Vegetarian Chef Special in Steakhouse?

[BigTexan]

I had the Mushroom Strudel on the Conquest last fall. It was good, but I had mushroom overload with the mushroom appetizer and the mushrooms in the spinach salad. The customer service rep for the Glory steakhouse said I can request a special vegetarian meal from the chef after I get onboard.

 

Has anyone requested a special vegetarian meal in a Carnival steakhouse?

Suggestions?

 

I'll be fine with the group and the strudel, but an alternative would be great!

 

Thanks,

Mike

[Cruise-Crazy]

The 24 oz. Porterhouse steak is pretty good. :D

 

Sorry....... but it was good......

 

I'm sure the vegetarian meal would be a lot healthier

[Colorado Kat]

I hadn't realised they would do a special vegetarian meal there. Unless you're cruising with others who want to go there, the extra charge ($30?) seems steep for mushrooms.

[kujobie]

I hadn't realised they would do a special vegetarian meal there. Unless you're cruising with others who want to go there, the extra charge ($30?) seems steep for mushrooms.

 

Seriously.. For 30 bucks, I'm gonna want some mushrooms that make me hallucinate..

[matj2000]

You really want to go pay $30 for the Steakhouse and then eat veggies? Sound a bit odd.....

[crewsweeper]

You could construct a veggie meal off the Steakhouse menu....But just think a second...You're going to a STEAK- house! Implication is that the menu will revolve around MEAT! This isn't a all things for everyone restaurant.

 

Carnival does a great job with vegetarian dishes in the MDR...no extra charge! (and can do the gluten-free dishes for those with celiac disease or who are just alt-food/diet fad of the moment trend followers) Some of these dishes are way better than the meat dishes served that night in the MDR. Take full advantage of these options if you're a vegetarian!

 

But save your $$ for other things and take a pass on the Steakhouse if it's just you. If you're going with a group and they're having meat you can take a look at the menu prior to cruising (John Heald's blog has a pdf and there are several threads on these boards with menus) and then do a selection from that.

[elcuchio24]

seriously.. For 30 bucks, i'm gonna want some mushrooms that make me hallucinate..

 

:d:d:d

[Jolimont]

I wouldn't go to a steak house for a great vegetarian meal any more than I would go to a deli for a great Indian meal or a sushi place for great breads. But it is good that they could accommodate you even if you got mushroom overload. They're not trained as vegetarian chefs, it's a steak house!!!

[abqmommyof4]

I would want truffles ( and I dont mean the chocolate ones, those are fine I mean real truffles.. the kind found and dug up by specially trained pigs)

[matj2000]

I would want truffles ( and I dont mean the chocolate ones, those are fine I mean real truffles.. the kind found and dug up by specially trained pigs)

 

I doubt they would have truffles on the ship..

[silverado44]

Vegetarian at the STEAKhouse is like ordering a burger ar Red Lobster.

[kujobie]

The decent thing to do would be for Carnival to cut the price a little so he/she could still eat with the family and not be gouged for non-psychadelic mushrooms. Maybe charge like $10 instead of $30. But we all know that'll never happen..

[Justsyd]

I see no reason to skip the Steakhouse if you're a vegetarian. Why on earth couldn't you go with your party, and enjoy a meal? I think it's great that Carnival can accommodate you, and give you the dining experience that others get while observing your wishes.

[arush5268d]

As others have mentioned it is nice that you got a tasty vegetarian meal at the STEAKhouse, especially since these are not chefs that specialise in that.

[raylene5]

I'm a vegetarian and I paid $30 to eat at the steakhouse on the Spirit in March and I absolutely thought it was worth it. The appetizers were amazing and much better than the appetizers I had in the MDR (I also thought the MDR vegetarian options were good) and the mushroom entree was also very good. But the extra $$$ also bought me MUCH MUCH better service than anything I received in the MDR so again, it was totally worth it.

 

OP: If I were you, I would talk to the Steakhouse staff a day or two before your reservation and let them know you are vegetarian but that you would like something different than the mushroom entree. I think the chef will be more than happy to accommodate you. Our chef was very happy to prepare my vegetarian meal and came over to our table to make sure I liked it. Happy eating!

[halos]

Seriously.. For 30 bucks, I'm gonna want some mushrooms that make me hallucinate..

LOL!! :D

As others have mentioned it is nice that you got a tasty vegetarian meal at the STEAKhouse, especially since these are not chefs that specialise in that.

OMG :rolleyes:

Do you realize how ridiculous that statement is?

 

I'm a vegetarian and I paid $30 to eat at the steakhouse on the Spirit in March and I absolutely thought it was worth it. The appetizers were amazing and much better than the appetizers I had in the MDR (I also thought the MDR vegetarian options were good) and the mushroom entree was also very good. But the extra $$$ also bought me MUCH MUCH better service than anything I received in the MDR so again, it was totally worth it.

 

OP: If I were you, I would talk to the Steakhouse staff a day or two before your reservation and let them know you are vegetarian but that you would like something different than the mushroom entree. I think the chef will be more than happy to accommodate you. Our chef was very happy to prepare my vegetarian meal and came over to our table to make sure I liked it. Happy eating!

 

 

Bravo! I knew there were a couple people who had vegetarian meals at the steak house and enjoyed them. I'm glad you could help the OP out :)

[valtandc]

I hear they can make you grilled tofu with alfalfa sprouts in a veggie broth.

[richstowe]

Have to agree with others - vegetarian in steak house does not compute.:confused:

BTW Have you tried the Indian dishes in the MDR? Many are vegetarian and quite good I am told.:)

[silverado44]

I hear they can make you grilled tofu with alfalfa sprouts in a veggie broth.

 

Can they make it so it tastes like the 24 oz porterhouse?

[BigTexan]

Eating a vegetarian meal in a steak house isn't unusual to me.

I lived in areas where the meat eater was the minority. At no time was there an attempt to make that friend feel uncomfortable or want any friend to not join us.

Times have already changed regarding restaurant menus. Years ago the staple options for me in most restaurants were a baked potato and a salad. Today most restaurants have at least one item in each category special for a vegetarian. It's good business, because my friends and family want me happy, too. We only go to restaurants that suit us all.

The extra cost today is something I've come to accept in order to spend time with friends and family who want those Fred Flintstone sized porterhouse steaks.

When I do spend a significant extra, I do expect more from the chef. The restaurant has already had experience with different diet requests even though the average meat eater still hasn't.

The Carnival Steak Houses advertise premium quality in a Manhattan style steak house atmosphere that my friends have already enjoyed and want to attend again. Most want a huge chunk of broiled meat. That menu doesn't need to change, but that mushroom strudel is an old style vegetarian make-do that has been on the Carnival menus for at least 7 years.

Even so, the restaurants provide good customer service as well as honor special requests. They like to say their service is superior than many other restaurants. It's good, but I have outstanding service and food in the MDR always. Not everyone can say that, but the waitstaff anticipate my needs and I have consideration for them. At the end of the last night, it's like saying goodbye to good friends.

The Steak House is just one more experience on the ship. It's quiet, not rushed, and a special event. Food to me is OK, although the meat eaters find the meal exceptional. Is it worth $30 extra to me? Only because I'm spending time with people I love.

[bumbleklutz]

BigTexan don't be afraid to ask the staff at the steak house what they can do for you a day or two before your reservation. You might be pleasantly surprised. As a former chef and a vegetarian, I can tell you that chefs are used to accomodating people with special requests and a vegetarian meal is not that unusual of a request; even in a steakhouse. :)

 

Many chefs that are pigeon-holed in one culinary genre (i.e. steakhouse, Italian, Asian) actually welcome a special request such as your's because it allows them to step outside of their comfort zone and flex their creative muscles in a way that they don't normally get in their day-to-day routine. Often some of the best dishes come about this way.:D

 

While I have not personally had the pleasure of dining in one of the Carnival steakhouses; I have heard very good things about them, and intend to dine at the steakhouse on the Legend this fall. I too will be making my vegetarian request a day or two in advance and I am prepared to be amazed at what is offered. Considering; that like you, I have the pleasure of enjoying my meal with friends and loved ones while they enjoy their chunk-o-beast it really is worth the extra money; even if all I am offered is bog-standard fare.

 

At least the days of the baked potato and salad "vegetarian entree" are (mostly) gone.:D

 

On a side note don't forget to grab a veggie burger on the Lido deck. Yes, believe it or not, they do have them. You have to ask for it, and you might have to ask more than one person to get it due to some language barriers. They are pretty good, and it's nice to to be able to enjoy a burger and drink on the Lido with friends. To misquote Mastercard; in fact it's "priceless". Have a great cruise. :cool:

[BigTexan]

Hey BumbleKlutz, Thanks for the tip to contact the chef. The Steak House reps are helpful and have told me to do just that.

The next time you order a veggie burger on the ship watch how they cook it. On two cruises they deep fried it. I like the food on Carnival, but deep fried veggie burgers isn't on my bucket list.

So far I haven't heard of anyone special ordering vegetarian in the Steak House, so when I get back, I'll let all the vegetarians know what selection I get from the Chef on the Glory Steak House in September.

 

Mike

[oncruisecontrol]

Eating a vegetarian meal in a steak house isn't unusual to me.

I lived in areas where the meat eater was the minority. At no time was there an attempt to make that friend feel uncomfortable or want any friend to not join us.

Times have already changed regarding restaurant menus. Years ago the staple options for me in most restaurants were a baked potato and a salad. Today most restaurants have at least one item in each category special for a vegetarian. It's good business, because my friends and family want me happy, too. We only go to restaurants that suit us all.

The extra cost today is something I've come to accept in order to spend time with friends and family who want those Fred Flintstone sized porterhouse steaks.

When I do spend a significant extra, I do expect more from the chef. The restaurant has already had experience with different diet requests even though the average meat eater still hasn't.

The Carnival Steak Houses advertise premium quality in a Manhattan style steak house atmosphere that my friends have already enjoyed and want to attend again. Most want a huge chunk of broiled meat. That menu doesn't need to change, but that mushroom strudel is an old style vegetarian make-do that has been on the Carnival menus for at least 7 years.

Even so, the restaurants provide good customer service as well as honor special requests. They like to say their service is superior than many other restaurants. It's good, but I have outstanding service and food in the MDR always. Not everyone can say that, but the waitstaff anticipate my needs and I have consideration for them. At the end of the last night, it's like saying goodbye to good friends.

The Steak House is just one more experience on the ship. It's quiet, not rushed, and a special event. Food to me is OK, although the meat eaters find the meal exceptional. Is it worth $30 extra to me? Only because I'm spending time with people I love.

 

Nicely stated.