Carnival Food - What's good and what's bad?

[DocF]

The meals in the main dining room are usually good.

 

I have always enjoyed the turkey, the short ribs, and the prime rib. The gazpacho is wonderful. DW likes the fruit soups while I prefer the more traditional ones. The hamburgers, no matter where on the ship they come from have always been very good.

 

As far as deserts go, the mdr deserts are much better, by a factor of about 10000 than most offerings on the lido deck buffet. And one can read my motto below.

[hartsnvt]

Wha, you don't see yourself ever making a 50 gallon drum of soup?

 

 

 

Now, my question is can I get it WITH anchovy dressing? Because if so, I'll make a point to order the Caesar salad. Most places do not have the traditional anchovy dressing and I LOOOOOOVE IT!

 

 

I plan to divide the 50 gallon recipe so I can make a gallon at a time, lol.

 

Yes they have anchovy dressing. (Not my cup of tea).

[Anthomaniac]

Pastrami on rye. Extra meat.

Pardon my drool. 💓💓💓

 

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[Jeafl]

My absolute favorite thing is on the old menu, not the Ametican Table menus. It is the martini braised Basa fillet. Supposedly it is an award winning recipe, and I would have eaten it every night if I could. 😍

 

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the breakfast burritos at the Blue Iguana. I think they are amazing! Also, the grilled shrimp burritos from there are great as well. Love the tortillas they make on the spot!

[aflyingbuttress]

I plan to divide the 50 gallon recipe so I can make a gallon at a time, lol.

 

Yes they have anchovy dressing. (Not my cup of tea).

 

I think it's not most people's cup of tea which is why it's hard to find. You're definitely not alone there. I like pretty strong tasting foods.

[aflyingbuttress]

My absolute favorite thing is on the old menu, not the Ametican Table menus. It is the martini braised Basa fillet. Supposedly it is an award winning recipe, and I would have eaten it every night if I could. 😍

 

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the breakfast burritos at the Blue Iguana. I think they are amazing! Also, the grilled shrimp burritos from there are great as well. Love the tortillas they make on the spot!

 

Oh that sounds good. What is the American Table menu I keep seeing people mention?

[aflyingbuttress]

Pastrami on rye. Extra meat.

Pardon my drool. 💓💓💓

 

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As a Jewish, native New Yorker, you've caught my attention!

[Anthomaniac]

As a Jewish, native New Yorker, you've caught my attention!

It's delicious. I had it four times on our last cruise. (It was only a five day!)

 

They also have corned beef, which was pretty good too.

 

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[Velvetwater]

Most things on Carnival are good to acceptable. The specialist stations such as Deli and Pizza are stand outs. Carnival is also quite good at cooking red meat but less so with Chicken and Pork dishes. Carnival's buffet is tasty enough and changes a lot throughout even the longest cruises (Celebrity take note).

 

Avoid mushrooms and scrambled eggs as well as anything oriental from the dining room. The chinese/asian offerings everywhere else are tasty enough. The Buffet desserts are poor unless they are in a bowl.

[Barbluvstocruz]

If you like desserts...go to a sea day Tea Time. Yummy!!

[maeormaenot]

Food is subjective...and I am a picky eater, but here are my favs:

 

Breakfast:

Blue Iguana Huevos Rancheros and Arepas with salsa and creme freche

 

Seaday Brunch:

Steak and Eggs

Cheese Grits

*we liked just about everything offered here

 

Lunch:

Guys Burgers

Pizza - Funghi and Pepperoni😍

 

Tea:

Something to experience, the cakes were good and espresso macaroons, scones with clotted cream yummm

I'm from the south though-tea is cold and sweet. Pick on the hot tea!

 

MDR Dinner:

Steak is my go to when everything else fails

DH and DS say shrimp cocktail is out if this world (shellfish allergy prevents me from having them or the lobster)

Escargots are great.

Ox tounge is different, but good.

Rabbit...naah not enough meat.

Frog legs-please fry them...I don't know what they were thinking!

Salmon and mahi mahi yummm!

 

Dessert:

(I don't like sweets, so...this is hard)

I always opt for the cheese plate.

Check the kids menu- more options there.

DH & DS love WCMC I do not.

Bitter and Blanc was disgusting bread pudding-the other people at my table loved it

Cheesecake is good

Carrot cake okay

Baked Alaska doable

Cherries jubilee I love

 

This is just my opinions, please try everything... Let us know what you think!

[SadieN]

Almost all of the vegetarian entrees are very good.

[KatPem]

Apple pie!,,

[finzup-kt]

IMHO

 

 

Great:

Caesar salad..so good

Steakhouse crab cake

Steakhouse filet or surf n turf

Steakhouse apple tart

In fact most things we've tried have been excellent at steakhouse

Blue iguana soft tacos

Indian naan bread and tikka masala (from lido)

Warm chocolate melting cake

 

Good

Lobster in mdr

Pumpkin soup

Sea day Brunch...most all that we tried

Sushi

Guys burgers

Pizza

Mac and cheese

Escargot

Deli

Pasta dishes

Most soups

Most MDR food

Breakfast on lido

 

The Bad:

Fish and chips

Bitter n blanc , seriously awful

Stuffed mushrooms (stuffing is awful)

Stark cakes (like an over fried clam cake)

Most desserts. Just don't care for them , not a good selection..it's fine though, I usually end up with melting cake which I love.

[funinthesun1964]

Yep! I typically only take the stairs, unless we have luggage, plus swimming/snorkling... We'd get expresso and ice cream, mix them. hehehe. Now we have kid, so typically dh takes her and I stay to enjoy dessert.

 

I'm sad no midnight buffet. Does that mean no Chocolate buffet?

 

Yes there is a chocolate buffet...last sea day in the afternoon. Watch fun times. Not nearly as extravagant as it used to be. The last time I actually went to see it, there was still a chocolate fountain and a selection of fruits, plus assorted cakes, etc.

[simplelife]

In our early cruising days, we used to eat in the Buffett for some meals, but found we hated waiting in line, juggling dishes and finding a seat. We do MDR almost exclusively now, so I can't speak to the quality of the buffet in recent years.

 

We usually find the MDR food very good. I like all the choices at Breakfast. At other meals, Carnival excels with their soups. The first night dinner is usually not as good as other nights, it seems (that is when they usually have the brisket as a choice, which I agree with an earlier poster is not good.)

 

There are enough options on the menu that everyone should be able to find something they like - remember that if you are disappointed with something you ordered, they will gladly bring you something else.

 

By far, the best meal we had on our recent cruise was the Seaday Brunch - superb. The best dessert hands-down is the bitter and blanc. Unless you are allergic to chocolate, don't miss it.

[Honolulu Blue]

How is Carnival's food? I was on Carnival back in 2000 but I can't remember it. What's good and what's bad? I'll be on the Pride Oct. 18 and want to know what I should keep an eye out for (and maybe avoid?).

 

How does it compare to other cruise lines? I sailed on Celebrity a few years ago and the food was great. I also sailed Princess, probably 8 years ago now, and I remember actually being grossed out by the food on board. It was so bad I will never sail Princess again. I recently saw a few people compare Carnival to Princess so I am a bit worried. But I was on Princess a long time ago so things may have changed.

 

Yes, food is subjective, but I'd love to hear your personal opinions.

 

General:

 

Buffet (and surrounding eateries) = good

MDR = better

Steakhouse (and steakhouse selections) = best

 

Specifics:

 

Buffet - I like the marmalade and preserves for breakfast, but that probably says more about me than its quality. :eek: I don't often make it for lunch, but when it's Caribbean Day, I try to make an effort. I really like the jerk chicken on those days. I have found the desserts to be a little disappointing, but the rest of the dinner menu is solid, IMHO. I've found the flat iron steaks here surprisingly good.

 

Guy's has a pretty good burger and fries. BlueIguana has good tacos; I wish they were open for dinner.

 

MDR - I like the short ribs and the prime rib. I'm sure I'd like the BBQ ribs, but I've only seen them on Elegant Nights, and I don't do elegance (long story). The fruit plate here is good, as is most everything else I've tried. I didn't care for the warm chocolate melting cake, but there are lots of fans here and elsewhere, so give it a try at least once.

 

Steakhouse - The cowboy steak and filet mignon were the two best steaks I've ever had, which probably says a lot about how much I eat out. But no, they were really good. The fruit plate here was awesome. But among the soups and appetizers, I couldn't find a thing that I cared to eat.

 

One of these fine days I'm sure I'll try room service, sea day brunch, and other restaurants on other ships.

[poohbear1978]

If available, Guys Burger Joint is a definite winner! I went cheeseburger withdrawals after I sailed on the Liberty. Others in my group raved about Blue Iguana Cantina. I only had it for breakfast on my last morning and immediately wished I had tried it earlier. I am sailing on the Fantasy next and my only disappointment is that I can't get my Guy's Burger fix!

[aflyingbuttress]

If available, Guys Burger Joint is a definite winner! I went cheeseburger withdrawals after I sailed on the Liberty. Others in my group raved about Blue Iguana Cantina. I only had it for breakfast on my last morning and immediately wished I had tried it earlier. I am sailing on the Fantasy next and my only disappointment is that I can't get my Guy's Burger fix!

 

There is a guys burger joint on the Pride and I can't wait to try it. I have not seen one person say anything but positive things about it. Can I get a burger cooked to order or are they all medium to well done?

[aflyingbuttress]

Anyone know if I can get a bloody mary on board? And a good one, not one from a mix.

 

Also, can I order any meal I want for a child or do they have to order from the kids menu? I want to expose her to different foods.

[katiel53]

Anyone know if I can get a bloody mary on board? And a good one, not one from a mix.

 

Also, can I order any meal I want for a child or do they have to order from the kids menu? I want to expose her to different foods.

 

They do have bloody mary's but I think they are made from a bottle of mix. I do know they ask if you want it spicy or not.

 

Kids can order from the adult menu if they choose. One of the best desserts though is on the kids menu. It's a banana split and it's not huge. I have ordered it a couple of times for me.

[Honolulu Blue]

There is a guys burger joint on the Pride and I can't wait to try it. I have not seen one person say anything but positive things about it. Can I get a burger cooked to order or are they all medium to well done?

 

I don't know if they'll cook to order. All my burgers have been well done, which is how I like it.

 

As for other opinions on Guy's, stick around and you'll hear from the other side. I think the most popular complaint - for both burger and fries - is "greasy". The search engine here can also help in this regard, if you dare.

[ObstructedView2]

Bad....The warm chocolate melting cake.

 

This cheap, nasty, half cooked dessert, tastes & even looks as if it were created in a children's 'Easy Bake Oven'....:eek:

 

Ewewwwwwww....

 

 

 

:rolleyes:

[kelkel2]

How is Carnival's food? I was on Carnival back in 2000 but I can't remember it. What's good and what's bad? I'll be on the Pride Oct. 18 and want to know what I should keep an eye out for (and maybe avoid?).

 

How does it compare to other cruise lines? I sailed on Celebrity a few years ago and the food was great. I also sailed Princess, probably 8 years ago now, and I remember actually being grossed out by the food on board. It was so bad I will never sail Princess again. I recently saw a few people compare Carnival to Princess so I am a bit worried. But I was on Princess a long time ago so things may have changed.

 

Yes, food is subjective, but I'd love to hear your personal opinions.

 

On the buffet, the scrambled eggs leave a lot to be desired, but if you are an egg person like I am, the Omelets that are cook to order are wonderful.

For lunch on the lido buffet, there's always a great spread of desserts and they always look pretty. But honestly none of them taste as good as they look. But the ice cream machines are always running!!!

I really like the pizza, guys burgers, and in the dining room I like grand mariner soufflé for dessert.

[aflyingbuttress]

I don't know if they'll cook to order. All my burgers have been well done, which is how I like it.

 

As for other opinions on Guy's, stick around and you'll hear from the other side. I think the most popular complaint - for both burger and fries - is "greasy". The search engine here can also help in this regard, if you dare.

 

I kind of expect a good burger and fries to be greasy.