The Universal Orlando Resort CityWalk entertainment area has a plethora of high quality places to eat. We popped into the NBC Sports Grill & Brew and give it some mixed reviews.
If you’re a theme park junkie and love the thrills that Universal Orlando Resort has to offer, you’re likely going to have a chance to dine at the CityWalk. Universal — along with Walt Disney World Resort — is one of our favorite travel destinations in the Orlando area. After a long day of visiting both Universal and Islands of Adventure, we bellied up to the table at the NBC Sports Grill & Brew for something to eat. We give it some mixed reviews.
About CityWalk
Universal Orlando Resort is broken up into two basic areas. The original area — where Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, several hotels, Volcano Bay water park, and CityWalk is. And, there’s a new area where Universal Epic Universe is.
Previous to Epic Universe opening, if you were going to one of the two main parks, you’d likely park at the parking garage — and pay a fee, they should take notes from Disney on that — and then have to travel through CityWalk. CityWalk was essentially the gateway to both parks and is lined with restaurants and stores.
“This is where it all comes together. This is where unforgettable fun meets restaurants that don’t just make you say ‘Yum,’ but ‘Wow,’” Universal’s CityWalk page says. “The one place where the dining tastes of every member of the family and entertainment everyone can enjoy all intersect. It’s everything you’re looking for. And anything but ordinary.”
There are 24 eating establishments that Universal advertises are present at CityWalk. Some of those locations are quick-service snack joints. And others are sit-down restaurants. There are four stores, including the famed Universal Studios Store. And, seven so-called “experiences.”
We’ve previously dined at a few restaurants at CityWalk over the years with mixed reviews.
NBC Sports Grill & Brew
The NBC restaurant is located right at the exit of Universal Studios proper. If you’re heading past the iconic giant globe as you’re exiting the park, you’re staring at NBC. Being a sports bar, the NBC restaurant has some typical offerings as well as some gastropubesque selections.
“This is a unique sports-dining experience like no other,” the restaurant’s webpage says. “Nearly 100 HD screens immerse you in a stream of sports coverage as you drink and dine. Expect much more than your average bar food. In addition to tasty classics like burgers and ribs, discover Crunch Time Chicken Tinga Nachos, Smokehouse Burger, or a Pretzel Bread Pudding.”
The menu
The menu is fairly extensive. Appetizers alone, there are nine unique options. There are four different salads. Four different sandwiches and another nine burgers. 12 entrees are on the menu and there’s a selection of five “premium” sides.
Appetizers and salads
- Large Warm Soft Pretzel
- Wisconsin Fried Cheese Bites
- Touchdown Tuna Nachos
- Game Day Flatbread
- Cheeseburger Empanada
- Crunch Time Nachos
- Southwest Eggrolls
- Brisket Queso & Chips
- Winning Wings
- NY Strip Steak Wedge salad
- Chopped Barbecue Grilled Chicken salad
- Grilled Citrus Chicken salad
- Caesar Salad
Sandwiches and burgers
- Fried Chicken Sandwich
- Smoked Turkey Club
- Char-Grilled Chicken
- Crispy Grouper Sandwich
- Smokehouse Stack burger
- Wisconsin Smash burger
- Bacon Blue burger
- Beyond Smokehouse burger
- Birria Bistro Burger
- Wagyu burger
- NBC Classic Bacon Cheeseburger
- French Onion Dip Patty Melt
- Mushroom Truffle burger
Entrees
- Smoked Chicken Pesto Pasta
- Tomato-Goat Cheese Chicken
- 10 oz. New York Strip
- Buffalo Mac & Cheese
Bang-Bang Chicken - Cedar Planked North Atlantic Salmon
- Smoked Pulled Pork
- Fish Tacos
- Smokehouse Angus Beef Brisket
- Midwest Ribs
- The Combo
- Jumbo Chicken Tenders
Our trip to the NBC Sports Grill & Brew
During our November 2025 trip to the Orlando area, we visited Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. The vacation package we booked included one day, two park tickets, and one day at Epic Universe. Part of our package included staying at the wonderful Cabana Bay Beach Resort. After visiting the Universal Orlando Resort area, we headed to Walt Disney World and checked into Saratoga Springs Resort Villa.
Day one, after our arrival to the resort area, we hit the two original Universal parks. We started in Islands of Adventure and then ended at Universal Studios. Unlike some other visits to the parks, we did not have any reservations for dinner or plans. As we were walking up to the NBC restaurant, we decided we’d give it a shot.
The ambiance was not too bad. It has a New York – Times Square kina feel to it. There was plenty of seating areas and the place wasn’t packed to the gills, but it wasn’t empty either. We were able to grab a seat easily.
Spoiler alert, the food, overall, was kinda greasy. The more I think about it as time goes by, the less I like it, to be honest. That’s not to say we wouldn’t come back. But if we’re going to call the balls and strikes — be prepared for some greasy options depending on what you order.
Philly Cheesesteak Spring Rolls
We got an order of the Philly Cheesesteak Spring Rolls for the table to share. These were by far the greasiest of the selections we had that day.
Were they offensive? No, they were actually very tasty. But, yeah, greasy.
As I write this I know my travel companion is going to read this and say, “You know, you said the food was very greasy a lot. Just like when you talked about a lot of vomit at The Plaza.” Well, so be it. It was greasy.
Kids’ Sliders With Potato Barrels
Our junior adventurer ordered the Kids’ Sliders. This was a fairly standard dish and he did not complain. Honestly, if there were something wrong with it, he’d complain for sure. So, we’ll go with this was a good dish.
Buffalo Mac & Cheese
The fairer of my roommates got the Buffalo Mac & Cheese. It was tasty and a little zippy. Was it over the top awesome? No. But we all liked it. She did not complain about it and said it was good.
It was sufficiently cheesy, which is always a plus when it comes to mac and cheese dishes.
“DA” B.L.T. Brisket Sandwich
I ended up rolling with “DA” B.L.T. Brisket Sandwich. In my elder years, I’ve been falling subject to the burger trap – this was not on the burger menu though, and not technically a burger. Readers of TSRs are probably catching on to the number of beef between buns that I’ve been smashing while out and about. Spoiler alert, it’s not slowing.
This was an interesting take on a brisket sandwich. Was it flavorful? Absolutely. Was it an interesting pairing? You bet. Was it greasy?
The sandwich was adorned with thick-cut bacon and a “cowboy candy” spread. It was an enjoyable bite to eat.
Yeah, it was greasy.
How were the “potato barrels”? They were crisp and actually not very greasy. So, well, there’s that.
Overall experience
Our overall experience at NBC Sports Grill & Brew was satisfactory. Would I go back? Yeah, I would go back in a pinch. However, there’s so many other options at CityWalk that I’d want to try someplace else.
There are plenty of menu options for us to return and give this another shot. When you’re leaving a park at close, if you did not make reservations earlier in the day somewhere, you’re going to have to deal with what you get. And that’s exactly what we did.
