NCL Specialty Dining Review: Which is the Best?

Join Core Four Adventures as we indulge in the exquisite flavors of 6 different specialty dining restaurants aboard the NCL Encore! This guide is tailored to help you plan your own cruise dining adventure, ensuring you choose the perfect restaurant for your taste buds! Get ready for a feast for the senses! Which restaurant would you set sail for first? ⚓🌟
From the ocean-inspired delicacies at Ocean Blue 🌊🐟 www.ncl.com/wh...
To the sizzling delights of Cagney's Steakhouse 🔥🥩 www.ncl.com/wh...
Join us as we explore the delectable offerings at Los Lobos 🌮 www.ncl.com/wh...
Don’t miss the charming ambiance of Le Bistro 🍷🕯️ www.ncl.com/wh...
The smoky allure of Q Texas Smokehouse 🍖 www.ncl.com/wh...
Or the innovative dishes at Food Republic 🌐🍣 www.ncl.com/wh...
Music:
Sunset Dream by Cheel @dimanchechill

[@paddlegal3097]

I think you ladies are one of the best cruise channels that I’ve seen so far. Constantly learning from your tips!

[@corefouradventures2861]

Wow, thank you! We’re so glad you are enjoying our videos. 😁🚢😁 when is your cruise?

[@paddlegal3097]

@@corefouradventures2861 Mid June. Hoping for good weather.

[@corefouradventures2861]

🤞

[@kimberlys2950]

I have two NCL cruises booked. Prima and encore your reviews truly help.

[@corefouradventures2861]

Thank you so much! Where are you cruising to?

[@leeannkleine6120]

Nicely done, ladies! The Encore is still on my list to sail with, but I was on the Bliss in November. I loved Cagney's and Los Lobos, and was unimpressed by Q. Glad that I selected Cagney's over Ocean Blu, as my last selection. Keep the great content coming.

[@corefouradventures2861]

Thank you SO much! The Encore and Bliss are very similar. We loved the Encore. Glad you enjoyed the Bliss. You’ll have to let us know when you take your next cruise and which ship you end up on. Our next cruise is on the Escape in May 😁

[@tracydickson8575]

We're doing this cruise in May. I really appreciate this thoughtful review!

[@corefouradventures2861]

We’re so glad this was helpful for you 😃 You’ll have to let us know which restaurant you liked the best. Hope you have an amazing cruise! 🚢

[@sonicflash5090]

12:30 These ladies going into the 3rd decimal point with there reviews! 😂 Love it

[@corefouradventures2861]

@sonicflash5090 Thank you for noticing. Have you seen our Alaskan packing video? What to pack for your ALASKAN CRUISE: Plus two things we would do differently! kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWeQoKuCa5h9htk You’ll 💕 our spreadsheet! 😁🚢🤣🤣

[@caseyley100]

Nice vid, good summations! If I could make a suggestion--what you selected is informative, but menu shots to give an idea of what else is on the menu would be very interesting, too!

[@corefouradventures2861]

Thanks for the suggestion and for watching our video! We did link each restaurant’s webpage in the description so you can see the full menus there if you’d like!

[@chezellis]

Sadly, the Encore is getting rid of Los Lobos and expanding Cagneys right before I go on the ship. But thanks for the reviews to help me figure out what I might want from the remaining restaurants. We just sailed the Prima in June 2024 and the Indulge Food Hall knocks it out of the park. It's better than specialty restaurants, food wise, and it has a great variety. The downside and my tip: Get drinks and go to Indulge about 25 minutes before it opens and sit at a table. If you wait until after it opens, you might not get a table.

[@corefouradventures2861]

@@chezellis We loved Los Lobos! That is disappointing. But, Cagney’s is great in its own right. We’re on the Viva next March and can’t wait to try the food hall. We will have to try your tip for sure. 👍😁🚢

[@NormaHudson-og2hm]

This was a very informative video. It was great. This is a very special video and very good.

[@corefouradventures2861]

Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it!!

[@annholstrom539]

I’m an avid NCL cruiser and 100% agree with your assessments. In the new Prima Class ships I’m in love with Indulge Food Hall as well as the new Mediterranean Seafood specialty restaurant Palomar where I had possibly one of the 10 best meals ever! Thank you for the great content!

[@corefouradventures2861]

Thanks!! We’re very excited to try the indulge food hall. Unfortunately, we won’t be on a Prima class ship until next year. Palomar might be worth trying too. Obviously we were not fans of Ocean Blue.

[@user-bp3ko3xg3r]

Ladies I’ve recently found your channel and completely love your channel

[@corefouradventures2861]

Thank you so much!! That really makes our day 😀🚢

[@galina9691]

Moderno Churrascaria on NCL Getaway was outstanding. Too bad they do not have it on newer ships 😢

[@corefouradventures2861]

We had it on The Escape twice now. It’s a fun experience. 🗡️🥩

[@KayTee979]

I went on the Encore in September of 2023. Los Lobos was incredible. We got the Queso Fundido it was interesting, a very thick cheese fundido. I see they have changed their menu since then, which is unfortunate. They no longer have those pork enchiladas, I also got those and they were INCREDIBLE. So really unfortunate they are no longer on the menu. I thought the Texas Q Smokehouse was absolutely amazing and I am not much of a BBQ fan. So, so, so much food. For the appetizer I got the T-mex tortilla soup, so amazing. For my entree I got the pulled pork, it was to die for. For sides I got a baked potato and corn. And the brownie for dessert, amazing. I would go there 5,000 times over again. Los Lobos and the Smokehouse were probably tied for most liked. I also went to Cagney's. It was meh, the filet I got was just ok. I have had just as good of filet at Texas Roadhouse. I will say the apple pie dessert I got was great, but I wouldn't go back just for dessert. Going on another Norwegian cruise next year and I will not be going to Cagney's. My mom also didn't care for it. It wasn't bad, it is just you can get as good of steak at any steakhouse anywhere. We are going to do the Texas Q Smokehouse again. Then we are going to do either Le Bistro or La Cucina.

[@corefouradventures2861]

@@KayTee979 We loved Los Lobos!! Q Texas Smokehouse was mixed for us. Probably would’ve preferred the pulled pork. The sampler platter was too big. And, the chicken was dry and felt like filler to bulk up the number of meats on the sampler. But, that brownie!! It was amazing. But we also loved the cheesecake in Cagney’s. I think Cagney’s can be hit or miss. I didn’t love the crab cakes or lobster bisque. But my fillet was great. Carol said her fillet felt dry and overcooked. We just went back to Cagney’s last month on the Escape and she picked a different cut of steak and liked in much better. But, the nice thing about NCL is we feel like there’s a specialty restaurant for everyone. Thanks for sharing your experience!! 😁❤️

[@KayTee979]

@@corefouradventures2861 There is definitely a restaurant for everyone. We will be on Norwegian Joy next year, so hopefully either Le Bistro or La Cucina agree with our taste buds. They don't have a Los Lobos or we would definitely do that again. Really enjoyed your video and review, will check out your other videos. 🙂

[@corefouradventures2861]

@@KayTee979 Thanks!!! We highly recommend Le Bistro. 😁 But, we just ate at La Cucina on the Escape and it was excellent too. 😁🚢

[@timmoore3666]

Thanks Ladies for a Great Video.. 🎉🎉

[@corefouradventures2861]

Thanks for watching! 🚢❤️

[@ValerieT2023]

I was on the Prima last year. I quite often ate alone as my cruise mates had no taste in food. Indulge was my favorite restaurant. I was comfortable eating there alone, the food was wonderful & varied and I got to try things I'd never had before. I am now addicted to bacon wrapped Medjool dates stuffed with bleu cheese. Wish I had tried items from Q. Sometimes, I had to join others at a larger table which I was OK with. Then they might leave & a family would ask to sit there & they were always nice to me. I'll be on the Encore next month. Would like to try Le Bistro but I don't think my buds will go for that.

[@corefouradventures2861]

Looking forward to sampling the Indulge Food Hall on the Viva this summer! Glad to hear you enjoyed it. Thanks so much for watching!

[@joannematzuka1592]

Love your informative videos and I have a couple questions I know you said you went back to Food Republic on your own We went on an Alaska cruise where they took our specialty dining out of our cheaper restaurant and ended paying for. Cagney's how do I avoid that? Unlike you sweet ladies I am not a dessert girl and I saw another video where he opted out of the dessert at Cagney's and they gave him an appetizer instead ever hear of that?

[@corefouradventures2861]

We used our dining credit for Food Republic. But, if you want to save it for a more expensive restaurant just let them know you don’t want to use dining credits for your meal. We did that at Pinchos on the Escape and it was no problem. We just paid a La carte for what we ordered. As for the substitution, I would talk to my waiter upfront. Usually they are very accommodating. I know people who have gotten a second app instead of salad course. I am sure they would do the same for your dessert. Although, if it’s in Cagney’s that OMG butterscotch cheesecake was the best dessert on the whole ship 🚢😁 it was pretty rich though if you are not a dessert lover

[@joannematzuka1592]

@corefouradventures2861 I will make sure I mention it first if I go for lunch at Food Republic trying to keep my cost down since you got the thermal spa and I basically eat a Mediterranean diet so most of the free have salads veggies and some type of protein 😋

[@corefouradventures2861]

@@joannematzuka1592 You’ll have to come back and let us know how it went! 😁 We love hearing about others experiences. Have an amazing time and happy cruising 🚢🚢

[@humeston258]

Get the prime rib next time at Cagneys! Yummm

[@corefouradventures2861]

Definitely! Great tip - We think we just ordered wrong 🥩❤️🍽

[@humeston258]

I love Food Republic!!!! Cagneys I loved as well!

[@corefouradventures2861]

Two of our absolute favs!! Thanks so much for watching 😁

[@barryhaley7430]

The biggest error with scallops is over cooking them.

[@corefouradventures2861]

An overcooked scallop is never good! Thanks for sharing 😁

[@Lucerne23]

We are vegetarians 🌱. What premium dining would you recommend? I can only find Los lobos? Looking to survive on salad and desserts

[@corefouradventures2861]

We recommend letting the cruise line know about your dietary needs before your cruise. They’re pretty accommodating. That said, we would also suggest the Cauliflower Steak at Ocean Blue. And, Teppanyaki has a vegetarian Udon and a vegetarian Teriyaki. NCL suggests the main dining rooms for the most options. But, of course, who doesn’t love a special dinner on vacation! You can see the menus for the specialty dining restaurants ahead of time at this link. www.ncl.com/cruise-ship/encore/whats-on-board/specialty-dining Hope you enjoy your cruise!🚢 Let us know how it goes when you get back 😁

[@leaguertin7840]

I’ve always heard los lobos isn’t good but that food looks tasty!!

[@corefouradventures2861]

They far exceeded my expectations and turned out to be one of our favorite places to eat!

[@gregballendine5099]

Very nice reviews. Having enjoyed BBQ in TX, NC, CA and KC...we were not gambling on this ship. Ocean Blue was a disappointment for us as well. Food Republic was fun. Some good variety and YES..the nachos! Not sure the value is there though. Cagneys was decent. The French onion soup throughout this ship is tasty. Definitely trying mexican next June. The Italian ala carte was very loud and not very special.

[@corefouradventures2861]

Thanks so much, we really appreciate it! We are planning on La Cucina on our cruise next month. Is this the same one that you had? We will be on the NCL Escape again. But we’ve haven’t had La Cucina yet.

[@gregballendine5099]

@@corefouradventures2861 We sailed on the Encore.

[@corefouradventures2861]

@@gregballendine5099 Thanks! We skipped it on the Encore. We have reservations for the Escape. 🤞we don’t regret it. We might think about swapping to a different restaurant.

[@annwebb9292]

Can someone share a dinner in a specialty restaurant? Can two people go in and just order one meal and share it?

[@corefouradventures2861]

Although I have heard other people say they can, the official word from NCL is no. You cannot share a specialty dining credit. They recommend getting a box and taking the leftovers to your room. Hope this helps!

[@themadkiwi100]

Hi guys from Wellington New Zealand

[@corefouradventures2861]

Well hello, and thanks SO much for watching. 😁

[@rgruenhaus]

On the Breakaway 08Jan23-22Jan23 I got food poisoning at Le Bistro from the escargot and felt horrible the whole next day and missed an around the world wine tasting the next day.

[@corefouradventures2861]

So sorry to hear that. What an awful experience!

[@Cha-y412]

Snails ----> always a crap shoot

[@sswan9689]

Is Food Republic the Japanese restaurant? My daughter and I will be on the Encore in a few weeks and she said she wants to eat in the Japanese restaurant? I don't know which restaurant she is,talking about. Thank you

[@corefouradventures2861]

We hope you have an amazing cruise! There are two restaurants that your daughter may be talking about: Food Republic or Teppanyaki. Teppanyaki is the Japanese hibachi style restaurant where they cook the food in front of you. It’s entertaining and we highlighted this restaurant in our First Time Cruise on the NCL Escape video if you’d like to check it out. There is an extra charge for that restaurant because of the entertainment factor. Food Republic features global cuisine with Japanese sushi and other dishes. Very delicious! Thanks so much for watching - we sooo appreciate it!

[@sswan9689]

@@corefouradventures2861 Thank you.

[@keeperzero]

In 2019 on a 7-Day cruise with the free of sea they used to offer three visits in dining package specialty restaurants then they reduced it to two, then they reduced it to one, my next prediction they will offer only a one-time 50% off coupon. Then eliminate after that

[@corefouradventures2861]

Wow things have really changed! Thanks for sharing 🚢😁

[@rags3901]

Is there anything lighter on any menu?

[@corefouradventures2861]

Thanks for watching! There were certainly some lighter options depending on the restaurant. For example, Ocean Blue focuses on seafood, which can be grilled. There is a great website called freestyletravelers.com where you can access all the current NCL menus to see for yourself. Just know whatever you order the portions will be large!! Hope you have a great cruise!

[@ryanreeves70]

Swap partners for date night

[@corefouradventures2861]

What a great idea! Guys night, and girls night!!🤣🤣🚢