The food wasn't bad. Both venues were held at the Speigel Tent and for Cirque Dreams, they served a fixed menu with salad, entree (chicken) and dessert all of which were good. For the Murder Mystery show, it was also a fixed menu with salad, dessert and for the entree they had stuffed chicken and also fillet Mignon. The chicken was so, so but the steak was very good and very tender. There was a cost to attend Cirque Dreams, unfortunately they did not have too much information available to us but since the cost of all the speciality restaurants ranged from $10-$30, I assumed that one was $30 since you also had a 2 hour show (I will review that in the entertainment section). I believe the Murder Mystery Dinner Theater is complimentary.
The first place we ate when we arrived on board was Taste (also complimentary), which was a beautiful, casual and contemporary restaurant with a dramatic designed. Lunch was very good and we also had breakfast here which was fabulous. I had eggs benedict and they were one of the best I have ever had. Taste serves, breakfast, lunch and dinner.
We also had breakfast at the Garden Cafe which was modeled after a traditional English garden. The Garden Cafe was the buffet style and probably the nicest looking buffet restaurant aboard any ship. Very elegant and fresh, however the food was typical buffet food which I am not a big fan of. They had a huge selection so it will appeal to some people.
We had dinner one evening at the gorgeous Manhattan Room, where you feel like you are in a New York City supper club with the exception of the panoramic ocean views from the 2 story, floor to ceiling windows. This is also complementary serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. This was Epic's answer to the typical "main dining room" of other cruise ships, however it was anything but typical! The food was very good, they also had entertainment that evening with Legends in Concert (more on that later). There is also a dance floor and a band in the evenings.
We had appetizers one afternoon at O'Sheenhan's Neighborhood Bar and Grill and that was exactly what it felt like with large screen TV for viewing sports, 3 lane bowling alley, dartboard, pool tables, foosball and arcade games. A real fun place to hang out with typical pub style food.
Unfortunately, those were the only restaurants we were able to sample. We did get to see the other speciality restaurants and view their menus which all looked spectacular. The first 2 that looked wonderful and I am sure taste just as delicious were the 2 steak houses on board. Both Steakhouses shared on entrance, but separated once inside. Cagney's Steakhouse to the right, which is NCL signature restaurant serving up the finest cuts of meat. The next one was Moderno Churrascaria, to the left, was an Argentine type steakhouse where succulent meats are carved table side and you control how much you want with the Moderno green and red chips. Green for go and the carving continues or red to stop. What fun! I really wanted to try this (maybe next time). Both steakhouses were beautifully decorated and elegant.
NCL answer to traditional Italian meals served with a twist was La Cucina. Heading down a staircase which opens up to a wonderful outdoor feel of an Italian cafe, with tile roofs and a lighted tree growing in the middle of the restaurant, really gave way to a nice relaxed atmosphere... The cost was $10.00 for dinner and remember, that included appetizer, entree and dessert. I assume the tip is also included since that is how the other ships do it.
Loved the colors and the look of Shanghai and the Noodle Bar. Red and lime green seat cushions on cherry wood chairs. Very striking. Serving a masterful mix of traditional Chinese cuisine, noodles, wok fried dishes, and dim sum freshly prepared in an open kitchen.
The wonderful Tappanyaki restaurant where you can watch expert chefs grill up authentic Japanese dishes with meat, fish and veggies while captivating you with their knife acrobatics and culinary performances. Anyone who has ever been to a Japanese Steakhouse knows that this is a show in itself.... It looked great......
The beautiful and sophisticated Le Bistro an Art Nouveau French Restaurant which is also one of NCL signature dining venues. The menu looked fabulous and I was dying to try the creme brulee...
And finally Wasabi, a contemporary sushi and sashimi bar. I never would have eaten here, but I love the way it was set up, where the eating bar overlooked the Atrium area,so it was a great place to people watch or watch the digital aquarium visuals displayed on an in-wall plasma screen.
There are many other choices to eat at, like the Great Outdoors by the pools area, Spice H2O,
24 hour pizza,Courtyard Grill (exclusive to villa guest), and the Atrium bar where they also had snacks and wonderful coffees and lattes.
And for the kids. lets not forget breakfast with Nickelodeon's Sponge Bob Square Pants and friends. The room was filled with adults eating and watching the lively show.
So all in all I would say that NCL Epic did a wonderful job with the restaurants. It is worth going on the cruise just for the food..... But they has so much more to offer than just eating. Wait to you hear about the entertainment coming up...... WOW!
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