Heidi BucoloWe are back from an Alaska cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line’s largest ship, Norwegian Encore, and have put together this Norwegian Encore Restaurant Guide with menus so you can see what is available at the different restaurants onboard this final Breakaway Plus Class ship.
CRUISE DEALS: SAVE ON YOUR NEXT NORWEGIAN CRUISE WITH THE LATEST FREE AT SEA PROMOTION!
BRAND NEW NORWEGIAN ENCORE SHIP TOUR AND REVIEW VIDEO!
Norwegian Encore Restaurant Menus and Dining Guide
Norwegian Encore Specialty Restaurants
Known for its Freestyle approach to cruising, Norwegian Encore features a number of complimentary dining options as well as several specialty restaurants. These specialty restaurants do all have up-charges. Though, they are certainly worth it in our opinion.
If you plan to dine at any of these restaurants, you should make reservations pre-cruise, as popular dining times do fill up quickly.
Most of the specialty restaurants are priced a la carte on Norwegian Encore with the exception of Teppanyaki. Alternatively, cruisers can use meals from their specialty dining packages to dine at these venues. Luckily, most cruisers booking during the popular NCL Free at Sea promotion will score at least one free specialty dinner.
Q Texas Smokehouse (Deck 6)
What goes better with some southern-style brisket or baby-back ribs? How about some live music? At Q Texas Smokehouse, you can enjoy some southern comfort food, then join the hoedown afterwards with some country tunes and dancing.
This specialty restaurant is priced a la carte, or cruisers can use a specialty dining credit. With savory selections like smoked beef brisket, pork spareribs, rotisserie chicken, mac and cheese, and banana pudding, we recommend you check out this casual spot.
Q Texas Smokehouse is open nightly for dinner from 5:30 to 9:30 PM.
Drink Menu | Dinner & Dessert Menu
Teppanyaki (Deck 6)
This Japanese-style hibachi steakhouse is a specialty restaurant that offers a multi-course menu with a flat fee price of $59 (+20% service charge). This is a staple Norwegian Cruise Line restaurant.
Entrée selections range from chicken, steak, and shrimp. In addition, all meals include soup, salad, fried rice, grilled vegetables, and dessert. Whenever we have dined at Teppanyaki, the food is as good as the culinary show!
Teppanyaki is open nightly for dinner from 5 to 9:30 PM.
Cagney’s Steakhouse (Deck 8)
Norwegian Cruise Line’s signature steakhouse is a carnivore’s go-to specialty restaurant. Cagney’s serves up premium cuts of beef alongside delicious starters, side dishes, and desserts. On Norwegian Encore, Cagney’s offers both al fresco seating on the Waterfront and indoor accommodations.
Of note, the Surf & Turf does have a supplement of $25 when using the dining package.
Cagney’s is open nightly for dinner from 5:30 to 9:30 PM and is a great choice for an elegant night out on Norwegian Encore.
Los Lobos (Deck 8)
The menu at Norwegian Cruise Line’s upscale Mexican restaurant, Los Lobos, highlights classic Mexican dishes with a modern twist. For instance, the venue offers guacamole prepared table-side, Grilled Mahi-Mahi Tacos, and Mesquite Smoked Chicken Quesadillas.
Located on the Waterfront, cruisers have the option of dining indoors or al fresco. Couple the exquisite menu with handcrafted margaritas, and you have one festive night out.
Los Lobos is open nightly for dinner from 5:30 to 9:30 PM. However, it would be nice to have the venue open for lunch as well.
Ocean Blue (Deck 8)
Fresh seafood and ocean views come together for one epic evening at Ocean Blue. There is a wide selection of appetizers and entrees on the menu like a crab cake and clam chowder, as well as surf and turf, the fisherman’s platter, and cold water lobster.
Dine with or without the Specialty Dining Package at this elegant and nautically decorated venue. However, if you choose to use the dining plan, there is an additional supplement for select items on the menu.
Like most of the other specialty restaurants, Ocean Blue is open nightly for dinner from 5:30 to 9:30 PM.
Onda by Scarpetta (Deck 8)
Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest Italian restaurant, Onda by Scarpetta debuted on Norwegian Encore in 2019. The venue offers several modern Italian dishes like fresh pasta, mouthwatering seafood, and timeless desserts.
Subsequently, you will certainly want to dine at this restaurant during your cruise. For a more romantic evening, you should consider dining on the Waterfront.
Onda by Scarpetta is priced a la carte or a specialty dining package credit can be used here. The venue is open nightly for dinner from 5:30 to 9:30 PM.
Food Republic (Deck 8)
One of our favorite restaurants on Norwegian Cruise Line is Food Republic. This fusion restaurant combines different culinary traditions and cooking styles. The bright, funky design offers patrons ocean views while dining at the restaurant.
Most importantly, guests using a Norwegian Cruise Line Specialty Dining Package at Food Republic can order up to four items each. Additional items will be charged a la carte.
The items range from sushi and handheld bites like the firecracker shrimp and Korean chicken. In addition, the menu features shareable plates, a grill, and noodles and rice. There are plenty of delicious items to choose from on the menu, but be sure to save room for the green tea jar too.
Food Republic is open nightly for dinner from 5:30 to 9:30 PM as well as select days for lunch from 12 to 1:30 PM.
American Diner (Deck 17)
The American Diner is the most casual specialty restaurant on Norwegian Encore. This restaurant is open on select sea days and later arrival ports of call. For our Alaska cruise on Norwegian Encore, the restaurant tended to open around 11 AM or 12 PM and close between 3 and 4 PM.
Serving up sandwiches, milkshakes, and plates like southern fried chicken, this outdoor restaurant has a 1950’s Americana vibe. With carhop furnishes, to the fire hydrant red bar, and server uniforms, it is something out of Happy Days.
The food is priced a la carte or cruisers can use a specialty dining package at the restaurant. The selections are modestly priced around $12-$15 per plate; though, we would probably pass on this restaurant in the future. Of note, milkshakes are an additional fee if using a specialty dining package credit.
Le Bistro (Deck 17)
French cuisine with some of the best views of the ocean are available at Le Bistro. This specialty restaurant is located on Deck 17, providing a more open, yet intimate space for cruisers looking to celebrate a special evening.
The menu includes French favorites like Coq Au Vin and escargot, as well as lobster thermidor for an extra $25 dining package supplement.
Le Bistro is open nightly for dinner from 5:30 to 9:30 PM.
EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS: Get Deals on Norwegian Encore Cruises!
Norwegian Encore Up-Charge Sweets and Treats
Coco’s (Deck 6)
Chocolate lovers have a place to indulge in all things sweet on Norwegian Encore. At Coco’s, your confectionery favorites come in all varieties including bonbons, crepes, outrageous milkshakes and sundaes, and even a chocolate fountain on display.
You may have to show some self-restraint because you could simply lose yourself in these sweet surroundings. Coco’s a la carte menu is an up-charge, and the venue is open most days from 11 AM until 9:30 PM.
Starbucks (Deck 6)
The Starbucks menu on Norwegian Encore offers all the drink items that you would expect to find at the coffee house on land, including lattes, espressos, drip coffee, and even some pastries and snacks.
While none of the beverages are covered in the Premium Beverage Package, they ARE included in the Premium Plus beverage package. In fact, this is the only cruise line that does include drinks from licensed Starbucks venues in a drink package.
However, all of the food is an up-charge regardless of which drink package you have.
Starbucks is open daily from 6 AM to 10 PM.
The Bake Shop and Dolce Gelato (Deck 8)
If you like petite pastries or perhaps a scoop of smooth Italian-style ice cream, then head to the Bake Shop. This location is a perfect place to stop during one of your afternoon strolls along the Waterfront.
This ocean-side venue on Norwegian Encore is the perfect place to take a midday break with the family and indulge in a treat. After all, you are on vacation. These items are priced a la carte.
The Dolce Gelato take-out window is open 12 to 5 PM, and the Bake Shop is open 12 to 5 PM as well.
Norwegian Encore Complimentary Restaurants
Main Dining Rooms (Decks 6 and 7)
When it comes to complimentary dining on Norwegian Encore, there are three main dining rooms which all offer the same nightly menu. Savor and Taste are located aft on Deck 6, while the more upscale Manhattan Room is located on Deck 7.
Unlike the main dining rooms on Norwegian Prima, the menu selections still change each evening with a list of standard options available every night. Unlike other cruise lines who have recently cut back the MDR menus, NCL’s menus are still quite large. They feature six classic entrees and six featured entrees each evening.
Savor and Taste are open for breakfast and select days for lunch, as well as nightly for dinner. Breakfast is served from around 7/7:30 to 9/9:30 AM. Lunch is served from around 12 to 1:30 PM. Dinner is between 5:30 and 9:30 PM.
The Manhattan Room is only open for dinner from 5 to 9 PM. Reservations can be made in advance (for dinner), or you can choose to just walk up to a venue whenever you want to dine. Keep in mind, there might be a short wait like any restaurant on land.
Breakfast | Lunch 1 | Lunch 2 | Lunch 3 | Dinner 1 | Dinner 2 | Dinner 3 | Dinner 4 | Dinner 5 | Dinner 6 | Dinner 7
The Local Bar and Grill (Deck 7)
If you are looking for a casual spot for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, the Local Bar and Grill is your table service destination. This complimentary venue is an updated take on the brand’s popular O’Sheehan’s Pub, with a menu that showcases similar offerings like the Fish and Chips, Chicago Style Hot Dog, and chicken wings.
The venue is open 24 hours a day serving up slightly different menus depending on what time of day you choose to dine. It serves breakfast from around 6 to 11 AM, lunch and dinner from 11:30 AM to 10:30 PM, and late night snacks from 10:30 PM to 3:30 AM.
Breakfast Menu | Lunch and Dinner Menu | Late Night Menu
Observation Lounge (Deck 15)
This forward-facing venue on Norwegian Encore is a large space with plenty of comfy furniture and great views. It’s the perfect spot to relax on a sea day or admire the scenery. Luckily, there are also snacks available if you get hungry.
Light breakfast is available from 9 to 11:30 AM. Light lunch is available 11:30 AM to 3 PM, and there’s Tea Time from 3 to 5 PM. These snacks include items like small breakfast pastries, finger sandwiches, and small desserts.
Garden Café (Deck 16)
The Garden Café is located on Deck 16 of Norwegian Encore, so it is a short stroll away to satisfy all your poolside munchies. This cruise ship buffet is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and offers a variety of food options. International selections include American, Indian, Asian, and Central American cuisines. The menu options rotate regularly with some standard offerings.
Further, there are often themes at dinner, like Steak and Shrimp night, Grill Extravaganza, and Oriental Night, among others.
The Garden Café is open for breakfast from between 6:30 and 7 AM to 10:30 AM. It reopens for lunch from around 11:30 AM to 3 PM and for dinner from 5:30 to 9:30 PM.
Room Service
Norwegian Cruise Line does offer room service for an upcharge as well. For breakfast, cruisers can choose continental items, as well as hot breakfast selections like omelets. No matter how much you order, breakfast is $4.95 (plus 20% gratuity). Breakfast is available from 6:30 to 10 AM. Cruisers can order via the stateroom television or using a door hanger menu.
For the remainder of the day, cruisers on Norwegian Encore can order from an all day menu via the stateroom television. This menu includes options like salads, sandwiches, pizza, and entrees. There is also a small kids menu. The cover charge for room service from the all day menu is $9.95 (plus 20% gratuity) with drinks at current bar prices.
Breakfast Menu | All Day Dining
Comments
Do you have an Alaska cruise planned on this Breakaway Plus Class ship? Which of the Norwegian Encore Restaurant Menus looks the best to you? Drop us an anchor below with any questions about this dining guide.
12 comments
LuAnn
Hi! I’m so very thankful I found your post on Encore dining menus, what a treasure of information! We are booked on Encore July 2024 to Alaska. While we are avid cruisers, we have not sailed with NCL for many years. I am desperately trying to figure out how their dining system works. When we booked, we received Free at Sea “ Specialty Dining Package – 2 meals to enjoy at any of our specialty dining restaurants”. Does this give us a dollar amount to put towards a meal in any restaurant we choose? Or is our entire meal covered for each of 2 evenings? Any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated as well as any tips on securing the best reservations. I look forward to hearing from you and can’t wait to follow you via Pinterest from here on out.
Best, LuAnn
Bonnie
Can you tell me what time each bar opens? I know the pool bars, atrium, and local open early, but, I was wondering about the venues on the waterfront (like can you get a mojito in the afternoon?). Thanks
Teresa
What time do the restaurants typically open and close?
BARBARA PAIS
Thank you for such an amazing site. Love all the menus in one place. I don’t know why they don’t show them on the TV. Now I have to figure out how to print them but our cruise isn’t for almost a year so I have a lot of time and ink cartridges to do it.
Donna Smith-Seeley
Loved the link and shared. Only thing missing is the Haven menus. Would have enjoyed seeing those too.
Harold Berman
is there any way to see the menus from main dinning room for the epic we have a 15 day cruise set for April would like to now whats on for each night B4 we set up the specialty restaurants
Steve berney
Do the specialty restaurants have kids menus
Kim
Thank you! Great info for us to decide our specially dining package options.
Jenna S
Does “The Local” have a bowling alley, darts, games like O’Sheehans does on other NCL ships?
Linda Howard
Do the Savor and Manhattan room have the same menu? Is Friday the seafood buffet lunch and dinner?
Liam
Savor, Taste and Manhattan room have the same menu. Manhattan room only open for dinner. On my past NCL cruises, the seafood buffet was usually the second night.
Julie
what is on the seafood buffet? Do they have lobster or crab legs? And this buffet is the Garden Buffet??