Amatista Cookhouse

For a theme park resort, myself and my family were so impressed with the food, service and atmosphere. I mean everything was really great. A little pricey but you’re at a resort so that’s to be expected. Awesome!

Word of warning: this restaurant engages in deceptive billing. They charge an 18% service fee for parties of 6 or more, but bury it as a line item in the receipt. And then, for “convenience,” they suggest tip amounts, which they then add to the total which ALREADY INCLUDES THE SERVICE FEE.

I’ve only been to Amatista for breakfast meals but it’s been a great morning option when staying at Sapphire Falls or Aventura hotel. They have a buffet option, or you can order a standard entree. We usually do the buffet because there’s endless options- so you have to come HUNGRY. You can get omelettes made to order, or make your own oatmeal or yogurt bowl. You can grab some sausage & pancakes or a donut or other things. The servers at normally really attentive if you want coffee, orange juice, or just more water. I’d imagine this is the same during other meals throughout the day. It’s one of the most impressive hotel breakfast options I’ve experienced. Now, along with this and being in a Universal hotel comes the classic price tag. That buffet is great but it sure ain’t cheap. But again, it can be a great & convenient option when staying here, and you can hop on a boat over to the parks right after, as the cookhouse is right next to the doors outside to the boat dock area.

My experience here was a bit of a mixed bag. On the negative side, the service was very slow with a 30-40 minute wait, the furniture looked quite worn out, and the staff seemed exhausted. The only thing that brightened our visit was the dessert. It was absolutely delicious, and what really saved the mood was a sweet birthday surprise—a small chocolate 'Happy Birthday' print on the plate. It was a thoughtful touch that we truly appreciated. While the dessert and the birthday gesture were wonderful, the slow service and tired atmosphere definitely need improvement

While the service was truly excellent—we were quickly seated and our server was incredibly attentive—the food unfortunately missed the mark entirely. Despite the prompt and friendly service, the dishes left much to be desired. The empanadas were decidedly average, and the chicken wings were so bland we had to season them ourselves. Even the pizza, which had decent dough, was spoiled by what tasted like a plain, straight-from-the-can sauce. Because of the food quality, we won't be making a return visit.