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Forgoing the traditional welcome aboard buffet, we headed over to the casual Skyline main dining room for our inaugural lunch. Since we had boarded the ship rather early, we were the first ones in the dining room. Therefore, we were able to see it in its full glory with NYC-themed decor adorned by multicolored lights, shiny ceiling tiles and trim. Unfortunately, that also mean crappy photos as the reflective ceiling wreaked havoc. We were greeted by our waiter rather warmly, but the assistant waiter seemed like she was pretty disinterested (she wasn’t rude though).
For my appie, I stared with the Tapenade and Eggplant with grilled flat bread. I found the tapenade to be a bit chunkier than usual, but that didn’t detract from the texture. It was on the saltier side and a little bit one-note. The eggplant acted as the counterbalance as it was pretty bland. When combined together, it seemed to work. The bread was a bit too stiff for my liking. Viv had the Calamari which brought back memories (or was it nightmares of our last NCL cruise). This version was slightly better, but the thin and crispy batter slid off too easily. The squid itself was sufficiently tender while maintaining a chew.
My mom and my daughter both had the Corn and Potato Chowder which was actually quite good. It wasn’t overly thick, yet at the same time was hearty due to the ample amount of sweet corn. In fact, it was more of a corn soup as that was the dominant flavour and texture. The potato played second fiddle. Presented in a large portion, my dad’s Cobb Salad was a textbook version with greens topped with ham, egg, tomato, avocado, bacon, grilled chicken and blue cheese. It ate pretty hearty with more toppings than greens. The blue cheese added a pronounced sharpness.
For my main, I had the Chicken Milanese with arugula salad. I thought this was prepared quite well with a moist and tender piece of breast meat. It was nicely breaded and fried until crunchy while not drying out. The chicken and breading was lightly seasoned where the squeeze of lemon was necessary to bring it to life. I liked the arugula salad as it wasn’t overdressed and featured ripe tomatoes. My mom ended up with the NY Strip with sautéed mushrooms and fries. Tender and past medium-rare, the steak was easy to chew. However, the sautéed mushrooms were completely over-salted where it made the entire dish a bit hard to eat. The side of fries were forgettable.
My daughter had the Chicken Club featuring the usual items found in a clubhouse such as bacon, turkey, lettuce and tomato with potato chips. Pretty standard stuff, yet the bacon was crispy while the bread was nicely grilled instead of being toasted (which actually dried out the bread a bit). My dad had a sandwich as well being the Salmon & Shrimp Sandwich with avocado on a whole wheat roll and served with chips. Although a bit heavy with the mayo dressing, the sandwich was decent. It featured plenty of salmon with plump shrimp that was seasoned only mildly by the dressing.
My son didn't stray very far from his preferred eats with the Grilled Beef Burger with bacon, aged cheddar, tomato and lettuce. It goes without saying I had to remove the produce from the burger before he dared eat it. Again, much like the clubhouse, this was hardly something complex. However, it was decently constructed with crispy bacon and a nicely toasted bun. The meat was a bit dry though.
Normally, we wouldn't have dessert after lunch, but hey we were on a cruise! So I decided on the Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta with raspberry sauce. Trending more towards a stiff consistency, the panna cotta was still soft enough to the palate. It wasn't very sweet with obvious hits from the vanilla bean. Since the sauce was sugar free, it wasn't very sweet. In fact, the tartness worked well. Presented in a manageable size, Viv had the Blueberry Cheesecake with berry compote. It wasn't particularly heavy nor was it super smooth. We liked how it was easy on the sugar while the blueberry was somewhat lost.
My daughter was waiting for this day because she loves desserts and the thought of an unlimited amount got her jacked up. She decided on the Strawberry Shortcake with toasted almonds and strawberry coulis. The cake itself was a bit dense and stiff, but the ample fresh cream and coulis helped provide moisture. The whole thing was pretty sweet though. We decided to get the Milk Chocolate Mousse with lemon syrup for my son but he balked because he hates anything citrus... So we ended up sharing it and it wasn't exactly the fluffiest version (since it was prepared long in advance), but it did taste okay being mildly sweet. We wished for more chocolate as it tasted more milky than anything.
For dinner, we headed over to Skyline rather than Liberty solely based on one dish – the Lamb Shank. My mom loves the dish and we couldn’t have deprived her of it despite the reflective ceiling tiles made my OCD regarding my pictures go into hyperdrive. Viv and I started with a simple appie in the Prosciutto and Melon accented by balsamic reduction. As much as the melon was ripe and sweet, the one slice of prosciutto was too thick, dry and overly salty (from being dried out). It was hard to chew and wasn’t nearly enough
for the amount of melon. My daughter ended up with the Cream of Broccoli and Cheddar which was creamy and rich. While cheesy with plenty of broccoli, the soup didn’t eat too salty. The same could not be said about the French Onion Soup as the consume tasted like pure salt. Furthermore, there wasn’t much in the way of melted cheese on top either.
For my main, I had the Latin Style Grilled Sirloin Steak with chimichurri, broccoli and roasted potatoes. I asked for medium-rare and the steak turned out to be well-done. Despite this, the steak was still not chewy, just a bit dry. As for the chimichurri, it was far too salty for any other flavours to stand out. On the other hand, my son’s NY Striploin was perfectly prepared medium-rare. It was also moist and tender as he ate it easily without any complaints. The green beans on the side were crunchy while not over-seasoned (I ate them; he wanted them off his plate ASAP).
My mom’s Lamb Shank was served atop 3-bean stew with tomatoes and mashed butternut squash. The large shank was succulent and gelatinous and mildly seasoned. With firm, while tender beans, the stew underneath exhibited depth-of-flavour while the squash was soft with enough moisture. Viv opted for the Thai Chicken and Shrimp in Coconut Curry on rice. The curry was pretty smooth and aromatic with a noticeable spicy finish from the ginger. Since the proteins were fried separately, the meats remained moist. The only thing Viv would’ve liked to see was more sauce.
My daughter chose the Rosemary Roasted Chicken and it was such a large portion, she had no hope in finishing. It was served with mashed potatoes, carrots and peas and pan gravy. Although not particularly attractive nor plated carefully, the chicken was decently tender, even the white meat. Since the chicken itself was brined, the pan gravy wasn’t all that necessary other than adding moisture to the dish. My dad had the regional specialty in the Macadamia Nut-Encrusted Mahi Mahi with rice and asparagus. Being an oilier nut, the macadamia crust was heavy and greasy. It was crunchy though while the fish was relatively moist.
For dessert, I had the Carrot Cake and it was pretty moist for being a “no sugar added” option. There was a bit of nutmeg coming through, but I did miss the sweetness often associated with the frosting. My mom’s Ginger Custard was smooth and creamy with the definite hit of ginger. Texturally, it was a bit on the denser side, but then again, it wasn't a Chinese custard, so it probably was intentional. Okay, if we compare these 2 meals at Skyline to everything we had so far (and upcoming ones too), it can be summed up into 2 words - casual and unrefined. Now that isn't necessary a criticism because the restaurant is billed as a more relaxed option (as one could wear practically anything and not get tossed out). For us, we would rather do the alternative dining or head up to Liberty instead.
The Good:
- Safe, generally classic American food
- Large portions, but then again, it is a cruise!
The Bad:
- Inconsistent execution
- Although essentially the same as Liberty upstairs, somehow the food wasn't as good
On our first night aboard the Pride of America, we decided to get a baseline of sorts by dining in the Liberty main dining room. One floor below, the Skyline Restaurant served essentially the same menu but in a more relaxed atmosphere where the dress code was less strict. In actuality, we witnessed people in various modes of dress in both restaurants. I guess Freestyle dining also meant free-for-all dress-how-you-like. For me, I was indifferent as it is a pain to drag formal wear onto a cruise anyways.
For our eats, I decided to start with the Roasted Garlic Polenta Cake with tomato basil sauce. Attractively plated, the cake was topped with a slice of tomato and melted cheese. I thought the polenta was a tad stiff, but not dry nor dense. The thing that stood out was the chunky tomato sauce as it was fresh-tasting and appealingly tart. There was enough sweetness to balance and basil for aromatics. Viv went for the Norwegian Smoked Salmon Tartare garnished with avocado, cucumber and lemon mustard dressing. Texturally, the tender bits of smoked salmon were contrasted by the crunch of the cucumber. I felt there was enough acidity to brighten up the dish.
My mom tried the Fresh Fingerling Potatoes with Lime Marinated Shrimp in a lemon tarragon dressing. Essentially a fancy potato salad, it was prepared properly with tender cubes of potato that still maintained a bite. It was lightly dressed where the creaminess of the dressing held it all together. I thought the addition of peppers was essential as the lemon tarragon dressing was quite mild. On top the shrimp had a cold-water snap while lightly acidic from the marinade. With my daughter ordering off the adult menu, she went straight for the Cream of Mushroom Soup. It was thick and garnished with whole slices of sautéed mushrooms. The soup itself was thick and creamy with the essence of mushrooms. It wasn’t overly salty where we could taste the rest of the ingredients.
Onto the mains, I had the Roasted Strip Loin of Beef accompanied by mash potatoes, gravy, green beans and sautéed mushrooms. Although cooked past medium-rare, the beef itself was rather tender despite being somewhat dry. The dish could’ve used more of the relatively salty gravy. As much as green beans can often be obliterated, these were good being vibrant and crunchy. On the side, the garlic mushrooms were definitely deserving of their description. Continuing with beef, Viv had the Beef Rib-Eye Steak with baked potato, spinach, garlic roasted roma tomato. She asked for it be prepared medium-rare and it was only a bit past that. The steak was succulent and tender sporting a nice char on the outside. We liked how it wasn’t overseasoned.
My mom opted for the Grilled Shrimp in herb butter served with broccoli, garlic aioli and roasted potatoes (in lieu of jasmine rice). We found the shrimp to be cooked just enough where it still retained a moist butteriness. It was well-seasoned while still allowing the shrimp to be heard. We didn’t liked the roast potatoes though as they were dry with a chewy exterior. My mom should've stuck with the rice... My daughter predictably had the Fillet of Salmon in lemon caper butter with green beans and mashed potatoes. Although the salmon sported an beautiful crispy exterior, it was overcooked where it was dry on the inside. We liked how it wasn’t oversalted though.
The same couldn’t be said about my son’s Spaghetti Carbonara though as it was so super salty, we couldn’t taste anything else. This didn’t have anything to do with the ample amount of bacon nor Parmesan either as the saltiness was from the addition of plain ol’ salt. The dish was very creamy while the noodles weren’t too overdone. On the other hand, the Spaghetti Bolognese was appreciably better with al dente (although unappealingly dry) noodles topped with a meat sauce that was nicely balanced with natural meat flavour, sweetness and tang. That was my second entree and I was almost able to finish it.
My father had the Mahi-Mahi Stew which was topped with Jasmine rice. The stew itself as hearty with veggies and chunks of somewhat dry fish. With a Louisiana hot sauce aftertaste, the stew was noticeably spicy and vinegary. We felt this was one of the weaker dishes of the night. For dessert, we were universally impressed with the Chocolate Truffle Cake
as it wasn’t overly sweet. In fact, the chocolate was appealingly
bitter which gave way to the smoothness of the mousse and tartness of
the raspberries. This was the best dessert we had for the duration of the cruise as the other items were pretty average.
On that note, we were not that enthused about the Key Lime Pie as it wasn’t as smooth as we would’ve liked while the lime was not as strong as the condensed milk flavour. Hence, it was more of a sweet condensed milk pie than anything to do with lime. However, the Zesty Lemon Sorbet was pretty good being creamy and smooth with muted sweetness and tang. It was a massive portion that completely overwhelmed my dessert-loving daughter. Although there were some glaring faults, the meal as a whole was surprisingly acceptable, if not good. Ironically, this would be our only meal at Liberty since we wanted to try out as many other venues as possible.
The Good:
- More-than-acceptable eats
- Safe food (could be a negative for some)
- It's no extra charge
The Bad:
- The servers really tried, but wasn't as professional as other cruises I've been on
- Food was decent but not overly refined (as evidenced with the haphazard char on the steak
It has been 12 long years since we cruised with NCL. During that time, I’ve changed careers, had 2 kids, been through 3 cars and have started a blog. Ironically, this time around, it is the roughly the same cruise with a similar itinerary. To be blunt, it has taken us until now to revisit NCL because of their cruise around the Hawaiian Islands, not because of the cruise line itself. Our first experience was less than memorable with below-average food and an overall lower class feel than our other cruises with Princess, RCCL, Celebrity and HAL. However, with essentially 2 days in Maui, Kauai and the Big Island, the cruise is the best way to get a taste of everything without taking 3 separate flights.
Just like last time, we started things off with a few days in Honolulu doing the usual touristy things. On the day of the cruise, I drove the family (including the grandparents) up to the dock, dropped them off and returned the car at the nearby Enterprise. I walked 2 blocks back to the terminal and we were checked-in quickly and painlessly. We ended up boarding around 11:30am and decided to do lunch at the Skyline main dining room rather than the buffet. This was a bit different than many other cruise lines where only the buffet and small cafes would be open on embarkation day during lunch (more on that later). After that, we had over 3 hours to kill as our staterooms were not ready yet. This is not uncommon across all cruise lines as they have to disembark all the passengers and make all the rooms for the turnaround. However, this was the longest wait we’ve had to endure ever for our cabins.
During this time, we checked out parts of the ship and it definitely made its allegiance abundantly clear – U.S.A, U.S.A, U.S.A!!! Completely patriotic in decor, color-theme and staff, one is surrounded by traditional icons of America. It could be a little over-the-top for some, but I didn’t mind it that much because the bright, almost 80’s neon colors of the Norwegian Star (the previous ship to do this itinerary) was less classy. The ship appeared to be in good shape other than a few worn areas due to heavy use. There has been much written about the attitude and resulting service from the all-American crew. In a nutshell, many have criticized it as being unfriendly and lackluster. I didn’t notice anything that would qualify as “unfriendly” but there were a few staff members that did appear disengaged. As a whole, we thought the staff were quite helpful and genuine. With that being said, the professionalism and attention to detail was lacking compared to other cruises we’ve been on.
We ended up with an outside quad cabin on deck 4. Upon opening the heavy door, we noticed the absence of a table. That really didn’t bother us as that usually takes up precious room anyways. So with that out of the way, there was actually room to maneuver around despite housing 2 adults and 2 kiddies. The bed arrangement allowed for 2 upper fold downs on each side of the cabin. Yes, one must remember that in the middle of the night when they needed to get up. Also, the orientation of the lower bed made it impossible to store our large luggage underneath due to the support bars. We had to stuff in the closet. Even with that, there was more than enough storage space for all of our clothes, shoes and miscellaneous items. There was nothing fancy about our cabin, but it was functional and decorated with non-offensive colors.
As I mentioned before, there is a perception (and rightfully so based on the past) that NCL’s dining is subpar compared to the rest of the industry. On the other hand, the one thing that they pioneered was Freestyle cruising where there is no fixed dining. In fact, there are so many dining choices, it is difficult to visit all of them. In addition to the 2 main dining rooms (Skyline and Liberty), the other no-fee restaurants are the Aloha Cafe (buffet), Cadillac Diner, East Meets West and Wipe Out Cafe. For a surcharge, one could dine at Jefferson’s Bistro (French), Teppenyaki, Cagney’s Steakhouse, Moderno Brazilian BBQ and La Cucina. We ended up getting the Ultimate Dining 3 restaurant package and selected Jefferson’s, Teppanyaki and Cagney’s. I was able to book our reservations online in advance of our cruise, but we ended up changing them on board the ship due to a surprise itinerary change.
Yes, we were indeed surprised as they had to do our cruise in reverse order because of 2 nearby tropical storms. So instead of doing 2 days in Maui followed by 2 days on the Big Island then 2 in Kauai, we ended up with only one day in Kauai and finished up the cruise in Maui. Naturally, that sent people (including us) into panic mode trying to change our car reservations. Doing that last minute meant paying more for our car rentals. Not the cruise line’s fault since they cannot predict the weather, but it still was inconvenient and cost us more money. After a good night’s sleep on our firm beds in relatively calm seas (despite the storms around us), we cruised the Na Pali coast. This was actually a blessing in disguise as our 2nd day in Kauai would’ve only lasted until 2:00pm anyways. A day at sea meant rest and relaxation. In the next few posts, I will review the dining aboard the Pride of America, but if I had to sum up our experience as a whole, the one word I would use is "pleasing". Yes, it was much better than expected (but we did have low expectations) where the food had improved and where the general organization of the cruise was pretty much spot on.
The Good:
- General organization was on point
- Lots of dining options (some better than others)
- Excellent itinerary
- We thought the staff really tried their best
The Bad:
- Although the food quality has improved, there was some clunkers including East Meets West
- The staff tried, but I've never heard so many broken plates and glasses on a cruise before
- Entertainment was okay, but not particularly memorable
- Expensive due to the all-American itinerary and crew (can't have international crew due to no international ports)
With us trying to squeeze as much action as we are able during our days in Honolulu, we were just too tired to go out to eat. As much as that is the perfect horror movie for myself, this was not the end. In fact, it gave me the opportunity to round the corner from our hotel and up 3 blocks to visit Me Bar-B-Q. Right across the street from Musubi Cafe, this lil' Korean take-out spot offered up big portions at reasonable prices. The place was pretty busy, but they did a good job in churning out the food as quickly as possible.
When my son heard that we were going for Korean BBQ, his eyes lit up like it was Christmas. As such, we got him his favourite being the BBQ Chicken with rice. Each combo came with 4 sides (banchan) and this one consisted of kimchi, spicy cucumber, broccoli and cabbage. With 3 big pieces of grilled dark chicken meat, this was right in my son's wheelhouse. The meat was sufficiently tender and well-charred. We did find it rather sweet, hence there was no need for sweet soy as the chicken flavoured even the plain rice. The same could be said about the Kalbi BBQ as they were super sweet with a nice char. The meat was fatty and tender as well. Rounding out the massive amount of food was sprouts, japchae, broccoli and corn.
We also got the Oxtail Soup and while the broth was rather salty and one-note, the oxtail itself was on point The large pieces had gelatinous and tender meat that melted in my mouth. In addition to the meatiness of the oxtail, it was also well-seasoned. Accompanying the soup was plain white rice and 2 sides (which were banchan and broccoli). To compound the ample amount of food, we really shouldn't have ordered the Bibimbap (but I did anyways). It was topped with the same items found in the banchan display including beef, spinach and a fried egg with gochujang. Lacking some of the usual ingredients such as shiitake, fern brake and carrots, this ate a bit differently (cabbage added quite a bit of moisture). In the end, it was fine with chewy rice and enough gochujang. In reality, there was not much to complain about since we got a tonne of food for the price.
The Good:
- Large portions
- Inexpensive for Waikiki
- Decent
The Bad:
- You can eat there, but it's really takeout
- Pretty hot in there waiting for our food
Originally, we had other lunch plans on our second day in Honolulu. However, things changed as we were sweaty and tired from our hike up Diamondhead. That's what almost 100 degree weather can do to you I suppose. Don't think it was ever that hot last time we were here! So rather than getting takeout from Yama's, we headed over to Helena's instead. With a bunch of awards including a James Beard, there was some lofty expectations to live up to.
After waiting for over 30 minutes for a table (which wasn't that long anyways), we got down to ordering. After a short wait, everything came at once and filled the table. I gave the Fried Butterfish Collar first and it was money. Fried until lightly crispy, the entire thing could be eaten including all parts of the bone. Inside, the fish was still buttery and flaky while well-seasoned. Interestingly, my son has suddenly developed a liking for Kalua Pork, especially with a sprinkle of pink salt. He ate practically the whole dish with his rice. This version was good with lots of natural meat flavour and was sufficiently moist, but there were some stringy portions.
For myself, the best item were the Short Ribs Pipikala Style. Although the overall texture was firm, the ribs were meaty and tender. These were dry on purpose due to the cooking technique involved (which requires the meat to be brined and air dried). The flavorings penetrated the meat as they were an appealing salty sweet. We also got one order each of the Beef and Tripe Stew. Both bathed in the same rich and slightly tart tomato sauce, the stews were flavourful with depth. The beef was sufficiently tender while the tripe was buttery soft while maintaining a slight chew.
Viv thought the Lomi Salmon was rather ordinary as it lacked strong flavours except for a bit of the white onion. In fact, she thought the dish was fishy even though the salmon seemed on point. On the other hand, the Ahi Poke appeared fresh with a nice sheen and in fact was sweet and buttery. We were able to customize our own mix of chili and soy which meant we made it spicier! Creamy and mild, the Mac Salad featured soft pasta which made us yearn for the one we had at Mike's Huli Huli Chicken. Lastly, we had the Poi which had the classic wallpaper paste texture. On it's own, there was a background sweetness while strangely tart. It tasted much better when eaten with a protein of some sort. We ended off the meal with an order Haupia which was mildly sweet and plenty coconutty. A nice way to end a pleasant Hawaiian meal that didn't cost us an arm and a leg.
The Good:
- Inexpensive and great to share
- Sincere service
- Great short ribs
The Bad:
- Usually a long wait outside where it is hot
- A/C is a bit weak
12 years ago, Viv and I hiked Diamondhead in about 20 minutes all the way from the park entrance (we were too cheap to pay for the $5.00 parking). Fast forward to the present and I was up for the challenge, but Viv, having not played hockey for the last 5 years due to concussions, didn't find it as easy this time around. In fact, while we were going down from the top, my son was kicking my arse. Yes, it might've been something to do with age, but I would like to blame the 2 Malasadas I consumed just prior.
Yes, you guessed it, we paid Leonard's Bakery a visit before we made it out to Diamondhead. Once again, we were doing the touristy thing, yet remember, we had 2 hungry kiddies with us. Also, they would never pass up a donut from any culture. We got a 1/2 dozen Malasadas in Original, Cinnamon Sugar and Li Hing (sweet & salty dried plum dust). Oh boy, these were made to order and one bite into the fluffy light center made me a convert. Yes, it was only a fried ball of dough, but the texture was so enticing and easy to eat. I gobbled up 2 just like that. My favorite flavor was the li hing with a good mix of sweet, tart and salty.
We also got a 1/2 dozen of the Puffs filled with Chocolate, Coconut, Custard and Macademia Nut. Exhibiting the same eggy light texture, these were graced with an extra amount of sweetness. In fact, the chocolate filling was very sugary, yet fortunately, the actual malasada was not sweet to begin with. I liked the coconut filling the most as it wasn't super sweet while being aromatic. Despite being advertised as macadamia nut, I didn't find much difference between that and the standard custard. Not necessarily a negative, just an observation.
Lastly, we got a couple of the Ham & Cheese Wrap to give the kids something that resembled breakfast rather than a bunch of Malasadas. With a generous slice of rolled-up sweet honey ham in the middle, the thing ate well with plenty of filling while wrapped in a soft pastry. But really, we didn't come here for that. It was all about the malasadas and they really go that part down to a science. It was well-worth the wait for the made-to-order treat.
The Good:
- Made-to-order ensures freshness
- Soft and not too sweet
The Bad:
- A little greasy
- Parking is an issue
Posts
Forgoing the traditional welcome aboard buffet, we headed over to the casual Skyline main dining room for our inaugural lunch. Since we had boarded the ship rather early, we were the first ones in the dining room. Therefore, we were able to see it in its full glory with NYC-themed decor adorned by multicolored lights, shiny ceiling tiles and trim. Unfortunately, that also mean crappy photos as the reflective ceiling wreaked havoc. We were greeted by our waiter rather warmly, but the assistant waiter seemed like she was pretty disinterested (she wasn’t rude though).
For my appie, I stared with the Tapenade and Eggplant with grilled flat bread. I found the tapenade to be a bit chunkier than usual, but that didn’t detract from the texture. It was on the saltier side and a little bit one-note. The eggplant acted as the counterbalance as it was pretty bland. When combined together, it seemed to work. The bread was a bit too stiff for my liking. Viv had the Calamari which brought back memories (or was it nightmares of our last NCL cruise). This version was slightly better, but the thin and crispy batter slid off too easily. The squid itself was sufficiently tender while maintaining a chew.
My mom and my daughter both had the Corn and Potato Chowder which was actually quite good. It wasn’t overly thick, yet at the same time was hearty due to the ample amount of sweet corn. In fact, it was more of a corn soup as that was the dominant flavour and texture. The potato played second fiddle. Presented in a large portion, my dad’s Cobb Salad was a textbook version with greens topped with ham, egg, tomato, avocado, bacon, grilled chicken and blue cheese. It ate pretty hearty with more toppings than greens. The blue cheese added a pronounced sharpness.
For my main, I had the Chicken Milanese with arugula salad. I thought this was prepared quite well with a moist and tender piece of breast meat. It was nicely breaded and fried until crunchy while not drying out. The chicken and breading was lightly seasoned where the squeeze of lemon was necessary to bring it to life. I liked the arugula salad as it wasn’t overdressed and featured ripe tomatoes. My mom ended up with the NY Strip with sautéed mushrooms and fries. Tender and past medium-rare, the steak was easy to chew. However, the sautéed mushrooms were completely over-salted where it made the entire dish a bit hard to eat. The side of fries were forgettable.
My daughter had the Chicken Club featuring the usual items found in a clubhouse such as bacon, turkey, lettuce and tomato with potato chips. Pretty standard stuff, yet the bacon was crispy while the bread was nicely grilled instead of being toasted (which actually dried out the bread a bit). My dad had a sandwich as well being the Salmon & Shrimp Sandwich with avocado on a whole wheat roll and served with chips. Although a bit heavy with the mayo dressing, the sandwich was decent. It featured plenty of salmon with plump shrimp that was seasoned only mildly by the dressing.
My son didn't stray very far from his preferred eats with the Grilled Beef Burger with bacon, aged cheddar, tomato and lettuce. It goes without saying I had to remove the produce from the burger before he dared eat it. Again, much like the clubhouse, this was hardly something complex. However, it was decently constructed with crispy bacon and a nicely toasted bun. The meat was a bit dry though.
Normally, we wouldn't have dessert after lunch, but hey we were on a cruise! So I decided on the Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta with raspberry sauce. Trending more towards a stiff consistency, the panna cotta was still soft enough to the palate. It wasn't very sweet with obvious hits from the vanilla bean. Since the sauce was sugar free, it wasn't very sweet. In fact, the tartness worked well. Presented in a manageable size, Viv had the Blueberry Cheesecake with berry compote. It wasn't particularly heavy nor was it super smooth. We liked how it was easy on the sugar while the blueberry was somewhat lost.
My daughter was waiting for this day because she loves desserts and the thought of an unlimited amount got her jacked up. She decided on the Strawberry Shortcake with toasted almonds and strawberry coulis. The cake itself was a bit dense and stiff, but the ample fresh cream and coulis helped provide moisture. The whole thing was pretty sweet though. We decided to get the Milk Chocolate Mousse with lemon syrup for my son but he balked because he hates anything citrus... So we ended up sharing it and it wasn't exactly the fluffiest version (since it was prepared long in advance), but it did taste okay being mildly sweet. We wished for more chocolate as it tasted more milky than anything.
For dinner, we headed over to Skyline rather than Liberty solely based on one dish – the Lamb Shank. My mom loves the dish and we couldn’t have deprived her of it despite the reflective ceiling tiles made my OCD regarding my pictures go into hyperdrive. Viv and I started with a simple appie in the Prosciutto and Melon accented by balsamic reduction. As much as the melon was ripe and sweet, the one slice of prosciutto was too thick, dry and overly salty (from being dried out). It was hard to chew and wasn’t nearly enough
for the amount of melon. My daughter ended up with the Cream of Broccoli and Cheddar which was creamy and rich. While cheesy with plenty of broccoli, the soup didn’t eat too salty. The same could not be said about the French Onion Soup as the consume tasted like pure salt. Furthermore, there wasn’t much in the way of melted cheese on top either.
For my main, I had the Latin Style Grilled Sirloin Steak with chimichurri, broccoli and roasted potatoes. I asked for medium-rare and the steak turned out to be well-done. Despite this, the steak was still not chewy, just a bit dry. As for the chimichurri, it was far too salty for any other flavours to stand out. On the other hand, my son’s NY Striploin was perfectly prepared medium-rare. It was also moist and tender as he ate it easily without any complaints. The green beans on the side were crunchy while not over-seasoned (I ate them; he wanted them off his plate ASAP).
My mom’s Lamb Shank was served atop 3-bean stew with tomatoes and mashed butternut squash. The large shank was succulent and gelatinous and mildly seasoned. With firm, while tender beans, the stew underneath exhibited depth-of-flavour while the squash was soft with enough moisture. Viv opted for the Thai Chicken and Shrimp in Coconut Curry on rice. The curry was pretty smooth and aromatic with a noticeable spicy finish from the ginger. Since the proteins were fried separately, the meats remained moist. The only thing Viv would’ve liked to see was more sauce.
My daughter chose the Rosemary Roasted Chicken and it was such a large portion, she had no hope in finishing. It was served with mashed potatoes, carrots and peas and pan gravy. Although not particularly attractive nor plated carefully, the chicken was decently tender, even the white meat. Since the chicken itself was brined, the pan gravy wasn’t all that necessary other than adding moisture to the dish. My dad had the regional specialty in the Macadamia Nut-Encrusted Mahi Mahi with rice and asparagus. Being an oilier nut, the macadamia crust was heavy and greasy. It was crunchy though while the fish was relatively moist.
For dessert, I had the Carrot Cake and it was pretty moist for being a “no sugar added” option. There was a bit of nutmeg coming through, but I did miss the sweetness often associated with the frosting. My mom’s Ginger Custard was smooth and creamy with the definite hit of ginger. Texturally, it was a bit on the denser side, but then again, it wasn't a Chinese custard, so it probably was intentional. Okay, if we compare these 2 meals at Skyline to everything we had so far (and upcoming ones too), it can be summed up into 2 words - casual and unrefined. Now that isn't necessary a criticism because the restaurant is billed as a more relaxed option (as one could wear practically anything and not get tossed out). For us, we would rather do the alternative dining or head up to Liberty instead.
