Two Eurodam Dining Questions

[Carol28]

Please tell me about the Le Cirque experience. What types of food are served? This is new to me and we've sailed seven times on the DAM ships. Please share the value also.

I would also like to know about dinner on the Lido Deck. We usually go to the Dining room. Does one have to be in formal wear on formal night to eat at the Lido deck? On other nights, can one wear jeans or more relaxed clothing? What kinds of food are served?

I appreciate your comments.

[kazu]

Please tell me about the Le Cirque experience. What types of food are served? This is new to me and we've sailed seven times on the DAM ships. Please share the value also.

I would also like to know about dinner on the Lido Deck. We usually go to the Dining room. Does one have to be in formal wear on formal night to eat at the Lido deck? On other nights, can one wear jeans or more relaxed clothing? What kinds of food are served?

I appreciate your comments.

We haven't been to Le Cirque yet so I can't help you with that one although there have been threads posted with menus.

On the Lido deck you do not have to wear formal attire there on formal night (why most people eat in the Lido). the menu is the same as the Main Dining room. so on formal nights in the Lido, you can be in more casual clothing (I don't know if I would wear jeans, but that is just me). And other nights, casual clothing as well of course. hope this helps a bit :):)

[tcook052]

Please tell me about the Le Cirque experience. What types of food are served? This is new to me and we've sailed seven times on the DAM ships. Please share the value also.

Click the link below to read my review:

Recent Eurodam Le Cirque report (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1357186&highlight=)

I hope it helps answer some of your questions. :)

[coka]

On the Lido deck you do not have to wear formal attire there on formal night (why most people eat in the Lido). the menu is the same as the Main Dining room. so on formal nights in the Lido, you can be in more casual clothing (I don't know if I would wear jeans, but that is just me). And other nights, casual clothing as well of course. hope this helps a bit :):)

OH my goodness...I did not know this. I was thinking the lido is just a buffet area as on other cruise lines. So...if I do not want to dress up every evening I can go resort casual there instead of semi-formal/formal in the dining room? I am a bit confused...I read on HAL's site that out of respect for other passengers they want us to adhere to dress codes. I just overpacked for dressing up every night...well, almost every night. I will check back tomorrow morning before I leave...I might just have to repack and go a lot lighter in the clothing department. What to do ...what to do...

coka

[Krazy Kruizers]

dinner in the lido is from 5:30 - 8 pm -- it is buffet style

you will see people dressed in all types of clothing

not everything is offered in the lido as in the main dining room -- it differs by ship -- for example on the last formal night there may not be lobster tails in the lido -- the lido dinner menu will be posted at aft section of the lido area

[Krazy Kruizers]

our le cirque experience - $39 per person:

The first Le Cirque on the Nieuw Amsterdam was on Dec 2.

And it was excellent!!

The special place settings and decorations had not arrived but the food and service by the Pinnacle staff was great.

The meal was $39 per person and you could buy for $20 per person a special wine offering which was 3 glasses selected for the special dinner.

Each person was first srved an Amuse (just like the regular Pinnacle offers). It was Pate Foi Gras -- goose liver mousse with rhubarb chutney -- very good.

The appetizer was Lobster Salad "Le Cirque" -- poached lobster with haricot and citrus (I will post at a later time the recipe foe this)

Soup - Sweet Corn Soup -- prepared table side. On the bottom of the soup bowl were ground corn fritters, wood ear mushrooms and some whole kernals of corn. The corn soup -- nice and thick and very tasty with a hint of basil -- was served from a tureen.

There were 3 choices for the main menu:
Wild Halibut with leek fondue, Rocca Di Fransinello sauce -- DH had this - very flaky and tasty.
Rack of Lamb - goat cheese panisse, artichokes and arugula -- I had this -- excellent -- very tasty and meaty lamb chops -- got 2 big double ones.
Cote de Boeuf - (aged prime rib steak) - horseradish flan, sweet and sour baby beets for two. Can't comment on this.

Side Dishes:
Seasonal vegetables -- DH had them -- a mixture broccoli, summer squash, cauliflower, bamboo shoots, zuccini in a truffle oil -- excellent.
Pommes Dauphine -- I had them -- mashed potatoes made into tiny puffs and quickly fried -- good -- hot and crunchy.

Desserts:
Chocolate Souffle -- we passed on this as we had already had a couple of chocolate souffles in the Pinnacle.
Creme Brulee Le Cirque -- we both had it and loved it -- recipe will be posted at a later time.
Assortment of Sorbets - again we did not try them - so - no comment.

Wines to follow on next post.

[Krazy Kruizers]

from what i understand -- the wines selected for $20 is differing from ship - to ship

As I mentioned we chose to try the $20 per person selected wine paring.

When we sat down we were each served a glass of sparkling wine.

For the appetizer and soup we were each served a glass of Ruffino Pinot Grigio, Italy - juicy white peaches and citrus with a flinty-minerality (glass $8; bottle $39)

For the entree we were served Villa Florita Barbera D'Asti Superiore, Italy - persistent and intense, yet warm and harmonic (glass $10; bottle $54)

If you didn't want to go with that offering you could order anything from the list below -- all prices are for the bottle.

White Wine

Michel Redde Pouilly Fime, France - highly expressive nose and a mouth-smaking finish - $59

Cloudy Bat Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand - herbaceous flavors with hints of citrus fruits - $78

Marques de Caceres, Spain - delicious flavors of pears and apples - $29

Laboure-Roi Pouilly Fuisse, France - collage of white fruits flavors, lively floral undertones - $54

Franciscan Chardonnay, California - lively and lengthy on the palate with a great body - $47

Conundrum, California - peach, apricot, green melon and pear - $39

Red Wine

Meridian Pinot Noir, Italy - bing cherry with hints of strawberry, roses and violets - $37

Chateau Ste Michelle, Canon Ridge Merlot, Washington - a medium to full bodied rich, berry flavored long finish wine - $69

Perrin Reserve Cotes Du Rhone, France - full bodied, rich fruit with peppery finish - $39

Beringer Founders Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, California - bursts with cassis, black fruit and sweet brown spice - $39

Arboleda Carmenerem Chile - dark berries with plum, dark cherries and violets - 449

Castello Banfi Brunello Di Montalcino, Italy - soft and velvety with licorice, spices and cherry notes - $108

[kazu]

OH my goodness...I did not know this. I was thinking the lido is just a buffet area as on other cruise lines. So...if I do not want to dress up every evening I can go resort casual there instead of semi-formal/formal in the dining room? I am a bit confused...I read on HAL's site that out of respect for other passengers they want us to adhere to dress codes. I just overpacked for dressing up every night...well, almost every night. I will check back tomorrow morning before I leave...I might just have to repack and go a lot lighter in the clothing department. What to do ...what to do...

coka

The lido is indeed a buffet - dress there is casual (some people might be dressed up). There request to 'adhere' refers to the MDR, shows and bars, but I have seen a lot of people in different attire at the shows and bars so I wouldn't be concerned.

Note Hal has no semi formal nights. Just Formal and casual. So you can easily go the MDR for most nights if you like. As well, formal does not have to be really, really dressy. Men can wear a nice jacket and tie and women can wear a nice skirt/pants and dressy top. Personally, I don't worry about wearing the same formal outfit more than once ;)

hope this helps a bit - have a great cruise no matter what you decide :):):)