Universal Helios Grand Hotel: A glance at food for rooftop bar + full-service restaurant
Universal Helios Grand Hotel opens on May 22 within Universal Epic Universe, and we have a glimpse into the food at its restaurants.
Universal Helios Grand Hotel is a 500-room resort within the Universal Epic Universe theme park. This hotel has a Mediterranean theme and offers a view of the new theme park. In addition to that view, Universal Helios Grand Hotel guests will have their own dedicated entrance to Epic Universe.
Images courtesy of Universal
Universal Helios Grand Hotel restaurant overview
Photo by bioreconstruct
Universal Helios Grand Hotel contains four dining options, ranging from quick-service dining and a rooftop bar to a full-service restaurant with a breakfast buffet. Based on the location of Helios Grand, these restaurants should serve as lovely options for guests looking to take a break from their busy theme park day. The four dining options include:
- Bar Helios – A rooftop bar featuring tapas and specialty cocktails. This bar will offer a 360-degree view of the Universal Epic Universe theme park.
- Flora Taverna – A full-service restaurant offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This dining option features a lobby bar and an open-style kitchen. Guests should expect Mediterranean comfort foods and tasty pizza from the special ovens like the ones used at other Universal Orlando Resort dining locations. Guests can dine indoors or outdoors on the patio with a view of Epic Universe.
- Aurora Market – This quick-service dining location functions like a contemporary coffee shop and market, offering freshly-roasted coffees and grab-and-go food items.
- Lotus Lagoon – A poolside bar and grill where guests can cool off with refreshing cocktails or non-alcoholic drinks. This restaurant will also serve traditional cuisine such as burgers, salads, and sandwiches.
While we do not have full menus for the four Universal Helios Grand Hotel restaurants, Universal posted images and descriptions of some menu offerings. The information presents some impressive dishes. Several of them look like the items we’ve ordered at the signature table-service restaurants at Walt Disney World (further showing how Universal Helios Grand Hotel could become the “crown jewel of Epic Universe”).
Flora Taverna at Universal Helios Grand Hotel
For clarification, Universal Orlando Resort refers to table-service dining as “full-service dining.” This means guests are seated, order food and beverages from a server, and are expected to tip. However, full-service dining does not mean guests will be expected to “dress up” to the fancy level of the restaurant. Based on the photos and descriptions of the items on the menu we know about at Flora Taverna, dining should be an elevated experience.
Breakfast buffet
A breakfast buffet will be offered at Flora Taverna, similar to the other Signature Collection hotels at Universal Orlando Resort. While we do not have official pricing yet, guests should expect the breakfast buffet to cost around $35 for adults and $18 for children ages 3-9. Guests can also order breakfast a la carte.
Lunch and dinner at Flora Taverna
The full menu is not out for lunch and dinner at Flora Taverna. However, we have some information about four items on the menu. These include:
Heritage Tomato & Burrata Salad – This light and refreshing salad features heirloom tomatoes, burrata, agave walnuts, Reggiano pesto, and microgreens. It is topped with mostarda.
Shish Kebabs – This combination of land and ocean includes Za’atar chicken, spicy harissa prawns, and pimento spiced beef. It is served with a sauce trio of Moroccan herbs, rich garlic, and tangy daqoos.
Whole Branzino – This includes an entire butterflied Branzino grilled and served with tangy pickled tomato gribiche, fresh citrus, and vibrant chermoula (Moroccan Herb Sauce).
Mezzes & Spreads – Guests can embrace the Mediterranean style of Flora Taverna with this appetizer. It consists of rich baba ghanoush, marinated olives, muhammara, hummus, tzatziki, whipped summer feta, and roasted red pepper dip. This is served with warm focaccia, pita, and lavash bread.
Bar Helios at Universal Helios Grand Hotel
We also have some insight into a few items on the menu at the rooftop bar of the Universal Helios Grand Hotel, Bar Helios. Based on the popularity of the other Universal Orlando Resort rooftop bar, Bar 17 at Universal’s Aventura Hotel, Bar Helios should be a hopping place.
For those looking to enjoy the atmosphere and views of Bar Helios, we know two of the menu items that will be available when it opens on May 22. They are charred octopus and scallop crudo. Needless to say, those do not look like standard bar food.
Charred octopus
This beautiful-looking entrée should cause guests to eat with their eyes before the octopus hits their taste buds. The charred octopus comes with crispy herb potatoes, briny olives, creamy salsa verde, and brassica leaves.
Scallop crudo
Once again, when most people think of bar food, a scallop crudo would not be a common thought. However, Bar Helios will serve a version to guests. This upscale menu item includes fresh raw scallops in a sour orange vin sauce paired with crisp Persian cucumber slivers, zesty Aleppo pepper, and crisp serrano peppers. This combination of flavors comes topped with crunchy pistachios.
Other Epic Universe news
As anticipation builds for the opening day of Universal Epic Universe and Universal Helios Grand Hotel, guests have plenty of new information to process. For example, Universal Orlando recently presented a look at the exclusive merchandise inspired by the four main intellectual properties at the latest theme park. Also, single-day tickets are now available for all guests to attend Universal Epic Universe.
Please consult the official Universal Orlando website for more information about Universal Helios Grand Hotel. Of course, Attractions Magazine will keep guests updated on the latest news about Universal Epic Universe.
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