I ate all seven dinners in the principle eating room whereas onboard Symphony of the Seas to strive Royal Caribbean’s new menus.
It’s been about 5 years because the final time Royal Caribbean refreshed their eating menus, which is why they first examined the menus in late 2022 on Symphony of the Seas to obtain visitor suggestions.
During the testing part, they despatched a group of six individuals onboard who have been chargeable for conducting in-person conferences with 30-40 passengers per day. In addition, surveys have been despatched out by way of e mail.
Now, Royal Caribbean is within the strategy of rolling out the brand new menus fleet broad by February 2023.
To be clear, I’m not a meals critic and never classically skilled in something delicacies associated. Others might come to their very own conclusions, as everybody has totally different style buds and preferences. But since lots of readers wish to know what I considered the brand new menu choices, I made a decision to share my opinions.
Here’s how I’d rank every thing I ate whereas eating in the principle eating room.
Night one: “Welcome Aboard”
My first evening onboard, I used to be seated at 8:00pm on deck 3. After a protracted day of touring, I used to be able to eat, and I wasn’t the one one! Twenty minutes previous to our seating time, there was an enormous line exterior of the principle eating room’s entrance.
We want making reservations for My Time Dining forward of time, so this was my first time having conventional seating since 2010.
Appetizer: Spinach and artichoke dip
Ranking: 7.5/10
The dip was creamy, and the chips have been simply salty sufficient; nonetheless, my one principal downside with this dish was the dip to chip ratio. I ran out of the dip with about 4 chips left, which by themselves, I simply thought have been okay.
Main course: Southern fried hen
Rating: 6/10
While I cherished the presentation, this course was most likely one of many ones I used to be most disillusioned with. The fried hen wasn’t crispy in any respect; there was no crunch after I bit into it. I additionally want the mashed potatoes have been just a bit creamier, as that they had a stiff texture to them.
That being mentioned, the hen did style good, notably when dipped into the tabasco honey sauce. I loved the sauce a lot that I poured some over my mashed potatoes!
I used to be additionally glad with the portion. The two items of hen, mashed potatoes, and corn have been lots for me.
Dessert: Boston cream pie
Rating: 8/10
The dessert was my favourite course of the night. The cake was fluffy, and it wasn’t overly chocolatey (I’m not the largest fan of chocolate heavy desserts). I do want it was only a tad bit sweeter, although.
Night two: French evening
The theme for the second evening’s dinner was French. For the rest of the week (except for the final evening), I used to be seated at 5:30pm on deck 5 with a household of 5. I used to be grateful for the sooner seating, as 8:00pm is personally too late for me.
Appetizer: Escargots
Rating: 9/10
As at all times, they have been garlicky, buttery, and wealthy. The bread was a pleasant contact, as I used to be in a position to get pleasure from extra of the sauce.
I’ve at all times appreciated the portion sizing, as I do not assume I may eat many greater than 6 snails with how heavy the sauce is.
While I made it a plan to strive as a lot as I may all through the week, the escargots made one other look on the Royal evening and have been loved once more by many in my eating celebration.
Main course: Roasted beef tenderloin
Rating: 9/10
The beef was tender, and I preferred the peppercorn sauce. An enormous plus was that the mashed potatoes have been softer than the earlier evening. I want there have been a number of extra asparagus, although.
Four individuals on the desk had the seafood linguine, and everybody cleared their plates!
Dessert: Cappuccino chocolate cake
Rating: 8.5/10
The cake was moist, and the froth on prime was mild. The description of the dessert mentioned that the cake was a “wealthy chocolate sponge cake”; however I discovered that it was overpowered by the espresso taste.
In my opinion, it didn’t have a really sturdy chocolate taste, and I preferred that!
Night three: Italian evening
On the third day of my crusing, the night’s theme was White Night, whereas the dinner’s theme was Italian. Everyone bought a chuckle of individuals displaying as much as dinner wearing all white getting ready to eat dishes heavy on pink sauce.
Appetizer: Golden polenta fries with spicy dip
Rating: 8/10
When my appetizer was served, the dish was virtually too scorching to the touch! The polenta fries have been, as marketed, golden and crispy; nonetheless, the sauce wasn’t spicy in any respect. Honestly, I assumed it was a tad bit candy.
Someone else on the desk ordered the identical appetizer and agreed that the sauce did not have any kick to it.
Plus, the mattress of spinach on the backside of the dish was a bit random.
Main course: Chicken parmesan
Rating: 7/10
I used to be served a wholesome portion, however like my fried hen on the primary evening, the hen’s crust may have been fried a bit bit longer.
The dish was overpowered with a bit an excessive amount of basil for my liking, particularly because the layer of mozzarella cheese on prime of the hen was fairly skinny.
On the opposite hand, I assumed the pasta was cooked very effectively, and I loved the marinara sauce.
Dessert: Tiramisu
Rating: 9.5/10
I assumed the tiramisu was higher than the cappuccino chocolate cake. Honestly, it was considered one of my favourite desserts served in the principle eating room!
It was wealthy, creamy, and light-weight all on the similar time; nonetheless, the outline mentioned that there was a touch of Kahúla liqueur, however I discovered that taste to be utterly absent.
Night 4: Caribbean evening
Caribbean evening was one of many ones I used to be most wanting ahead. I wasn’t certain how different friends would react, however I may inform by the multitude of empty tables that it wasn’t all that fashionable.
Appetizer: Crispy coconut jumbo shrimp
Rating: 10/10
This was the chef’s advisable appetizer, and I can see why. The shrimp have been crunchy and fried completely, however they solely had a refined trace of coconut, which did not actually upset me.
The candy chili dipping sauce is what made this dish so unimaginable. Someone in my celebration even bought a second order of them!
When his second plate arrived, I observed some inconsistency in plating. They got here out in a wholly totally different dish, the shrimp have been noticeably bigger, and there was rather more of the sauce on the underside.
Overall, this was considered one of my prime three dishes that I had!
Main course: Garlic-herb buttered tiger shrimp
Rating: 7/10
If you have not observed by now, I really like sauces that enrich the flavors of what I’m consuming. Sometimes, seasoning simply is not sufficient, and in my possibility, they’ve the flexibility to make or break the dish.
In the case of my tiger shrimp, I discovered myself wishing that they included extra of the sauce. In basic, I assumed there may’ve been a bit bit extra of every thing.
There have been solely 5 shrimp, a comparatively small mattress of greens, and a half scoop of rice.
Dessert: Sugar-free blueberry cobbler
Rating: 7.5/10
I do not actually know what I used to be anticipating, however I may instantly inform that it was sugar-free. That being mentioned, it was served heat, and the quantity of oatmeal crumble on prime was simply sufficient. It did not make the dish crust heavy.
Night 5: Mexican evening
From what I gathered onboard, Mexican evening had blended critiques. I heard friends say that it wasn’t needed since El Loco Fresh was on deck 15. Others, like myself, have been excited for it (I can by no means get sufficient Mexican meals).
Even although the “classics” part is not current on the menus, I discovered that there was often aa possibility or two every evening for the principle course for many who may be a bit pickier. On Mexican evening, they have been spaghetti bolognese and grilled hen breast.
Appetizer: Roasted poblano pepper soup
Rating: 10/10
This soup landed itself in my prime three favourite dishes. Fair warning, although, I assumed it had a kick to it, which shocked me as a result of the outline by no means mentioned something about it being spicy.
The solely factor that might have made it higher was together with extra of the roasted corn, pink peppers, and sautéed chorizo. I might’ve loved having texture and style in every chew.
Main course: Carne asada
Rating: 7/10
You may solely order the carne asada medium uncommon or medium effectively. I do not love an excessive amount of pink in my steak, so I went with medium effectively; I believe I might have preferred it extra if I had it ready medium uncommon.
My steak ended up being extra on the dry facet. The salsa verde, nonetheless, was scrumptious, and I ended up asking for extra of it so as to add to my steak.
Like the polenta fries, I discovered that the spinach on prime of the pinto beans was random. I want there had been extra peppers as an alternative.
All of that being mentioned, I used to be glad with the portion of steak I used to be given!
Dessert #1: Warm chocolate chip cookie
Rating: 10/10 (I might go larger, although!)
I requested for 2 desserts, primarily as a result of our head waiter had
advisable the nice and cozy chocolate chip cookie a number of instances. Everyone felt like they needed to strive it, and it was higher than all of us imagined!
It was the finest factor I ate on the cruise!
The deep dish cookie was served in a piping scorching ramekin and topped with vanilla ice cream.
The exterior was crisp and golden, whereas the within was completely ooey and gooey. It by no means grew to become too comfortable, even with the melting ice cream on prime.
Dessert #1: Caramel flan
Rating: 6/10
I’m actually glad that I ordered the nice and cozy chocolate chip cookie as a result of I might’ve been disillusioned if this was the one dessert I bought.
The caramel style was minimal, and the syrup topping was fairly runny.
Night six: the Royal evening
I wasn’t shocked that the principle eating room was probably the most crowded on “gown your finest” evening when lobster was listed as a complimentary menu possibility.
Everyone in my banquet ordered not less than two of 1 course, whether or not it was two appetizers, two principal programs, or two desserts.
Appetizer: Chilled shrimp cocktail
Rating: 9/10
The shrimp cocktail is a traditional onboard Royal Caribbean ships. I want, although, that there have been greater than 4 shrimp. At least six would have been good. I discovered myself itching for my entree whereas others loved their second appetizer.
Main course #1: Broiled lobster tail
Rating: 9.5/10
Three different individuals on the desk ordered the lobster as their first entree, too. All of them have been round one pound.However, since further lobster tails are not complimentary and value $16.99 every, no person ordered a second to see the way it in comparison with the primary.
My lobster was tender, and so they supplied simply the correct quantity of butter. Plus, the rice was moist and served as an amazing praise.
I used to be a bit disillusioned with the edges, as I might have preferred a number of extra carrots and multiple piece of broccoli. If that had been my solely entree, I believe I might’ve needed to order one thing else!
Main course #2: Cheese tortellini
Rating: 8/10
The cheese tortellini wasn’t served till after I had completed my lobster.
I wasn’t the one one who ordered this dish, and we agreed that the sauce was creamy and wealthy.
In my opinion, the portion was fairly small, and I want there was extra contemporary parmesan, because it was condensed to at least one space of my pasta.
Dessert #1: Sugar-free strawberry shortcake
Rating: 7/10
After the blueberry cobbler, I used to be anticipating this to even be noticeably sugar-free, so I used to be not shocked by that. I used to be primarily disillusioned by the dearth of contemporary strawberries, and it was positively lacking that strawberry taste.
The cake, nonetheless, was completely mild and spongey. It could be an amazing selection for somebody who did not need a heavy dessert!
Dessert #2: Warm chocolate cake
Rating: 7/10
If you are a fan of chocolate, this dessert is for you, belief me! Personally, with the moist chocolate cake and heavy sauce, it was method too wealthy for me.
Night seven: Mediterranean evening
On the final evening, the household that I had been eating with determined to eat on the Windjammer. The all aboard time for CocoCay was 5:30pm, which was additionally our mounted eating time. Since I used to be alone, the waitstaff had me out and in of the principle eating room in a formidable thirty-eight minutes!
Overall, nonetheless, Mediterranean evening was my least favourite.
Appetizer: Mediterranean tapas medley
Rating: 8/10
The tapas was the very best a part of my meal. I preferred the tzatziki however discovered the hummus to be a bit bland.
Three slices of pita bread wasn’t sufficient for 2 dips. I needed to ask for extra, and the extra slices that have been introduced out have been greater than my unique ones.
I loved the traditional Greek salad, notably the marinated olives!
Main course: Vegetable Greek moussaka
Rating: 3/10
Truthfully, I discovered your entire dish to be missing taste and want I had ordered the grilled Mediterranean steak as an alternative.
There have been far too many breadcrumbs on prime, and so they have been unusually dry. The small facet of tomato salsa wasn’t sufficient to present this dish the added moisture. It was tough to complete the primary layer of the moussaka to disclose the greens beneath. Plus, the olives on prime didn’t style contemporary.
Other than texture, I used to be unable to inform the greens aside; all of them tasted the identical.
Dessert: Warm apple cobbler
Rating: 7/10
When I first tasted the apple cobbler, I assumed that it was sugar-free. I needed to double examine to be sure that it wasn’t! It was served heat with a pleasant sized scoop of vanilla ice cream, although.
Gluten-free choices
While I didn’t order any gluten-free meals, a member of the Royal Caribbean Dining Facebook group, Sue Riggs, shared some images of their gluten-free principal eating room choices!
Chicken sous-chef
Jerk Chicken
Tikka masala
Steak with chimichurri
Chicken parmesan
Gluten-free desserts
Other principal eating room choices
The sort household that permit me sit with them at dinner additionally let me snap some images of their meals all through the week, and I’ve included these footage beneath.
Seared beef carpaccio
Pan-seared filet of sole
Lasagna al forno
Italian chocolate-hazelnut cake
Asian-style pork bao tacos
Jerk seasoned pork chop
Pesto tagliatelle
Pineapple sunshine cake
Tortilla soup
Chili-lime crusted salmon
Overall ideas on the brand new menus
Personally, I loved stepping exterior of my consolation zone and making an attempt new issues. I knew that if I ordered an appetizer, principal course, or dessert that I ended up not liking, I may merely ask for one thing else– such are the thrill of cruising!
Truthfully, I got here into this anticipating there to be some trial and error for the kitchen employees. Overall, I used to be glad with the brand new menus.
Of course, there have been some programs that I wasn’t a fan of and wouldn’t plan on getting once more, however I’m wanting ahead to seeing how the principle eating room compares to my upcoming sailings.