On our recent trip to Orlando, NBA City was tops on the dining wishlist for our sports-loving teenage son. After an exciting day at Universal Studios, it was off to CityWalk for a basketball-themed evening meal.
The 33 foot statue that is featured as the focal point to the entrance of the building can’t help but instantly impress fans of all ages:
Adjacent to the doorway, various basketballs adorn the exterior featuring the hand prints of some of the NBA’s most notable stars. The theming is carried throughout the property, even into the washrooms, where the garbage cans are each adorned with basketball nets so you can “slam dunk” your trash.
Their on-site store and gift shop offers an extensive selection of merchandise for every team in the league. From jerseys and t-shirts to a selection of unique gifts and souvenirs, basketball enthusiasts will find everything they need here.
Looking for a little recreation before or after your meal? Consider shooting some hoops at their outdoor 3-point area. The cost to play is $8 per person, but your talents can “net” you anything from a discount at the on-site photo studio to a custom jersey of your choice, depending on how many balls you’re able to hoop. The fun continues indoors as well, where there are a selection of basketball-themed and arcade style games adjacent to the gift shop. The on-site souvenir photo studio allows you to have your picture taken with your favourite player or coach using special computer-generated enhancements at a price that’s within reason.
When we finally gave into our hunger and abandoned our exploration, we were seated immediately and greeted by an energetic, young server. She was prompt and attentive and had a cheerful disposition. If I could fault her at all, it was the fact that she tried to talk us out of our original menu selections…..much as I am sure she was trying to be helpful, we really did just want some standard pub food. For those desiring an entree with more flair than one of the signature hamburgers, their menu included steak, pork and pasta options at a variety of price points.
Overall, the meal quality was fine. Nothing deserving of special praise, but the taste was good and portions were large. Dinner for three including non-alcoholic beverages, an appetizer tray to share, and no desserts totaled $84.00 including tax and tip.
Large screen televisions are easily visible throughout the two-level seating area, allowing patrons to catch the big game while they enjoy their meal. Murals and an assortment of other memorabilia adorn the walls giving guests a fully immersive basketball experience.
For NBA fans young and old, this restaurant is a “do not miss”, simply for the atmosphere alone. The meal will be more than satisfactory, and the service will not disappoint. We give it a winning score!
Official website: http://www.nba.com/nbacity/NBACity_home.html
NBA City – map
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NBA City – photo gallery
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[sws_author_bio user=”GinaBrak” size=”105″ authorposts=”More OI posts by Gina” name_format=”About the author”] [/sws_author_bio]
Great review! Thanks so much for sharing your experience. We’re making our first visit to Universal Orlando next month, and NBA City looks to be right up my 11-year-old basketball-playing son’s alley. 🙂 Your first hand account clinches it–we’ll definitely have to check it out!