Tell me your favorite and least favorite dishes (any ship, any meal)

[squirrel]

Well I love desserts. I just have noticed that the ones in the buffet don't really taste that great. There are a few things like the cobblers or the ice cream, but I would rather get a Mickey Bar from room service or even ice cream out on deck. My mom thought the same as me that they looked nice but had little flavor.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I think DCL does lamb very well.

The only dessert I really like is a Mickey Bar!

I do enjoy their soups, asparagus with crab, and the Tuscony Bean soup at Palo are my favorites, but I do not think I had a soup I did not like.

 

[Gigi22]

Mussels at the lunch buffet in Cabanas on the Magic. They were purely nasty.

 

[SaraSpringsIsHome]

It's been about 4 years since my last cruise, so my memories might be foggy. I remember not really liking anything in Animator's palate menu on 5 different cruises. I think I ate off the "lighter fare" section and had steak, baked potato, and a Mickey bar.

As for desserts, I frequently ordered whatever the ice cream sundae was of the evening... You can't mess that up too badly! Plus, I love ice cream

 

[Kenny1113]

Oh! dS10 will probably tell you the shrimp at the buffet. He had never had peel and eat shrimp, only shrimp cocktail. He and my husband sat down to eat and my son proceeded to eat the shrimp exoskeleton, legs and all.

 

[elphie101]

We've only sailed on the Fantasy, so YMMV for other ships:

Sea Bass from Enchanted Garden
Pasta Purseittes from Animator's Palate
Escargot and Grand Mariner Souffle from Royal Court
Short ribs and pot stickers from Pirate Night
Chicken Parmsean and warm sticky buns from Palo brunch

And for whatever bizarre reason, the corned beef hash from Cabanas breakfast - I swear I had a bowl of that every day. We had every breakfast & lunch at Cabanas and had no complaints!

 

[momtoleasawav]

my favorite appetizers are from pirate night. Both the potstickers and the pineapple were delicious. I was pretty full from those so I don't remember what I ate for dinner. On my cruise, I was looking forward to key lime pie and was very disappointed that it isn't on the menu. I mentioned it to my server and the next night I got key lime pie, it was really good.

 

[grantclaire]

Last sailing the first night I asked mu head server if I could have my lobster steamed with a baked potato (I grew up in RI). I ordered two tails and they made it happen. Absolutely delicious.

What a great idea! I will try that next time, thanks!

 

[papertraveller]

Love the pastrami-style smoked salmon. I'll be parked in front of it every morning for breakfast!

 

[thebeachbum]

After reading through this thread I'm wondering if there is Sushi on board the Magic??? Sailing for the very first time next month!!!

 

[anricat]

No Complaints from ME. I don't have to make a menu, go shopping, cook or clean up afterwards - so it all tastes GREAT to me

I LOVE desserts, but am not really a fan of them in the MDR's or "Cabanas / Topsiders / Beach Blanket". However in the Cove Cafe on the classic ships - the little desserts in the glass case (still free) are very good.

I haven't been on a classic ship yet (just the Dream) but I totally agree with this. I was SOOOOO underwhelmed by the desserts with the exception of the little two bit desserts in Cove Cafe and the little coffee shop on the balcony overlooking the main lobby/atrium area. Those little mini eclairs were amazing and some kind of little brownie thing. Yum!

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Two of my favorite dishes are the lobster ravioli and the chicken parm in Palo. That being said, I have not had anything at all in Palo that I did not love.

 

[perditax]

I continue to be really fascinated that the desserts are almost universally panned.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I continue to be really fascinated that the desserts are almost universally panned.

Well except for the Chocolate Soufflé and the Grand Marnier Soufflé (yummmmmmmm). I've also found that the "Sweet Temptations" is usually petty good. It's a sampling of 3 different desserts on the menu every night. Maybe because each one is little more than one or two bites, they just "seem" better?

 

[perditax]

Well except for the Chocolate Soufflé and the Grand Marnier Soufflé (yummmmmmmm). I've also found that the "Sweet Temptations" is usually petty good. It's a sampling of 3 different desserts on the menu every night. Maybe because each one is little more than one or two bites, they just "seem" better?

I'm basically just wondering why it would be that so many people report the same thing about a lot of the desserts. People are usually pretty easy to please when it comes to sweets, and 'basic' is usually fine. (Think: chocolate chip cookies, brownies, pie, doughnuts, etc. Almost any of this stuff will disappear quickly in a crowd.) People never stop talking about mickey bars and dole whips in the parks. So what has DCL done to make a lot of the desserts unappealing/unmemorable? And why? Is it so people won't go totally overboard on them? Or just a weird decision somewhere in the culinary department? (I'm not complaining or even pre-complaining, I am legitimately fascinated on an intellectual level.)

 

[papertraveller]

I continue to be really fascinated that the desserts are almost universally panned.

On our first cruise on the Magic some years ago, our waiter explained that he had first joined the staff in the kitchen -- essentially taking the desserts out of boxes and applying the fancy garnish on the plate. He found this a bit tedious, as he'd hoped to be more involved in the creation and baking of items. Little is done fresh on board, which explains the 'meh' reactions from so many people here.

Incidentally, we soooo loved this waiter. Saw him recently onboard another ship, where he has risen to be head server. Had a great chance to catch up and learn about all the ways that Disney has supported him in becoming a manager.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I'm basically just wondering why it would be that so many people report the same thing about a lot of the desserts. People are usually pretty easy to please when it comes to sweets, and 'basic' is usually fine. (Think: chocolate chip cookies, brownies, pie, doughnuts, etc. Almost any of this stuff will disappear quickly in a crowd.) People never stop talking about mickey bars and dole whips in the parks. So what has DCL done to make a lot of the desserts unappealing/unmemorable? And why? Is it so people won't go totally overboard on them? Or just a weird decision somewhere in the culinary department? (I'm not complaining or even pre-complaining, I am legitimately fascinated on an intellectual level.)

I don't know. Personally, I like the desserts. BUT, they are a bit less "sweet" than most that you would find most land-based restaurants. Maybe in the "fine dining" world they don't overload with sugar as much as the mass market world does?

And, heading off any comments, I use "fine dining" to separate it from the likes of McDonald's or even Denny's food. Not that cruiseline food is anywhere near a 4 or 5 star dining establishment.

 

[Feisty Fairy]

Unlike most people my favorite menu is Pirates night. I love the Buccaneers Sun Rippened Pinapple, the Honeydew Watermelon soup and. Bbq marinated short ribs from that menu not a fan of the rum soaked cake though was kind of dry.

At Animators Palaette-
the Ginger Teriyaki Tenderloin

At Breakfast-
mango Mountain Hike
morning tugboat

French toast and pinapple stack

 

[Mom 2 2 plus 3]

Unlike most people my favorite menu is Pirates night. I love the Buccaneers Sun Rippened Pinapple, the Honeydew Watermelon soup and. Bbq marinated short ribs from that menu not a fan of the rum soaked cake though was kind of dry.

At Animators Palaette-
the Ginger Teriyaki Tenderloin

At Breakfast-
mango Mountain Hike
morning tugboat
View attachment 79204 View attachment 79205
French toast and pinapple stack
View attachment 79206

Are the Mango Mountain Hike and Morning Tugboats smoothies? And are they from a MDR or the buffet?

 

[tvguy]

Banana soup on the Disney Magic. Been 11 years, my kids STILL talk about that soup.