2 Best Restaurants in Universal Orlando, Florida

This enchanting table-service restaurant's eclectic menu includes dishes such as pad Thai, pan-seared salmon with lemon-basil butter, souvlaki couscous bowl, and brick oven–roasted chicken. The building itself—which looks like a giant rock formation from the outside and a huge cave (albeit one with plush upholstered seating) from within—will grab your attention, as will the view of the big lagoon in the center of the theme park. Reserve online or with the Universal phone app for lunch or an early dinner.

Billed as a "hotel lounge," Strong Water breaks all the rules for hotel dining: the surroundings are comfortable, and the food is some of the most memorable in Orlando. Specializing in the cuisines of "the rum latitudes," the menu features dishes from Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Colombia, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Mexico. Every item is a hit, from familiar and unusual ceviches to remarkable chicken tenders in buttermilk batter to the Jamaican curry goat. The list of rums from around the world is longer than the food menu; the deceptively potent milk punch made with Nicaraguan rum and black tea is a must.