If Only One Specialty Restaurant on the Oasis, Which One??

[Desertbelle]

Our first and probably only cruise on the Oasis (we normally only do long itineraries which the newer, huge ships don't tend to do, but needed a quick diversion in October :D) and with only 7 days, we are thinking we will only do one specialty restaurant.....so which one?? We've done Chops and Giovanni's Table on other ships so I am thinking it's more a choice between the 150 Central Park or Chef's Table. Are they worth the extra money? How do they differ? Are they really great or are they just really great for a cruise?? :p

 

Thanks for your opinion!

[BekkaW]

DH and I enjoyed 150 Central Park very much. The food was outstanding, although I would say it is probably less of a good experience if you're not prepared to be a bit adventurous. I also liked the wine pairing. We checked the menus on boarding day to determine which we would prefer, as it changes mid-week.

 

For us this was a definite 'worth it' even compared to land restaurants.

 

Have not tried Chet's table so can't compare, sorry.

[bearandbee]

We did the Chef's table on the Oasis a couple of years ago and we still talk about how good it was! We would love to do it again some day.

 

Have fun on your cruise!:)

[believer33323]

Like you we have ate at Giovanni's Table (on the Radiance of the Seas) and loved it. We are booked on the Allure in October and have a reservation for Gio's for lunch as soon as we board. We don't want to do the Buffet thingy with the rest of the crowd. We May book it again for dinner also. We like Italian but am so tired of the Typical Italian served in EVERY Italian Restaurant in the USA. There is more to Italian food than Lasagna, Stuffed shells. Veal Parmigiana etc.

We were on Celebrity back in March and we ate at one of the outside cafes right after boarding also. After that experience we will never go back to the buffet for our first meal again. It was so relaxing after the boarding process and then having to wait for your cabin to open.

[ARCruisinNana]

If I had to pick just one, it would be Chef's Table. We did it on Oasis in July and it was outstanding, but a little pricey. My second choice would be Chops. It was our goal to try all the speciality restaurants and we succeeded:)

[OCruisers]

We loved Giovanni's so if I could only pick one that's what it would be. :)

 

150 Park Avenue was great and we would certainly want to go back there.

 

The specialty restaurants on Oasis are well worth the money. Maybe you'll reconsider and go to more than one.

 

LuLu

~~~~

[riclop]

Giovanni's table!!!

[Desertbelle]

We have been to Giovanni's Table, and we were not impressed. It was OK, but neither of us are in a rush to return.

[skandls]

Giovanni's - great rack of lamb. 150 Park - check the menus - worth it if you like the prefixe dinner - wine pairing too pricy for me. The Chef's Table is great - also check the menu. It is a long meal as there are descriptions of the food and wine between each course. If you want a peek at how the suite guests are treated - the Chef's Table is in the Concierge Lounge.

[Blue Line]

Last year we did chefs table and 150CP (among others)... Those were definitely our 2 top picks. If I could only do 1 again, it would probably be chefs table.

 

It was my wife and I, and a group of 4 from brazil. We had a great time.

 

If you want something more intimate, then 150CP might be your cup of tea...

 

But I really suggest the CHEFS TABLE. It was a great experience, no upsell, great food and great wine. And the sommelier maxi is amazing!!!

[My2Kitties]

We like Giovanni's Table...but have not done the Chef Table or 150C

[cruzincanuck]

Another vote here for 150 Central Park

[CRUISEFAN0001]

Another vote here for 150 Central Park

Ditto - 150 Central Park.

[JohnSnowGOT]

Having done all venues on Oasis class several times........

I would pick the Chef's table or the Solarium Bistro. Actually, I would suggest you do the Bistro first, its really wonderful and so underrated! The food is Great, service always attentive and the Atmosphere so pleasant and romantic. Then make a decision to either return to the Bistro for another night later on in the week or go on to the Chef's table. Visit the Bistro no matter where you decide to go.

[RevSmith]

We have been to Giovanni's Table, and we were not impressed. It was OK, but neither of us are in a rush to return.

I can tell just by what you post that neither the Chef's Table nor 150 Central will meet your expectations. Fine dinning on a cruise ship is NOT like fine dinning on shore. This being said.

First you have to have the same, or similar taste as the tasters that sample each menu before it is previewed. (unfortunately I do not)

If you are not a person who is influenced by what others say or the "latest fad in the gourmet circle and know what you like and dislike and want to excite your palate then you may not be over whelmed by the food in either restaurant. (this is me and since this is my opinion I will continue)

 

So this is how I would judge:

150 Central has a very nice ambiance. However their regular chairs tend to be a tad uncomfortable, so I would make sure I sat in the high backed chairs that they are famous for.

There are two menus one served for the first four days including the first night, and the other the last three days. They are posted on the restaurant walls outside the restaurant.

There are two ways to go, one is a wine pairing idea, they suggest the wines and you get a glass of different wine with each course. Or you can choose the wine or beverages that you would prefer with your dinner. The wine pairing package is an extra price as would any wine or beverage you would choose, except the free beverages.

They start you off with a silver bowl divided into about six or eight sections, each section contains a different flavored salt, from a different country. This is served with tiny sour dough oval shaped rolls and sweet butter. The idea is to put some butter on a roll and then sprinkle one of the salts on the butter. It's an interesting concept, and one I really enjoy, which is odd, because I normally don't eat bread with or before my meal. Be careful you don't fill up because there is a lot to follow.

the course are as followed: appetizer, soup, fish dish, salad, entree and dessert. I'm not sure about the salad though. Each one is described in full before it is served and there is a main entree choice.

I can't describe the food, because I have had excellent dishes, and not very good

But all things considered it is something that I do keep trying and sometimes I am really pleased with the whole meal, but I am now aware what to expect.

One of the differences is the time it takes from beginning to end. That can be basically regulated by you by informing your waiter if you have a special obligation at a later time or of the pace you wish to be served.

This is a relatively quiet and interment experience.

 

Now Chef's Table:

You are able to preview the menu before making a reservation and if there are any problems (that goes for 150 also), they will make the necessary change to accommodate your needs.

You meet at the library at 7:00PM on your chosen dinning night. Here you mingle with the other guests and are served a glass of fairly decent champagne. At 7:30PM you are escorted up to the dinning room, which is a large room on top of the Concierge Lounge overlooking the Boardwalk deck and the Royal Caribbean logo.

There are name tags at each place setting and you sit where your name is. Couples are placed together. At your place setting there are five empty glasses, all different shapes for the wine that you will be sampling.

The table is something to behold, make sure you notice it, it is really beautiful and the chandler is really fun.

As with 150 there are plates of tiny different kinds of breads and butter on the table. The Semalier is the one who brings the champagne, escorts you to your table and sets you. Then he explains the breads and invites you to partake, and explains the dinning procedure. The chef is introduced and tells you a bit about him/her self. Someone then comes around and asks how you want your main course served and the Semalier explains the first wine. The first course is brought out, the chef describes it, and you eat it. Each course is served in the same manner, and wine flows. They tend to fill the mans glass fuller but everyone is entitled to as much wine as they want. Different wines for each course ending with a dessert wine. When dessert is finished, large bowls of chocolate and different bite sized treats are offered, plus coffee etc. Your bill is presented after each couple gets a cookbook, and a paper apron and paper chef's cap.

You can not control the time of this dinner and it can go as long as 4 hours.

Once again there are really good and not that good courses served and they do change with the seasons.

 

I have been to each affair a great many times, because I like fine dinning. But as I said before, the food in either is not going to blow you away. So judge by the experience you would prefer.

 

Rev

[Desertbelle]

Thank you all for your advice and suggestions. Especially RevSmith, thanks for the play by play!! Bruce and I have a lot to discuss. I am leaning towards doing both the 150 Central Park and the Chef's Table. I LOVE dining as an adventure, trying new things.

 

We don't expect landside dining to be on par with cruise food, so we are seldom disappointed.....but also seldom wow'd. After all, we live in Las Vegas, if we want food perfection we have about 100 or more fine dining venues less than 12 miles from our house. But, as my husband always says, "EVERYTHING TASTES BETTER ON A CRUISE!!"

 

Is the Solarium Bistro open during lunch? Might want to check that out! :)

 

It has been many years since we have done a 7 day cruise, usually we do 12-30 day cruises, so we normally have lots of time to try the different restaurants, but this cruise is making me feel like we need to do a lot in a short period of time. Our next cruise after the Oasis will be a B2B for a month, so we will be back to not feeling rushed. :D

 

Thanks again all!

[macruisefan]

No "specialty dining" on RCI can hold up to the high end meals you can get in any urban area on shore. That being said, I find them all to be FAR superior to the MDR (and as a result, only dine in the specialty restaurants). Here is how I would rank them:

 

Chef's Table: Wonderful setting, nicely paced with the best food on the ship. Only crapshoot is that it's a table for twelve, so you have no control over who will be joining you.

 

150 Central Park: Maybe neck and neck with Chef's Table for best food on the ship. Nice quiet setting. The wine pairing is excellent, or you can feel free to choose your own libations if the pairing doesn't interest you. Upside: no sharing a table of twelve with strangers!

 

Chops: Good. Nothing exceptional. A nice token steakhouse serving a high quality, though not prime variety of steaks in a rather pedestrian presentation with standard steakhouse sides. While I enjoy it every time, nothing jumps out at me as terribly memorable. It would not be the ONE specialty I chose. On the other hand, if you're just mad for steak, it is the best steak on the ship.

 

Giovanni's Table: I'm not sure it would be possible to squeeze more Italian stereotypes into one room without Chef Boyardee running aroungd singing "That's Amore!".... The food is good, not great. Yest the rack of lamb is nice, but nothing worth going out of your way for. Everything else is fairly standard interpretations of Italian mainstays.

 

Izumi: Sushi is good as an alternative one night. But again, if it was my only foray out of the MDR, no way. The "hot rock" cooking has to be one of the DUMBEST trends I've found. "Here's a hunk of meat with no seasoning or marinade. Here's a searing hot rock. Cook your own dinner!". Uh, thanks, I'm good!

[Aquahound]

Is the Solarium Bistro open during lunch? Might want to check that out! :)

 

Yes it is, but it's not a specialty restaurant during the day like Izumi and GT are. It's more of a health food alternative for lunch.

[RevSmith]

Thank you all for your advice and suggestions. Especially RevSmith, thanks for the play by play!! Bruce and I have a lot to discuss. I am leaning towards doing both the 150 Central Park and the Chef's Table. I LOVE dining as an adventure, trying new things.

 

We don't expect landside dining to be on par with cruise food, so we are seldom disappointed.....but also seldom wow'd. After all, we live in Las Vegas, if we want food perfection we have about 100 or more fine dining venues less than 12 miles from our house. But, as my husband always says, "EVERYTHING TASTES BETTER ON A CRUISE!!"

 

Is the Solarium Bistro open during lunch? Might want to check that out! :)

 

It has been many years since we have done a 7 day cruise, usually we do 12-30 day cruises, so we normally have lots of time to try the different restaurants, but this cruise is making me feel like we need to do a lot in a short period of time. Our next cruise after the Oasis will be a B2B for a month, so we will be back to not feeling rushed. :D

 

Thanks again all!

Your idea to try both, is by far the best idea.

As far as the Solarium Bistro is is open for lunch most days, especially the first day (it's a relaxing place to go with all the commotion around the ship.) I assume you know that it's buffet still health food for breakfast and lunch. Lots of fruits, salads, whole grains, miso soup, salmon and such.

 

Re: only a seven night. You may want to check the prices as you come nearer to the cruise. Royal has been making a lot of price cuts lately and they may make you an offer you can't refuse, for a cruise before this on or after.

 

Well have fun dinning. I know for me it's one of the things I look forward to on the ships.

Rev

[macruisefan]

After all, we live in Las Vegas, if we want food perfection we have about 100 or more fine dining venues less than 12 miles from our house. But, as my husband always says, "EVERYTHING TASTES BETTER ON A CRUISE!!"

 

Chops is no Carnevino, Prime, or Craftsteak....

Giovanni's is no Rao's, Il Mulino or Bartolotta....

Izumi is no Raku, Barmasa or Nobu....

150 Central Park is no L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Picasso or Twist...

 

But they are on a ship!!!:D

[rednancy1]

We really love Chops! :)

[Ken at the beach]

Our first and probably only cruise on the Oasis (we normally only do long itineraries which the newer, huge ships don't tend to do, but needed a quick diversion in October :D) and with only 7 days, we are thinking we will only do one specialty restaurant.....so which one?? We've done Chops and Giovanni's Table on other ships so I am thinking it's more a choice between the 150 Central Park or Chef's Table. Are they worth the extra money? How do they differ? Are they really great or are they just really great for a cruise?? :p

 

Thanks for your opinion!

 

Found this review that had a detailed description of their meal with pictures from Chefs Table.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1813495&page=4

 

Starts at post 66

[JohnSnowGOT]

Yes it is, but it's not a specialty restaurant during the day like Izumi and GT are. It's more of a health food alternative for lunch.

 

 

 

Bistro is a Specialty Restaurant on the Oasis. In fact I think there is only one Bistro serving dinner in the entire fleet!..Allure doesn't have the bistro for dinner, it is the Brazilian themed restaurant. I still would by-pass All others for the Bistro on the Oasis. It is truly wonderful! Only one of its kind. The food is healthy yes................fresh and wonderful!