Busch Gardens dessert review: The Baklava Bird’s Nest brings pistachios, honey lime sauce, and flaky pastry to Bier Fest Brews & BBQ in Tampa Bay.

The Bier Fest Brews & BBQ event ends September 1, just a few days before Howl-O-Scream starts. It runs on select days at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. We have visited several times to dine on the food items offered at this event. During those visits, we faced confusion from menu descriptions, found some delicious food options, and some average ones, too.

Tipsy Bird Cabin at Bier Fest Brews & BBQ

During a recent visit, we went to the Tipsy Bird Cabin to try the last item on the menu that we hadn’t tried before at this festival. The Tipsy Bird Cabin, aptly named for a Bier Fest, also has the following three menu items:

• BBQ Fire Rub Chicken Legs – Roasted chicken with grape-apple slaw and house pickles
• Smoked Turkey with Chipotle Blackberry Jam – Sliced smoked turkey with Chipotle Black Berry Jam on toasted Texas toast with grape apple slaw and house pickles
• Smoked Pulled Duck Roll – Pulled duck salad with a brioche roll with grape apple slaw and house pickles.

We have reviewed all three of those Bier Fest Brews & BBQ items. However, on this visit, we decided to try the bird-themed dessert, the Baklava Bird’s Nest.

What is a Baklava Bird’s Nest?

Before this event, we did not know the answer to what is a Baklava Bird’s Nest. However, the Baklava Bird’s Nest (or Bird’s Nest Baklava as it often is called) is a dessert pastry originating from the Middle East. It is crafted with phyllo dough or kataifi, nuts, and syrup. This treat offers a unique twist on the traditional pastry. The dough is shaped into nests and filled with a sweet mixture of nuts and syrup.

Baklava Bird’s Nest at Bier Fest Brews & BBQ Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

This festival item costs $7.99. Of course, it costs less with annual pass members discount or by using the Bier Fest sampler lanyard. The online menu description reads, “Hand crafted Baklava with honey lime sauce and toasted pistachios.” We face serious doubts about hand crafted. Still, the menu description gives guests a good idea of what to expect.

What Guests Can Expect

The baklava shell that holds the toasted pistachios is very thin. I assume that is by design. However, the baklava portion offers a decent flavor in most bites. We say that since some bites were not very robust.

The surprise of this sweet treat involved the toasted pistachios. For a dessert, those hindered the overall quality significantly. We found the pisatchios to be in abundance, which counts as a good thing for a theme park treat. Still, most of the pistachios tasted bland or detracted from the baklava flavor.

Also, calling the flaky layers an authentic baklava would be unfair to that signature cultural dessert. That portion of the festival food item works fine, but does not meet many requirements of a true baklava. In fairness, that may be asking too much from a theme park festival item at this price point.

While eating this, we wondered if it was supposed to have more baklava coating to pair better with the toasted pistachios. Based on some bites we took, we determined that it would work better overall that way.

In fact, when we finished the Baklava Bird’s Nest, our mouths tasted like we had too many salted nuts. Fortunately, one of us purchased unlimited fountain drink refills for the day at Busch Gardens. Still, we hear that one member of our group has a diet soda addiction.

Is the Baklava Bird’s Nest Worth Trying?

The Baklava Bird’s Nest makes a reasonable treat. Guests visiting the Tipsy Bird for one of the other food items might want to make it one-stop shopping by getting a beverage and this dessert as well. We would not suggest prioritizing it. However, it makes a unique theme park festival sweet treat.

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

FAQ: Baklava Bird’s Nest at Busch Gardens

What is the Baklava Bird’s Nest at Busch Gardens?
The Baklava Bird’s Nest is a Middle Eastern-inspired dessert available during Bier Fest at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. It’s made with flaky pastry, honey lime sauce, and toasted pistachios.

How much does the Baklava Bird’s Nest cost at Busch Gardens?
The Baklava Bird’s Nest is priced at $7.99. Guests can also save by using an annual pass discount or a Bier Fest sampler lanyard.

Where can I find the Baklava Bird’s Nest at Busch Gardens?
This dessert is sold at the Tipsy Bird Cabin during Bier Fest, part of the Bier Fest Brews & BBQ event at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

Is the Baklava Bird’s Nest worth trying?
The Baklava Bird’s Nest offers a unique theme park twist on traditional baklava. While the pistachios can be overpowering, it’s a sweet option for guests who enjoy nutty desserts.

What festival comes after Bier Fest at Busch Gardens?
Bier Fest ends September 1, just before the park transforms for Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Guests can enjoy haunted houses, scare zones, and thrilling nighttime entertainment.

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