Palo Brunch for One - too much food?

[Girl of the South]

Was able to get a reservation for the Palo Brunch on an upcoming cruise. But I am cruising solo . . . Can they serve (for instance) a smaller bread basket? And I couldn't eat an entire pizza . . . could I just ask for a couple slices? I'd like to experience it but seems like way too much food. Can it still be a good experience if you just order like 4 things? Thanks!

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

I am a solo cruiser and I have done Palo Brunch 3 times and have a 4th booked for my next cruise in a few weeks.

I love it.

Can they serve (for instance) a smaller bread basket?

No they dont serve a smaller bread basket, its the same for every table. I just have one piece and leave the rest.

And I couldn't eat an entire pizza . . . could I just ask for a couple slices?

Thats not how it works. Each pizza is made specifically for that order. I have ordered pizza and I ate 2 slices. Thats not a problem.

I'd like to experience it but seems like way too much food. Can it still be a good experience if you just order like 4 things? Thanks!

It is a lot of food but I love it and yes I make it a good experience. I don't have much food in the morning before Palo, just a yoghurt and orange juice from Cabanas

This is what I had on my August 2024 cruise on The Dream

To start, the included Mimosa and selection of pastries.

• Poached Eggs on Toasted Buttered English Muffin with Spinach, Asparagus, Mornay Sauce
• Blueberry Pancakes with Maple Syrup, Whipped Cream & Mixed Berries
• Wild Mushroom Ravioli with Meyer Lemon, Nut Brown Butter, Toasted Pine Nuts
• Italian Zabaglione with Fresh Berries, Marsala Wine, Biscotti

The total charge was $50 and did not include a tip. I added on extra money when I signed the receipt. There is no way would you get that high standard of food, and that amount of food for $50 on land, so to me its well worth it.

 

[asgur5]

Was able to get a reservation for the Palo Brunch on an upcoming cruise. But I am cruising solo . . . Can they serve (for instance) a smaller bread basket? And I couldn't eat an entire pizza . . . could I just ask for a couple slices? I'd like to experience it but seems like way too much food. Can it still be a good experience if you just order like 4 things? Thanks!

Its a fixed price. You dont eat everything you order. You try different things and leave what you dont want. Solo is no different to multiple.

 

[Girl of the South]

My issue is the waste of food, which is rampant at Cabanas. That the Palo offerings are of a higher standard makes it even worse for me. I guess I’ll skip the pizza. Way too much for one person. And just order the items that are individual portions.

Thanks for the replies!

Last question - Lasagna or Chicken?

At least I get to try it. Was up at Midnight. Got two Palo dinners and the one Brunch

 

[CamColt]

Last question - Lasagna or Chicken?

At least I get to try it. Was up at Midnight. Got two Palo dinners and the one Brunch

I usually get both of those. Good choices!

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

My issue is the waste of food, which is rampant at Cabanas. That the Palo offerings are of a higher standard makes it even worse for me. I guess I’ll skip the pizza. Way too much for one person. And just order the items that are individual portions.

Thanks for the replies!

Last question - Lasagna or Chicken?

At least I get to try it. Was up at Midnight. Got two Palo dinners and the one Brunch

You do you but me personally I am paying for the food, the food is prepared so why should I miss out. I used to work as a chef and have worked in many many restaurants and hotels, so food for me is part of the experience.

Why skip the pizza if its something you want to taste and would enjoy?? Why just limit yourself to individual portions??? I dont get it.

If you are talking about the Parmesan Crusted Chicken that people talk about, to me it was meh and one and done. I found it bland.



On my 2023 cruise I had
Goats Cheese and Sundried Tomato Flatbread Pizza
Veal Saltimbocca

 

[hardcorestitch]

My issue is the waste of food, which is rampant at Cabanas. That the Palo offerings are of a higher standard makes it even worse for me. I guess I’ll skip the pizza. Way too much for one person. And just order the items that are individual portions.

Thanks for the replies!

Last question - Lasagna or Chicken?

At least I get to try it. Was up at Midnight. Got two Palo dinners and the one Brunch

Chicken for sure.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Just so people are aware the Parmesan Crusted Chicken is not an authentic Italian dish. It is an American creation from the 20th century. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_parmesan

Disney have it on the menu for the American passengers who think they are eating "Italian" food.

 

[Erica1016]

My issue is the waste of food, which is rampant at Cabanas. That the Palo offerings are of a higher standard makes it even worse for me. I guess I’ll skip the pizza. Way too much for one person. And just order the items that are individual portions.

Thanks for the replies!

Last question - Lasagna or Chicken?

At least I get to try it. Was up at Midnight. Got two Palo dinners and the one Brunch

Lasagna! We each ordered the chicken, but I really wanted to try the lasagna, so we ordered that to share. It was so good, I ended up abandoning my chicken and our server brought us a second lasagna. DH still finished his chicken, but he said he'd ordered the lasagna next time. We sailed in May and we're still talking about the lasagna.

 

[Erica1016]

I also hear you on the food waste. I'd talk to your server at the start to see what they can do so that you can try stuff without wasting. We were able to order a pizza that was half and half. So, the other halves had to go somewhere.

 

[dreamer17555]

If it makes you feel better about food waste, it is ground up and fed to the fish so thats something?

It's a cruise so food waste is part of it and you ordering a pizza and not eating the whole thing is not going to move the needle much (if at all). If food waste is a huge concern or stressor, cruising might not be a great fit.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

If it makes you feel better about food waste, it is ground up and fed to the fish so thats something?

It's a cruise so food waste is part of it and you ordering a pizza and not eating the whole thing is not going to move the needle much (if at all). If food waste is a huge concern or stressor, cruising might not be a great fit.

Exactly and as a solo cruiser, we are already at a disadvantage just being on the ship and paying extra. Food wastage is just part of the restaurant industry, both on land and at sea. Its built into the cost and expected by hospitality mangers and executive chefs. Its ridiculous to limit yourself and miss out on things on a perceived notion that you are making a difference to food wastage. The hard truth is you are not. I worked in the restaurant industry for over 15 years so I have first hand experience of what goes on behind the scenes.

 

[Scalemaster34]

I'd be fine if they offered "bites" of different items... as I want to try it all, but I don't want to waste too much food.

I'll go to Cabanas and get two or three sampling plates, and then go back for what I really liked. It's what I liked about the old Palo buffet with appetizers and deserts that could be sampled. We'd get a pizza each and take a bite and take it to the kids (not sure if they allow anything to go now).

 

[Girl of the South]

I don't think waffles and pancakes are traditionally Italian, either . . .

It's MY cruise. MY choice. I am not trying to 'get my money's worth'. I don't eat dinner in the MDR. I don't spend 45 minutes standing in line to see someone in a costume. And I prefer not to order an entire pizza and only eat two pieces.

Only asked about any options for solo patrons to not have the table laden with food I don't want. Not trying to change the world. I'll talk to my server.

Didn't think I would be able to try the Brunch, so I guess the ship is not full . . . Looking forward to the cruise.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[European]

I don't think waffles and pancakes are traditionally Italian, either . . .

It's MY cruise. MY choice. I am not trying to 'get my money's worth'. I don't eat dinner in the MDR. I don't spend 45 minutes standing in line to see someone in a costume. And I prefer not to order an entire pizza and only eat two pieces.

Only asked about any options for solo patrons to not have the table laden with food I don't want. Not trying to change the world. I'll talk to my server.

Didn't think I would be able to try the Brunch, so I guess the ship is not full . . . Looking forward to the cruise.

Thanks for the replies.

I usually finish my plates even though I know I am participating in food waste simply by cruising. I did get a smaller bread basket, because I asked for vegan bread. And they did serve me a smaller sized pizza too. Just ask and don’t order too much.

 

[Disneypeach]

I also do Palo solo and I’ve had success at asking for smaller portions for some things, e.g. the bread basket, pastries, and the charcuterie appetizers.
Have fun!

 

[Girl of the South]

THANK YOU! This is what I was looking for. A smaller pizza! Not so much bread! I’ll skip the charcuterie appetizers and even the pastries and dessert. I prefer salty to sweet.

I watched a couple Palo Brunch videos while waiting for Midnight and seriously, at the end of the videos you could see that people were struggling to eat all the food they ordered.

I didn’t mean to get political and that was not my intention. Just don’t want to spend one of my cruise days in a food coma.

Thanks again!

 

[unrequited23]

Just don't skip the almond croissant. It's been almost two years and I still think about it.

 

[KarenMom]

I travel solo a lot and always ask for just the shrimp from the seafood Antipasti plate. In fact I ask for double the shrimp and none of the other seafood. They are always happy to comply. And ask for a limited bread basket as soon as they seat you, before the server has a chance to bring it to you automatically. I hate food waste as well, something I'm trying to work on at home.

 

[Calantha]

I did Palo brunch on my own last summer. I just got shrimp and cheese and the 2 pastries that I wanted. Those are easy to scale. I did order a whole pizza and the Chicken Parm...didn't see a way to scale that down, but maybe they could...