Specialty dining on a cruise ship typically takes place at dinner, right? Well, that is what I thought, but sometimes you get greater availability at lunch then you do at dinner. So, when our concierge suggested having lunch on an “At Sea” day, we decided to try it out.
I’m not one for a big lunch, but isn’t vacation (especially a cruise) typically 10 meals a day anyway? We slept in, skipped breakfast, and headed straight to lunch at Jamie’s Italian Kitchen by Jamie Oliver onboard Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas.
The restaurant was empty when we arrived but slowly started to fill as we began to eat. I will admit, it felt like we had the entire restaurant to ourselves, which to be honest, was nice! Our waiter was attentive and accommodating to any dietary needs, as well as substitutions.
Our waiter came out automatically with this huge meat plank. The Cured Meat Plank size was unbelievable, but 7 of us managed to finish it all. We then were asked to choose some more appetizers, which included Squid Fritti, Truffle Arancini, Truffle Burrata, Tomato Bruschetta and Ultimate Garlic Buns (which we kept as a side).
If we weren’t full enough already from the amazing appetizers, now we needed to choose our Main Course. My daughter is picky when it comes to sauces, so our waiter was more than happy to accommodate her with “buttered” pasta, as well as a single piece of salmon. The Super Salmon dish comes with a lot of things she would not eat, so our waiter suggested the salmon without it. She enjoyed every bite!
Most of us went with pasta, except my husband. We had a friendly wager of what he would order before he joined us at the table. (He LOVES lasagna!). He did not disappoint and chose accordingly. Our youngest member ordered yet another burger (not pictured).
The portions were appropriate in size. Pasta was fresh and savory in flavor. We all wanted to try some of the sides as well and ordered Polenta Chips, Charred Broccoli, Rocket Salad and the leftover appetizer Ultimate Garlic Buns. These sides were a miss for us. The salad and broccoli were too bitter for our taste. The polenta chips were just “ok”. However, the garlic buns were a homerun!
In typical fashion, we all ate too much and still had to fit dessert in. You must try it right? Those that did order went with the Banana split, Tiramisu and the Gelato/Sorbet. The flavor of the day for the Gelato/Sorbet was Mango, and we did not choose any toppings. Also, cappuccinos to help not put us to sleep after this huge meal.
This lunch delivered on its portion sizes, flavor and the flexibility for even the pickiest of eaters. Everyone enjoyed their meals and were very satisfied with this dining experience. I would definitely visit again!
