Theme park food has a reputation for being expensive, with small portions, and not very good overall and I wanted to know why. After some research, I found that the problem wasn't with the quality of food (not always, anyways), but rather the way the food is prepared. Part of the problem is that mass production of food doesn't produce the best quality of food. Another issue is that theme parks, especially big ones with national and international visitors, are trying to cater to a huge number of people and a wide range of appetites and palates, without slowing on service or spending a fortune, resulting in mostly bland and generic food, with little flavor and not much variety.
Universal City Walk has about 15 places to eat, some sit-down/full-service and some quick-service restaurants. I hope to eat at all of them, at least those that aren't fast food that I can get anywhere, over time and add to this post as I do, to see if Universal falls victim to the theme park generalization of having "bad food." While I haven't been to many theme parks in my life and am certainly not an expert on what makes food good, I definitely have thoughts on the food I have had at Universal. In this post I will give reviews for Universal Orlando City Walk restaurants, based on food, service, and ambiance; I will also include where the restaurant is and the price of the meal I got.
The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Emporium
Located on the park-side City Walk (across the water from the main part of City Walk) the Chocolate Emporium is easily identifiable by the smokestacks and its steampunk-vibe, Wonka factory look. Universal's website describes it as: "Extraordinary foodstuffs abound at this full-service restaurant, bar, and confectionery. Indulge in classic dishes like steak and seafood, but save room for the grand finale. Our chefs create culinary alchemy with gourmet chocolates, artisanal milkshakes, and sumptuous sundaes. It's a 19th-century-themed dream and a truly fantastical feast." Along with the restaurant, there is also a chocolate counter available to anyone, with delicious chocolates, small pastries, and fudge.
The first time I dined here, I sat on the patio with a view of the water and the entirety of City Walk. I ordered the Chicken Bercy ($20.95) - chicken with a white wine glaze, shallots, asparagus, and mashed potatoes. When served, the plating was clean and all of the food was hot. The chicken was tender, the glaze slightly sweet, balanced by the asparagus and potatoes. Each part was delicious but together were irresistible. I also ordered one of their decadent, and famous, shakes, the Brownie shake ($16) - dutch chocolate ice cream, a brownie, and milk chocolate swirl. The brownie shake comes with a brownie blended into the shake itself and then has a brownie on top of the glass. The milkshake was thick and rich, and while the brownie on top was good, it was a bit much to finish on my own as it was just as rich as the shake was, if not more so. When you order a shake, you do get to keep the glass that it comes in so if you don't finish the milkshake, you can take it with you in the souvenir glass. I was quickly sat at a table and the service throughout the meal was excellent, which played a big part in my return visit 5 months later.
The second time eating here, with a friend this time, we sat inside the restaurant and upstairs, again with a great view of City Walk. This time I ordered the Chicken Bourguignon ($20.95) - chicken with a red wine glaze, onion, mushroom, bacon, asparagus, and mashed potatoes. Again, the individual components could stand on their own, but the combination of flavors sent the dish to the next level. The service this time was a little slower, but it was also busier than the previous time I was here, and we were sitting near a bigger group of people, which may have played a part in the different speeds of service.
Their menu has something for everyone, from salad to burgers to chicken or steak entrees, along with a menu of appetizers and brunch items. Meals are priced from $13-$35 with appetizers at an average of $12. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting Universal Orlando, but be sure to call ahead to make reservations, possibly even before you start your trip.
Antojitos Authentic Mexican Food
Tucked in a corner off the main walkway of City Walk this restaurant might be easily missed. Brightly painted in blue, pink, yellow, and green, once you see it, it tends to draw you in. Universal's website describes it as: "You'll think you've stepped south of the border when you step inside the lively cantina. Only the finest ingredients are used to create the made-from-scratch Mexican street fare, including tacos, empanadas, fajitas, and more."
A friend and I ate here and between the 2 of us, we had chicken tortilla soup ($7.95), al pastor street tacos ($15.95), and chicken fajitas ($20.95). The chicken tortilla soup had more spice than flavor for this midwestern girl, and after a few bites, it became overwhelming. The meal turned around with the al pastor street tacos which were full of roasted port, pineapple tomatillo salsa, pineapple, onion, and cilantro. The 3 tacos were perfectly sized, filling, and delicious. Unfortunately, the chicken fajitas weren't as good. The fajita spice was nothing special, and a little lacking flavor-wise.
The service at Antojitos was subpar at best. We had a reservation and weren't seated for almost 45 minutes after the reservation time, even as a group of 2. Once seated, our waitress was quick to take our order but slow to return with water and chips and salsa. There was also a delay of about 10 minutes in getting the check after we were very obviously done eating and the waitress walked by several times. The restaurant was uncomfortably cold, the evening was about 57 degrees outside, and Antojitos had the front windows completely open and had the air conditioning on.
While Antojitos has 4.1 stars on Google, I wouldn't recommend choosing this restaurant as a meal for you and your group.
The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar
On the main walkway of City Walk Cowfish is squeezed between 2 other restaurants and features only second-level dining. As with all City Walk restaurants, I recommend setting a reservation, but it wasn't super busy when I was there with a friend on a Friday at about 12:30 PM. Universal's website describes it as: "Dive into a custom-designed burger or saddle up to some sushi. Keep them separate or embrace the spirit of Burgushi®, a cutting-edge fusion that offers the best of both worlds. Or opt for a bento box to sample a little of everything. Wash it all down with spiked milkshakes, premium sakes, beers, exotic martinis, and non-alcoholic specialties."
We sat at the bar and had quick service from the waiter, who took drink and appetizer orders at the same time. We shared the Crab Rangoon Dip ($15) as an appetizer which was rich and decadent, the wonton pieces were hot and crisp and drizzled with sweet chili sauce that added to the flavor of the crab pieces. I ordered 2 drinks over lunch, the Strawberry Fig (St. Augustine vodka, fresh lime juice, agave syrup, fig and strawberry jam - $15) and the Ruby Panther (Deep Eddy Ruby vodka, simple syrup, lemon juice, pink lemonade, raspberries - $15.50). Both drinks were mixed and presented well, as well as sweet and delicious.
When our appetizer was served, we placed our main course orders. I ordered The Texas Longhorn (beef burger, cheddar cheese, onion strings, jalapeño bacon, tangy BBQ sauce, lettuce, tomato, brioche bun - $20), which also came with fries. When the burger came out, it immediately looked and smelled delicious. There was just one problem: I either underestimated the size the burger would be or overestimated how hungry I was that day, or a bit of both. I got about halfway through it and was stuffed. The patty itself was cooked just as requested, the jalapeño bacon added just enough spice, which was balanced by the tangy bbq sauce.
My friend got the "The Prime Time" Filet and Lobster Roll (Lobster and cucumbers inside, topped with seared rare, seasoned filet mignon, fried Portobello mushroom slices tossed in truffle oil, green onions, and spicy mayo - $27). The sushi pieces were piled high with filet mignon and mushrooms, making them delicious, but also difficult to eat.
The menu has a good variety of options, from salads to burgers to sushi, along with several appetizer options. Burgers range from $18-$23, sushi from $11-$22, and appetizers at an average of $12. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting Universal Orlando who likes burgers, sushi, or the combination of them: Burgushi®.
Red Oven Pizza Bakery
Located on the main part of City Walk, on the walkway from the parking garage, the Pizza Bakery is an open restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, which allows you to see the oven and prep area for the kitchen. Universal's website describes it by saying: "Savor the crackle of perfectly baked crust, the aroma of bursting San Marzano tomatoes, and the creamy goodness of pure buffalo mozzarella in a made-to-order pizza prepared in a 900° stone-lined oven."
I have always ordered pizza from here to go, as it's been a late-night snack as I head back to the hotel at the end of the night, so I have never eaten at the restaurant. I have tried 2 different pizzas here, the Margherita and the Big Eye Pepperoni (both $15). Both pizzas came out hot and flavorful, and I would definitely order either of them again, or try a new pizza from them. While I didn't eat at the restaurant, I did have a pleasant experience with the employees there, they were quick and courteous as I paid for my food and as they delivered it to the table I was waiting at. With the pre-order option available on the Universal app, this is a great way to get good food with a low wait time, which is unusual at Universal.
Voodoo Doughnut
The bright cotton candy pink building is the place to go to fulfill your sugar craving. Universal describes it as "the phenomenon known as Voodoo Doughnut serves more than 50 types of doughnuts daily at Universal Orlando. The doughnut shop with a cult following features signature originals and one-of-a-kind delectables."
Individual doughnuts are between $1.75 and $3.95, with options to get half-dozen or dozen-sized boxes are priced between $14.95 and $31.95. Just reading the descriptions of the doughnuts will cause you to gain 5 pounds, but the doughnuts I have had (including chocolate old-fashioned, maple old-fashioned, apple fritter, and Oh Captain, My Captain, among others) have all been delicious regardless of the sugar coma I was left in.
The customer service here is phenomenal from the few times I have been. While the line can be extremely long (wrapping down the side of the building), the staff are always energetic, friendly, and helpful. With so many choices making a decision can be hard here but I suggest going with a few known favorites and then branching out a bit to try something new. There is now a "pick-up" stand on the walkway of City Walk to quickly pick up pre-ordered doughnuts, which has seemed to keep the line at the store down a little bit. Voodoo Doughnut is a great stop for a quick treat or to grab breakfast for the next morning.
While many theme parks may suffer from having subpar foods due to quality and cost, I think Universal has escaped this fate on CityWalk by having well-themed restaurants that generally specialize in a certain type of food.
Thanks for joining me for more Universal Orlando content! Be sure to come back for more travel adventures, tips, and tricks.
See you next time!
Sami
*All official restaurant descriptions came from the restaurant-specific pages of UniversalOrlando.com
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