Toothsome Chocolate Emporium (USH)

[Ron101]

I feel like even if the food improved tenfold the damage is already done. It would take insane word of mouth to get people lining up again.

 

[Jerroddragon]

Maybe if they can improve they could do like 50 percent off during an AP month next year to get the word out

But I agree, no idea how you’d really turn it around anytime soon. Even if the food improves the prices don’t seem to really draw people, especially if you’re taking the characters away something unique about the place

 

[Wesker69]

I'm not a fan of the excessive over-the-top milkshake crap. It's so unnecessary to me, no matter how good it "might" look in a pic

I've barely glanced at the menu for the actual food, but it doesn't exactly entice me to eat there.

USH struggles with dining for some reason, whether it's pricing or quality.

 

[TheUniC6]

Vs their Orlando counterparts, it seems USH has bad luck w/picking chefs. If Universal decides to cut their losses and shutter Toothsome, what replaces it likely won't succeed if the food is still of middling quality.

 

[DarkMetroid567]

Doesn’t help that LA has a ridiculously strong food scene whereas Orlando’s is… there. That being said, I think I just default to Panda when I go to USH.

 

[Clive]

Maybe if they can improve they could do like 50 percent off during an AP month next year to get the word out

But I agree, no idea how you’d really turn it around anytime soon. Even if the food improves the prices don’t seem to really draw people, especially if you’re taking the characters away something unique about the place

I think you’d have to relaunch with a new menu and refreshed offerings (ie, the characters are back! We have a brand new bar! Etc). Invite influencers and local media. Get the word out at the grassroots level.

 

[TheUniC6]

If Toothsome goes under, which seems likely, what type of restaurant could replace it? To avoid potential overlap with other eateries in CityWalk, maybe you could do something more akin to a Cheesecake Factory? Perhaps another Italian joint since Buca Di Beppo bit the dust?

 

[OrlLover]

Doesn’t help that LA has a ridiculously strong food scene whereas Orlando’s is… there. That being said, I think I just default to Panda when I go to USH.

To be fair Orlando food scene is not bad despite what people say on here.

It’s definitely not comparable to LA but I will say it’s above average for an American city.

 

[Jerroddragon]

I mean also I think while many call USH a travel spot...which yes some travel here

like Disneyland I see it as a local's park, which unlike in Florida means if you make something people don't care for only those out of towners might go because of word of mouth for the local's will keep other local's away.

Besides here, I've never met anyone who loved this place. Like maybe they thought it was fine but for the price there are just other options.

But you have to think its the quality because also people are spending almost 9 bucks on a Hello Kitty Boba drink and around the same for Butter beer...so some people clearly have no issues dropping lots of money on something not worth its price at theme parks, if they like the quality

 

[Jake S]

But you have to think its the quality because also people are spending almost 9 bucks on a Hello Kitty Boba drink and around the same for Butter beer...so some people clearly have no issues dropping lots of money on something not worth its price at theme parks, if they like the quality

it can be expensive or it can suck. it can’t suck and be expensive.

 

[Rideguy70]

Vs their Orlando counterparts, it seems USH has bad luck w/picking chefs.

While I don't have any numbers, based on frequent observations, Antajitos, Vivo, and NBC Sports Grill are all doing fine, and they're owed and run by USH.

I think maybe one issue is that aside from the shakes, the menu isn't distinctive. It's not Mexican food, it's not Italian food, it's just American food. And there's already two other American food places (Sports Grill and Margartavillie) that are arguably better.

 

[Clive]

If Toothsome goes under, which seems likely, what type of restaurant could replace it? To avoid potential overlap with other eateries in CityWalk, maybe you could do something more akin to a Cheesecake Factory? Perhaps another Italian joint since Buca Di Beppo bit the dust?

You've done this in a few threads now recently, so I'm really going to ask you to pull back on the huge, unfounded assumptions that allow you to BlueSky something new.

They just built a new bar for Toothsome. It's not going anywhere immediately.

 

[Jonathan]

I took a couple of first timers earlier in the week and they loved it. It was definitely the least crowded of the Universal owned restaurants. Jacque and Penelope came around to our table and my family loved the interaction. I hope Universal can figure it out. The food has been better over the last couple of months. The new head chef has done a much better job with consistency.

 

[chris.g]

I just miss the risotto and crab artichoke dip….

 

[Eckert]

To be fair Orlando food scene is not bad despite what people say on here.

It’s definitely not comparable to LA but I will say it’s above average for an American city.

It's not...but it isn't anywhere near Universal. Orlando has a captive audience vs. USH visitors just leave the park and they're in LA.

 

[Rideguy70]

They just built a new bar for Toothsome. It's not going anywhere immediately.

I have heard from a friend (who is usually pretty knowledgeable) that while Toothsome is floundering out here, Universal has no near future plans to give up on it. I'm willing to give it another go at some point. And I have admittedly been getting many of their shakes, which actually are pretty good.

 

[viking_wizard_eyes]

Maybe a controversial take here, but I don’t think the food here is bad, it’s just too expensive for what you’re getting, and like others have said, you can step out into Los Angeles and get better food for less. That’s a hard problem to fix, because prices aren’t coming down, and if they were to somehow elevate the food, prices are going up right there with them.