Best restaurants on Universal property?
 

We're staying at the Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando during Thanksgiving week. We always go to Disney and this is our first time staying at Universal so I'm not familiar with it at all. What are the best restaurants on Universal property, especially ones that are in the resorts on property and Citywalk? Thank you for your help.

It depends on what you mean by "best" - food quality, atmosphere, vibe/fun factor, etc.

Best In City Walk for food quality: Emeril's - no contest

Best in Islands of Adventure Park, for food and theming: Mythos- no contest.

We enjoyed Mama Della's for dinner, an old world style Italian restaurant facing the water. Well above average $25 spagetti and meatballs.

Universal is by far our children's favorite theme park. I cannot overstate the value of the Express Pass feature of your room key. The separate line for near all park attractions is priceless.

We found near all the on-site restaurants adequate, though we did not [and would not] try Emeril's.

Wasn't overwhelmed by the hotel service. Recall that housekeeping knocked on our door before 8:00 a.m. on Saturday morning and there were billing problems (not in our favor), but the Portofino Suite was enormous, the beach pool great fun (and a nice cooling respite from the park), and the grounds were beautiful. Never found one of the 3 swimming pools.

While I haven't been there in four years, I second the recommendations for Emeril's and Mythos. At the time, we went to Emeril's on an impulse. I just walked in and asked when they had a reservation available during our stay. We ended up eating at an off hour, but it was terrific.

I stayed at the Royal Pacific two weeks ago. I did a little review here so if you click on my name you should find it under hurricane Wilma.

The best restaurants are always subjective, depending on a persons budget, taste and interests. I am not a true foodie, in that I don't give a whit about the current fashion. I just was good quality food, well prepared, showing a little creativity without trying to enter some ingredient contest.

I liked Emeril's at City Walk much better than Tchoup Chop at the Royal Pacific. The Royal Pacific emerils is quite dramatic in decor and the service was better than the City Walk one but City Walk has the New Orleans flavor to its menu and I thought its wine list was much better than RP as far as going with the food.

I was disappointed with Portofino restaurants. With kids, I guess you'd want Mama Dellas or whatever it was called. I can't even remember what I had, but it was an indifferent red sauce restaurant. I think that is just right for the idea of the hotel and as a place for kids. Bice is the elegant restaurant there. I am not disposed to like Bice. Most of their restaurants dish up more attitude than cuisine, but this one was ok.

Great bar off the lobby in Portofino. The same at the RP.

Good party atmosphere at Jimmy Buffet's place at City Walk. Anyone who orders anything other than a cheeseburger at Margaritaville is on their own.

You haven't mentioned your family. That has everything to do with how you will feel about certain restaurants.

Hard Rock Cafe. I haven't been in one for probably 20 years. When I did go to the one in NYC, my kids sat next to Bill Murray (then an owner) and he did impressions for them. This one is apparently ghastly.

Palm Steak house at the Hard Rock hotel is classic and very good. I did not try their signature restaurant, the Kitchen (I think) but it looked like fun.

I found the spa at Portofino understaffed and wanting in quality and style but I am a spa junkie and not impressed easily.

I've never met anyone who didn't like Mythos. I haven't been but I think it is probably a slam dunk for you.

What isn't a slam dunk is the NBA restaurant unless you or your sons (if you have them) are really in to the NBA.

LilMsFoodie doesn't do NASCAR, as you probably can imagine.

Very close by is probably the best new restaurant in Orlando. Seasons 52 is on Sand Lake near Dr. Phillips in the middle of restaurant row (for the locals). It is simply outstanding. Look at my earlier comments. It is also reasonable with top service. The chef from the California Grill at the Contemporary has created a great new place.

LMF

LMF doesn't do Nascar! LOL, ROFL! I can't stop laughing over that line. Priceless, and pure LMF.

I also really liked Jimmy Buffets. We did my brithday dinner there one year and the waiter told me to stand up and gave me a big hug after singing to me. So be prepared for that kind of atmosphere, but what else do you expect from a place owned by Jimmy called Margaritaville. They do have decent food, some would probably say great burgers and a unique margartiaville shrimp dish that is so popular that he now sells it frozen in the supermarkets. And it is probably the "best" clean party atmosphere for a family at City Walk.

We ate at the Latin Quarter once (it that still around?) It was pretty bad and expensive for how bad it was. But the place apparently hops at night for dancing.

BTW- get reservations way ahead of time for every restaurant inside and outside the parks or you'll either wait over an hour (MArgartiaville) or not get in (Emeril's). Previous poster who walked up to Emeril's was very lucky.

Oh, one more thing. For best character dining, go to Confisco Grill in Islands of Adventure. Cat in the Hat characters, Duddly DoRight, etc. Decent American food and very fun for lunch.

Mythos in Islands of Adventure is wonderful. You can et there even if you aren't going to the park. Go to Guest Services and they will give you a timed pass to eat at the restaurant.
We also love Tchoup Chop at the Royal Pacific.

We loved Mythos--great atmosphere, and the food, tho not gourmet, was just fine; and the prices, given the alternative of walk up booths, Jurassic Park cafeteria, etc., were really very competitive. It was a really nice treat to break up the day!

re: ressies at Margaritaville. Even with Hurricane Wilma heading for Florida, and for a while even Orlando was fearing it, Buffett's had lines everywhere and was packed constantly. The park was pretty quiet, and was closed briefly but this did not deter Margaritaville. The water taxis were closed so you had to bus it or walk. Perhaps crawl was more like it for many of the patrons.

They did have a good hurricane party however. Just like they do in the Keys.

LMF

Thank you for the responses! I couldn't find my post until now. I didn't mention my family. It's myself, my husband (we're in our 20s and 30s) and my mom and her 2 dogs. We don't have kids yet.

LMF, I've been to Seasons 52 in Ft. Lauderdale and love it, esp. the little desserts. I didn't know it was started by the chef from the CA Grill.

I printed out your suggestions and am taking them with me.

GET RESERVATIONS FOR EVERY RESTAURANT MEAL BEFORE YOU GO!

I know I shouted, but it is very important or you will wait for hours or end up at the walk-up food stalls.

When we stayed at Portofino Bay Hotel (June '04) it extended priority seating at Park restaurants to hotel guests. I don't recall ever needing to exercise that privilege, though it was comforting.