Princess Cruises offers a number of specialty restaurants onboard its mega ships. Among the options is Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria. Our previous sailing on Princess Cruises to Alaska did not have this venue. So, we were not going to miss the chance to dine here when sailing on the brand new Discovery Princess. Of course, we share all the delicious details with you in our Princess Cruises Sabatini’s Review.

Princess Cruises Sabatini’s Restaurant Review

Given we were sailing as guests of Princess Cruises on this trip, we learned that our group would be dining at Sabatini’s on Night 4. So, there was no need for us to make a reservation.

Our group of 10 had a reservation for 7 PM. This worked out perfectly given our cruise itinerary. For this Mexican Rivera cruise, we had a beach day at Stone Beach in Mazatlán planned.

Thus, this would give us enough time between the tour and dinner to get ready.

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Inside Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria on Discovery Princess

On Discovery Princess, Sabatini’s is located on Deck 5 midship. It is directly across from Guest Services.

Situated on the starboard side of the ship, the exterior wall is lined with windows. For early diners, this location offers great views and plenty of natural sunlight.

The décor is rather subtle, and the restaurant does not offer much in the way of theming. Neutral tones provide a subdued backdrop, with pops of green providing some dimension and lighting fixtures adding some flair.

While an elegant design with a variety of seating options, Sabatini’s does feel like a pretty typical specialty restaurant.

Dining at Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria on Discovery Princess

Once all members of our party arrived, it was time to dig into the impressive menu at Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria. Although, before we could even order, the waitstaff was already delivering food to the table. Now, this is the Italian hospitality!

These dishes included an antipasti plate and some freshly baked bread. Yes, this was going to be one of those dining experiences.

As this was our first visit to the restaurant, we planned to sample several different items.

So, for starters, I tested the calamari, and Heidi sampled the burrata. Her starter came with a massive mound of creamy and rich burrata complemented by ripe tomatoes and balsamic.

Likewise, my starter was equally impressive. The freshly breaded pieces of squid paired nicely with the tangy lemon aioli. This calamari appetizer was certainly better than any version found in the MDR.

Throughout dinner, the waitstaff were very attentive and friendly. They paced the meal as best as they could given our large group. Even though we ended up at the restaurant for close to three hours, there were no long delays between courses.

Even though we started with an antipasti course and appetizer, I still ordered both a pasta course and an entrée.

First, I sampled a half order of the beef pappardelle. This thick, al dente homemade pasta was served in a rich sauce with tender beef. It simply melted in my mouth. This pasta meal was rather heavy though, so I was glad that I ordered the smaller portion.

For an entrée, I did the prosciutto-wrapped tenderloin. This was the perfect addition to my Sabatini’s feast, as it too was very flavorful. The several medallions of perfectly prepared and seasoned pork lion paired well with the sweet au jus and vegetables.

The Princess went with a more traditional meal, the chicken scaloppini. This dish came with a thin cutlet topped with cheese and Italian ham in a light wine sauce. I didn’t get any complaints from her, so I am going to assume she enjoyed it.

Ordering Even More

As if we did not have enough to eat already, we ordered up a double dose of dessert. Well technically, we started with an order of dessert martinis. After all, how could we pass up Tiramisu martinis at an Italian restaurant.

These smooth and creamy drinks are very addicting.

Oddly, the martinis were actually better than the restaurant’s unique twist on the tiramisu dessert.

Good thing I opted for the decadent Chocolate Journeys option, the Rocher. Imagine this popular candy has been magnified in size. This nutty mixture combined a smooth ice cream with pralines and a chocolate coating for a dynamic dessert.

Recap of Our Princess Cruises Sabatini’s Restaurant Review

We have a high standard when it comes to Italian-American cuisine. Happily, we can report that Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria met these expectations.

All of the items we sampled were exquisitely prepared. Our starters were an ideal way to begin the meal. Further, the rich, homemade pastas are a highlight of the restaurant’s menu. Not to say that the other entrées aren’t delicious too.

Of course, you will want to make sure you save room for some dessert and dessert drinks to round out this specialty dining experience.

Overall, the service was friendly and timely even if we did have a large group.

At an up-charge of just $25 per person, Princess Cruises Sabatini’s restaurant is a great deal. It definitely should not be missed during a cruise on Discovery Princess. If you plan to dine at this venue, we highly recommend you make your specialty restaurant reservations pre-cruise, as popular dining times do fill up quickly.

Comments

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