Eurodam Buffet?

[vermontcruisers]

Sorry to pester with yet more questions, but is there a buffet on board Eurodam.If so,how is it?Also,is there an extra charge for "specialty" restaurants on board?We don't care for seafood so will be an issue for us?Just want to make sure we are not disappointed.Thanks,Andy.

[grsnovi]

We'll be on the Eurodam this coming Monday for the first time.

The Lido buffet serves a wide variety of dishes and if it is comparable to the Lido on the Oosterdam, you'll enjoy it. It is not always open (it does close briefly between breakfast, luch and dinner). The Pinnacle Grill (additional fee) is well regarded for its steaks. I suspect that the Tamarind will be heavily biased towards seafood-based dishes (it also has an additional charge). The Canaletto specializes in Italian and I have heard great things about their dishes. There is no additional cost but you do need to make a reservation.

There is also always room service (no additional fee).

You won't have any trouble having a great meal and avoiding seafood the entire time. My DW Cynthia is looking forward to having salmon 3x a day!

[jtl513]

The Lido is the buffet restaurant, and there's three specialty restaurants on the Euordam: the Pinnacle Grill is $10 for lunch and $20 for dinner, the pan-asian Tamarind is free for lunch (dim sum style) and $15 for dinner, and the Italian Canaletto is not open for lunch, and free for dinner. Reservations are required at the PG and Tam, and advised at the Canaletto.

I suspect that the Tamarind will be heavily biased towards seafood-based dishesThere's plenty of non-seafood choices - chicken, lamb, beef, duck, and vegetarian. My favorite is the Wasabi Tenderloin. CLICK HERE (http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Eurodam-Menu-3.html)

[grsnovi]

John - thanks for the link to the Tamarind menu! My DW Cynthia has asked me this morning to find it. I had recalled somebody pasting it in as text, but was hoping not to have to search! Your link solved my dilemma.

[RuthC]

When eating at the Lido, check both sides, as the stations can be different. For example, one side may be waffles, while the same place on the other side is omelets. At lunch, one side may have Italian, while the other side is Asian.
Oh, and the ice cream flavors can be different from one side to the other, too. ;)

[vermontcruisers]

Thanks all for the replies and the link to the menu.Is it possible to order something that may not necessarily be on the menu at any given time?

[DutchByAssociation]

Oh, and the ice cream flavors can be different from one side to the other, too. ;)

And the cookies...

*cought* Not that I've noticed though... *cough* :eek: :D

[jtl513]

Thanks all for the replies and the link to the menu.Is it possible to order something that may not necessarily be on the menu at any given time?Other than "write-ins" on the room service breakfast card while the main dining room is open, I don't think that is possible. In the dining room there are some "always offered" entrees for the "meat-and-potatoes" simple meal type people ... usually guys! :)

If you really like (or would like to try an assortment of) Indonesian foods, try the Rijsttafel in the Tamarind for an extra $5. It is not done every night, however. (Or at least it wasn't when we were on.)

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesian_rice_table

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thanks all for the replies and the link to the menu.Is it possible to order something that may not necessarily be on the menu at any given time?

At the speciality restaurants you can not order something that is not on the menu.

In the dinner room, if there is something that you want for dinner -- you need to ask either your waiter or your area captain the day before. For example, if you just want a plain iceberg lettuce salad, you order this the day before -- we have done that a couple of times.

For breakfast if you would like something like Eggs Benedict, you can write it down on the order form -- but you must select a time when the dining room is open in order to get these special items.

[grsnovi]

...try the Rijsttafel in the Tamarind

John - thanks again! My DW was asking about this too - I have heard that a minimum of four are required for an order of this.

[jtl513]

John - thanks again! My DW was asking about this too - I have heard that a minimum of four are required for an order of this.No, we were just two. It is only done on one side of the restaurant, and a "parade" of waitresses come by multiple times, each putting a spoonful or two of each dish on the very large plate. At the end they pose for a picture! On that side of the room no one can order from the regular menu. Maybe you could get it on "off night" if you had 4 or more people? :confused: I don't know.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=93628&d=1224380999

[jtl513]

In the dinner room, if there is something that you want for dinner -- you need to ask either your waiter or your area captain the day before. For example, if you just want a plain iceberg lettuce salad, you order this the day before -- we have done that a couple of times.


Near the beginning of one cruise, a man at the table next to us called the area captain over and said that for the last night he wanted catfish with lime sauce!

At first the captain thought he was joking, but he was insistent that he has it done for him on every cruise, and "you can get it and call Seattle for the recipe."

Sure enough, on the appointed day they brought out three servings of it for the table. His wife was the only one that did not get it!

Does that take nerve or what?? :):)

[Boytjie]

For breakfast if you would like something like Eggs Benedict, you can write it down on the order form -- but you must select a time when the dining room is open in order to get these special items.



What time is the dining room usually open for breakfast (we have only done that once)? I have not pay attention to dining room hours when I ordered eggs benedict for room service and I have a feeling it might have been before the dining room opened since I usually order breakfast earlyish.

[Krazy Kruizers]

What time is the dining room usually open for breakfast (we have only done that once)? I have not pay attention to dining room hours when I ordered eggs benedict for room service and I have a feeling it might have been before the dining room opened since I usually order breakfast earlyish.

On some ships the dining room opens at 7:30 on port days while on others it doesn't open until 8.

On all ships on sea days the dining room opens at 8.

Check your daily program.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Near the beginning of one cruise, a man at the table next to us called the area captain over and said that for the last night he wanted catfish with lime sauce!

At first the captain thought he was joking, but he was insistent that he has it done for him on every cruise, and "you can get it and call Seattle for the recipe."

Sure enough, on the appointed day they brought out three servings of it for the table. His wife was the only one that did not get it!

Does that take nerve or what?? :):)

That is nerve. But it takes all kinds to make up the world.

We have never asked for anything quite like that -- just iceberg lettuce.

We got to know a family on one of our cruises and they loved the chicken almond tenders and requested them for the next evening -- they got them -- about 5 per person.

[Boytjie]

Near the beginning of one cruise, a man at the table next to us called the area captain over and said that for the last night he wanted catfish with lime sauce!

At first the captain thought he was joking, but he was insistent that he has it done for him on every cruise, and "you can get it and call Seattle for the recipe."

Sure enough, on the appointed day they brought out three servings of it for the table. His wife was the only one that did not get it!

Does that take nerve or what?? :):)

Was it really cat fish? ;) Does HAL ever have cat fish on the menu? I don't care for it so have not taken notice of it being on the menu.

[grsnovi]

That is nerve.

True, but I suspect it doesn't really pose any hardship for the crew or the cruiseline.

I would guess there are routine re-supplies at various ports. Even if a re-supply wasn't scheduled, it certainly wouldn't be difficult to send an enterprising member from the chef's staff ashore to purchase three fish.

Having worked in kitchens, while the majority of meals produced will be the "assembly line" favorites, I'd also suspect that the opportunity to do something out of the ordinary would be easily accommodated (as well as a welcome relief).

It is possible that this particular passenger had catfish w/lime sauce while on a cruise and enjoys it while cruising.

I suspect if I were running the line, I'd possibly pull up the customer's history and see just how much business they were providing me and weigh that against the minor inconvenience (if any).

3 fish for one passenger doesn't seem to be a big deal - if on the otherhand the request was for something off the wall each night for a group of 25 I would guess that would have to be negotiated up front (prior to booking) but again, I suspect the line would accommodate.

[jtl513]

Was it really cat fish? ;) Does HAL ever have cat fish on the menu? I don't care for it so have not taken notice of it being on the menu.From where we sat it looked like catfish ... and I'd bet that the guy that ordered it would have said something if it wasn't! :)

DW and I don't recall ever seeing catfish in the d.r. or Lido, but since "Seattle has the recipe" I guess maybe it was offered on some early cruise the guy was on ...

I've tried it a couple of times ... once in an upscale Catfish & Crystal in St Louis, and once in a downscale place in FL. IMO it's not great or terrible. It makes a better appetizer than full meal ... like alligator tail! :D

[Boytjie]

John - thanks again! My DW was asking about this too - I have heard that a minimum of four are required for an order of this.

Everyone at the table has to order it, size apparently doesn't matter.

[Boytjie]

From where we sat it looked like catfish ... and I'd bet that the guy that ordered it would have said something if it wasn't! :)

DW and I don't recall ever seeing catfish in the d.r. or Lido, but since "Seattle has the recipe" I guess maybe it was offered on some early cruise the guy was on ...

Maybe the Seattle recipe calls for some similar fish readily available and he always got the same thing. ;)

I've tried it a couple of times ... once in an upscale Catfish & Crystal in St Louis, and once in a downscale place in FL. IMO it's not great or terrible. It makes a better appetizer than full meal ... like alligator tail! :D

Alligator is much more interesting than cat fish IMHO. :D

[jtl513]

Everyone at the table has to order it, size apparently doesn't matter.I don't know if it's always the case, but on our night everyone on the same side of the room had to get it. We were at a table for two, and there were other 2's near us.