Le Cirque or Pinnacle?

[scdreamer]

We will be on Veendam, Boston to Quebec in late September, and are considering making a reservation for Le Cirque or Pinnacle for one night of our cruise. Is Le Cirque entirely different from a "regular" Pinnacle dinner?

 

I am not sure about Le Cirque, because we are staying three extra days in Quebec City post-cruise, and undoubtedly will have French food while there. But maybe it's not comparable?

 

While we have cruised on HAL before, we haven't been to Pinnacle. On Celebrity a few years ago, we ate in the specialty restaurant and enjoyed it very much.

[sail7seas]

The menu for Pinnacle vs Le Cirque is very different.

We have enjoyed both but for first time and only going once, I would go regular Pinnacle. Go for Le Cirque on your next cruise. :)

 

And yes..... there is wonderful food in Quebec City.

 

[PathfinderEss]

I agree with Sails, if your only going to dinner once, I would do the Pinnacle. Le Cirque is great but I just prefer the Pinnacle menu.

[Typhoon1]

Both are great meals.

 

We very much prefer the PG menu. It offers more variety and opportunity to mix and match.

[Vict0riann]

Both are great meals.

 

We very much prefer the PG menu. It offers more variety and opportunity to mix and match.

 

I agree. We prefer Pinnacle. If you have to choose just one!

[Krazy Kruizers]

We do both as we love both menus.

 

Le Cirque Menu -- it is $39 per person -- held in the Pinnacle Grill -- can be booked online, on the ship or through Ship Services at 1-800-541-1576

Appetizers:

Lobster Cocktail - poached lobster with haricot vert and citrus

Le Trio - caviar, smoked salmon and Pate foie gras

Caesar Salad - interpretation of the classical salad

 

Soup:

Butternut Squash with Huckleberries - with sage Chantilly

Chilled Yogurt and Mellon with Shrimps

 

Main Courses:

Seared Alaskan Black Cod - leek, red wine beurre rouge

Rack of Lamb - goat cheese panisse, artichokes and arugula

Chateaubriand - horseradish flan, sweet and sour baby beets

Three Cheese Ravioli - fresh basil tomato

Chicken Under a Brick - sauteed vegetables ginger honey jus

 

Dessert:

Creme Brulee Le Cirque

Chocolate Souffle - traditional chocolate souffle with vanilla gelato

Napoleon with Fresh Berries

Assortment of Sorbet

 

[Krazy Kruizers]

Pinnacle Menu - $25 per person -- can be booked online, via Ship Services at 1-800-541-1576 or once on the ship

 

The Beginning:

Spicy Chicken Coconut Soup - fragrant coconut milk & lemon grass

Lobster Bisque - crème fraiche & aged sherry

Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail - brandy horseradish cocktail sauce

Vine Ripened Beefsteak Tomato Salad - sliced purple onion, balsamic vinaigrette or blue cheese dressing

Baby Arugula Salad - tossed with sliced red onion, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms and a warm bacon dressing topped with smoked bacon & chopped egg

Caesar Salad - crisp romaine tossed with very own Caesar dressing, grated parmesan cheese, garlic croutons and anchovies, prepared tableside

Dungeness Crab Cakes - spiral shaved cucumber & sweet chili-mustard sauce

Pinnacle Ocean Platter - carpaccio of lightly smoked salmon, accompanied with hot smoked salmon, sea scallops and wasabi cream

The Intrique:

Land & Sea - master chef Rudi Saloman’s interpretation of Surf & Turf - filet mignon and jumbo prawns on whipped potatoes with garlic, rosemary beurre blanc

 

Lobster Macaroni & Cheese - chef’s favorite: a delicate gratineed combination of mascarpone-enriched pasta and creamy lobster broth with chunks of lobster

 

Roasted vegetable tower -- with onion confit and tomato coulis

 

 

 

The Grill:

Filet Mignon, New York Strip Steak, Bone-In Rib Eye Steak, Porterhouse - served with our own hand crafted sauces: sun-dried tomato; Master Chef's green peppercorn bearnaise; horseradish mustard; hollandaise; maitre d' garlic butter

 

Lamb Chops - spiced apple chutney & fresh mint jelly

 

Grilled Veal Chop - marinated overnight in a savory blend of rosemary, garlic & pepper vinegar with scallions

 

Chicken Breast - stuffed with spinach & garlic herb cheese & served with lemon garlic beurre blanc sauce

 

Filet Steak Diane - pan-seared medallions of beef tenderloins & enriched with mushrooms & cognac

 

Wagyu Beef Burger - a half-pound of freshly ground beef, fin herbs & truffle-infused

 

 

Sea Food:

Broiled King Salmon - troll caught (for sustainability) in Alaskan waters, quick seared & broiled, served with your choice of lemon garlic herb splash or sesame-soy kalbi

 

Broiled or Poached Lobster Tail - on a bed of wilted spinach & arugula, mustard seed & "mangochurri" pesto sauce or melted butter

 

Cedar Planked Halibut with Shrimp Scampi - roasted garlic & cilantro butter

 

Pinnacle Signature Skewers:

 

Beef Delight - beef tenderloin marinated with parsley, onion, thyme, rosemary & marjoram

 

Tantalizing Lamb - lamb loins marinated with herbs, garlic, cumin, honey, coriandor & red chilies, served with yogurt sauce

 

Vegetarian Zen - array of mixed vegetables seasoned with herbs de provence

 

 

Side Dishes:

Creamed Spinach, Sautéed Button Mushrooms, Sautéed Onions, Asparagus, Scalloped, Whipped, Jumbo Baked or Shoestring Potatoes and/or Basmati Rice

 

The Finale:

Not-So-Classic Baked Alaska, Warm Grand Marnier

Chocolate Volcano Cake, Velvet Soufflé – Chocolate or Vanilla,

Creamy Homemade Raspberry Cheesecake,

Chocolate And Raisin Bread Pudding,

Pinnacle Crème Brulee,

Fresh Seasonal Fruits and Berries,

Premium Ice Cream or Sorbets and/or the Assortment of International Cheeses.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Le Cirque is different, If you have time try it ..

[kazu]

If you are only doing one and this is your first - I would do the regular Pinnacle Grill dinner. There is much more choice. Le Cirque has been good in our experience but the regular Pinnacle Grill dinner offers so much more:D

[CEO of Caribe Deck]

We just did both, and of the two choices I think Pinnacle Grill menu is far superior. I will go so far as to say that the Le Cirque menu does not live up to its billing and consider it an evening wasted on our crusie - although the butternut squash soup was exquisite.

 

In other respects Le Cirque tries to be too clever with deconstructions and re-interpretations. The caesar salad is a good example; nice try but it's not an improvement on the original.

 

To avoid disappointment, go with PG. Le Cirque was the only item on our post-cruise survey to get low marks.

[Carol28]

I just returned from a cruise on Nieux Amsterdam. We had dinner at the Pinnacle, Le Cirque and the Tamarind. The Le Cirque evening was very disappointing as we had high expectations from our Le Cirque dinner on the Eurodam two years ago. The presentation of food is no longer impressive. Only the butternut squash soup was interesting.

 

The Pinnacle was fine. The Tamarind was outstanding. Have the excellent fortune cookie dessert if you choose The Tamarind!

[George C]

Another vote for Pinnacle , we have done both on last few cruises and in general perfer Pinnacle. ( Celeberity has some great pay resturants)

[KirkNC]

You did not ask but I think Tamarind is the best of the three.

[KirkNC]

I just returned from a cruise on Nieux Amsterdam. We had dinner at the Pinnacle, Le Cirque and the Tamarind. The Le Cirque evening was very disappointing as we had high expectations from our Le Cirque dinner on the Eurodam two years ago. The presentation of food is no longer impressive. Only the butternut squash soup was interesting.

 

The Pinnacle was fine. The Tamarind was outstanding. Have the excellent fortune cookie dessert if you choose The Tamarind!

 

I am disappointed to hear your comments about Le Cirque as we will be on the Nieuw Amsterdam shortly and have reservations. Hopefully they just had an off night.

[igraf]

The question isn't if Le Cirque is good. The question is if Le Cirque is head and shoulders above the regular Pinnacle Grill to fit the extra high price. Apparently it is not, and there is absolutely no excuse for Le Cirque to have an off night.

 

I would not shrug off the advice received on this thread.

 

igraf

 

 

 

 

I am disappointed to hear your comments about Le Cirque as we will be on the Nieuw Amsterdam shortly and have reservations. Hopefully they just had an off night.

Edited June 23, 2013 by igraf

[tellubob]

Honestly, I thought the Pinnacle Grill was just OK. We felt like we had to try it, but were not overlay impressed with the food. The Main Dining Room did just as good a job.

[Hlitner]

Honestly, I thought the Pinnacle Grill was just OK. We felt like we had to try it, but were not overlay impressed with the food. The Main Dining Room did just as good a job.

 

Agree! We have done our share of HA cruising (4 Star Mariners) but usually find ourselves going to the Pinnacle no more then once a cruise (even on 60 day cruises). And we are only paying 50% of the full price....but still do not think its a good enough restaurant to justify repeat visits. On every cruise we hope to find that HA has revamped their Pinnacle menu.....but alas, not much has changed in the past 20 years. We think some of the "suits" up in Seattle should pay a visit to Murano on a Celebrity ship and get some new menu ideas :)

 

Hank

[RedmondCruiser]

If you go to the Le Cirque web site (this is the one in NY) you can price out the dinner that is served in the Pinnacle. The cost came out at close to $150 per person and that did not include wine or tips. For $39 PP it is an inexpensive way to expirience a meal from a top NY restaurant.

That being said. We prefer the Pinnacle menu any day. We have never had a bad meal in the Pinnacle - and that goes back over 10 years (when it was called the Marco Polo)

[peaches from georgia]

If you go to the Le Cirque web site (this is the one in NY) you can price out the dinner that is served in the Pinnacle. The cost came out at close to $150 per person and that did not include wine or tips. For $39 PP it is an inexpensive way to expirience a meal from a top NY restaurant.

That being said. We prefer the Pinnacle menu any day. We have never had a bad meal in the Pinnacle - and that goes back over 10 years (when it was called the Marco Polo)

However, is the $39 meal prepared by the Pinnacle chefs really the same as the $150 meal served in the NYC restaurant? The menu items may be named the same, but somehow I doubt prep and quality of ingredients are equal no matter what the contract agreement between HAL ad Le Cirque are. Just a guess on my part.

[scdreamer]

Agree! We have done our share of HA cruising (4 Star Mariners) but usually find ourselves going to the Pinnacle no more then once a cruise (even on 60 day cruises). And we are only paying 50% of the full price....but still do not think its a good enough restaurant to justify repeat visits. On every cruise we hope to find that HA has revamped their Pinnacle menu.....but alas, not much has changed in the past 20 years. We think some of the "suits" up in Seattle should pay a visit to Murano on a Celebrity ship and get some new menu ideas :)

 

Hank

Hmmm ... I was expecting that Pinnacle Grill would be on par with Celebrity's Murano, which is the other specialty restaurant we have experienced. We loved Murano (great menu, well prepared dishes, and amazing service and ambiance)- will we be as pleased with Pinnacle?

[Krazy Kruizers]

I just returned from a cruise on Nieux Amsterdam. We had dinner at the Pinnacle, Le Cirque and the Tamarind. The Le Cirque evening was very disappointing as we had high expectations from our Le Cirque dinner on the Eurodam two years ago. The presentation of food is no longer impressive. Only the butternut squash soup was interesting.

 

The Pinnacle was fine. The Tamarind was outstanding. Have the excellent fortune cookie dessert if you choose The Tamarind!

 

 

Tamarind is our favorite on the Signature ships.

And I also love the fortune cookie for dessert.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I am disappointed to hear your comments about Le Cirque as we will be on the Nieuw Amsterdam shortly and have reservations. Hopefully they just had an off night.

 

We were on the Nieuw Amsterdam when Le Cirque was started on that ship.

Le Cirque at that time had a very limited menu compared to now. But it was way better than our Pinnacle dinners on that ship at that time.

It has been a while since we were on the Nieuw Amsterdam.

[BrianC-80]

I've never dined at Le Cirque, but having dined at the Pinnacle on our last cruise I can say that we will be dining at it again on our next cruise. The quality of the food was a significant step up from the main dining room (and I think the main dining room is good!).

 

I think its a big question about cuisines, if you like the sound of the dishes at le Cirque then go for it. Probably if we went on a longer cruise then we'd give it a go, but we're likely to be sticking to 7 night cruises for now, and so we'll be going with the Pinnacle for the time being.

[igraf]

A land-based restaurant has access to fresh ingredients and better cooks. A restaurant on a ship has to use mass-purchased ingredients from the freezer and employ cooks willing to sign up for sea duty. Not the same.

 

At some point someone has to say that a super duper premium dining venue is offering diminishing returns. Actually, I think that most of us are saying that.

 

igraf

 

 

 

If you go to the Le Cirque web site (this is the one in NY) you can price out the dinner that is served in the Pinnacle. The cost came out at close to $150 per person and that did not include wine or tips. For $39 PP it is an inexpensive way to expirience a meal from a top NY restaurant.

 

That being said. We prefer the Pinnacle menu any day. We have never had a bad meal in the Pinnacle - and that goes back over 10 years (when it was called the Marco Polo)

[travelinjones]

Photos of the LeCirque experience http://www.travelingwiththejones.com/2012/08/12/an-evening-at-le-cirque-onboard-the-veendam/