Five great restaurants at sea for lovers of Asian cuisine
Shanghai Restaurant on MSC Orchestra: Serving traditional Chinese cuisine from four regions at lunch and dinner, the dining experience here is enhanced through music, servers’ dress and the ambiance of the room. The dumplings for Dim Sum are highly recommended, as well as the lemon chicken, Mongolian lamb with scallions, and Asian beers at other times of the day. Be sure to reserve ahead – the restaurant gets jammed by the end of the sailing. Pricing is a la carte.
Oceania Marina’s Red Ginger: Presentation at this eatery is beautiful, turning even dining tools into artwork. The food is, of course, the real star, with transformed Asian classics that will make your mouth water. Try the nutty braised beef Malay curry with coconut, followed by green tea banana cake with toffee and hazelnut sauce served with coconut ice cream for a meal you won’t soon forget. Dining here is complimentary.
Crystal Symphony’s Silk Road and The Sushi Bar: Crystal Cruises offers restaurants by famed chef Matsuhisa Nobu, who makes periodic appearances to check the quality of their cuisine and ingredients. These restaurants offer Nobu-trained chefs and Nobu specialties combining the cuisines of Japan, Peru, and Europe. Noteworthy dishes include yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno, saikyo miso black cod, and beef with three sauces. Between its rich setting, elegant presentation and delicious food, eating here is a must. The restaurant carries no fee, but be sure to make reservations.
JiJi’s Asian Kitchen on Carnival Sunshine: A startlingly good pan-Asian menu is presented with selections from China, Mongolia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, and Vietnam at this restaurant. The freshly cooked food options range from vegetarian dishes to Nanjing duck, with each table’s chosen leader creating the order for shared dishes. Eating here does cost extra, but at bargain prices: only $12 for adults and $5 for children.
