Three Broomsticks -- Lunch -- Quick Service -- Universal Studios Orlando
*This dining experience took place in March 2017.
Lunch at the Three Broomsticks
Recently, we went to Universal Studios Orlando with friends visiting from out of town. And, we spent a lot of time in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It's one of our favorite places in the parks, and they consistently have some of the best food options for special diets guests. On one of the days, we decided to go to the Three Broomsticks, a quick service restaurant located in Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure. I always find the options here to be pretty solid and better than most of the food you can get at Universal Studios. So, I was glad we stopped here for a meal.
Atmosphere
I really can't describe how immersive and...well, magical...that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is. It's truly like walking onto a movie set or actually being in a real life Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley. I can explore these areas for hours, and I'm always impressed by the level of detail, even in the restaurants.
Even right down to the light fixtures and the walls, you really feel like you're in a place that's been around for a long time.
I love the inn-like details in Hogsmeade. It feels like an old inn that has a dining area and pub and also space for guests to rent rooms upstairs too. The mismatched chairs and benches are a nice touch too.I'm pretty sure that whoever designed this restaurant is friend's with Gaston from Beauty and the Beast...because, well, he also likes antlers in all his decorating! (and there's a lot in the Three Broomsticks, as you can see in the photo here)
There's so much rustic charm in the Three Broomsticks. It's a great place in the afternoon to grab a drink from the Hogshead pub next door and just rest. We found a nice cozy booth and enjoyed the good food, drinks, and air conditioning after a long and hot day in the park.
The Food
My last visit to the Three Broomsticks was a little over a year ago, and I ordered the same thing on both visits. One thing that I do love is that a chef will come out and talk to you at this restaurant. It's really one of the few places at Universal Studios where this happens. I was greeted by two chefs at this restaurant -- one in training, and they were super helpful. They went over the options for me, and as you can see by the photo Brandon snapped of me, I was feeling good with the choices.
Gotta love the big thumbs up from me!If you're curious about the different options available at the Three Broomsticks, including breakfast, check out the gluten free and dairy free options listed by Amanda from Gluten & Dairy Free Reviews.
I decided to get the Roasted Chicken Platter. It comes with a half of a roasted chicken (which is huge!), roasted potatoes, and roasted corn. This dish is both gluten free and dairy free. If you want butter, they will give you butter packets on the side for the corn and potatoes. But, if you ask me, you really don't need the butter for this corn. It's always been delicious and super sweet on every visit.I love this dish because it's hearty and satisfying and not your typical theme park fare. Sadly, most of what's available at Universal Studios are burgers. So, this is a nice change of pace.
We also got some drinks at Hogshead, the pub connected to the Three Broomsticks. They serve Strongbow Hard Cider here which is both gluten free and dairy free naturally. The serving sizes are pretty substantial, so that's a nice bonus.
Overall
I really enjoy dining at the Three Broomsticks. The food is substantial and delicious. And, it's nice to get something just a bit different. Add in a great theme, and you've got a good meal option when you dine here. I keep meaning to go here for breakfast sometime. I'm dying to try out the gluten free pancakes!Have you been to the Three Broomsticks? What did you think of the options?
Three Broomsticks -- Dinner -- Quick Service -- Universal Orlando
*This dining experience took place in March 2016.
If you're a wizard or muggle exploring the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Orlando, chances are you're bound to grab a bite to eat during your visit. Whether you're in Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley, there's a few different restaurants to dine in that offer special dietary needs options.Last summer and fall, I dined at Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley several times, and while I liked the chicken sandwich I ordered, it was really my only choice of entree at the restaurant. It's definitely my go-to spot to eat at Universal Studios, but when I recently visited Islands of Adventure, I wanted to see what options were available at the Three Broomsticks, located in Hogsmeade.
After doing some pre-visit reading, I knew that I would have a few choices available to me, thanks to reviews and allergy menus from Gluten Free in Orlando and The Gluten & Dairy Free Review Blog.When we arrived, I asked a Team Member at the register about options, and she brought out Chef Patrick, who discussed them with me. He noted that he would recommend I order the chicken platter or rib platter and that I could also get the chicken and rib combination platter. He said that the only modification for the rib platter would be to remove the BBQ sauce, as it contained gluten.I opted for the chicken platter, which I had tried years ago and remembered liking. 
There was a bit of a wait for my food, but that was OK, as Team Member Kathleen ensured me that they wanted to make sure to take extra precautions with my meal. I was impressed by the level of detail and communication that the Team Members had with me while I was waiting for my food. Just another reason why I'm consistently impressed with the special dietary needs options at both sections of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!While we waited for food, we took in some of the sights at the Three Broomsticks. I love the rustic feel to this restaurant and the theming is just over the top amazing. You could definitely spend a lot of time exploring the nooks and crannies in this restaurant.
Once seated, I dove into my meal but not before I snapped a few photos. As you can see, the presentation is great. I love the rustic plating, which definitely fits the theme of the restaurant.The portion is quite big, so be prepared. Even the kids' meals seem to be a fairly sizeable portion. My roast chicken was good, though I wouldn't say it was anything really that special. The chicken was well cooked and flavorful. My favorites were the roasted potatoes with onions and herbs and the corn on the cob. The corn was nice and sweet and truly didn't need any butter to be enjoyed.
Attached to the Three Broomsticks is the Hog's Head Pub. If you're looking for an alcoholic drink, check them out for a Strongbow Hard Cider. The Three Broomsticks does not carry any type of hard cider (they have non-alcoholic versions that include a delicious pear cider), so you'll want to check out the Hog's Head Pub if you want to order one.Overall, the Three Broomsticks proved to be a solid choice for food options while in Islands of Adventure. It was also a nice break from burgers and fries. I would definitely go back there, though if I'm looking for something less messy I might opt for the chicken sandwich at the Leaky Cauldron!Have you been to the Three Broomsticks? What did you order when you dined there?