A foodie guide to dining on the breakaway.

[rocky55]

Dinner on Wed: Le Bistro

As far as food goes this was my favorite!!! Almost everything was so delicious!!!! The decor inside is very pretty. I know some people have complained that the outside dining is too loud. That would have not bothered me. I would have felt like I was eating outside in a city. We opted for inside seating just because the chairs looked more comfortable and the tables were bigger. I first sat at a half booth but the booth was too low for the table and too soft, so I asked to be moved to a regular table which they did without hesitation.

App. My daughter had french onion soup - very good. I had the escargot soooooo good! They give you 3 types of bread, and dipping in that oil from the escargot was divine. (Mouth watering again.) Even my daughter -who never tried escargot loved it! They did also serve with the bread a crisp bread with some sort of spread on it. It was good, not amazing. For dinner, we shared coq co van - again good but amazing. We also had fruits de mer. This was my favorite meal on the ship. It is lobster,shrimp, scallops and fennel in a puff pastry in a vermouth and chive cream sauce. Their was a $10 surcharge for this over the regular price, but worth every penny. The seafood was fresh, the pastry and light and crunchy and the sauce was perfect and definitely did not overwhelm the dish. Yum Yum Yum! Dessert was also out of this world!!!! We had what the server recommended, vanilla creme brulee and chocolate napoleon. We also ordered the warm apple tatin. (A side note, I knew you could not order extra at Ocean, I didn't have a desire to so I am not sure the rule still applies. At Le Bistro the waitress asked if we wanted to order another app, a salad, anything, so they obviously don't have that rule there. Thats why I knew I could order the third dessert without a extra charge which is nice.) I am not normally a creme brulee person, but this was amazing. The chocolate napoleon was also one of the best desserts I have ever had. It was a flourless chocolate cake, hazelnut crunch, some other divine ingredients and ice cream. The apple was also very good but the other two were so good I couldn't compare. I also had a cappuccino which was very good, not the best I have had.

The service was good but not as attentive as Ocean or Cagney's. EX checking in with you after you start eating your course to make sure you like it.

Bottom line: I would def recommend this one. It was $20 a person and well worth it.

 

Another side note, I did go to Buffet a couple times to get a green salad and some fruit at times during the cruise. This part of the buffet was easy to navigate and the fruit and salad was always fresh. (I hate when places serve brown edge lettuce!) I would bring it back to my room and eat it on my balcony.

 

 

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[Cruisegirl6]

Hi Rocky!!

 

Oh my gosh you and I have the very same thoughts on these specialty restaurants, its wonderful reading your review on them. Le Bistro was my favorite too!

 

NLH Arizona, we had different steaks in Cagneys no wonder I had the NY Strip and you had the filet! I can't eat seasoning on my steak it contains gluten so I am like you some salt and pepper that is all. I love the Palm in LA and the one in Orlando is not as good, Maestros in Beverly Hills went there probably wont go back but Chicago was very good. Peter Luger is one of my favorites when I go to NY we always make sure we go there, now I want steak lol.

 

Any others Rocky you really doing a wonderful job explaining all the dining. You make it so pleasant and I want more. :p

[rocky55]

Lyndamr

Thank you for your kind words. I will do more tonight! I was so excited to try the different restaurants.

 

 

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[tx121]

Love Le Bistro!! Looking forward to this restaurant again on my next cruise!! =)

[NLH Arizona]

Hi Rocky!!

 

Oh my gosh you and I have the very same thoughts on these specialty restaurants, its wonderful reading your review on them. Le Bistro was my favorite too!

 

NLH Arizona, we had different steaks in Cagneys no wonder I had the NY Strip and you had the filet! I can't eat seasoning on my steak it contains gluten so I am like you some salt and pepper that is all. I love the Palm in LA and the one in Orlando is not as good, Maestros in Beverly Hills went there probably wont go back but Chicago was very good. Peter Luger is one of my favorites when I go to NY we always make sure we go there, now I want steak lol.

 

Any others Rocky you really doing a wonderful job explaining all the dining. You make it so pleasant and I want more. :p

I'm craving a steak as well, but I'm in South Lake Tahoe on a road trip and the friends here want Italian, so I guess it is steak another day.

 

If you are ever in Minneapolis, try Manny's. I've been to the Palm in Los Angeles (where some friends have their picture up on the wall), Chicago and Nashville and all were good. I also like Pappas Brothers in Dallas.

[Cruisegirl6]

Rocky55 I can't wait for more!! :D

 

NLH I keep Manny's in mind if I go there. Looks like we both not going to have our steak dinner but tomorrow is another day. ;)

[rocky55]

Thursday: 2nd port day

We were leaving the ship early, so I ordered room service the night before. Same breakfast as other day. Service was good. This time they called to let me know it was on its way and also called soon after to make sure it was to my liking. Of course I stopped to get coffee at the Atrium Cafe on my way out.

We spent the day touring Bermuda. For lunch we ate at the cafe at the caves. (Def recommend the caves. We did it on our own not through the ship). It was a nice lunch. It is a place you order and bring to your table. I order the chef salad (the girl behind the counter rec it) It was fresh and a perfect size. My daughter ordered a turkey wrap. Again very good. After the tour we went across the street to Bailey's Ice Cream store. (They sell Bailey's Ice cream at the caves cafe, but have many more flavors at the actual store) Great ice cream. It is known to be the best on the island. I got Bailey's Irish Creme flavor (yes there is some alcohol in that flavor) and reeses pieces. My daughter got oreo and vanilla. Also both great and so creamy!! Def go if you can.

Than in the late afternoon we got formal tea at the Hamilton Fairmont. I did not like one thing I ate. Scones were too heavy and tasted stale. Sandwiches were just plain weird, the jelly seemed like a cheap jar version. It was expensive also. I would def not go there.

 

 

 

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[Cruisegirl6]

We did the same thing Caves a must unfortunately we didn't eat there we went to the Swizzle Inn for those famous swizzle rum drinks not good just ok. We also did the Hamilton Fairmont high tea we said the same thing lol

 

More do we get more soon! LOL

[rocky55]

Dinner: Manhattan Dining Room (Complimentary)

I did hear a women from the first night say she waited over an hour to get a table. I didn't wait at all. We went about 7:45. I think the free dining rooms are more crowded the first couple of nights. That is what I observed and heard others say as well. Cagney's on the first night was pretty empty.

Our waiter was busy, so I guess the assistant waitor asked if I minded if he took the order. I didn't mind one bit. My daughter got a pork and vegetable spring roll for an app. It was very good. I just got a house salad. It was also good. For dinner, my daughter got teriyaki sesame chicken kabobs. I got mahi-mahi with artichokes, tomatoes, peppers and olives. Both were good. Did they taste "gourmet"? no, but they were good. We didn't get dessert.

That was our only experience for dinner in the free dining room. I will give my assessment at the end what I think regarding the difference.

Bottom line: I do think it is a great included option. Especially when they have the Burn the Floor Dancers there. I didn't see them but heard it was great. (We saw the show which was great, just not the dancers during dinner.)

Friday: final port day.

We slept in very late so we missed breakfast completely. We went to lunch at the Uptown Grill. Deck 16 I think, aft. I saw a lot of the officers eating there, good sign! You order what you want at the counter. They have paninis, burgers, coleslaw, potato salad etc. They are also open for breakfast where you can get eggs and such. I am not sure if they are open for dinner. My daughter had guess - a cheeseburger, french fries, and the salad I encouraged her to have. I had a rueben and salad. The rueben was pretty good. The bread was a little dry and I am used to them putting a little butter or oil on the outside before they put it in the panini machine. Some of the lettuce there was a little brown, but most was good. It is outside but covered.

Bottom line: I would def go there for lunch a couple of times. I am def going to try breakfast there on my Nov cruise.

 

Afternoon snack: my daughter got gelato from the gelato store on the Boardwalk. You have to pay for this. She didn't like it at all, and ice cream is one of her favorite foods. (Isn't it most of ours) I tried it and agreed. We both much preferred the free soft serve ice cream from the buffet.

 

Dinner at Moderno's the Brazalian steak house.

It is a very pretty restaurant, and they do have outside seating at the end of the Broadwalk. It was too hot to sit outside for us that night.

They have a great salad bar with all kinds of things. Cheeses, soups, all kinds of salads. It was fun to go to the salad and try a little of a lot of things. I will start by saying that at this point in the trip, I was getting very full from eating much more than I am used to, so I was not too hungry getting there. The salads were all good. Than they start carving all the types of meats at your table. You put your card to green to tell them to keep bringing you food and red when you are all done. Cont in another post.

 

 

 

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[Cruisegirl6]

Hi Rocky!!

 

Curious if this happened to you, but with us they constantly brought the chicken thighs, sausage and the ribs (we thought they were horrible the ribs), we did get the steak but had to ask for them to come around for seconds did this happen to you.

 

I loved that salad bar wished they offered it just for lunch!

[rocky55]

The meats I didn't love. Again, I wasn't that hungry and they were greasy and mostly overcooked, even when I requested more rare. Their was a chicken one that was very good. We couldn't eat much of meat, so this might not be the fairest review. We also wanted to save some room for dessert. Before I get to that. I wish I could remember his name, but our server was the friendliest best one I had on the cruise. He just always had a smile, and seemed genuinely interested in us. When it was time to order dessert, he told us our options, I don't remember them, because none appealed to me. He could tell that and offered to get us a dessert from Cagney's which is right next door to this one. When I heard this, I remembered the Oreo cheesecake from the first night, and ordered that. It was just as good. I also wanted coffee and ask for a cappuccino and it came up how much I liked it from the Atrium Cafe, and he told me he could get me the same. He was sooo nice.

Bottom line: If you are a big group, especially with kids, I think they would find it fun with the salad bar and the people coming around with the different kinds of meats. The Hibachi one was fun too (next dinners review) but a lot of people have had that in their life, but not this. You can also sit outside on a nice night. You have to like meat though. For just adults, and you want just one, I would do Le Bistro. I will give you my order of what I think you should do at the end.

 

Sat. Boo hoo last full day.

Breakfast: O'sheehans

No wait. Probably around 10. They didn't have oatmeal on the menu. I asked if they had any, and the waiter said he would get it for me from the kitchen upstairs by the buffet. So nice! I also had egg whites which they got right this time. Very nice breakfast. My daughter had french toast again and she liked it.

 

Lunch: Ocean Blue on the waterfront.

We tried to go to the Noodle bar, but they wouldn't sit us because we were in bathingsuits and our towels. I was totally fine with this. I am kinda glad anyway because it was very smokey being right next to the casino. The lunch was closed in the dining room, so was the sushi bar. We didn't feel like going to the Irish pub again, and saw that Ocean Blue Waterfront was still open. Good thing for you to know if it is past 2 and you are hungry and want something different like we did. It is as it says, on the Waterfront. We ordered Crab toast and a lobster roll. We sat outside. It is so nice to have this option at so many restaurants on this ship. The crab toast was a crab salad on a Piece of toast, the crab didn't taste good to either of us, we didn't eat it. The lobster roll, Real pieces of lobster salad on a roll was delicious. I would def get that again. The menu is limited.

Bottom line: I would go if the dining room is closed for lunch, you don't want the crowds of the buffet and you want a small snack (or a big one).

 

 

 

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[rocky55]

Lyndamr: I also thought the ribs were horrible. I couldn't eat them. I didn't have to ask for seconds because I wasn't hungry.

 

 

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[rocky55]

Dinner: Teppanaki Hibachi restaurant

This looks like your typical Hibachi restaurant. I will start out by saying that our chef was the best, most entertaining chef I have ever had in a Hibachi restaurant, and I eaten in a lot of them in my lifetime. He had us all signing and clapping our hands. The soup was very good. The seaweed salad was good, not great. A little to much mayo dressing for me. The fried rice was good, a little bland. I ordered the shrimp/filet combo. The shrimp was good, especially with the two sauces that they served with it. The steak tasted off to me. I did eat most of it though because I was quite hungry. My daughter ordered the same thing, but didn't eat her steak because of the off taste. I will say that my stomach was off the whole next day. Not sure why. The dessert was either fresh fruit with 2 kinds of dipping sauces. It was refreshing. The other was green tea cake, which my daughter got. It was not good. Too spongey and weird taste. My daughter didn't like it either and didn't eat. it.

Bottom line: If you have kids and have never been to one - go! I have heard other people love the food. If you have been to one a lot, and have kids, maybe try Moderno. If you want to splurge like I did, do both. (If you have kids)

 

Sunday morning: Breakfast in the room

 

I didn't get to try La Cucina. Again heard mixed reviews. You can sit outside there. So if you are just adults, this is the order of what I would try. If you can only do one go to Le Bistro for the best food! If you can do only one more and money if a factor, get sushi on the waterfront (I know I keep calling it the Broadwalk). If money is not an issue, I would go to Ocean Blue next, the food is good and the service is great. I would next do Cagney's, I do think the ability to sit outside is amazing and it is nice and quiet at the end of the Waterfront. I wouldn't pre plan anything else (except The Cirque show) and play it by ear.

 

With Kids I would still say go to Le Bistro if you children would like it. If not sit with them at the Buffet and if they like the camp (my daughter loved it) to to Le Bistro when they are there. Again Teppankai if your child hasn't seen that before, or Moderno if they have.

 

Also, don't forget CARLOS BAKERY!!!!!! That is a must for everyone. If you are going Nov.3 please save me some!!!!

 

 

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[Cruisegirl6]

Rocky is back hi Rocky! You have made this a very fun sounding review and even though things were lacking (and I totally agree with you on EVERYTHING) you had made this post very fun to read. Will you be speaking about any other items, entertainment, different types of food, service etc. lol I guess I asking too much but this was so enjoyable. ;):D:rolleyes::)

Edited July 17, 2013 by lyndamr

[rocky55]

Final thoughts. I did learn on the ship that between 12-5 each day you can make reservations at the three main dining rooms for dinner that evening, so I would take advantage of that. I know a lot of people have complained about all the pay for dining. I loved having all those options. I would go to a few, and the main dining rooms if you don't want to go most nights. I would go to one the first night when the main dining rooms are the most crowded. Sitting outside during sail away is amazing.

 

Bon appetit everyone!!!!

 

 

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[rocky55]

Lyndamr:

I am going again in Nov with both my kids, and my son who is autistic. I want to talk about my experience with that. Any questions though please feel free to ask

 

 

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[Cruisegirl6]

Wonderful Rocky it be nice going with the kids to, they all will have a great time. Looking forward to that review when you get back.

Edited July 17, 2013 by lyndamr

[Terpsince74]

Great review Rocky!

[rocky55]

Terpsince74: Thank you for the compliment. It was so nice meeting you! Thank you for sharing some of the meals with us!! Next time we have to do Carlo's together!!!!

 

 

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[nancynana9950]

Great review Rocky! Where would I go to make dining reservations for MDR between 12-5? Can it be done on the touch screens?

 

 

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[bonniboo1]

Thank you for all of your info. I really enjoyed your posts. You are a true "glass half full" person. Wishing you another delightful cruise in November. Myself, I can't wait for May.

 

Bonni:(

[rocky55]

nancynana9950:

I only ate in the main dining room one evening, and I just showed up. You can call the 'reservations' button on your phone and I think you can do that from your TV. I know you can do speciality dining that way. I liked doing it before because it was all done, and that expense was already paid for. I do understand some people prefer to just be more free though on a cruise. I just wanted to make sure I got in. Enjoy your cruise!!! Any more questions, pleasee free feel to ask.

 

 

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[rocky55]

Bonniboo1:

I am glad you enjoyed it! I am looking forward to going again. Where do you think you will eat at?

 

 

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[Coastalbreezes]

Thank you for your review, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

One thing I would like to point out is the excessive levels of sodium used in the food, particularly in Teppanyaki (salt AND tons of soy sauce), Moderno (every skewer of meat was screaming with salt) and Cagney's (the "garlic" shrimp dinner should have been called "sodium" shrimp!).

 

When I was on Breakaway in May, I had been on Weight Watchers since January and had really lowered my sodium intake. On our first night, we dined at Teppanyaki and the next morning, I awoke to find my hands and ankles severely swollen. It dawned on me it was all the salt in the meal. Ditto after Moderno and after eating the shrimp dinner at Cagney's.

 

I am a firm believer that food can taste great without as much salt and I just want other passengers, especially people on diets or with high blood pressure to be aware when dining on Breakaway.

 

Tracy

[SteveH2508]

Thank you for your review, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

One thing I would like to point out is the excessive levels of sodium used in the food, particularly in Teppanyaki (salt AND tons of soy sauce), Moderno (every skewer of meat was screaming with salt) and Cagney's (the "garlic" shrimp dinner should have been called "sodium" shrimp!).

 

When I was on Breakaway in May, I had been on Weight Watchers since January and had really lowered my sodium intake. On our first night, we dined at Teppanyaki and the next morning, I awoke to find my hands and ankles severely swollen. It dawned on me it was all the salt in the meal. Ditto after Moderno and after eating the shrimp dinner at Cagney's.

 

I am a firm believer that food can taste great without as much salt and I just want other passengers, especially people on diets or with high blood pressure to be aware when dining on Breakaway.

 

Tracy

 

This is not a problem unique to Breakaway. We found similar issues on the Jade last Christmas. Moderno's was the worst culprit - the lamb chops were inedibly salty - Osso Buco in La Cucina was oversalted too.

 

We always try to remember to ask for no salt on steaks etc.. We did this at the Jazz Brunch and we got the most gorgeous filet mignon which tasted of MEAT not salt (and as a bonus the Hollandaise was on the side not slathered all over a decent steak - result!)