Savor Universal Epic Universe holiday food at Atlantic, including smoked salmon, duck breast, and Maine lobster mac & cheese.

Epic Universe Holiday Food Options

Last month, we learn about some of the holiday food at Universal Epic Universe. Now, Universal Orlando revealed some holiday food at the Atlantic Restaurant.

Universal Epic Universe may be the newest jewel in Universal Orlando’s theme park crown, but that isn’t stopping it from diving headfirst into the holiday season. Also, it is doing it with plenty of culinary flair. Over in Celestial Park, guests can step through the Chronos and into the Atlantic Restaurant, the resort’s upscale undersea-inspired dining oasis. This restaurant has already been getting attention for its elegant seafood-forward menu, but for the holidays, Chef Brian Lamparski and his team have crafted five seasonal dishes that bring personal history, playful imagination, and pure comfort together on one festive table.

However, if you thought a holiday wreath was meant only for your front door, Atlantic is here to change your mind.

House Seasonal Salad — The Holiday Wreath You Can Eat

Chef Brian describes the House Seasonal Salad as the spark of his holiday inspiration. Designed quite literally like a wreath, this vibrant, fresh dish balances sweetness, crunch, and bright wintery notes.

What’s inside:

• Candy cane beets
• Watercress
• Honey-glazed pistachios
• Florida citrus
• Goat cheese crema

It’s a refreshing, eye-catching opener that immediately sets the tone for an elevated seasonal meal. The beets erupt with color, the pistachios add just the right honeyed glaze, and the citrus slices feel like Florida sunshine wrapped in holiday sparkle.

Smoked Salmon Rillette — A Chicago Tradition Reimagined

The most personal item on the holiday menu comes straight from Chef Brian’s childhood. Growing up in Chicago, he and his father would make a yearly pilgrimage for smoked fish, trout, sturgeon, salmon — a ritual that became synonymous with Christmas Eve. The Smoked Salmon Rillette is his tribute to those memories.

This dish features:

• In-house smoked salmon
• Yuzu aioli
• Salmon roe
• Chive coral
• Served on focaccia

It’s a beautifully rich bite: smoky, bright, briny, and elegant without being fussy. It tells a story, and in typical Epic Universe fashion, it’s one that welcomes guests to experience something meaningful alongside its flavor.

Duck Breast — A Hollywood Holiday Classic on a Plate

The Duck Breast entrée pulls inspiration not from Chef Brian’s side of the family, but from the holiday traditions of his wife’s family, specifically a beloved scene in a classic holiday movie they watch together every year. To mirror the cinematic feast, he leans into warm spices, bold colors, and cold-weather comfort.

The dish includes:

• Seared duck breast seasoned with Chinese five-spice
• Honey carrot puree
• Sweet thumbelina carrots
• Fungi jon mushrooms
• Apple lacquer

This plate feels like the kind of meal that belongs next to a decorated fireplace. The spice lifts the duck without overwhelming it, the carrot puree gives a buttery sweetness, and the lacquer ties everything together with a glossy, apple-forward finish.

Holiday Surf & Turf — Whimsical, Warm, and Wonderfully Indulgent

Surf & Turf is a classic holiday indulgence, but Chef Brian wanted to twist the expected formula and give it a whimsical flair fit for Epic Universe. The key? A surprise pairing that shouldn’t work… but absolutely does.

On the plate:

• 8 oz. char-grilled Black Angus filet
• Maine lobster mac & cheese (made with mascarpone, not cheddar)
• Garnished with fine herbs

Chef Brian jokes that cheese and seafood “just don’t match. Still, with mascarpone, it suddenly makes perfect sense. The richness is smoother and lighter, allowing the lobster to take center stage. Paired with a beautifully seared filet, it becomes one of the most luxurious holiday offerings in the entire resort.

Seafood Stew — The Warmest Hug in Celestial Park in Terms of Epic Universe Holiday Food

For guests wanting something hearty, comforting, and perfectly suited to cooler evenings, the Seafood Stew is Atlantic’s answer. It’s a steaming bowl filled with flavor and ocean bounty.

Ingredients include:

• Seared diver scallops
• Mussels
• Jumbo shrimp
• Roasted marble potatoes
• Confit tomatoes
• Sauce rouille on the side

This stew brings together creamy textures, briny notes, and a cozy warmth that feels tailor-made for December dining. The sauce rouille, a Spanish classic often paired with toast, adds a garlicky, saffron-tinged richness that pushes the dish from “very good” to “this is what I’ll be thinking about until next year.”

Epic Universe Holiday Food: A Holiday Menu Worth Traveling Across the Galaxy For

Atlantic is already positioned as one of Epic Universe’s most celebrated restaurants, but its holiday menu proves the team is ready to take things even further. Whether you’re after nostalgia, comfort, whimsy, or a show-stopping entrée, each dish carries a personal fingerprint and an artistic flair that sets it apart from traditional theme park holiday fare.

If you’re visiting Universal Epic Universe this season, carving out time for a festive meal at Atlantic is absolutely worth it. These Epic Universe holiday food options are available only for the holidays, and each offers a different way to savor the season, all from the heart of Celestial Park. Let the holiday lights shine, the seafood simmer, and the celebration begin.

For more theme park-related news and information, visit MSM News. As always, eat like you mean it!

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