SHARE on Ruby: First Bites

[IECalCruiser]

Just got an email from Princess about a new video on Share. He really emphasizes the sharing aspects. For example, one quote (more or less): "The reason I called the restaurant SHARE is because there is no better way to enjoy food than when you share it with friends or family." Several other mentions about passing food around the table, etc.

 

 

 

One can claim that you don't have to share a table or food with others, but it should be very clear that the entire concept of this restaurant is sharing tables and food. Sure, there are two-tops and you don't have to share, but in order for this concept to work as designed, you need to share. Very much like arguing that you don't have to let the top down to ride in a convertible, but does kind of defeat the purpose of a convertible doesn't it?

And since you can only order one item from each section, the only way you can share all of the items on the menu is if you go with a group of four or more. We are often not on a cruise with family or friends and on those cruises we prefer to eat alone. In my mind it defeats the concept of "sharing" the menu if a couple is limited to the amount of food they can order from each section [emoji27][emoji27]

[pjrockman]

Thanks again, VibeGuy.

 

I hope Princess SHAREs it fleetwide.

 

Mangia.

[OCruisers]

"If I were one of two adults of reasonable appetite, here's how I would order:

One each of the two cold apps/salads (one gets the salad, one gets the shrimp - they are very manageable-sized)

One each of the pastas ( one has the crab, one has the sunchoke)

One entree each

At *least* the potato gratin from the sides (seriously, two perfect bites each - it's the diameter of a tennis ball and less than 1/2" thick) - I could skip the kale and the leeks are *VERY* rich.

One dessert each - four nice bites each.

I would gladly enjoy this as dinner a deux. Ordered this way, it is absolutely less food than a normal Sabatini's or Crown Grill trip. I did not feel anesthetized after."

 

Thanks! The first time we go it will just be the two of us so this is very helpful!

 

LuLu

Edited December 29, 2015 by OCruisers

[shredie]

Thanks again, VibeGuy.

 

I hope Princess SHAREs it fleetwide.

 

.

 

 

If it makes them money they will. If not who knows. Other princess ideas have come any gone before.

[MrMan]

Vibe,

 

Thank you for a wonderful post. I have been booking away from Princess and more to NCL quite frankly due to the Specialty Restaurants and varied dining choices on NCL. (I hate MDR and same tired food). Note NCL has specialty dining in the $30's as well. On my 4 Princess sailings last year Sabatini's has been a ghost town and has (had) the ambiance of an East Texas funeral parlor and the same 1950's menue. Its a dated concept whos time has come and gone. Your review alone has forced me and my beloved to rethink and book back to Princess for our November cruise. Thank you again for the writeup, it has me hooked.

 

There is one item from the past discussions you did not discuss..." but, but, but the chairs appear too hard to enjoy the meal". I look forward to your opinion of the chairs to complete this outstanding review.

 

Thanks again,

MrMan

Edited January 5, 2016 by MrMan

[VibeGuy]

We sat at the long elevated table and I found the chairs comfortable. Some members of our party did not. If you are particularly unfond of firm chairs, ask for one of the tables with banquette seating which remains as plush as in the days of Sabatini's.

 

I gotta admit, the idea of a chef's-table-length meal with the seating in the alcove makes me fidget a bit.

[AF-1]

I read on another thread the final price was $39. Not sure what that means.

[shredie]

I read on another thread the final price was $39. Not sure what that means.

 

An extra charge of $39 a person to eat in SHARE.

[AF-1]

That is what I thought. Thanks for the feedback

[spyro1952]

Originally Posted by VibeGuy View Post

"If I were one of two adults of reasonable appetite, here's how I would order:

One each of the two cold apps/salads (one gets the salad, one gets the shrimp - they are very manageable-sized)

One each of the pastas ( one has the crab, one has the sunchoke)

One entree each

At *least* the potato gratin from the sides (seriously, two perfect bites each - it's the diameter of a tennis ball and less than 1/2" thick) - I could skip the kale and the leeks are *VERY* rich.

One dessert each - four nice bites each.

I would gladly enjoy this as dinner a deux. Ordered this way, it is absolutely less food than a normal Sabatini's or Crown Grill trip. I did not feel anesthetized after."

 

$78 for this sounds extremely expensive and very underwhelming. Sprllo has since posted from aboard the Ruby that Share is a ghost venue - perhaps all those "sharing" are invisible :eek::eek:

[southpawsdakota]

Thank you so much for your review VibeGuy. It is nice to read a positive review from someone who has actually dined at SHARE.

[Wishing on a star]

Thank you so much Vibeguy(gal).

 

I am one of those who had decided that I probably would not try SHARE, even though I am a bit of a wanna-be foodie. Probably because of some of the misconceptions, and the unknown.

 

Your post has been a wonderful answer to both of those issues!

 

I now know what the dishes might actually be like. That we would have no problem enjoying this venue as a couple. etc. Things that I would not have known by now, if it weren't for your exceptional review!

 

There will be a brand new SHARE on the Coral, if my understanding is right. And a cruise is an excellent opportunity to try something new... this kind of dining that is just not available in my area.

 

On the Coral, I think it will also be a 'plus' that this restaurant will be a nice, fresh, new, venue, on a somewhat dated ship.

 

Now I am just hoping to re-fare with an offer, which might be better than the one we have, that includes specialty dining for two!

Edited January 19, 2016 by Wishing on a star

[19woody19]

While I think you did a fabulous job of reviewing the menu, I must admit I didn't understand a word of what was for dinner. Ok, I admit I am not such a seasoned gourmet diner and I'm sure most of you will thoroughly enjoy what Share has to offer, but for me I will not spend $39 for something I can't even pronounce. Please don't get me wrong as I truly admire those of you with such fine and articulate tastes. My DW would love it so I hope she finds someone to eat there with while I enjoy CG or even the MDR. Bon Appetit !!!

[notentirelynormal]

While I think you did a fabulous job of reviewing the menu, I must admit I didn't understand a word of what was for dinner. Ok, I admit I am not such a seasoned gourmet diner and I'm sure most of you will thoroughly enjoy what Share has to offer, but for me I will not spend $39 for something I can't even pronounce. Please don't get me wrong as I truly admire those of you with such fine and articulate tastes. My DW would love it so I hope she finds someone to eat there with while I enjoy CG or even the MDR. Bon Appetit !!!

 

Ya, I had to look up the real ingredients of the menus too. Spell it out man! Once it was spelled out - it wasn't for me. I will eat anywhere else.

[Working 2 Cruise]

Ya, I had to look up the real ingredients of the menus too. Spell it out man! Once it was spelled out - it wasn't for me. I will eat anywhere else.

 

Good! More room for us who can appreciate it!

[jennybenny]

Welp, you sold me on it!! Sounds delicious!! We will be on the Ruby later this year and will now make sure we partake in this. Food sounds amazing!! At $39 it's a bit much for my family of 4, but we will give it a try!

[trinaM]

Thank you for sharing your opinions on the new SHARE restaurant.

When I get the chance, Now I will know what to expect.

[laughalot]

We are from Western Australia and watch Curtis Stone cooking on tv all the time. We are on the Sun in April, the first cruise that she does after dry dock with the new Share restaurant onboard.

 

We hadn't heard much about what was on the menu, so thanks very much for your run down of it. Sounds fabulous. Did I mention my mouth was watering as you took us through the dessert menu;)

 

Cheers

[rbt001]

Vibe,

 

Thank you for a wonderful post. I have been booking away from Princess and more to NCL quite frankly due to the Specialty Restaurants and varied dining choices on NCL. (I hate MDR and same tired food). Note NCL has specialty dining in the $30's as well. On my 4 Princess sailings last year Sabatini's has been a ghost town and has (had) the ambiance of an East Texas funeral parlor and the same 1950's menue. Its a dated concept whos time has come and gone. Your review alone has forced me and my beloved to rethink and book back to Princess for our November cruise. Thank you again for the writeup, it has me hooked.

 

There is one item from the past discussions you did not discuss..." but, but, but the chairs appear too hard to enjoy the meal". I look forward to your opinion of the chairs to complete this outstanding review.

 

Thanks again,

MrMan

 

I took a four day cruise on Emerald January 2016 and booked SHARE for two evenings: I knew there would probably be a tough choice between entrees, so allowed myself a second night to resolve it.

 

Let me state that I was/am a big fan of Sabatini's, I have a bias towards it. I always each in Sabatini's at least once per cruise. The menu has several favorites and I never felt bored with it. Lastly, I appreciated the decor and layout of the room.

 

Oh, I should also state that I travel solo and my cover charge is comped because of my casino play, so the $39 doesn't have a direct impact.

 

I usually eat late at 8pm, so SHARE was not as busy. Embarkation day, close to 2PM, a waitstaff member had SHARE menu in hand and was trying to entice passengers to book a dinner in SHARE-- as they were waiting in a long line to make a reservation at Crown Grill. He actually was able to book a table for both nights for me, saving me the trip to do so.

 

When I read the OP's description of the food being so over-the-top great, his whole post spoken in hyperbole, I was skeptical: was Curtis, himself, planting posts here to drum up business??

 

On Emerald, Camelia is my server of choice: she's fantastic, an all-around nice person. She made two suggestions for appetizers and entrees, her favorites. They were my choices for each of my two visits.

 

The first evening I enjoyed the shrimp appetizer which was an explosion of flavors with every bite, and I had the duck that was absolutely delicious. The potato side was small, but plenty for just one.

 

Camelia's entree choice for my second visit was the beef cheek pie. Now I am an experimental eater; there's very few items I'm afraid to try. But it did take the few days between visits to find it within to order the cheek. I kept seeing poor Elsie with a white gauze patch on her face and sad eyes from the pain. Camelia told me to just try to take it out of my mind and forget what it was and enjoy the taste. Now perhaps it was her second choice of appetizer --the crab pasta which is rich and filling-- that made it enough food, but as she walked my teeny tiny beef cheek pie, I wondered if I'd make it to breakfast without passing out from starvation.

 

Turns out the meal was more than filling-- and tasty. I selected the leeks as a side dish. And for one person it's too much, as it is very rich and flavorful. But despite its good flavor, I didn't want to finish it because of its richness. I did finish my beef. Yes, I would order it again, but not before I've tried some of the other remaining items on future visits.

 

I've tried two of the three desserts and can say they are creative in appearance and flavor combinations. I enjoyed them.

 

I know that part of my apprehension prior to a meal in SHARE was the counter-cruise culture rule in SHARE that you ONLY GET ONE. In Crown Grill and Sabatini's there's never been that restriction and the waitstaff, when asked to help select the better of two items will typically respond: "I'll bring you both."

 

SHARE is enough food for a good meal: it's SHARE not STARVE

(figured I'd say it before anyone else thinks of it)

 

Yes, I like the decor of the restaurant. I'd guess for structural reasons, the restaurant has the same "footprint," the term I use to mean same layout and placement of dividers and table placements, with the exception of the long high top table. Otherwise, it's a face lift of different finishes for floor covering, window treatments, color schemes, and ornaments. There's not a hint of Sabatini's that I could see.

 

BUT, BUT, BUT....

 

I'm not convinced that it's a concept that will catch on. I liked it for "something different." I can see myself easily tiring of the menu. Whereas it remains a custom to dine once in Crown Grill and once in Sabatini's each sailing.

 

Unless they can pack that room most nights of a sailing, I wonder if Princess will find economic reward. I'll guess that Curtis Stone receives compensation that's ongoing. The menu is very labor intensive. One item, if I heard correctly requires 9 hours of prep time, while the duck needs four hours.

 

Personally I trust Princess to develop creative menus and dining outlets WITHOUT the need for a celebrity endorsement.

 

I'm sailing on Emerald mid February and do have plans to take a staff member to SHARE who has mentioned that she'd like to enjoy dinner there. So I am gradually making my way through the menu.

 

In the end, given a ship with Crown Grill, Sabatini's, AND SHARE, I'd pass on SHARE, since I've been there, done that.

[azdmelani]

I took a four day cruise on Emerald January 2016 and booked SHARE for two evenings: I knew there would probably be a tough choice between entrees, so allowed myself a second night to resolve it.

 

Let me state that I was/am a big fan of Sabatini's, I have a bias towards it. I always each in Sabatini's at least once per cruise. The menu has several favorites and I never felt bored with it. Lastly, I appreciated the decor and layout of the room.

 

Oh, I should also state that I travel solo and my cover charge is comped because of my casino play, so the $39 doesn't have a direct impact.

 

I usually eat late at 8pm, so SHARE was not as busy. Embarkation day, close to 2PM, a waitstaff member had SHARE menu in hand and was trying to entice passengers to book a dinner in SHARE-- as they were waiting in a long line to make a reservation at Crown Grill. He actually was able to book a table for both nights for me, saving me the trip to do so.

 

When I read the OP's description of the food being so over-the-top great, his whole post spoken in hyperbole, I was skeptical: was Curtis, himself, planting posts here to drum up business??

 

On Emerald, Camelia is my server of choice: she's fantastic, an all-around nice person. She made two suggestions for appetizers and entrees, her favorites. They were my choices for each of my two visits.

 

The first evening I enjoyed the shrimp appetizer which was an explosion of flavors with every bite, and I had the duck that was absolutely delicious. The potato side was small, but plenty for just one.

 

Camelia's entree choice for my second visit was the beef cheek pie. Now I am an experimental eater; there's very few items I'm afraid to try. But it did take the few days between visits to find it within to order the cheek. I kept seeing poor Elsie with a white gauze patch on her face and sad eyes from the pain. Camelia told me to just try to take it out of my mind and forget what it was and enjoy the taste. Now perhaps it was her second choice of appetizer --the crab pasta which is rich and filling-- that made it enough food, but as she walked my teeny tiny beef cheek pie, I wondered if I'd make it to breakfast without passing out from starvation.

 

Turns out the meal was more than filling-- and tasty. I selected the leeks as a side dish. And for one person it's too much, as it is very rich and flavorful. But despite its good flavor, I didn't want to finish it because of its richness. I did finish my beef. Yes, I would order it again, but not before I've tried some of the other remaining items on future visits.

 

I've tried two of the three desserts and can say they are creative in appearance and flavor combinations. I enjoyed them.

 

I know that part of my apprehension prior to a meal in SHARE was the counter-cruise culture rule in SHARE that you ONLY GET ONE. In Crown Grill and Sabatini's there's never been that restriction and the waitstaff, when asked to help select the better of two items will typically respond: "I'll bring you both."

 

SHARE is enough food for a good meal: it's SHARE not STARVE

(figured I'd say it before anyone else thinks of it)

 

Yes, I like the decor of the restaurant. I'd guess for structural reasons, the restaurant has the same "footprint," the term I use to mean same layout and placement of dividers and table placements, with the exception of the long high top table. Otherwise, it's a face lift of different finishes for floor covering, window treatments, color schemes, and ornaments. There's not a hint of Sabatini's that I could see.

 

BUT, BUT, BUT....

 

I'm not convinced that it's a concept that will catch on. I liked it for "something different." I can see myself easily tiring of the menu. Whereas it remains a custom to dine once in Crown Grill and once in Sabatini's each sailing.

 

Unless they can pack that room most nights of a sailing, I wonder if Princess will find economic reward. I'll guess that Curtis Stone receives compensation that's ongoing. The menu is very labor intensive. One item, if I heard correctly requires 9 hours of prep time, while the duck needs four hours.

 

Personally I trust Princess to develop creative menus and dining outlets WITHOUT the need for a celebrity endorsement.

 

I'm sailing on Emerald mid February and do have plans to take a staff member to SHARE who has mentioned that she'd like to enjoy dinner there. So I am gradually making my way through the menu.

 

In the end, given a ship with Crown Grill, Sabatini's, AND SHARE, I'd pass on SHARE, since I've been there, done that.

 

Thanks for your review, much appreciated

[Wishing on a star]

I was disappointed that the Coral Princess came out of dry-dock without SHARE. I was interested in trying it out, for something different.

 

And, odd that up until the very last minute, all Princess info indicated that SHARE would be rolled out on the Coral????

[rbt001]

I was disappointed that the Coral Princess came out of dry-dock without SHARE. I was interested in trying it out, for something different.

 

And, odd that up until the very last minute, all Princess info indicated that SHARE would be rolled out on the Coral????

 

Pure speculation, but perhaps Princess is taking a more "wait & see" attitude, before investing any more capital renovations.

 

Afterall, Coral escaped the planned renovations to remove Universe Lounge after Princess converted Island and felt they made a mistake.

[MrMan]

That is why my post stated "With perhaps a few exceptions," and I hope this doesn't become the norm. You can order as much of anything you want in the MDR. Why should you be limited when you pay extra for a Specialty Restaurant ��

 

Princess, please do away with the limitations you are placing on the Crab Shack (sometimes), the Salty Dog Gastropub and SHARE. Let us enjoy as much as we want when we pay a surcharge for a Specialty Restaurant.

 

It's funny Princess can't win. Half the group complains that there is "too much food". The other half complains " I want seconds". I don't get the too much food group. If its too much stop eating. Its ok to leave food on the plate, no ones judging you. You are on vacation. For the I want seconds group, I see the need in MDR as portions tend to be plated for a more lets say economical portions, not for a hungry man. In Specialty Restaurant the portions tend to be larger, and the complaining of the too much food, tends to be louder.

Edited February 1, 2016 by MrMan

[MrMan]

Just got an email from Princess about a new video on Share. He really emphasizes the sharing aspects. For example, one quote (more or less): "The reason I called the restaurant SHARE is because there is no better way to enjoy food than when you share it with friends or family." Several other mentions about passing food around the table, etc.

 

One can claim that you don't have to share a table or food with others, but it should be very clear that the entire concept of this restaurant is sharing tables and food. Sure, there are two-tops and you don't have to share, but in order for this concept to work as designed, you need to share. Very much like arguing that you don't have to let the top down to ride in a convertible, but does kind of defeat the purpose of a convertible doesn't it?

 

Then don't go. There is no gun to your head. People like different things, some will like it some won't. I am just glad Princess is giving a variety of options rather than the same old steak place, italian place, MDR on every ship.

Edited February 1, 2016 by MrMan