need PS at UNI?

[pixi]

Just wondering if I need to call to book seating for lunch for the boys at Universal, and what restaurant do you recommend? They will probably want something that will not take too long, but also a decent meal. Dinner that night will be Beaches & Cream (most likely the kitchen sink will be my son's dinner). I know they were thinking Emeril's..... we shall see.
How far in advance should I call for reservations (are they PS like Disney, or an actual reservation)?
Thanks!
Rhonda

[WillCAD]

I don't know if the restaurants inside the parks take ressies, but I think most of the ones outside do since they are owned by other companies (i.e. Nascar Cafe, Hardrock, Emeril's, etc).

This site has menus of the various restaurants, but not grouped together, you have to go by land in the two parks:
http://www.ioacentral.com/universal_studios_florida/universal_studios_florida.htm

If the boys wil be in IOA, I highly recommend Mythos for a nice sit-down lunch, or the Enchanted Oak Tavern for excellent counter service. Both are in the Lost Continent.

[ddoll]

I'd recommend Margaritaville for the boys. The menu includes lots of foods they would enjoy and the interior is really cool to look at, even if you never ate. They have a volcano that erupts hourly as well as all kinds of cool things hanging from the ceiling!

Check out the menu:http://www.margaritavilleorlando.com/

[Snickerdoodlesmommy]

I agree with ddoll! The chicken is amazing, and the atmosphere is too!

[Moley]

Inside the parks, only Mythos is a restaurant where you really need reservations. There are many nice over the counter places where they can grab a bite at any time and enjoy good quality food. Hope they have fun! :D

[Lady]

another vote for Margaritaville : )
it was great! Good Food - good atmosphere
good music

See below for a few lyrics from "Someday I Will'
Jimmy Buffet

[ddoll]

I have to share a funny story with you guys....it always makes those of us over 40 feel very aged indeed.

Last summer, we were exiting the park to make our way over to City Walk for our late lunch reservation at Margaritaville. As we walked, the original Jimmy Buffet song began to play overhead. My teenage son, a musician no less, came running up to me excitedly, saying, "Listen to this song Mom! Somebody made up a song about getting wasted in Margaritaville!! Isn't that funny?"

Clearly, to him, Margaritaville only meant the restaurant we were headed for.

It really took the wind out of my sails to explain to him that the restaurant was named after the old, but famous song he heard playing, and not the other way around.

[Bev]

Here's a site with menus for all the restaurants at Universal plus prices: http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/unimenus.html

I've never needed a reservation even at Emerils but if you want you can make reservations online at "open table" : http://www.emerils.com/restaurants/on-line_reservations.htm

I've used that form before and doesn't require a credit card or any info except phone number.

[Moley]

Bev, those are great links. Thank you for sharing!

And may I ask where does your son who works at Uni like to eat? Insiders know all the best places. :D

[Snickerdoodlesmommy]

Yes. Inquiring minds want to know. LOL

[Bev]

I have 2 sons that work at Universal. One son (age 17) works at the Mummy and the other (age 16) works at Spiderman. They eat at the employee grill because all the park food is sold in the grill for cost. (They can get a full meal with drink for $4.)

My husband is a teacher so he is working for the summer at Men in Black and he eats at the grill. When we eat in the parks we like Oak Tree Tavern the best and the next choice is Confisco. For fast food and cheap food, we like Louie's Italian Restaurant, Monster Cafe, Richters burgers, or Captain Quint's Seafood near Jaws. I've heard good things about Lombard's Seafood but haven't eaten there yet.

We've eaten at Emeril's twice and we just weren't impressed. The food was good but, for the price, it just isn't worth it.

Do not eat at International Food and Film Festival near Back to the Future. Yuck! and double yuck!

[Moley]

Thanks for the good tip on what to avoid.

Those employee discounts can't be beat. Those are good eats at a great price. I've always thought Uni's food was good quality. I agree with you completely on Oak Tree Tavern, plus it has great views from the outdoor eating area and inside it is nice and cool.

I've also heard good things about Louie's. However, I'm very keen that you like Monster Cafe as we want to try that one next time. It looked so cool from the outside.

Although we loved Emeril's, I agree with you that the cost is just too steep for most. We enjoyed our selections at Mythos every bit as much as Emeril's at a fraction of the cost.

[Bev]

I've never eaten at Mythos. Now I've got to try the food there!

I love the atmosphere at Oak Tree and the BBQ ribs and roasted corn on the cob are wonderful.

[Moley]

Mythos is not the cheapest, but it is upscale restaurant good at moderate prices. Sandwiches are higher, but selections like the lobster/corn bisque combination are not. Demi-gods and goddesses serve you while you sit in booths which resemble love seats. The interior decor is an attraction unto itself. Nearly the whole restaurant has a view of Super Hero Island.

Oak Tree Tavern is incredibly good for over the counter service, plus you can get wholesome food quick, not an easy feat.

Only a Southerner would call BBQ "wholesome food." :lol:

[Robin]

However, I'm very keen that you like Monster Cafe as we want to try that one next time. It looked so cool from the outside.

Monster Cafe has a very cool interior, especially for a fast food type restaurant. Last Mousefest I wandered around inside, and found the rooms had different themes. Such as the Lab and aliens. Besides the classic monsters outside, the Creature is inside. Of course I took a few pictures. :wink: It starts with the picture of the electric chair outside.

http://cgrobin.com/plunderfest2003/USF/index.htm

[Robin]

I ate at Mythos once when it was a private party for a conference, and wasn't impressed with the food at all. I'm wondering if because the park was still new AND they were cooking in bulk for the attendees. We had a loooong queue line to get food they put out 'buffet style'.

The inside of the resturant was interesting from what I remember. I thought it sort of looked like a lava rock cave.

[sandar]

Robin,

Your photos from the Monster place are a lot of fun. I especially liked the "mad scientist" apparatus. Another idea for theming if we ever re-do our kitchen!

thanks for the link to your cool photos,

Sandi

[WillCAD]

That lobster/corn bisque at Mythos may sound a little freaky to those of us with uncultered palattes, but I can tell you from experience that it is fan-freakin-tastic! I would have ordered 2 or 3 bowls of it for a meal had I but known ahead of time.

I also dealy love the Enchanted Oak Tavern's food; the hickory smoked chicken is as good or better than Tusker House, which is really saying something.

[Moley]

What amazed me even more than the delicious flavor of that soup was how they kept it piping hot at serving in such a large, shallow glass bowl. The serving ware is beautiful. Makes me want to sit down in my goddess plumped loveseat and order a bowl right now.

[ddoll]

Oh Robin,
The Monster Cafe looks like just the thing for the four boys we're taking there in a couple of weeks. I've seen it many times and never eve considered going in. I wonder why?

BTW, your Illuminations photos are among the best I've ever seen. What kind of camera did you use?

[Robin]

The Monster Cafe is kind of a fast food mini-Planet Hollywood for sci-fi/horror fans. I was so glad they found a way to salute some of the classic monsters.

Thanks for the compliment on the photos. I have a Sony Mavica 1000. It's a huge camera and a pain to lug around some times, but it takes nice pictures. The geek in my loves the fact it has a mini-CD writer in it. After copying the pictures I want to upload to my computer, I can just file away the CDs. The CDs are cheap and small, so I can easily pop in a new one when I need more storage.

Here's the camera. http://www.digit-life.com/articles/sonycd1000/ I think Sony now makes one with a smaller lens, so it's should be a little less bulky.

[Moley]

I thank you for the link to your Monster Cafe pics, too, Robin! You really are a good photographer. Now I know this is a must do for my next trip! 8)

[ddoll]

Wow! That's some super-duper camera!! I could never figure out how to use it, but it sure does a great job for you!