Very Disappointing Chef's table

[Island Beachdog]

Just home from Dec. 8 cruise on Allure.  While we had a nice time on the ship, I feel compelled to review my experience with the Chef's table. 

We receiving an invite to meet in the library on the night of our reservation. I thought was a nice touch.   As it was formal night, everyone arriving was dressed for the occasion.  The library, however, was open regular hours and was in fact in use at the time.  We were presented with a glass of champagne, however, there were not enough chairs for everyone to sit so we stood as the sommelier talked about the champagne we were drinking.  We were then escorted to the upstairs section of the lounge. 

 

As the diamond members were packed in for their evening happy hour, the noise was uncomfortably loud and continued to  be so after being seated.  The sommelier seemed very passionate about wine and overly enthusiastic about sharing his knowledge.  He advised us this was a new team for the Chef's table.  He seemed to be team leader and somewhat anxious about how things were going. In addition to the noise, it didn't help that people kept coming upstairs to be seated for drinks at the small tables around us, only to be asked to leave, as this was a private event.

The meal started well enough with some excellent bread and an introduction of the first wine pairing.  It went down hill after that. The kitchen seemed a little slow and with each new wine pairing, the sommelier talked more and more until it felt like we were attending a class about wine. Most of the food was on par with the occasion, however the venue was intolerable.  There was little opportunity to talk with your table mates as the sommelier talked incessantly and was ever present.  When you did try to talk to anyone who wasn't sitting right beside you, one had to literally yell. By the time the meal finally ended, 3 hours and 45 minutes later, we were all glad to be done.  The couple who sat across from us summed it up perfectly as they were leaving "Wow, that was really bad."

 

 

[suzyluvs2cruise]

2 minutes ago, Island Beachdog said:

Just home from Dec. 8 cruise on Allure.  While we had a nice time on the ship, I feel compelled to review my experience with the Chef's table. 

We receiving an invite to meet in the library on the night of our reservation. I thought was a nice touch.   As it was formal night, everyone arriving was dressed for the occasion.  The library, however, was open regular hours and was in fact in use at the time.  We were presented with a glass of champagne, however, there were not enough chairs for everyone to sit so we stood as the sommelier talked about the champagne we were drinking.  We were then escorted to the upstairs section of the lounge. 

 

As the diamond members were packed in for their evening happy hour, the noise was uncomfortably loud and continued to  be so after being seated.  The sommelier seemed very passionate about wine and overly enthusiastic about sharing his knowledge.  He advised us this was a new team for the Chef's table.  He seemed to be team leader and somewhat anxious about how things were going. In addition to the noise, it didn't help that people kept coming upstairs to be seated for drinks at the small tables around us, only to be asked to leave, as this was a private event.

The meal started well enough with some excellent bread and an introduction of the first wine pairing.  It went down hill after that. The kitchen seemed a little slow and with each new wine pairing, the sommelier talked more and more until it felt like we were attending a class about wine. Most of the food was on par with the occasion, however the venue was intolerable.  There was little opportunity to talk with your table mates as the sommelier talked incessantly and was ever present.  When you did try to talk to anyone who wasn't sitting right beside you, one had to literally yell. By the time the meal finally ended, 3 hours and 45 minutes later, we were all glad to be done.  The couple who sat across from us summed it up perfectly as they were leaving "Wow, that was really bad."

 

 

 

Not good and sorry to hear you had a bad experience. I hope you wrote wrote it up in your post cruise survey. 

[vacationlover_mn]

Thanks for the review!

[njkruzer]

Surprised.   We did it on the Serenade,  I think, and it was a private room.  I think it used to be the card room that was redone.  There was a private area just outside where we met initially.   We had let them know in advance about food issues and they were very accommodating.   We had a lovely evening. 

[voyager70]

Thanks for sharing.  Sounds like poor planning.  I would have been disappointed as well.

 

[Chiliburn]

We just got off the voyager and I don’t think I will bother with specialty dining again.

We didn’t get to chefs table.

Chops the food was bad,izumi was ok but only just,

Giovanni’s after a hour of ordering we told the head waiter.If you don’t bring some food out we are going to leave.His reply was we are very busy .

 And they where still pumping people out side to come in.

After asking the head waiter , why are you trying to bring more people in and you can’t serve the people here .He said we have to.

So we got up and walked out even though we had a dining plan.

Talk about being pissed off.

The food was delivered to our cabin about 3 hours later.

 

I think room service is the best and value for money.

Edited December 22, 2019 by Chiliburn

[Merion_Mom]

3 hours ago, njkruzer said:

Surprised.   We did it on the Serenade,  I think, and it was a private room.  I think it used to be the card room that was redone.  There was a private area just outside where we met initially.   We had let them know in advance about food issues and they were very accommodating.   We had a lovely evening. 

 

@njkruzer

I know on the Jewel and the Radiance, the Chef's Table is held in the room behind the Deck 6 lounge, which has different names on the different ships.  (Colony Club, Safari Club..................) Doesn't Serenade have it in the same place?  It is perfect for Chef's Table.  Private and well-appointed.

[njkruzer]

35 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

@njkruzer

I know on the Jewel and the Radiance, the Chef's Table is held in the room behind the Deck 6 lounge, which has different names on the different ships.  (Colony Club, Safari Club..................) Doesn't Serenade have it in the same place?  It is perfect for Chef's Table.  Private and well-appointed.

You're right.  It once was a card room.  As usual Royal makes changes, some good but others, well who knows.  The problem now is finding a place to play mah jongg.   The HD on Radiance has promised that he'll have a place for us on our 34 nights sailing around Australia. 

[JamesEM]

I agree about the noise, as a frequent user of the Diamond Club it can get quite loud especially at the end of Happy Hour.  I was on the Allure last month and there wasn't any signage that a Chef's Table was in process. 

[JBC11]

We were one the Oasis earlier this month. Chefs Table was the same menu we had on Ovation the past two times. They do need to change this more often, or at least let the head chef do his own menu.
We also had a bad experience in Chops on Oasis, the restaurant full; one waiter in charge of 26 customers, we had to wait forever, and they still tried to get more people in. If we are paying extra, then it should be spot on every time.

 

John

😀

[crazyank]

The one and only time we have done Chef's Table the evening was ruined by one guest who simply would not shut up.

[Snit13]

Have tried Chefs Table twice.  Once on Oasis and once on Majesty.  Neither was worth the $$$$ we paid.  Some cruisers luck out and get great table mates and have a wonderful experience.  I have no plans to do a third try.

 

On Harmony in November Chops was a nightmare.  I told Guest Services the following day and the Chops Manager called me and I explained what had happened.  He said due to the fact it was raining they could not use the outside seating thus they crammed as many as possible inside.  He came over to 150 the following evening and talked with us and gave us 2 bottles of wine.  When I am paying for dinner for 9 guests I expect them to have a pleasant experience.  Manager also said it was a new team that week and yes, he asked for 10's.  In his dreams.

[jean87510]

We were on the brilliance 15 day TA in November and had purchased 2 (3) night specialty dining when it was on sale for $60 a piece. We visited chops, Giovanni's, and izumi 2x each. I found that both times at chops it was overwhelming and crowded (830pm reservation). I really enjoyed izumi and Giovanni's for the delicious food and the timing. Chops was giving us appetizers with the main meal. It was just sloppy. I noticed same type of issue last January on the vision. I just figured it was that ship. 

We have a smoker and grill at home so we will just skip chops next time. Frankly, my husband's steaks are much better and quicker!

[Andy C]

I just got off Symphony yesterday.  We were in Star class.  Every single meal we ate was on par with Applebee's type food (with some meals being even worse than Applebee's type food).  I know the food is always going to be lame.  We have toddlers who love RCI.  We love Symphony and Harmony because they are beautiful ships.  We could've done Chef's Table for free but didn't waste our time (my wife laughed when I brought it up).  We took almost all of our meals in the suite and ordered from the different "specialty" restaurants.  

Edited December 22, 2019 by Andy C

[island lady]

19 hours ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

@njkruzer

I know on the Jewel and the Radiance, the Chef's Table is held in the room behind the Deck 6 lounge, which has different names on the different ships.  (Colony Club, Safari Club..................) Doesn't Serenade have it in the same place?  It is perfect for Chef's Table.  Private and well-appointed.

 

Agree...my favorite venue for Chef's Table.  Perfectly set up for that...kitchen for Chops right next door.  

[island lady]

I think the worst set up for Chef's table is on Oasis.  Right smack in the middle of the back of the room between the SL and CK with no separation.    I would never book that on that ship.  

[ATSEAMYLIFE]

1 hour ago, island lady said:

I think the worst set up for Chef's table is on Oasis.  Right smack in the middle of the back of the room between the SL and CK with no separation.    I would never book that on that ship.  

Funny we loved that location.  We have done Chef's Table three time Oasis, Allure, and Oasis.  First time on Oasis we loved it.  Food was great, wine was great, presentation was perfect, and it was a fun evening.  Second time on Allure, didn't like the venue but food was good.  Most recent time on Oasis, same nice venue but the food was fair at best and service was just OK.  The wine selection and quality seemed to have gone down from the first time.  

The other two times, we got a menu of courses with nice tantalizing descriptions.  This last time somebody decided to include B&W (xerox) photos.  You can only imagine how horrible the food looked.  

I still think the best Chef's table is the Carnival dinner in the galley.  We have done it twice and while it is a little loud it's a great venue.    

[Clarea]

4 hours ago, island lady said:

I think the worst set up for Chef's table is on Oasis.  Right smack in the middle of the back of the room between the SL and CK with no separation.    I would never book that on that ship.  

 

I think the Oasis setup is better than being on one of those intermediate landings in the MDR.  At least we could easily hear the Chef and host on Oasis.

[NumnuT]

we had a great Chef's table on Radiance, only 2 x couples..

plenty of great food, and the wine just kept flowing...😎

Craig

[LMaxwell]

Years ago had enjoyable Chefs Table on Legend, but also thought the location was awkward; it was IN the main dining room and they had simply put some divider walls up (like office cubicle, nicer, but same concept).  It had the same noisy, frenetic ambiance as the MDR.  The food and experience were good; the chefs and sommelier enhanced the experience, they did not dominate the experience.  This was before they began to remove courses and dumb down the menu.  

 

Chef's Table has always struck me as something RCI wants to be half pregnant at.  

 

I see new ships on various lines taking the concept and running with it by having areas of the galleys made as a cooking gallery and dining venue.  I think that brings more to the concept. 

 

[island lady]

12 hours ago, Host Clarea said:

 

I think the Oasis setup is better than being on one of those intermediate landings in the MDR.  At least we could easily hear the Chef and host on Oasis.

 

Guess I am spoiled with the nice set up on the Radiance ladies.  I like the more elegant and dedicated dining room set up they have.   

 

Edited December 23, 2019 by island lady

[John&LaLa]

10 hours ago, LMaxwell said:

Years ago had enjoyable Chefs Table on Legend, but also thought the location was awkward; it was IN the main dining room and they had simply put some divider walls up (like office cubicle, nicer, but same concept).  It had the same noisy, frenetic ambiance as the MDR.  The food and experience were good; the chefs and sommelier enhanced the experience, they did not dominate the experience.  This was before they began to remove courses and dumb down the menu.  

 

Chef's Table has always struck me as something RCI wants to be half pregnant at.  

 

I see new ships on various lines taking the concept and running with it by having areas of the galleys made as a cooking gallery and dining venue.  I think that brings more to the concept. 

 

 

We did Legend CT in 2014, our first one. I didnt mind the location. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I didnt mind the room, but what i remember was leaving and walking through an empty MDR🤣

[Clarea]

5 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

Guess I am spoiled with the nice set up on the Radiance ladies.  I like the more elegant and dedicated dining room set up they have.   

 

 

Yep, I agree.

[Colorado Babe]

Have done the Chef's table this year on the Adventure and Freedom.  The only downfall we had was that the table is in the MDR.  Two weeks ago when we did it on the Freedom, it was Caribbean night.  Lots of singing, clapping and singing.  We could not hear anything the sommelier said during that time and it was annoying but the food, fellowship and wine was outstanding.  There is talk that the Chef's table on both ships may be moved to the Cigar Room during refurbishment.    

Edited December 23, 2019 by Colorado Babe

[Tulsacoker]

12 hours ago, Host Clarea said:

 At least we could easily hear the Chef and host on Oasis.

So could we sitting at the SL bar 😄