Here’s what you need to know (or what we’d like to share with you) about the places to eat on the Norwegian Epic…
O’Sheehan’s: A pub, also a nice spot to enjoy a somewhat-limited breakfast with great service and hot (if you can believe it!) toast…Named after the company President and CEO Kevin Sheehan (the O’ makes it a little more Irish) so it has to be good… Uncomplicated and spacious.
Garden Cafe: Great selection for all meals at all times…The main buffet, quality food, some of it prepared while you wait…A special favorite of Captain Trygve Vorren, who is always amazed by it…Busy, but never seems over-crowded, so it’s fairly easy to find tables, not always the case on cruise ships.
Teppanyaki: Really, really loud…A deterrent for some…Chef Michael (left) from the Philippines is very entertaining…Best food on the ship that isn’t in the penthouses and fun atmosphere make $25 cover charge acceptable…Not for romantic dinner, best for groups of eight.
Moderno Churrascaria: Brazilian meat was good, not spectacular…A little noisy, yet fun atmosphere…Large rectangular tables are not great because “sides” are in the middle, and not everyone can reach…Feels a bit disorganized…OK value at $18, but you better love red meat and chicken!
Manhattan Room: No cover charge, excellent food, straightforward menu, best value (duh!)…Terrific bread pudding…Traditional diners who liked all-inclusive cruise concept love this room…Dance floor, supper club with a taste of the Legends In Concert that doesn’t really work…A slightly raised stage would help, but they’re a little loud for “dinner music.”
Shanghai: Upscale Chinese…Outstanding, tasty food, good atmosphere, exceptional service…Does that make it worth $15 per person?…For us, yes…Skip the green tea ice cream, which is bland but when was green tea ever full of flavor?…Almost everything else was.
La Cucina: A $10 cover charge …Traditional Italian decor, Tuscan style eatery…Loved pasta and meatballs, but chicken parmesan just ok…Unusual back door for wheelchair access because front entrance is all stairs…Great quiet spot to take breakfast from Garden Cafe because it’s open for overflow and that’s the best-kept secret on the ship.
Taste: Contemporary, peaceful and Taste-ful place for breakfast, lunch or dinner…No cover…Good food, especially the corn chowder…Mediocre cobb salad, average fish and chips…Nice break from the buffet line…Has the feel of an upscale restaurant.
Atrium: A snack place, as if cruisers ever NEED snacks…Exotic coffees charged to room, but $2.50 for a good cappuccino beats Starbucks for value…Pastries, breads, salads easy to take back to the room, where you can feel less guilty about snacking.
There are even more but we ran out of appetite.
Hey, somebody has to do it.