Sometimes when you are on an Orlando area theme park vacation, you really want to watch a sporting event. Depending on your location, your ability to find a good place to watch presents some challenges. With some prominent big-name sports bars closing in the Orlando area, the options decreased recently. On a positive note, all visitors to Universal Orlando can easily visit the NBC Sports Grill and Brew at Universal Orlando CityWalk.

NBC Sports Grill and Brew replaced the infamous NASCAR Sports Grill. In addition, NBC Sports Grill and Brew offers a large amount of seating indoors and a significant amount of seating outdoors. NBC Sports Grill and Brew, due to seating options, remains one of the easier places to get a reservation for in CityWalk. Once you enter, you will see a plethora of TV screens to view sporting events.

So, you got a table, what should you order?

The menu offers many expected types of sports bar food. The burgers here get solid reviews. They tend to be well prepared. The menu tells you all beef burgers are made with a half-pound of Creekstone Farms Premium Black Angus Beef. Each burger comes with a choice of French fries or tater tots.

One of the better burgers at NBC Sports Grill and Brew is the Smokehouse Stack Burger. This burger costs $17.95. The menu description reads beef burger, smoked brisket, smoked pork, smoked Gouda, caramelized onions, (and) BBQ sauce on a toasted brioche bun.

So how was my experience with this burger? I ordered the burger prepared medium well. The burger patty was well prepared. The seasoning of the burger patty rates excellent. I felt the burger was prepared closer to well done than medium well. However, that did not take away from my positive experience.

As you might imagine with the list of ingredients, this burger offers a potentially messy proposition. Depending on the amount of BBQ sauce on burger, the potential mess factor rises exponentially. Since I love all types of BBQ sauce that displayed an issue. I survived with minimal damage though. The brisket, pork, and gouda cheese all tasted good. The flavors together with the BBQ sauce and onions can be overwhelming. I enjoyed this combination, however, you should be aware of potential flavor overload. The burger patty quality shined when I ate this. Despite all the flavor filled topping, the burger still starred in this menu item.

Sadly, the fries were just okay. I expected better quality. They lacked salt or other seasoning on this day.

If you visit to watch some sports, this burger could help with your time at NBC Sports Grill and Brew. Better burgers exist at Universal Orlando. However, this one ranks in the top 15% at Universal Orlando. Yet, this one makes for a great meal while you watch your team play on the plethora of TV screens at NBC Sports Grill and Brew.

As always, eat like you mean it!