Assessment: Is Epic Universe’s $50 Lobster Roll Price It?

Atlantic is a advantageous eating expertise at Epic Universe, arguably the flagship in-park restaurant in all of Common Orlando Resort. Whereas this meals evaluate focuses on the lobster roll that and whether or not it’s value that headline-grabbing $50 price ticket, we’ll additionally have a look across the inside and assess whether or not Atlantic is value your restricted time, cash, and abdomen house.

That final half is essential. And though menu costs at Atlantic Restaurant have been a giant dialogue level, I’d argue that the extra pertinent issues are the chance prices of consuming elsewhere because you’ve solely acquired a lot abdomen house. We’re already on document proclaiming that Epic Universe is at present the #1 meals park in Orlando, so it’s essential to plan accordingly.

Even after spending a number of days there, I’ve nonetheless solely scratched the floor of what its culinary scene has to supply. What I’ve tried to this point has been largely distinctive, a implausible combination of enjoyable, photogenic, scrumptious, and bold. I’ve began to doc this in My Favourite Meals at Epic Universe & Should-Eat Eating places. Spoiler: there are extra good-to-great choices than you may probably get pleasure from in a single day (and even 2!) and that checklist remains to be rising. In order that’s one ingredient of the chance price.

The opposite is when it comes to time. Common Orlando doesn’t provide Annual Passes to Epic Universe, and there aren’t even multi-day tickets or park hopping till 2026. You’re paying $159+ per day, and that point will be very helpful for carrying out your must-do sights given the wait instances, trip reliability, and downtime.

Atlantic Restaurant is a advantageous eating institution. It’s arguably considered one of solely two such experiences at Common Orlando, with the opposite being The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant. This implies it’s good and costly, but additionally that it’s an expertise that’s commensurate with that pricing.

This high-quality is mirrored all through the Atlantic, however particularly within the service and general expertise that’s being curated for friends. That’s a buzzword I hate, and it’s not precisely as if Atlantic Restaurant is a few bespoke (one other buzzword I hate) advantageous eating institution, however by theme park requirements, it sort of is.

Atlantic Restaurant is extra like Flying Fish at Walt Disney World, and even Tiffins if we’re speaking in-park counterparts, than it’s Mythos or the opposite desk service choices at Common Orlando. The attentive service displays that, with servers being heat however skilled and centered on delivering an exemplary visitor expertise.

This additionally means the meal isn’t rushed–there’s no want to show over tables as shortly as doable. If something, it’s in all probability a bit too drawn out for the in-park setting. At the least, because it presently stands with solely single-day tickets.

Situated within the Celestial Park space of Epic Universe, Atlantic Restaurant is nestled alongside a fountain-filled Neptune lagoon in direction of the entrance entrance. It’s primarily throughout from Tremendous Nintendo World and Constellation Carousel, with large waterfront views out the ground to ceiling home windows.

The design of Atlantic Restaurant is considerate all through. You truly enter on the higher stage, which is the place reception together with the bar and lounge are situated. This “floor” stage overlooks the deeper depths of the principle eating room, which is itself tiered. This structure is achieved by Epic Universe utilizing a favourite instrument in its equipment: stairs!

You stroll up a flight to enter the restaurant, after which go down a pair extra to get to the principle eating room.

En route, there are wealthy woods and statues alongside the steps, all of which lessons the place up. Down on the ocean (or restaurant) flooring, you see colourful fish and bubbly chandeliers above nearer to the floor. The brightly-illuminated “Atlantic” marquee hangs from the ceiling out the window, with tall letters beckoning friends from throughout the park.

The inside of the Atlantic is basically fairly beautiful. It seems like a mixture of Yacht Membership and Las Vegas in one of the best ways doable. The wealthy woods and element work indicators that it’s a flowery and fashionable institution, whereas the colourful glass fixtures and fish soften the environment simply sufficient to make it inviting and unintimidating.

There’s no air of pretension in regards to the Atlantic. It’s clearly a advantageous eating restaurant, however it’s not stuffy or snobbish. If something, it’s the alternative of that. It’s gentle. It lacks self-importance. Only a implausible ambiance throughout. Precisely what I need out of a pleasant restaurant that’s situated inside a theme park.

My solely remorse with the ambiance within the Atlantic was my very own option to eat right here in late afternoon versus night. Every thing I’ve seen suggests the optimum time for a meal right here is night time, when the moody lighting inside actually shines and the colourful fountains exterior actually punctuate the scene.

Sadly, there are solely so many night hours per day at Epic Universe, and the chance price of allocating these to the Atlantic versus rides with decrease waits or taking pictures simply wasn’t value it for me. At any time when APs are lastly supplied, the Atlantic at night time will likely be a must-do for me.

Listed below are extra pictures of the inside on the Atlantic:

Since I used to be eating on the Atlantic alone, I knew a complete menu evaluate was off the desk. And I had already had a number of meals this explicit day, so even going to city and ordering a number of appetizers, entrees, and desserts wasn’t on the desk.

Whereas I had heard nice issues in regards to the Sea Bass and Atlantic Burger, there was one factor that basically caught my consideration: Captain Fernando’s Half-Pound Lobster Roll.

Captain Fernando’s Half-Pound Lobster Roll consists of 8 oz. freshly cooked Maine lobster, drawn butter, lemon dill aioli, grilled bun, and house-made potato chips.

The true purpose it’s been garnering headlines (together with this one) is the value. Captain Fernando’s Half-Pound Lobster Roll prices $48.

So not technically $50, however as soon as accounting for tax, my whole was $51.12. After tip, that’s over $60!

Costly meals in Epic Universe just isn’t, in and of itself, significantly notable. Though not a lot consideration has been paid to this, there’s a pricing premium of about 15-20% over Walt Disney World parks, a minimum of on the counter service finish of the spectrum.

This makes a point of sense if you’re consuming within the Wizarding World of Harry Potter or Tremendous Nintendo World, the place there’s a Butterbeer Tax or Luigi Levy. Between the recognition of these IPs and the chance that Common is paying licensing charges on each receipt, the upper costs try.

Alternatively, it appears unlikely that Captain Fernando is getting a giant kickback for his title being on the menu.

The reason for this $48 lobster roll is, fairly merely, that lobster costs have skyrocketed in recent times.

On of the issues that piqued by curiosity about this $48 lobster roll was an article within the Bangor Every day Information detailing costs for lobster rolls in Maine over the summer time. Costs there ranged from $24.95 to $43.19, though sizes and sides various. The typical by the tip of summer time was $35.41.

That’s in Maine, not a theme park, and nearer the place all of this lobster is caught within the first place. Because it seems, Maine lobster landings have been at a 15-year low, at about 86 million kilos final 12 months–that’s down by 10 million kilos 12 months over 12 months. That lower got here after landings dropped by one other 10 million kilos from 2022 to 2023; from what restricted information I can discover for 2025, landings are additionally down once more.

Consequently, it’s unsurprising that Maine lobster costs have been skyrocketing in the previous couple of years. I might hazard a guess that larger labor prices–throughout the board–have solely exacerbated this. However, I can’t assist however assume again to the “good ole days” once we visited Acadia Nationwide Park and loved some wonderful, heaping lobster rolls for beneath $20 every. However I digress.

Captain Fernando’s Half-Pound Lobster Roll gave me an opportunity to relive these good ole days, besides in a theme park in Central Florida and for almost triple the value. So barely totally different circumstances.

This lobster roll completely lived as much as the hype and exceeded my expectations. I’m not going to say it may maintain its personal towards one of many heavy-hitters in Maine that I final loved roughly a decade in the past, however it was the very best lobster roll I’ve had in years.

Captain Fernando’s Half-Pound Lobster Roll was the very best lobster roll I’ve ever had exterior of the Northeast.

The meat itself consisted of big chunks of delicate and tender tail, claw and knuckle meat–a half pound of it in whole, because the title suggests. The lobster could be very calmly dressed, with a conservative quantity of the lemon dill aioli to supply a little bit creaminess.

Extra of the flavour in all probability comes from the fragile split-top brioche bun, which itself was appropriately buttered and only a bit garlicky. I added just a bit of the drawn butter, however truthfully, even that was not crucial.

Letting the tender and flavorful lobster meat stand by itself is the best way to go. I used to be actually impressed by the general high quality, as I used to be not anticipating one thing this contemporary and scrumptious from a theme park in Central Florida–even for ~$50.

The one downside to Captain Fernando’s Half-Pound Lobster Roll is that it’s not significantly filling.

This wasn’t an enormous difficulty for me because the aim was to eat a number of meals at Epic Universe on this explicit day, however when you went in anticipating this $50 dinner to go away you full, you’d be in for disappointment. I may have simply eaten two of those dangerous boys and nonetheless been hungry. A half pound of lobster just isn’t fairly the identical as a half pound of burger or steak.

One repair to this difficulty that I did overhear a desk adjoining to me implement was substituting the chips for the thick lower fries served with the opposite handhelds. I get why the Atlantic would serve chips with the lobster roll, because it’s the extra conventional alternative, however if you’d like this to be a extra filling meal, think about inquiring about this substitution. (I can’t vouch for the standard of the thick lower fries; the chips have been advantageous–you’re not lacking something by swapping them out.)

For the sake of Very Vital Analysis, I ordered the lobster roll on the Conrad Orlando the very subsequent day after eating on the Atlantic. I completely cherished the whole lot about this resort, which is among the most interesting luxurious inns in all of Florida. One of many nicest inns at which I’ve ever stayed, interval (full evaluate coming quickly).

Nevertheless, Captain Fernando’s Half-Pound Lobster Roll completely blew the Conrad’s lobster roll out of the water. It wasn’t even a remotely shut name. That was nonetheless good, however extra consistent with what I might’ve anticipated when having a lobster roll in Central Florida. I used to be truly shocked with the standard distinction between the 2.

It’s not just like the Conrad has a weak meals scene, both. Every thing else I ate there was implausible. I used to be nonetheless shocked that Epic Universe’s lobster roll so simply gained the comparability. A 12 months in the past, when you instructed me that Common Orlando gained a ‘meals battle’ towards a 5-star luxurious resort, I by no means would’ve believed you. And but, right here we’re!

Finally, the reply to the titular query is a stunning sure. Don’t get me improper–I’m not going to make a behavior of dropping $50 (or $60 after tax and tip) on lobster rolls. However this one was implausible and much exceeded my expectations for one thing being served at a theme park in Orlando. A part of what you’re paying for with any meal is the larger image expertise, and the Atlantic Restaurant over-delivers in that regard.

Relating to the overarching eating expertise, the Atlantic Restaurant is completely one thing I’ll make a behavior of revisiting. Although the lobster roll is a simple 10/10 dish for me, I’m nonetheless desirous to strive different choices. Ones that strike me as extra suited to advantageous eating, equivalent to the ocean bass, seared scallops, or filet mignon. I sit up for some unknown date sooner or later once we can enjo

Want journey planning suggestions and complete recommendation on your go to to Central Florida? Be certain that to learn our Common Orlando Planning Information for the whole lot about Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. Additionally try our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Information for the whole lot about these parks, resorts, eating places, and a lot extra.

YOUR THOUGHTS

Have you ever had Captain Fernando’s Half-Pound Lobster Roll? Assume it lives as much as the hype? Is that this or any lobster roll truly “value” $50? Some other favourite menu objects on the Atlantic? In case you’ve eaten right here, what was your expertise? Different restaurant suggestions or meals finds at Epic Universe? Agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions? We love listening to from readers, so please share another ideas or questions you might have within the feedback beneath!