Formal Nights

[Sky Sweet]

Is the dress code in the Pinnacle Grill on formal nights the same as it is in the main dining room?

Thanks in advance.

[CDRMark]

Is the dress code in the Pinnacle Grill on formal nights the same as it is in the main dining room?

Thanks in advance.
Yes it is.
Have a great cruise!
Cheers
Mark

[JimVrhovac]

Think coat and tie required whenever go in for dinner.

Casual dress for lunch

Ruth & Jim

[earl_m]

Eating in the Pinnacle grill is to me is always a special tme . wear a suit
or a sport jacket and a tie.

[cruzjunkie22]

Think coat and tie required whenever go in for dinner.

Casual dress for lunch

Ruth & Jim


Is it the same charge ($30 pp) for lunch as dinner?

[RuthC]

Is it the same charge ($30 pp) for lunch as dinner?
$15 (plus tip, if you so choose) for lunch.

[cruzjunkie22]

$15 (plus tip, if you so choose) for lunch.

What type of food for the lunch?

[JimVrhovac]

Have never had lunch there but will try it this trip/

Ruth & Jim

[RevNeal]

As stated, the code is the same in the Pinnacle Grill as it is in the Main Dining Room. Hence, if it's Smart Casual Night one may have dinner in the Pinnacle dressed "Smart Casual." However, many people DO dress up more for the Pinnacle, hence don't be surprised to see men with Jackets and ties on even on Casual Nights.

As for Lunch in the Pinnacle, I actually prefer Lunch there over Dinner ... their 3-onion soup is to die for. Some of the entrees on the Pinnacle Grill Lunch Menu this last March were:

Alaskan Halibut Sandwich
Pacific Rum Beef Salad
Penne with Lemon basil Sauce and Grilled Chicken Breast
Crab & Shrimp Cake
The Pinnacle Burger
Sterling Beef Tenderloin with Oregon Blue Cheese Crust
Vegetarian Couscous

I especially like the Sterling Beef Tenderloin and the Penne with the Grilled Chicken Breast. Christopher like the Alaskan Halibut ... his was an open-faced sandwich.

I think the lunch menu varies some from ship to ship, etc., so some items may not be on it while other items may be.

When I eat dinner in the Pinnacle I always get the Porterhouse or the Filet ... depending upon how hungry I am (usually, not much). Either is always fantastic.

[Sky Sweet]

Thanks to everyone who responded to my question. I am looking forward to dining at the Pinnacle Grill during our upcoming Holland America Cruise :)

[Krazy Kruizers]

Pinnacle Lunch Menu
Menu - $15 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]

Pinnacle Grill Dinner Menu - $30 per person
You will first be given an amuse.

Starters:
Fragrant Chicken Thai Soup
Ultimate Northwest Clam Chowder
Vine Ripe Beef Stake Tomato Salad
Seasonal Greens
Dungeness Crab Cakes
Seared Duck Breast
Smoked Pleasures of the Sea

Entrees:
Filet Mignon
Bone-in Ribeye Steak
Porterhouse Steak
Lamb Rack Chops
King Salmon
Chciken Marsala
Cedar Planked Halibut with Alaskan King Crab
Cedar Planked Scampi
Grande Wild Mushroom Ravioli

Side Dishes:
Scalloped Potatoes
Creamed Spinach
Oversized Baked Potato
Lemon-Wheat Berry Basmati Rice
Sauteed Button Mushrooms
Grilled Asparagus with Bearnaise Sauce

Sweet Endings:
Not-so-classic Baked Alaska
Chocolate Volcano Cake
Lemon-Berry Angel Shortcake
Pinnacle Creme Brulee
Ice Creams
Sorbets
Fresh Fruit Plate
Assortment of Cheeses

[Krazy Kruizers]

Special Pinnacle Dinners
The Pinnacle does offer a special menu each evening besides the regular one that has been around for ages. You can choose everything on it or just one item.

For our cruises:

1st night:

Smoked Salmon Tartare - with grilled asparagus and a fresh ginger and sesame dressing served on new potato slices.

Prime rib rack of Veal with lemon thyme glazed and Sicilian style roasted vegetables.

Chocolate lemon cream tart - creamy milk chocolate ganache with a hint of lemon in a wafer anise crust.

2nd night:

Tequila shrimp and avocado cerviche - citrus marinated jumbo shrimp spiked with tequila and served with Peruvian aji.

Grilled rack of Veal Chop with lemon thryme glazed 7 Sicilian style roasted vegetables (the only difference between these 2 -- first night -- 3 small veal chops compared to 1 big chop).

Tiramisu flavored panna cotta - a rich combination of 2 classic Italian desserts served with passion fruit sorbet.

3rd night:

Grilled Sea Scallops with marjoram pomodoro coulis served on top of curried hollandaise spinach with fried capers.

Chef Rudi's Fillet Mignon with a brandy-spiked green peppercorn demi sauce.

French vanilla souffle classically served with a Grand Marnier sauce.

4th night:

Caribbean spiced Tuna Sashimi - island spiced ahi tuna accented with sesame oil, spicy sambal, sake and seaweed salad.

Lemon and Rosemary scented free range roasted half chicken with wild mushroom risotto drizzled with truffle oil.

Zinfandel-poached Bartlett pear with Italian mascarpone cream.

5th night:

Warm Maine lobster salad with grilled asparagus, fresh mesclun greens tossed in citrus dressing and pink grapefruit.

Peppercorn-crusted Monkfish with mustard vinaigrette on braised fingerling potatoes. DH tried this and loved it. There were also mixed vegatables - very good. Apparently DH was the first person to order this dish as the chef kept asking the waiters what he thought of it -- he had to come out and ask DH about it himself.

Chef Rudi's chocolate toque - our Master Chef's famous signature dish, rich chocolate Grand Marnier mousse served with strawberry compote and ornage scented cream. This is the same dessert that is served at the Master Chef dinner in th dining room.

6th night:

Fire-grilled baby romaine salad with gorganzola, five-spiced candied walnuts, Asian pear vinaigrette and port syrup.

Pan-roasted pear and pecan bread pudding with orange muscat vanilla cream sauce.

7th night:

Butternut squash soup with carmelized apple and crispy fried sage.

Grilled Diver scallops with wok-seared vegetables in Thai green curry, jasmine rice and sweet orange leek marmalade.

Frozen souffle Glace Grand Marnier with fig compote.

[Krazy Kruizers]

innacle Grill Wine Flights
They are the same each evening. You got 2 ounces of 4 different wines.

Washington World Class Whites -- $12
Johannisberg Riesling, Chateau Ste Michelle
Chardonnay Reserve, Argyle
Chardonnay, Chateau Ste Michelle
Chardonnay, Columbia Crest Ground Estates

Reigning Whites Washington -- $17
Reisling, Eroica, Dr Loosen & Chateau Ste Michelle
Viognier, McCrea Cellars
Sauvignon Blanc, Horse Heaven, Chateau Ste Michelle
Chardonnay, Apex

Shades of Northwest Reds -- $15
Pinot Noir, Van Duzer
Merlot, Canoe Ridge, Chateau Ste Michelle
Merlot, Columbia Crest Grand Estates
Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Crest Grand Estates

Washington's Red Treasures -- $29
Merlot, Maghie
Cabernet Sauvignon, Apex
Merlot, Seven Hillsm I'Ecole N 41
Cabernet Sauvignon, I' Ecole N 41, Walla Walla

[Krazy Kruizers]

DH always wears his tuxedo on formal nights to the Pinnacle.

On Smart Casual nights he wears a jacket. Sometimes we will wear a tie.

[Deb C.]

Is it considered poor "form" not to tip on top of the $30.00? :confused: In other words, does the $30 include the tip?? Thanks!

[Palms2Pines2Sea]

Deb C,

The $30 surcharge ($15 at lunch) in the Pinnacle Grill is the comprehensive fee for dining there.

It would not be considered poor "form" to not tip on top of that. In our experience, there are Pinnacle diners (us included) who do leave something extra on top of the surcharge. We are usually there enjoying great conversation, great food, and great wine for 3+ hours, and have always found the staff to be incredibly gracious and attentive for the duration!

A little something extra is very meaningful to these hardworking men and women, but absolutely not necessary.

[RevNeal]

I'm getting hungry reading this thread. :D
I'll be flying to Fort Lauderdale just 1 week from today, and boarding the Volendam 1 week from tomorrow!!! I can't believe it!!!! :)

[Deb C.]

Thanks!:cool: Deb

[RuthC]

In other words, does the $30 include the tip?? Thanks!
As Palms2Pines2Sea posted, the $30 (or $15 for lunch) does not include a tip.

A portion (small, teeny-tiny, pennies) of the $10 per day service charge does go to the Pinnacle staff. Some people think that is not enough, others think it all adds up when you remember even those not eating there are contributing.
Let your conscience be your guide.

[RevNeal]

As Palms2Pines2Sea posted, the $30 (or $15 for lunch) does not include a tip.

A portion (small, teeny-tiny, pennies) of the $10 per day service charge does go to the Pinnacle staff. Some people think that is not enough, others think it all adds up when you remember even those not eating there are contributing.
Let your conscience be your guide.

Very well put, Ruth. I always tip a little extra when I eat in the Pinnacle, but I also realize that a few pennies of everybody's Gratuity ("Service") charge goes to the Pinnacle Grill staff and that those pennies do add up.

Assuming that all passengers leave the Service Charge on their account, and only 5 cents of each person's daily Gratuity Charge goes to the Pinnacle Grill staff, then on a 10-day cruise on an S-class ship the total amount in tips that would go to the Pinnacle Staff would be -- drum roll -- .05 x 10 x 1260 = $630. Keep in mind, that figure has to be split among the Pinnacle Grill staff, and we don't know how evenly (or unevenly) the staff splits this among themselves.

That IS only .50 per person for the whole cruise. So ... I usually put down a few more dollars.

[cruzjunkie22]

Wine Sampling..

KK, thanks for that posting.. is this only done in the PG?

[cruzjunkie22]

KK, thanks for posting this... is it only available in the PG?

[terrydtx]

As Palms2Pines2Sea posted, the $30 (or $15 for lunch) does not include a tip.

A portion (small, teeny-tiny, pennies) of the $10 per day service charge does go to the Pinnacle staff. Some people think that is not enough, others think it all adds up when you remember even those not eating there are contributing.
Let your conscience be your guide.

Wow, I really feel bad, I have always thought that the extra PG ($20 now $30) per person charge was to cover extra food and gratuity charge. :o I will make sure to tip the PG wait staff in the future. Thank you Ruth for pointing this out to us. I have always found the PG service to be so exemplary.

[etmanch]

Never read a posting like this before you head to the supper table at home to eat your own boring food :D All that talk about the food in PG I think you have all convinced me to give it a try when DH and I sail the Eurodam in 2009....ohh that is a very very long time to wait for a good meal:p