amy2313 Posted March 16, 2015 #1 Share Posted March 16, 2015 We are going on the Sunshine soon and are debating going to one of the specialty restaurants one night. I know they are completely different but which do people prefer and why on the Sunshine?? Also, after 15+ Carnival cruises we have never gone to one of the specialty restaurants (love the main dining room & getting to know our dining room team). I've looked at the menus, but for the surcharge at each restaurant what exactly do you get? Is it one item from each section of the menu? One app, one entree, one desert?? What happens if you want to try different items? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KPfromCT Posted March 16, 2015 #2 Share Posted March 16, 2015 We did both on the breeze and loved them equally. Do both! Enjoy!!!!! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gone_cruisin Posted March 16, 2015 #3 Share Posted March 16, 2015 I recommend the steakhouse and JiJis. I was not a fan of the Italian place. For $15 pp JiJi gives you an appetizer, 2 main dishes and 2 desserts. Almost too much food. http://www.carnival.com/~/media/Images/explore/dining/menus/ji-ji-asian-kitchen-dinner-menu.ashx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daniella1279 Posted March 16, 2015 #4 Share Posted March 16, 2015 (edited) We loved the Italian restaurant on the Sunshine. The apps comes family style. You can order as many apps as you would like . We ordered 3 for the table. My husband had the steak and he loved it and he loved that it only costed him $15. Edited to add my son and I had the chicken parm it had a little kick to it. Red pepper flakes so it you don't like that maybe ask for no pepper flakes. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Edited March 16, 2015 by daniella1279 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clt9488 Posted March 16, 2015 #5 Share Posted March 16, 2015 I've only done the steakhouse once on our very first cruise and plan on doing it again this upcoming April. My understanding is they do not limit your starters or sides but you are allowed to order one entree which if they are anything like they they were in 2008 you really couldn't eat more than one! If you're on the fence about it they usually do a tasting thing on embarkation day and you can watch cooking demonstrations and sample some great food. If you are worried about not liking something I would't be - my cousin ordered the fish entree and did not care for it and we had the server, maitre'd and chef come out to see if they could get her something else. It wasn't a big deal she just tried something new and didn't care for it. The ongoing joke was that the captain would be out to check on her next - they were so attentive and so concerned that she didn't like her meal. We have done Cucina three times and LOVE it. The price is very reasonable and the atmosphere is fun. The food was excellent and the portions are HUGE. Definitely try it you will love it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topo Gigio Posted March 16, 2015 #6 Share Posted March 16, 2015 I went 4 times to Jiji's! liked it better than Cucina. Amazing food and service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rochesterboatingdotcom Posted March 16, 2015 #7 Share Posted March 16, 2015 We did the italian restuarant on the Breeze and were not impressed. Slow service and the food wasn't much better than the MDR. Go for the steakhouse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfwench Posted March 16, 2015 #8 Share Posted March 16, 2015 Did both the Cucina and the Steakhouse on the Breeze. Thought the food better at the Steakhouse. Thought the decor and ambiance better at the Cucina. They are pretty reasonably priced, I'd go for both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyt4SoreEyes Posted March 16, 2015 #9 Share Posted March 16, 2015 (edited) Loved the Steakhouse for dinner ate there a few times. Edited March 16, 2015 by Cyt4SoreEyes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenniferop Posted March 16, 2015 #10 Share Posted March 16, 2015 DH and I did both (and Jiji's) on the Sunshine last year - I would recommend Cucina or Jiji's before 555 - Although the Steakhouses on Freedom and Dream were excellent we were disappointed by the one on Sunshine. The meat seemed chewy and of less quality than we were expecting for an upgrade restaurant. My DH's filet had a large piece of gristle running though it and even with a complaint they didn't offer to replace. I found that the new upgrade option in the MDR was better than the 555. Just my opinion on what we experienced - but We loved Jiji's and Cuncina. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amy2313 Posted March 16, 2015 Author #11 Share Posted March 16, 2015 Thank you everyone! All of this is very helpful! And yes, we are concerned that if we get something (I have one very picky eater in the group) and someone doesn't like it we are sunk. At least in the MDR, it isn't such a big deal. I will say I am very surprised by the one poster's comment that the steak in 555 was gristly and they wouldn't replace. I know this can sometimes happen with a piece of steak but especially when you are paying extra for the specialty restaurant for them not to get you a new, better cut is very surprising to me. Thanks for the info! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zumbaguy Posted March 16, 2015 #12 Share Posted March 16, 2015 Last month on Breeze we ate at Cucina and the steakhouse for dinner. The steakhouse was a much better experience. The food at Cucina was good, but they are 2 different classes of dining. With that said, I suggest you try them both! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topo Gigio Posted March 16, 2015 #13 Share Posted March 16, 2015 DH and I did both (and Jiji's) on the Sunshine last year - I would recommend Cucina or Jiji's before 555 - Although the Steakhouses on Freedom and Dream were excellent we were disappointed by the one on Sunshine. The meat seemed chewy and of less quality than we were expecting for an upgrade restaurant. My DH's filet had a large piece of gristle running though it and even with a complaint they didn't offer to replace. I found that the new upgrade option in the MDR was better than the 555. Just my opinion on what we experienced - but We loved Jiji's and Cuncina. I had the same experience @ 555 on the Sunshine. I told the waitress that I had the same meat a couple of months before on the Breeze and that it was of a much better quality. I no time the cook was at my table apologizing and asking me if I wanted something else to eat. Was way to stuffed already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjd2 Posted March 16, 2015 #14 Share Posted March 16, 2015 We normally aren't ones to pay extra for dinner as we have always been happy with the MDR. On the Sunshine, we paid to eat at JiJi's, Cucina and Bonsai. Cucina remains the outstanding memory of excellent food for us on that trip! It was so excellent. Bonsai was very good if you like sushi. JiJi's was just ok for us and probably would pass it by next time in favor of the others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare pirate4me2 Posted March 16, 2015 #15 Share Posted March 16, 2015 We did both on the Sunshine and loved them both, but if I had to choose, I would say the Steakhouse. You get an appetizer, salad, entrée, and sides. Oh, dessert too! I have gotten 2 sides before with no problem, because I was not sure if I would like one of them. The portions are huge, you will not leave hungry. The service on the Sunshine was the best we have had on any of our cruises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hbrote Posted March 16, 2015 #16 Share Posted March 16, 2015 I would suggest you visit the 555 steakhouse and I will go along with JiJi's. We have eaten at both on the Sunshine and they were fantastic. Now when it comes to "Cucina del Crapitano" run in the other direction. The food isn't very good, in my opinion. My wife makes better Italian food (she is a great cook). I remember saying this about Cucina before and the next poster said I didn't know good Italian food. We were in Italy at that time and I can say "it's definitely not like meals there". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sh1035 Posted March 16, 2015 #17 Share Posted March 16, 2015 I wish I could answer but I ate at jiji every night it was so good. I have eaten at the steakhouse on many ships and I can't take the hurry up and wait for next course anymore. I also prefer the upgrade option in the MDR. We like to joke everyone in the steakhouse must be related or sleeping with the senior officers. Appears all they do is chat and occasionally serve something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topo Gigio Posted March 16, 2015 #18 Share Posted March 16, 2015 I wish I could answer but I ate at jiji every night it was so good. I have eaten at the steakhouse on many ships and I can't take the hurry up and wait for next course anymore. I also prefer the upgrade option in the MDR. We like to joke everyone in the steakhouse must be related or sleeping with the senior officers. Appears all they do is chat and occasionally serve something. Yep, Jiji was excellent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strmwatch Posted March 17, 2015 #19 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Ok not sure why my post was deleted? All I said was...why not do both? Cucina is free during lunch...so you can go there for lunch then the Steak House for dinner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amy2313 Posted March 17, 2015 Author #20 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Ok not sure why my post was deleted? All I said was...why not do both? Cucina is free during lunch...so you can go there for lunch then the Steak House for dinner. We were thinking about this exact option! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out to sea! Posted March 17, 2015 #21 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Just came off the Sunshine yesterday. Jiji's was absolutely fantastic. Capitano was so-so. I thought my wife makes much better Alfredo sauce at home. Others may have a different opinion. YMMV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcelLucSell Posted March 17, 2015 #22 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Don't forget Bonsai Sushi !! We ate there for mid-day snack and it hit the spot. A few pieces of sushi, miso soup, salad, and only $12 for a tall bottle of hot saki. Num !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topo Gigio Posted March 17, 2015 #23 Share Posted March 17, 2015 We were thinking about this exact option! It's NOT the same stuff you get in the evening! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingCruiserNJ Posted March 17, 2015 #24 Share Posted March 17, 2015 (edited) My experience is on the Breeze, the Sunshine's sister ship, but I would say go with the Cucina if the Sunshine is anything like the Breeze. Not that the steakhouse was bad, but the Cucina was superior when we went there for lunch last September, and was well worth the $15 a person for dinner when we went for dinner (although they accidentally charged me for a soda even though I had bottomless bubbles, which was corrected and credited back to my s/s account later that evening). I had been to the steakhouse on Freedom a number of years ago when the steakhouse upsell concept was still in its earlier stages on Carnival and it was very, very good. For $35 upcharge, you do get a nice appetizer and entree with a huge dessert, but in my opinion on this last trip, the steak was only average to slightly above. I got the ribeye. Very gristly although pretty tasty. Crabcake app was ok, as was the chocolate delight dessert. I didn't like how the steakhouse was set up though, I felt like it was more cramped there than in the regular dining room. It shouldn't be that way. So sure, try both if you want to and both would be worth the money but I felt we got the better value at the Cucina, at least on the Breeze. And finally, I must add that as others have said, you will NOT leave hungry from either place if that is a concern to you. Tons of food at both places and I did not finish my entree from the Cucina when we went there for dinner. Edited March 17, 2015 by FlyingCruiserNJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daniella1279 Posted March 17, 2015 #25 Share Posted March 17, 2015 It's NOT the same stuff you get in the evening! I will have to agree with this. We got pasta for lunch when we got on the ship and it was so-so. When the kids wanted to try something other then the mdr I want to try Jiji's thinking the pasta would be the Quality but am very happy to say dinner was MUCH better. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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