Giovanni’s VS. Jamie’s Italian

[Clarea]

3 minutes ago, lovelife said:

 

Remember this at Portofino?

 

 

Spiedino di mare.

[lovelife]

7 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

Spiedino di mare.

 

Yes sir, it sure was delicious!

[bonsai3s]

Another vote for Giovannis.

 

We order the following:

Pork Belly...we kindly ask for slightly crispy...yummy.

Linguini with Manila clams...yummy.

Risotto...usually a crapshoot...but on the Freedom, double yummy.

Tuna...sashimi to me...with a trace of spicy/sweet marinade...yummy.

Filet...medium rare...IMHO, way better than Chops.

For dessert, we ask for a "sampler". 😊

 

Note: One of our British friends said "Why would you want to eat at Jamie's?...not good, it's going bankrupt."

 

 

[Palmetto Pilot]

Giovannis is the best. The Ossobuco was fantastic! 

[Sizzlechest]

On 12/28/2019 at 12:49 PM, RFerrington said:

One vote for Giovanni's vs Jamie's.  The only thing that Jamie's does better than Giovanni's, IMO, is the tiramisu.  I think Jamie's does a better job of that...but otherwise, I prefer Giovanni's.

 

The one thing I wanted to try at Jamie's was the meat plank. Does Giovanni's have something similar?

[vacationlover_mn]

10 hours ago, Biker19 said:

They should be there - click on the dining icon in the app, then the MDR and the menus should be there.

Thanks!  I found it 🙂. However, it’s just showing dinner menus.  I wonder if it’s not open for lunch at all, on our sea days 😞

[Biker19]

44 minutes ago, vacationlover_mn said:

Thanks!  I found it 🙂. However, it’s just showing dinner menus.  I wonder if it’s not open for lunch at all, on our sea days 😞

The menu is so limited on sea days (or potentially ship specific) that RCI can't be bothered to list that.

Edited December 30, 2019 by Biker19

[bobmacliberty]

Portofino > Giovanni's > Jamie's > Giovanni's on Freedom (bad experience).  We actually enjoyed the food at Jamie's (Symphony) but not the atmosphere.  Large/noisy table of about 20 people right next to us.  As is always the case with Royal, your mileage WILL vary.

[Cruise a holic]

On 12/28/2019 at 10:02 AM, twangster said:

I enjoy both.  Just did a couple nights in Giovanni's on Oasis, have done Jamie's on Anthem a couple of times.  On Oasis I prefer Giovanni's to Chops or 150 Central Park.  I ate at all of them twice during my B3B.

 

Food is personal so some will like it, some won't.  A restaurant on a ship will never create food like a true Italian restaurant on land.  If that's your point of reference you may not enjoy an Italian restaurant on a ship.  

I agree.  We have some of the finest restaurants in NYC of all varieties, and never found anything to compare with them on a cruise ship.  Perhaps the only exception is Izumi Hibatchi Grill which is like most Hibachi restaurants.

[Ourusualbeach]

On 12/29/2019 at 10:39 PM, Sizzlechest said:

 

The one thing I wanted to try at Jamie's was the meat plank. Does Giovanni's have something similar?

Giovanni’s on Oasis had the meat plank. 

[twangster]

Oasis menus for Giovanni's (post-amplification):

 

 

 

 

While Giovanni's is my favorite specialty dining venue on Oasis I prefer Jamie's menu.  Plus I prefer the laid back ambiance of Jamie's.  To each their own.  

 

 

Edited January 1, 2020 by twangster