Universal Epic Universe Food & Drink Preview

A world of epic eats will land at Epic Universe later this year, and Universal previewed some of these options last week. This article covers all the new dining locations announced and previews of the dishes coming. Grab a bib and a mint; here we go.

Celestial Park

Find a galaxy of dining throughout Celestial Park. In addition to the previously announced Atlantic and Blue Dragon restaurants are Oak and Star Tavern, a fast-casual BBQ joint serving platters of meats and stacked sandwiches, and the attached Plastered Owl serving mixed cocktails. Pizza Moon serves up a universe of unique pies while the cousin venue Frosty Moon serves ice cream and frozen treats. Star Sui Bao and Comet Dogs are food stands serving bao and hot dogs, respectively. Meteor Astropub is Epic Universe’s one-stop for all burgers and the attached Bar Zenith pours unique cocktails and beers. CelesTiki, located outside of Dark Universe, is a large bar serving mixed and frozen cocktails.

• Sea Bass (Atlantic, see above) –carrot mochi, sugar snap peas, and lemongrass broth complements topped with starfruit slices. This is a Jurassic Park reference, right?
• Landlubber’s Snickerdoodle Loot (Atlantic) – Kid’s dessert of snickerdoodle cake served in a beach pail with cookie butter ganache, surrounded by Biscoff sand and gummy sharks.
• Tonkotsu Ramen (The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant) – pork broth with tender chashu pork, tare egg, shiitake mushrooms, and fragrant togarashi oil.
• Platter with Mango Bread & Pickles (The Oak & Star Tavern) – choose from smoked brisket, smoked ribs, pulled pork, cheddar jalapeno sausage, or roasted chicken with fixins like greens and mac and cheese.
• Harvest Moon Pizza (Pizza Moon) – vegan tomato sauce with grilled artichoke hearts, Divina tomatoes, roasted peppers, Castelvetrano olives, and arugula.
• Space Cowboy (Pizza Moon) – BBQ sauce, rotisserie chicken, pickled red onions, olives, and BBQ potato chips.
• Grand Atlantic Martini (Atlantic) – dry gin, aperitif wine, lemon twist
• Waturi Punch (Celestiki) – classic tiki rum cocktail that Universal plainly describes as a “refreshing blend of rum, bitters, and fruit juices”.
• The Plastered Owl (The Oak & Star Tavern) – dark rye whiskey, simple and cherry syrup, lemon juice, lemon wedges, and muddled cherries. Heck yes.
• Khaosan Boba (The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant) – milk tea with coffee boba and a coffee foam
• Meteor Strike (Bar Zenith) –light rum, triple sec, lime, pineapple, and lemon-lime soda. The dink is finally topped with edible glitter and a flaming sugar cube. How does this bar have a drink more tiki than CelesTiki? I digress…

Super Nintendo World

Super Nintendo World is home to Toadstool Cafe, the counter service main dining venue of Super Nintendo World. Yoshi’s Snack Stand and The Bubbly Barrel serve a variety of themed beverages while Turbo Boost Treats offers Mario-themed snacks.

• Mario Burger (Toadstool Cafe, see above) – all-beef patty, topped with savory mushrooms, fresh lettuce, tomato, and melted American cheese on a brioche bun with a side of truffle French fries.
• Luigi Burger (Toadstool Cafe) – grilled chicken patty topped with basil pesto, melted Swiss cheese, green peppers, and fresh spinach served on a soft brioche bun with a side of Truffle French fries.
• Bowser’s Fireball Challenge (Toadstool Cafe) – step up to this challenge featuring a towering one-pound meatball topped with gooey mozzarella cheese in rich mushroom marinara sauce and fresh parsley served with a Bowser-inspired puff pastry and a side of hot sauce
• Yoshi’s Smoothie (Yoshi’s Snack Island) – a blend of tart Granny Smith apple and sweet honeydew melon syrup, frozen with milk and topped with whipped cream and green apple bursting boba

Dark Universe

You are either eating or being eaten in the Dark Universe. In Das Stakehouse the guests are here could easily be on the menu for the vampire chefs. And at Da Lacey’s Cottage pick up some cinnamon bread holes and pretzels for snacks. The Burning Blade tavern on the outskirts of Dartmoor has dishes featuring garlic to ward away the vampires.

• Chicken/Salmon/Vegetables Stakes (Das Stakehaus) – your choice of chicken, salmon, or seared and glazed wild mushroom brisket meatloaf served on a stake with roasted veggies and charred green onion mashed potatoes. The stake hilariously says “Nostro Arbitrio Solous”, or “At Our Discretion” on them. We’ll let you guess what that means.
• “Blood” Orange Chicken Sandwich (Das Stakehaus, see above) – fried chicken breast tossed in a blood orange sauce served in a black bun with tangy pickles, slaw, and crispy fries.
• Our Favorite Vegan Familiar’s Stuffed Cabbage (Das Stakehaus) – impossible meat wrapped in cabbage leaves on a bell pepper tomato sauce and beet bucatini.
• Hunter’s Garlic Stake (The Burning Blade Tavern) – SO WE HEARD YOU LIKE GARLIC! Garlic cheese pretzel with “a rich garlic dipping sauce” which we hope is Papa John’s garlic sauce. Mints are not included.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic

Universal looks at popular French, German, and Polish food for inspiration in the all new Wizarding Paris. Magical-inspired French items are found at Café L’air De La Sirène while the Le Gobelete Noir serves heartier fare from Eastern Europe.

• Butterbeer Crêpe (Café L’air De La Sirène, see above) – our foremost foodgineers developed another new vessel for the flavors of Butterbeer to be digested- now in a crepe! Includes shortbread cookie butter, Bavarian cream, Butterbeer cream, strawberries, Butterbeer drizzle, and a Butterbeer shortbread cookie.
• Baguette de Dinde (Café L’air De La Sirène) – A turkey, apple, and cheese sandwich, but Universal’s copy for this is fantastic: “A charmingly scrumptious dish featuring sliced cracked black pepper turkey piled high with arugula, crisp apples, and creamy Brie served with a warm crusty baguette with zesty mustard butter and apple butter.” Someone give this person a raise.
• Quiche Lorraine (Café L’air De La Sirène) – my mother convinced me to try quiche by calling it “bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit pie”. It worked. Pie crust filled with bacon, gruyère cheese, and caramelized onions topped with a mornay sauce served with a side of fresh berries topped with a lavender honey drizzle.
• Alchemist’s Platter (Le Gobelet Noir) –a platter of smoked sausage, potato and cheese pierogies, pickled eggs, marinated beets, caramelized onions, and pretzel served with German mustard and cheese fondue. Tied with the garlic pretzel for dishes you need a mint after eating.
• Lentil Stew (VG) (Le Gobelet Noir) –lentils, vegan bacon, and root vegetables served with bread.

How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk

Berk is home to the Mead Hall dining hall featuring platters big enough to feed a biking. The Spit Fyre Grill offers rice and vegetable bowls topped with your choice of meat and Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel for all your pre-dragon racing grub.

• Yaknog (Mead Hall) – malted chocolate, cinnamon, and a generous swirl of whipped cream.
• Thawfest Platter (Mead Hall) –chicken drumsticks glazed in a berry BBQ, grilled salmon, and sausage plus a medley of roasted carrots, onions, Nordic fries, and side sauces.
• Nordic Harvest Salad (Mead Hall) – kale, arugula, red cabbage, radishes, ancient grains, blueberries, crisp apples, and trail mix(?) topped with a raspberry vinaigrette.
• Stormfly’s Catch of the Day (Mead Hall, see above) – a chocolate mousse fish atop “colorful crispy rice cereal”, aka Fruity Pebbles. We predict this is going to be the Instagram dessert of the park.
• Sullen Sea Sandwich (Mead Hall) – salmon burger with pickles, horseradish dill cream sauce, and a side of ancient grains.

Food Gallery