Favorites at the Pinnacle ????

[localady]

Okay folks, after reading a post that said we talk far too much about service cutbacks etc., :( I will throw a "fun" question out to all:

"What is your favorite meal at the Pinnacle, appetizer to dessert?? What would you like to see added to the menu?"

Most of us are pretty aware of the menu and for those who aren't I am sure someone can find a link to a posted copy. Thanks for humoring me folks, I am "South Beaching" it before the trip, and want to remember why I am.:eek:

Go ahead and include all the mouthwatering details....;) Would love tips on wines that you've enjoyed with your meal if anyone has any favorites. Also what don't they service that you would like them to start serving??? Hopefully, this can be fun and informative. Thanks for playing along :)

[tonyrobin]

yes, I want to know. I'm going in July.

[GrammyPL]

Localady----First -- Call Hal Shore Services and get the first night for $10 instead of the usual $20. I love the Pinnical size phili-mon (sp).. Order that instead of the small one--- better taste. I also get the vegy mushrooms and slip them over to my steak. OHHHH--- forgot to say--- I always order a double crab appertizer. They give you 4 instead of just 2 crab cakes. By the time I get throu with the crab app--the Phili Mon with the mushrooms -are great------Hubby and I love the Volicano Cho Cake. As far as wine goes--Our last HAL cruise in June--we won a free bottle (from the Casino on a drawing) the Pinnacle. It was great===hay it was free. Penny

[localady]

Well I guess I should start, maybe it will give you some hints.We have eatten in the Pinnacle 7 or so times (I think). First let me say I have seen variation in presentation and quality from ship to ship, but generally it is some of our favorite nights on board! My favorite location for the Pinnacle is on the S class ships, as they have marvelous tables for 2 with huge windows you can request. We have been lucky, before they they have managed to honor our request. The presentation on all the ships is very nice, although until I read the HAL media release I didn't release it was 300$ a plate.:eek:

Food wise, I will usually start with either the smoked fish trio or the crab cakes (both are delicious). As a nice extra touch you are offered a couple of different waters complimentary including Pellagrino, which I love to accompany a meal like this. Then on to my favorite, their Northern mixed greens salad with pecans and dried cranberries and blue cheese crumbles on a beautiful bed of mixed greens and tossed table side in a wonderful vinegrette! Then it's on to the main course. There are many choices such as Porterhouse, Ribeye, 2 sizes Filet Milon, Rack of Lamb, and of course fish and a vegetarian entree. I alternate, sometimes I will order the Lamb which I love, and other times I have gotta just throw caution to the wind and go for the ribeye which is generally melt in your mouth good. I have never had a problem with the preparation of any meat.

For dessert I have a shoe in favorite, the Volcano cake. It is always too rich to eat it all but it is oralgasmic!:eek: The coffees are also wonderful, they have to serve a different, richer coffee in the Pinnacle. As far as wines, we usually choose a nice merlot or petite syrah which compliments but doesn't overpower the meal.

GrannyPL-We are booked the first night of our Ryndam cruise in 2 weeks at the Pinnacle. We booked early thru ship services and requested a window table for the cruise out of Vancouver...thanks for that information!

[jasl]

WOW grammy pl how do you have room the the dessert??? Everything you have mentioned is delicious, but I usually am full half way through dinner, so
I skip either the appitizer or the dessert.
Now to your question Loca friend, on our last cruise, 24 days long, we ate
six times at the Pinnacle and each time it was outstanding. My faves are
the Thai Soup, creamed spinach, scallop potato and filet mignon. You know my love for desserts and I guess the volcano cake takes first prize. As for wine Chardonnay for me, Merlot for DH.
Just thinking about the Veendammers cruise, we should all book first night,
maybe they can enlarge the restaurant, there is lots of time before we board!!

[F5Loar]

This is easy: The Clam Chowder / The Crab cakes/ The handtossed pear salad/the rack of lamb with grilled asparagus and button mushrooms and baked potato/ the volcano
Bad Choice: Surf and Turf - It's the same small lobster tail you get in main DR with a very small petite filet migon. Way too common and nothing exciting about it to pay extra for IMO.
The big or smaller filet are fine but hard to beat a good sized porterhouse too!
Never tried the bone in ribeye but looks fine too!

[RevNeal]

At the Pinnacle my favorite is any of the steak selections ... yum yum. That and the Volcano Cake. :D

[Krazy Kruizers]

:)

We have eaten at the Pinnacle Grill many, many times on various ships.

WE love the crab cakes, the Northwestern Clam Chowder (love the sherry touch), filets, lamb chops, cioppino, lobster tails (Oosterdam served 10 ounce tails), mushrooms, baked potatoes, and of course chocolate volcano cake.

We did not care for their version of Baked Alaska.

With our meals you usually order a good Washington state white wine (we aren't into reds).

After dinner - of course coffee and a sniffter of cognac.

:D

[SharonN]

Ok you're all making it sound too good. We haven't had a chance to try it yet. There was no Pinnacle on the Veendam in March. We did try the Odyssey on the Amsterdam a couple of years ago and it was ok but I'm not really into Italian. This menu sounds much more appealing to me so we're thinking of trying it on our Jan Westerdam trip. So the question is what night. The 2nd night out is our anniversary so we were thinking of doing it then. It's probably also a formal night. Does that make a difference?

[localady]

Jasl-
I think they would have to enlarge the restaurant for all of the CC's on the Veendam in 11/05 ! You are right I never get thru all of dinner so i have them wrap up a good part of the steak to be stowed in my frig for later.

Sharon-
You anniversary would be the perfect time to celebrate at the Pinnacle. The dress code there is the same as the other restaurants each night and I think that a dinner in the Pinnacle could be quite romantic!

KK- The lobster is a new addition, I don't remember it being offered before, thanks for the information !

[sail7seas]

I don't have a huge appetite but everything in Pinnacle is sooo good.

For me, a rib eye steak is fabulous as at home we normally only have filet mignons when eating steaks. (it's so much leaner). Unless I'm having a huge wave of self-control when we go to Pinnacle, I will get the rib eye...medium rare, please. :)

Being from Boston and a chowder snob, I could not believe we'd like the clam chowder but one time thought, oh well....no big deal if I don't like it so I gave it a try. It's fabulous!

The creamed spinach and delmonicos are yum but are way too much food for me. DH will usually get one or the other and I'll take a small taste.

But I never leave without a taste of the incredible Volcano Cake.

We enjoy a Chateneuf du Pape red wine; maybe a Chianti.....or a merlot. We prefer reds. I'm wondering now if there was a good Shiraz.....I don't recall.

We will surely dine in Pinnacle AT LEAST once on our upcoming Maasdam cruise. Depending upon the quality of the dining room (and where we are seated.....if they assign us our usual table), we will decide how many times to go to Pinnacle. It's nice to know we can escape a table we don't care for and still have a lovely dinner.

[localady]

S7S-

May I say you have excellent taste in your wines, chocolate and beef??.....:D
You listed my all time favorites including Chateauneuf du Pape! That and a nice steak and I am a very happy camper:cool:

[sail7seas]

It does sound awfully good right about now...can't wait to enjoy it!!

[Krazy Kruizers]

:) Lobster Tails

They were offered on the Oosterdam.

On the Maasdam the tails were smaller and came with a filet.

:)

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Is there a difference in Pinnacles between S-class ships and Vista class ships? When we were on the Zuirderdam in April 2003 it was just OK. The service was not great. We noticed at other tables they would come out and show them cuts of meat, which they did not do for us and desert cart. We really felt ignored:confused:

We did not go to the Pinnacle on the Oosterdam but did notice that it was always empty. The last few days of the cruise they started to offer "No reservations" and reduced pricing.

With all the talk we definitely want to try the Pinnacle on the Ryndam.:D

[sail7seas]

We were on Zuiderdam b-to-b in April 2003 and dined in Odyssey at Pinnacle at least 4-5 times and on every single occasion we had fabulous service. Truly faultless and our dinners were incredibly delicious. We certainly would not have kept returning if that were not the case.


The next ship we tried a Pinnacle was Maasdam and it was immediately after they opened. It was not up to the standard of ZUDM on our first visit but by the time we left the ship (b-to-b) it was getting better and better and today is as good as all of them.

Give it another chance. I think (hope) you will be pleased. If NOT...most assuredly you should speak up and tell the Maitre d' any displeasure you encounter. If they are not aware there is something amiss, they cannot make it better.

Hope it's great for you!

[reggielew]

We are planning to be on the Maasdam the week of July 24th and are planning to eat at the Pinnacle Grill. We would like to eat there on Dutch night, so I would appreciate anyone telling me what night of the week that would be. Also, does it take more than 2 hours or is the time allotted about the same as for the regular dining room? If we eat there on a night when the dress code is casual, are the men expected to wear jackets? Thanks very much for answering these questions. Only one month to go!!!

Reggie

[RevNeal]

We would like to eat there on Dutch night, so I would appreciate anyone telling me what night of the week that would be.

That's a hard one. However, if memory serves me correctly it seems that Dutch Nights usually fall on Informal night. At least, thinking back over the last several cruises this has been the case (I have photos from our Hawaii cruise showing us in jackets and ties with the Dutch hats).

One cruise we tried to arrange a Pinnacle Grill dinner on Dutch night ... I was disappointed because I didn't get to try all the Dutch "delights"!!!! :)

Also, does it take more than 2 hours or is the time allotted about the same as for the regular dining room? If we eat there on a night when the dress code is casual, are the men expected to wear jackets?

2 hours should be sufficient ... in fact, I've never had it take that long. Once we were at a table for 4 and it took right at an hour and 45 minutes. As for jackets, see the above note about Dutch nights seeming to fall on informal nights. However, I've been to the Pinnacle on casual nights (did on the Hawaii Cruise) and I wore a jacket anyway ... the atmosphere seemed (to me) to call for it. However, I've seen lots of men in the Pinnacle without a jacket on ... so, particularly on casual nights I'd feel free to go as you feel most comfortable. ;)

Ooops ... we talked about clothing!!!!! AAAAAHHHHH!

[Krazy Kruizers]

:)

No matter what the dress code is for the evening, husband has always worn either a tuxedo if it is formal, and a jacket and tie whenever the dress code is informal or casual.

Many times, in spite of the dress code being listed as casual, the men wear jackets and ties. And we have been to the Pinnacle grill on many ships over the last couple of years. (I figure we have been there over 20 times.)

:D

[sail7seas]

Ditto KK......

My DH would not ever go to Pinnacle without at least a jacket and tie unless it is formal night when he would be wearing his tuxedo or dinner jacket.

It is true that the program designates dress in all public areas for the ship and it may be a casual night when we go...that does not require a jacket. But we feel a dinner in that beautiful restaurant, of that quality, seems to call for a jacket and tie as he would wear at home at a restaurant of equal caliber. It is a special dinner in a special restaurant and decent dress just seems "more correct". (for us....not telling anyone else what they need to wear....that is "just for us").

[blg]

Hi... maybe someone can clear this up for me. I just phoned HAL and made a reservation for the Pinnacle on the Statendam, and they charged it to my credit card. Do they, when we arrive, have a notation that we have already paid for this. I just assumed that it would be charged to our shipboard account like everything else. Just don't want to be dinged twice for the same thing. Thanks in advance. We've never done the Pinnacle before and are really looking forward to it.
Barb

[localady]

Good question Barb!

I think the best thing you can do is hold on to the statement showing the charge by HAL and hope that they did as represented, and you have a confirmation in your room upon embarkation! I have done the same thing and have it going with my paperwork for our Ryndam trip in 10 days!


I will let you know how it works out for us:):cool:

Since you reserved early, I hope you asked for a window table, they are just wonderful on the Statendam, definately my favorite for romance!

[jollycruiser]

We had made reservations also before the cruise. It showed up immediately on our credit card. It was not on our shipboard bill. Think HAL as a good handle on this.

[dst]

Okay we have never eaten in the Pinacle although we are going to try it on our upcoming cruise (July 24th, Zuiderdam) But I have to aska few questions: someone mentioned Lobster tails, do you know if they are from Maine (being from Boston I am a snob) and also Saill7Seas said the chowder was good, I will be giving that a try and I guess from what every one here says I already know what I am having for dessert :)

Do you normally tip the waiter in addition to the normal being added to the account. I would like to tip the waiter something while dining separately but would be upset if that had to be pooled with all other tips?????

Thanks for this posts, its been fun anjoying all these meals with you, I feel like i have gained 15 lbs just reading

[Bobnapples]

My favorite meal is:

:D

That wonderful salad they make with the house dressing that it to die for. Wish I could get the dressing receipe to take home to make. Crab cakes for appetizer and or shrimp cocktail. Rack of lamb with asparagus. :p Forget the mint sauce, no need to wreck a good rack of lamb. A white zin for my wine. Some Rolls to soak up the juice from the meat, thats the best part. That is if you don't put it on your baked potato. For get the volcano cake, I go for the Creme Brulee. ( Hal Listen Up - Just wish they would fill the bowl they make it in so I don't have to order two them to satisfy me) :rolleyes: Coffee with a little kaulua added ;)

[sail7seas]

dst....


We always tip the stewards in Pinnacle/Odyssey. We also tip the wine steward and just about always the Maitre d'. We usually know them and they always take such excellent care of us.

If you have pre-booked your reservation with Ship Services and your credit card has been charged, they know that on board the ship. They know that EVERYONE who has made a reservation prior to arriving at the ship has been charged. It would not hurt to bring along your credit card statement as "evidence" just in case....but I sincerely doubt you will need it.

I never have lobster tails on any ships...not even in the dining room on "lobster night" as I adore the Maine hardshells. What they serve in the dining room is NOT what we are accustomed to and I don't care for it.

I cannot say for sure about Pinnacle as I have not ordered it....but do not plan.

When we want lobster, I go to our local lobster pound and get 2 1/2 pounders. I either bake stuff them with scallops or with more lobster meat or I steam them. No way any cruiseship is ever going to serve a lobster like that!!! :)

[dst]

s7s: that was a tease :( I miss the ol Maine Lobsters, although everytime I am home (2-3 times a year) my first stop is to one of the Lobstermen.....then I am a happy gal! One year for my birthday, my mom sent out two live lobsters to Seattle, they were wonderful!!!!

Thanks, I always like to tip above and beyond for great service, these people work so hard and they do it mostly to help their families and such base in their countries....

as always you have been very helpful;

[Krazy Kruizers]

:)

We had mentioned early in this thread about the great Northwestern Clam Chowder. I am not a soup person, but this is one that I always order. Husband and I both love the extra touch when they add a little sherry to the chowder once it is brought to the table.

This past May when we were on the Masdam and the new tipping policy took effect, we tipped our waitress the same amount that we did in the Pinnacle Grills on the other ships as they are not part of the $10 per person per day tips (at least that was what we were told).

Since the wine steward adds a 15% gratuity onto his bill, we adjusted that tip accordingly.

:)

[Vicar]

S7S


We New Englanders really are spoiled when it comes to fresh seafood aren't we? *LOL*

I am the same way with Italian food, between my mom, both grandmothers, and all of my aunts, I am a tough critic on Italian restaurants.

I have to ask, I was reading all the praises of the Volcano cake. What is it?


Also , that is how I make my lobsters too, with the crab stuffing. same stuffing I use for stuffed mushrooms mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmm good

[Starr Mtn]

On our recent cruise to Hawaii on the Amsterdam, the lobster served in the
Pinacle was from South Africa - much tastier and larger than that served
in the regular dining room. Throughout the cruise you could have surf and turf in the Pinacle.

[sheldrvrT6A]

dst
The chowder is great! I had the filet (Pinnacle) medium and it was great and cooked perfectly. I did tip the waiter(s) at the end of the meal. We had the baked alaska(flaming) and a bit of the V cake. Have fun.
Jerry

[westlab]

We ate in the Pinnacle Grill 2x on Osterdam's maiden voyage. The first time, we waited a long time to be seated and there was just one couple ahead of us! The service was OK. The next time, the service was wonderful!