Lunch at the Pinnacle (O)

[snorkelingsearchers]

So we are going to Alaska this summer on the O with some of our fam. Our Moms/Grandmas are not really steak people so we were thinking that we would go to the Pinnacle for dinner ourselves but would still like to take them out. We are pretty booked up in our ports, so we were thinking about doing lunch in the Pinnacle one day. I have heard the menu is different than dinner - can anyone give me some insight here? Thanks!

[Mpowered]

I can't remember the menu details right now, but I can tell you that I am not a steak person, and I was perfectly happy in the Pinnacle on our cruise earlier this month (Zuiderdam). I ate there for 5 dinners, 1 lunch, and 1 breakfast. I had seafood entrees.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Pinnacle Lunch Menu
Menu - $10 per person.

Starters:
1)Grilled Prawn Bruschetta with a primavera salsa - aged asiago cheese and balsamic fusion
2)Mediterranean antipasto plate - pesto virgin olive oil
3)Scallops creme brulee - caramelized parmesean wafer
4)Northwest five onion soup - tomato shallot soubise
5)Chilled carrot and ginger soup - creme faiche and fried sage
6)Chiffanade of greens and tomato tower salad - Italian vinaigritte
Entrees:
1)Pacific rim beef salad - mesclun leaves, mangoes and lotus fruit
2)Alaskan halibut fillet sandwich - sour dough bread, cilantro relish and cucumber potato salad
3)Crab and shrimp cake - exotic fruit chutney, lime Thai curry sauce and orange rice with pine nuts
4)The Pinnacle burger - apple smoked bacon, cheddar cheese and bistro style shoestring potatoes. This dish can be served with a low carb bun and without the potatoes.
5)Sterling silver beef tenderloin with Oregon blue cheese crust - grilled asparagus and scalloped potatoes
6)Penne with grilled chicken breast, lemon basil sauce, sun dried tomatoes and arugula
7)Vegetarian couscous - grilled vegetables and fried mint leaves and harissa

Desserts:
1)Fresh strawberries with raspberry sorbet - sugar dough gaufrette
2)Chocolate brownie decadence - an explosion of chocolate
3)Orange and lime panna cotta
4)Ice creams and sorbets - ask for the day's selections
5)Fruit plate

[Krazy Kruizers]

We ate lunch there once -- it was just as big a meal as a dinner!!

We were so stuffed that we could hardly eat at 5:45 for dinner.

[snorkelingsearchers]

Thanks guys! Both sound wonderful so maybe lunch would be a good plan for the Victoria Day (in port 6:00p-11:59p).

Does anyone have the dinner menu?:D

[sail7seas]

So we are going to Alaska this summer on the O with some of our fam. Our Moms/Grandmas are not really steak people so we were thinking that we would go to the Pinnacle for dinner ourselves but would still like to take them out. We are pretty booked up in our ports, so we were thinking about doing lunch in the Pinnacle one day. I have heard the menu is different than dinner - can anyone give me some insight here? Thanks!


The grilled salmon offered as dinner entree in Pinnacle is delicious. There are other choices aside from beef so the Moms/Grandmas should be able to also enjoy dinner in Pinnacle.

That being said, we love lunch there as well. We try to have lunch at least once each cruise.

[Typhoon1]

Lunch or dinner are fabulous at the Pinnacle.

Whichever you chose, be sure to make one of the two.

[Mpowered]

One of my favorite entrees is the crab cake appetizer. Just ask for two of 'em. Also, I tried the lobster mac and cheese on our recent cruise. It was very tasty, but it was too much pasta for me. I prefer the lobster bisque.

Joan

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thanks guys! Both sound wonderful so maybe lunch would be a good plan for the Victoria Day (in port 6:00p-11:59p).

Does anyone have the dinner menu?:D

Newest Pinnacle Menu

The Beginning:
French Onion Soup King Louis XV - beef broth with aged cognac & caramelized onions, baked with gruyere croutons
Spicy Chicken Coconut Soup - fragrant coconut milk & lemon grass
Lobster Bisque - crème fraiche & aged sherry
Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail - brandy horseradish cocktail sauce
Vine Ripened Beefsteak Tomato Salad - sliced purple onion, balsamic vinaigrette or blue cheese dressing
Baby Arugula Salad - tossed with sliced red onion, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms and a warm bacon dressing topped with smoked bacon & chopped egg
Caesar Salad - crisp romaine tossed with very own Caesar dressing, grated parmesan cheese, garlic croutons and anchovies, prepared tableside
Dungeness Crab Cakes - spiral shaved cucumber & sweet chili-mustard sauce
Pinnacle Ocean Platter - carpaccio of lightly smoked salmon, accompanied with hot smoked salmon, sea scallops and wasabi cream



The Grill:
Filet Mignon, New York Strip Steak, Bone-In Rib Eye Steak, Porterhouse - served with our own hand crafted sauces: sun-dried tomato; Master Chef's green peppercorn bearnaise; horseradish mustard; hollandaise; maitre d' garlic butter

Colorado Lamb Chops - spiced apple chutney & fresh mint jelly

Grilled Veal Chop - marinated overnight in a savory blend of rosemary, garlic & pepper vinegar with scallions

Chicken Breast - stuffed with spinach & garlic herb cheese & served with lemon garlic beurre blanc sauce

Filet Steak Diane - pan-seared medallions of beef tenderloins & enriched with mushrooms & cognac

Filet Mignon Burger - a half-pound of freshly ground beef, fin herbs & truffle-infused


Sea Food:
Broiled King Salmon - troll caught (for sustainability) in Alaskan waters, quick seared & broiled, served with your choice of lemon garlic herb splash or sesame-soy kalbi

Broiled or Poached Lobster Tail - on a bed of wilted spinach & arugula, mustard seed & "mangochurri" pesto sauce or melted butter

Cedar Planked Black Cod with Shrimp Scampi - roasted garlic & cilantro butter

New Pinnacle Signature Skewers:

Beef Delight - beef tenderloin marinated with parsley, onion, thyme, rosemary & marjoram

Tantalizing Lamb - lamb loins marinated with herbs, garlic, cumin, honey, coriandor & red chilies, served with yogurt sauce

Chicken & Turkey Temptation - with onion confit & tomato coulis

Deletable Seafood - shrimps & swordfish, seasoned with lemon, paprika, garlic, mustard, cayenne & dill

Vegetarian Zen - array of mixed vegetables seasoned with herbs de provence


Side Dishes:
Creamed Spinach, Sautéed Button Mushrooms, Sautéed Onions, Asparagus, Scalloped, Whipped, Jumbo Baked or Shoestring Potatoes and/or Basmati Rice

The Finale:
Not-So-Classic Baked Alaska, Warm Grand Marnier Chocolate Volcano Cake, Velvet Soufflé – Chocolate or Vanilla, Creamy Homemade Raspberry Cheesecake, Chocolate And Raisin Bread Pudding, Pinnacle Crème Brulee, Fresh Seasonal Fruits and Berries, Premium Ice Cream or Sorbets and/or the Assortment of International Cheeses.

[Krazy Kruizers]

One of my favorite entrees is the crab cake appetizer. Just ask for two of 'em. Also, I tried the lobster mac and cheese on our recent cruise. It was very tasty, but it was too much pasta for me. I prefer the lobster bisque.

Joan

DH tried it on our April/May cruise -- it was nothing but a soup with some pasta in it and a couple pieces of lobster on top. Horrible.

Thankfully it was gone on our recent cruises.

[momofmeg]

Thanks guys! Both sound wonderful so maybe lunch would be a good plan for the Victoria Day (in port 6:00p-11:59p).

Does anyone have the dinner menu?:D

I think the Pinnacle is open only on the Sea days.

We did lunch on the Westerdam 2 years ago, but on a sea day. I will say this, lunch was just as good, in my mind, perhaps smaller portions?

However, I am not that impressed with the Pinnacle. I do love fillet mignon. This last cruise we had 2 meals gifted to us, so we ate there. The Steak Diane,fillet mignon is good, and even the ground fillet mignon burger infused with truffles, is good. I ordered it simply because of the truffles the second dinner we had there. I would perhaps order that again, I did enjoy it, but I would tell the waiter no bun and no fries,that I want to eat it as though it is a hamburger steak. I did not want the fries or bun, and did not eat either.

One thing though, I am not really big on meat and dislike seafood and usually order vegetarian entrees. I do like to eat beef some and love a good steak though. I also like that you get asparagus, mushrooms and creamed spinach as veggie choices.

I found dinner in the main dinning room on the Zuiderdam really good, and there were more vegetarian choices there. I think if I eat at the Pinnacle again, that I would pick a sea day, and eat there for lunch.

[sail7seas]

It varies ship to ship, itinerary to itinerary but Maasdam's Pinnacle has definitely been open on some port days. On one of our recent Canada/New England cruises, we had lunch in Pinnacle on a port day. It was a port we didn't particularly enjoy nearly as much as all the others so we chose to eat aboard.

[momofmeg]

I think the Pinnacle is open only on the Sea days.



Let me clarify this statement. I meant the Pinnacle is only open for LUNCH on sea days.

[sail7seas]

Let me clarify this statement. I meant the Pinnacle is only open for LUNCH on sea days.


Yes. In my response, I mentioned LUNCH.




It varies ship to ship, itinerary to itinerary but Maasdam's Pinnacle has definitely been open on some port days. On one of our recent Canada/New England cruises, we had lunch in Pinnacle on a port day. It was a port we didn't particularly enjoy nearly as much as all the others so we chose to eat aboard.

[Mpowered]

DH tried it on our April/May cruise -- it was nothing but a soup with some pasta in it and a couple pieces of lobster on top. Horrible.

Thankfully it was gone on our recent cruises.

Sorry yours was so bad. :eek:

[Krazy Kruizers]

Sorry yours was so bad. :eek:

And DH is glad to see it gone from the menu.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Let me clarify this statement. I meant the Pinnacle is only open for LUNCH on sea days.

We have been on many different ships where the Pinnacle was open for lunch on some PORT days.

And on many ships the Pinnacle has also been closed on at least 1 sea day for the Deluxe Suite Lunch.

[momofmeg]

Sorry yours was so bad. :eek:

Joan, Tony had it the second night we had dinner there. He liked his. (BTW, his was not a soup, more of a casserole) Now I would have said it was horrible because I do not like lobster, no matter how well it was cooked. Not everyone is the same for sure. I am sure you and Tony are not alone.

[momofmeg]

We have been on many different ships where the Pinnacle was open for lunch on some PORT days.

And on many ships the Pinnacle has also been closed on at least 1 sea day for the Deluxe Suite Lunch.

I can only tell from my experience. This was true on both my recent HAL cruises. But, no I do not know about every HAL ship. I cruise other lines besides HAL and I only cruise about once a year. I did say in my post I THOUGHT the Pinnacle was not open on port days,(I do not try to represent myself as an authority, I just tell from my experience) and then I corrected myself by quoting myself to amend that I meant lunch, not all day. I was no tying to take away from Sailaway's posts. I have no idea why she thought that I was.

[momofmeg]

Okay Sailaway, we both posted at 11:11 am eastern time by my computer. So I had not even seen your post. Even if I had, it owudl not have mattered, as I was correcting my original post, since I had not posted what I meant to post.

[Mpowered]

And DH is glad to see it gone from the menu.

Well, I figured someone would tell me it's not on the menu anymore, but it WAS on the menu on the Zuiderdam earlier this month, and I did order it, and I did find it tasty. Obviously, your mileage may vary, and that is the essence of Cruise Critic. I do get tired of being told I'm wrong, however. I'm not pointing my finger - I'm just sayin'.

Joan

[Mpowered]

Joan, Tony had it the second night we had dinner there. He liked his. (BTW, his was not a soup, more of a casserole) Now I would have said it was horrible because I do not like lobster, no matter how well it was cooked. Not everyone is the same for sure. I am sure you and Tony are not alone.

I'm just waiting for someone to tell me it's not on the menu anymore, and therefore I could not possibly have ordered it.;)

Joan

[momofmeg]

I'm just waiting for someone to tell me it's not on the menu anymore, and therefore I could not possibly have ordered it.;)

Joan

LOL! BTW-what was it that you were told was no longer on the menu when you had it last week? Tony may have had that also.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Well, I figured someone would tell me it's not on the menu anymore, but it WAS on the menu on the Zuiderdam earlier this month, and I did order it, and I did find it tasty. Obviously, your mileage may vary, and that is the essence of Cruise Critic. I do get tired of being told I'm wrong, however. I'm not pointing my finger - I'm just sayin'.

Joan

Maybe the Zuiderdam brought it back to their ship.

It was on the menu on our Oct 24th cruise -- but the new menu came out during our Nov 3rd cruise -- and it was gone.

That was when the Kabobs were added.

[sail7seas]

We sailed with another couple in August on Maasdam and we all wanted to taste the mac and lobster but no one wanted it for dinner. The steward heard us talking and offered us an appetizer size to share. It was delicious! :) Not soupy at all. It was the consistency one expects for such a casserole.

We all know each Chef cooks differently and we all know not every dish turns out exactly the same every time the same Chef makes it. Maybe it was a fill in Chef when KK's DH ordered it and the usual Chef was ill or not working for whatever reason.

Whatever.......

We all thought the mac and lobster Yum!

[momofmeg]

We sailed with another couple in August on Maasdam and we all wanted to taste the mac and lobster but no one wanted it for dinner. The steward heard us talking and offered us an appetizer size to share. It was delicious! :) Not soupy at all. It was the consistency one expects for such a casserole.

We all know each Chef cooks differently and we all know not every dish turns out exactly the same every time the same Chef makes it. Maybe it was a fill in Chef when KK's DH ordered it and the usual Chef was ill or not working for whatever reason.

Whatever.......

We all thought the mac and lobster Yum!


Okay so it was the lobster and mac. Yes, Tony had it. I thought from Joan,( M-Power) that you were discussing something else. I am easily confused, I guess.

[sail7seas]

You are REALLY confused.

What you were doubting me about was whether Pinnacle is open for lunch on Port days.

The answer is sometimes Yes and sometimes No.
If you have the inclination or interest, you could review the thread and sort out the various posts and posters. I think you twice referred to a poster "sailaway" but I don't see any posts by such a person in this thread. Maybe I missed them.

It's okay :) :). I get confused here often. ;)

[RedmondCruiser]

On our last cruise on the Oosterdam they had a surf and turf in the Pinnacle. The surf was butterflied prawns and it was great. I wonder if this was something special ?

[Mpowered]

Okay so it was the lobster and mac. Yes, Tony had it. I thought from Joan,( M-Power) that you were discussing something else. I am easily confused, I guess.

Sorry if I contributed to the confusion, M. :confused: I just call it chemo brain. :p But I DID have lobster mac on the Zuiderdam this month. My husband remembers it, so I'm sure it really happened. :rolleyes:

Joan

[snorkelingsearchers]

Wow not only am I get planning advice but ordering advice too! You guys are the best!:D

I really like doing the specialty restaurant thing at least once per cruise and if the lunch and dinner menus are different then I would love to eat there at least one for lunch.

Now if I can only figure out when the formal nights are and what days they will be open for lunch. I prefer making reservations before I get on board that way I don't have to worry about it. And now to hijack my own thread. Can you do this for the spa pass as well? Do I have to go through my TA?

[kelhair]

Wow.

Wonder why so many are afraid to post???

[momofmeg]

Sorry if I contributed to the confusion, M. :confused: I just call it chemo brain. :p But I DID have lobster mac on the Zuiderdam this month. My husband remembers it, so I'm sure it really happened. :rolleyes:

Joan

Joan, I don't think it was you but me. I get confused easily, and I can't blame it on chemo. When I replied to you I was referring to Tony having the lobster mac. But from your reply to someone else, I was not sure we were on the "same page," and perhaps you thought I meant something else.

[cruzisme]

Sounds like lunch at the Pinnacle will be fun and delicious
We will check to see if it is open at lunch or only for dinners on sea and on port days and if I remember, will try to post that info here
we will be on the Eurodam and it is possible that menus change per ship
Thank you for posting the menu as it looks wonderful!:)

[Copper10-8]

Well, I figured someone would tell me it's not on the menu anymore, but it WAS on the menu on the Zuiderdam earlier this month, and I did order it, and I did find it tasty. Obviously, your mileage may vary, and that is the essence of Cruise Critic. I do get tired of being told I'm wrong, however. I'm not pointing my finger - I'm just sayin'.

Joan

Touche!;)

[Krazy Kruizers]

Sounds like lunch at the Pinnacle will be fun and delicious
We will check to see if it is open at lunch or only for dinners on sea and on port days and if I remember, will try to post that info here
we will be on the Eurodam and it is possible that menus change per ship
Thank you for posting the menu as it looks wonderful!:)

The lunch Pinnacle menu has been the same for years -- it is the same on all ships.

[momofmeg]

Sounds like lunch at the Pinnacle will be fun and delicious
We will check to see if it is open at lunch or only for dinners on sea and on port days and if I remember, will try to post that info here
we will be on the Eurodam and it is possible that menus change per ship
Thank you for posting the menu as it looks wonderful!:)

Yes, that is best. Check the day you board.

[callmedeb]

When my Dad and I were planning our Alaskan cruise for last May someone mentioned having lunch in the Pinacle on the day you cruise Glacier Bay. I don't know if that's on your itinerary, but it was a wonderful experience. Especially since the Captain was kind enought to turn the boat so were were gazing at the big glacier (Marjorie?) for our entire lunch.

Something to think about!

Cheers,

Deb

[Mpowered]

Touche!;)

Thank you very much. :cool:

[momofmeg]

Thank you very much. :cool:

Ditto from me Copper!

[RVRCLC]

Yea! I just figured out how to add someone to the ignore list.
It makes reading posts so much more pleasant when you don't have to look at the huge print.

[sail7seas]

For some of us, it is much easier to read bold print. I am one of those people. I find the darker the print, the easier on my eyes.

I strain with pale print and small font.
I don't mean for it to be hard on someone else's eyes.

[momofmeg]

At one time I thought bold print was "shouting," (I equated it with typing in all caps) but as my eyes have started having problems I have come to realize that perhaps some may be using bold print because of their eye sight. (or lack of eyesight)

I do not have a problem with bold print. If I have issues with other posters,it has nothing to do with what type print they use. I just wish all would treat others nicely.

[FrankNJ]

Now lately I have been enjoying the reduced size entrees they have been serving in the
main dining room on Hal and find it a good way not to eat too much....
But having said that , Will they allow you to order more than one entree , or appetizer per person in the Pinnacle grille ?
Thanks

[RuthC]

Will they allow you to order more than one entree , or appetizer per person in the Pinnacle grille ?
Thanks
You're allowed to order more than one of everything in the Pinnacle. But, if you order another entrée you will be charged for it.

[FrankNJ]

will they charge for an added appetizer or just the entrees ?
Thanks

[Krazy Kruizers]

You can order as many sides, appetizers and desserts as you want -- no extra charge.

Only the entrees will they charge you extra for.

[RuthC]

will they charge for an added appetizer or just the entrees ?
Thanks
:confused: Thought I covered that:
But, if you order another entrée you will be charged for it.