I’ve now had a couple chances to eat at the Three Broomsticks restaurant in the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The food’s great and different from other counter-service restaurants in Islands of Adventure. First off, this is a counter-service restaurant, even though it has the feel of a sit-down restaurant. I’m not sure this was the best choice for Universal Vacations. I really think this could have shined as a more exclusive themed dining experience that could have rivaled Mythos and provided more unique options with a bigger menu than a counter-service location can handle. That said, it’s more authentic as a restaurant that you can just walk into and eat and provides the opportunity for more people to see the great work done by the artists that built the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. There’s people running around in the attic, antlers on the wall, and giant fireplaces that all create a scene right out of the Harry Potter movies and books.
Three Broomsticks offers a wide variety of foods with an English flair in keeping with the theme of the new Harry Potter land. Most recently, we sampled the fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, and rotisserie chicken. The fish and chips is pretty standard fried whitefish fare. I thought the rotisserie chicken was delightful. I ate all of mine and grabbed more when someone else at our table was getting ready to throw away half a bird. 🙂
I’ve tried the shepherd’s pie a couple times and find it tasting very strange. I love shepherd’s pie and fix it quite a bit at home using various recipes. The one at Three Broomsticks just tastes funny to me. One of the people with us last time said it has too much oregano. I’m not sure if that’s it or not. Can’t say I recommend it.
Overall, the food’s pretty good at Three Broomsticks and it’s also a good place to get some Butterbeer. Often, the wait to get into Three Broomsticks is shorter than the wait to get a Butterbeer from the stand in Hogsmeade Village.
Speaking of the wait, we learned a little secret last time we were there. If you pay attention, a cast member will make the rounds asking if anyone would like to skip the line and sit outside. This is not a trick where you will end up baking in the sun or being drenched in afternoon rains. The outdoor seating is comfortable and covered! Plus, we found out that even though you’re supposedly going to sit outside, you can order your food and then sit inside, anyway.
Let us know what you thought of Three Broomsticks or what you’re looking forward to trying in the comments, below!
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