Pretzels in all shapes and sizes are sold in Orlando area theme parks. You can get pretzels with cheese, pizza stuffed pretzels, and even jalapeno pretzels. On Universal Orlando property reside three different Auntie Anne’s Pretzel stands. Many of the full-service restaurants offer some form of pretzel appetizer. In addition, several dining options have sandwiches/burgers with pretzel buns. I reached the conclusion that I should have invested in pretzels a long time ago for such a time as this.

One full-service place that sells pretzel appetizers goes by the name of Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville. This third-party restaurant possesses a long history at Universal Orlando CityWalk. In fact, this restaurant opened back in 1999 when CityWalk itself opened. If you live near a Margaritaville restaurant, then you are familiar with the menu here. Having said that, this place fits the vibes and image of CityWalk reasonably well. As I have said in other places, the patio here offers a great escape from a busy day inside Islands of Adventure for a lunch break.

The Margaritaville pretzel appetizer comes in fluffy pretzel sticks form. These pretzel sticks cost $11.95. You get three large pretzel sticks. They are served warm with mustard sauce and the “house-made” queso.

So how were these pretzel sticks?

Begin captain obvious, they tasted like pretzels. The exterior provides a crunchy outer shell. The interior felt soft as you would expect for a decent pretzel. However, neither of these textures rated higher than a regular well-prepared pretzel. The flavor of the pretzel seems fine but nothing great.

However, with queso as a key dipping sauce, the pretzel could simply be a medium to enjoy. The queso and mustard tasted good. They blended with the pretzel in a sensible fashion. Yet, they tasted adequate not spectacular. Nothing about this appetizer tasted bad. Yet, for full-service dining, guests should expect more.

If you have a picky eater or in a group of them, this appetizer will keep them quiet for a little while. Still, if I wanted a good pretzel appetizer, I would go to NBC Sports Grill and Brew way before this.

If this pretzel appetizer cost $8 or $9, then this review would talk about the high value of this appetizer. However, with the Volcano Nachos costing only $10 more for far better flavor and way larger portion size, this pretzel appetizer rates as simply average. If you want an appetizer here, get the Volcano Nachos. At least in that case, you will not feel short changed.

As always, eat like you mean it!