Bad experience in the steakhouse last week

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

...

The steak wasn't terrible but it sure wasn't aged as they claimed and it sure wasn't Prime IMHO. I think they are fibbing on the cuts of meat or their vendor is lying to them.

 

I've been reading a lot lately on how shady the seafood industry (or some elements within it) can be. There are some species of fish where when you order them, you are more likely to get something totally different (and much less expensive)! Check out THIS Consumer Reports article!! :eek:

 

Not only that, but if you EVER thought that you had REAL Kobe beef in the United States, you were hoodwinked (as was I)! Even after paying something approaching $200 for a steak w/no sides at "Prime" (@ Bellagio), it would appear it must have been something else. Before you think WHY IN THE WORLD would someone pay that much for a steak - just know that the casino was picking up the tab, and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about! HERE is a link to a Forbes article which goes into great detail on the scam. It's multi-page and multi-part, so it's easy to miss some of it! If you had any questions about Kobe, this will answer virtually all of them!!

 

Tom

[Gypsywych]

Tom n Cheryl - Excellent articles, thanks!!!

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Tom n Cheryl - Excellent articles, thanks!!!

 

No problem - I enjoy passing along "truth"!!

 

BTW - just heard back from one of Carnival's Steakhouses and was told they DRY AGE their steaks for 28 days.

 

Now, that part where I said I enjoy passing along the truth.... well, I am only relaying what I was told! ;)

 

Tom

[AriesMoon]

We did the Chef's Art steakhouse on the Dream about 6 months after she launched. The food was excellent but the service was just awful (neglectful) and it kind of ruined the experience.

 

As I was filling out the cruise comment card before disembarking I noticed there was no rating category specifically for the steakhouse, which is a shame. Maybe it would help them monitor customer satisfaction so they could make adjustments as necessary. I did "write-in" a comment but who knows what they do with them.

 

We'll be on the Valor in August and plan to try their steakhouse, hopefully it will be better.... if not, there won't be a third attempt.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

...

BTW - just heard back from one of Carnival's Steakhouses and was told they DRY AGE their steaks for 28 days.

...

 

Just heard from a second Steakhouse, and their reply was that their steaks are aged for a maximum on 29 days (dry aged) by an outside vendor then brought onboard.

 

I have had a couple of dry aged steaks (on land) and they both had very intense -bordering on "funky"- flavor. I don't really pick up on that when enjoying steaks on Carnival.

 

Tom

[sjn911]

Hi Stu..I finally had my next cruise on the Spirit over Easter and yes..the food left a little to be desired..

 

Had issues you can hit my name and read if you wish...

 

As per the steakhouse..ate there the first night of the 5 day which happened to be Easter Sunday around 6.

 

Spinch salad..not fresh enough on spinich and musrhrooms, escargot good, filet good but cold, mashed potatoes cold, chocolate dessert ok..but not as good as some photos.

 

Looking forward to Hawaii commments on the food on her...Sarah

[sjn911]

I've been reading a lot lately on how shady the seafood industry (or some elements within it) can be. There are some species of fish where when you order them, you are more likely to get something totally different (and much less expensive)! Check out THIS Consumer Reports article!! :eek:

 

Not only that, but if you EVER thought that you had REAL Kobe beef in the United States, you were hoodwinked (as was I)! Even after paying something approaching $200 for a steak w/no sides at "Prime" (@ Bellagio), it would appear it must have been something else. Before you think WHY IN THE WORLD would someone pay that much for a steak - just know that the casino was picking up the tab, and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about! HERE is a link to a Forbes article which goes into great detail on the scam. It's multi-page and multi-part, so it's easy to miss some of it! If you had any questions about Kobe, this will answer virtually all of them!!

 

Tom

Wow...thanks for info....

 

I had more lousy than good steaks growing up on a cow/calf ranch operation because we always butchered the one that was safe to eat but no good for other purposes...we had lots of great hamburger..LOL.

 

I do not know if I have ever had dry aged..I have eaten at Ruth Chris's and Mortons and the best steaks I have had are in hole in the wall restaurants here who get fantastic local beef...always with local grasses and some grain last month or two before butchering. I noticed when moving to Oregon prime steak was different there..just different soil and grasses..affect the meat..even wild game caught on my B-in-law's land where the may eat some barley and grain thrown out there is better...Sarah

[going2cruz]

Had a great time last week on the Glory but a very dissappointing experience in the steakhouse.

 

We were seven last week including my one year old grandson. Figuring he would not sit still for 2 2 1/2 hrs figured we would make the earliest reservation 5 30 to give us a fighting chance.

 

Service was incredibly slow with dinner taking just over 3 hours. We were the first ones there and believe the first ones to order and it took forever to get our entries and finally had to go to the steakhouse manager to get her to intercede after we saw numerous people around us enjoying their entries.

 

Delivered our dinners and it never occurred to our waiter to check back on us and as a result

1. SIL filet was overcooked and sauce he ordered with it never showed up.

2. They let me order 3 sides and 2 did not show up.

3. Both DS and I would have ordered porterhouse but that is gone. As a result we ordered one 18 oz cowboy steak and one 18 oz rib chop (or something like that) and decided to share. Both steaks came with lots of fat and gristle and somehow we both managed to finish all of the edible parts and would have liked more. Never could finish half the porterhouse by the way.

 

Would have said something to somebody but waiter was nowhere to be seen.

 

Soup and appetizers were excellent as usual.

 

On the way out saw restaurant manager and started to talk to her and she said she would talk to the waiter but she was very disinterested.

 

We had much better service in the DR and for the first time did not add any tip to the final bill.

 

Anyone else have poor experience?

 

 

 

For a while there it was being reported that you could still order the porterhouse even though it was off the menu....did you try that? I was on the Glory in October and had it....I'm thinking it wasn't on the menu then either.

[vols_159]

3 hrs are u bloody kidding me? i think 1.5 hr dinners are to long.. if it takes 3 hrs to serve my dinner they better have to go out back and kill the cow fresh 3 hours for dinner unaceptable

[nybumpkin]

I've never had any complaints about the steakhouse from any of our cruises, including two visits to the Emerald Room on Glory. In fact, the first time we were there (2009), I completely lost my appetite by the time the entree arrived - I attribute it to a long port day (St. Maarten), a sunburn, and the ship's rolling. The wait staff, the hostess, and the chef all came to our table to see what was wrong. I assured them that the problem was me and not the food, but they were genuinely concerned. They even packed my entree to go in case my appetite returned later.

 

My complaint about Glory? I'm with Tom on the choice of music. Both times we visited we were serenaded by George Michael. I don't mind an occasional song, but what was essentially a "greatest hits" track left a lot to be desired. We didn't get "Last Christmas," but I figured they must add that one in for the holiday cruises.:p

 

We'll probably book the steakhouse on Glory for our August cruise. We'll let you know how that one goes....

 

Stu, sorry you had a poor experience this time.:(

[MRVEGAS711]

Sorry to hear. I live for Carnival Steakhouses. Nothing but the best of service.

[IslandToIsland]

Had a great time last week on the Glory but a very dissappointing experience in the steakhouse.

 

We were seven last week including my one year old grandson. Figuring he would not sit still for 2 2 1/2 hrs figured we would make the earliest reservation 5 30 to give us a fighting chance.

 

Service was incredibly slow with dinner taking just over 3 hours. We were the first ones there and believe the first ones to order and it took forever to get our entries and finally had to go to the steakhouse manager to get her to intercede after we saw numerous people around us enjoying their entries.

 

Delivered our dinners and it never occurred to our waiter to check back on us and as a result

1. SIL filet was overcooked and sauce he ordered with it never showed up.

2. They let me order 3 sides and 2 did not show up.

3. Both DS and I would have ordered porterhouse but that is gone. As a result we ordered one 18 oz cowboy steak and one 18 oz rib chop (or something like that) and decided to share. Both steaks came with lots of fat and gristle and somehow we both managed to finish all of the edible parts and would have liked more. Never could finish half the porterhouse by the way.

 

Would have said something to somebody but waiter was nowhere to be seen.

 

Soup and appetizers were excellent as usual.

 

On the way out saw restaurant manager and started to talk to her and she said she would talk to the waiter but she was very disinterested.

 

We had much better service in the DR and for the first time did not add any tip to the final bill.

 

Anyone else have poor experience?

 

My first experience in the steakhouse was last Sept. on the Freedom.

 

I ordered filet minon and I found what I thought was a hair in it at first, but ended up being a bristle from the cooking brush. Then they brought me another one that was still ”mooing.” They didn't really seem too concerned about either incident, and at that point after a bottle of wine, I wasn't either. lol

 

 

 

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[NavarreCruiser]

Overall we had a great cruise as always and in hindsight should not have taken our 1 year old to steakhouse.

 

Should have expected some intelligence from the management of the steakhouse in seeing a little one and we tried on our end by being the first ones in the door at 5 30, but oh well stuff happens and not going to belabor this and write to Carnival.

 

Reported what happened here, and will consider the steakhouse on our next cruise on the Dream when it is just DW and I.

 

Must say that DW has many food allergies and they were great in making stuff she had no problem with.

 

We just went to the steakhouse on the dream last week. It was wonderful. The servers were there all the time. Good luck.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

d

[novinha]

HEY JERRY!!

 

 

You really have to wonder, as who would know if they switched out (at least some) prime steaks for choice! I can generally tell by looking at an uncooked steak if it's prime, but it's not always black/white -- there is that gray area!

 

I picked up some GREAT (Greenwise) filets at Publix a week ago that looked BETTER than their $30/lb Prime filets! They were tasty and tender! Of course, they did not look as good (marbled) as their $65/lb "Kobe style/Wagyu" filets!!

 

Tom

Originally Posted by Andoria

Well I'll be skipping the steakhouse after reading your post. Chatty waiters make me want to chew my arm off.

 

At least you're mouth would be full so that you wouldn't have to chat back...and, you'd have something to eat too!

 

I don't think I'd like any gray area on my beef. Ummmm...beef!

[golfadj]

For a while there it was being reported that you could still order the porterhouse even though it was off the menu....did you try that? I was on the Glory in October and had it....I'm thinking it wasn't on the menu then either.

 

As a matter of fact did ask and was told not available. In Jan asked head chef on the Valor steakhouse what happened and he told me that Carnival could not get Porterhouse to their standard.

 

Translation it cost too much.

[golfadj]

3 hrs are u bloody kidding me? i think 1.5 hr dinners are to long.. if it takes 3 hrs to serve my dinner they better have to go out back and kill the cow fresh 3 hours for dinner unaceptable

 

Leisurely service is fine and 2 2 1/4 hrs would be perfectly acceptable.

 

However after 1 3/4 hrs and could not find waiter had to actually ask manager what happened to our dinners.

 

We were the first ones inside and oculd not believe others around us had their entries for some time.

 

Than could not believe that nobody checked back to see how everyone was. Was finished with our steaks before I had opportunity to tell anyone that sides never showed up.

 

Pitiful service never before seen on any Carnival ship.

[golfadj]

We just went to the steakhouse on the dream last week. It was wonderful. The servers were there all the time. Good luck.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

d

 

That was our previous experience as well.

[Indianaseadog]

Leisurely service is fine and 2 2 1/4 hrs would be perfectly acceptable.

 

However after 1 3/4 hrs and could not find waiter had to actually ask manager what happened to our dinners.

 

We were the first ones inside and oculd not believe others around us had their entries for some time.

 

Than could not believe that nobody checked back to see how everyone was. Was finished with our steaks before I had opportunity to tell anyone that sides never showed up.

 

Pitiful service never before seen on any Carnival ship.

 

I agree with what you are saying. My experience was 2 1/2 hours for dinner was fine but then we had great attentative service and each course was brought with great timing. Now if we had terrible service such as what you experienced.....1 hour would seem like an eternity.

[MSRussell]

When you complain, I KNOW it's bad. It is one thing to have your meal messed up, but when you try to talk with someone and they blow you off, that makes it worse.

Courtesy goes a long way. but doesn't cost a dime.

I am so sorry it happened to you. I am happy it didn't 'ruin your cruise' like it would have for others.

Melanie

[golfadj]

When you complain, I KNOW it's bad. It is one thing to have your meal messed up, but when you try to talk with someone and they blow you off, that makes it worse.

Courtesy goes a long way. but doesn't cost a dime.

I am so sorry it happened to you. I am happy it didn't 'ruin your cruise' like it would have for others.

Melanie

 

I was with my kids, grandson and wife so how could it be a bad cruise?

[Jimmy Geegitz]

We ate in the Steakhouse on the Glory in March and our food was fantastic and our service was outstanding! We went on the first nite and received a free bottle of wine.

[PAcruiser25]

We also had a negative experience at David's - way downhill from previous meal there which was sublime. Waitress dropped off food and never returned to check on us, and there were concerns with food quality as well as portions. Discoordinated service, felt that no one cared. Would not return. Service and food quality in MDR (assigned table) the rest of the cruise was very good.

[iluvdoxies]

Overall we had a great cruise as always and in hindsight should not have taken our 1 year old to steakhouse.

 

Should have expected some intelligence from the management of the steakhouse in seeing a little one and we tried on our end by being the first ones in the door at 5 30, but oh well stuff happens and not going to belabor this and write to Carnival.

 

Reported what happened here, and will consider the steakhouse on our next cruise on the Dream when it is just DW and I.

 

Must say that DW has many food allergies and they were great in making stuff she had no problem with.

 

Sorry !

 

You should try Le Bistro of you ever sail NCL ---very classy !

[golfadj]

Sorry !

 

You should try Le Bistro of you ever sail NCL ---very classy !

 

We will be doing our first NCL cruise in Feb and might well give it a try. Thanks.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

We will be doing our first NCL cruise in Feb and might well give it a try. Thanks.

 

You won't find the menu/options as expansive as the Steakhouse, but they do a pretty good job (better than Cagney's for sure). Save room for the Chocolate Napoleon!!

 

Tom