Mama’s Pretzel Kitchen opens at SeaWorld Orlando

At SeaWorld Orlando, you no longer have to settle for plain pretzels with melted cheese for dipping. The new Mama’s Pretzel Kitchen, which opened a little more than a week ago, serves 10 different kinds of pretzels and six dipping sauces. And guests can choose from eight craft and seasonal beers, as well as other beverages.

Though a pretzel by itself might not sound like a meal worth seeking out during a day in the park, the addition of the eatery gives SeaWorld guests one more food choice and another way to make sure everyone in your party is satisfied for the day.

Want to try something a little out of the ordinary? How about the Bacon Pretzel Twist, the Bratwurst Pretzel Dog or the hearty Jumbo Pretzel Dog? If you have a sweet tooth, the Cinnamon Sugar Nuggets or the Jumbo Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel might hit the spot. Any of the pretzels can be paired with a variety of sauces: beer-infused cheese, beer-infused mustard, marinara, spicy mustard, cheddar cheese and cream cheese.

Orlando’s Pretzel Kitchen is not the first for SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. The original store is located at the Busch Gardens Williamsburg park, and a second opened last year at Busch Gardens Tampa.

Executive Chef Hector Colon spoke with me at a recent media event for the new Mama’s Pretzel Kitchen. “The great thing about [our location] is that we do two pretzels that you can’t get anywhere else: The meatball pretzel and the mustard-infused pretzel. The meatball pretzel is three meatballs on the salty pretzel with mozerella cheese and marinara sauce.”

Acknowledging that those offerings might appeal more to adults and adventurous eaters, Colon said he thinks kids will like the pizza pretzels the best. “It’s two comfort foods together that everybody likes.”

To that end, SeaWorld is taking the pizza pretzel a step farther, Colon said. “We’re working on a family pretzel. It’s going to be a giant pretzel that is stuffed with cheese and pepperoni, but it is pizza-sized.”

There is a range of prices for the pretzels at Mama’s Pretzel Kitchen. Soft pretzels and dessert pretzels are priced in the $5 range. Pretzel twists — which are specialty items and bigger portions — cost about $8 or so. Dipping sauces are less than $1 each.

My husband also visited the Pretzel Kitchen recently and enjoyed the beer selection. The Shock Top Pretzel Wheat was an obvious choice for the location, he said, and he appreciated being able to get a Sierra Nevada Seasonal IPA there, too — a choice he didn’t think he had at other restaurants and locations in the park. Among the other beers for sale: Orlando Red Ale, Sam Adams Seasonal — Oktoberfest, Blue Moon — Belgium White, Woodchuck Cider, Bimini Twist IPA and Beach Blonde Ale.

Chef Hector said that although the dark beer pairs well with the pretzels, here in Florida it’s really hot so many people like the cold, light beer.

Mama’s Pretzel Kitchen also sells, wine, specialty frozen cocktails, assorted Coca-Cola products, and ICEE frozen drinks.

Craft beers are $7.99 and a flight of 4 is $9.99. Wine — chardonnay and cabernet — costs $6.99 a glass.

Mama’s Pretzel Kitchen is located near Shamu Stadium and Shamu’s Happy Harbor.

DISCLAIMER: I was a guest of SeaWorld Orlando for the Mama’s Pretzel Kitchen media event. This did not affect my story; my opinions are my own.

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