On our last trip to Epic Universe, Mr. Garlic and I finally got to try Das Stakehaus. This spooky, vampire-themed quick-service restaurant, located inside the Dark Universe portal, has been on my must-try list since our very first visit.
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Location & Atmosphere:
Enter the Dark Universe portal and step into Darkmoor Village. Look to your right to find Das Stakehaus, themed as an old stone inn built over ancient, vampire-ridden catacombs. (Get it? Stake house.)
Near the heavy wooden doors, you'll find an electronic menu, along with a vampire "familiar" handing out paper copies.
Once inside, follow the passageway down toward the catacombs and the ordering area.
One important note: since this is a quick-service restaurant, you'll need to have a table number before ordering at the register.
Continue deeper into the catacombs to reach the main dining area. Stone walls line the space, decorated with spooky details and, yes, vampires staked to the walls in every form imaginable. The wooden tables and chairs vary in size, making it easy to accommodate different group sizes. Each table includes a table number and a QR code for mobile ordering.
Near the exit, step through another set of wooden doors to find a fairly large outdoor patio, complete with even more staked vampires and yellow lanterns hanging from the ceiling. This is where I chose to sit, directly beneath three very realistic vampires pinned to the wall.
We visited around 11:00 a.m., and while there were a few guests inside the main dining room, we had the patio entirely to ourselves.
The theming at Das Stakehaus is absolutely gorgeous and fully immersive, right down to the smallest details. If you're a fan of spooky, monstrous environments or vampire lore, this is a place you should at least walk through.
That said, if you're traveling with kids who are easily frightened, this might be one to skip.
Menu Overview:
The Das Stakehaus menu features an array of spooky-themed sandwiches, pub-fare, meaty "stakes" (skewers), and a handful of sweets. For those looking for an adult beverage, there are several beers and ciders available to pair with your meal.
Portion sizes aren't huge, but they're definitely enough to satisfy one person. Options range from lighter choices, like the Forager Salad, to more comforting, hearty fare, such as the Das Burger.
(Find the full and current Das Stakehaus menu here.)
Service & Ordering:
Das Stakehaus is a quick-service restaurant, and like most Universal quick-service locations, it relies heavily on mobile ordering through the Universal app. There is also an option to order at the register, but you'll need to have a table number before placing your order.
If you choose mobile ordering, simply scan the QR code on your table to get started. From there, you can place your full order, including alcoholic beverages, dietary notes, and payment, directly through the app.
Once your order is placed and checked out, a Team Member, or in this case, a vampire familiar, will deliver everything right to your table. On our visit, the timing was pretty quick: drinks arrived within just a few minutes, and the full food order took no more than 10 minutes.
What We Ordered:
On this visit, we ordered:
Darkthorne Mead
Blackcurrant, boysenberry, and vanilla with a pink peppercorn infusion
$16 (as of our last visit)
Das Burger
Seared Angus burger with tomato pepper chutney, dill pickle aioli, white cheddar cheese, grilled onions, hot cherry peppers, jalapeño bacon, on an artisan bun, served with fries
$19
As some of you may know, I try to eat mostly gluten-free and lower carb to help manage my autoimmune issues. Because of that, I ordered the black bun on the side so Mr. Garlic could at least try it.
Darkthorne Mead:
I've had the Darkthorne Mead before on a previous trip to Burning Blade Tavern, and I wanted to see if my thoughts on it stayed the same, and they did. The pour at Das Stakehaus felt a bit smaller than what I received at the other location, and honestly, a little too small for the price.
The mead has an ABV of 6.3%, but it doesn't taste alcoholic at all. Flavor-wise, it's very sweet and tangy, almost identical to Welch's grape juice. If you enjoy fruity, juice-like drinks, this will probably be right up your alley.
Not a favorite for me, but still tasty, and possibly a repeat in the future.
Das Burger:
The burger patty was surprisingly good for a theme park burger. It was thick and substantial, and tasted like real grilled meat rather than the foam-like puck you often get at quick-service locations. The patty itself leaned a bit salty, which I actually liked.
Once all the toppings were combined, the strongest flavor notes were dill and tomato, with just a hint of heat from the peppers. Mr. Garlic tried the black bun and described it as "tasting just like a Burger King bun," which probably gives you a pretty clear idea of the texture and flavor.
The burger comes with a side of thick-cut "stake" fries, seasoned with standard season salt. They were fluffy on the inside, though not especially crispy.
Portion-wise, the meal is definitely enough to fill one person, or, as we did, easy to split as a snack. Presentation is better than most quick-service restaurants. It's not fine dining, but the black bun and tomato jam "blood" tie in nicely with the theming.
Overall, I really appreciated that the burger used real meat and that the toppings felt a bit more gourmet than average theme park food. I could absolutely see myself ordering it again, after I try a few other menu items first.
Know Before You Go:
- Service Style: Das Stakehaus is a quick-service restaurant, meaning you will not have a traditional server.
- Reservations: No reservation is required.
- Ordering: Like most quick-service locations at Universal, this restaurant relies heavily on mobile ordering.
- Pro Tip: I highly recommend downloading the Universal app before your trip for easy access to menus, maps, mobile ordering, and ride wait times.
- Hours: Open daily from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
- Seating: There is ample indoor and outdoor seating available.
- Crowds: This is one of the least busy restaurants in the park, making it a great option during peak times.
- Portions: Portion sizes are large enough to fill up an adult.
All in all, I really liked Das Stakehaus. The theming and décor are top-notch, especially if you're a fan of spooky, immersive environments, and the food is a step above a lot of typical theme park fare.
It's a solid stop if you want something filling without sacrificing atmosphere.
So tell me, what would you want to try here first?
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