In this Richter’s Burger Co Review, we taste-test the new Jaws “We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat” triple smash burger platter.

Steven Spielberg terrified an entire generation out of the ocean. Now, Universal Studios Florida is doing its best to lure us back in. Well, lure us back into the San Francisco section of the park, which has been temporarily transformed into a sun-drenched, shark-haunted corner of Amity Island. This, at least, gives us a reason to stop in the San Francisco section of the park while avoiding the attraction that shall not be named.

Anchoring the food side of that celebration is a new limited-time addition to the menu at Richter’s Burger Co.: the “We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat” Burger. We went in and reported back. The Richter’s Burger Co review short version: it’s good, occasionally messy, and very much in the spirit of a theme park that is clearly having fun with its own legacy.

Setting the Scene: Amity Returns

Before we even talk about the food, let’s talk about where you’re eating it. Richter’s Burger Co. sits in the San Francisco area of Universal Studios Florida, a restaurant long themed around the chaos of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The interior is genuinely impressive on its own terms with cracked menu boards, seismologist props, a full-size recreation of the fallen Louis Agassiz statue planted head-first into the floor, and a hammer-and-bell rigged to the ceiling to warn of another tremor.

One of the dining rooms has taken on a distinctly underwater character for the Amity theme. Also, the restaurant’s audio sequences lean into the earthquake theming with dramatic effect. However, for the Amity theme, it has been changed to Jaws music. Many other Amity-themed props and photo ops can be seen decorating the area around Richter’s Burger Co. Overall, the area looks nice and would be a good theme year-round. Something similar regarding theming happened last year for the Jaws 50th anniversary.

Richter’s Burger Co Review: What We Ordered

The star of the food and beverage show is the new limited-time (we think) burger, which joins a menu that already features the Double Smash Burger, the Impossible Smash Burger, a Crispy Chicken Sandwich, and sides including Loaded Fries, French Fries, and a Side Salad. Shakes, including the fun Shake Attack (a tropical blue blend with pineapple, orange, and coconut, finished with a strawberry “Chomp” splash) and the Cap’n Crunch Shake, round out the offerings. Beers from Miller Lite, Modelo, Michelob Ultra, and High Noon are also available at $10.75–$13.00.

“We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat” Burger

• Three smash patties
• American cheese
• Caramelized onions
• Secret sauce
• Pickles
• Brioche bun

Platter (with fries): $22.99 | Combo (with fries and Freestyle drink): $26.99

For our Richter’s Burger Co review, we ordered the platter, which comes with fries but no beverage, at $22.99. For reference, the Double Smash Burger combo sits at $22.99, which means this three-patty special commands a $4 premium over the two-patty version in combo form. Whether that math works for you probably depends on how deep your Jaws fandom runs.

Appearance and Texture: Better Than Expected

Richter’s Burger Co. fails to have a great reputation in the world of theme park dining. Still, let’s give credit where it’s due. This burger arrived looking genuinely above average for quick-service theme park food. The brioche bun is stamped with a Jaws logo, a small touch that elevates the presentation.

The caramelized onions are abundantly visible. You can see them draped across the patties without having to deconstruct the sandwich to find them, which is a welcome change from the usual buried-topping routine. The smash-style construction means the three patties have a good sear and a relatively flat, well-integrated profile rather than the unstable tower you sometimes get with triple-decker burgers. It photographs well and arrives looking like a burger you’d actually want to eat, not a fast-food approximation.

That said, be prepared: this is a messy eat. Three smash patties, grilled onions, secret sauce, and pickles in a brioche bun is a combination that requires both hands and ideally a stack of napkins. The bun holds up reasonably well initially, but the moisture from the sauce and onions works against structural integrity as you progress. Eat fast, or eat smart. We would love to say this would be a shareable burger, but it will be a challenge due to the probable mess you will make cutting it and sharing.

Richter’s Burger Co Review: Breaking Down the Bite

The honest assessment Richter’s Burger Co review is that each component of this burger causes it to land in the “slightly above average” zone, and they combine into something that is satisfying without being revelatory.

• The Beef: The three smash patties deliver what smash burgers do best: a good crust from the sear, decent beef flavor, and a thin-but-substantive texture that layers well.
• The Cheese: The American cheese adds some creaminess and a mild sharpness. While it is not a particularly assertive cheese, it does its job and actually carries some flavor rather than simply acting as a binder.
• The Onions: The caramelized onions are the solid element. They provide the kind of low-effort complexity that elevates a burger from “fine” to “enjoyable.”
• The Pickles & Sauce: The pickles contribute acidity and cut through the richness of the triple-patty stack. Then, there’s the secret sauce. To be blunt, it is keeping its secrets extremely well. It reads as a creamy, slightly tangy condiment, somewhere in the general neighborhood of a mayo or Thousand Island-adjacent preparation, but it doesn’t announce itself with any distinctive flavor note. It functions as a cohesive binding element without contributing much personality of its own.

The Side: Standard Universal Fries

The fries that come with the platter are standard Universal Studios Florida fries. If you’ve had them elsewhere in the park, you know exactly what to expect: thin-cut, salted, competent, and entirely unremarkable. They are fine. They are not the reason to order the platter. If you want something more interesting on the side, the Loaded Fries ($7.49), with Tostitos nacho cheese sauce and bacon bits, are available as a separate order and would likely be a more satisfying accompaniment.

One area where Richter’s delivered without qualification was pace. This burger came together quickly. For a specialty item that involves three smash patties and caramelized onions, the kitchen is turning these out at a speed that didn’t meaningfully affect our day. At a park where some quick-service waits can quietly consume 20 or 30 minutes, getting a specialty burger in hand fast is a genuine operational win.

Richter’s Burger Co Review: Is It Worth It?

If you are visiting Universal Studios Florida and especially if you are eating at Richter’s anyway, this is worth ordering over the standard menu options. The triple-smash build is more ambitious than most of what Richter’s has historically offered. The caramelized onions elevate it meaningfully, and the logo bun and themed name make it a legitimate piece of the Amity Island celebration rather than a cynical menu slap. It is not a life-changing burger. It is an above-average theme park burger that arrives fast, looks good, and fits the moment.

For more theme park dining reviews, visit MSM News every weekday at noon Eastern Time. Additionally, we sometimes post bonus theme park dining reviews. As always, eat like you mean it!

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