REVIEW: Amatista Cookhouse Offers Fantastic Appetizers, Delicious Entrees, and Beautiful Views in Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Orlando

Annie Wilson

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REVIEW: Amatista Cookhouse Offers Fantastic Appetizers, Delicious Entrees, and Beautiful Views in Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Orlando

After Loews Sapphire Falls Resort reopened, we could not wait to return to Amatista Cookhouse for a delicious meal. Amatista Cookhouse is one of our favorite restaurants at Universal Orlando Resort, so we were excited to get back and visit for dinner again.

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The restaurant provides some amazing views and is a great place to take in a meal after a long day in the parks.

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A basket of different bread is provided to start, and the Brazilian cheese bread is the real star of the show. This hot, fluffy cheese bread is why we keep coming back to Amatista Cookhouse. We do love a good bread service.

Sapphire Margarita Glass – $14, Pitcher – $26

Mi Campo Resposado Tequila, Cointreau, Simple, Syrup, Lime

Tropic Sangria Glass – $15, Pitcher – $25

Peach Schnapps, Pineapple Juice, Cognac Martell Blue Swift, Orange Juice, Stemmari Moscato

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We started our meal with a pitcher of Tropic Sangria and a pitcher of Sapphire Margarita. They were both fantastic and a great way to start the evening. The sangria was on the sweet side, but very tasty and refreshing. A pitcher of this fruity sangria is perfect for sharing. The margarita wasn’t overly sweet and was very potent. This was very popular with the table.

Queso Fundido – $10

Mexican Chorizo Sausage, Artichoke, Mozzarella, and Provolone Cheeses, Roasted Poblano and Blue Corn Tortilla Chips

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This Queso Fundido has always been on point every time we visit Amatista Cookhouse. This is our go-to appetizer and never disappoints. Melty, cheesy goodness is packed with bits of chorizo sausage for a hearty dip. Grab some chips and dig in.

Caribbean Chicken Wings – $16

Sweet Mango Barbecue or Hot Sauce

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If you’re a fan of wings, these Caribbean chicken wings are amazing. We went with the sweet and savory mango barbecue sauce for our wings. The wings are heavily coated in the thick sauce and come served with a side of ranch. The portion size is small for the price, but they were delicious, and we would highly recommend them. Ask for extra napkins because they are saucy!

Seafood Paella – $34

Authentic Caribbean Casserole with Chicken, Chorizo, Calamari, Shrimp and Muscles, Bell Peppers, Olives, Onions, Peas, and Rice

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The Paella was disappointing. The rice didn’t seem very fresh, and it was overly salty. The paella from the Spain Booth at Mardi Gras was slightly better. The seafood and chorizo in this dish were plentiful and helped to redeem the paella slightly. Unfortunately, we will not be ordering this dish again.

Jamaican Spiced Chicken Pasta – $22

Marinated Spiced Chicken, Mushroom, Peppers, Garlic Thyme Cream Sauce

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This pasta dish was milder than we expected and served with a thick and creamy garlic thyme sauce. The sauce is very rich, making this meal is on the heavier side. We hoped for a little more heat from the Jamaican spiced chicken, but it was a little bland. The sauce and vegetables provided a lot of flavor, which redeemed this dish and made this another one of our favorites.

Jerk Chicken Flatbread – $14

Marinated Chicken, Mango Barbecue Sauce, Cheddar Cheese, Peppers, Queso Fresco, Scallions, Mango. Nut-Free.

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The Jerk Chicken Flatbread was more on the sweet side rather than spicy. The jerk flavor wasn’t too strong with the chicken, which allowed the mango barbecue sauce to stand out. The sweet sauce complimented the peppers and queso fresco perfectly.

Margherita Flatbread – $14

House-Made Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella Cheese, Roma Tomato, Sweet Basil Pesto, Aged Parmesan. Nut-Free, Vegetarian.

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The Margherita Flatbread is simple but will satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. Crispy bread, melty cheese, and large slices of tomato make this a memorable flatbread.

Meat Lovers Flatbread – $14

Chorizo Sausage, Pepperoni, Spiced Ground Beef, Salami, Mozzarella Cheese. Nut-Free.

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This flatbread is topped with a generous portion of pepperoni, seasoned ground beef, salami, and chorizo sausage. It truly is a great option for meat lovers. The tomato sauce base has a bold and zesty flavor that compliments the mozzarella cheese and variety of meats. Every type of meat here was excellent, and this flatbread was popular among the entire table.

Farmer’s Market Flatbread – $14

Piquillo Pepper Sauce, Mozzarella, Sauteed Spinach and Mushrooms, Caramelized. Nut-Free, Vegetarian.

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This might have been the most surprising dish of the night. The Farmer’s Market Flatbread had a piquillo pepper sauce base and came topped with tons of veggies. The intense heat of the sauce will creep up on your taste buds with just one bite. This was one of the most flavorful dishes we ordered and was easily our favorite of the flatbreads. We will be ordering this one again soon.

Half Marinated Rotisserie Chicken – $22, Whole – $40

Rotisserie Chicken Accompanied by Garlic Sauce, Spicy Cilantro Sauce and Choice of 2 Sides

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The dish is served with a garlic sauce and spicy cilantro sauce and a choice of two sides. We chose Platanos Maduros and Yucca al Mojo to compliment our roasted chicken. The chicken is tender, juicy, and cooked to perfection. The garlic sauce is pretty strong, but it works well with the chicken; just probably don’t use too much in one bite. The plantains and yucca were both fine choices for sides, but are not our favorite at the restaurant.

Char-Grilled Cookhouse Burger – $17

Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Pickles, Bacon, Brioche Bun and Choice of American, Cheddar, Swiss, Provolone or Bleu Cheese. Nut-Free.

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The burger at Amatista Cookhouse is always a good choice if you’re not feeling too adventurous. Cooked to order, the meat is grilled to your liking and topped with your choice of cheese. The burger is a substantial meal that is both delicious and filling. We went with seasoned fries for our side and found them to be perfect.

Island Fish Sandwich – $15

Fresh Catch of the Day, Lettuce, Tomato, Mango-Papaya Salsa, Cilantro Aioli, Coconut-Pineapple Bread. Nut-Free.

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For being billed as an Island Fish Sandwich, we struggled to find the actual fish on this sandwich. The mango-papaya salsa makes this a messy sandwich to eat, and the cilantro aioli was just too overpowering for our taste. This sandwich is said to be served on a coconut-pineapple bread, but we really couldn’t find much difference between the taste of this bun and the hamburger bun. Unfortunately, this Island Fish Sandwich was disappointing, and we would not order it again. Thankfully, there are plenty of other delicious options on the menu to choose from.

Caribbean Rum Cake

Vanilla Cake Soaked with Spiced Rum and Coffee, Crispy Pecan Crunch, House Churned Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. Vegetarian.

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If you save room for dessert, the Rum Cake is an absolute must. The cake is on the small side compared to the ice cream on top, but it’s delicious. The ice cream is vanilla, but so creamy and full of rich flavor that you’ll keep going back for more. We wish we could get this dreamy vanilla ice cream everywhere on property. The dense, sweet rum cake with the bold vanilla ice cream is the perfect combination. A sweet ending to a perfect meal.

Diablos Chocolate Fudge Cake

Decadent Buttermilk Fudge Cake, Layered with Rich Chocolate Ganache, Berry Salsa. Nut-Free, Vegetarian.

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The Diablos Chocolate Cake is perfect for chocolate lovers. The cake is dense and moist with an extremely rich chocolate taste complemented by a pop of sweet flavor from the berry sauce.

Mango Mint Sorbet

Nut-Free, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Vegetarian

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The Mint Mango Sorbet is a small portion but is packed full of flavor. The sweetness of the mango is contrasted by a light mint taste. The texture of the sorbet is perfect, but the flavor is somewhat unique and might not appeal to everyone. It is a light a refreshing offering that is dairy-free, gluten-free, and suitable for vegetarians.

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Overall, the dining experience at Amatista Cookhouse stays strong, from drinks to dessert. This is a hidden gem here at the Universal Orlando Resort and one of our favorite spots to grab a relaxing meal. If you’re looking to escape the theme parks for a quality meal in a beautiful environment, look no further than Amatista Cookhouse at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort.

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