Table service in the parks seems to be few and far between. And from what I’m gathering…
IOA:
-Mythos is the best
-Confisco Grille is forgettable
USF
-Finnegan’s gets decent marks
-Lombards… well we’re not fish people so we can scratch that one.
Anything I’m overlooking?
Also just making sure UOR is cool with kids older than 9 ordering from the kids menu?
I, personally, prefer Confisco to Mythos every time. Mythos is much prettier though
My daughter is 22 and always orders off kid’s menus. She just doesn’t eat much.
I made it my mission in 2022 - 2023 to eat at ALL the in park locations AND CityWalk. I hit up some of the hotels (THE BEST FOOD AT UNIVERSAL!) and Volcano Bay too!!
Here’s how I ranked them… (You can ignore the colors…those are reminders of my favorites and/or places I have scheduled on my next trip)
This is awesome, thanks for sharing. You folks are spoiling me! I hope to pay it forward when we return from our first trip. Can’t wait!
Just tell us how the trip went and what you liked & what you didn’t. (I’m not naïve enough to think every trip is perfect)
BTW - If you have any questions about why I rated something the way I did just ask!
My criteria - in order
Quality of food / drink
Price
Service
I like Lombard’s a lot, and they have plenty of non-fish options. It’s highly underrated in my opinion.
We really like Mythos for two reasons.
The grilled cheese and tomato soup. You probably think, I can make that at home. This version is one of those Chef-things that has been taken to a whole different level. Ask for the sandwich on the side and then dunk. The first time DD ordered this, DH and I were practically growling at each other as we snagged DD’s crusts.
Lamb. My MIL is a Kiwi and even though DH was born/raised in Dallas, lamb was a big thing in the family. So he’s happy whenever he can order decent lamb in a restaurant.
We also have a tradition where I waggle my butt on that bridge saying, “You can’t get me.”
I took my fussy eater DW to Mythos just for this dish. Tomato soup is something she likes. Sadly, they completely burned the sandwich. Plus, she didn’t know you could have it on the side. So it was a burnt soggy mess.
We got it replaced, but it shouldn’t have ever been allowed to come out that way.
When I lived in AU lamb was the absolute cheapest protein anywhere. Since I was broke I ate it in every dish. Now, it’s one of those foods/drinks that I can no longer enjoy as I have consumed so much that even the odor turns me off. 
I love Greek food and have to avoid lamb options - except in Gyros when it’s pressed into a second meat for the Shawarma
Yeah that’s about right. CityWalk is right outside the gates of both parks and that has the better full service dining options.
You’re the one that convinced me the hotels were even better. You are 100% correct!! I’ve never had a meal at any of the hotel full-service restaurants that wasn’t amazing!
I swear I’m gonna go to Bice one day, but I love Mama Della’s so much that it’s hard to switch up when they are both at the same hotel!!
First time UOR visitor here…
Conventional wisdom at Disney is to eat where you are. Meaning, If you’re in a park, going back to the hotel for dinner, then returning to the park, wastes a ton of time.
Universal looks much more compact, but is it worth leaving the park for a meal just to return afterwards?
It really is! It’s so much smaller. You can be in the parks and go back to your room within 20 minutes. The transportation comes every 5 minutes and everything is so close.
Unlike Disney / Disney Springs you HAVE to walk through CityWalk to get to the parks when entering Universal.
I’d say UOR is comparable to Disneyland
You do? I didn’t realize that. We’re staying at Hard Rock so I thought we would bypass all of that but now taking a closer look at the map… I see HRC and Toothsomes is on the west side of the water. USF is a straight shot though. Either of those look like a good option if we want to duck out of the park for table service. Not to mention HRH’s The Kitchen!
Ok…I am helping multiple people. I thought you were at Cabana Bay.
At HRH you don’t have to go through CityWalk. However, no matter if you walk to the parks, which is totally feasible from HRH, or take the water taxi you will be right next to / at the heart of CityWalk.
The Kitchen breakfast buffet is the best deal at UOR. It’s so much food for $30 per person. A breakfast at WWOHP is going to cost $20+ each person and it’s a single plate of eggs and bacon with toast
Not to hijack–but hoping your injury is improving!
Thanks! I think it is, but every time I say that I have a flare up the next day!! 
I’m going to see a specialist next Thursday. However, that means I only have about 4 weeks after that doctor visit to decide if I can go on my trip.
I’m still trying to be optimistic, but have told myself to be prepared to have to miss it. 
Dang…I will send all my hopes and good thoughts/wishes for you! I hope the specialist will be the key to a more permanent fix.
I sincerely don’t know what they can do, but I’m out of options. Even my psychical therapist has done all he can. He’s the one that recommended this specialist…
Not to jinx it, but I’d say I’m about 85% - 90% fine. All my mobility is back, but I still have a pretty consistent / constant pain due to inflammation pushing on my sciatic nerve.
I had a friend recommend CBD a couple weeks ago. I was in a lot of pain then. Ever since starting that my pain has dissipated a lot! I’ve even had a mostly pain free weekend last week.
I can’t use the stuff until I get home as it does make me a little “high”.
Universal Orlando is very compact with CityWalk right outside the entrances of the two parks. Everything is so close some CityWalk restaurants might be closer than the in park ones. Escaping to CityWalk a little after 11am is usually the perfect time for lunch and slightly after 5pm for dinner.
In my opinion, the resort restaurants are much better than park restaurants at Universal, but even then very few of them rise above “it’s decent”.
If you’re okay with mobile ordering, there’s also the Minions Cafe and the Leaky Cauldron in USF, and Three Broomsticks next door
But I agree with the above statements about CityWalk being a convenient dining option. If you visit frequently enough, get a Landrys card and start earning reward points at Bubba Gump
