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How was the food, service? Was it worth the extra fee?
Joe at TravelPage.com
First, I think the service is overkill, the waitstaff are overly attentive. It's hard to have a conversation because you are constantly being interrupted by staff asking you if everything is okay. I realize there's a fine line between being ignored and overwhelmed, but the staff is a bit over the top.
Second, there is no question that the food is better than in the main dining room, but neither of us was convinced that it was $25 a head better, and the food is really what it is all about. The menu was loaded toward the type of dishes that lend themselves to "showy" presentations, in other words flambees and the like, rather than the kind of dish that requires extensive time in the kitchen - sauces requiring reductions and the like that are the test of a real gourmet cuisine.
Finally, the special wine list means that almost all of the lower price wines have disappeared, replaced by bottles in the $100 and up range. It's virtually impossible to find anything on the list for less than $50 and when we selected a bottle for $45, the wine steward sneered at us!
Maybe it's because I live in Montreal, a city with literally hundreds of excellent restaurants, but I left less than impressed.
The bottom line: if you want a fancy presentation in a very attractive setting -- go for it, but don't go expecting a true gourmet experience.
I suppose some people would not be comfortable with the attentive service, but I loved it. Food was delectable; would especially recommend the goat cheese souffle' and the sea bass. The cheese cart was a bit of a "culture" shock, if you'll pardon the pun! Lots of REALLY strong tasting/smelling cheeses to sample; found some nice mild varieties, too. All of the desserts were right up my alley; couldn't pick a favorite with a gun to my head.
If you're sailing one of Celebrity's M-class ships, you really owe it to yourself to try the specialty restaurant at least once. In my opinion, it's not a big risk for $25.00!
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