Allure- Dining

Adagio Dining Room

We ate dinner here on 5 of the nights of the cruise.  On the first three nights we had an awesome waiter named Boney.  We put in a request to sit with him every night in the MDR (Main Dining Room).  We would order our food and then he would bring a small sample of the other dishes to try.  We probably looked like pigs, but oh well.  We told him that we felt bad that food was being wasted.  He told us not to worry as they regularly throw a lot of food away at the end of the night and he’d rather see someone sample a dish rather than throw out the entire meal.

The night we left Jamaica we ate at Rita’s Fiesta.  Men were given sombreros and women were given flashing necklaces.  LOTS of fun!  Food was fine, edible.  Better than Taco Bell, but not authentic.  Salsa was out of the jar.  I love home made salsa. There was too much shrimp in the food choices for my taste.  I only like cold shrimp.  Warning, the green quesadilla is very spicy!!  I didn’t even get to my 3^rd margarita- I’m a lightweight.  They were letting people swap Margaritas for beers or tequila shots.  We danced on the Boardwalk, they had men’s & women’s dance competitions.  We had a blast.  No pictures from the dancing but I do have video.

Back to the MDR.  The following night was the 2^nd formal night.  We arrived early by 5 minutes.  The woman at the MTD (My Time Dining) desk, whose name was Hazel Lopez, told us we could not sit with Boney because his section was full.  I explained that we had done our reservations well ahead of time and on night one requested to always sit with him. She told me that was impossible and that Royal Caribbean does not allow waiter requests.  Funny…  we’ve used MTD 6 times previously and they always let us request a waiter.  I understood that his section was full, so we sat with another waiter that night.  We were literally in the corner on the opposite side of the MDR.  Had a less than desirable meal experience, but nothing terrible.  My mom found the head waiter for Boney’s section and asked that we please get a request in to sit at one of his tables.  He said “of course!”  When we went back to the MDR Saturday Hazel was at the desk again.  She looked at me and said “Oh, you people, who want to request a waiter.”  Then she proceeded to give the other crew member a paper and said something quietly to him.  AGAIN we were seated with a different waiter.  The head waiter from the a few days ago came over and asked why we weren’t sitting in Boney & his section.  I told him what happened.  He was furious and stormed over to Hazel.  When he came back he brought us champagne and asked if there was anything else we’d like to drink on the house.  Not really sure if Hazel got in trouble or not, but it was disappointing that she had a bad attitude.

We ate at Giovanni’s Friday night.  My husband and I loved it on Oasis.  So we had to have my mom and her BF try it. It was a zoo.  I was unable to get 7 or 7:30 reservations so we had to settle for 8.  We showed up a bit early because we had a show later and didn’t want to miss it.  The place was empty at 7:30.  Not sure why they wouldn’t let me have a reservation then.  They seated us.  Within 20 minutes the place was FULL.  Mostly parties of 8 or more.  This made service slow.  We couldn’t understand why they wouldn’t let us have an earlier reservation.  While talking with our waitress she said that three of the big parties showed up very late, they had 7 or 7:30 reservations.  Figures!

Park Café was our most frequently visited dining venue.  They offer paninis, sandwiches, soups, fruit, build-a-salad station, desserts, etc.  They make some awesome egg sandwiches and wraps for breakfast along with a build-a-bagel bar in the mornings.  We ate breakfast there 6 out of 7 days.  Lunch was eaten there on every sea day!  Great food, lots of variety, nice atmosphere.  You can sit inside or outside.  Always busy, but the line was never outrageous.  I finally figured out why I didn’t like the Roast beef sandwiches on Oasis- they put mustard and/or horseradish on it.  I got them with just au jus and I was in heaven!!

Boardwalk Dog House.  So the kid in my liked this place.  I tried three different dogs.  Hubby only tried the Coney Island.  How Boring?!?  I had a Sicilian, Big Apple, and Smokehouse.  Not at the same time.  Different days :)  None of them were bad, two were not as warm as I would have liked.  Needless to say I like the idea of the DogHouse.  Never a long line, but always people there grabbing a quick bite.

Matt (husband) and I went to the Windjammer one day for lunch just to say we ate there.  There are so many other choices on this ship that I hate to spend my time in the WJ.