NCL Star specialty restaurants

[kcbmarek]

We are booked on the Star for our honeymoon and want to try several of the specialty restaurants. What restaurants are there and which are highly recommended? How soon can you book the restaurants as well?

[johnql]

Here's a breakdown of the dining venues on the Star. For the restaurants that require reservations, according to recent reports, once onboard you can make reservations for same day and next day (starting at 8am each morning). You can't make reservations before sailing.

 

Included, no reservations required

Versailles (main dining room)

Aqua (main dining room)

Market Cafe (buffet)

Red Lion Pub (snacks)

Blue Lagoon (24/7 diner)

Bier Garten (pretzels & German specialties)

On-deck BBQs

Late-night snacks in the casino/Market Cafe

Room service (24/7)

 

Included, reservations required

La Trattoria (Italian)

Endless Summer (Tex-Mex)

 

Surcharge, reservations required

Le Bistro (French)

Cagney's (Steakhouse)

Ginza (Asian Fusion), 3 sections - sit-down Asian, sushi bar and Teppanyaki (Benihana-type)

Soho Room (Pacific Rim)

 

The dinner menus for the main dining rooms (Versailles and Aqua) change on a daily basis. The menus for the alternative restaurants (included and surcharge) are fixed.

 

My favorites are Le Bistro, Cagney's and Teppanyaki. I didn't try Endless Summer, but if it's similar to Salsa on the Dawn, I would enjoy it. Ditto for La Trattoria. I was a little disappointed in the Soho Room but it was okay.

[shonandsuzie]

We tried Cagney's, Ginza, Teppanyaki and Endless Summer. Cagney's was awesome. We went there for my birthday and the food was great. The atmosphere was nice. Really enjoyed Teppanyaki but didn't think it was as good as similar places at home. Ginza was delicious. I wished we had went there more than once. The food was very tasty and elegantly presented. I did not like the food at Endless Summer.

[Leafpeeper]

We loved the food on NCL Star in February. Our favorite dining experience ever on any cruiseline was at Ginza. The tempura and steak terriyaki were great--not to mention the hot sour soup. We tried a different venue each night. We did eat twice at the main dining room in Versailles. We liked Aqua for a last minute meal. Each room offers something different. LeBistro is very small and intimate with soft lighting.

 

I enjoyed the Endless Summer's atmosphere with the band playing off and on, but I think it should have more of a Mexican name since it serves Mexican food. I tried some new dishes that I didn't like but enjoyed the food I was familiar with.

 

We enjoyed NCL Dawn just as much--probably because the Star and Dawn are twins.

 

Great ship & great food. Our only complaint was that the pool band was out of touch. I wanted a caribbean band playing reggae. They actually played Louis Armstrong. I got sick of "Last Dance" by Donna Summer hearing it every single day poolside.

 

Don't forget the movie theater. We kept forgetting and missed our movies. At least we caught them on tv.

 

Have a great cruise!

[pujro]

We were aboard just last week(15th-23rd April '07) and tried Endless Summer, Cagney's, Aqua, Versailles & Ginza. All were excellent but Ginza was my favourite, followed by Endless Summer(Mexican).

The various buffet offerings were also very good, with lots of choice.

I can also confirm that speciality restaurant reservations can only be made from the day before.

[cruisingfromMN]

Our favorite is Le Bistro. The Chateau Briand is excellent and the Chocolate Souffle is heaven.

 

If you want a whole lobster, go to either SoHo or Cagney's but early in the cruise. They only take on so many live lobsters so they will run out.

 

Ginza is open for lunch and we loved it! The steak terriyaki is wonderful. DH had the lemon chicken and it was a bit odd compared to what we like at home. The satays were good as was the pot stickers. The fried banana dish to be heavy but very good.

 

Cagneys have excellent steaks. We found at all restaurants to order steak medium rare. Normally at home, we would order medium. We tried the fries too and they are a bit strange but once you get use to them, they're good.

 

The barbeque poolside is one of our favorites. Their barbeque sauce we absolutely love. Nothing better than sitting in the sun and enjoying this!

 

Buffet is good but don't plan on seeing a buffet like you would at home on a Sunday Easter Brunch. They have an indian section that is quite good. One day they had some sort of fried chip with a creamy white dipping sauce...mmmm good.

 

Hamburgers poolside are huge (1 to 1 1/2 inches thick) and delicious.

 

You don't say what itinerary...

 

Congrats on your upcoming wedding!

[Workmom2]

The Star is an awesome ship and the food devine:)

We loved Ginza and Le Bistro- the maine dining room was jsut as good as the pay options. The main dining room had such great food- Versille was elegant and Aua kinds funky- The service was great in either room.

We did not care for Cagneys. we got seated at the back of the area and it was a little out of the way.

[BaileyandBella]

I have read that they offer 2 for one meals early in the evening...is this true for every night?

 

I think we might try the Teppanyaki...my kids like that kind of food. Do they have miso soup?

 

Can someone explain the surcharge....do you just pay the flat rate and then you can get whatever you want? What about tips?

[Workmom2]

That is a good question- I did not see that when we went- but we were having such a great imte, some of the details missed us:)

I think that when you board, call down to the desk and make your reservation, you can get the scoop then.

[Workmom2]

The miso soup is really good! There are menus posted in cruiseclues.com.

[bulgargirl]

I didn't like Endless Summer. They had nothing for vegetarians, which is kind of unusual for a mexican type restaurant. But hey - I'm used to it. They made me something anyway, which was really nice, after I explained I don't eat meat. It wasn't great - but it was food. Unfortunately, they brought be beans with huge chunks of bacon in it. And our waiter ignored us. I think it was the only bad service I had on the entire trip. Just my two cents.

 

I liked Le Bistro. I ate too much. Made myself feel sick later!

[cruiseladytexas]

I loved every one of the Asian Restaurants.

 

Karen

Oh Say Can You Sea Cruises

Houston TX