Finnegan's Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Orlando

We found this restaurant while looking for a good place to eat at Universal Studios. Many of the choices looked good from the outside, but suffered from bad reviews. This one had good reviews, and being a fan of Irish pubs thought it might be fun.

Lucky for me, I made a reservation, which was about an hour out. I didn't think I'd need it, but am grateful that I did, and would recommend that. Even on a Tuesday afternoon. Once we got there and got checked in, we saw scores of people turned away, or that left rather than waiting the required hour and a half.

Once inside, it's what you would expect from an Irish bar - lots of dark wood, seating at the bar and nearby, a broad choice of beers and whiskeys. At our table, seated far away from everyone else, we had a great server, who started us off on Irish Soda bread with apple butter. This could have been a meal by itself - fair warning. If you order other entrees, be prepared to fill up on bread by the time they arrive.

My wife ordered the Irish Cobb salad. This thing is massive. I actually didn't think she'd get as much of it down as she did. This thing can feed two people easily. It's a bit of a misnomer to call it a salad. I think there's some leaves and green things tucked under all the toppings, but never actually saw them myself. It was full of meats and cheese, Scotch Eggs and other delights.

I opted for the Corned Beef sandwich and it was a great choice. The sandwich was thinly sliced juicy pieces of corned beef on a roll with grilled onions and tomatoes. It also had a healthy portion of fries on the side. It was great and filling - especially when combined with the Irish Soda bread and the Guiness beers.

In the middle of the meal, a singer set up in the corner and began to croon some Irish melodies. Mind you, this is mid-day on a Tuesday. It definitely helped to complete the experience.

This turned out to be a great dining option, one that I will be willing to repeat the next time I'm...

As someone who has been to Universal many times, Finnegan’s was a peasant surprise. Other restaurants in the parks like Mythos, Confisco, and Lombard’s get a fair share of hype (and deserve it), but I never really see anything about this Irish pub. From the outside, it’s rather unassuming, and I can see most people walking on by with a million other vacation things on their mind. I did too. But after going, my opinion has completely changed.

The theming is perfectly fine, it feels like an Irish pub, with Irish memorabilia, pictures, and beer as far as the eye can see. Compared to the parks, it’s very grounded, but executed well.

The drinks my party ordered were also decent. I got the prize fighter, basically a highball whiskey sour that was pretty decent and strong (being dehydrated from the park might help there). I’d say stick to the Irish beers that are on tap, those looked really good.

The pretzel appetizer was incredible. I’m not an expert on pretzels, but those were some of the best I’ve ever had. The Guinness cheese dip was perfect and I wanted to lick the bowl clean.

For the main course I had the pork shoulder, and again, excellent. I love places that have the confidence to not give you a steak knife because the meat is so tender, and then follow it up with pork cooked to perfection that melts in your mouth. The bread pudding, cabbage, mash potatoes, and even carrots were bursting with flavor. As someone who thought most Irish food was on the bland side, this shifted my perception.

The service was quick and what you’d expect from a sit down theme park restaurant, our server was knowledgeable and easily handled our request for an extra plate for my party to share our food.

As with all full service restaurants in theme parks, don’t go here if you are crunched for time. You want to enjoy your meal here. If you’ve done most of what Universal has to offer, definitely eat here, it will shake up your top...

Bad quality of food and drinks. I asked for red wine as any other restaurant’s here at universal studios, and at the first they bring me something very sweet that taste like juice, they told me it was a blend of red wines… but really? no way of it!

Then, I asked for the list of the wines, because the first time I ask for suggestion to the waiter and he told me it was a mix of red wine blend, and the waiter brought me that mix *

Then I ask for a better wine and the waiter brought me a “Pinot” … but it seems to be the same “wine” but mixed with alcohol or whiskey… and believe me, I had been trying wine in a different places at the park… i really felt assaulted!!!! I told the waiter about it…. But believe me… he doesn’t care, I was about to call manager, but I saw they also saw we left the glasses of “wine” and do not care about it, do not ask to out table if everything was ok ( I was expecting the opportunity… they ask other table, but no mine)

About the wine… the waiter doesn’t really care! He saw we left the second glass of wine intact because no taste, no smell and do not looks like wine, but he only bring the check and doesn’t care about it!!! No ask, no care, not even wanted to ask or hear…just ask for the payment

My salmon was “good”, but the dressing was not the the right, and say nothing, but I was expecting the regular question of the waiter or manager… non of them.

We asked for a soup… we left everything of it, because of the taste and consistency, it seems to be a matched potatoes reduce with milk and butter, it wasn’t a soup.

I asked for 2 glasses of of water with ice…. but I have to Ask for it more than 3 times, until I get it!!!!

I will Never comeback! I will no recommend it! Even though I know a lot of Irish restaurants and pubs… I never had this kind of service and bad experience

I gave 1 star because I saw another tables eating and seems to be ok, but I should...