“People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas.” -unknown
Happy New Year! Usually around the New Year, the hubby and I are away. This year we decided to stay local. Yet, we wanted to do something fun for
New Year’s. We decided to do a dinner cruise with Liberty Cruise. This experience consisted of a three-course dinner aboard a ship (the Manhattan II) with views of the NYC skyline. When the clock struck 12 for New Year’s, we enjoyed the NYC fireworks on the water.
First course: I had the Oysters. Right off the bat, they were very good! Loved the caviar and the ponzu! The Caviar added a nice salty and smoky flavor to the oysters. The ponzu sauce gave this dish a combo of sweet, salt, and a bit of a “zingy” flavor. The oysters were my favorite meal out of all the courses. I wanted more.? My hubby had the Foie Gras (I was very surprised that he ordered it… he typically stays away from it, lol). He liked it! He was big fan of the fruity flavors of the apple and pomegranate that were paired with the Foie Gras. However, we both agreed that we have tasted better Foie Gras in other places.
Second Course – I had the lobster tail. The lobster was flavorful. The lobster meat was tender and it melted in your mouth. The sweet potato was ok; nothing to rave about, but if paired with the Cajun butter…. yum! This dish had a beautiful presentation, but I was left hungry. The lobster was delish, but I had to work hard to get the meat out of its shell. My husband’s Ribeye, as you can see was bigger and more filling. The truffle mash potatoes were buttery and fluffy. They had the right amount of salt. The Ribeye did not hit a homerun. It was missing that delicious sear. It seemed chewy and too soft in texture. There was no body and the Ribeye seemed a bit blah.
Third and final course – I had the Mousse cake. The cake fell flat. It was too soft and the flavors were weak. The chocolate crust was not bad. The raspberry sauce was just “ok.” The hubby enjoyed his cheesecake. It was creamy and not overly sweet. The drizzle of pumpkin sauce had a nice flavor, but it was not needed, as it did not add anything to the cheesecake.
All in all, it was still a great experience. Would I do it again? I don’t think so, no. But I’m happy I did it because it was an experience. The views were spectacular and the energy was fun and happy. The food overall was not spectacular. Unfortunately, for the price the we paid, we expected a little more. Also, around New Year’s, they double their prices (keep that in mind, if you decide to do this). Also, knowing what I know now, I would shop around other cruise companies to see what they offer.
The wait staff was a friendly and energetic, but at times it was hard to get them. They seemed to be on the go and a little overwhelmed. We made sure to tip them as they were clearly running around and maybe a bit understaffed on a holiday. We were ok, but we heard other patrons complaining about the service. Thank you for reading my review and continue to chomp away.
-Chomping Chica