FULL REVIEW: Burning Blade Tavern at Dark Universe in Epic Universe

We’ve been to Epic Universe and let’s just say that our visit was EPIC. We recently had the opportunity to go AGAIN thanks to early previews for Universal Annual Passholders, and this time, we decided to grab a bite to eat.

Now, there are quite a few new restaurants inside Epic Universe, but not all of them are created equal. But what about quick-service meals? Well, we stepped inside Dark Universe and dined with some Monster Hunters at Burning Blade Tavern — and we’re back with our full review.

Background

So as we mentioned, Burning Blade Tavern is located in the old mill of Darkmoor Village. It’s also a hangout for monster hunters where you can discover stories of monster-hunting adventures.

Here’s what you need to know about dining at this restaurant.

Atmosphere

As expected, this tavern has the same gothic vibe as much of Darkmoor Village, but its iconic exterior feature is its windmill. (And yes, true to its name, you might see it ON FIRE throughout the day!)

Once you step inside, be sure to look up at the wooden ceiling, which seems to be on fire. This must be part og how the tavern got its name.

You’ll also see some gothic decor, like this chandelier of candles. We’ll warn you now, though. There isn’t a lot of light inside the tavern — this place is DARK, both figuratively and literally.

You’ll order at the counter…

…but be sure to take a look behind it. You might see some monster hunter “trophies” hanging there. Yes, those are the heads of various monsters that have been captured. The vibe here is macabre.

Under the menu above the counter, you’ll see shelves with monster hunting accessories, like garlic, a chessboard, and more.

Okay, that’s decidedly creepy (and on point), but let’s talk about the food.

Food & Drinks

The menu here includes burgers, wings, bratwursts, pretzels, and a variety of beverages. We started with a beverage that we had already seen some other visitors talking about, the Darkthorne Mead, for $14. First off, we’ll be talking about this drink for days because it’s our new favorite beverage.

This alcoholic drink (listed as a beer) has a beautiful color, sort of a fluorescent bluish purple, but it has bubbles that sit on top, which gives it a bubbly consistency. It’s served cold and has a grape-like flavor.

The Hunter’s Garlic Stake for $8.99 is a crispy garlic butter pretzel with garlic dipping sauce. Let’s just say you won’t have to worry about vampires if you eat this. This pretzel is fine, and it’s definitely garlic. We thought it was a little tough, but ours did sit for a while before we ate it. It’s also got some garlic crust and a crumbly spread over the top of it, plus some herbs. The shape is fun, too, because it’s like a twisted stake.

We also ordered the Burning Cheddar Bites for $11.99, which are crispy fried poppers with sriracha ranch. Yes, they look like pieces of charcoal, but don’t let that fool you: these are SO good. They have that burnt cheddar thing that reminds us of the cheese in Taco Bell’s quesadillas. But there is some heat to this dish, especially when dipped in the sriracha ranch sauce. We would order these again.

Finally, we tried the Burning Blade Burger for $12.99. It’s a 4-oz. black angus patty with American cheese, caramelized onions, jalapeño bacon on a potato bun. For a theme park burger, it was fine, but we liked that it was cooked medium to medium well. The taste reminded us of the flame-broiled flavor of a Burger King patty. The cheese is melted nicely, and the bacon has a crunchy, but also chewy consistency.

We will admit that we weren’t big fans of the black bun, though. But the taste of this burger was okay. It’s served with chips, and we’re pretty sure they’re Lay’s brand potato chips.

Magic or Tragic?

This Epic Universe restaurant is a must-visit if…

• You’re looking for a quick bite to eat while you’re visiting Dark Universe. This is a quick-service location, so you’ll get your food quickly.
• You’re on a budget. The prices here are reasonable and you don’t have to spend a lot to get a filling meal.
• You want some bar bites. The Burning Blade Tavern has put an interesting twist on bar food, and the appetizers here are a must.

You should skip this Disney World spot if…

• You want a table service meal. This is quick-service, so it’s where you go when you want good food fast.
• You’re squeamish. We’ll admit that this restaurant really leans into the Dark Universe theme, and if you don’t want to order food under the decapitated heads of monsters, you might want to go elsewhere.
• You have picky eaters in your group. Although the food here is standard pub and theme park fare, its presentation might be off-putting for pickier eaters.

Overall, if we had to choose between the Burning Blade Tavern and Das Stakehouse in Dark Universe, we’d probably visit the Burning Blade Tavern first. The food was good, especially the appetizers, and the mead is an absolute must if you’re visiting this land and want something boozy and refreshing to drink.

In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for more restaurant updates from Epic Universe and beyond. Make sure you stay tuned to AllEars for the latest Universal news and more!

FULL REVIEW: Bar Helios at Universal’s Helios Grand Hotel at Epic Universe

Have you eaten at this Disney World restaurant before? Tell us in the comments.

Post a Comment