Casual dining questions - Has anyone tried it that can give me some info?

[crazy4cruzin]

I would like to know as much as possible about the casual dining that is offered each evening in the Topsider buffet area. I would like to try Palo one evening and I thought this casual dining would be good to bring my children to for a quick dinner (they don't eat very much, just pick), and then after dropping them off at the children's program, my husband and I could go to Palo for a leisurely dinner.

My questions are: Do they serve a similar menu as the other dining rooms do for that night? Is it buffet style dining or does a waiter take your order? Is it much quicker than eating in the dining room? Do I need to make reservations?

Thanks for any info you could provide.

[TYMAN]

Topsider is a buffet....lot's of good food fast! Usually Carved Roast Beef, chicken dinners, 3 or 4 other dishes. All you can eat....great for kids that don't like to sit down for an hour or more. No reservations required for Topsider...

[TheWog]

It won't have the exact same menu as offered in the dining room, but the food was good. It can be pretty quick. You go and choose your own food, but the waiters will clear your plates and get your drinks.

[sweet angel]

If you do this, my suggestion would be to NOT do it on the night you're scheduled to be an Animator's Palate. Your kids may not appreciate Tritons/Lumieres or even Parrot Cay, but I'll be they love the changing walls at Animators.


Another option, you could get them hotdogs, hamburgers, etc at Pluto's Doghouse -- especially if they're not big eaters.

[Ella2]

At dinner, Topsider's is NOT a buffet, it becomes a "bistro" with table service and standard menu. Not the same as in the dining rooms, but with plenty of selections. It's a great alternative to the main restaurants if you don't feel like dressing for dinner and want a QUIETER place to dine. :) (Edited to add...have they changed this to a buffet for dinner? Been over a year since I've been on DCL; they had the menu service when I last sailed.)

BUT, that said, I agree with the other posters and wouldn't go THERE before heading to Palo. Use the fast food places or ROOM SERVICE...much simpler for feeding the kids. Or you could always have them signed into the kid's programming in time for them to eat dinner with the other kids in their age group.

[TYMAN]

It is now a Buffet..

[crazy4cruzin]

Thanks everyone for the great info!

[frani]

Does anyone know if this is on all ships or just the Majic?

[TYMAN]

Both the Wonder and the Magic.