The Unknown Bargain: The Pinnacle Grill for Lunch

[Bfson]

While there have been many notes on this board about the wonderful Pinnacle Grill-there has been almost no mention of the bargain way to enjoy this fine dining experience. It’s lunch at the Pinnacle. It's quiet, serene and lovely.

HAL has done a horrible job of publicizing the fact that on sea days, the Pinnacle Grill is open for lunch for only $10 a person. In the evenings the Pinnacle presents a top notch, steak house style menu. At lunch, we found the same top notch service, in an elegant and quiet environment, with wonderful food that from a culinary point of view is a bit more diverse and interesting. Don’t miss this bargain.

Here’s the menu from last week (Feb 19 to 26) on the Oosterdam:


Starters:

Grilled Prawns Bruschetta with a Primavera Salsa (aged Asiago cheese and balsalmic fusion)
Mediterranean Antipasto Plate
Scallops Creme Brulee (with a caramelized parmesan wafer)
Northwest Five Onion Soup (tomato shallot soubise)
Chilled Carrot and Ginger Soup
Chiffanade of Greens and Tomato Tower Salad


Entrees:

Pacific Rim Been Salad (mesclun leaves, mangoes and lotus fruit with crispy siphon noodles)
Alaska Halibut Fillet Sandwich (sour dough bread, cilantro relish and cucumber potato salad)
Crab and Shrimp Cake (my favorite)(Exotic fruit chutney, lime Thai curry sauce and orange rice with pine nuts)
The Pinnacle Burger-aged smoked bacon, cheddar chesses and bistro style shoestring potatoes (N.B.-because of the ground meat, the Pinnacle will only serve this well done-sigh)
Sterling Silver Beef Tenderloin with Oregon blue cheese crust (grilled asparagus and scalloped potatoes)
Penne with Gilled Chicken Breast (lemon basil sauce, sundried tomatoes and argula)
Vegetarian Couscous


Desserts

Fresh strawberries the raspberry sorbet
Chocolate Brownie Decadence
Orange and Lime Panna Cotta
Ice creams and sorbets
Fruit plate

[lipoppop]

Bob, thanks for the suggestion. In May my cruise docks in Lisborn about 2pm. Now we will have lunch in the Pinnacle, go ashore and stay there until the wee hours. no need to come back for diner- grab a few tapas.


The ship overnights there.

[Bfson]

You will need to check in advance if the Pinnacle will be open for lunch that day. Normally they are closed on days in port (but on a half day, who knows??)

[Tak8]

Menu sounds great. Is this available on the Zuiderdam? It would be nice for one of the ship days.

[sail7seas]

I was aware of the luncheon they offer but it is simply too much food for us at lunchtime. If we were to eat that much at lunch, we wouldn't be able to enjoy dinner. We much prefer to enjoy a pleasant dinner than lunch as we make that a big part of our evening's entertainment.


I think it great you brought this subject up, though. For folks who have a hearty appetite or don't mind having a very light dinner, it is good they know they have a choice.

[lipoppop]

S7S, when are you going to get your avatar or whatever it is called fixed? I miss the logo very much.

[ekerr19]

S7S, when are you going to get your avatar or whatever it is called fixed? I miss the logo very much.

I thought it was just my computer acting funny... I haven't been able to see Sail's Avatar for weeks.

Sail - if you read this - is it a hosting problem?

[localady]

I wondered what the dress code was for the Pinnacle during lunch??

On the Zaandam we have 3 at sea days and it might be a nice way to dine one of the days. Sometimes we prefer a bigger noon meal and then just a snack at dinner time, in fact that is what our Dr. recommended. I am not sure I could coax the boys into dress pants during the day though.:cool:

[MandyGirl]

Tak8 - This past Thanksgiving on the Zuiderdam it was available. We inquired about it and were told it was the first week for Pinnacle Lunch.

[sail7seas]

#6 (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=3119261&postcount=6) http://boards.cruisecritic.com/images/buttons/report.gif (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/report.php?p=3119261)
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/images/statusicon/post_new.gif Today, 02:02 PM
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/images/icons/icon1.gif
S7S, when are you going to get your avatar or whatever it is called fixed? I miss the logo very much.




I thought it was just my computer acting funny... I haven't been able to see Sail's Avatar for weeks.

Sail - if you read this - is it a hosting problem?





Yes.....it is a hosting problem.

I have no clue how to remove the dreaded "red x" or how to place the avatar elsewhere for hosting. I followed the directions to click on User CP and then the little yellow box with what looks like mountains etc but it didn't eliminate the old ----now unhosted ---- gif. I have AOL so know I have a certain amount of space for hosting but no clue how to use it. (I don't have a clever ten year old to help.....unfortunately. :)

I know it's annoying to keep looking at the 'x' and I apologize. I really did try to get rid of it. At least someone (the webbie? ) shrunk it as for a long time, it was much bigger and even more annoying.

I don't much care about replacing it but would like to dump the red 'x' so I don't keep irritating others with it.

[DFD1]

Sail, I miss the logo too. Surely someone on here more knowledgable than I can help you get it sorted out again. Hope so.

[Aussie Gal]

Sail,

I am no computer whiz but when I wanted to delete my photo of the Prinsendam, I went into User CP, and then into Edit Signature. I clicked on the photo and used the delete button. That deleted the photo and I was able to put another in or leave it blank.

If you have tried this, I apologise for trying to tell you what to do, but if you haven't it is worth a try.

Jennie

[spcl4cs_gal]

I take it lunches in the Pinnacle would be semiformal?

[Tak8]

Thanks, MandyGirl. Something else to look forward to this summer on the Z.

[lgt]

Didn't the Pinnacle used to be open for lunch for Suite passengers and not cost extra? I seem to remember going there for lunch one day aboard the Zuiderdam, but don't remember a charge for it.

[mariner]

Lunch was available in the Pinnacle aboard Maasdam for $10 pp. It was also included on some tours.

Saw very few takers. And like S7S, that was way too much food for us.

I believe the dress was the same as the dining room.

Suites did not have use of the Pinnacle for breakfast/lunch aboard Maasdam like we did when they opened the Queens Room. We missed it and thought it was a nice perk.

Noticed they were checking off tables at lunch. Wonder if the home office is doing a study to decide whether to scrap lunch in the dining room altogether.

[sail7seas]

Thank you, Jennie. Those are the steps I tried in the past. After I click, Edit Signature, it brings up 'the dreaded red 'x' - -----the image (HAL logo) does not appear. It probably doesn't show because it is no longer hosted anywhere.


I just tried to click the 'x' to get rid of it. We'll see if that works.

Thanks for your help.

[sail7seas]

Whoo Hoo..... It seems it worked.


I'm sad though......no more HAL logo. :(

As to the question about dress in Pinnacle for lunch. I am very sure you would not want to wear shorts there even during the day and I do not think they would seat you dressed that way. However, neither a tie nor jacket would be necessary during the day.

If you were to wear slacks and a nice blouse/polo, I think that would be okay. Dockers and a polo (any shirt with a collar) would be fine for the gents IMO

[OCruisers]

It might NOT be open!

The Pinnacle Grill was CLOSED every day for lunch on our Veendam 14 Night cruise in January! :o

[sail7seas]

It's possible (I don't know this for sure) that it was closed due to the illness that was aboard in January. They needed all 'hands' serving in Lido and cleaning etc. They probably did not have crew to spare for lunch in Pinnacle.

[OCruisers]

S7S .... Actually, you are totally correct! The Maitre D' told us that he was "short of staff" because of the Norovirus. Also, he had problems being fully staffed for dinner ... and was not very happy about it! Unfortunately, he was not very happy about anything and told us that "HIS" restaurant was actually for evenings anyway ..... :rolleyes:

Fortunately, this man was an exception on Veendam. There were so very many others who went "way over and above" to please! :)

Happy Sailing! OCruisers :)

[Bfson]

On the O'dam the dress for lunch was always casual or better. (We saw folks in shorts and shoes even on formal dress days for lunch.)

[jaguarstyper]

Didn't the Pinnacle used to be open for lunch for Suite passengers and not cost extra? I seem to remember going there for lunch one day aboard the Zuiderdam, but don't remember a charge for it.

That was the case when we were on Zuiderdam last April. We really enjoyed eating lunch and even a few breakfasts in the Pinnacle. It was a nice, peaceful and unhurried lunch that we really enjoyed. There was no additional charge for cat S & PS pax. I am very disappointed that this perk has been done away with. It was probably the suite perk we most enjoyed.

Tim

[ekerr19]

#6 (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=3119261&postcount=6) http://boards.cruisecritic.com/images/buttons/report.gif (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/report.php?p=3119261)
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/images/statusicon/post_new.gif Today, 02:02 PM
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/images/icons/icon1.gif
S7S, when are you going to get your avatar or whatever it is called fixed? I miss the logo very much.


Yes.....it is a hosting problem.

I have no clue how to remove the dreaded "red x" or how to place the avatar elsewhere for hosting. I followed the directions to click on User CP and then the little yellow box with what looks like mountains etc but it didn't eliminate the old ----now unhosted ---- gif. I have AOL so know I have a certain amount of space for hosting but no clue how to use it. (I don't have a clever ten year old to help.....unfortunately. :)



Sail, I see you were able to remove the X, but I am sorry you couldn't keep your logo avatar - I really liked it. If I can some up with a solution I will post it... Maybe someone really computer saavy like dakrewser can help too. It's really a shame to see you lose it. :(

[dakrewser]

Maybe someone really computer saavy like dakrewser can help too. It's really a shame to see you lose it. :(

What Sail needs is a) a copy of the picture and b) a place to store (i.e., a url - right click the boat in my sig and choose "properties". You'll see a url similar to http://vquill.com/gallery/Image/happyship.gif the picture is loaded from there everytime you read a message with my signature in it.)

[sail7seas]

Thanks, ekerr and Dave....


I have a picture of the gif in 'my pictures' but only can transfer that by e-mail.

I'll ask the wonderful 'techies' who just cleaned up my computer for me.
These guys are amazing. Actually, their offices are very near my DH's and they are Big web hosts for a ton of business/folks etc. They just do all this fix it stuff for us as a favor.....:) they like my DH and he has talents/skills they sometimes have a call for.
I think that used to be called 'bartering'.....Not a bad system.



As to dress in Pinnacle for lunch.

When Pinnacle was available for us to use as Suite or PS passengers, some would come to breakfast/lunch in shorts and it was okay.

Now, it is only a 'for extra charge' restaurant and I would feel very uncomfortable going there to eat that sort of luncheon menu in shorts or a t-shirt. I do not think they would welcome that attire.

Whatever the dress for the evening is really does not apply during the day. Just because it will be a formal evening aboard, no one would expect you to wear a jacket/tie during the day.

[ROZO'SBEAU]

Back to the Pinnacle Topic at hand......
I had the $10 lunch on Rotterdam last cruise. Very nice, certainly worth the extra $10, maybe more.
Three days later a fellow passenger tells me you don't have to order what's on the menu....if you want one of the steaks they serve at night you can order that instead. Wow!
Now I don't know if that is true...it seems too good to be true. Does anybody out there have info to confirm this?
If $10 for lunch is great, what adjective do I use to describe one of those steaks for $10? (Oh yes, I am aware that I could partake on the first night of a cruise for $10, but we always choose to go to the dining room on opening night to establish a rapport with our dining stewards...it sets the tone for the rest of the cruise).
Beau

[ROZO'SBEAU]

Another question....Can you reserve for the Pinnacle in advance of embarking on the ship?...like through Port Services or something?
Beau

[dakrewser]

Another question....Can you reserve for the Pinnacle in advance of embarking on the ship?...like through Port Services or something?
Beau

Sure can. Either have your TA do it for you, or call Ships' Services (1-800-541-1576)

[sail7seas]

Have your booking number handy and your credit card when you call. They will charge your dinner directly to your credit card. You may wish to bring that bill with you when you arrive at the ship in case there is a confusion about your reservation. In the unlikely event there is no card confirming the booking in your cabin when you arrive, just show the bill and they will 'straighten out the error'.

[ROZO'SBEAU]

Thanks for the info on reservations.
Does anybody have any info about whether you can order one of the evening steaks during lunch. If that were to be so, the line would be out the door, I would imagine.
Beau

[Bfson]

I don't the direct answer to your question about the dinner steaks, but there was a filet with a bleu cheese topping on the lunch menu that was wonderful. It wasn't quite as large as the big dinner filet (but about the size of the petite dinner filet) but it was more than I could finish at lunch.

[cheric]

We had lunch in the Pinnacle on the Maasdam last week. it was a wonderful lunch but there were very few people in there. It was well worth the $10 pp. My DH put on a pair of long pants, as did I and I felt we were dressed appropriately. I would have felt uncomfortable wearing shorts in such a fine dining establishment. We had dinner there the first night on board and that was wonderful too.

[bepsf]

http://www.hollandamerica.com/images/media/img_media_corporate.gif

S7S--

I just pulled this off of the HAL corporate site....

If you use this address:
http://www.hollandamerica.com/images/media/img_media_corporate.gif (http://www.hollandamerica.com/images/media/img_media_corporate.gif)
...you can attach it to your signature as you did before.

Lemme know if you need more help...

[sail7seas]

Brian....You're the BEST!!!!

Hope I did this right. I didn't remember if I was supposed to use [ img] and [ / ] for not.

[sail7seas]

Arghhh.....I'm hopeless!! :)

[sail7seas]

It's Back.....My gif is back!!!

THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH, BRIAN.

[james j feller]

Just asking now so don't everyone get to upset.

Why do we have to pay a ransom to get better food?

I probably will do so one more time but i sailed on the ROTTERDAM and thought the grill was not worth the price.

Will be going on the RYNDAM this APRIL and will try it one more time but if it isn't good i will scream it to the heavens, pardon REV. ONEAL.

JIM

[sail7seas]

Just asking now so don't everyone get to upset.

Why do we have to pay a ransom to get better food?

I probably will do so one more time but i sailed on the ROTTERDAM and thought the grill was not worth the price.

Will be going on the RYNDAM this APRIL and will try it one more time but if it isn't good i will scream it to the heavens, pardon REV. ONEAL.

JIM


Personally, I don't think you have to 'pay a ransom' to enjoy a fine dinner on HAL. We think the dining rooms are excellent and always enjoy our dinners there.

We also like Pinnacle and the extra wonderful, premium steaks. We are often aboard 14 days and the variety is nice to have an alternative to the dining room on occassion. The Pinnacles are different decor and even more attentive service.

No one has to go there in order to have good dinners. IMO It is no hardship whatsoever to dine in the dining room for every meal.

[Brad1185]

I am going on our first Hal cruise in June. I also just looked at the menus and came to the conclusion that if you wanted a decent meal you will have to pay extra for it.

What with this "comfort food" thing? Yuck. Meatloaf, are they kidding???? looks like a lot of raw salmon, heavy meat and potatoes. Very disappointing looking. My friends just came back from a Hal cruise and did confirm my fears. All this from a susposed 5 star cruise line.

[ekerr19]

I am going on our first Hal cruise in June. I also just looked at the menus and came to the conclusion that if you wanted a decent meal you will have to pay extra for it.

What with this "comfort food" thing? Yuck. Meatloaf, are they kidding???? looks like a lot of raw salmon, heavy meat and potatoes. Very disappointing looking. My friends just came back from a Hal cruise and did confirm my fears. All this from a susposed 5 star cruise line.

I completely disagree that you will have to pay extra for decent food. We have been on numerous HAL ships and always found the food in the D/R to be very good, if not excellent.

The "comfort foods" selection is a recent addition to the menu and many people seem to like it. Personally, I've not tried it - but would consider doing so if nothing else appealed to me. Fortunately, I always find at least two or three entrees I know I would enjoy.

I am not sure which picture you are seeing that shows the Meatloaf looking like raw salmon, but I've been at a table where it was ordered and it look and smelled very good.

[Brad1185]

I should have worded it better, but the menu looks like they offer a lot of raw salmon, heavy meat and potatoes.

[sail7seas]

I am going on our first Hal cruise in June. I also just looked at the menus and came to the conclusion that if you wanted a decent meal you will have to pay extra for it.

What with this "comfort food" thing? Yuck. Meatloaf, are they kidding???? looks like a lot of raw salmon, heavy meat and potatoes. Very disappointing looking. My friends just came back from a Hal cruise and did confirm my fears. All this from a susposed 5 star cruise line.


What a shame to predetermine you won't get a decent meal in the dining room before you have even boarded the ship. If you go with a preconceived notion that you will not like the food, you may be cheating yourself of what otherwise could have been a most pleasant experience.

You don't have to order the comfort food choice if you do not wish. There are plenty of other entrees offered. The salmon, BTW, is great. I have enjoyed many a serving of Cooked Salmon. I'm delighted it is an 'always available' option.



[QUOTE[All this from a susposed 5 star cruise line.[/QUOTE]


Sad to be slamming the experience when you haven't even tried it yet.
I hope you are pleasantly surprised.....if you allow yourself that opportunity.

[QuitMyDayJob]

I still wonder if someone has the answer to the question about steak at lunch. There's another post somewhere too asking about this.

Does anyone know if you can order the fabulous steak that they offer for dinner for lunch?

[sail7seas]

Sorry.....I don't know. That would be way to large a meal for us at lunch time so we never inquired. I can't finish that huge serving at dinner ;) .

[QuitMyDayJob]

Hey, Sail7, it's all in the pre-season training! ;)

[dakrewser]

Just asking now so don't everyone get to upset.

Why do we have to pay a ransom to get better food?



Perhaps if you used less charged words people might react better. $20 is hardly a "ransom" and I wonder who you think is being held hostage? Obviously some people like the steakhouse ambience and food of the Pinnacle and some don't. If you don't like it - don't go. But don't cast aspersions at those who do.


Brad1185: There are other choices on the menu, but I'm curious as to what you were expecting before you saw the menu...

[sail7seas]

Hey, Sail7, it's all in the pre-season training! ;)

Aha....I see. That must be what I have been doing wrong. :cool: I haven't 'gone into training' prior to our cruises!!! :D

[bepsf]

S7S--


Glad you got your logo back!

I wouldn't mind a nice steak salad for lunch...

[Aussie Gal]

Brad,

We are very fussy eaters and yet we have had wonderful food on our cruises with HAL. Last year on the Prinsendam I felt we had the best food ever on a cruise. There is plenty to choose from and you don't have to order the "comfort food" which wasn't on our menus then.


I am sure you will enjoy the whole HAL experience. It is too early before the cruise to start worrying about what you will be eating. The Lido has a wonderful selection of food for breakfast and lunch and even if you didn't eat until next morning, you would certainly not starve. ;)

Jim,

As far as the Pinnacle Grill is concerned, we do not feel the need to pay $40 a couple,(with our exchange rate it works out to be more than $60Aud) for a big steak and more food. We always enjoy our meals in the dining room and do not need the added attraction of a alternative restaurant. :)

Jennie.

[james j feller]

DAKREWSER,
No aspersions intended, i just feel that if we let the cruise lines get away with charging extra for food that they could serve us at the dining room then god knows where they will stop.

If you feel good about paying them go but i just feel that the cruise lines are taking advantage of the people and one of these days it will come back and bite them in the A--.

JIM

[sail7seas]

S7S--


Glad you got your logo back!

I wouldn't mind a nice steak salad for lunch...


Brian.....You got it back For Me!!! Many, many thanks. I actually like this one even better than the one I used before.

Steak Salad for lunch sounds good to me!!! :)

Thank you, Brian.

[Brad1185]

We have gone on 25 cruises. Before I saw the menus I was expeciting something more lighter, less heavy, looking for less fat, lower cholesterol meals. Thought their menus would be more like the other cruise lines. Maybe need to relook at them.

[dakrewser]

We have gone on 25 cruises. Before I saw the menus I was expeciting something more lighter, less heavy, looking for less fat, lower cholesterol meals. Thought their menus would be more like the other cruise lines. Maybe need to relook at them.

Where did you find markedly different menus? These seem similar to those we've seen on Norwegian, Carnival, Celebrity and Renaissance. There are lighter choices, heavier choices, low-fat offerings, low-carb ofereings, etc. In other words, a little something for everybody.

[ROZO'SBEAU]

QUITMYDAYJOB....
Thanks for reasking my question.
The discussion about GIFs and meatloaf, etc. is distracting.
Beau

[bepsf]

DAKREWSER,
No aspersions intended, i just feel that if we let the cruise lines get away with charging extra for food that they could serve us at the dining room then god knows where they will stop.

If you feel good about paying them go but i just feel that the cruise lines are taking advantage of the people and one of these days it will come back and bite them in the A--.

JIM

Jim--

Its not that the lines are charging extra for the food itself - it's the limited availability of the venue that the lines are charging for.

For example, RCCL used to allow folks to enjoy their Johnny Rocket's burger joint for free, but it was so difficult for everyone trying to get in there that RCCL had to begin charging $3.75/pp in order to weed the crowds down. Cunard had to do the same thing with their Todd English restaurant on QM2 as it was near impossible to get a table reservation.

[peaches from georgia]

Jim--

Its not that the lines are charging extra for the food itself - it's the limited availability of the venue that the lines are charging for.

For example, RCCL used to allow folks to enjoy their Johnny Rocket's burger joint for free, but it was so difficult for everyone trying to get in there that RCCL had to begin charging $3.75/pp in order to weed the crowds down. Cunard had to do the same thing with their Todd English restaurant on QM2 as it was near impossible to get a table reservation.
This certainly is not the case on HAL, so far anyway, and the Pinnacle has been around several years. We've been on 3 HAL ships with Pinnacles and have eaten there many times- most of the tables are empty anytime we have been eating there. We definetely were paying for the food and service, not the reservation.

Most posts here say there never or rarely is a problem getting a reservation.

[sail7seas]

They never, ever book every table. There have been times when we tried to get a reservation and were told there were none available. This happened to us one time when we happened to be walking past Pinnacle with a Senior Officer. The restaurant was half empty. I commented that it was funny we couldn't get a booking and the place was only half full. He told me then that they never allow it to be fully booked.


We are always in a Suite and usually will ask the Concierge to make the reservation. So.....if they were going to take any more bookings, it is likely they would have taken ours. (If we had really wanted to go all that badly, I think we could have arranged it. ;) )

[adamsmark]

I'm sure they want passengers to dine liesurely, but then again I've never heard of a resturant that wants a lot of empty tables though. Resturants are usually very good at knowing how to space out reservations so that no one is rushed but they dont also leave half the tables empty when people want to eat there. 4 what reason?

From the discription of the food are you really saying the charge has nothing to do with the food. Hard to believe.

[peaches from georgia]

Well, if they are charging extra to control the crowds, are leaving a lot of tables empty and they are NOT charging for the premium food, then I wish they would serve the food in the dining room. :D

We've never had any trouble getting a reservation on a variety of nights, even by a window at the most popular dining times, so I don't know when in a cruise the problem usually arises.

[bepsf]

I can only speak from my own experience that when I was aboard Oosterdam, we had a line of folks wrapping around the atrium to make reservations on embarcation day - we were fortunate to get in on the first and last nights - and every single night the Pinnacle was jam-packed.


On Amsterdam, it wasn't quite as crowded, but it was definately a busy room...

[sail7seas]

I think the variable may be how well staffed each Pinnacle is. The staffing varies I think. It may also vary among those ships where an alternative restaurant was originally built and have their own galley and those that share the main galley.


Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Volendam and Zaandam. All Vista ships. The Pinnacles on these ships have their own galley.

All of the "S" sisters where the Pinnacle was built after original construction and where they share the main dining room galley and it makes a difference. Takes those stewards longer to go down, wait for their orders to be prepared and then return to Pinnacle with them (and keep them hot without having them steam).