For the common Disney fan, Universal Orlando may not appear to have as many great table service options as Walt Disney World, however, I was pleasantly surprised on my recent visit. The Kitchen at Universal’s Hard Rock resort was fantastic! With cool theming, great food, reasonable prices, and a convenient location, The Kitchen is a fabulous option for Universal Orlando-guests.
First of all, when you walk into the restaurant, you are greeted with cool, laid-back, rock star décor. Since we had an early lunch reservation, we were just arriving as the restaurant was opening so being able to see the restaurant without anyone it in, makes you really take in the ambience. One of the most unique decorations there are the personalized chef jackets of all of the musician guest chefs who come in to cook in The Kitchen. That’s right! Famous musicians randomly come and cook at the restaurant in the open area in the middle of the floor so this is one of the places in Orlando you are most likely to have a celebrity sighting.
While atmosphere is great, we all really choose a restaurant based on the food. From a self-proclaimed picky eater, I found the food to be excellent! Gourmet burgers, chicken sandwiches, pasta, chicken pot pie, and huge salads are the main items on the menu. While nothing is particularly fancy, everything we ordered had great flavor and good-sized portions, which is what was important to us. Our gluten-free family member had some great options to choose from and the gluten-free cheeseburger received rave reviews from him. With prices of $20 or less per plate, The Kitchen is an excellent value as well.
What I liked best about The Kitchen is its convenient location. Sometimes the parks can get overwhelming and you just need a little break away from all of the action. The Kitchen is just a 5-minute walk from the entrance of Universal Studios so you can get that relaxing break without losing too much park time. It is a great place to get a more laid-back meal that will refuel you well into the late hours at the parks.
The Kitchen serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and even offers character breakfasts on select mornings. To reserve this restaurant for your next Universal Orlando vacation, contact your Me and the Mouse Travel Specialist today.
