When we booked our Universal Studios Orlando trip, the website offered me a Harry Potter package. In particular, it included breakfast at one of the two Wizarding World sit-down restaurants. I passed. But in hindsight, I should have taken the package.
When we got to Orlando, I decided it might be nice to lock down a day to do our Harry Potter breakfast. We’d budgeted well and could afford to splurge. I went to the hotel ticketing agent and asked if it was possible to get reservations for breakfast at Three Broomsticks. “Yes,” the agent helpfully replied. So, I paid the $80 plus tax for our family of three adults and two kids. He gave me an arrival time at which point my “reservation” window started.
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Does the Three Broomsticks take reservations?
Upon our arrival, we overheard the “greeter” speaking with a woman and her family. She didn’t understand why she had to get in line if she had a reservation. I knew something was up but I still clarified with the Universal employee who perhaps got his job by being keen to cosplay. “Avada Kedavra.” He told/shouted at us to go through the otherwise empty queue outside the restaurant where we could wait until there was room inside. We would be waiting, he assured us, because Three Broomsticks does not take reservations.
Later, I was told by a team member that the vouchers, that said breakfast on them, were not breakfast vouchers but were good for any time of the day. I felt like I’d been hit with a confundus charm. Notwithstanding, I went back and waited to order the meal I’d paid for days in advance.
What’s on the breakfast menu?
Both the Leaky Cauldron and Three Broomsticks offer the Traditional Breakfast, which has scrambled eggs, sausage links, black pudding, English bacon, baked beans, grilled tomato, sautéed mushrooms and breakfast potatoes. Remember, “traditional” here means traditional English style.
The American Breakfast has scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, crisp bacon and link sausage with a butter croissant. The Pancake Breakfast is three buttermilk pancakes, crisp bacon and a link sausage with a butter croissant. At the Three Broomsticks, they also have the Continental Breakfast. It is a colorful array of fresh fruit served with croissants accompanied by assorted jams. And the Porridge Breakfast is old-fashioned steamed oats with fresh fruit and a butter croissant.
At the Leaky Cauldron, there is the Egg, Leek and Mushroom Pasty. The scrambled eggs are wrapped in pastry with mushrooms and leeks. It is served with breakfast potatoes, fresh fruit, and the self-explanatory apple oatmeal flan with yogurt and fruit.
What is the difference between the Leaky Cauldron and the Three Broomsticks?
The two Wizarding World of Harry Potter restaurants are pretty similar. The menus are a little different with the Leaky Cauldron skewing more towards authentic UK offerings. The Three Broomsticks is a little less themed in its choices. I found it easier to get into the Leaky Cauldron, but we were able to walk into either during off hours.
Which is better at Universal, the Leaky Cauldron or the Three Broomsticks?
It’s hard for me to be an impartial judge as I had a poor experience at Three Broomsticks and a perfectly acceptable one at the Leaky Cauldron, which has fewer menu options. I’d say for most people, it comes down to whether they prefer Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley. Three Broomsticks is located on the Hogsmeade side in Islands of Adventure. The Leaky Cauldron is in Diagon Alley on the Universal Studios side.
And what if you want a good stiff belt, Harry Potter style? The Hog’s Head pub is located in the back of the Three Broomsticks. It offers Butterbeer or Pumpkin Juice, along with domestic and imported beers, the pub’s exclusive Hog’s Head Brew, specialty drinks, wine, spirits and mixed drinks.
In Diagon Alley, you’ve got The Fountain of Fair Fortune which serves a variety of drinks including Gillywater, Pumpkin Fizz, beers and other beverages, alcoholic and non-alcoholic. There’s also The Hopping Pot. It’s a quick-service restaurant that has many of the above-listed drinks as well as Tongue Tying Lemon Squash, Otter’s Fizzy Orange Juice, Peachtree Fizzing Tea, Fishy Green Ale, Wizards Brew and Dragon Scale beers and more.
Why is it called a Hog’s Head?
The Hog’s Head was a slightly disreputable pub and inn in Hogsmeade in the Harry Potter books. And, a hogshead is a large cask or barrel.
Is the Leaky Cauldron good?
Maybe, if you’re grading on a sliding scale. In both Leaky Cauldron and Three Broomsticks, you’re paying for the experience. Are there a dozen restaurants in Universal Studios, Universal’s Islands of Adventure and CityWalk that have better food? Yes. I would concede that there are. But I do enjoy the culinary offerings of the United Kingdom. I like a good savory pie. You can also talk me into a good mushroom pastry or bangers and mash. It’s hard to mess up sausage and potatoes.
My wife Leslie enjoys a platter of good fish and chips and while the ones at the Cauldron weren’t up to some of the places she tried in London, she said they were still pretty good. And while I had a bad experience at Three Broomsticks, I enjoyed the Potter atmosphere at the Leaky Cauldron and nobody even yelled at me. So, is it worth the price? I love a full English breakfast, but for $18, this wasn’t it. Now, I have to say I was not in a happy place when we ate. It may even be better than I’m giving it credit for. However, on the whole, I’d rather eat at the Waffle House. However, I enjoyed the lunch and dinner menu and would go back again.
What’s on the lunch and dinner menu at the Leaky Cauldron?
I’m a fan of the Beef, Lamb & Guinness Stew. And as I said, Leslie was pleased with the fish and chips. If you’re looking for something different from the usual theme park fare, Toad in the Hole is a popular dish. It is English sausage baked into a Yorkshire pudding and served with onion gravy, minted peas, root vegetables and roasted tomato.
If you want a handheld, aka a sandwich, there’s the Specialty Chicken. It has grilled chicken breast, apple butter mayo, Colby cheese, smoky apple bacon and roasted tomatoes on a housemade specialty bun. There’s also the Banger which is sort of an English Po’ Boy. It has roasted English sausage, mustard aioli, roasted tomatoes, sautéed cabbage and onions on a crusted baguette. For dessert, you’ve got Butterbeer ice cream, Chocolate Potted Cream or a variety of ice cream featuring strawberry and peanut butter, vanilla or chocolate.
What’s on the lunch and dinner menu at the Three Broomsticks?
The Great Feast, which feeds four, starts with a fresh garden salad tossed with signature vinaigrette dressing. The main course will be a combination of rotisserie smoked chicken and spare ribs with corn on the cob and roast potatoes. The smoked turkey leg is also an intriguing option. It tastes like ham.
Any other recommendations?
We found that in the afternoons, there were often empty seats and good shade on the patio, which is located behind Hog’s Head and Three Broomsticks. We didn’t go in through the restaurant, but from the alley beside the restaurant, there are some cool views of the Velicicoaster. Also, many sites say you can get reservations at Three Broomsticks and the Leaky Cauldron if you book the Potter package online. My suspicion is if you show up at Three Broomsticks claiming a reservation, they’re going to yell at you.
Have you had breakfast at Three Broomsticks or Leaky Cauldron? Let us know in the comments!
The food throughout both parks was horrbile. Besides the jurassic park restaurant. If you want real food you have to eat at city walk. The best place for food in my opinion was the toothsome chocolate emporium, hands down..
My guy, it’s your hotel telling you that Three Brooms has reservations that’s the problem. They tend not to yell at people there because they are just as frustrated as everyone else.. they’re just doing their jobs.