On a recent Harmony of the Seas cruise, we took the opportunity to try Chops Grille. With dining packages becoming so popular, we decided to visit the Royal Caribbean specialty restaurant of all time (historically speaking).
Chops Grille is located on deck 8 in Central Park. Having dined at Chops Grille on a number of other ships, it has always been a reliable and delectable restaurant. The ambiance alone is worth the reservation.
Guests have the option to dine inside or outside, although the weather may dictate how viable the outdoor seating is for your enjoyment.
The Chops Grille menu on Harmony of the Seas features the "classic menu", as opposed to the new Chops Grille menu that is starting to make its way around the fleet. The differences are mostly minor, but it is worth noting that the dinner menu may change soon too on Harmony of the Seas (if it has not already).
Every Chops Grille meal begins with a serving of breads and butter. I enjoyed the different choices, with the hard roll being a favorite.
My favorite appetizer is the French Onion Soup, which is served with a generous amount of onions underneath a cheese and bread topping. You can find French Onion Soup in the main dining room, among other places, and I really think the French Onion Soup from Chops Grille is the best.
We also tried the mesculun salad, which has a very good balsamic dressing. Not too rich or overpowering, and the greens were fresh and crunchy.
Of course, the star attraction at Chops Grille are the steaks. Guests have the choice of a number of cuts of meat, including dry age steaks that cost extra. Having tried the dry aged steaks on Anthem of the Seas, I felt confident in sticking with a tried and true Chops Grille favorite: the filet mignon.
While I might sometimes prefer the NY Strip steak for the flavor, the tenderness and lean cut of the filet mignon always makes it a great choice. Like so many other times at Chops Grille, the steak was cooked exactly the way I wanted it. Your waiter will also provide a choice of steak sauces to add, such as a bearnaise sauce.
Of course, the sides you can order at Chops Grille really enhance the main course. We tried the roasted mushrooms and Gruyère Cheese Tater Tots. I could probably be satisfied with a meal consisting just of the mushrooms, so combining the mushrooms with the steak is a recipe for one happy blogger.
For dessert, I traditionally order the red velvet cake, but decided to try something different this time. The Huckleberry Cheesecake is a relatively new dessert option that many really enjoy. I opted to have my Huckleberry sauce on the side just so I could manage the cake to sauce ratio (I prefer a hint of sauce, rather than a dousing).
Conclusion
Having dined at Chops Grille for many years, on many ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet, I can safely say that the Chops Grille experience remains a quality dining experience. The consistency of the food and service is excellent, and dining at Chops Grille in Central Park adds another level to the overall experience.
While I may have preferred the beef tenderloin from 150 Central Park, I certainly did not regret my Chops Grille meal in the least bit.
There is one consideration about dining at Chops Grille on Harmony of the Seas, and that is the price. These days, dinner at Chops Grille will run $49 per person, which is a lot for any specialty restaurant. If you have sticker shock about it, the best strategy is to consider a dining package to help bring the cost down. Dining packages will cost you more in total out of pocket, but the per dinner experience is typically slashed considerably and that makes the value of Chops Grille far better.
If you have dined at Chops Grille many times as well, you will find Chops Grille to be a familiar choice and very similar to other Chops Grille restaurants across the fleet. If you are new to Royal Caribbean, Chops Grille is a solid choice for anyone that wants a really good specialty restaurant experience.
Episode 214 is available for downloading, where Matt discusses everything you need to know between when you arrive at the port to when you actually board your ship.
