SeaWorld Orlando’s Panini Shore Café now sells only one panini, the Caprese. Read our SeaWorld Orlando dining review and determine if it’s worth the $15.99 price tag.
In recent weeks, SeaWorld Orlando has overhauled some quick service dining options. For example, Lakeside Grill has removed its Tex-Mex offerings. So, that menu has become more bland. Also, it was not open on the day we visited. However, theme parks often create bland menus since many guests seek just basic theme park food.
However, another potentially bland change has occurred at Panini Shore Café. This quick service used to serve mainly panini sandwiches. The title of the quick service makes it clear that guests should expect to find paninis here for SeaWorld Orlando dining. Nevertheless, Panini Shore Café only sells one panini now. This menu adjustment happened when tacos moved to this quick service.
The tacos cost $17.99 and come with a bag of chips. Guests receive three tacos with either steak or chicken. Since those looked like the standard United Parks quick service tacos we have tasted at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay many times, we went with the lone panini on the menu, the Caprese Panini.
SeaWorld Orlando Dining: Caprese Panini at Panini Shores Café
Though capreses come in many different forms, like sandwiches, a classic caprese works best as a salad. Caprese is a classic Italian salad originating from the island of Capri. It features fresh, simple ingredients: ripe tomatoes, creamy mozzarella cheese, fresh basil leaves, olive oil, and sometimes a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. The dish is celebrated for its vibrant red, white, and green colors. This mirrors the Italian flag.
Caprese is typically served as an appetizer. It highlights the quality of its ingredients without the need for complex preparation. Juicy tomatoes, soft mozzarella, fragrant basil, and rich olive oil create a refreshing and balanced flavor. It is a staple of Mediterranean cuisine and loved worldwide for its elegance.
The SeaWorld Orlando Caprese Panini costs $15.99 and comes with a bag of chips. The price does not include sales tax and the frustrating SeaWorld 5% surcharge on all purchases, including SeaWorld Orlando dining. Annual pass discounts do apply, however. The menu description reads, “Fresh Mozzarella Layered with Tomato, Mixed Greens and Aged Balsamic.”
It appeared to be pre-made based on how quickly we received the panini after ordering. This probably came out of a warming station. However, it was served very warm, which is tough to complain about.
Caprese Panini
On initial inspection, the panini looked mozzarella-heavy. However, it became apparent that the Caprese Panini was mixed greens-heavy. Most guests will expect a more robust mozzarella flavor. This SeaWorld Orlando dining option lacks that. Still, based on our experience with the first half of the panini, the mixed greens and weakness of the tomatoes did not hinder the sandwich too much.
Nevertheless, when we started the second half of this panini, we found even more mixed greens than tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. The panini looks like guests will enjoy plenty of mozzarella flavor, but the sandwich fails to deliver that. This would be much better as just a mozzarella panini. The added components weaken the panini.
On the positive side, the portion size for a theme park menu item deserves respect. This would be ideal to share since it cuts fairly easily with a plastic knife. If guests share this, the mixed greens would not taste overwhelming. However, when one person eats the panini, they taste only mixed greens for the last seven or eight bites.
For more theme park dining reviews, visit MSM News every weekday at noon Florida time. As always, eat like you mean it!
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