Universal Epic Universe first opened its portals May 22, 2025, and its number of firsts has continued to rise. The holidays are officially here, which means it’s time for yet another Epic first!
With so much newness still under its belt, it was essential the team at Epic Universe try its hand at creating an entire selection of exclusive, seasonal food and beverages that aim to ignite the holiday spirit within every visitor. From an exclusive holiday-themed menu to especially festive treats, there’s plenty of reason for the season going around at Universal Epic Universe that you won’t want to miss out on.
New Holiday Menu Items at Atlantic in Celestial Park
It would be a shame if Epic Universe’s premier dining destination wasn’t offering any specially made holiday dishes. Good thing that’s not the case! Enter the Chronos and head straight for Atlantic, an undersea oasis for all things seafood. Inside, you’ll find five holiday delights that are undoubtedly merry and bright, and trust me when I say you need to have a bite.
Your holiday wreath doesn’t just have to hang on your door — it can sit on your plate, too. Atlantic chef Brian Lamparski says that was his thought process when creating the House Seasonal Salad. This dish is made with candy cane beets, watercress, honey-glazed pistachios, Florida citrus, and goat cheese crema.
You might be wondering who’s having Smoked Salmon Rillette during the holidays. Soon, you! But growing up? Chef Brian. “Growing up in Chicago, my father and I would always go to this place to get smoked trout, smoked sturgeon, smoked salmon — and it was one of those things we would always have on Christmas Eve,” he says. “So, this was my homage to growing up in the city with my father.” This in-house smoked salmon is tossed in a yuzu aioli and served with salmon roe and chive coral on focaccia bread.
On the inverse, the history behind the hearty Duck Breast at Atlantic actually stems from Chef Brian’s wife’s side of the family and their holiday traditions. Inspired by the feast enjoyed in a classic holiday movie Chef Brian and his family watch with his in-laws annually, the Duck Breast is seared and seasoned with Chinese five-spice powder while served with a honey carrot puree, sweet thumbelina carrots, fungi jon mushrooms, and a side of apple lacquer.
Chef Brian likes his surf & turf with a little bit of whimsy, he says, which is why when creating the holiday Surf & Turf at Atlantic, he decided to switch things up a bit. This 8 oz. premium, char-grilled Black Angus filet is served with Maine lobster mac & cheese and garnished with fine herbs.
“It’s kind of funny because I tell these guys at work that I feel that cheese and seafood just don’t match,” Chef Brian says. “But when you add mascarpone cheese to it, it makes sense, you know, instead of having cheddar. It’s a little bit more of that lighter side to where it complements the lobster more as opposed to covering it up.”
Nothing is more comforting during the cold holiday season than a nice, warm stew — especially of the seafood variety. The Seafood Stew at Atlantic is filled with seared diver scallops, mussels, jumbo shrimp, roasted marble potatoes, confit tomatoes, and a side of sauce rouille, a traditional Spanish accompaniment for toast.
Bonus Holiday Treats in Celestial Park
As you venture around Universal Epic Universe indulging in all the seasonal delights the holidays have to offer, you may find yourself longing for more festive treats to feast upon. That’s where these two Celestial Park eateries come in clutch.
Your first stop is at Celestial Snacks, where you’ll stumble upon the ever-tasty Holiday Churro. This gingerbread churro features a peppermint marshmallow topping, holiday sprinkles, and is garnished with an adorable white chocolate Santa.
Over at Frosty Moon awaits the Chocolate Peppermint Soft Serve, which couples peppermint-flavored ice cream with creamy chocolate for a sensational combination of holiday flavors. Believe me, you’ll want to make sure your holiday plans include trying both!
PRO TIP: While you’re in the mood for sweet treats, check out our holiday treats at Universal Orlando Resort guide here!
Are you excited to celebrate the holiday season at Universal Epic Universe? Tell us all about it in the comments below!
2 Comments
So I literally went to the Atlantic yesterday to get the holiday food mentioned here, and they stated it’s not available yet (despite being well into December) and that their fall seasonal menu only debuted a couple of weeks ago. You may want to put dates in this article, it’s misleading.
Hi Jane. Thank you for reaching out to share your experience while dining at Atlantic, though we’re saddened to hear of the inconsistencies you encountered. Please know we’ll be sure this concern is shared with the proper teams. We’d appreciate additional details about your experience, and encourage you to contact our Guest Services Team at either 407-224-4233, or at GuestServices@UniversalOrlando.com.