When it is a short workweek, why not make it even shorter by spending a few days at a theme park? That was the plan my husband and I made. Traveling to Florida to spend Thanksgiving weekend with each set of parents, I suggested we leave earlier and go to Universal. Both of us are Harry Potter fans, so we were way overdue for a trip to this theme park.

We stayed on property for three nights with a great package deal at the Loews Portofino. (It’s good to be a Florida resident!) We checked in on Monday, worked a bit (sigh, yes), and then spent a few hours at Universal Studios. We returned to our hotel in the early evening, ready for a hearty meal. We decided to try Bice Restaurant, which ended up being a terrific choice.

First course

I took this vacation business very seriously, as on a typical Monday there would not be more than one course! Rather than sharing an appetizer, TK and I each chose our own start to the meal. He opted for the wagyu beef tartare, and I chose the carpaccio di manzo. We both thoroughly enjoyed our dishes- incredibly tender beef topped with a little creamy sauce and lovely garnishes. How can one go wrong with that?

Second course

We took quite different routes with our main courses. Since I was planning on a full splurge, I chose my go-to: caesar salad with grilled chicken and dressing on the side. I was not disappointed at all. The lettuce was crisp, the chicken perfectly cooked, and the dressing (thankfully) arrived on the side. TK ordered the cappellaccio- hat-shaped ravioli filled with braised short rib, spinach, and mushrooms served with a marsala cream sauce. It was a “just the right size portion” with just enough to make for a filling meal without being overwhelmed.

Third course

With on vacation mentality, dessert was in the cards for us. TK went with the torta al formaggio, AKA cheesecake. Topped with a wild berry sauce, it disappeared from his plate in record time. I ordered the strudel alle mele- apple strudel with vanilla gelato and caramel sauce. It was perfection. Sweet without being overly so, lots of textures- crispy, tender, silky, and layer of warm and cold made this my perfect dessert. Definitely the perfect way to end the meal.

We ate our meal at the bar, which is our favorite place to dine. We received great service from the sole bartender, who also crafted fine cocktails. Although I didn’t write down the names of our cocktails and wine, I can assure they were well crafted and poured. If you will be visiting Universal or staying at Loews Portofino, you definitely should plan on one dinner at Bice Ristorante.