Disney4me Posted April 18 Report Share Posted April 18 Universal’s newest hotel, Helios Grand Hotel, is open now, and we’re checking out everything there is to offer! Universal Helios Grand Hotel That includes the rooms, the view into Epic Universe, and, of course, the dining! One of the dining spots inside this new location is a table-service restaurant called Flora Taverna, and we’re checking out what breakfast is like (and if it’s worth the reservation)! Atmosphere Flora Taverna offers “a full breakfast buffet and Mediterranean comfort foods” as well as “an open kitchen, live cooking, pizza oven, open grills, and a gyros station.” It’s described as having a “light and airy atmosphere” and stunning views of Epic Universe, and after seeing it for ourselves, we do agree with that! Flora Taverna But what’s on the menu here? We’re about to find out! Menu For breakfast, you will find a buffet option available for $36. The Sunrise Buffet includes artisanal pastries, made-to-order omelets, pancakes, fruit salads, charcuterie, scrambled eggs, bacon, roasted vegetables, and the buffet also includes your drink — coffee, tea, and juice. We think this is a good deal for those who really love a lot of fruit in their breakfast or whoa are looking to drink juice especially, because in comparing prices, coffee is $6 and juice is $8, so making the leap to the buffet price with drink included is a good deal compared to an entree and a beverage. Breakfast Menu Additionally, you’ll find options like the Morning Indulgence, egg dishes, healthier options, and more. Now, onto the main event — the food! Eats First up, we grabbed the Baklava French Toast for $25. This is made with Crushed Pistachio and Dried Roses, and we chose this one because it seemed the most unusual and out of the box. This was presented beautifully and wasn’t overly sweet, and the real star here was the addition of the pistachios. Baklava French Toast Not only did they add a sweet, nutty flavor and aroma, but they also added a crunchy texture that went very well with the creamier texture of the baklava French toast. We also appreciated the serving size of this, and feel that if you like a sweet breakfast, this will be a dish you enjoy. Our reporter isn’t usually a sweet breakfast fan, but felt that if they were in the right mood, they could eat a whole plate of this. So overall, we were impressed! Delicious! We also tried the Helios Grand Breakfast for $27, which comes with two cage-free eggs prepared to your liking, artisanal toast, your choice of applewood smoked bacon, country pork sausage or apple chicken sausage, and your choice of breakfast potatoes or seasonal fruit. Helios Grand Breakfast This was a traditional American breakfast, but we particularly appreciated that fruit was available as a side here without an additional cost. We did decide to opt for the potatoes, though. They were cooked with red and green bell peppers, and they were fantastically done — crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Potatoes We picked up on the black pepper flavor the most, but in the best way, because we did feel they were seasoned very well. Since the bell peppers are cut so large, they are easy to pick out, which we appreciated. We ordered our eggs to be over medium, and they came out perfect! Eggs For our meat, we chose the Apple Chicken Sausage, and while we didn’t dislike it, it was very heavy on the sausage flavor and lacked the sweetness from the apple that we had hoped to taste. Apple Chicken Sausage We also ordered Sourdough Toast, but as it was the first day the restaurant was open to the public, we were informed they didn’t have it available just yet, and were instead brought English Muffins. These were tasty, and overall, we enjoyed the whole plate, but we do feel it was a bit overpriced and would sit better in the $23–$25 range. English Muffins Finally, we tried the Shawarma Spiced Beef Hash for $29. This is made with a poached cage-free egg, locally grown tomato, charred onion, roasted potatoes, and zhug. This is one of the restaurant’s specialty breakfast items, and we understand why! The egg was poached perfectly, and the beef (which tasted like tenderloin to us) was tender, and along with the shawarma pieces, it was all very warm and comforting. Shawarma Spiced Beef Hash We also loved the roasted potatoes, which were different than our other breakfast potatoes as these were more like baby potatoes, but they were brilliantly done all the same. The combination of them with the tomato and charred onion was a fantastic mix of sweet and savory flavors. Perfectly poached egg! We honestly would consider coming over here just to eat before heading into the park if we were staying at the hotel! We think it’s a really solid option and would highly recommend it for those looking for a great breakfast option, especially if you lean more towards a savory breakfast. Nosh or Not This Universal restaurant is a must-visit if… You’re staying at Helios Grand Hotel You’re looking for a great breakfast option that will start your day off on the right foot You love savory breakfast options You should skip this Universal spot if… You prefer really sweet breakfast options You’re looking for a quick meal before jumping into the parks and having a full day You’re planning on going to an attraction within half an hour after (the food is heavier than in other places!) Overall What really stood out to us about this experience, more than just the food (which we really did enjoy!), was just how excited the staff is for the opening of Epic Universe and for guests to experience the park. They’re full of recommendations, both for dishes in the restaurant and for what’s in the park, as all of them have experienced Team Member previews. Flora Taverna The staff was also extremely accommodating, going above and beyond multiple times. Our server came over to tell us that the kitchen was a little backed up and our food would take a few minutes longer, which was completely fine, but she offered us a complimentary cappuccino and continued to ask if there was anything she could bring to the table while we waited. It’s clear that everyone here has been well-trained, and overall, the experience at the restaurant far exceeded our expectations in every way. It’s beautiful in here! In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for more restaurant updates from Universal Orlando and beyond. Make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest news! REVIEW: We Tried the NEW Burning Blade Tavern at Universal’s Epic Universe Read more: DFB's complete guide to Universal’s Epic Universe >> Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What would you grab from this restaurant? Tell us in the comments!The post REVIEW: We Ate Breakfast at the NEW Flora Taverna Restaurant in the Universal Helios Grand Hotel first appeared on the disney food blog.View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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