Review: Mythos Restaurant at Universal’s Islands of Adventure

Mythos is a table service restaurant at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure that is regularly regarded as one of the best values in theme park dining in Florida. It receives a lot of hype due to the value it offers, and so many friends recommended it that it was on my must-do list when I visited Universal Orlando Resort for the first time as an adult.

It’s tough for any theme park restaurant that receives this level of hype to live up to the accolades. The bad news is that even Mythos couldn’t live up to the hype. The good news is that, unlike some over-hyped restaurants (I’m looking at you, Le Cellier!),

I was still really satisfied with my meal and the value it offered. I didn’t leave the restaurant clutching my wallet in pain. In fact, I’d be inclined to agree with the Universal Orlando fans who rank it so highly. Here’s why…

For starters, the ambiance and theming at Mythos is really solid. Mythos is located in the Lost Continent land at Islands of Adventure. This land is basically a continent that people lost (astute observation, right?)…or to ancient mythology, and legends.

The exterior of Mythos features towering rock formations, cascading waterfalls and ancient figures carved into the side of the restaurant. The cavernous interior creates the feel of a craggy grotto on a distant ocean. There’s outdoor seating with excellent views of Islands of Adventure’s lagoon and the park’s other lands.

Inside the restaurant is equally beautiful and detailed.

The name ‘Mythos’ is reflective of its design, as the seating area looks like it’s carved out of a cavern that pays homage to the gods whose legends so frequently play a prominent role in this mythology.

It feels almost as if it could be the ancient hideaway of some scholar in Athens who would bring his pupils inside to learn about the gods.

I ate at Mythos during the day, but I’ll bet the atmosphere is brilliantly moody at night.

Just as important as that atmosphere is the menu…and the prices on that menu. Before my visit, I had always heard Mythos described as “fine dining” (I wouldn’t call it that), and I expected “theme park fine dining” prices to go along with that.

I’d call the menu pretty standard American fare–you can see the current menu for yourself here. As you can see, there’s a wide variety of options, with several choices below $20 (not too much more expensive than theme park fast food) and nothing over $30.

The meal started with pretty average bread.

However–HOWEVER–that bread is served with butter with the Universal Orlando Resort logo in it.

I know this is such a minor, seemingly insignificant thing, but it totally made my day, and I took way too many photos of that butter. (I’ll only share this one–you’re welcome.) For me, it’s the little details that make the parks, and I’d love to see more like this.

I made the mistake of ordering a sushi appetizer.

The sushi was fine, but at $10, it was half the price of my entree. If you’re going for a “good value” at Mythos, I’d recommend skipping the appetizers, desserts, and specialty drinks.

Another mistake I made was ordering this orange drink. It was good, but not worth the money.

Both this and the appetizer were a byproduct of my shock when I saw the menu prices. They were so much lower than what I expected that I almost loudly shouted “TWO OF EVERY ANIMAL!” when the server took my order.

For my entree, I ordered the Beef Medallions, which were served with potatoes and assorted other random veggies. Solid presentation, and the beef itself was perfectly cooked and fairly tender (but not perfectly so). No complaints about the sides, either.

This was not on par with a $40 or $50 steak you might find at a Walt Disney World Signature Restaurant. However, it was less than half the price you’d pay for a comparable dish at Walt Disney World, and only slightly more expensive than the entrees at Three Broomsticks in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. And that right there is why Mythos is highly recommended. This was a fantastic entree for the price.

A friend who went to the restaurant with me ordered the Pad Thai.

I think he was pretty satisfied with the meal, but I don’t recall any specific feedback. Really helpful, right? (Hey, at least I have the photo.)

Someone else in our party had the salmon.

Again, I don’t recall their exact comments, but it’s another photo that should illustrate how the fish is plated and give you an idea of whether it looks appealing.

Overall, Mythos is an unparalleled theme park restaurant in terms of value for money, and, I think, would be a solid real world restaurant in terms of value for money. Theme parks are notorious for (understandable) price inflation for convenience, location, etc., so that’s really saying something.

Mythos is the kind of restaurant where, were I not a weird blogger wanting to eat at a variety of places for the sake of content, I would eat every trip. Not only are the prices right, but the theme is nice, and the food is good. With that said, I think it’s far from the best theme park restaurant in the world strictly in terms of cuisine quality, but once you throw value for money into the equation, it’s an absolute winner that’s near the top of the list of overall best theme park restaurants.

Need trip planning tips and comprehensive advice for your visit to Central Florida? Make sure to read our Universal Orlando Planning Guide for everything about Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida. Also check out our Walt Disney World Vacation Planning Guide for everything about those parks, resorts, restaurants, and so much more.

Your Thoughts…

Do you agree or disagree with any of my thoughts on Mythos? Are you a fan of this ‘award-winning’ restaurant, or do you think it’s overrated? Interested in eating here? What are your favorite restaurants at Islands of Adventure and Universal Orlando? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback—even when you disagree with us—is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!