On a recent 7-day Cuba cruise on the Fathom Adonia, some friends and I enjoyed dinner at the Ocean Grill.
This Cuban and Dominican Republic inspired specialty restaurant requires reservations and has a $25 per person cover charge.
Choosing an appetizer is a tough decision at the Ocean Grill. The Ananas and Avocado features rum-flamed shrimp with grilled pineapple, complemented with avocado and lime cilantro vinaigrette.
The Seafood Salpicon is a combination of grilled octopus, calamari and shrimp tossed in a mojito vinaigrette. It’s served with a crispy yaniqueque, a popular fried bread and beach snack in the Dominican Republic. Our waiter recommended this appetizer and brought one for the table to try. I found the seafood fresh, light and delicious.
Two of my dining companions enjoyed the Cuban Ropa Vieja, made of Cuban-style shredded beef and a deep-fried plantain basket.
Our waiter also wanted our table of five to try the Mofongo and Agauji, which are fried balls of pork pate and plantain, served with a cup of garlic consommé for dipping. The presentation was beautiful, but I found the appetizer a little dry and heavy.
The Ocean Grill restaurant menu, created by Chef Emil Vega, emphasizes the flavors of Cuba and the Dominican Republic.
For my entree, I chose the Rock Lobster and Shrimp Asopao, which was grilled Caribbean lobster tail on a bed of shrimp risotto. The lobster was flavorful but tough to extract from the shell.
In addition to offering reasonably-priced wines at sea, the Ocean Grill wine list includes pairing notes to match with your menu choices.
Best of all are the dessert choices. Pudin de Pan Isleno (traditional island bread pudding), is coated with a sauce of dark aged rum, and accompanied by mascarpone cream and macadamia nuts. This was my favorite item on the entire menu, and according to our waiter, a favorite of many guests.
Another popular dessert option is the Majarete Creme Brûlée, a classic Cuban sweetcorn custard served with sweet potato “bisquits.” This is not your everyday Creme Brûlée; it’s more like a sweet corn pudding.
The food, the wine and the service were all special at the Ocean Grill restaurant on the Fathom Adonia. We finished our meal with a spectacular sunset; be sure to request a back window table and check the daily program for the time of sunset when you make your reservation at the Ocean Grill.
What’s your favorite specialty restaurant on a cruise ship?
Are you a cruising foodie? Do you like to try specialty restaurants on cruise ships? Check out these posts:
- A Look at the Tamarind Restaurant Menu on Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam
- A Look at Holland America’s Updated Canaletto Restaurant Menu
- A Look at the Sabatini’s Menu on Princess Cruises’ Star Princess
- A Peek at Holland America’s New Pinnacle Grill Menu
- An Evening at Le Cirque onboard the Veendam
- 7 Favorite “Naughty” Pleasures on the Seabourn Sojourn
- Dining at the Crab Shack on the Star Princess Cruise Ship
- 11 Days of Menus from the Seabourn Sojourn World Cruise
For more details on my Cuba cruise, check out these posts:
- A Visit to Fusterlandia in Havana, Cuba
- Visiting Finca La Vigía, the Ernest Hemingway Museum in Cuba
- Cementerio de Cristobal Colon, Havana, Cuba
- Reflecting on My Visit to Cuba: People to People Interactions Were the Best
- Adding Cuba to My Travelers’ Century Club List of 325 Destinations
- 50 Interesting Facts about Cuba
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