Food is never an afterthought on our holidays. It’s half the reason we travel, and cruising is no different. The complimentary dining on our past cruises was perfectly decent, but we always end up wandering off to the speciality restaurants, and on Icon of the Seas there’s a lot of choice. So here’s where we ate, and what we thought.
Empire Supper Club
If you only splurge on one thing, make it this. Empire Supper Club is the kind of upscale evening that’s hard to find on land. It’s a 1920s-30s New York speakeasy, with dark wood, jazz and a very formal dress code, tucked just outside Central Park on Deck 8. Dinner is eight courses, and every course comes with its own cocktail that you can’t get anywhere else on the ship. It starts at approx $200 per person (although price can vary), and the price is the same if you go for the non-alcoholic pairings.
What made it for us was the band. A three-piece group plays live all night, and the music changes with each course, so what you hear matches what’s on your plate and in your glass. The room is small, with only a few dozen guests per seating, so it feels more like a private party than a restaurant. Teetotallers might wonder if it’s worth the money, but the alcohol-free pairings are proper creations, not an afterthought. Dress up, book early, and give the evening your full three hours.
Izumi
Our reliable go-to. You can’t really go wrong here. On Icon, Izumi has moved to Central Park, and the outdoor seating gives it a completely different feel from the usual indoor sushi bar. There’s also a walk-up window if you want something quick, and that’s where we got the bubble-wrap dessert ice cream.
Hooked
We’ve sailed a few Royal Caribbean ships, but this was our first time at Hooked, and we’re glad we finally went. It’s a New England-style seafood spot with a casual, nautical feel. They do shucked-to-order oysters and whole Maine lobster, along with plenty of classic comfort food. We loved the surf-and-turf dishes, and it’s close to the AquaTheater, so you can combine dinner with a show.
Pier 7
This one is underrated. It’s in the Surfside neighbourhood on Deck 7, and the food is simple, surf-town-inspired and casual, with California flavours and some Mexican and Korean influences. It wasn’t very busy when we visited, which is a shame, because we had the best service of the whole cruise here. The brunch menu has slightly different mains from lunch and dinner, so it’s worth going twice.
Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade
This is the place for snacks or a late-night bite. It’s on Deck 6 on the Royal Promenade, with dozens of screens, arcade games, pool tables and foosball, so it’s good fun even if you’re not a sports fan.
Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen
Giovanni’s is the Italian option, and the Italian cooking is done well. The portions are hefty, so go hungry and pace yourself, or you’ll be rolling out of there before the mains arrive. It isn’t the most exclusive-feeling restaurant on the ship, though. It sits on the upper level of the Royal Promenade (Deck 6), which makes it handy but also pretty noisy, with the buzz of the Promenade drifting in. If you want a quiet, intimate dinner, this isn’t the place. If you want a big, satisfying plate of pasta, it’s a good choice.
The Verdict
The complimentary dining on Royal Caribbean gives you plenty of variety, so you don’t need to spend a penny more to eat well. But if you have a bit of money to spare, the speciality restaurants take the experience up a notch. Our advice is to splurge on at least one, and make it Empire.
