When you spend a good deal of time at an amusement or theme park, two things are certain: You’re going to get tired and you’re going to get hungry/thirsty. Fortunately, you don’t have to look far to find something to eat and drink and one of the many places available to dine at Universal Orlando is Café La Bamba.

This restaurant, as its name suggests, is a café style operation and that makes it a good choice for theme park- goers because it means you can quickly get what you want to eat, complete your dining experience, and head back to the park. The food options here are varied, so everyone- including children- should be able to find something to their liking. Kids will love being able to serve themselves and adults will like the options that include everything from seafood to pasta and more.

As for the quality of the food, it’s a mixed bag and I expected this from the moment I walked in the door. I liked the beef tips and rice, but my chicken tenders were a little too tender and my whipped potatoes a little too runny. On the other hand, the corn was good and I liked the macaroni and cheese. This is par for the course when you dine at any buffet. Some items will meet your standards, others will not.

Probably the best items served here are the pastries. I am glad I saved some space in my stomach because the desserts were definitely worth waiting for. I even went back and grabbed a few more before leaving, as they all tasted very good and really hit the spot after a few hours of rides and walking.

Café La Bamba is a popular meetup at Universal for character themed meals and I have been told that many experience this restaurant for the first time as a result of one of these special, kid- oriented gatherings. My meal was more spur of the moment and my experience overall was okay. I liked the service received but like I said, the food quality is mixed overall. Still, it’s better than many of the quick serve meal options at Universal and the air conditioned interior does offer a respite from the searing heat so common to this part of the country.