Where to Eat: Lunch at Lombard's Seafood Grille at Universal Studios Florida

December 2, 2014, 1:26 PM · Theme Park Insider readers consistently have rated Lombard's Seafood Grille at Universal Studios Florida among their top theme park restaurants. Offering table service dining in the park's San Francisco-themed area, Lombard's impresses with the quality of its seafood and its attentive service.

Lombard's Landing

On a rainy Saturday just before noon, I was able to get a table with no wait and no reservation, though the lobby filled with guests waiting for tables by the time I left, around 12:30. In general, getting seats at Universal's table-service restaurants is much easier than at Disney's, but it never hurts to call Universal in advance at +1-407-224-3613 to secure a reservation.

Lobby
The centerpiece in Lombard's lobby

Lombard's is old-school cool, with dark wood and nautical-themed decorations throughout, highlighted by a large aquarium in the middle of the room. Service is attentive, but reserved — you'll feel more like you're visiting your rich grandparents' country club than some trendy gastropub, where the waiters take the initiative to chat you up. Lombard's team is more than happy to, and capable of, talking about anything on the menu, but they'll adapt to what you want from them, rather than trying to create a pre-programmed "atmosphere" for you. Like I said, old-school cool.

Bread service

The meal starts with a bread service, served with butter stamped into a Universal Orlando logo. It's not quite as impressive as Disney's butter Mickey — but what would be Universal's alternative? A butter dinosaur or dragon? Or maybe a butter Minion? (My vote? Butter Minions need to happen!)

For my entree, I skipped the variety of fried seafood, sandwiches, and salads on the main menu to order one of the three featured seafood specials. I chose the Costa Rica Mahi Mahi, grilled, with roasted fingerling potatoes and sautéed vegetables ($19.99).

Mahi Mahi

The other options were North Atlantic salmon (also $19.99) or fried Ipswich Belly Clams, for a dollar less.

Lombard's nailed the Mahi Mahi, showing this fish the respect it deserves by taking it off the grill when it was ready — not waiting until every last drop of moisture had been cooked out of it, as too many restaurants serving seafood do. Served stacked atop the potatoes and vegetables and topped with a tomato relish, the Mahi Mahi offered rich flavor that hit the sweet spot between the more assertive salmon and a blander white fish.

The vegetables held their own with this fish, too, cooked perfectly to that point between crisp and tender.

No, Lombard's isn't as fun or energetic as CityWalk's trio of new table-service restaurants: Antojitos, Vivo, and Cowfish. Nor does its menu range as widely as Mythos' over at Islands of Adventure. But if you're looking for a reliable, top-quality meal from a kitchen that knows how to hit its mark, served in an atmosphere of, well, old-school cool, Lombard's continues to come through at Universal Orlando.

Replies (6)

December 2, 2014 at 1:31 PM · One of my favorite theme park restaurants. You summed up it's positives quite well. Plus, great ambiance.
December 2, 2014 at 1:47 PM · GREAT food, ambiance and service. Perfect this time of the year for outdoor dining on the waterfront. We make sure to eat here for lunch every one of the 8 - 10 times a year we go. Make sure you use your AP discount!
December 2, 2014 at 1:56 PM · I completely agree. I've never had a bad meal there, and their steak sandwich is simply wonderful. Great atmosphere, too, as Rob said.
December 2, 2014 at 2:48 PM · I would add that Universal table service restaurants are now integrated into Open Table, so you can grab reservations without even needing to call.
December 2, 2014 at 9:29 PM · Foods solid at this place. I don't recommend quick service unless you're really short on time or just looking for a snack. We got in with a stand by way of 15 minutes and it offers great food and a nice change of pace compared to the rest of the park. Hit this place up along with Mythos at IOA.
December 4, 2014 at 8:36 AM · Try the crab cake sandwich there, it is very good and a generous size.

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