Your Guide to NCL Specialty Dining Restaurants: Menus and Tips
What are all of NCL’s Specialty dining restaurants? On which ships can you find each restaurant?
Specialty dining on NCL is pay-for restaurants on the cruise that offer an opportunity for diverse cuisines and other dining experiences outside of the MDR. While NCL offers plenty of dining included with the purchased cruise fare, if you choose the Free-at-Sea Dining perk, you’ll have to make a reservation at one of their many specialty dining restaurants.
As a foodie, dining in NCL’s specialty dining restaurants is always one of my favorite parts of cruising with them. As the leader of Freestyle cruising, Norwegian Cruise Line knows how to do specialty dining, offering exceptional menus. They have a great selection of restaurants that can be found across their ships. From gourmet French cuisine at Le Bistro, our favorite, to delicious Italian cuisine at Onda. If you’re in the mood for succulent steaks at Cagney’s Steakhouse, seafood at Ocean Blue, or Tex-Mex at Los Lobos, you’ll find plenty of options to enjoy and use your Free-at-Sea Specialty Dining Meals, purchase a dining package or pay à la carte.
In this guide, we list all the specialty dining restaurants and menus, what ships each restaurant is on, dress codes, a few valuable tips, and answer some frequently asked questions.
Cagney’s Steakhouse on Norwegian Cruise Line is a favorite spot among cruisers. If you are a meat lover, they offer a classic American steakhouse experience with high-quality cuts of meat, delicious seafood, and all the traditional sides you’d expect. We love their jumbo shrimp, rib-eye, prime rib roast, and seven-layer chocolate cake. Can’t get into Cagneys? Don’t worry; the main dining rooms on NCL offer options to upgrade to one of Cagney’s premium steaks.
Le Bistro
Le Bistro is Norwegian Cruise Line’s fine French dining restaurant, offering classics like escargot, coq au vin, filet de boeuf and île flottante. If you’ve never tried escargot, this is a perfect opportunity to do so. We always book this restaurant on every NCL cruise because of its exquisite food and top-notch service. Plus, it’s the only restaurant serving Veuve Clicquot champagne in the Premium Plus Package.
Teppanyaki
For a fun night with delicious Japanese hibachi, you’ll want to book Teppanyaki. This interactive dining experience on Norwegian Cruise Line is a hit, and reservations are a MUST due to limited availability. The skilled chefs prepare your meal right at the table. It’s a three-course meal with grilled meats, seafood, veggies, and even noodles. I love the chicken and steak combo. This meal has a cover charge that’s worth it, even without the specialty dining package.
Ocean Blue
Ocean Blue is a premier seafood restaurant on Norwegian Cruise Line, known for its fresh, high-quality seafood. The menu features oysters, lobster, grilled fish, and seafood platters. With its elegant ambiance and attentive service, Ocean Blue offers a special dining experience for seafood lovers.
Moderno Churrascaria
Moderno is a Brazilian Churrascaria restaurant on the Norwegian Cruise Line that serves a variety of all-you-can-eat grilled meats. It’s a unique, fun dining experience that features gaucho chefs who bring skewers of perfectly grilled meats to your table, slicing portions directly onto your plate. With a green and red tab, you control the flow of meats to your table. You must try their skewered cinnamon pineapple—so good.
La Cucina
La Cucina is Norwegian Cruise Line’s classic Italian restaurant. It was the first Italian specialty restaurant offered until Onda by Scarpetta debuted on NCL Encore. This restaurant offers favorites like Mozzarella Caprese, Spaghetti Carbonara, and Osso Bucco.
Wasabi
Wasabi is Norwegian Cruise Line’s sushi bar, offering a casual yet stylish dining experience. The menu includes a variety of fresh sushi, sashimi, and creative rolls, all prepared with high-quality ingredients.
Onda by Scarpetta
Onda by Scarpetta is Norwegian Cruise Line’s premier Italian restaurant, replacing La Cucina on the newer cruise ship. It is inspired by the renowned Scarpetta restaurants. The menu features a variety of modern Italian dishes, including handmade pasta, seafood, and meats. If you love Italian food, this is worth a try.
Food Republic
Food Republic serves Asian Fusion cuisine with quite a few surprises on the menu. As one of our favorite dining venues, you can order a selection of sushi rolls and small, shareable plates of yummy foods directly from your tablet. It’s the perfect restaurant for sharing small bites with a group. Dessert lovers, don’t miss out on the Chocolate Black Forest cake.
Los Lobos
Los Lobos is Norwegian’s Mexican Cantina, serving a modern twist on Mexican food. It’s not your typical traditional Mexican food that you may be used to, but it is flavorful and offers an abundance of dishes worth a specialty dining meal. For dessert, you’ll find favorites here, like quesadillas, carne asada, fajitas, and churros. Even if you don’t come here for a full meal, it’s worth paying à la carte for queso fundido and tableside guacamole to pair with a margarita.
Q Smokehouse
Q Smokehouse is Norwegian Cruise Line’s spot for American barbecue. Enjoy smoked meats like brisket, ribs, pulled pork, chicken, and classic sides such as mac and cheese, baked beans, and cornbread. At night, stop by for live music and a drink. You’ll find some menu items at The Food Hall on Prima Class ships.
Nama Sushi and Sashimi
Nama Sushi and Sashimi is a Norwegian Cruise Line an elevated sushi bar on Prima Class that offers an array of fresh and beautifully crafted sushi and sashimi. This is an ideal spot for sushi lovers looking to for fresh sushi prepared right at the counter.
Hasuki
Hasuki is Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest teppanyaki restaurant on the Prima Class ships. It offers a more upscale experience while maintaining a similar menu. It’s an interactive dining venue where skilled chefs cook right at your table, sharing with other cruisers and entertaining guests with their talented cooking skills. The menu features a selection of high-quality grilled meat, seafood, and vegetable combos.
Palomar
Palomar is a new Mediterranean-inspired restaurant on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Prima Class ships. It serves seafood dishes and a few meat dishes for those who do not love seafood. The menu features favorites like grilled octopus and Dover sole.
Pinchos Tapas & Bar
Pinchos Tapas and Bar is a Spanish-style restaurant with a tapas-based menu only found on Norwegian Escape. Start with a charcuterie of jamón and queso, and then enjoy classic pinches like patatas bravas, which you can pair with their in-house sangria.
Booking a Specialty Dining Restaurant on Norwegian Cruise Line
Specialty dining restaurants are not included with your base cruise fare. These restaurants come with an extra charge, which you can pay à la carte or cover with a specialty dining package. Depending on the NCL Free-at-Sea perks you chose at booking; you may have 1-2 specialty dining meals included, so be sure to check your cruise details.
Important Points to Remember
- Extra Charge: Specialty dining is not included in the base fare.
- Payment Options: Pay à la carte or purchase a specialty dining package.
- Free-at-Sea Perks: Check your booking for any included specialty dining meals.
- Reservations Required: Walk-ins are almost impossible due to high demand.
- Booking Window: Start booking 120 days before sailing for 7-day cruises or longer.
- Onboard Reservations: You can also book or make changes to your reservations once on board.
What is best specialty restaurant on NCL?
Food is subjective, so while Le Bistro might be the best specialty dining restaurant on Norwegian for me, others might prefer Cagney’s. It’s best to peruse the menus and read some reviews before deciding which restaurant you’d like to dine at.
When can you make specialty dining reservations on NCL?
You can make specialty dining reservations on NCL based on your stateroom category and sailing details. Guests staying in The Haven can start making reservations 130 days before sailing. Those in Club Balcony suites can begin booking 125 days before sailing. For Balcony and below staterooms, reservations open 120 days prior for sailings of 7 days or more and holiday sailings of 6 days or less. For non-holiday sailings of 6 days or less, reservations can be made 90 days before departure.
Are specialty dining restaurants worth it on NCL?
If you are a foodie, it’s worth trying 1-2 of NCL’s specialty restaurants while onboard. These restaurants typically serve higher quality gourmet meals that you’ll enjoy. However, if you look at food as simply fuel and are a picky eater, the offerings at the buffet, main dining rooms, The Local, and the Food Hall are probably enough to satisfy your hunger.
BEFORE YOU SET SAIL, HERE ARE SOME RELATED ARTICLES YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS:
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- NCL Drink Packages: Everything You Need to Know
- Why Choose NCL for Your Next Cruise?
- Evaluating NCL’s Priority Access: Is It Worth Adding?
Kathy Ava
Meet Kathy Ava, a food, travel, and cruise writer based in Los Angeles/Pasadena, and the owner and main writer of Tasty Itinerary. With over 20 years of experience planning trips and logistics at her full-time job and for herself, she's become a pro at crafting unforgettable tasty itineraries. She's always on the hunt for delicious, fun travel destinations and cruise itineraries. She firmly believes that life is short and we must make the most of it, so always say yes to dessert.