Stellar customer service, delicious food, and fun ambiance. Bar Helios is expensive, but the food and drinks are great, so I found it worth it. The view is awesome. If you're at Epic and want to treat yourself, I definitely recommend read more

The servers and hosts were very nice and addressed us by our names. That was a nice touch. The view of Epic Universe is , well, epic. The drinks were also good but slightly expensive. But the good ends there. The food was awful. The three dishes pictured cost $30 for two tiny crabcakes that were bland, $20 for a very crispy potato stack that was really bland, and $23 for a fried fish croquette that was less bland. We spent $73 and had to go somewhere else to eat because the portions were so tiny. And bland. No taste. Come for the drinks and the view, go somewhere else for the food. read more

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Be warned: management's attitude is abysmal. Before our visit, we spent some time scouring the online menu and reading reviews. One item caught our eye: the taramasalata included with the "Spreads & Mezze" dish. Bloggers recommended it, posting photos of a pale orange spread topped with roe. Menus in person described the dish as "Marinated Mediterranean olives, taramasalata, za'atar labneh, hummus, grilled pita" for $23. The online menu for Bar Helios still shows this description. We ordered the Spreads & Mezze along with several other dishes, extra sides of bread, and a round of cocktails. Easily corrected misstep 1: no one asked about allergies, host or server. Luckily we don't have any; what followed could have been a serious problem for anyone who does. Misstep 2: When we ordered the dish, the server made no mention of changes. Misstep 3: When it was dropped off by a food runner, they did not explain the dips. We noticed the dips looked different than the photos online, and none had roe on top. On first bite, it was clear that one was hummus and another was labneh. Two people tried the third dip and said it barely tasted like seafood; when I tried it, I was sure it was baba ghanoush. We did eat a portion of the dish before the server came by again, trying to figure out what it was. When he came back, we asked for clarification; he confirmed it was baba ghanoush. We expressed our disappointment - the taramasalata was the main reason we'd ordered the dish. He told us that we weren't the first to complain about this exact thing. Again, easy fixes: update the online menu; until new copies can be printed, let people who order the dish know about the change. Our server was apologetic and offered to get his manager, which we appreciated. Of the 4 members of our party, 3 of us have worked in hospitality management, so we knew what to expect - management would listen to our concerns and sincerely apologize for the situation, and maybe offer to take the dish off of our bill. We just wanted to make sure they knew about the issues. Fernando was ice-cold and downright condescending as soon as he came to our table. Even if we were all in Universal t-shirts (as were most groups around us), it was easy to glance at our table and see that we'd ordered $200+ of food and drink, so his immediate hostility was shocking. When we explained the issue and that we'd ordered the dish because we were excited about the taramasalata, Fernando's excuses varied: the menu has been updated, except for the copies on our table (which he grabbed out of our hands and kept); it isn't seafood, it's roe; it isn't roe, it's paste; you ate part of it, you should have sent it back if it wasn't what you wanted (even if we had no way of knowing that). He acted like we were rude for bringing our concerns up in the first place. After running out of ways to blame us, he went to leave without so much as an "I'm sorry", so we asked if there was anything he could do. His response was that he didn't have the ability to make adjustments to checks, and then he left, leaving us far more frustrated than we'd been before. The next time our server came by, he asked if we were ready for the check. Our baffled faces confused him; when he asked what was wrong, we told him it was fine and asked for the check, resolving to just bring our concerns to hotel management so someone might be able to benefit from the feedback. He had no idea what happened with Fernando; he went inside and we could see him trying to figure it out. Fernando himself never came back, but he did take $10 off our bill, which our server informed us of. It felt like an insult at that point - I would rather speak to a manager who listens and apologizes sincerely than get compensation (not to mention his lie about not being able to do anything). We later spoke to a front desk manager who heard our concerns, apologized, and even helped cover breakfast the next day, going above and beyond; that exemplary service is what we expect at Lowes/Universal, not being berated like children when pointing out a menu error and allergen concerns. (Ironically, when talking to the front desk manager, we mentioned the taramasalata, and he said "oh, that's the one with the fish roe!" before deflating when we said it was the item that was cut, which had us all finally cracking a smile.) Bar Helios has some kinks to work out. If you're going to go, ask your server for details on the menu items, and if you have any allergies, advocate for yourself. I hope that they can get all of the issues resolved, because the venue is beautiful and I'd love to go back, as long as I never have to speak with Fernando again. read more

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Upscale Energy with Killer Cocktails and a Fun Dessert. Visited on a Friday night and the vibe was upscale and energetic, with nice EDM-style music keeping the energy buzzing. The decor is stunning -- beautifully done and definitely adds to the experience. We were a party of six and ended up waiting about an hour to be seated with a reservation because the rain wiped out the outdoor tables. Most of the seating is designed for parties of two to four, and only those smaller groups can snag the coveted park-view tables by the window. Larger groups like ours get cozy in the lounge area toward the back or side, with couches, chairs, and low coffee tables. Since we mostly ordered appetizers, the setup worked out fine -- just not the perfect view we were hoping for. Speaking of food, we tried the crab cake, Wagyu sliders, beef skewers, calamari, and crispy chicken wings. The wings and sliders were my favorites, but everything was really solid. For dessert, we went for the "shattered rose," which was a total showstopper -- they dip a rose in liquid nitrogen and you clap it to shatter the petals all over a babka bread pudding and cardamom gelato. The bread pudding was a bit dry and not as warm or gooey as I like, and the cardamom gelato was definitely an acquired taste that didn't win me over. The cocktails were outstanding -- we tried the Athenian Milk Punch, Mount Olympus, Cinnamon Espresso Martini, and The Night Goddess, and honestly, I'd order any of them again in a heartbeat. They nailed every one. Service was okay. Nothing exceptional, and we had to remind them a couple of times about missing items. Not a dealbreaker, but worth noting. Overall, Bar Helios delivers on atmosphere and drinks, with some tasty bites and a memorable dessert experience. Would definitely come back, especially if you're into creative cocktails and a lively, upscale crowd. read more

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After a long day at Epic, it was time for some upscale food and drink. This tapas bar opened at 4 pm . The staff were professional and friendly. The cocktails were expertly made and were delicious. Equally so was the food. Miguel was amazing as was his co-bartender. We sat at the bar which was beautiful. I highly recommend this retreat in the sky. read more

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Such a cool bar!! I highly recommend requesting outdoor seating with a view of the park during the evening. Watching the evening light show is literally better from the bar than down on the ground inside the park. The food and drink is EXPENSIVE, but worth it for the view I think. I just recommend that you don't plan to have a full dinner here. The nibbles are very tasty and interesting (like octopus and squid), but small portion sizes and high price. The drinks are also very cool and themed after the four elements. read more

Full review to come, but initial notes include spectacular views and atmosphere, a very promising menu, and music that is a bit too loud and intrusive (think urban dance club). read more

Bar Helios - Seafood Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Wonderful experience with Todd, our exceptional server, who demonstrated a deep knowledge and enthusiasm for the amazing plates. Each dish was delicious and beautifully presented. The view is great, especially at night. Nice way to cap off a fun day at Epic! read more

Our server was excellent. Environment was ok...nothing really out of the ordinary...comparable to a bar in Vegas. Food was good especially the tenderloin tips. Our drinks were excellent and I would recommend. read more

Great ambiance! Amazing food! Friendly and Helpful staff. Couldn't stop looking at the ceiling. Beautiful view of Epic Universe is an added bonus. Try the grilled octopus and the charcuterie. read more

Bar Helios - Charcuterie platter from Bar Helios - Seafood Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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Bar Helios is the place to be from 8:55 PM to 9:15 PM for the light show--hands down the best view of the entire park! The cocktails are good, and while the drinks are a nice touch, I'd honestly come here just for the atmosphere. It's such a unique and relaxing spot. Overall, a really good place--perfect for a date night or just to take in the views with a drink in hand. Highly recommend catching the show here! read more

Views were amazing! Don't come here unless you sit outside because the view at night is unbelievable, you can see that whole park in all of its glory with all of the beautiful lights on. Stay until 10pm though because the light and fountain show is outstanding! The food was average but not bad at all, the chocolate moose desert was super cool and tasty. I recommend eating here if you're at the Helios. read more

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Went for a late reservation to have desserts. We ordered the Shattered Rose bread pudding and the Undersmoke chocolate mousse cake. I don't know how they smoked this cake, but it was amazing. I enjoyed every bite and couldn't believe how the smoke brought out the flavor of the cake. So delicious! The Shattered Rose is a definite must! She froze the rose with black ice, then had our son smash the rose over the plate and the petals burst all over the dessert. I was very hesitant to try it because I never had roses on my food before, but this dessert was absolutely amazing! I've never had anything like it before, just so good! My only complaint is that they don't serve coffee. I know it's a bar, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who likes coffee with dessert. Please consider adding coffee to the menu! read more

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This was a very strange and disappointing experience. My husband and I had been looking forward to this place for over a month, from when I booked it. I booked it for our honeymoon trip, and we were planning on having several drinks and dinner. I had requested that we sit outside or by a window, so we could see the view of epic universe (the only reason we wanted to go here). When we arrived I informed the host of our reservation, and he said "unfortunately we only have seats inside". I was a little annoyed since I had made a reservation pretty far in advance, but I thought they must have been busy. We were sat in a corner, with a very minor view of the window. Since the main reason we wanted to have dinner here was the view of epic universe, we decided to only have a drink and then go look at the outside seating. When we stepped outside to take some pictures we were baffled, there were ~15 open tables and one couple sitting out there! But we were sat in a corner? After I requested to sit near a view? We went from feeling mildly disappointed to feeling angry. They clearly had room to sit us by the view of epic universe, but they didn't for some reason. I would completely understand if it was too crowded or something but this was not the case. I will say the drinks were great! The bar tenders know what they are doing. And our server was fairly good, but he seemed a little annoyed that we only got drinks. Bar Helios definitely lost some money, because since it was a special occasion for us we had plans to order a lot more than two drinks. Overall, a disappointing trip that could have been an amazing one. read more

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We came to Bar Helios for drinks Thanksgiving weekend. From the moment we walked in, the staff was so friendly and accommodating. Our group of 6 had drinks and appetizers, both of which were amazing. A warning that if you are looking for a table overlooking the theme park, you can't be larger than a group of 4. The outside tables have heaters overtop which is a nice touch on a windy day! Demi was a wonderful waitress and we hope to have her every time we come in! read more

Food, drinks and service were outstanding. View of the park is amazing and the theming is just gorgeous. A must visit before going into the park. Helps you get an idea of the scope of the park. Enrique is the best bartender around. Would go back for him alone! read more

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The food and drinks here were great, and we loved the ambience. However, we had terrible service. Our waitress took 20 minutes to run our check and walked by our table many times while we waited. When we asked if we could get it run, she just looked at us and said "it takes a minute." This was after fifteen minutes of waiting. read more

I think for what this place has advertised itself to be and the price point it's at, our experience at Bar Helios definitely was underwhelming. I have years of experience working in upscale hotels and one of the first things you're trained about is greeting guests, so it was just uncomfortable walking up to the hostess stand and just being stared at. The guest should not have to be the one to greet and welcome the hostess. Our server was nice enough but a few things missed the mark. We came early, like 4:00pm so the place was not crowded at all yet our waters were not refilled and check backs at a bare minimum. I also really hate when servers drop the dessert menu after you've taken 2 bites of your food, I don't think you should feel rushed at an establishment like this. For food we ordered the Ora king salmon, fried halloumi and wagyu sliders. Everything was tasty but the wagyu sliders were dry which was a big let down considering this was raved about by bloggers. I'm not sure if our server could've asked our preferred temp for the sliders, but again those are the little things I'd expect at this price point. The decor is really special and of course the views are stunning which is part of what you're paying for, but I just feel it missed on some basic service standards. I was really excited and looking forward to trying out Bar Helios, the whole property is advertised as providing an "exceptional" experience but ours was just okay. Next time I'd probably just come back for a drink or two at the bar. read more

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I want to start by saying I eat at a lot of high-end restaurants in Miami, so I know what good quality and service look like. Unfortunately, this place missed the mark. The tomahawk was definitely not 32oz and came out cold. The flavor was fine, but not close to worth $165. The crab cake was bland and didn't taste fresh, and the portion was tiny for the price. The octopus was a decent size, but again, it didn't taste fresh. Service was also underwhelming. After finishing my appetizer, the server took my fork and never brought another one. When my entree came, I ended up eating with a knife and my kid's fork because the server didn't return for about 15-20 minutes. The ambiance and views are beautiful, no question there. But the food quality, portion sizes, and level of service just don't justify the price. read more

Great customer service exceptional food. I came here for a date night it did not disappoint. I will be returning.

The view and the drinks are amazing and the service is wonderful. They have an interesting menu of food and I recommend the beet salad. If you like beets it is something you need to try. read more

I think the atmosphere and views are absolutely beautiful and eye pleasing. However, the reasoning for the poor review is that the food options are terrible. With few options on the menu, the size of the portions you get are incredible small and then tastes terrible. I ordered the short ribs, which was awful, and my wife ordered a crab cake which was not much larger than a quarter. To top it off, the prices were way over the top. My family of 4 paid over $200 and we left looking for a place we can actually eat dinner. read more

The service, the drinks, the food, all of it amazing! Plus you can go out on the deck and have a 5 star view of the new Epic Universal Theme Park! We had the Mount Olympus, Clash of the Titans (pictured), This is Sparta, and Athenian Milk Punch - and loved each of them. The sliders and farmer's cheese were also delicious (only thing missing is a few extra pieces of bread for the cheese). read more

Bar Helios - Clash of the Titans - Seafood Near Me - Orlando, Florida

The drinks are ok but it's over priced and we left hungry becuase the food wasn't great. The service was ok and the bar itself is pretty small with nothing really curating a good vibe. read more

Food was very disappointing. Nothing was hot. Meats were tough. Very overpriced for the quality/amount. Nice view/ambiance though but would not go out of my way to return and if I did I would only get drinks. read more

My birthday dinner here was so very special! There were six of us and we all had great food, good conversation, and a good time. We shared all the 3 appetizers and loved them all! Especially the olives! Although I waited a bit long for my scallops, they were superb! At the end of our meal, a wonderful dessert was brought out and garnished with frozen red rose petals. Nice presentation! And yummy sweet treat! We will return! read more

This is a disappointment. I called a month in advance and made a reservation for my daughter and son-in-laws anniversary. I was told to wait until 8 pm so we could see the fountain show and that they would put us on that side for the celebration. Now we are here and we were told they could not do that. I was also going to come here after dinner for their signature dessert, but was told that they are a restaurant and we should eat here instead. They are not a restaurant! They are an expensive tapas bar. They sell small plates only!!! This restaurant is a disappointment. Which is sad because the food and ambiance wasn't bad, but it's not worth the price. read more

the actual service of the bar was fantastic but i couldn't recommend less not coming here if you're not a hotel guest. they will refuse to let you in for your reservation, and then charge you $25 per head if you no show. had to go back and forth with the most god awful door attendant to not get charged $50 for her mistake. read more

Insane view. If you're not staying at Helios, eat there. If you're staying at Helios with park room view, skip. Overpriced and small portions read more

My wife and I had dinner at Bar Helios and ordered the Farmer's Cheese, Fried Halloumi and the Niman Ranch Lamb Chops. For cocktails we had the Athenian Milk Punch and the Chariot of the Sun. All of the food and drinks tasted great. Our waiter did a good job checking on us often to see if we needed more water and more bread for the Farmer's Cheese. The reason why we rate Bar Helios 2 stars is that the waiter asked if we would like more breach, but weren't told it would be $4.00 more my wife and I, so an additional $8.00 for bread to enjoy the rest of the Farmer's Cheese on the plate. Price gouging us when we're already spending so much was an insult. And we could have enjoyed the view of the new park, but there is a huge concrete slab blocking the view when you're sitting down that is frustrating. To see the fountain light show, you have to stand up. We did enjoy the food and cocktails, but when we considered how much it cost and the lousy view of the park, we wouldn't do it again. read more