Cagney's steaks in the MDR

[IAcruising]

 

We've seen this discussed as a side issue in other threads, but let's get it down to the brass tacks.

 

The MDR menu offers some of Cagney's best steaks at a very, very reasonable upcharge. Why would you "waste" (a very subjective term) a specialty dining option for something you can get in the MDR?

 

Convince us that the appetizers, sides, desserts make it worth it. We've got 5 specialty meals coming up in April. I see 5 restaurants I'd choose before Cagney's. 

 

[Simes123]

I saw this on our recent cruise on the Gem.  I didn’t partake as the Filet came with sweet potato mousseline which was a hard no from me.  I did wonder if I could get fries maybe if I asked nicely, but the fries aboard the Gem, whether in MDR, Cagneys or Buffet were horrible. So there wasn’t an option that was going to make it worthwhile for me.  I will experiment with it next time as the specialty dining experience was a bit average last time.

[vacation44]

31 minutes ago, Simes123 said:

I saw this on our recent cruise on the Gem.  I didn’t partake as the Filet came with sweet potato mousseline which was a hard no from me.  I did wonder if I could get fries maybe if I asked nicely, but the fries aboard the Gem, whether in MDR, Cagneys or Buffet were horrible. So there wasn’t an option that was going to make it worthwhile for me.  I will experiment with it next time as the specialty dining experience was a bit average last time.

I always switch out the sides that come with filet in any restaurant with fries.  

[vacation44]

6 hours ago, IAcruising said:

 

We've seen this discussed as a side issue in other threads, but let's get it down to the brass tacks.

 

The MDR menu offers some of Cagney's best steaks at a very, very reasonable upcharge. Why would you "waste" (a very subjective term) a specialty dining option for something you can get in the MDR?

 

Convince us that the appetizers, sides, desserts make it worth it. We've got 5 specialty meals coming up in April. I see 5 restaurants I'd choose before Cagney's. 

 

I do see your point and it is a good one, but I would rather not spend the additional money.   

[hallux]

8 hours ago, IAcruising said:

The MDR menu offers some of Cagney's best steaks at a very, very reasonable upcharge.

Is this new?  I sailed on the Escape in March and did not see this option.

[Beer Belly]

On the Prima in April my Wife ordered the Filet Mignon with an upcharge ($25) in the MDR, she thoroughly enjoyed it......happy wife, happy life.

[cruiseny4life]

2 hours ago, vacation44 said:

I do see your point and it is a good one, but I would rather not spend the additional money.   

I'm with you. I spend very little extra onboard, with the exception of a discounted massage (the manager's special coupon one from embarkation day). Unfortunately, I think it just means the only way to order steak in the main dining room (soon) will be to purchase the Cagney's upcharge steak. I'm sure if their "experiment" works, they'll stop providing a NY Strip as a classic entree.

[graphicguy]

Just curious…what’s the MDR up charge?

 

Wondering if it makes more sense just to buy another SDR package and eat in Cagney’s to get their steak.

[TrumpyNor]

8 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Just curious…what’s the MDR up charge?

 

Wondering if it makes more sense just to buy another SDR package and eat in Cagney’s to get their steak.

If I remember correctly from our cruise on the Escape in August, it was $25. Didn't try it myself.

[cruiseny4life]

@BirdTravels posted the MDR menus on the 2023 updated menu thread. Here's a snippet from Bird's post showing the Cagney's menu choices.

 

[laudergayle]

6 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

@BirdTravels posted the MDR menus on the 2023 updated menu thread. Here's a snippet from Bird's post showing the Cagney's menu choices.

 

Like you, probably wouldn’t pay extra for the filet in MDR as filets are available in a couple specialty restaurants as well as Cagneys.

Edited September 19, 2023 by laudergayle

[UKstages]

1 hour ago, cruiseny4life said:

I spend very little extra onboard…

 

and i’m exactly the opposite. i spend an extraordinary amount of money (in the casino), which is why i consider the rest of the cruise an “all inclusive” holiday. if the meal isn’t FAS, or isn’t comped by the casino, i have little interest.
 

i do have two general observations here…

 

unless cagney’s is next door to the MDR (similar to how cagney’s and moderno often share a space or a central kitchen on some ships and you can sometimes mix and match sides or an item from the salad bar), can it really be said that you’re getting a cagney’s steak? if you’re lucky, you’ll be getting the same cut and quality of meat. but if you believe that the chefs at cagney’s are artisans with a cleaver and a grill and know how to produce the perfect steak (not always true, in my opinion), do you think the chefs at the MDR who don’t specialize in steak would know what to do with your $25 ribeye?
 

the dining experience at cagney’s itself has become hit or miss. i’m not sure i could be convinced to pay extra for a steak in the MDR, which is likely to be more of a miss than a hit. although, i have indeed sometimes had better dining experiences in the MDR than at cagney’s and we hear all the time about people who say their “free” steak at the MDR was better than cagney’s. so, sure, if you’re sitting on a stockpile of OBC because they turned off your hot tub, or you’re a stockholder, or you slipped and fell on a wet deck, or your travel agent loves you… have at it. knock yourself out. order that steak, mr. rockefeller. ask for a side of caviar, why doncha? And do remember to ask for strawberries arnaud for dessert!

 

the second thing is this… is it just me or does anybody else find it incredibly ironic that in a forum in which people often complain about being nickeled and dimed by NCL, we’re having a legitimate conversation about paying $25 for a steak in the MDR? that’s 250 dimes or 500 nickels! all at once!
 

this reminds me of all the folks who (rightly, in my opinion) ask why they’d pay for a hamburger at the american diner when they could get a burger for “free” at the local or the buffet.

 

just. say. no.

[NYcruzzer]

Carnival and Royal have been offering upcharge Steak and Lobster options for years. Same with my recent MSC cruise. I can definitely see the value in this. You are paying $15.00 to $25.00for a supposedly better cut of meat . Then getting apps, sides and dessert as an included add on in the MDR. Great way to save some money. It's also a great if you have young children and don't want to bring them to Cagneys..

[Simes123]

To me the value is not in the strip loin (always available in mdr) but in the filet - the best cut is the cheapest.

[UKstages]

and the first cut is the deepest.

[schmoopie17]

2 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

I'm with you. I spend very little extra onboard, 

We always try to have zero additional charges on our onboard account. Although, with the sneaky alcohol taxes in certain ports, it makes it difficult.

[9tee2Sea]

I will never eat at Cagney's again.  The steaks came out cold ( twice) and was overcooked and tough. I make better steaks at home. I also never order steaks in the MDR.

[schmoopie17]

4 minutes ago, 9tee2Sea said:

I will never eat at Cagney's again.  The steaks came out cold ( twice) and was overcooked and tough. I make better steaks at home. I also never order steaks in the MDR.

We always though the filet in the French restaurant was much netter than in Cagney's. Except now it appears that they have added an upcharge for that steak....for your convenience.

[Simes123]

51 minutes ago, schmoopie17 said:

We always though the filet in the French restaurant was much netter than in Cagney's. Except now it appears that they have added an upcharge for that steak....for your convenience.

They have and add Foie Gras to it to justify the upcharge - which is a highly questionable decision given the process and that doesn’t really add to it.  Similarly adding a high end ingredient like truffle powder on the cheapest frozen French fries in Cagney’s is a doubtful move.  Just provide some nice hand cut steak fries already - it is a specialty restaurant after all.  

[bkrickles1]

I'd rather they offer Cagney's 7 Layer Cake in the mdr's instead!

That I'd pay for.

My family has grown tired of Cagney's and it's slightly above average food, but we love the 7 layer cake.

Has anyone just gone to Cagney's for dessert?

That would be of interest to us. Lmao!!

[BirdTravels]

1 hour ago, schmoopie17 said:

We always though the filet in the French restaurant was much netter than in Cagney's. Except now it appears that they have added an upcharge for that steak....for your convenience.

The paired it with some very yummy Foie. Much better and worth the upcharge. 
 

[cruiseny4life]

2 hours ago, UKstages said:

just. say. no.

If only people would listen.

[UKstages]

i'm pretty sure the foie gras on the filet in le bistro predates the upcharge. i know because i don't eat it and have fond memories of always pushing it aside while consuming free at sea dining. on the prima a few months ago, i did have the filet because it's one of the very few entrees i like at le bistro and i paid the upcharge for the first - and last - time. i found le bistro to be a lackluster dining choice on the prima, whereas it may well be the best restaurant on the joy.

 

as for home cooked steak, i agree. of all the steaks i've loved before, the best steak i've ever had on an NCL ship was probably the one i cooked on the hotplate i brought onboard the prima. i used my brass knuckles to pound the meat till tender, then i used my travel santoku knife to cut it thinly (i had a club balcony, so i had a larger surface area in the bathroom for slicing and dicing). i plugged my hotplate into the surge protected power strip i brought with me and eighty-five minutes later... meat magic! i know what you're thinking... who would eat a hotplate steak? 

 

before you knock it, though, follow these pro tips: use your travel iron to get some nice grill marks on the beef and run the au jus through the coffee maker for an extra tasty treat. the secret to that is to heat the au jus gently with an immersion heater before putting it in the coffee maker. if traveling with that special someone, serve the dinner by candlelight. (you did remember to bring along some elegant tapers, didn't you?)

 

you're welcome.

[Simes123]

39 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

The paired it with some very yummy Foie. Much better and worth the upcharge. 
 

Your Foie looks like it was cooked much better than mine, though I still think it’s a questionable add to the dish given the force feeding of the ducks.   Your fondant potato looks as anaemic as mine did - more boiled than fondant!

[schmoopie17]

59 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

The paired it with some very yummy Foie. Much better and worth the upcharge. 

 

Liver? At an extra charge?? No, thanks...