Free at Sea - first, look at the cost of the gratuities on the Unlimited Drink Package (and on the Plus version of the drink package). We decided that we didn't drink enough to be worth paying the gratuities.
I have sailed on many NCL ships, but not Escape. However, I do know that one of the main dining rooms is open for breakfast most mornings (not sure if closed on port days? or ??). Also O'Sheehan's serves breakfast.
Teppanyaki is my only "must do" and I might not even do it on my next cruise because I am sailing solo. I LOVE the fried rice and main course, but don't want to sit through the "show" again. You can google and find dining room menus. They are basically the same on every ship and include some items that don't change and some items that are different each day. I believe there are 10 menus they can rotate through but that might have changed. I have always been able to find some main course I liked even though there have been a few times that I chose from the "classic entrees" that are there each time - grilled strip steak and shrimp fettucini alfredo are my go to's there. Desserts is another issue - I'm not a fan of most of the main dining room desserts. On some cruises I would leave the dining room before dessert and go have a crepe from the buffet or walnut carrot cake from O'Sheehans.