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Old 03-09-2009, 04:55 PM   #1
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Dining in Universal parks & resorts

Any suggestions on dining in US , IOA and the resorts. We are looking for ideas.

We are staying at PBH.
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Old 03-09-2009, 05:20 PM   #2
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Universal has a meal deal that you can buy. It gets you unlimited meals for the day at 6 restaraunts in the parks, it is $19.99 ( that's what it was in '07 ). You can also add unlimited drink refills for $8 more. For a day at the park you really get your moneys worth.
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Old 03-09-2009, 05:24 PM   #3
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That sums it all up!
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Old 03-09-2009, 06:51 PM   #4
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For something a bit "nicer", I have heard wonderful things about Mythos. We have never done Universal (our first trip is this December) but we have been to City Walk. DH and my boys really like Magaritaville.

I looked at the meal deal, but I didn't think that it would work for us. I can only take so much "fast food" and the price is $20.99 for 1 day/1 park or $24.99 for 1 day/2 park. Plus your drinks are extra. And there are "restrictions" on what is included. There is no way I could eat enough to make it worth it - not without getting sick, anyway. We will do a quick lunch in the parks, and then go someplace in City Walk or a hotel for dinner - like Margaritavilla, the Hard Rock Cafe, etc.
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Old 03-09-2009, 09:13 PM   #5
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I have eaten in many restaurants throughout Disney and Universal and after hearing that Mythos has won the Best Theme Park restaurant by Theme Park Insider.com every year since IOA opened we decided a few years ago to make lunch reservations for our next trip. It completely lived up to its expectations! It is easily one of the best restaurants I have ever eaten, theme park or not. The menu is very sophisticated for a theme park, including an extensive wine list and drink menu. The desserts are amazing and have these creative dessert shots (non alcoholic, more like mini versions of desserts in a shot glass!). There is a good kids menu too in case the menu is a little too grown up for the kids. I highly recommend it and we love the flatbreads to start! I have also eaten at Emeril's Tchoup Chop in the Royal Pacific hotel and thought it was very good, better than the regular Emeril's in CityWalk. Mama Dellas is great Italian in the Portofino Bay hotel and its a beautiful hotel to just check out- it looks almost exactly like the city of Portofino in Italy. I would also recommend Lombards in Universal Studios for a sit down meal- Finnegans is decent too. Hope this helps and enjoy- there are a lot of options throughout US and the website has all the menus!
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Old 03-12-2009, 10:23 AM   #6
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The Hard Rock and Margaritaville are too of my favorites to eat at when I'm passing between US and IOA. Inside the parks, Mels in US in pretty good.
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Old 03-12-2009, 10:50 AM   #7
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I would reccommend Mytho's at IOA, Emerill's Tchoup tchoup at Royal Pacific Resort and Mama Della's Ristorante at Portofino Bay Resort. I would also try a character breakfast at Confisco's in IOA. Universal is more of a casual dining park, I love the pizza place between The Mummy and Beetlejuice graveyard revue.

Hope this helps and have a great vaca!
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Old 03-12-2009, 11:19 AM   #8
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The Midway Grill is our favorite place in the parks - we love the Nathan's hog dogs and they have the best fries there! Every other restaurant we've tried in Universal/IOA has been ok, but not great. We liked the Enchanted Oak, but alas it was bulldozed for HP. Hard Rock Cafe is highly overrated. We like the Nascar Grill, but haven't been since it was revamped.
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Old 03-12-2009, 01:36 PM   #9
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Enchanted oak is gone?? say it isnt so I loved that place, now I thought I read someplace they are going to put it someplace else??
anyway, at IOA, I think I said before, mythos is great, and also I liked confisco grill.
Citywalk- we love margaritaville and hardrock
and US- we love Lombards, and Finegans is yummy.
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Old 03-13-2009, 12:47 PM   #10
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DH and I visited last year for the first time and just did walk ups on everything not having any idea what anything would offer -- it was rather exciting!

We ate at Finnigan's (the Irish Pub) in Universal and it was good. (They had an alcoholic drink there that was FABULOUS and I cannot remember the name; it was Blue Cacao (?), Sprite, and pineapple juice - YUM!!) Anyway, the food was typical bar/Irish food, but big portions.

The next day we hit IoA and all I can say is Mythos, Mythos, Mythos! Again, we were right there at the doors when they opened for lunch and we knew nothing about it. It was fantastic with GREAT prices for lunch, It definitely gets my vote -- and to think it was this highly recommended, highly regarded restaurant and we had no clue; it was just convenient at the time and we were at the right place, at the right time! See? Fate. Eat here.

Going again this year and cannot wait! (And Margaritaville is lots o fun!)
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Old 03-13-2009, 01:13 PM   #11
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I can recommend Mythos and Emeril's in CityWalk.
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Old 03-13-2009, 02:22 PM   #12
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We love Margaritaville in City Walk and Finnegan's in US. Also at City Walk is the NBA Restaurant. We are NOT sports fans, but they have good food!
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Old 03-15-2009, 05:58 PM   #13
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Margaritaville, and Hard Rock are great. I can't wait to go to Bubba Gump's though. It's one of my favorite restaurants!!
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Old 03-15-2009, 10:09 PM   #14
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We've eaten at Margaritaville, NBA, an Italian restaurant in City Walk (name's not coming), and Bubba Gumps. And various quick service places for lunch. If you have AAA, you will get discounts at restaurants and shops too! I missed out on Mythos, it wasn't open for dinner when we were there, only lunch, and I just didn't want a big meal that early then go on rides it wouldn't be pretty!
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