"Upon arrival, we had the option of free self-parking or $5 valet parking with validation. The property has four dining options that provide validation, and you can leave your car there as long as you need (up until midnight). We chose to take the boat over to Universal, which dropped us right in front of the sports bar, allowing us to avoid the hassle of security and the long walk from the $30 parking garage. The boats run very frequently—never more than a five-minute wait on either side—making for a pleasant ride.
When we returned, we arrived a bit early for our reservation, but they welcomed us without hesitation. It was relatively quiet at that hour since they had just opened. The staff were friendly, and our server, Youssef, who spoke Italian, was fantastic.
Considering the portion sizes, we decided on one Magical Dining meal and I ordered an appetizer for dinner. We started with the complimentary bread and garlic olive oil, which was delicious. The calamari appetizer was excellent, with a generous portion and a tasty sauce that set it apart from other places.
For our main courses, I chose the mussels while my husband had the enormous chicken parmesan served with spaghetti and a single broccoli spear. The mussels were exceptional (only two were unopened) and came in a large serving. Dipping the leftover bread in the buttery garlic sauce was heavenly. Although the chicken parmesan was okay, it was a bit dry—this has been a consistent issue for us with chicken parm dishes. We decided to take the leftovers with us, yielding at least two more meals. Next time, we'll try a different entrée. We also enjoyed some fantastic Italian wines.
During our meal, a talented group of singers came by, performing songs of our choice. I refrained from picking something offbeat like the "Thong Song" and opted for "LOVE" by Nat King Cole instead. They didn’t know the song initially but picked it up quickly, which was impressive! The live performance can get a little loud since the restaurant is on the smaller side, so it may not be ideal for those seeking a quieter dining experience, but we thoroughly enjoyed it!
For dessert, we shared the Dulce De Leche gelato, which we had tried before and was absolutely delicious. Two generous scoops were more than enough. I also tried the banana old-fashioned dessert drink, which was quite impressive.
Overall, it was a lovely dining experience and a solid selection for Magical Dining. I wish they still offered pizza on their menu, but we plan to return each year when we pick up our tickets! When we received our car from the valet, they kindly asked if we would like water or coffee to go, which was a very nice touch."
