We've heard it said many, many times that you don't go to Universal Orlando's Toothsome Chocolate Emporium for the food, you go for the desserts and incredible shakes. We thought it was time to check it out for ourselves- and it was the Number One dining destination for our stay over the days at Walt Disney World's fast growing competitor.
Let me say in advance, this is our first Dine or Ditch for Universal, but it won't be our last. We had some great meals there!
Unlike the mess that dining has become at Disney World, we found reservations at Universal's beloved restaurant easy to come by. We only booked a month or so in advance because we wanted to make sure we got in. During our son's previous trip with one of his best friends, it was to be the dinner spot for his birthday celebration, but an unexpected electrical blackout made eating there impossible. When power came back up an hour or two later, they had already chosen another location. Unfortunately, they had to go home the next day. So, for this trip with dear old Mom and Dad, we wanted to make sure we got in. It was our top dining priority at Universal.
So far, Toothsome sounds pretty good: easy to book, great convenient location, and an inviting Steam Punk inspired exterior. How did it hold up to closer scrutiny for what you really go for? Well, we'd discover that the next evening after a day in the parks. (I'll cover our first meal at Universal in another Dine or Ditch post.)
After a fun-filled and exhausting day at the parks, I was anxious to finally eat there. We checked in about 5 minutes early. The place was packed with adult couples and lots of families. It was upbeat and fun, not tense or high strung. That contributed much to the experience as a whole.
The bakery/treat area at the front of the restaurant was filled with delicious and very fresh looking delights, making it a great stop when you are touring City Walk and want to pop in for a midday snack. Be warned, you could pay as much as a full meal for two or three of these items. Would it be worth it? Hmmm...
We bypassed the cases, finding we were seated rather quickly once we checked in.
In a bit of a disappointment, I found the atmosphere inside to be not nearly as magical as the front of the building would lead you to think. It was dark and elegant, but most of the scenery was provided by video of the "factory" at work. But the walk around character shown above was an unexpected addition, and kids eating there were delighted to get a peek at the old school Jules Verne styled robot. Seeing him made me miss Epcot's old classic Horizons. If you were among those who got to ride it, you get the reference.
Time for drinks and the food. I had a Vanilla Chocolate Cocktail- strong but good. Mostly chocolate, as was to be expected. My wife had a glass of wine, my son a straight up whiskey.
Our whole dinner was just excellent! My Classic Flounder Amandinewas absolutely melt in your mouth perfect. The accompanying green beans and potatoes were perfectly prepared and tasty. Like the other items on the menu, my selection was well priced. My wife tends to order well, and her Chicken Bourguignon brought everything together that she likes. My son is a beef lover, and he was thrilled with his New York Strip Steak.
Dessert. We were so stuffed, that we ordered one dish to share. Since this was his birthday dinner, our server delivered a slice of Flourless Chocolate Cake. The cake itself was topped with Nutella ice cream. Yum!
We left more than happy with our choice. By the time we finished, the sun was setting, and the warm glow on the water made for a very nice evening view. The buildings of City Walk were lighting up, and music was filling the air. For us, it was a perfect Florida night.
So... is The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen a Dine or Ditch?
If you are looking for a uniquely Universal Orlando Resort dining experience, and one with a kid friendly atmosphere that still feels grown up, this is a definite dine! And the price won't kill your vacation budget. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.
Why on earth would you ditch it? Perhaps a couple of reasons. Maybe you want a different type of cuisine than your excellently prepared but mostly American styled dinner. There's many other great options at City Walk if that's the case: Mexican, Italian, and more. If you're in the mood for live music or want a busier Friday night bar crawl feel, this is definitely not your place. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, if you're a huge fan of the Steam Punk aesthetic, The Edison at Disney Springs may be more to your liking- but you're going to pay much more for the experience. Much more.
Would we eat there again? Yes, and next time we'll definitely save room for dessert!
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