The SATURDAY SIX Dines At TOOTHSOME CHOCOLATE EMPORIUM (Characters, Steampunk Theme, Outrageous Milkshakes and More!)

This week’s SATURDAY SIX dines at Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen. I’m often asked “what is the best restaurant at Universal” and there’s many answers to that subjective question. While there are several restaurants I would recommend for a date night or an impeccable dining experience, the restaurant I take people to the most is Toothsome. Why? Because no matter where someone is visiting from, they don’t have anything like a Toothsome back at home.

Toothsome Chocolate Emporium sits directly next to the entrance to Islands of Adventure and its visually stunning façade fits in with other worlds that never existed (but you wish did) like Port of Entry or Seuss Landing.

When Toothsome made its debut back in 2016, it arrived with larger than life milkshakes. These milkshakes – topped with items including a full slice of cake – transformed the theme park dessert world into the diabetic coma we live in today. That’s right, Toothsome walked so that Voodoo Doughnut, Gideon’s Bakehouse, and Beaches & Cream could run.

It turns out that the E-Ticket milkshakes were just the tip of the iceberg, as Toothsome is filled with both wonder, whimsy, and an amazing menu. Today we’re going to look at some of our favorite features of this magical restaurant, starting with…

# 6 – Walk Around Characters

Toothsome Chocolate Factory has a lengthy backstory, and it revolves around Professor Doctor Penelope Tibeaux-Tinker Toothsome. In Penelope’s exotic trips around the world, she discovered ways to infuse chocolate into extraordinary recipes. When Penelope returned home from her travels, she discovered that her parents had set out to join her (“Surely the world isn’t so big that we can’t find you.”) Penelope decided she would use her chocolate knowledge to create an emporium, and would share her dishes with the world until reunited with her family.

Penelope can be seen walking about Toothsome, occasionally with her robot companion Jacques. Just as with the best Disney meet and greets at the Magic Kingdom, Penelope stays completely in character, is filled with charm and as they would describe her in the 19th Century: is a bricky gal.

Back when the parks reopened after the Covid shutdown, a third character was available for photos at Toothsome: Latte, the steampunk inspired Boston Robotics dog.

# 5 – The Upstairs Bar

There are plenty of tables, both indoors and outdoors, on two levels at Toothsome for those guests looking to enjoy a meal. There is also a To Go counter on the first floor for those looking for – say – just a milkshake. However, for those of us who enjoy an adult beverage or two, there is a fantastic bar on the second level of Toothsome and it is loaded with incredible drinks.

There are several menu pages dedicated to “libations” and “potent potables.” There are of course the standard bar drinks, but you’ll also find curious concoctions like the Wicked Cherry (Mount Gary Black Barrel rum, cherry Heering liqueur, creme de framboise, chocolate bitters), Chocolate Cherry Mule (Double chocolate vodka, brandied cherry, ginger beer, chocolate bitters), and the High Fashion (Old Forester 86, brandied cherry, chocolate bitters).

Like Springfield’s Duff Beer and Diagon Alley’s Dragon Scale, Toothsome has an exclusive brew of its own with the Too Chocolate Stout. A “Dark ebony with rich chocolate finish,” the stout has an ABV of 5.8% and will be the go to drink for anyone who enjoys a Guinness. There is also a fantastic view of CityWalk from the second floor of Toothsome, so keep it in mind next time you’re in the mood for drinks.

# 4 – The Appetizers

Now we’re talking. We at the SATURDAY SIX headquarters consider ourselves bread connoisseurs, and look forward to various bread services at restaurants like alcoholics look forward to the bar menu. In Orlando, there is the untouchable Sanaa bread service leading the pack, but Toothsome’s Warm Chocolate Almond Bread makes a very good showing. Served with salted caramel butter, the bread isn’t as heavy as you would think.

The standout app is the popular Totchos – fried tater tots, spicy green chili, crispy pork belly, andouille sausage, and cheese sauce. Most places that serve totchos just dump sauce on the top, leaving many of the tater tots ending up with no sauce. Toothsome tosses their tots with the sauce and meat, so everything has a nice taste throughout.

Let’s check out some of the other options to whet your appetite…

# 3 – The Entrees

Have picky eaters in your party? No problem, at Toothsome there is definitely something for everyone. Flatbreads, seafood, pasta, sandwiches and more.  Mac & Cheese is a theme park blogger’s staple, and we’re happy to report Toothsome’s Shrimp and Lump Crab Macaroni and Cheese plate is terrific

As theme park burger aficionados, we had to sample a couple options including the May Contain Bacon burger. This was a half pounder with smoky thick cut bacon, pork belly, pineapple chutney, and chipotle Jack cheese. Tastes as good as it sounds.

# 2 – Brunch Menu

A dedicated brunch menu is one of the most elusive dining options at Universal or Walt Disney World. If you’re lucky, you may get a place or two that offers something on a Sunday morning, but other than that you are pretty much out of luck… except, at Toothsome. Here you’re going to find a brunch menu that is offered all day, EVERY DAY.

That’s right, you’ll find various options for delicious waffles, crepes, French toast, and quiche. Now, longtime readers of this fine blog series know I’m a waffle guy. I love my Mickey waffles for breakfast at Disney, I love the chicken & waffle sandwich at Fast Food Blvd., and I’ll even buy miniature Eggo waffle cereal.But my favorite waffle is the Chocolate Waffle at Toothsome. This glorious culinary creation is topped with chocolate shavings, chocolate chunks, raspberry chocolate ganache and crushed OREOS.

Other waffle options include: Berries & Creme, Bananas Foster (with caramelized bananas & brown sugar), and of course the plain ol’ regular waffle.

Next up we have some pretty fantastic French toast options that make a run for my favorite French toast at Universal, the Elvis French toast from The Kitchen at the Hard Rock Hotel. My favorite at Toothsome is the Banana & Hazelnut (Challah bread, banana mascarpone filling, with Nutella, brûléed banana, and served with Lyonnaise potatoes.

Other French toast options include a Patty Melt (with hamburger & cheddar cheese, topped with grilled pork belly & a sunny-side up egg) and a Country Fresh version (Challah brioche stuffed with Gruyère cheese and smoky ham, topped with a sunny-side up egg & a healthy serving of béarnaise sauce.)

I’m personally not a huge fan of quiche or crepes, but Toothsome has a couple versions of both on the menu.

# 1 – THE MILKSHAKES

Finally it’s time for the main event. The famous Toothsome milkshakes and (underrated) desserts. It’s going to be a challenge to try them all and pick our favorite, but it’s a challenge we are up to (whether our cholesterol count is up to it is another question altogether, but we’re on the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy.)

Each of Toothsome’s shakes are basically two desserts in one, the actual milkshake and then the topper. These will be the showstopper for anyone you take to Toothsome, especially kids. Not only do the shakes taste fantastic, but they also are a great souvenir because you get to keep the Toothsome branded jar they are served in.

My personal favorite Toothsome milkshake is the Marshmallow Crisp.

For many years, vegans were unfortunately out of luck when it came to Toothsome milkshakes, but that changed in 2022 with the debut of the Right Side Up Shake (vegan pineapple upside down cake, brown sugar, caramel, pineapples, oat milk whipped topping.)

Over the years, Toothsome has released special edition shakes tying into various events at Universal including Halloween Horror Nights, Mardi Gras, and Christmas.

The milkshakes are straight up E-Ticket, no doubt, but don’t sleep on the other desserts from Toothsome!!!

Honorable Mention – The Candy Shop and MERCH

The gift shop and candy store on the first floor is an attraction in and of itself. In general, the theme park world is blessed with incredible candy stores, but like everything else Toothsome somehow takes it up a notch. Both the packaged and freshly made candy are as elaborate and beautiful as anything you’ll find in the Wizarding World (the benchmark for quality theme park gifts and sweets). Like the Candy Cauldron in Disney Springs or Big Top Treats in the Magic Kingdom, guests can watch some sweets being made behind the counter. The display cases are filled with colorful candy and uniquely designed offerings such as chocolate covered pretzels in the shape of gears. There are Toothsome branded shirts and coffee cups, along with next level bananas steampunk items that look like they come from the mind of Tim Burton (the good Tim Burton, not the one we have now.) The Toothsome gift shop and candy store is the Shut Up and Take All My Money meme come to life.

You’ll also find seasonal treats, which are next level during Halloween Horror Nights!

Seasonal merchandise for a theme park restaurant gift shop, now THAT’S what I’m talking about!

Double Secret Honorable Mention: The Steampunk Theming

Toothsome is right up there with T-Rex Café, The BOATHOUSE, and Be Our Guest as a true immersion of #storydining. From the steampunk themed lighting fixtures and plumbing, to a ton of art pieces throughout the restaurant, diners are surrounded by a unique theme of Steampunk meets Willy Wonka. Universal’s transformation of CityWalk features some truly great restaurants including Vivo (Italian), Antojitos (Mexican), and Red Oven (pizza) but Toothsome is one of those places that people have nothing to compare to at home. You want the “Wow” factor? Toothsome has that in spades.

Even the bathrooms have that little extra touch.

So there you have it: The SATURDAY SIX Dines at Toothsome Chocolate Emporium! See you next weekend for the latest installment of the SATURDAY SIX, where we’ll look at something fun from the world of Disney and Universal. If you enjoyed yourself, be sure to check out the THEME PARK ENJOYMENT INDEX, giving a monthly recap of all the theme park news you need to know (and a lot more you don’t need to know, but we’re gonna tell you anyway). You can also follow Your Humble Author on Twitter (@derekburgan).

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Special Thanks to The Elite Brandon Glover, Digital Maestro Scott Walker, the bio-est of all reconstructs @bioreconstruct, Captain Cruiseline Scott Sanders of the world famous Disney Cruise Line Blog, my personal protege Hunter “Elvey” Underwood, artist @SonderQuest, the mighty maven of merchandise Hedgehog’s Corner, the SAT SIX Fun Squad of Parkscope Joe and “the Dadalorian” Nick, hot shot Michael Carelli, charter member of the Universal Four @Nitro230, the permit princess Alicia Stella, master cartographer Tommy Hawkins, and Hermione Granger’s tutor Megan Stump for their invaluable assistance with this article. Absolutely no help was added by SeaWorld Influencer @SuperWeenieHtJr. The SAT SIX is inspired each week by goofballs Aengus Mackenzie and LitemAndHyde and you Potterheads will  enjoy Meg’s other blog work over at the Central Florida Slug Club.