Super Nintendo World's Piranha Plant Caprese Is Revenge On A Plate

Universal Studios Hollywood's newest park feature is called Super Nintendo World and opened to the public on February 17, 2023. The new space includes interactive activities, a Mario Kart-themed ride, souvenir shop, and even a Super Mario Bros. restaurant called Toadstool Cafe, which offers some unique menu items heavily inspired by the video game franchise's universe. The inspiration for the eatery came from Kinopio's Cafe, which is located in Universal Studios Japan and has been open since 2021.

Some of the super immersive dishes behind the new Super Mario Bros Cafe include a Super Star Chicken Salad, Princess Peach cupcake, Chef Toad's Short Rib Special, and Mario and Luigi burgers that feature the brothers' iconic red and green hats and black mustaches on top of the buns. While Super Mario Bros. fans can order dishes nodding to just about every character from Mushroom Kingdom, one particular offering at the Toadstool Cafe may satiate fans' need for revenge against a certain frustrating foe from the popular game series.

Anyone who's played "Super Mario World" and similar games knows just how frustrating it is to get caught in the vicious bite of a Piranha Plant. Well, the Piranha Plant Caprese served at the Toadstool Cafe allows fans to do the chomping instead of the other way around. Taking a Mushroom Kingdom approach to a traditional Caprese salad, the $12.99 Piranha Plant Caprese includes mixed greens topped with shaved radish and an apple vinaigrette, as well as a few slices of tomato and mozzarella with a drizzle of basil pesto. The coolest part of the dish, of course, is the "Piranha Plant" off to the side of the plate, which has jaws made of tomatoes, mozzarella polka dots, and a long, curved asparagus stem. 

This vengeful salad is one of the many vegan and vegetarian dishes on the lighter side at the restaurant. The Toadstool Cheesy Garlic Knots, Super Mushroom Soup, and Yoshi's Favorite Fruit and Veggie Salad are vegetarian-friendly, while the Tomato Soup in a Super Mushroom Bowl is vegan-approved. And even though typical theme park fare like burgers and fries feature on the menu, every detail feels uniquely Super Mario Bros.