MDR questions

[Go-Bucks!]

Haven't sailed NCL yet (next year), but have been reading reviews. Seems like there are alot of opinions (and I take those with a grain of salt) that the MDR food is rather so-so, but that the specialty restaurants that charge a fee are very good. Since we're already paying thousands of $$$ to sail, I can't see paying extra for food, but am wondering if NCL makes mediocre food for the "free" dining rooms so that it encourages pax's to eat in the places with upcharges. Anyone think this might be true?

 

Also, will the MDR make a specially requested food (with 24 hr notice)? Most of my experience is on Princess and they will cook you just about anything you want as long as they have the ingredients. I once special ordered spinach sauteed in olive oil with roasted garlic. Another time they made me escargot on a night that they don't usually serve it. Anyone experience this on NCL?

[tammy531]

We have done 2 NCL cruises and have only eaten in one specialty restaurant (teppanyaki...mainly for the kids, and they were offering kids eat free that night). We have found the food in the main dining room to be great. We don't, however, dine in top notch restaurants often, so our expectations are not as high as those that do. The only time we had something not on the menu was for the kids.. they had liked the menu from the night before better..we had ordered off the current menu but the waiter magically appeared with the previous night's meal. We always had great service and food.

 

sent from my Samsung galaxy s3

[Cruisegirl6]

I just got off the NCL Breakaway...we dined at Ocean Blu excellent overall but it now is $49 (we paid $35 at the time of pre booking) don't think its worth $49...Moderno disappointing, salad bar excellent but they came around way too many times with sausage, ribs and short ribs (inexpensive meats) we had to ask for the sirloin to come around again...we won't do this again if taking another NCL cruise, Cagneys my NY strip was 12 ounces beautiful looking but lacked taste even a simple Longhorn Steakhouse gives me a much tastier steak, Wasabi sushi was excellent so was the noodle bar, Le Bistro was my favorite we all loved our dishes, and the least cost and best. IF we take another NCL cruise (probably not because of the so many petty negatives that do add up) we would only choose Le Bistro. We cancelled LaCacinia because the menu did not impress us no veal and we got a lot of negative reviews on this.

 

The MDR, first night was lobster night most of us (party of 7) had it and it was so salty, the steak was just good nothing more....but honestly because we dined at the specialty restaurants we didn't get the opportunity of experiencing the MDR much only two evenings...have to say MDR was good to overgood with exception of service being ok. We dined here only two evenings but I checked the menu daily it was wonderful. Buffet lunches lacked the meat carving only a delicious prime rib the first day after that nomore carving.

[mellygo]

I think you will be more than happy with the MDR food. DH and I usually only go to a fee restaurant once or twice during cruise. We have found the food very comparable to other lines we have used. Even on Celebrity, I have had a mediocre meal. I have had a waiter bring me a chilled fruit soup when I told him I wished they did that more often! If they can please you by going a little out of their way, they gladly do it!

[iron9er]

Haven't sailed NCL yet (next year), but have been reading reviews. Seems like there are alot of opinions (and I take those with a grain of salt) that the MDR food is rather so-so, but that the specialty restaurants that charge a fee are very good. Since we're already paying thousands of $$$ to sail, I can't see paying extra for food, but am wondering if NCL makes mediocre food for the "free" dining rooms so that it encourages pax's to eat in the places with upcharges. Anyone think this might be true?

 

Also, will the MDR make a specially requested food (with 24 hr notice)? Most of my experience is on Princess and they will cook you just about anything you want as long as they have the ingredients. I once special ordered spinach sauteed in olive oil with roasted garlic. Another time they made me escargot on a night that they don't usually serve it. Anyone experience this on NCL?

 

We ate at the MDR 6 of 7 nights on the Pearl. Thought it was pretty good. Not great, but good/solid. We did pay 1 night at the Chinese/Asian place (can't remember the name), and thought it was OK, but not worth the upcharge.

 

I'm not sure if the MDR would make anything you want or not, but I can tell you that they really do try to accommodate. My wife is basically vegan, and they would always try to whip up a dish just for her (off the menu) and did it with a smile on their face. We experienced great service in that respect from the MDR's so it made us wanting to keep going there.

[RJ2002]

We have sailed on NCL twice. We also have many cruises on both Princess and Holland America.

 

I see you have sailed on Princess as well. In my opinion, the MDR food on Princess (and Holland America) is better than that on NCL.

 

We just returned from our most recent NCL cruise a couple of weeks ago. In my post-cruise NCL review, I commented that I thought the MDR food was mostly average, and sometimes good. I added that if we were to book another NCL cruise, we would likely dine in the speciality restaurants more often due to the MDR food quality.

 

For this NCL cruise, we were in a suite (first timers). We enjoyed that aspect of the cruise very much, and if we were to return to NCL, we would certainly book a suite again. Being able to dine in Cagney's (specialty steakhouse restaurant) for breakfast and lunch was a very nice suite perk, although the lunch menu is somewhat limited and does not vary throughout the cruise.

 

On our first NCL cruise, and again on this one, we dined in Le Bistro, the French specialty restaurant. It was very good. This cruise, we also dined at Moderno. The salad bar was great. As for the meats, some were better than others. Probably would not eat at Moderno again if we return. I definitely would go back to Le Bistro.

[luddite]

wondering if NCL makes mediocre food for the "free" dining rooms so that it encourages pax's to eat in the places with upcharges. Anyone think this might be true?

 

 

No, they do not do this.

[Love my butler]

but am wondering if NCL makes mediocre food for the "free" dining rooms so that it encourages pax's to eat in the places with upcharges. Anyone think this might be true?

 

 

I think NCL makes mediocre food in the MDR due to cost cutting. The pay restaurants have better ambiance and service, usually, but the food isn't all that much better. I think NCL also cuts the staff to the bone in the MDR, thus encouraging (intentionally?) people to pay for better service.

 

Having said that, I would not be surprised by any scheme the bean counters come up with to make an extra nickel.

[goose30]

MDR food on NCL beats Princess hands down!

[delily]

No I don't think NCL is serving mediocre food in order to get more of your money. On a 12 day cruise I never spent anything extra on specialty restaurants. While I found the buffet to be hit and miss and I didn't like the fish and chips from the 24 hour place at all, I found the food in the MDR to be wonderful. We ate nearly every dinner that we were aboard in the MDR and only once did I have a pasta dish that I didn't care for. Different people have different standards of course, Where do you usually eat? If you're a five star restaurant person you may not like it. If you like places like Outback, Applebees, Chilis, Olive Garden, etc. you'll likely find it comparable. If you haven't been anywhere but McDonalds for the past 10 years you're going to be blown away by all the gourmet food!

 

I don't know if they'd cook you something special. I never asked. But they were willing to substitute menu items for me if I wanted an entree served with a side dish that was listed on the menu with different entree.

[4774Papa]

We have not had a bad meal on NCL.

However, the specialty restaurants are definitely a cut above the MDR. We always go for French, Italian, and if possible the Brazilian steak house.

The MDR is just not as consistent. We have found that you generally get a good meal, but sometimes the result is just OK. NCL's desserts are particularly nothing to brag about.

[Go-Bucks!]

Thank you for the responses. :D

[mtwingcpa]

Since we're already paying thousands of $$$ to sail, I can't see paying extra for food, but am wondering if NCL makes mediocre food for the "free" dining rooms so that it encourages pax's to eat in the places with upcharges. Anyone think this might be true?

 

No, I don't think that's true. But the last time they did a major revision of their MDR menus a couple of years ago, they reduced the number of entrees that were available on any given night. And I was not alone in wondering if they did that to encourage at least a few more people to consider trying the specialty restaurants instead. (I'm not stating this as a "fact," but simply as an "observation.")

 

In my opinion there is no significant difference in the QUALITY of the food between the MDR and the specialties. Rather, it is simply a matter of CHOICE of the available items offered by the different restaurants. I've tried most (but not all) of the specialty restaurants at one time or another, but now rarely find the need to eat in other than the "free" restaurants. Naturally, your mileage may vary. :-)

[FairyGodmother55]

We've eaten on Princess, RCCL and recently NCL. And the food in the MDR ranks in that exact order! We ate in the MDR most nights because I found the buffet to be pretty bad most nights, and we didnt want to pay the extra $ for the other restaurants. We did get a comp dinner one night and chose Le Bistro, and it was better than MDR. But, we didnt go for the food, we went for the itinerary which was awesome!!

 

BTW: The 24 hour wings/ fish and chips place wasn't too good. We tried it one night and found the food mediocre and the location horrible ( right in the middle of a passageway, so people are constantly walking through to get to the casino)

 

Never did spend ANY time in the Biergarten so no clue there.... too much to do off the ship!

[GORDONCHICK]

So far, we've had 21 nights on board NCL ships, but only one night in a specialty restaurant. We don't eat out much since I'm a very good cook (according to everyone who eats at our house and when I take food to other places). We thought the food in the MDRs was pretty good. The only thing that is a real disappointment is the area of desserts, so I usually head up to the buffet and get a made to order crepe.

[bjlaac]

Dear OP

 

What you are going to find on NCL is less of a choice than other cruise lines. Since you specifically mentioned Escargo I can tell you its only available in the pay restaurants.

 

So while the food they serve is always hit or miss (as with other lines) you will have less variety to choose from in the MDR

[Hikini]

I want to add my two cents worth....

 

In 8 cruises on NCL we have been very happy with the food in the MDR's. I have always scratched my heads at those that say they found nothing they wanted, or that everything was terrible. We have found it to be just the opposite.

 

We have dined very few times in the specialty restaurants, other than Cagney's for breakfast and lunch which is a suite perk. The times we have dined in a specialty restaurant we were satisfied but never felt it was oh-so-much-better than the MDR.

 

As you well know, everyone has their own opinions! :)

 

Most vacations, as in life, it is what you make of it. Enjoy!!

[jaja]

We have always found the MDR and Buffet food quite good..and in all our cruises ..only went to a speciality once..(when the Le Bistro "romance package was still a bargain!). We are not " expensive gourmet" dinners when we are home...more middle of the road when we go out....and find the NCL food just fine for us...(my DH loves the salmon, and I have always enjoyed my steaks..two things we can always get if the rest of the menu does not appeal to us that particular evening.) We also love some of the appetizers..and often have more than one of them and skip dessert ;)

I have never made a request for anything not on menu..so can't address that question.

Though for our fall cruise..we will be trying Moderno...really looks interesting...

[francina]

I only ate in the mdr and their food was alright. I thought it was to fancy for my taste. I am a plain type of person. My only problem was they didn't understand simple everyday food. Like a bacon egg and cheese on a roll. They did not get it right and when I explain how they said they would have to go to the buffet area to get the roll and they weren't willing.

 

 

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[FLAHAM]

MDR food is ok but the specialty restaurants are significantly better. However, what bothers me most in the MDRs is the inconsistent service, which is sometimes unreasonably slow.

[mikewrit]

We were disappointed in the food on Carnival Splendor after generally excellent experiences on NCL cruises. Our main regret is the decline in frequency of cold fruit soups.

[karoo]

I just think food is so much about personal taste. I'm very happy with the MDR food for dinner and the buffet for breakfast and lunch. I also like Le Bistro. I've been on Holland and PO, but I personally think Norwegian's food is the best.

 

 

 

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[Isabella Benjamin]

I've liked most of the food in the MDR. On the Sky last week I ordered two different entrees a couple of times because I wasn't sure if I was going to like one of them. Horrible, I know. My husband had no problem sending back one entree and ordering something different. He wanted his salmon cooked very, very rare one night and they said no problem. They had it out in no time, cooked perfectly. I almost always order two desserts, and have had very good luck with at least one of them being very good. I thought their appetizers were better this time. We've found the MDR to very accommodating in special requests on items on the menu that day. My son's girlfriend ordered chicken tenders every night in the MDR with no problem. Every single night.

[DCP]

We've only been on 2 cruises (both NCL - Spirit and Pearl) soon to be on the Dawn. Have never paid for a specialty restaurant, and have no complaints whatsoever. I am not cooking, someone is waiting on me, and I am on a cruise. I see no reason to pay extra when there is perfectly good food in several venues included in my fare. To each their own, and one's perspective has a lot to do with it, IMO.

[SeaShark]

I see no reason to pay extra when there is perfectly good food in several venues included in my fare.

 

 

Its probably the same reasoning that some people use to go out and pay to have dinner in a restaurant when there is perfectly good food available in their own home.

 

 

If a person can go out to eat instead of eating at home for free, ten surely the reasoning follows that they can go out and eat in a specialty restaurant instead of eating in the MDR for free.

 

 

In my opinion.