Royal Caribbean ships offer a lot of restaurants onboard, including new concepts that are not only novel, but incredibly different and fun.
After cruising on almost every ship in the fleet, I've eaten at every single one at least once. In many cases, numerous times. In my experience, some absolutely live up to the hype, but others aren't worth your time or money.
One piece of advice I always give before sharing any of my opinions is to try it yourself. There are very few restaurants that I think are worth skipping, but it can totally be a "me problem" rather than a holistic issue.
As an example, I don't like Hooked Seafood restaurant, but I also choose not to eat shellfish as a general rule. That precludes me from most of the menu, so it's no surprise I don't love it.
Here's my list of six restaurants worth trying and the two you might want to skip on your next Royal Caribbean cruise.
Izumi Hibachi
The best crowd pleaser in my list is Izumi Hibachi because of how much fun it is, while also offering really good food.
Hibachi dining is something you likely have done on land, but Royal Caribbean has its own take on the popular cooking style.
Unfortunately there's no fire element on cruise ships because of how incredibly dangerous open flames can be, but they still put on a great show. Each chef has their own style, and there's different tricks, songs, puns, and anything else to get a smile out of you.
The food is wonderful too, and even the pickiest of eaters should find something here. The chicken option is quite plain and I've eaten with enough friends who love it to know it's a safe bet.
Overall, it's an entertaining meal that is so consistently good, I love going here on pretty much every cruise.
Portside BBQ
It's only available on Oasis of the Seas, but this is one of the best new ideas to come out of Royal Caribbean headquarters.
Portside BBQ is a casual restaurant where you order a combination of different bbq food and it's all so very good.
I was skeptical of the idea when it was first announced, but I'll eat here multiple times per cruise because it's that good.
The smoked turkey sammie along with beef brisket is the kind of food I'd love to eat every day, if I could.
The side dishes are just as good as the mains. Gooey and thick mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food, and I ended up doubling down on mac and cheese on subsequent visits. The beans where combined with burnt ends, and had a fantastic, tangy flavor.
I also think the pricing is a great value, and a cheap meal overall.
150 Central Park
Too many new cruisers skip 150 Central Park because they aren't exactly sure what it is, or are afraid it's too fancy for them.
I was the same way until friends made me try it, and since then, it's a must-eat on any Oasis Class ship.
It's American food that's served in an upscale manner. You'll find steak, chicken, lobster, fish, and a few other notable dishes.
The Beef Tenderloin is probably the best steak on the ship, even better than neighboring Chops Grille.
Each dish at the restaurant is prepared with locally sourced ingredients, all of which are harvested during the peak of their season. I
Royal Railway
If you're looking for the hottest dining ticket on a cruise ship today, it's Royal Railway Utopia Station.
This is an immersive train car dining experience and it's unlike any other specialty restaurant in the fleet (or on land).
From the moment you step foot on the station's "platform," you'll believe you're about to board a train.
It's family friendly, so bring the kids. I think it's a fantastic memory maker for families. The sort of activity that you'll be talking about when you get home after the cruise.
Playmakers
Comfort food will always have its place on cruise ships, and some of the best are at Playmakers Sports Bar.
Wings, burgers, fries, and beers are available in abundance while you watch one of the many television screens around the ship.
My family ends up in Playmakers for lunch and dinner a lot because it's simple yet satisfying. We don't have to get dressed up, and the food is really good too.
So many items on the menu are going to become favorites: onion ring tower, buffalo crunch roll, truffle burger, and touchdown nachos are all fantastic.
I like that we can go for a beer and a snack, or an entire meal. Sometimes we stop in for just dessert.
Empire Supper Club
Empire Supper Club is another new restaurant idea and it's the ultimate date night out.
This is a glitzy themed meal that incorporates high quality food, live entertainment, and cocktail pairings. It takes three hours to complete and men need to wear a jacket, but don't let that scare you aware.
The level of thought that went into matching the music, food, and beverages together is why I love cruises so much.
All the other restaurants on this list are typical specialty restaurants that differentiate themselves by cuisine or cooking style. Empire Supper Club is an entirely different experience all together.
You'll be able to enjoy an eight-course meal, paired with cocktails that have been specially created for Royal Caribbean by a world renowned mixologist, Tony Abou-Ganim.
As you sip and dine, you'll be serenaded by a jazz trio that perform musical standards from Gershwin, Sinatra, and the sort.
The venue can only seat 38 people and there's just one seating each night. It's intimate and personalized.
However, I recommend skipping Samba Grill
I was surprised I didn't love Royal Caribbean's Brazilian steakhouse idea more, but Samba Grill really disappointed me each time I've dined there.
Available only on Radiance and Allure of the Seas, it meets the basics of a churrasco style of cooking, but falls flat on execution.
If you've eaten at one of these restaurants on land, you know about how the servers come by early and often with skewers of meat to serve you. As long as you have the green button up, they'll come by.
The problem is Royal Caribbean chooses to ask its guests at what temperature they prefer their meats cooked, and that slows down the entire experience. I spent more time waiting for the next round than eating, and it kind of ruined the atmosphere as I just decided I didn't want to wait again for the medium steak to come out of the kitchen again.
In my opinion, there are better spots than Johnny Rockets
Maybe I'm jaded, but I really don't see the value anymore with Johnny Rockets.
The menu hasn't changed in decades (but the price has gone up), and it's fairly lackluster food. Burgers, shakes, hot dogs, and fries are great, but I really don't think it's that much better than the Windjammer buffet (which is free). And it really doesn't stack up to similar food at Playmakers.
The Johnny Rockets menu on land is significantly better looking than the few options on the cruise ship version.
The best thing about Johnny Rockets is that it's probably one of the cheapest "all you can eat" specialty restaurants, but I've been disappointed in what's offered.
