On its first day of operation, the UPNT team ventured out to Universal Helios Grand Hotel to put the menu at Bar Helios through its paces. But is it worth a stop on your next Universal vacation? Read on for our review and find out.
Bar Helios at Universal Helios Grand Hotel Review
Interior
Bar Helios is the rooftop bar at Universal Helios Grand Hotel, which just celebrated its grand opening ahead of Annual Passholder previews for Epic Universe. Here, you can get 360-degree views of Epic Universe, enjoy an intimate dining setting, and sample a menu featuring burgers and sliders, salads, seafood, and creative tapas.
The bar is the centerpiece of the venue, surrounded by seating and nested under a golden star map.
Other decor in the venue focuses on white, gold, and black tones, with plenty of texture.
At night, the view from this venue will be stunning, especially from the balcony. We definitely want to come back and see what the space has to offer after dark.
Menu
Signature Cocktails
- THIS IS SPARTA – $18.00
Cruzan Single Barrel Rum, Bulliet Rye, Aperol, Ancho Reyes Verde, RIPE Lime Sour. - TROJAN HORSE – $19.00
Patrón Silver, Domaine De Canton, Reàl Red Pepper, Monin Cantaloupe, lime juice. - ATHENIAN MILK PUNCH – $26.00
Angel’s Envy Helios Barrel Selection, Metaxa Ouzo, mint tea, lemon juice, cane syrup, Greek yogurt syrup. - GREEK GOD – $22.00
Dill and olive oil-infused Grey Goose, caper-infused dry vermouth. - THE ILIAD & ODYSSEY – $18.00
SelvaRey White Rum, mint and lime oleo, cucumber, lime juice, club soda. - PROMETHEUS – $21.00
Hennessy VS, Disaronno Amaretto, lemon juice, honey syrup. - ATLAS – $18.00
Mount Gay Rum, Grand Marnier, lemon juice, fig syrup. - APOLLO OLD FASHIONED – $24.00
Patrón Añejo, cinnamon and sherry syrup, bitters. - MOUNT OLYMPUS – $19.00
Hendrick’s Gin, St~Germain, lemon and lavender cordial, lime juice, mint, Ferrari Brut. - NECTAR OF THE GODS – $20.00
Cruzan Single Barrel Rum, Grand Marnier, peach yogurt syrup, lime jice, cane syrup. - CLASH OF THE TITANS – $18.00
Tanqueray Gin, Feta Honey, clarified lemon juice, St~Germain, egg whites. - THE NIGHT GODDESS – $19.00
Ketel One Vodka, Pama, pomegranate molasses, lemon juice, ginger beer. - EOS & SELENE – $18.00
SelvaRey White Rum, sherry cinnamon syrup, lemon juice, ouzo. - MEDUSA – $19.00
The Botanist Gin, za’atar agave, Luxardo Maraschino, lemon juice, Fever-Tree Grapefruit. - PANDORA’S BOX – $21.00
Golden raisin-infused Grey Goose, Belle de Brillet Pear, clarified lemon juice, Fino Sherry.
For the Table, Chilled on Ice, Sashimi and Crudos, and Bar Helios Desserts
For the Table
- SPREADS & MEZZE – $23.00
Marinated Mediterranean olives, taramosalata, za’atar labneh, hummus, grilled pita. - HERITAGE CRISPY CHICKEN WINGS -$24.00
Honey lime, pomegranate, labneh. - CHARCUTERIE – $27.00
Prosciutto di Parma, bresaola, tartufo salami, mostarda, pickled vegetables, grilled focaccia, olio verde. - SPRING PEA & CHORIZO CORQUETTE – $21.00
Summer citrus ricotta. - CRUNCHY CRAB CAKE – $32.00
Lemon prosecco sauce, caviar. - WAGYU BEEF SLIDERS – $26.00
Kibbeh spiced mayo, aged cheddar, charred onions, arugula. - CHARRED OCTOPUS – $25.00
Crispy herb potatoes, olives, salsa verde, The Villages Farm brassica leaves. - HOT BUTTER CRISPY CALAMARI – $22.00
Pickled Turkish pepper, herbs, rich tomato garlic sauce. - BEEF SKEWER – $29.00
Chimichurri, garlic sauce. Gluten-free. - FRIED HALLOUMI – $19.00
Spiced honey, kibbeh. - CONFIT PORK BELLY – $22.00
Corn purée, finger lime, chili. - FARMER’S CHEESE – $25.00
Whipped farmer’s cheese, honeycomb, citrus, local seasonal fruit, pistachio, grilled focaccia.
Chilled on Ice
Served by the half or full dozen with choice of harissa cocktail or pink peppercorn mignonette sauce.
- FRESH OYSTERS – Market Price
- POACHED JUMBO PRAWNS – Market Price
- BLUE CRAB CLAWS – Market Price
Sashimi & Crudos
- SEA SCALLOP CRUDO – $29.00
Sour orange vinaigrette, Persian cucumber, Aleppo, pistachio. Gluten-free. - BLUEFIN TUNA – $25.00
Chili crunch oil, capers, olio verde. Gluent-free. - ORA KING SALMON – $27.00
Serrano citrus sauce, crispy leek. Gluten-free. - SEAFOOD TOWER – $225.00
Florida blue crab claws, poached Florida prawns, oyster (East Coast) and tuna sashimi.
Bar Helios Desserts
- UNDER SMOKE – $17.00
Chocolate mousse, chocolate soil, caramel. - TROPICAL SUMMER – $15.00
Vanilla bean crème, mango sorbet, passion fruit, oat crumble. - THE SHATTERED ROSE – $32.00
An interactive dessert experience. Babka bread pudding, cardamom gelato.
Bottled Beer, Draft Beer, and Wines by the Glass
Domestic (Bottled)
- BUDWEISER – $10.00
- BUD LIGHT – $10.00
- SAMUEL ADAMS SEASONAL – $10.00
- FAT TIRE – $10.00
Import (Bottled)
- CORONA EXTRA – $11.00
- CORONA PREMIER – $11.00
- HEINEKEN – $11.00
- HEINEKEN 0.0 – $11.00
- DOS EQUIS – $11.00
- BIRRA BALADIN ITALIAN IPA – $13.00
- BIRRA BALADIN NAZIONALE ITALIAN BLONDE ALE – $13.00
- DUVEL BELGIAN LAGER – $13.00
Draft Beer
20 oz.
- MODELO – $14.50
- MICHELOB ULTRA – $13.50
- STELLA ARTOIS – $14.50
- VOODOO RANGER IPA – $14.50
- FLORIDA AVENUE “LUMINESCENCE” HAZY IPA – $14.50
- BUD LIGHT – $13.50
- BLUE MOON – $13.50
- CROOKED CAN CLOUD CHASER – $14.50
Wines by the Glass
Prosecco
- LUNETTA – $14.00 | $56.00
Italy - JEIO BISOL ROSÉ – $16.00 | $64.00
Italy
Rosé Frizzante
- ELIO PERRONE ‘BIGARO’ BRACHETTO – $16.00 | $64.00
Italy
Sparkling
- FERRARI ‘BRUT’ – $25.00 | $100.00
Italy
Champagne
- NICOLAS FEUILLATE ‘BRUT’ – $38.00 | $150.00
France
Chardonnay
- MER SOLEIL ‘RESERVE’ – $15.00 | $60.00
California - DUCKHORN – $18.00 | $72.00
California - CHEVALIER DE LA CRÉE, MONTAGNY – $26.00 | $104.00
Burgundy, France
Sauvignon Blanc
- WITHER HILLS – $15.00 | $60.00
New Zealand - BENOIT CHAUVEAU POUILLY-FUMÉ – $20.00 | $80.00
France
Pinot Grigio
- BERTANI – $15.00 | $60.00
Italy
Assyrtiko
- ANATOLIKOS – $25.00 | $100.00
Thrace, Greece
Rosé
- MAS LA CHEVALIERE – $16.00 | $64.00
France - CHÂTEAU D’ESCLANS ‘WHISPERING ANGEL’ – $17.00 | $68.00
France
Pinot Noir
- BLOOMHOUSE BY ARGYLE – $16.00 | $64.00
Oregon - FRANK FAMILY – $27.00 | $105.00
Napa, California
Merlot
- MARKHAM ‘SIX STACK’ – $15.00 | $60.00
California
Malbec
- BODEGAS CARO ARUMA BY LAFITE ROTHSCHILD – $12.00 | $48.00
Argentina
Tempranillo
- MUGA ‘EL ANDÉN DE LA ESTACIÓN RIOJA – $17.00 | $80.00
Spain
Cabernet Sauvignon
- DAOU – $16.00 | $64.00
California - CANVASBACK BY DUCKHORN – $20.00 | $80.00
California - EBERLE, ‘VINEYARD SELECTION’ – $24.00 | $90.00
Paso Robles, California
Bordeaux
- LES LÉGENDES BY LAFITE ROTHSCHILD – $15.00 | $60.00
France
Red Blend
- SELLA & MOSCA – $15.00 | $60.00
Sardinia, Italy - E. GUIGAL CÔTES DU RHÔNE – $16.00 | $64.00
France - THE PESSIMIST – $16.00 | $64.00
California - BOOKER HARVEY & HARRIET – $18.00 | $72.00
Paso Robles, California - THE PRISONER – $25.00 | $100.00
California
Cocktail Reviews
Eos & Selene – $18
SelvaRey White Rum, sherry, cinnamon syrup, lemon juice, ouzo
This is different and very difficult to describe. It has a very upfront lemon flavor, but not sour. It’s not as sharp as we thought it would be, and you get a lot of the lemon zest right on the nose as you sip. It’s quite smooth and very good, but we were just not sure of what to expect.
Rating out of 7: 4
Lavender Lemonade Mocktail – $12
This mocktail is off-menu, and was made for us by a bartender. The team at Bar Helios is experimenting to come up with mocktail ideas for the menu. This is very good, nice and lemon-y, with more bite and tartness. It’s a refreshing, elevated lemonade.
We were told that this is proving to be a popular creation, and will probably make it onto the regular menu at some point in the future.
Rating out of 7: 5
Athenian Milk Punch – $26
Angel’s Envy Helios Barrel Selection, Metaxa Ouzo, mint tea, lemon juice, cane syrup, Greek yogurt syrup
What’s odd about this drink is that it’s supposed to be bourbon, but it’s clear! This is due to a clarification process of the bourbon. The mint garnish is a little bit excessive for our tastes. It has flavors that are reminiscent of an Old Fashioned, but the bourbon flavor is not super forward. We would definitely drink this again, it’s very refreshing and not heavy at all. It’s not often we have a bourbon that doesn’t taste like bourbon at all.
Rating out of 7: 4
Mount Olympus – $19
Hendrick’s Gin, St~Germain, lemon and lavender cordial, lime juice, mint, Ferrari Brut.
This is very mint-forward, even though the lavender garnish is right in your face. There is a lot of mint in the drinks at Bar Helios overall, and we’re not sure if we like it. That being said, part of our group does like this drink and finds the floral, lavender taste very enjoyable. You can definitely taste the gin in this too, if you’re a fan of that.
Rating out of 7: 3
Pandora’s Box – $21
Golden raisin-infused Grey Goose, Belle de Brillet Pear, clarified lemon juice, Fino Sherry
This is basically just vodka and raisins as far as the flavor goes, potentially more raisins than vodka. It’s very strong, and we’re not a fan of the aftertaste. You also definitely get the pear flavor, but the lemon juice is not overpowering. We think going with a golden raisin flavor is a weird choice, and we’re not sure if we’d get this again.
Rating out of 7: 3
For the Table Reviews
Heritage Crispy Chicken Wings – $24
Honey lime, pomegranate, labneh
These wings are crispy and not too messy, which is a plus for us. The wings are juicy and covered in a sweet glaze. There’s not a lot of flavor here, and we wish that there was a bit more char on the wings. The portion is great for sharing, but there’s nothing super remarkable about these wings.
Rating out of 7: 3
Crunchy Crab Cake – $32
Lemon prosecco sauce, caviar
We almost don’t want to say how much this costs, but there is a large helping of caviar and gold leaf on top. This is very dill-forward, so if you don’t like dill, we would suggest you absolutely stay away from this. The lemon prosecco cream sauce is fantastic. The crab is a little more fishy than we would’ve thought.
Sadly, the caviar and gold leaf can’t save this for some in our review group, as it’s too much of a slap to the face of dill; however, other members of our party loved it.
Rating out of 7: If you don’t like dill, this is a 2. If you do like dill, it’s a 5.
Wagyu Beef Sliders – $26
Kibbeh spiced mayo, aged cheddar, charred onions, arugula
These sliders are fantastic! The flavor and consistency of the wagyu beef is really great. The charred onions are delicious, and the arugula offers a nice green flavor. There’s also a crunch in there too, likely from the onions. We loved these.
Rating out of 7: 7
Farmer’s Cheese – $25
Whipped farmer’s cheese, honeycomb, citrus, local seasonal fruit, pistachio, grilled focaccia
This is how the farmers do it! The cheese is very creamy, and offers different zones of flavors to mix and try. The focaccia is perfect, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. We think this is great for sharing, because you get a lot of cheese and focaccia.
Rating out of 7: 6
Charred Octopus – $25
Crispy herb potatoes, olives, salsa verde, The Villages Farm brassica leaves
The octopus has an amazing texture and is perfectly cooked, it’s not chewy at all. The salsa verde has a strong kick, and the potatoes are also great. That being said, some in our party thought the octopus was a little bit fishy in flavor and overcooked. Obviously, octopus is not for everyone, but if you enjoy it or are an adventurous eater, we’d recommend you try it.
Rating out of 7: 4
Fried Halloumi – $19
Spiced honey, kibbeh
Halloumi is a solid, more dense cheese, so you can fry it. These are tiny cheese cubes covered in a honey drizzle. We think these are really good. The cheese is a bit more substantial and is phenomenal when paired with the hot honey.
Rating out of 7: 6
Bar Helios Desserts Reviews
Under Smoke – $17
Chocolate mousse, chocolate soil, caramel
This came presented in a dome filled with smoke. The tumbleweed-like tuile garnish on top tastes like smoke; we thought it was going to be like cotton candy, but it’s much firmer and brittle. The wafer underneath also tastes like smoke.
There’s gold leaf on the chocolate mousse, and if you like chocolate, you’re going to like the mousse. It’s smooth and creamy, and the chocolate “dirt” also has a little hint of smoke mixed in with the chocolate. We can honestly say we’ve never had a smoked dessert, and we think this might have a more narrow appeal than a standard chocolate dessert.
Rating out of 7: 4
The Shattered Rose – $32
An interactive dessert experience. Babka bread pudding, cardamom gelato
This is an “interactive dessert experience,” in which a rose is dipped in liquid nitrogen, and you can “smash” it over the bread pudding.
It never occurred to us to eat a rose. The cardamom gelato is very flavorful, and the bread pudding is great. This isn’t as gooey and sickeningly sweet as your average bread pudding; it’s more like a sweet bread with a delicious vanilla sauce. And it’s warm, which we love. Cardamom is not normally a flavor we would associate with a dessert, but it works really well here. The rose petals are cool for the presentation. We think this is better than Under Smoke, but the cost is a bit high.
Rating out of 7: 5
Review Video
Have you dined at Bar Helios since Universal Helios Grand Hotel opened to guests? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and stay tuned for more Epic Universe coverage!
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For more Universal Studios news from around the world, follow Universal Parks News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news, visit WDWNT.