Question about courses at dinner...

[rcchello]

On the first night I order all four courses. After a night or two I drop to three courses. By the fifth night I am down to two apps or just the entree. It varies by how much I like the courses and how stuffed I am by that time. It is either that or I start replacing lunch by an appetizer. You can really eat yourself into a food induced coma on a seven day Cruise.

 

[SteveMP]

Anyone ever just go with the server's recommendations?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Anyone ever just go with the server's recommendations?

Yes, on occasion.

 

[Dug720]

Anyone ever just go with the server's recommendations?

I don't because it's usually been fish which I don't eat.

 

[SteveMP]

I don't because it's usually been fish which I don't eat.

Yeah I noticed that as well. I'll usually pick the steak over the recommendation but sometimes will go with the recommendations, or part of them.

 

[Chrislovesdisney]

Thanks everyone! I'll have to reread the posted menus with more fervor now and pay attention to the soup/salad!

 

[gismo1554]

For those who have ordered a second entree, do you have to order both up front? Or can you wait and see if you like the first one, if it fills you up or not, and then order a second one later?

If its something I really fancy I'll order both straight away as I think they start clearing away mains once everyone's been served. That said, when I haven't liked what I've ordered I've made sure to order asap a replacement.

I don't because it's usually been fish which I don't eat.

This is very true! I think every recommendation I've been given has included a fish item which I don't eat.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

Anyone ever just go with the server's recommendations?

Sometimes, I will order an extra appetizer recommended by the server, but always order what I was planning to have as well. I do sometimes order the recommended entree if there is nothing on the menu that I really must have and the description of the recommendation sounds good. I'm generally a pretty adventuresome diner, so I enjoy trying new stuff and longer cruises provide a lot of opportunity to do so.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

I just want to add something that I don't THINK anyone else here has said. On our first DCL cruise last summer, we were specifically told by our server that it was typically one thing from the left side of the menu (appetizer, soup, salad) and one from the right side, (entree). Since I had been on these boards I knew that it was common to get both an appetizer and a soup/salad, and our servers did bring whatever we asked for, although often if we asked for a second appetizer or a second entree, they made us wait and see if there were "enough" for everyone.

So two lessons, in my opinion, "typical" varies a lot (too much IMO) by what server you have, and second, if you want something (within reason), ask for it, you will probably get it.

 

[Dug720]

I just want to add something that I don't THINK anyone else here has said. On our first DCL cruise last summer, we were specifically told by our server that it was typically one thing from the left side of the menu (appetizer, soup, salad) and one from the right side, (entree). Since I had been on these boards I knew that it was common to get both an appetizer and a soup/salad, and our servers did bring whatever we asked for, although often if we asked for a second appetizer or a second entree, they made us wait and see if there were "enough" for everyone.

So two lessons, in my opinion, "typical" varies a lot (too much IMO) by what server you have, and second, if you want something (within reason), ask for it, you will probably get it.

Wow. I would have been asking for the head server to see when the policy changed. And if the head server said that was policy but didn't give a change date, my rear would be at guest services as soon as dinner was finished.

The only time I've heard of them *possibly* imposing a limit is on lobster night with first seating so that there are lobsters for second seating. Never this across the board one from column A and one from column B.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

Wow. I would have been asking for the head server to see when the policy changed. And if the head server said that was policy but didn't give a change date, my rear would be at guest services as soon as dinner was finished.

The only time I've heard of them *possibly* imposing a limit is on lobster night with first seating so that there are lobsters for second seating. Never this across the board one from column A and one from column B.

Thanks. Lucky for us, since I had been on these boards, I knew we could ask for what we wanted, and they were great servers in every other respect. I just wish the policies would be more clear across servers, but I didn't want to put it on my comment card, for fear of them "standardizing" the policy in the wrong direction, ie informing all of their servers to say that one item from each page is "normal."

PS. I ALMOST described it as "one from column A, one from column B", but I didn't know how many other posters had been to Chinese Restaurants during the right time period (1970s, NYC Metro area?) Thanks. That nostalgia was amusing for me!

 

[Dug720]

Thanks. Lucky for us, since I had been on these boards, I knew we could ask for what we wanted, and they were great servers in every other respect. I just wish the policies would be more clear across servers, but I didn't want to put it on my comment card, for fear of them "standardizing" the policy in the wrong direction, ie informing all of their servers to say that one item from each page is "normal."

PS. I ALMOST described it as "one from column A, one from column B", but I didn't know how many other posters had been to Chinese Restaurants during the right time period (1970s, NYC Metro area?) Thanks. That nostalgia was amusing for me!

Oh, a few still have it - at least for the "luncheon special" menus. Biggest thing I miss since going gluten-free - Chinese take-out!!

As for the other, given that I've never heard of it before, I'd be surprised if it was truly policy. Which is why I'd be ok with asking for the head server and/or dining room manager - and then taking it from there if necessary. Lobster night it does kind of make sense to limit the amount of tails one person can order - I think it was a RCCL ship I heard of that ran out of them for second seating on their lobster night because so many people at the first seating ordered multiple tails. When you know that's a popular dish, it makes sense to put a cap on so that the second seating doesn't get shorted. But I've never known of any other entree to engender such "OMG MUST HAVE IT" rabidness.

 

[darnheather]

My youngest daughter had soup every night. Most nights I had salad and an appetizer. My older daughter only had the appetizer.

 

[Rabb it]

Yeah, you can do whatever you want. Some nights what was on the appetizer list didn't appeal to me so I would skip it and go straight to my main course. Other nights I would get something from each section. They will bring out the food in the typical order fashion. But, I'm sure you can ask for the food in whatever order you want/whenever you want..

 

[cmph]

I just want to add something that I don't THINK anyone else here has said. On our first DCL cruise last summer, we were specifically told by our server that it was typically one thing from the left side of the menu (appetizer, soup, salad) and one from the right side, (entree). Since I had been on these boards I knew that it was common to get both an appetizer and a soup/salad, and our servers did bring whatever we asked for, although often if we asked for a second appetizer or a second entree, they made us wait and see if there were "enough" for everyone.

So two lessons, in my opinion, "typical" varies a lot (too much IMO) by what server you have, and second, if you want something (within reason), ask for it, you will probably get it.

How odd!! I've never heard of such a thing on a cruise, in 25 years of cruising! And it seems like that would have been awkward in my experience, unless everyone at the table chose only an app vs a salad, or vice versa. Let's say half the table goes with an app, half with a salad... that means people are watching each other eat half the meal. The rare times my mom or I skipped an app, they didn't bring our salads when the others got their apps. Our server on the Wonder 6 months ago wasn't that great, but he didn't do anything as odd as suggest we only order 2 courses. I wonder if your server tried that on any guests who weren't new to DCL?

 

[jdb in AZ]

Oh, a few still have it - at least for the "luncheon special" menus. Biggest thing I miss since going gluten-free - Chinese take-out!!

As for the other, given that I've never heard of it before, I'd be surprised if it was truly policy. Which is why I'd be ok with asking for the head server and/or dining room manager - and then taking it from there if necessary. Lobster night it does kind of make sense to limit the amount of tails one person can order - I think it was a RCCL ship I heard of that ran out of them for second seating on their lobster night because so many people at the first seating ordered multiple tails. When you know that's a popular dish, it makes sense to put a cap on so that the second seating doesn't get shorted. But I've never known of any other entree to engender such "OMG MUST HAVE IT" rabidness.

We were on a cruise (I think it was DCL) where the waiter brought out a plate of half a dozen extra lobster tails for our table to share. We didn't ask for it, but we sure made quick work of it.

 

[Sytrace]

I typically order an appetizer (especially the Pasta pursiettes in AP) a soup, entree and dessert on the first night.
After I rave about the pasta pursiettes, inevitably I will get that as an appetizer for the first few nights as it is on the standard rotation menu. The servings of that seem to get bigger each time.
So on the second night, I will get that and an entree but skip dessert. The third night will be a repeat of the second night but with dessert and having the pasta as my entree (the portion seems to be triple size by the third night)
When dining at Palo I typically get an appetizer ,an entree and a dessert. We share an anti pasta and I might throw in a pasta dish if I am feeling hungry. lol
Usually I am pretty full though and have been known to skip dessert.

 

[Soontobegoodsell]

The beauty of the cruises is that you can try all of the food/courses if you'd like. Most of the time, if there are two apps I would like, I go for them both. One entree and sometimes two desserts.

Or sometimes we'll just go straight through with one item from each course or skip a course, then if we're hungry later, there is always room service.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

How odd!! I've never heard of such a thing on a cruise, in 25 years of cruising! And it seems like that would have been awkward in my experience, unless everyone at the table chose only an app vs a salad, or vice versa. Let's say half the table goes with an app, half with a salad... that means people are watching each other eat half the meal. The rare times my mom or I skipped an app, they didn't bring our salads when the others got their apps. Our server on the Wonder 6 months ago wasn't that great, but he didn't do anything as odd as suggest we only order 2 courses. I wonder if your server tried that on any guests who weren't new to DCL?

We did order what we wanted, including soup/salad and appetizer, but yeah, it was kinda awkward. Like they were doing us a special favor. My BIL is kinda a strict rule follower, so I'm not sure he ever brought himself to order both. As I said, the servers were friendly, efficient, helpful, other than that.

 

[NewsMom]

Also, the little girl at our table was crazy picky and her mother said she was just really there for the show and some dessert and would get some french fries on the pool deck later. The server brought her a plate of french fries every night without being asked.