Having been to Universal's islands of adventure multiple times I have never dined in here until recently. While the menu was not extensive. They do have multiple different offerings for people. The main entrées do get a little expensive as they range anywhere between $30 and $40. For this trip, my husband got the flank steak, which comes with chimichurri over a bit of rice and succotash. The succotash was really corn and roasted tomatoes and some onions. The steak was cooked pretty decently though and had good flavor to it without the chimichurri sauce. Chimichurri does have a little kick to it, and since my husband doesn't like it, he did request it on the side when he placed his order. I had the chicken wings and garlic Parmesan. There isn't a lot of sauce on these as the sauce is kind of on the bottom of the plate, but it's not drenched by any means. They had good crunch to them and overall good flavor, although I would've liked a little bit more of the sauce on the wings. read more

I've had the opportunity to enjoy this in-park dining location several times while on the 2-Park VIP Tour, and it has consistently been an excellent experience. The service is always top-notch, with a professional, friendly, and attentive team that helps make every visit enjoyable. The menu offers a nice variety of options, and everything I've tried has been flavorful and well prepared. The restaurant has a great themed vibe that reminds you of where you are in the best way I still miss the Chicken and Rice Curry entrée, which was one of my favorites, but the current menu selections have been excellent and have not disappointed. Be sure to save room for dessert! The Key Lime Pie is absolutely delicious, and the Bread Pudding is simply amazing. Both are outstanding ways to end a great meal. This is a dining location I look forward to visiting every time I'm on the VIP Tour. read more

Confisco Grille & Backwater Bar - Shrimp and Chicken Pad Thai. - Bars Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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Skip the beverages though. Lotsa ice. So, not much actual beverage and will take too long for the ice to melt. Actual service as opposed to scanning a QR. Sweet ambiance. Really enjoyed our meal. Nachos. Ahi tuna. Chicken wings. 2 beverages. About $106 with 25% tip for our great waitress read more

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Tim is fire and very fun to poke fun at. Amazing margs and love how empty it was today!

Solid 4 stars for this bar & grill tucked right inside the entrance of Islands of Adventure. It's an interesting theme as it seems to have various parts from old rides and areas of the Universal parks that no longer exist. Kind of a memento to those, I suppose? It's cool. They offer most of the beyond th usual bar & grill types food items, kind of a mix of different thing like American, Mexican & Thai/Asian. Something unique worth trying is their birria burger. Yep, a burger with slices of birria meat on top of the burger. It was pretty delicious. I had a basic southwest salad most recently and it was quite yummy. I feel like it probably had a ton of calories which isn't the point of a salad but it tasted good at least. This can be a nice escape from the noise and bustle out in the parks. Plenty of seating as well as a bar that you could just stop at for a drink if you don't want to sit down to eat. read more

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Food was good! We had a large party of 12 and they were able to seat us immediately. Chimichurri was definitely my favorite part of the steak dish. read more

Confisco Grille & Backwater Bar - Bars Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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I highly recommend the Miso Salmon. Perfectly seasoned. The service was also incredible. Luis was amazing! Thank you. read more

Confisco Grille & Backwater Bar is the small bar attached to the Confisco Grille restaurant. It is very hidden, kind of if you know you know. It is near the front past the gift shops. You either head left to Marvel Superhero Island or right to Suess landing, and it is right there. It is on the right tucked away. They do have a separate entrance from the main restaurant but you can get to it either way. This is a bar. It is small, does not have bar seats but does have tables right outside. This is mainly a walk up bar, I have never seen anyone, myself included hang out here while they enjoy their beverage. My husband and I like to stop here. It is hidden as I mentioned, so it is never busy. We have barely had to wait to order with either no one inside or one or two groups in front of us. The bar is pretty well stocked with having a great selection of beer, wine, and liquor. They offer some specialty drinks and throughout the year a limited time offering. I have tried a few different drinks here with my current favorite being a watermelon margarita which has tequila of your choice, watermelon and lime. Some of my other favorite drinks include the Ocean Trader which has Plantation pineapple rum, blue curaçao, lime and pineapple juice, and Cream of Coconut, this is very tropical and perfect for the summer. I also like the Watermelon Lemonade, which has Deep Eddy lemon vodka, DeKuyper Pucker watermelon, lemonade, and Sprite. This one is very dangerous, you cannot taste the liquor. And for another summer drink, I like the Islander, which has Malibu coconut rum, crème de banana, peach schnapps, pineapple juice, and raspberries. Overall great spot. They have great drinks, the bartenders are always friendly and it's just a great stop. We love grabbing a cocktail and sitting outside and people watching. I suggest checking it out! read more

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The food was all flavored really well. I did the dine and float package, which I feel was a great deal as t came with 3 courses and a drink. I had the tuna nachos, the steak, the special kings cake for mardi gras, and a mango lassi. I was also able to try the curry mussles too. The atmosphere was nice overall, and the decor In the lobby had some fun stuff to look at. The server was friendly and when they missed the special request, they quickly fixed it. The muslces were my favorite of the night. They were in a very delicious curry sauce that was a bit spicy. The Ahi tuna nachos were almost as good with some good flavors that went well with the tuna. The Steak was nice with the chimichuri sauce was good. The succotash went well with it. For the foods, they definietly have good flavor profiles in these dishes. The kink cake was alright. read more

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Located in Islands of Adventures theme park. Food and cocktails were good. Portion size for the price was reasonable. Service was great. Our server was friendly and checked on us several times. Reservations are required. read more

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Located towards the from of the park Confisco's is such a great spot to stop and have a full service meal at Islands of Adventure. And if you are looking for a quick drink then the Backwater Bar, located on the side of the building, is the perfect spot!! The service at both spots is always top notch and the staff is so friendly. At a recent trip to Confisco Grille I got the Birria Beef Burger and it was so fresh and delicious. I look forward to trying more menu items there! read more

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During our visit to Universal Orlando in December 2024, we checked out this location as it didn't have a wait and surprisingly was very empty. We were like one of four tables, which seemed wild to us but we dined during a weekday night. Hailey was super friendly and made my food allergies very easy to navigate their menu to find some items to enjoy. While our food was being prepared, we took in the scenery which added a fun ambiance. Overall, the food was pretty good for the price point though we enjoyed other meals at the park better. Still a solid choice if you see a menu item that entices you! read more

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The Confisco Grille & Backwater Bar is at the end of the port of entry, right at the start of the islands. The Backwater Bar is usually my first stop visiting Islands of Adventure. This restaurant doesn't tend to get very busy, as it's near the front of the park. I've always enjoyed my meals here. The food is good--nothing extraordinary, but it's exactly what you expect for the price. The nachos are perfect for sharing and do a nice job layering the flavors and toppings. I also ordered the blackened salmon sliders, a seasonal item exclusive to pass holders. The service is excellent, and your cocktails come out quickly. As a pass holder for over five years, I can confidently say that this is one of my favorite places to sit and dine because there is usually never a wait. read more

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We ate here as part of our VIP tour for lunch, so the angle we are coming from may be a bit different. You are paying a premium for the experience, which then includes an appetizer for every two people as well as a non-alcoholic drink with your meal. If I saw our final tab, it would have been over $200 in total. Both appetizers were top notch, the Korean wings could have used another dunk in the sauce but beyond that were fried perfectly. The ahi tuna nachos were the star, smothered in tuna and all of the other fixings with a side of jalapeños for those that crave a bit more spice. Our child's cheeseburger was adequate, he enjoyed it and the well cooked fries. My entree of skirt steak with chimichurri sauce over rice was one of the best meals I've ever had in a theme park. I asked for medium rare and they cooked it as I wanted. The rice complimented the dish extremely well and left me wanting more. My wife's pad Thai was well seasoned but a lot spicier than anticipated. We had leftovers for the next two nights from the massive portion. We had a $12 mango lassi each and the kids loved their frozen fruit drinks from the kids menu. We then finished off the spicy pad Thai with another addition of a virgin pina colada. The perfect drink to then walk around with on a hot day. Others said the burgers here were a disappointment, so don't get them and go with the stars that actually shine. Great job on this one Universal, it worked well for our family for the VIP tour and we can't wait to try it again. read more

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Came here for the Mardi Gras ride and dine. We were seated right away and greeted by our server. My 2 kids each got the burrata dip, I started with the mussels and my husband did the ahi tuna nachos. We all really loved our apps and they were cooked well. For entrees we had two steaks, one shrimp Caesar salad, and a Miso Salmon. They were all cooked perfectly and came out exactly as ordered. We were even able to swap out the rice for the bok choy on the steak plate and my daughter loved it. We all had different desserts, but the only one that had good flavor had cookie butter in it. The others did not have a lot of flavor and/or were dry. The drinks were just as good as the Backwater Bar and the decor was in line with the theming in the area. We had a great overall experience and would come back again for another meal. read more

One of my favorite spots to grab a drink in Islands of Adventure, Confisco Grille & Backwater Bar is located near the front of the park, and attached to the Confisco Grille restaurant. This bar is very hidden, if you did not know about it, you might honestly miss it. You have to look for it. There are no seats inside but there are a few tables and chairs right outside. This is where we love to sit. My wife and I love to grab a cocktail and then sit outside and people watch. As passholders, we have been to the parks a ton so there are times when we prefer to just go and enjoy the park, enjoy a cocktail and just relax. This is pretty much just a walk up bar, grab your drink and go. There are no bar seats either. All of their drinks are served in plastic cups. There is usually not many people in line which is great. It is hidden as I mentioned so most of the time, there is either no one in line or just a couple of parties. It also moves pretty quick. They have a pretty well stocked bar with a lot of options. They also serve beer on tap and wine. There are unique specialty drinks here as well that can just be ordered here. I usually get something different every time. I like the beers, they also make a great espresso martini and then my favorite being a gin and tonic. All of them very good choices. I don't usually go for the specialty drinks as they seem very sweet and my wife has confirmed most of them are. Her current favorite is a watermelon margarita which has tequila of your choice, watermelon and lime. She also really enjoys the Ocean Trader which has Plantation pineapple rum, blue curaçao, lime and pineapple juice, and Cream of Coconut. It is a great summer drink, it is sweet, refreshing and gives the tropical vibes. Overall, one of my favorite spots. It is hidden, never busy, and serves great drinks! The bartenders are always amazing and friendly. They love to have a chat with you and then make a great cocktail. I recommend checking it out next time you are at Islands. ACES! read more

The drink is good and strong. Service is amazing. I got wings but they're dry. Ambiance is cute. read more

Confisco Grille & Backwater Bar - Garlic Parm Wings - Bars Near Me - Orlando, Florida

We did the Mardi Gras float and dine, and selected this restaurant. The deal includes an appetizer, entree, dessert, non-alcoholic drink and tip. The coconut curry mussels were a little spicy for me but my husband really enjoyed the broth so he ended up eating most of it. The steak was cooked to my liking. I wasn't a big fan of the succotash underneath it but I'm a meat and potatoes kind of gal so that's to be expected. I was surprised with how big the dessert was. They have banana pudding in honor of Black History month and I could barely finish it. The Virgin pina colada was the perfect mix of pineapple and coconut. I would absolutely get the Pina colada again. The service was quick and friendly. My mussles took a little longer and the server made sure to bring my husband's appetizer over to the table and let me know so that way he didn't have to wait. I really like how the restaurant is themed. There's so much to look at all around. If you're in the park, I would definitely recommend checking out this restaurant. I've always found something I really enjoyed here. Quick note to the chefs please bring back the lettuce wraps! I miss the peanut sauce that came with it. So good! read more

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This is for Backwater Bar only. One of my favorite watering holes on property. It's a full bar but they also offer signature cocktails as well. Very quick service and great drinks. Tim is one of my favorite bartenders on property and Im so glad he was working both days we were there. He makes great drinks and is hilarious. Can't wait to visit again soon! read more

Food was actually pretty good. Mythos rightfully gets the attention in this park, but this place always deserves a shot. Brenda was also amazing. Team is attentive and will go out of their way to make sure you have a great day! read more

I used the QR code at the host stand to join the wait list. It was supposedly a 20 minute wait but we were seated in just a few minutes for a party of 2. It was very busy inside due to a 5th grade field trip so it was very loud. Our hostess Kathy A. took good care of us despite how slammed she was. The food looked appealing but is overpriced for the portion. Now I understand why everyone crowded the Diner and nearby Cafe for lunch. Our $12 drinks were loaded with ice. My Hearthstone Baked Chicken Sandwich was smaller than imagined but tasty. I did appreciate how quick we received our food since we were itching to get back out to the rides. Would not dine here again unless it was the only readily available option. read more

Confisco Grille & Backwater Bar - Hearthstone Baked Chicken Sandwich - Bars Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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Great place to people watch while sitting at the outside bar rail. Tim at the inside bar made a great jalapeño margarita. For dinner I had the Quesabirria which was bland and overall a disappointment. Definitely a great place to hang out and have a drink! read more

Confisco Grille & Backwater Bar - Bars Near Me - Orlando, Florida

If you're tired of typical "park" food, this is a great alternative inside Islands of Adventure. It's fusion cuisine, so I'm not expecting the most authentic pad thai or anything. The restaurant is also a nice refuge from the Orlando heat. The restaurant is located in Port of Entry and contains easter egg decorations referencing superheroes, Harry Potter, etc. We were satisfied by the food quality. My quesabirria was crispy and the meat was flavorful and juicy. Another favorite at the table are the ahi tuna nachos. In addition, the churrasco steak was cooked well and the chimichurri sauce balanced out the richness. My partner had the paccheri de la confisco pasta and it had quite the kick to it. Obviously, we weren't expecting fine dining and this was a nice change from quick service bites. read more

Service here is always great! The folks who work are very helpful and can point you out to the various allergens in the foods and things you might have to watch out for if you have a health conscious family like I do. We had the tuna nachos and the wings. Nachos didn't have a ton of protein but still turned out good and the wings (garlic parm and korean bbq) were good as well. It's our 3rd or 4th time at Confisco and we always enjoy it! read more

As a Universal passholder Confisco Grille has become one of my favorite go to spots when I'm at the parks. It's a great place to take a break, enjoy a great meal, get a drink and relax in the a/c. This visit did not disappoint. I was seated in 5 minutes. My server was friendly and attentive. I ordered a Bahn Mi and a Margarita. The Bahn Mi was absolutely delicious and flavorful, with perfectly cooked pork belly and fresh toppings. The margarita was spot on, refreshing with great balance. read more

Confisco Grille & Backwater Bar - Bahn Mi and Margarita - Bars Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Hands down one of the best restaurant experiences we have ever had at any amusement park! As a family navigating extreme food allergies, dining out in theme parks can usually be incredibly stressful--but Confisco Grille at Islands of Adventure blew us completely away.From the moment we sat down, the service was top-notch, but the manager truly went above and beyond to accommodate our family's safety. They took our allergy needs seriously, walked us through everything, and made sure our entire dining experience felt safe, seamless, and incredibly special.The service was spectacular from start to finish, and the food was absolutely off the chain! Every single dish was fresh, delicious, and perfectly prepared. We cannot thank the team and management enough for making our family dinner unforgettable. We will absolutely be back! read more

Pros: -Waiter was phenomenal! He was super fast & friendly! -Everything was clean and decor was cute. -Ahi Tuna Nachos were VERY VERY good! They were crunchy, with great flavoring, the aioli was especially good. -The chicken sandwich had great flavoring and fresh tomatoes. -The kids meals (mac n cheese & fruit) looked great and this kids loved it! Cons: -The chicken on the chicken sandwich was a bit tough, maybe overcooked on certain parts. It was also a very thick piece in certain parts. Maybe if the chicken was cooked in thinner slices it would have cooked better or if it was shredded. Other than that, I probably would make the ahi tuna nachos my meal next time, it was really really good! We look forward to coming back and trying more. read more

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We stopped by Confisco Grill and Bar at Universal around closing, and the place was pretty empty. There's a reason for that. They call themselves a fusion restaurant, but when you fuse out all the flavor you're left with confused food that doesn't commit to anything. The quesadbirria was a miss , whatever makes quesadbirria actually good didn't show up here. The bahn mi was tolerable. Not great, just tolerable. The French onion soup was the one bright spot. Actually worth ordering. Look, this is Universal. You're trapped in a theme park and your options are limited. If you need to sit down somewhere and Mythos has a wait (which it always does), Confisco works as a backup. It's a solid 3-star kind of place. The kind of restaurant you eat at because you have to, not because you want to. If you can get into Mythos instead, do that. At least there you know what you're getting.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ read more

Overpriced poor quality food. I had lunch at Confisco and was willing to pay more for a good meal, but I left very disappointed. The food and drinks were poor quality. The "pork belly" in the Pork Belly Banh Mi Sandwich was dry, shriveled, and looked & tasted more like cheap bacon. The bread was sliced unevenly, making it difficult to eat and overall, was the worst banh mi sandwich my partner I ever had. The fries didn't taste fresh and instead seemed microwaved. The overall experience felt "lazy". Our drinks, which cost $17-$18, were served in small plastic cups instead of glass which added to the low effort feeling of the experience. This stood out because every other restaurant in the park served drinks in glass for a lower price. For $86, this meal was not worth it. At first, we were seated in a dim basement-like room on a warm sunny day. We asked to move outside which thankfully we could. The view and atmosphere was much nicer outdoors. Our waiter was friendly but not very attentive, and service was slow despite the restaurant being nearly empty. Overall, I wouldn't return. The price just doesn't match the quality or experience. Overall, the food, service, and presentation didn't match the cost. read more

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Went to Confisco Grille & Backwater Bar during my trip to Universal Studios in October of this past year. It was confusing was their idea of "fusion" was. They had a little bit of every type of food and the decorations there were everywhere but no specific "theme". We got their french onion soup, which was the best food we tasted at Confisco. The bahn mi sandwich was just okay, definitely not authentic. We did have friendly service and they keep our waters refilled, for which we were thankful. However I definitely would not recommend. read more

5 stars for Confisco at Universal's Islands of Adventure! This is a really nice dine in restaurant that is right near the entrance of the park. Our server was very friendly, the service throughout our meal was great. We tried the Pad Thai, Watermelon Greek Salad, and the Chilled Tuna Noodle Bowl. My personal favorite was the chilled tuna noodle bowl, definitely not a meal you see every day in a theme park restaurant! A lot of flavor to it especially if you enjoy Asian foods (the pad Thai is the same - lots of flavor, great meal). The Greek watermelon salad is loaded with veggies and you can add on any protein you'd like. This is definitely one of the better restaurants in the Universal theme parks, I'd recommend if you want a sit down experience and great food. read more

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This place is incredible! The service is wonderful and the food and presentation are top-notch. This is a wonderful surprise in islands of adventure. Tatu and nachos are off the chain. Everything is well prepared and presented with excellence. Honestly my favorite restaurant in the theme park read more

Confisco Grille & Backwater Bar - Ahi tuna nachos - Bars Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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I've always walked right past this restaurant when entering the park and boy what a mistake on my part, this has to have been the best meal I've ever had in Islands of adventure! The inside is filled with treasures taken from many movies you'll see around the park, just ask your server for the lore! The food was amazing, for anyone with a negative "theme park food" mindset, Confisco Grille will definitely be the place to change your mind! We ordered the burrata as an appetizer and it was tasty and full of flavor, we had to fight the urge to order a second before our meals arrived! As far as the entree, we went with the chimichurri steak that laid on a bed of rice, beans and corn salsa (we removed the jalapeño bacon). This meal was absolutely delicious and full of flavor, it also left us satisfied but dreaming for another bite days later! The staff working here are very nice and understanding, I couldn't ask for better service, they truly went above an beyond and that includes the kitchen staff! The chef was amazing and even helped us out when we accidentally ordered a fillet of fish thinking it was a fillet of steak by mistake haha. They were completely understanding and brought us the steaks with a smile, big shoutout to their positive team! Can't wait for our next visit to the park , we may just come back for another meal at Confisco Grille! read more

Confisco Grille & Backwater Bar - Burrata - Bars Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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Confisco Grille is located inside Islands of Adventure at Universal Studios. There is plenty of seating and it is a perfect place to eat on a hot day. I ordered the Pad Thai. I received a very generous portion. The flavor was excellent. Service was very good. Drinks were refilled regularly. My family enjoyed the atmosphere. read more

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We had lunch here today, the choice of our table was less than adequate. I would suggest you don't use this table. It's very small and the view is terrible. Other than that the food was good. We come here all the time. read more

Confisco Grille & Backwater Bar - Table we were sat at for lunch - Bars Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Great hot honey chicken wings. Pad Thai was fair to middling. Great service. Knowledgeable server. read more

This is a great spot to relax, have an appetizer and a beer on the patio and watch people walk by and enjoy the atmosphere of the park! The cocktails and beers were great and the appetizer was great as well! Service was good as our waiter was nice and took good care of us. Great stop at islands of adventure! read more

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WHEN EVER I go to universal studios, I will always probably only go to Confisco's for lunch! Earlier this year I had the quesadilla but last month I had the Birra burger... and OMG!!!! It's so tasty. 12/10 for me. And the yuca fries are deeeelish! I also had the spinach dip appetizer, so so good. Service is always great, never too crowded or noisy either. read more

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We ordered the appetizer nachos and it's nothing to brag about. Didn't even finish them. What a shame. read more

Confisco Grille & Backwater Bar - This is the appetizer nachos at Confisco Grille at Universal Studios. - Bars Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Just wanted to say that the food is absolutely a Amazing and the service was even better. Chef Jimmy and Daniel really went above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed every single moment. We will definitely be back soon!!! read more