Our time aboard the Norwegian Dawn was extra special since we were given a perks package that included the Specialty Dining Options. Under normal circumstances we would not indulge (I am far too frugal and find the complimentary dining more than acceptable) but it gave us the opportunity to discover why these are such popular up-sell options for many cruisers.
We booked one night in each of the six Specialty Dining restaurants. Not only was the food exceptional, but the ambiance and service was above reproach. Without those normal standards by which to judge a restaurant we decided to do the fun to romantic scale instead. So depending on what type of night you are planning here are our rankings from Fun to Romantic.
Japanese Teppanyaki
This ranked high on the fun scale. The food was prepared table side and offered three appetizers, fried rice and a choice of seafood, beef, chicken or vegetarian mains. The chefs were well versed in their showmanship, offering a lot of laughs along with the great food. Tables were groups of eight each with their own chef and server. Since we did not book with a group we were seated with other cruisers and it was the luck of the draw if you get a fun and easy going group or not. We did not, but it didn’t diminish our enjoyment of the meal.
Los Lobos, Mexican
Any meal that includes frozen Margaritas is going to be fun! The guacamole was made fresh at the table and served with fresh baked tortilla chips – probably the best I have ever had. Our server was sweet and happy to talk. The menu offered a large selection of traditional Mexican fare. This meal inched slightly closer to the Romantic side then the Teppanyaki but still tons of fun.
Moderno, Brazilian
The traditional Brazilian way of serving grilled meats on skewers table side made this a fun option offering a variety of cuts of meats (chicken, beef, lamb, pork) along with hot sides and an excellent salad bar to start. The salads were not your usual fare instead offering some exotic ingredients and differing preparations. Ken was in his glory trying different meats prepared in different ways. I was quite content to stick with the beef and lamb. Biggest surprise was the grilled pineapple that made the rounds as well. Since you are constantly being interrupted with new options it is not as romantic as the surroundings and view suggested but the food more than made up for it on the fun scale.
Cagneys Steak House – American
Undoubtedly one of the most popular of the Specialty Dining Restaurants Cagneys offers great steaks, an abundance of sides and appetizers and great ambiance. The menu listed pretty much every size and cut of beef you could want and the chefs cooked it to perfection. We joined some new travel friends for dinner and had a very enjoyable evening. Although I do not have any complaints about Cagneys it does not rank very high on our Romantic scale, partly because we were part of a group, and also because Ken grills an amazing steak himself. It is our go to romantic dinner at home!!
La Cucina, Italian
There is nothing I love better than good Italian food. We started with bread drizzled with olive oil and balsamic, antipasto and seafood appetizers, pasta for our main of course (Kens with more seafood and mine with mushrooms) and the traditional tiramisu for dessert. The house wine was better than that served in the main dining room which was a plus. The only drawback that ranks this restaurant lower on the Romance scale than the French was its ambiance. It was a little sterile and uninspired to get a top score.
Le Bistro, French
French cuisine, a bottle of Beaujolais and an elegant setting means Le Bistro tops our list for the most Romantic restaurant. We enjoyed escargots (me for the first time), veal chops grilled to perfection and a most decadent dessert selected randomly from so many. A sniffer of French brandy allowed us to linger after dinner and really enjoy our time in this setting.
Le Bistro was the hands down Most Romantic on this cruise and will be our go to on future cruises. I now realize the appeal of these restaurants as they level up the cruise experience, especially if you are dedicated foodies. Smart planning means you can access these restaurants through perks or loyalty package options or by buying an upgraded a meal plan. At worst you will pay a la carte for menu items and even then can be worth blowing your budget.