Remy brunch, can you convince me?

[slg]

Going on the Fantasy for our 20th DCL cruise and just to try everything once, considering Remy. My Dh not convinced it is worth it. Remy fans or not, pros and cons?

 

[gatordoc]

All personal opinion, of course, but Remy dinner is truly spectacular. One of the best meals available on sea or land. Every dish is exquisite, and there is a good bit of variety. The service is impeccable, and they truly want you to have a great experience, so if there's something you don't care for, they'll happily bring you something else.
Remy brunch is also excellent, but is a very different experience. First, there is a real focus on champagne. The pairings are a good value, but make brunch perhaps not the best choice for those who don't care for champagne. And the menu is basically fixed. They will again make a substitution if there's something you don't care for, but there are fewer options than with dinner. That said, we've enjoyed brunch several times, including some dishes that I never would have tried otherwise but ended up loving.
Finally, there's Remy dessert, which is pretty much what you would think - multiple dessert courses, with the option of wine pairings with each. We've done this once, and enjoyed it (the presentations are beautiful), but it was a bit too many sweets at one time for us.

 

[lorimay]

We did a Remy dinner, a brunch and the dessert experience all one time each, we enjoyed all 3 of them, but we are not breaking the door down to go back.
We prefer dinner & brunch at Palo's more.
Its just a matter of preference I guess. I say try it once to see, you will be stuffed and happy when you leave any Remy experience.

 

[dcassetta]

Going on the Fantasy for our 20th DCL cruise and just to try everything once, considering Remy. My Dh not convinced it is worth it. Remy fans or not, pros and cons?

I have only done Remy brunch once, but really enjoyed it. The food was amazing, both in flavor and presentation. The service was excellent and brunch does not feel as formal and "stuffy" as dinner. I agree with the PP that the experience is heightened if you do the champagne pairings.

 

[squirk]

Going on the Fantasy for our 20th DCL cruise and just to try everything once, considering Remy. My Dh not convinced it is worth it. Remy fans or not, pros and cons?

You’ve been on 19 Disney cruises, dropped how many tens of thousands of dollars, seen the general level of quality DCL offers across the board, and you’re struggling with whether or not to shell out $150 for their brunch?

My wife and I do Remy brunch every time, so we feel it is worth it. However, it’s hard for us to “convince” you of anything since we don’t know what your husband’s objections are. “Not worth it” because it’s too expensive? He doesn’t like “fancy” food? He hates “stuffy” restaurant atmosphere?

 

[slg]

You sound rather rude, but okay, I will just assume I am misreading. Just because I have been on lots of cruises doesn’t mean I don’t consider my choices of how I spend my money thoughtfully. I usually get very good advice on the disboards about things do I thought I would get some opinions. I love the dress up foodie experience and I love tastings, however my husband doesn’t drink anything but water, dislikes stuffy places and likes large portions. I want to try Remy just to see what it’s like but I need to convince him he will enjoy it too. He suggested I go alone but I don’t want to do that. Thiughts?

 

[squirk]

You sound rather rude, but okay, I will just assume I am misreading. Just because I have been on lots of cruises doesn’t mean I don’t consider my choices of how I spend my money thoughtfully. I usually get very good advice on the disboards about things do I thought I would get some opinions. I love the dress up foodie experience and I love tastings, however my husband doesn’t drink anything but water, dislikes stuffy places and likes large portions. I want to try Remy just to see what it’s like but I need to convince him he will enjoy it too. He suggested I go alone but I don’t want to do that. Thiughts?

I thought the winky emoji made it clear that it was just a good-natured rib. Sorry. Just surprised that this is the first time the issue has come up for an almost double-Platinum CC member.

Honestly, if he likes large portions, and hates a stuffy restaurant atmosphere, my guess is that he won’t enjoy it.

I personally don’t find it to be “stuffy”. “Fancy,” yes, but not “stuffy”. However, “stuffy” is a word that is used frequently to describe Remy, especially in contrast to Palo.

Portions are small, and your servers will take some time to explain how each course was prepared. That having been said, the food is delicious, and there are a lot of courses, so you won’t walk away hungry. But if your husband is the kind of guy who just wants to “tuck into” a big plate of food with no fuss, that’s another strike against Remy.

With all that having been said, I don’t know if your husband would be open-minded to moving outside his comfort zone and giving Remy a shot anyway. They treat you like royalty, the view is fantastic, and the food really is excellent.

 

[Bonnie1222]

Personally I would love to try Remy one time, but I know my husband would hate it. He loves food, loves to cook but is not a fan of French style cooking and "fancy" presentation. He loves brunch at Palo, but won't do dinner there because he says the MDR are fine. I took him to tea at the Grand Floridian one time and I left stuffed just on the basic tea, but knew enough to order an additional cheese plate for him. He left starving and thought it was a lot of hoopla for nothing. My Dad, same thing when he came with me and my mom. He wanted to know when the main course would arrive.

I am hoping that someday our friends will go on a cruise with us because the men can eat wherever they want, and she and I can go enjoy Remy. I know we would both have a fabulous time.

 

[slg]

Sounds like my guy. He will probably do it if I push, but if he is sitting there grumpy I won’t enjoy it. Sigh.

 

[squirk]

Sounds like my guy. He will probably do it if I push, but if he is sitting there grumpy I won’t enjoy it. Sigh.

I think about this Onion article every time a thread like this comes up, because there is truth in humor.

http://local.theonion.com/fussy-eater-38-1819576022

 

[lizardlife]

My husband and I literally just got off the ship last week and ate both brunch and dinner at Remy's and I thought I'd try offering some different thoughts to the conversations.

First off, the portion size of each dish isn't necessarily big but you get 5 courses unlike at Palo's where they basically tell you to stick to a starter, main and dessert. (Not complaining! Palo's was great) Basically it's the same amount of food ate each restaurant but just more variety at Remy's.

As far as the food itself, well it's amazing. But the thing I probably appreciated the most was that nothing was too out there for people who don't like to do "fancy food" all the time. Everything on our menu was familiar (asparagus/egg, salmon, pork, chicken with corn stuffing). The difference really came through the ingredients and preparations and my only real warning would be the salmon which is cooked at a very low temperature so that it seems raw but is actually cooked. As a sushi lover, this didn't bother me but I could see some people who aren't into fish, especially raw fish, to not like this. But the menu can and does change so things could be different went you sail. I'm just trying to say that brunch really isn't full of really strange food (snails or squid). Most of it is really every day ingredients. They just get the highest quality possible (My husband is still raving about the pork.)

As far as drinking goes, I wouldn't fret. Water is perfectly fine and you'll still enjoy the food. If you want you can still get a champagne pairing to share (my husband and I did this because I don't have the tolerance to have much alcohol), but honestly I don't think it's necessary. If I had to pick, I'd rather have coffee with my dessert than champagne but again, my tolerance is sad.

Anyways, I hope that input helps you and your husband with your decision! Honestly, we didn't find the meal stuffy and our server was very sweet. It's an experience and honestly incredible value. Good luck and enjoy your cruise.

 

[kiford]

We did a Remy dinner, a brunch and the dessert experience all one time each, we enjoyed all 3 of them, but we are not breaking the door down to go back.

We did this too on our last cruise. It was our second Remy dinner but the first brunch and dessert experience. Loved all three. My favourite is still dinner but the brunch was delicious and a bit more casual than dinner. DH still talks about the first course which was a cured ham which is better than any prosciutto I've ever had. At brunch, everyone is served at the same time unlike dinner and the chef (as opposed to your server) explains the food to the entire room at the same time, spends a bit more time talking about it than your server will at dinner, and there's some interaction with said chef. We definitely did the champagne pairing (love bubbles!) but not everyone there did. I think maybe only half of the tables did the whole pairing.

 

[phinz]

Personally I would love to try Remy one time, but I know my husband would hate it.

There's no rule saying that your husband has to go with you... I've eaten at Palo while my wife was seasick on the couch, and I've eaten at Remy alone for the same reason. It was still fantastic.

 

[Karin1984]

There's no rule saying that your husband has to go with you... I've eaten at Palo while my wife was seasick on the couch, and I've eaten at Remy alone for the same reason. It was still fantastic.

That was my thought too. What do you do back home when you want to experience/do/see something but your partner doesn't?

If this is really not his thing and he doesn't want to eat there, I wouldn't push it. Because as you say, if he is sitting opposite you with a grumpy face, you won't enjoy it either. I would go alone.

 

[puzzledprincess]

I’ve never tried Remy brunch, but I’ve been lucky enough to do Remy dinner 3 times and I love it! It’s fancy and fit for a foodie so you would like it, but as far as your husband is concerned, the portions are small HOWEVER there are SO many courses that I come out of there completely stuffed and even have to take some of the desserts back to my room in a doggie bag because I can’t eat them all despite how hard I try. It is very fancy though, so if he’s not into that, that really can’t be helped.

 

[lilsonicfan]

First off, the portion size of each dish isn't necessarily big but you get 5 courses unlike at Palo's where they basically tell you to stick to a starter, main and dessert. (Not complaining! Palo's was great) Basically it's the same amount of food ate each restaurant but just more variety at Remy's.

When we had brunch at Palo we were encouraged to order as much as we wanted, and the server actually brought us extra... coupled with the buffet portion, it's really a lot more than 5 courses. I do agree that Remy seems more of an "experience" though.

 

[slg]

I am now convinced. Wish we could use a Palo credit though!

 

[mevelandry]

Had Remy dinner twice. Both were the two best meals I've ever had. If the brunch is as good I think you're in for a great experience and would not hesitate.

 

[over50visits]

Remy dinner is spectacular and romantic. For a foodie, it doesn't get much better. World class food offerings, looking at the night sea, the ambience, service, etc....

Brunch? We had it once, and was a lot of fun. But, I don't know, we have more fun at the Palo brunch. Maybe the middle of the day in Remy isn't the same. Their greeting was nice, the courses were first quality of course, and the service was just as good. Can't put my finger on it, but with no real food choices and a fairly empty bright room, we'll keep going there for dinner but not brunch.

(as for the fairly empty room part, I know we only did it once, so that really isn't a reliable report, just our experience)

 

[squirk]

Remy dinner is spectacular and romantic. For a foodie, it doesn't get much better. World class food offerings, looking at the night sea, the ambience, service, etc....

Brunch? We had it once, and was a lot of fun. But, I don't know, we have more fun at the Palo brunch. Maybe the middle of the day in Remy isn't the same. Their greeting was nice, the courses were first quality of course, and the service was just as good. Can't put my finger on it, but with no real food choices and a fairly empty bright room, we'll keep going there for dinner but not brunch.

(as for the fairly empty room part, I know we only did it once, so that really isn't a reliable report, just our experience)

Funny how subjective these dining experiences can be. My wife and I far prefer Remy brunch to Palo brunch.

Palo certainly has a lot more in terms of food choice, but we found the servers to be over-attentive, especially in the buffet room. They hovered over us, over-explaining everything on the buffet (yes, thanks, I can see that those are strawberries), and insisted on serving us the items from the buffet until I told them (politely) that I could handle it.

I’ve heard stories that they do this - limiting passenger handling of food at the buffet - when there are signs of a stomach bug/Norwalk spreading on the ship. If true, that’s fair. And I have heard of other people saying there was no hovering whatsoever. So maybe I was just there on the wrong day, and need to give it another shot.