I will readily admit that Universal CityWalk played as the date night spot for my younger years and now that I have settled down with my husband, with a child of our own, CityWalk still draws us for many visits each month. And now? Now there's something that captured my attention the moment it was announced: brunch at Bigfire!
If you haven't been baptized by Bigfire, let me briefly introduce you. Bigfire is owned and operated by Universal Orlando itself, as opposed to one of the awesome third-party spots onsite like Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Cafe. It's warm and inviting with a dash of modern American vibes. And until now, Bigfire usually doesn’t open for lunch, making Sunday brunch a special event. But a little something is missing.
Come dine with me. Find out what to order. And what you need to know before your brunch date.
Brunch at Bigfire Universal CityWalk
This open and inviting restaurant sits at the edge of CityWalk just steps from the front gate of Islands of Adventure. The wall to wall windows give a scenic outlook over CityWalk as droves of park guests make their way toward IOA for a day of adventure.
Now that brunch at Bigfire has been firing for about a month, the operating hours have been expanded to 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Everything is a la carte with about ten entrees plus five sides. Since the cuisine of Bigfire is focused on fire-kissed and rustic eats, the bulk of the brunch menu is savory eats.
Bigfire Brunch Menu
Savory Favorites
- Smoked Salmon Bagel – fresh, vibrant, and layered flavors.
- BigFire Omelet – ribeye folded into the omelet, bold flavors, hearty.
- Steak Eggs Benedict – beef tenderloin, Bearnaise sauce, tomato jam, grilled cornbread.
- Avocado Toast – colorful, fresh, and veggie-forward, with a poached egg.
- Wood Fire Steak & Eggs – indulgent, for the big appetite.
- Barbecue Shrimp & Grits – southern comfort meets upscale with smoky flavors.
- Chicken & Waffles – sweet/spicy twist with serrano-maple syrup.
Sweet Showstoppers
- Moonshine Maple French Toast – rich, boozy sauce, Chef Elvin’s favorite.
- S’mores Pancakes – decadent, campfire nostalgia on a plate.
What We Loved
As I previewed the menu, I assumed the BigFire Omelet would be the winner. As part of a small hosted media group, we each had the opportunity to view each brunch entree and then decide on one to order for ourselves.
Two folks in our group went with the BigFire Omelet, so I decided to move forward with the Avocado Toast – the colorful vegetables on the plated version we photographed caught my eye.
While we waited for our individual entrees, we opted to sample a few of the plated items.
The Smoked Salmon Bagel shocked me – I am coming back for this one! A whole bagel, everything seasoned, is cut into fourths and plated on its side with dill-chive cream cheese spread on each slice as well as smoked salmon. Then the whole row is topped with lemon zest, shaved whole egg, red onion, grape tomato-caper salad, arugula, and lemon oil. Light, flavorful, and still satisfying. A win for hot Orlando mornings!
For the rare chilly mornings that pop up in Orlando, make a dash to Bigfire brunch for the Steak Eggs Benedict. Over the years, the standard Benedict formula of English muffins topped with gooey eggs and such has lost its appeal to me. But when Connie, the manager at Bigfire, explained that Bigfire's version has grilled cornbread, I jumped at the chance for our table to share a portion.
This plate of beef tenderloin, Bearnaise sauce, tomato jam, grilled cornbread, and poached eggs should be named BigFlavor Benedict. It packs a flavorful punch in each bite.
Lastly, our table shared an order of the S'mores Pancakes. Two thick and fluffy pancakes are topped with chocolate chips, graham crackers, and marshmallows plus powdered sugar and maple syrup. For $20 it is a great plate to share with your date or with friends – I'd have a hard time imagining eating a full serving on my own.
I want to try the Moonshine Maple French Toast, which Chef Elvin himself indicated is his favorite dish, besides the Barbeque Shrimp & Grits.
The two specialty cocktails I sampled packed a heavy pour and seemed a decent value at $17 each. The Apple Pie Mimosa – Firefly® Apple Pie moonshine, Piper Sonoma® sparkling wine, and apple juice is perfect for fall. And the BigFire Refresher with Deep Eddy® Sweet Tea, grapefruit & peach vodkas, lime juice, elderflower tonic has refreshing flavors.
However, for my health, I don't drink alcohol anymore, so I loved being able to try both fresh-pressed juices. I loved them both: Green Detox with celery, green apples, cucumber, kale, lemon, pineapple and Sunshine Boost with carrots, orange, ginger, lime.
What We'd Skip
While Bigfire’s brunch menu delivered plenty of standouts, a couple of dishes didn’t quite reach the same heights for me. The Chicken & Waffles — with its serrano-maple syrup twist — had great flavor, and the texture of the chicken had an extra crunch, and the Avocado Toast — topped with a poached egg — has a nice amount of colorful veggies. Both were tasty, but they didn’t shine as brightly as some of the other offerings.
So What's Missing?
- Parking is not included
- No kids' menu
- Non-alcoholic specialty drinks
Brunch at Bigfire is a big win, overall. It's a great addition and well executed. But what's missing? A few minor things: parking is not included, so if you don't have an annual pass it is $32 to park at CityWalk before 6:00 p.m. (the exception being event nights like Halloween Horror Nights).
PRO-TIP: Parking is included when you experience Universal Great Movie Escape, so consider that for a great date at CityWalk.
For some, the next thing that is missing may be a good thing: there is no kids' menu. So this is one of the best brunches in Orlando for adults. However, since parking is not included, it would seem that most folks who take advantage of brunch at Bigfire would be folks on vacation in Orlando. And we all know most vacationers in Orlando have kids with them. However, even as a mom myself, it was nice to dine in a mostly adult dining room.
While I did enjoy the two fresh-pressed juices, I would appreciate one or two non-alcoholic cocktails or mocktails on the menu. What's the difference? Something mixed together in a tall glass with ice does give a nice feeling of being included in the “party” without the spirits, whereas the fresh-pressed juices don't have quite the same effect. The newest theme park from Universal has so many mocktails at the great Epic Universe bars and lounges, it comes as a surprise that Bigfire does not have at least one of its own.
Last Spark
Brunch at Bigfire proves that Universal CityWalk still knows how to surprise me after all these years. From the bold, savory standouts to the sweet indulgences worth sharing, it’s a dining experience that feels both special and satisfying.
I can certainly see myself, my husband, and our son heading here to refuel after an early morning in the parks. The heart of the meal burns bright, and I’ll happily be back for another round.
