bay & of course there are a couple of Emeril restaurants - one at City Walk & one at Royal Pacific Resort.

[sandar]

Sue,

It's been more than a year, but we have very fond memories of lunch at Mythos, at IOA. We liked the food and the service was very good.

Enjoy your planning!

Sandi

[Timon]

I'll add my vote for Margaritaville. The food and atmosphere are both wonderful.

We've eaten at Emeril's Tchop Chop but weren't impressed with it. The atmosphere is wonderful, but the food is only OK and is way over priced.

[Lady]

Margaritaville gets our vote too : )

Tchoup at the Royal Pacific - great atmosphere - good food and you don't mind paying you said ;) We liked it : )

Hugs Shell

[Robin]

I've heard good things about the BBQ restaurant in IOA but I haven't had a chance to eat there myself. :(

It's name is something like Enchanted Oak. Rather than look it up, I'll wait for someone to come along and correct me. ;)

[ddoll]

If you like fine dining, you'll love Tchoup Chop at the RPR resort in Universal. We're regular visitors to Universal as well as Disney, and I haven't found anything yet to rival the food, atmosphere and service at Tchoup Chop.
http://www.emerils.com/restaurants/orlando_tchoupchop/index.html

The other places mentioned here are great: the food is good and the places are fun, but they are casual dining places. You know: burgers and such. Depends on what you want.

Here's a good summary of the restaurants in City Walk:
http://universal-excitement.com/CITYWALK.htm

[Mickey4Us]

I can't recall any standout in the park.
In CityWalk, Margaritaville was ok. Also Emeril's restaurant. It is pricey but we went for lunch which was much more reasonable.
At Portofino Bay, we liked Mama's.

[PrincessRosie]

I'll vote for two of my favorite places: first, Mythos, at Islands of Adventure, is consistently good. There are pizzas, and wraps, and salads, and burgers--pretty much everything. It is a little upscale, but not terribly pricey. The atmosphere is very nice, it kinda speaks to the gods, and the huge windows overlook Toon Lagoon and the Hulk.

My favorite, though, is Tchoup Chop in the Royal Pacific Hotel. And being from New Orleans, the so called home to Emeril, I am not a big fan of his. But, this restaurant is his genius. He really should capitalize on this one. This is an asian-creole fusion. The meals are wonderful. There is nothing bad. Everything is wonderful. Always, always, always, try to get whatever the special menu item is that day. And check before you go--you may want to make a reservation. You won't go wrong.

If you want steak, the Palm is at the Hard Rock, but I find them inconsistent at best. One day they are good, other days, not so wonderful.

For wonderful ice cream, go to Emack and Bolio's at the Hard Rock (can you tell I am a big Hard Rock fan).

Have a wonderful time!!!

[Sully]

The Kitchen at the HardRock was very good. Kids had a ball there we went there twice in one trip.

[PrincessRosie]

I just got back from Universal, and I had a chance to eat at the Kitchen in the Hard Rock. It is very nice, but not dressy. The mac and cheese is good, but watch out when it comes out--it is like molten lava--hot, hot, hot. The burgers are good. I recall someone having crabcakes, someone with pizza.

And the funniest thing--Twisted Sister was sitting at the next table. They were playing a concert that night at the Hard Rock Live.

[Robin]

I used to go see Twisted Sister back when I was in college, and they were a local band.

[SueP413]

We ended up eating at Mythos in the IOA. I thought it was very good. At US we just ate at the cafteria style place.

I have been to Emeril's before and loved it. Tchoup Tchoup is on my list of things to do!

[NapaMouse]

Went to Choup Chop at the Royal Pacific in Sept and its my favorite but is not cheap. I've also eaten at Margarittaville but make sure you have an appetite cause they give you tons of food. So does Hard Rock but I did not like the waiter we had. universal is lots of fun though, enjoy

[WDWJo]

I go to Tchoup Chop nearly every trip I make to Orlando. I have to say that I love the food and atmosphere there. However, it's not quite as "on" as it was when it first opened. I usually order the same thing and maybe Chef de Cuisine has changed or something...still good, just not as good as the first year or two.

I went to Emeril's (in City Walk) for the first time on my last trip and wasn't terribly impressed with my entree. However, I'd go back just for the banana cream pie. This baby's for sharing cause it is HUGE....but incredible!! Hmmm...I wasn't going to go to Universal during my upcoming trip since it's on the short side but maybe I'll have to go for dessert now! I'm craving that pie!

I really like the Porch of Indecision at Margaritaville! It's not somewhere I'd go in summer but it's nice to dine alfresco and listen to the live steel drums. Food is pretty decent too!