MDR steaks

[Silverspringcruiser]

Quality-wise, how does the $20 Pinnacle Grill upgrade version compare to the included MDR steak?

[tuolumne couple]

Nothing compares to a Pinnacle Grill steak. It is a steakhouse, so that is their specialty. They also have a great steak on the lunch menu. Main dining room steak is also fine, if you order steak for dinner. 

[ottahand7]

If you are asking has anyone ordered the upcharge steak in the MDR and yes I have done that one time when I had some credit to burn through..   It was very good.  It is nice to have those upcharge items if the menu in the MDR doesn't appeal.   

[PalmSprings]

1 hour ago, tuolumne couple said:

They also have a great steak on the lunch menu

I agree!  The steak is terrific on the lunch menu, and lunchtime on sea days in the Pinnacle is usually a lot less crowded than dinner time. 

[Tennessee Titan]

Remember: SUBJECTIVE!

Last 2 cruises on the Rptterdam, I got a better steak in the MDR than in the Pinnacle.....

Edited November 29, 2023 by Tennessee Titan

[Torquer]

Also remember in the Pinnacle Grill, you get a choice of 3 different cuts of steak:  Filet Mignon, New York Strip, and Boneless rib eye.  So when comparing steaks in the MDR to the Pinnacle Grill, you may be comparing two different types of steak.

[sambamama]

The main dining room steaks are hit and miss.  All are Ok, some are pretty good. A few are a little tough or fairly fatty.  None compare to what you get in the Pinnacle.  For me they serve as a good alternate when I don't like the other dinner options. I freely admit I am picky, and I hate salmon, and get sick of chicken as that is what I usually eat at home.  Here is where I wish HAL was like Princess and always had a pasta option every night.

[Niagarawine]

I Amon Rotterdam and had steak in the main dining room and it was very good. 

[Sea-n-Ease]

Is Prime Rib offered anywhere or anytime on Kdam?

[RuthC]

Once in a while in the main dining room. When it is served there, there's a decent chance it will also be on the Lido menu. 

[oakridger]

3 hours ago, Sea-n-Ease said:

Is Prime Rib offered anywhere or anytime on Kdam?

 

I think HAL does a really good job with the prime rib!  It's been very good every time I've ordered it.  If only I could get them to leave off the gravy or horseradish-mustard mouse!  I always ask but sometimes it still gets served with the sauce.  I scrape it off.  I was served plain horseradish once when I asked for it!!

 

~Nancy

[Silverspringcruiser]

5 hours ago, Torquer said:

So when comparing steaks in the MDR to the Pinnacle Grill, you may be comparing two different types of steak.

I'm comparing the two strip loins steaks available in the MDR, the one that's $20 extra, and the one that isn't. 

[Haljo1935]

9 hours ago, oakridger said:

 

I think HAL does a really good job with the prime rib!  It's been very good every time I've ordered it.  If only I could get them to leave off the gravy or horseradish-mustard mouse!  I always ask but sometimes it still gets served with the sauce.  I scrape it off.  I was served plain horseradish once when I asked for it!!

 

~Nancy

Prime rib was served last night; i don't eat it, but was told it was good.

[Torquer]

10 hours ago, Silverspringcruiser said:

I'm comparing the two strip loins steaks available in the MDR, the one that's $20 extra, and the one that isn't. 

I know what you are asking about now and have seen it myself a couple times and wondered about it.  I'm not sure why someone would pay $20 more for what sounds like the same thing (except the sides are different), without a clearer explanation on the Menu about what is better on the $20 upcharge steak.

 

Here is a snippet from Rogerjett that shows an example:

Edited November 30, 2023 by Torquer

[FlaMariner]

11 hours ago, oakridger said:

I think HAL does a really good job with the prime rib! 

 

Agree.  I manage to enjoy it a couple of times on a cruise.  Very good.  Comes out cooked the way you request it. 

[Blackduck59]

47 minutes ago, Torquer said:

I know what you are asking about now and have seen it myself a couple times and wondered about it.  I'm not sure why someone would pay $20 more for what sounds like the same thing (except the sides are different), without a clearer explanation on the Menu about what is better on the $20 upcharge steak.

 

Here is a snippet from Rogerjett that shows an example:

Part of the difference could be the size. I'm guessing the regular MDR steak is 8oz the other is 12. I wonder if the MDR steak is perhaps "choice" grade and the other "prime".

[Sea-n-Ease]

19 minutes ago, FlaMariner said:

 

Agree.  I manage to enjoy it a couple of times on a cruise.  Very good.  Comes out cooked the way you request it. 

What restaurant is Prime Rib offered in, MDR?

[Real NHDOC]

1 hour ago, Blackduck59 said:

Part of the difference could be the size. I'm guessing the regular MDR steak is 8oz the other is 12. I wonder if the MDR steak is perhaps "choice" grade and the other "prime".

They will probably give you two of the "free" steaks in the MDR if you asked.  If the only difference were size then that would save you $20.  I think you have to take it on faith that the upcharge steak is really any different meat than the "free" one.  But there's a good way to find out. Order one of each and compare (blindfolded) and see which you prefer.

[Real NHDOC]

56 minutes ago, Sea-n-Ease said:

What restaurant is Prime Rib offered in, MDR?

Yes, it rotates into the menu in the MDR on some itineraries.  Also, club orange I think does it as a special entree once in a while.

Edited November 30, 2023 by Real NHDOC

[Silverspringcruiser]

1 hour ago, Blackduck59 said:

Part of the difference could be the size. I'm guessing the regular MDR steak is 8oz the other is 12. I wonder if the MDR steak is perhaps "choice" grade and the other "prime".

That's what I'm thinking. Pinnacle steaks are wet-aged USDA Prime. I'm not really into steak, but the one time I went to Ruth's Chris I understood the appeal. I've been to the steakhouse restaurants on Carnival and Royal Caribbean and, while they were very good they didn't compare.

 

[NCTribeFan]

Let me also state that on the Rotterdam TA last spring, the filet in the CO MDR (not the upcharge steak, just on the regular menu) was better than what I had in Pinnacle.  I was very pleasantly surprised!

[mawvkysc]

2 hours ago, Real NHDOC said:

They will probably give you two of the "free" steaks in the MDR if you asked.  If the only difference were size then that would save you $20.  I think you have to take it on faith that the upcharge steak is really any different meat than the "free" one.  But there's a good way to find out. Order one of each and compare (blindfolded) and see which you prefer.

Sounds like a good video for a cruise YouTuber to do!

[pmjnh]

We were recently on the Oosterdam and Executive Chef Willem had this question posed to him from am audience member during a chat with the CD. He said that the difference between the steaks in the specialty restaurants vs the MDR was just as in our grocery...Prime vs Choice cuts.

 That said, the beef in the MDR on that sailing was excellent with the exception of the NY sirloin which I find they always cut too thin and easy to overcook.

[SolentSeawater]

I had a beautiful Filet Mignon in the MDR last night and it was equally as good as the one I had in the Pinnacle Grill the night before. 

[oakridger]

37 minutes ago, SolentSeawater said:

I had a beautiful Filet Mignon in the MDR last night and it was equally as good as the one I had in the Pinnacle Grill the night before. 

 

That was my experience also.  I've only ordered a Filet once in the MDR (Nieuw Amsterdam) and it was better than the one I had in Pinnacle Grill.  It's only a two data point comparison though.

 

16 hours ago, Sea-n-Ease said:

What restaurant is Prime Rib offered in, MDR?

 

I've had prime rib several times in the Lido buffet at dinner on my last cruises in the fall of 2022. It was as good as the MDR prime rib.

 

~Nancy