Norwegian Breakaway Specialty Dining
By Alara Shannon, Marketing | May 01, 2013 ( Comments)
This year’s most buzz-worthy ship, the Norwegian Breakaway, successfully made her groundbreaking debut with an overall positive reaction. This state-of-the-art 4,028 passenger ship is the largest ship to home port year-round in New York and embodies a uniquely Big Apple vibe. The Breakaway will sail seven-day Bermuda, Bahamas and Caribbean itineraries from the Port of New York year-round.
Team members of iCruise.com were fortunate enough to be introduced to the ship on a recent inaugural sailing. Our consensus was that this ship was surprisingly elegant, full of entertainment and well, pretty much a hit.
The food onboard was no different, obviously a huge focus of Norwegian Cruise Line and a hit overall. No matter what you are craving, no matter what mood you’re in, the Norwegian Breakaway has something for you. You have numerous restaurants of different styles to choose from with both indoor and outdoor seating.
So how do you choose? Hopefully our Norwegian Breakaway Dining Review below will help!
Norwegian Breakaway Specialty Restaurants
Norwegian Breakaway’s specialty restaurants provide a wide range of culinary tastes and experiences – from a Brazilian Steakhouse to Sushi Bar. Although the complimentary dining onboard is wonderful, the specialty restaurants are worth every penny. With the average additional cost of $15-$25, we suggest budgeting $100 per person for the duration of your cruise and try to visit 3 to 4 restaurants.
Reservations should be made as soon as possible once you step on the ship, if not beforehand. There are many dining venues onboard; however, none are very large so they do fill quickly. You can use your stateroom TV or the digital touch screens located on each deck near the elevators to make reservations as well.
Pre-reserve specialty dining before you even set sail when you complete your online check-in within your ‘My NCL’ online account. An iCruise.com Cruise Specialist is available for any questions you may have or to reserve dining on your behalf.
iCruise.com Co-President, Don Walker, says, “I ate in the Japanese Steakhouse, Teppanyaki, and Cagney’s Steakhouse onboard the Norwegian Breakaway. Both were 5 stars. Having experienced both the cuisine and the additional service in the restaurants, I can understand why Norwegian Cruise Line charges a nominal fee and most of the fellow passengers I met found it quite reasonable.”
He also had a note on the service. “I was at a restaurant and was speaking with my kids about my 25th wedding anniversary with my wife that was the following week. The waiter overheard the conversation but said nothing. At the end of the meal, they brought us a plate decorated in frosting “Happy 25,” and proceeded to sing (along with 10 other crew members!), “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.” My wife cried, tears of joy of course!”
Le Bistro: Located on Deck 6, mid-ship in 678 Ocean Place Le Bistro is Norwegian Cruise Line’s Signature French Restaurant. Its décor is quite beautiful and fitting, with rich red and blacks and Parisian art on the walls. There is ‘al fresco’ dining in the atrium that gives it a sidewalk café feel.
The food is also rich and delicious. The onion soup is a very popular appetizer (that certainly lived up to expectations) along with escargot bourguignonne, steamed mussels and scallops. For your entrée choose from coq au vin, grilled beef tenderloin, roast rack of lamb and grilled swordfish. Each member of our party left full and fully satisfied – delicious!
Teppanyaki: Located on Deck 6 next to Le Bistro, the Breakaway’s Teppanyaki Japanese Hibachi Restaurant is noticeably larger than on previous ships. The additional tables now accommodate 96 guests with beautiful ocean views. Always a fun atmosphere, the chefs slice and dice while preparing delicious meat, poultry, fish and vegetables on an iron “Teppan” griddle.
Moderno Churrascaria: Located aft on Deck 8, Moderno Churrascaria Brazilian Steakhouse was the first of its kind at sea. Now, they’ve taken the concept further by providing additional seating outdoors on the Waterfront. Rich, dark woods and comfortable seating create a warm atmosphere for an intimate dinner with friends and family. You don’t want to miss the salad bar which included extremely fresh salad selections, international cheeses, dried meats, marinated veggies and more.
You are given a round coin that is green on one side and red on the other. When you are ready for your meal, simply place the coin green side up. The “Passadores” will begin to bring grilled and slow-roasted meats to your table.
Yes, meats. Lots of them. Everything passed by our table including bacon wrapped chicken, lamb chop, sausages, beef ribs, filet and sirloin. The Picanha, or sirloin, was probably the favorite of our table! On the side you’ll enjoy rice, black beans, mashed potatoes and fried bananas. Then once you have eaten all you can, place the coin red side up on the table. As there is no possible way to leave hungry, and the food was grilled and cooked to almost perfection, we think this is a great choice for dinner at a great value.
Shanghai’s Noodle Bar: Located on Deck 7 near The Manhattan, Shanghai’s Noodle Bar is a Chinese Restaurant offering freshly prepared dim sum and fried rice. Reservations are not required, but the seating is limited so it can become crowded during peak lunch hours.
Unfortunately the pot stickers and dumplings were not available on our cruise, but the spring roll was positively wonderful with its sweet chili sauce. Trust me, you will want to order two. You can also order noodles prepared in a wok, like Beef Chow Fun or Singapore Noodles. Noodles in a delicious broth, like Spicy Seafood Udon Noodles or Glass Noodles with Chicken and Vegetables, are available as well. Vegetarian, Shrimp, and Combination Fried Rice are all freshly prepared at the Noodle Bar (we found it slightly bland, soy sauce is available at your table if needed). Pricing is a la carte, but reasonably priced and the portions were hearty. Fast and friendly service.
Ocean Blue Seafood Restaurant: Located on Deck 8 nestled intimately behind the Raw Bar and Sushi Bar, Ocean Blue by Geoffrey Zakarian is Norwegian Cruise Line’s first fine dining seafood restaurant. It is also a first for Iron Chef and New York City restaurateur, Geoffrey Zakarian. The seating is minimal, accommodating just 40 guests even with the beautiful outdoor seating ‘Ocean Blue on the Waterfront’. This was done purposefully.
Geoffrey Zakarian wanted to create a restaurant that he would be proud to open in Manhattan, and he feels he has done just that. The limited seating is to provide quality control. They want to offer the best, each and every time. In a Q & A session onboard, the Iron Chef aid that he feels Ocean Blue is “not fussy, but particular.” He says he personally knows the Ocean Blue product vendors, from tomatoes to fish, to ensure their quality and freshness. During the day on the promenade, Ocean Blue on the Waterfront provides takeout selections from the menu like Lobster Rolls (a hit onboard), giving guests a taste of the restaurant without reservations.
The restaurant was simply gorgeous, with very relaxing and comfortable sea tones. Reservations do fill very quickly, $49 per person.
Raw Bar: Adjacent to Ocean Blue and also created by Geoffrey Zakarian is the Raw Bar. It features primarily well, raw, high quality seafood like oysters on the half shell, tartares and fresh clams. Wines by the glass are also available with the reasonable a la carte pricing. Reservations are not required.
La Cucina: Located on Deck 8, La Cucina is Norwegian’s Signature Italian Restaurant. You are able to dine on family-style Italian specialties like fresh pastas and pizzas either in the restaurant, al fresco in the atrium or outside on the Waterfront. The ambiance is very Tuscan-esque with warm woods, lanterns and stonework. La Cucina is always a favorite onboard Norwegian Cruise Line and the Norwegian Breakaway was no exception.
Wasabi Sushi Bar: Located on Deck 8 near the Raw Bar, Wasabi is a traditional sushi bar complete with a Yakitori grill. You can watch the chefs prepare fresh sushi, sashimi and rolled favorites as you choose from an extensive Sake menu. It is a bit cozy, and reservations are not required so you may have a wait but if a sushi fan it is worth that wait. Pricing for Wasabi is a la carte.
Cagney’s Steakhouse: Located aft on Deck 8 next to Moderno Churrascaria, Cagney’s is Norwegian Cruise Line’s Signature Steakhouse. It is a favorite for Norwegian passengers; the food is consistently expertly prepared and delicious. Choose from a wide selection of starters like lump crab salad, beef short rib confit, baked potato soup and an iceberg wedge. Entrees include multiple cuts of certified Angus beef, double cut lamp chops, truffle chicken, grilled sea bass and truffle fries. We suggest the raspberry crème brulée and oreo cheesecake for dessert.
Norwegian Breakaway’s Complimentary Dining
Savor, Taste and The Manhattan Room are the Norwegian Breakaway’s Main Dining Rooms. By offering three dining rooms in lieu of the standard two, Norwegian Cruise Line has provided a more intimate and quiet dining experience.
On the Norwegian Breakaway enjoy Freestyle Dining – you may dine whenever you wish with whomever you wish. If you’d like, you are able to make daily reservations in the main dining rooms. If you decide to not make a reservation, there may be a small wait at popular dining times (6:30pm-7:45pm). Conveniently, the digital touch screens located on each deck can help you determine which main dining rooms still have availability.
Savor and Taste are located on Deck 6 aft across from one another. The two distinct venues offer different menus (they vary daily) and décor. One of the two is open for breakfast and lunch each day – times and details will be listed in your Daily Planner.
The Manhattan Room is the third complimentary main dining room. It’s located on Deck 7 aft the feel is very private New York City supper club. The two-story floor-to-ceiling windows offer stunning ocean views with incredible lighting in the evenings. The Manhattan Room also features a dance floor on which the new entertaining performance of “Burn the Floor” is held.
O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill debuted on the Norwegian Epic and was an instant hit. So much so it was greatly expanded on the Norwegian Breakaway and has become a major hub of activity. Located on Deck 7 it has a relaxed, pub-like feel and is open 24/7. You can grab a cold draft beer, order delicious fish and chips or play a game of pool all right here. Lots of tables to enjoy the Irish-American complimentary fare, have a drink with friends or sit and watch sports on the two-story screen. Games are here for fun too including bowling, billiards, darts, and arcade games. You can order food in the bar area and the separate restaurant seating, so there wasn’t ever a wait. Our food was always tasty – and we had it all, everything from chicken tenders to fish and chips, salmon salads to tuna sandwiches.
Garden Café: Located on Deck 15 this complimentary, indoor buffet serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner. Before you enter there is a full sink, allowing you to wash your hands instead of relying solely on antibacterial gels. First impression was that it was very bright and inviting with crisp colors and floor-to-ceiling windows for oceanviews. The food was always surprisingly fresh and included everything from made-to-order dishes, seafood, an Italian pasta station, a meat carving station, grilled specialties, ethnic favorites, burgers, desserts and more.
Uptown Bar & Grill: Located on Deck 16, this semi-al fresco restaurant is essentially the outdoor version of the Garden Café. It is near the Aqua Park and Teen Area, but also Spice H20. Here you can also sample a Brooklyn Lager beer. Maybe you can sneak in a Sabrett hot dog with you from one of three hot dog carts onboard!
Norwegian Breakaway Sweet Treats
The Norwegian Breakaway offers up another successful partnership with Carlo’s Bakery, owned by Master Baker Buddy Valastro star of TLC’s “Cake Boss”. An extension of his bakery was opened onboard, ‘Carlo’s Bake Shop’.
Carlo’s Bake Shop is located on Deck 8 at the end of the Waterfront. It is kind of hard to find, and unexpectedly small. It was crowded during our cruise, mainly from guests ordered coffee drinks in addition to their sweets. You can, however, also get most of the same treats from the Atrium Bar and Café located on Deck 6.
We do recommend waiting if you can, it is certainly worth it. So good we didn’t even have time to take a picture before they were devoured! The cream-filled lobster tails were extremely popular, as well as the chocolate and vanilla cannolis, freshly baked cookies, strawberry cheesecake and the cupcakes. Freshly baked cakes are available like the Dark Chocolate Mousse (a can’t miss, amazing), Oreo and Purple Groovy Fondant. You can buy a mini-cake that was the perfect size for two ($6.95) or a large cake ($49.95). All items are a la carte, prices varied but were overall reasonable. Did we mention it was amazing?
In addition, guests will have the opportunity to pre-order custom specialty cakes for celebrations such as birthdays and anniversaries. Carlo’s will also offer cupcake decorating classes, where guests can learn some of Valastro’s tricks of the trade.
Step right outside Carlo’s Bake Shop on Deck 8 and you will find Dolce Gelato. Choose from a variety of flavors and enjoy as you stroll down the boardwalk.
The Norwegian Breakaway sails year-round from the Port of New York to Bermuda, Bahamas and the Caribbean. For more information, or to book your Norwegian Breakaway vacation, please give one of our friendly cruise specialists here a call at iCruise.com a call 800-i-CRUISE [800-427-8473]
