I was also really worried before I went on the Dream because (almost) none of the descriptions of the food in the main dining room menu appealed to me. Im picky (okay, a little neurotic) about foodI eat tons of fresh vegetables, fruits, low fat dairy products, whole grains, healthy fats, and fish like salmon, tuna, or sea bass. I never eat meat, shellfish, artificial sweetners, or anything fried, and I try to avoid sugar/ sweetners/processed food/unhealthy fats in general. My husband is picky in a different wayhe only likes a few types of vegetables and fruit, the only meat he will eat is chicken or beef, he will eat a few types of fish, and he doesnt like cheeses or most dairy. We usually cook dinner at home or go to local ethnic restaurants. I know food tastes are very subjective, so just to give you a comparison point, if we happen to be eating at a chain restaurant, we will go somewhere like Bonefish Grill. We will occasionally eat at Outback steakhouse if the kids want to go (I order plain salmon) but I dont consider that great quality.
I was pleasantly surprised that there were lots of foods that I really enjoyed on the cruise. Most of the restaurants (including the counter service places by the pool) had fresh cut up cantaloupe, watermelon and honeydew. The buffet restaurants had nice salad bars, and assortments of steamed or lightly dressed vegetables. For breakfast we went to Cabanas buffet two times, which has good food but a chaotic atmosphere. I had things like plain yogurt, cut up fruit, whole wheat toast, sliced cheese, and smoked salmon. My husband enjoyed the bagels, waffles and omelets. (If you ask, they will make you an omelet or cooked eggs to order so dont think you have to take whats on the buffet). We did not care for the buffet breakfast at Enchanted garden as the selection was more limited, although the setting is much calmer. When we ate lunch on the ship, I really liked the veggie paninis and the veggie burgers at the counter service places by the pool; my husband liked the chicken fingers, hamburgers, and carrot/celery sticks that are available on the hamburger fixings bar. I didnt try it, but he said the soft serve ice cream had an unpleasant chemical taste. On castaway cay, we ate at the adults-only barbeque by serenity beach. I tried the mahi mahi (a little dry), couscous salad, greek salad, and cut up fruit (including mango, which was not available on the ship). My husband had the steak and the chicken. When we had dinner on the ship, we generally asked them to alter the items on the menu and our waiter couldnt have been more accommodating! At Animators Palette, we ordered plain salads off the childrens menu for appetizers. Then I tried the black bean burgers and found them mushy, so my waiter brought me the cod instead. It was pretty good, but not great. For dessert, my husband had the apple pie off the kids menu, which he said was just ok. The second night, at Enchanted gardens, I had an absolutely wonderful Sea bass. I had a vegetable wrap for an appetizer, which was a little bland. My husband had plain salmon with baked potato and steamed vegetables. He said it was fine but the salmon was a little dry. For pirate night, I didnt like my appetizer of honeydew soup, and so I got the stuffed vegetarian crepes (they list them as savory pancakes) which were pretty good. I enjoyed the mahi mahi main course. On the last night, we ate at Palo, which I definitely recommend. Its an amazing value for only $20 extraequivalent to a $100+ meal in a regular restaurant. They bring you fresh baked bread and breadsticks which are yummy. Then they offer an antipasti cart, and we skipped the meat items and tried the vegetarian things which were tasty. For appetizers, everything was too heavy or rich so they brought us plain salads that they had to get from downstairs in the regular restaurants. For the main course, we had unbelievably good branzino fish with vegetable sides. And for dessertthey have a heavenly chocolate soufflé (which was my one dessert for the cruise) and it was one of the best things Ive ever eaten. For my husband, who didnt want any of the desserts on the menu, they brought homemade walnut gelato with caramel sauce.
Sometimes they just don't understand what you are asking for!
But a cruise is a great time to try a little something new!
