REVIEW

The Bubba Gump Shrimp Company in Orlando Florida at the Universal Studio’s City Walk doesn’t take reservations, but it delivers a premiere restaurant eating experience from the host greeting you outside through to the moment you pay for your meal. It was so good I could stop right there, but I’m going to give you some of the extra details you'll love to read about.

SERVICE DONE RIGHT

The Bubba Gump Shrimp Company understands that before you get your food, it starts with delivering a positive customer experience.

That experience starts with the people who are going to spend the next couple of hours coming and going from your table. While you have a main waiter, they employ a team approach where all waiters will help each other, willingly. To gain the attention of any of the waiters just flip the sign at your table from “Run Forest Run” to “Stop Forest Stop” and faster than you can say, “Life Is Like A Box of Chocolates”, you know exactly what you’re going to get – a waiter stopping to help you. They’re friendly, know their menu, and even host a Forest Gump movie trivia game with you while you wait for your meal.

DISTRACTED BY GOOD FOOD

Our experience delivered hot food that was well plated, plentiful, and met all expectations from the menu descriptions and images. In fact, the food was so good that it made a great distraction from trying to find something not to like about the overall experience, if you tend to focus on that sometimes.

Our order included an “I’m Stuffed Shrimp” (Crab Stuffing, Lobster Butter Sauce, Monterey Jack Cheese, Steamed Rice), two orders of “Shrimper’s Heaven” (Fried Shrimp, Coconut Shrimp, Tempura Shrimp, Fries, Cocktail Sauce, Cajun Marmalade, Tempura Sauce), and an Appetizer order of “Shrimper’s Net Catch” (Peel ‘n’ Eat Shrimp steamed in Beer) with “Mama Gump’s Garlic Bread Basket” eaten as an entrée. It was all simply delicious and presented beautifully.

A GOOD CLEAN VIEW

The restaurant décor and cleanliness also added to the positive experience. Our table was clean, the tables around us were clean, the cutlery was clean, and everything was kept in good order. The walls were decorated with signs and visuals that made for great conversation and the theme of the restaurant was kept authentic with building materials that reflected the movie and what one might think of when thinking shrimping boats.

VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY

With the service, food, and environment being top notch, the only other question is cost and value, which must look at both food and drinks. If you’re looking for a complete meal under $10, you won’t find it here as most meals fall in the $25 US range.

You also won’t find cheap drinks of any kind, but that seems to be a common theme in the Universal Studio’s theme park environment. The alcohol drinks ordered at our table started at $16 US and that included a souvenir glass. Non-alcohol drinks were around $12 and those also included a flashing light-up souvenir plastic glass. Still, Bubba Gump drinks cost less than many other places in the theme park and they’re delivered in a tidy, clean, and decorated glasses.

Our meal for four plus drinks, excluding a tip was around $160 US. When you look at the overall experience and the great food, it delivered excellent value for money and was the best dining experience at any of the Universal Studio City Walk, Theme Park, or Hotel locations.