Eateries on The Scarlet Lady
By: Carrie Fulton
March 8, 2022
Virgin Voyages boasts being a cruise line that has changed the food landscape on the sea, and if you travel in part to enjoy eating different places, I can promise you that you will be thrilled at what they’ve created. Here’s my take on the nine places we ate during our five-night voyage.
Razzle Dazzle – Named for the way war ships were painted during WWI, this restaurant has a fun vibe. It feels energetic and mod! The menu is called “vegetable forward,” but they do have meat options for the omnivorous among us. We went there for brunch one day and had a great meal, but I don’t think we would have loved it for dinner.
Extra Virgin – The Italian option on the ship was our first dinner experience on the Scarlet Lady. We enjoyed the best carpaccio I’ve ever had, the best prepared steak on the ship and a great cheese board. I enjoyed the gnocchi and oxtail pasta, and I would love to eat at this restaurant again sometime. I’d eat here twice on a future voyage for sure!
Test Kitchen – If you are a foodie, this is the place to eat! Presented as a food “lab,” many seats are at a bar where you’ll see kitchen staff finish plating some of the dishes. This is a fixed menu where you choose between meat or vegan. If you choose meat, you will be able to choose between venison or beef for your main course. You will also be able to choose between a wine or cocktail pairing, but you can also pick your preferred drink. This one that I’m so glad I did, but unless the menu changes, I’ve already “tested” this kitchen, I don’t know that I’d need to go back.
The Wake – As the ship’s steakhouse, it is a good standard steakhouse. As someone who has been fortunate enough to eat at many elite steakhouses, this is a solid offering. The sides were large enough to share in true steakhouse tradition. The asparagus was the right balance between being cooked and still maintain a crunch, but the sauce was a bit more mayo-ish for my taste. The twice baked potatoes were more like fingerling potatoes with cheese on top. They were fine, but just not what I expected. I did hear many sailors raving about brunch at The Wake so that’s when I’ll be heading here during my next Virgin Voyage.
Gunbae – If you love sitting with new people and hibachi, this is the place for you! It’s a Korean BBQ where the proteins are all prepared at the table, you are invited to participate in a drinking game before your first course comes out and you leave with a full belly and new friends. The food was flavorful, but it didn’t seem special to me. If I were to go again, I would skip this restaurant and eat again at my favorite eatery on board, which was Pink Agave.
Pink Agave – This was my absolute favorite dinner on board. A small plates, Mexican restaurant you will try new things with familiar flavors. The small plates corn course still gives me food dreams, and the beef large plate was the favorite thing I ate all week. The tables are all close so you find yourself getting recommendations from neighboring tables, and the crew will bring you more of anything at any of these locations in true cruise line form.
The Galley – This food court style dining hall replaces the traditional buffet on Virgin Voyages. Be sure you find your table before you do anything! Once you’re seated, you scan a QR code and someone from the wait staff will come take your order. Once they put it in their smart device, your food is prepared along with any special preferences you may have then delivered by a food runner. There are 10+ eateries for you to choose from ranging from sushi, tacos, burgers, salads, ramen sandwiches and 22 hour breakfast diner. There were plenty of healthier options to choose from.
The Pizza Place – A location that’s open all hours of the day or night, these pizzas are cooked in a wood burning pizza oven and take about five minutes to bake. It’s a great stop if you want something different from offerings at The Galley or a late-night snack.
Lick Me Til I Scream… - As with many cruise lines, there is included ice cream to be found. There are six options every day ranging from Butter Pecan Financier to a sugar free option that you can get in a flavored cone or cup. I love ice cream and was glad to try a few. However, if you are a fan of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream you will find these a bit bland.
So, if you’re a self-proclaimed foodie, this will become your favorite cruise line. If you are a very picky eater, then we’ll discuss this we plan your next vacation. We’ll review menus, allergies and aversions to find what’s best for you. Email me at cfulton@wishesfamilytravel.com to discuss your favorite meals at sea!
This is part 2 in a 3-part series. You can read part one here.