Osteria

[skybluewaters]

2 hours ago, Embarker1 said:

the restaurant has a Michelin status

 

I haven't heard of this. What is Osteria's Michelin status? 

[Sdancer]

Any advice on what to order since I am not a pasta lover?

Thanks!

 

[Emdee]

5 hours ago, Texas Tillie said:

Reminds me of my experience at Osteria in January where a risotto dish was served with shrimp that was 80% still raw. I was told that was the way it was supposed to be. I made a pile of raw shrimp on the side of the plate and ate the risotto. I eat some raw seafood at Umi Uma, but not shrimp!!😏

 

Patty 

I had the same problem and gave up on the risotto. 

[Emdee]

2 hours ago, travelberlin said:

Interesting. I am curious about one thing: where is it stated that Osteria has a Michelin status? Has it received a star or is mentioned in some Michelin list? 
 

Ivi

I read that the menu was created by a chef who had a Michelin star. 

[May B]

27 minutes ago, Sdancer said:

Any advice on what to order since I am not a pasta lover?

Thanks!

 

I think there’s a (theoretically nice) salt-crusted fish. Sadly, Mr B deemed it bland, at best.

 

I feel like I had lamb, but I don’t remember being impressed with that, either. I’ll be there in about 25 days, and the one thing I am definitely planning to order is the minestrone soup. I hardly ever order that, but somebody raved about it and posted a photo, and it absolutely looks worth a try.

 

We like our seafood very gently cooked. Were the shrimp in the risotto actually translucent? Those would perhaps be too raw for me, too. But overcooked would be just as bad.

[Texas Tillie]

5 minutes ago, May B said:

 

 

We like our seafood very gently cooked. Were the shrimp in the risotto actually translucent? Those would perhaps be too raw for me, too. But overcooked would be just as bad.

 

They were still translucent and gray, not a hint of pink. I was told the raw shrimp are placed on top of the risotto after it is cooked and the heat from the risotto "cooks" the shrimp. Wrong!!🙄

 

Patty

[May B]

6 minutes ago, Texas Tillie said:

 

They were still translucent and gray, not a hint of pink. I was told the raw shrimp are placed on top of the risotto after it is cooked and the heat from the risotto "cooks" the shrimp. Wrong!!🙄

 

Patty

Ugh.

[Sdancer]

Great thread, very informative!

Since my cruise is rather short to have time to experiment with dining, I will skip Osteria this time.

 

 

[ryndam]

This is the menu from January 2024. We enjoyed both tortellini preparations. If they are still on the menu, they can be ordered as the main course, rather than the smaller starter-sized portion.

 

We were underwhelmed with the balance of the menu. We very much enjoyed all other dinner venues.

 

Rob

Osteria.pdf

[Jinn]

I  had both the sea bass and the lamb and enjoyed them  Had the risotto as an app but no shrimp.  It was good but a tad salty.  Julia

[Embarker1]

22 minutes ago, ryndam said:

This is the menu from January 2024. We enjoyed both tortellini preparations. If they are still on the menu, they can be ordered as the main course, rather than the smaller starter-sized portion.

 

We were underwhelmed with the balance of the menu. We very much enjoyed all other dinner venues.

 

Rob

Osteria.pdf 105.4 kB · 6 downloads

Rob, Thank you for posting the menu from this past January.  This menu's first entree is the veal loin ,the entree I mentioned that I ordered.  I have to admit it was delicious but I would have liked it a whole lot better with a side of Marinara sauce or where I come from we call it gravy😋         

[May B]

I just read the menu to Mr B and he’s not excited. Can somebody please tellus what they’ve had there recently that they loved? We board three weeks from this Monday.

 

I was really looking forward to the minestrone soup. 
 

Does anybody know about the lamb? 
 

Has the sea bass been seasoned better, since November?

[Sdancer]

Rob, thank you.

Did anyone try Black Angus Beef Tenderloin? 

It is surprising that Osteria would not have Filet Mignon instead.

 

Edited June 1 by Sdancer

[BWIVince]

45 minutes ago, Sdancer said:

Rob, thank you.

Did anyone try Black Angus Beef Tenderloin? 

It is surprising that Osteria would not have Filet Mignon instead.

 

FWIW, as Prego it was also a tenderloin filet and not filet mignon for as long as I could go back through the menus.

 

Vince 

[Sdancer]

11 minutes ago, BWIVince said:

FWIW, as Prego it was also a tenderloin filet and not filet mignon for as long as I could go back through the menus.

 

Vince 

New Crystal supposed to be better, right? 🙂

[dimundsR]

I loved the Melanzana dish the first time, but when I ordered it again, it wasn't as tasty.  The Mozzarella di Bufala was too cold, just out of the frig? I may be confusing it with the Insalata Caprese.

 

The minestrone soup is not like what you are likely picturing.  It's very good, but different, more high level.  It began with some vegetables in the middle of the dish and then the server poured liquid around it.

 

The Cioppino is very good, but again different and more refined.  Not like would be served on Fishermans Wharf in SF.

 

I had a similar risotto dish in Rome and the scampi was again undercooked.  The server there warned me, but not really understanding, I ordered anyway.  It may be "cooked" in citrus?

 

I loved the Sea Bass the first time and less so the second. Others in our group enjoyed the Beef Tenderloin. 

[May B]

26 minutes ago, dimundsR said:

I loved the Melanzana dish the first time, but when I ordered it again, it wasn't as tasty.  The Mozzarella di Bufala was too cold, just out of the frig? I may be confusing it with the Insalata Caprese.

 

The minestrone soup is not like what you are likely picturing.  It's very good, but different, more high level.  It began with some vegetables in the middle of the dish and then the server poured liquid around it.

 

The Cioppino is very good, but again different and more refined.  Not like would be served on Fishermans Wharf in SF.

 

I had a similar risotto dish in Rome and the scampi was again undercooked.  The server there warned me, but not really understanding, I ordered anyway.  It may be "cooked" in citrus?

 

I loved the Sea Bass the first time and less so the second. Others in our group enjoyed the Beef Tenderloin. 

I didn’t order the minestrone in November b/c that’s not my first choice, ever. After seeing a photo, though, and reading the raves, I’ve made a note to myself to try it next time.

 

I don’t remember what starter I got. I might just ask for recommendations from the waiter.

[avalon244]

5 hours ago, Sdancer said:

Great thread, very informative!

Since my cruise is rather short to have time to experiment with dining, I will skip Osteria this time.

 

 

Wise decision. Have cruised on Crystal since the mid-1990s. Big fan. Was on Symphony last September. My wife and I tried Osteria for the first time. It was the worst dinner ever on land or sea. Horrible menu. We vowed never to return until the menu significantly changed. This past February we were on Symphony again. Checked the menu at Osteria and found that it was basically the same. So we ate our dinners at Waterside and Umi Uma. Both excellent. What we came to realize is that Osteria is named after the owner and is his passion project. He's not going to change anything no matter how many complaints are made. Imho, this stubbornness will come back to bite (no pun intended) the cruise line when competitors are offering more specialty dining options. But I guess it's his money to spend as he sees fit.

[Sdancer]

52 minutes ago, avalon244 said:

Wise decision. Have cruised on Crystal since the mid-1990s. Big fan. Was on Symphony last September. My wife and I tried Osteria for the first time. It was the worst dinner ever on land or sea. Horrible menu. We vowed never to return until the menu significantly changed. This past February we were on Symphony again. Checked the menu at Osteria and found that it was basically the same. So we ate our dinners at Waterside and Umi Uma. Both excellent. What we came to realize is that Osteria is named after the owner and is his passion project. He's not going to change anything no matter how many complaints are made. Imho, this stubbornness will come back to bite (no pun intended) the cruise line when competitors are offering more specialty dining options. But I guess it's his money to spend as he sees fit.

Thank you for your confirmation for me on skipping Osteria. I am going to do it.

Also, you are absolutely correct - the menu is not going to improve at the Osteria for obvious reasons. I came to the same conclusion after watching the initial interview with the owner.

 

I am sad that the New Crystal does not have Churrascaria anymore which I liked (tri-tip and jumbo shrimp!). Churrascaria was a good choice on some nights: did not take a long time to dine, had tasty meat options, and I could spend more time ballroom dancing :).

 

 

Edited June 2 by Sdancer

[Cruise-y]

Waterside is five-star spectacular. Marketplace is, hands down, the best breakfast and lunch buffet at sea with options changing daily. All the other dining venues (Tastes, Umi Uma, Trident Grill, Bistro) are equally fantastic. All of them. If Manfredi wants an Italian restaurant removed from the usual Americanized standards, then that is fine. I thank him for what he has done and wish him financial success. One restaurant out of so many great choices is not going to sway me. 

Edited June 2 by Cruise-y

[travelberlin]

8 hours ago, Sdancer said:

Great thread, very informative!

Since my cruise is rather short to have time to experiment with dining, I will skip Osteria this time.

 

 

I have enjoyed Osteria twice in my cruise in January. I am planning to enjoy it again on my next cruise in a couple of weeks. But in a short cruise I might also skip it.

 

Ivi

[travelberlin]

9 hours ago, Texas Tillie said:

 

They were still translucent and gray, not a hint of pink. I was told the raw shrimp are placed on top of the risotto after it is cooked and the heat from the risotto "cooks" the shrimp. Wrong!!🙄

 

Patty

My experience with the risotto was similar. I think they should offer another risotto dish. Not the one with raw shrimps. The traditional one with funghi porcini might be a better option.

 

Ivi

[travelberlin]

46 minutes ago, Cruise-y said:

If Manfredi wants an Italian restaurant removed from the usual Americanized standards, then that is fine. I thank him for what he has done and wish him financial success. 

Many of us are not US Americans and we are not talking about US American standards here. Osteria fails imho to deliver the  excellent Italian food that we know from Italy. I love Italian food, spend lots of vacations in Italy or in Ticino in Switzerland (I understand Manfredi comes from that region). Some food in the Osteria resembles the good Italian food but other not. 
 

I would recommend to include in the menu for example a tagliolini with fresh truffles prepared on the table with a big parmesan cheese (this would elevate imho any “osteria” to the the level of a fine “restaurant”) or a caponata and an Ossobuco a la Milanese or a la Romana. Even a well prepared spaghetti al aglio,

olio and peperoncino or a spaghetti a la carbonara would please me more than some of the current offers at the Osteria in the ships.

 

We thank Manfredi and partners for what they have done saving the old Crystal and for us, the clients, and wish them lots of success. Opinions we provide are thought as positive feedbak.

 

Ivi

Edited June 2 by travelberlin

[Keith1010]

Interesting about comments about Osteria.

 

First some people love it, some like it and some don't like it.

 

Everyone is different.

 

Some love Trident for lunch, some love Tastes, some Marketplace and some Waterside.

 

I would encourage people to try each one and then decide. And if you've tried it once and are on another cruise try it again.

 

Why? Because I find that one visit is often not enough to figure out what you like unless you try everything the first time around.

 

I can assure you that Manfredi has very little involvement with Osteria so not sure why his name has been thrown out other than it was named after him.

 

Yes initially there were no changes to the menu.  However, some changes were made.

 

But when some say no change I don't get it since they did announce that they have plans to replace the cosine with a Michelin 3 star dining venue.  What will be in common is that it will be Italian authentic and not USA centric as Prego was.

 

Every dining venue has people who like it and people who don't.  That even included Silk and Churrascaria. Some people liked each of these venues. Others did not.

 

As to the owner. Without him we wouldn't have this board and we would still be on the old board if it still existed.

 

I am reminded that when NYK owned Crystal they had Kyoto on Harmony a Japanese restaurant.  Some liked it. Others did not.  Same went for Jade Garden on Symphony.  When what is now Umi Uma but was called Silk Road debuted on Serenity some didn't like it or for some it took years before they would try it. Why? In some cases they thought it would be all sashimi.  Genting took Tastes away and named it Silk. Yes, another owner's decision.  

 

There fore It is not surprising that under the new Ownership that they have an Italian restaurant.  

 

As to listening or being stubborn two comments.  They have listened a great deal and examples are bringing back a casino, placing a few items from Prego on the Waterside menu, brining back a few items to Osteria, and providing a promenade deck on the new ship (not a full wrap around but close).

 

There will always be a few things that some will like and some won't like.

 

My experience is that you will not please all of the customers all of the time.  I don't make use of each and every item on the ship.  But my view has always been if there is a sufficient number of items that I like then I am a happy camper.

 

And when it comes to things that are subjective I always believe that ones view varies by person.  This is why I've learned over the years that if someone asks me about a recommendation for a land based restaurant, hotel, or even cruise line if it's one I like I preface my answer by saying I like it or it works for me, but that does not mean you will feel the same way.

 

Keith

[travelberlin]

I agree that every body is different but I also think that if many people are giving some critical opinion, this can not be relativized as subjective. If many people are critical with the menu at a restaurant, any good management would listen and take corrective action. Not just think that those are subjective opinions.

 

Ivi