We had some really great experiences with food on the Symphony of the Seas on our recent trip. Below is our Symphony of the Seas Dining Guide with a blurb about each restaurant and our experience if we ate there. Those with an asterisk (*) are complimentary and included with your cruise fee! Restaurants are listed in alphabetical order.
Also from this same trip, we compiled a list of some “hidden secrets” on the ship!
Table of Contents
150 Central Park
First on our Symphony of the Seas Dining Guide is 150 Central Park. This restaurant is a pay-for dinning option in the Central Park area and offers farm-to-table food including steak and seafood. Located on Deck 8.
Bionic Bar
While not necessarily a dinning venue, the Bionic Bar offers alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. All drinks are ordered via tablet and then made by a robot! Super cool to watch! Located on Deck 5.
Café Promenade*
Café Promenade offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner and is open 24 hours. So if you are looking for food at 4am; this is a great stop. We loved to stop by for sandwiches and dessert, but it also offers tea and coffee. Located on Deck 5.
Chops Grille
Known for hand-cut steaks, this upscale steak restaurant also offers fish, lobster, and more in the Central Park area. This is an up-charge, and is open for dinner every night but only open for lunch on sea days. Located on Deck 8.
Coastal Kitchen
This restaurant is reserved for ONLY suite guests and Pinnacle Club members, but if you fall into those categories, it is included. It mixes Californian cuisine with Mediterranean and has a rotating menu. This restaurant also has great window views. Located on Deck 17.
Dog House*
Included with cruise fare, this fast casual restaurant offers hot dogs and sausages out on the Boardwalk area of the ship. It also offers several toppings, sides, and salads. Great for a quick lunch, dinner, or snack! Located on Deck 6.
El Loco Fresh*
El Loco Fresh was one of our favorite food spots! New to Symphony of the Seas, it offers a buffet of Mexican food on the pool deck. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and poolside snacks. This restaurant will soon be added to Oasis of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, and Allure of the Seas.
It offers a buffet with quesadillas, tacos, burritos, and a topping bar with guacamole (!), salsa, cheese, and more!
Hooked Seafood
Next on our Symphony of the Seas Dining Guide is Hooked Seafood. This is a pay-for restaurant and offers New England and Mid-Atlantic style seafood. It offers a raw bar along with Maryland crab cakes and more. It is a new addition to the Symphony of the Seas. Located on Deck 16.
Izumi
Izumi is split into two sections: tableside Hibachi and a Sushi bar. The Hibachi side fills up very quickly so we recommend making reservations for that early on. Hibachi is a set price whereas the Sushi bar is a la carte. They also offer pay-for sushi making classes in Izumi throughout the cruise.
We ate at the Sushi side of Izumi and it was delicious! We received complimentary edamame and enjoyed a hot appetizer of pork goyza dumplings. Then we ordered a few rolls of sushi, including the Crunchy Spicy Tuna (pictured above). It was delicious!!!
Finally, we ordered some delicious dessert, mochi! They had several mochi flavors, and we decided to try one of each: mango, strawberry, and green tea. A great way to finish off the meal! We highly recommend Izumi on Symphony of the Seas and on any other Royal Caribbean ship that has this restaurant. Located on Deck 4.
Jamie’s Italian
A restaurant concept from British chef Jamie Oliver, this pay-for dining option offers Italian fare with seasonal ingredients. One of its dishes, the Famous Plank, is the ultimate family-style app with meats, cheese, and pickles. The pasta is made in-house and the restaurant is located in the atmospheric Central Park. Located on Deck 8.
Johnny Rockets
Johnny Rockets is an American chain based upon 1950s diner-style eateries. Many Royal Caribbean ships have a Johnny Rockets. Breakfast is free, but then lunch and dinner is an additional charge. Go here for burgers, milk shakes, tuna melts, and other traditional diner food. It is in the Boardwalk area, very fitting with the theme. Located on Deck 6.
Main Dining Room*
You can eat in the Main Dining Room for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is included with your cruise fare and offers global cuisine. For dinner, Royal Caribbean offers two traditional, timed seatings where you are assigned the same table to dine at every night with the same table mates and wait staff. Traditional Seating is good for big groups or if you want a consistent time every night.
Or you can choose “My Time Dining,” where you have no assigned time or table. You can make reservations at a variety of times in advance or simply show up and wait for an available table. You can make My Time Dining reservations before the cruise or once you are on the ship. It is recommended to make reservations so that you spend less time waiting. You can select either traditional or “My Time,” depending on your preference. We choose “My Time Dining” so we could have more flexibility.
At dinner time, you select an appetizer, entree, and dessert that are included. You can also pay extra for upgrades to lobster and filet minion if you so desire.
Ultimately, we only ate in the Main Dining Room once on our trip. We ate at Izumi and Wonderland for two nights, and the rest of our trip, we ate at the buffet. The food in the dining room was OK; we really liked the crab cake (pictured above), but we weren’t particularly impressed with the service or food for our My Time Dining experience so opted not to go again. Located on Deck 3, 4, and 5.
Playmakers Bar & Arcade
Playmakers is located on the Boardwalk and the menu is a la carte. This bar and restaurant offers dozens of screens to watch sports and other events on. While we were there, the American college football championship was on and this was a popular spot to watch. There are also many games and an attached arcade for entertainment.
You can order a variety of drinks and food, including their signature Playmakers Burger, wings, and ice cream. We ate here once and enjoyed the buffalo wings. A fun atmosphere and good food! Located on Deck 6.
Room Service
Room service is an additional fee, but is available 24/7. The menu changes by sailing, but offers a variety of light fare, dessert, breakfast, and more depending on the time of day. We ordered burgers to our room one night and it was relatively quick and delicious. Available in any room.
Solarium Bistro Restaurant*
Solarium Bistro is a real gem! It is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and offers fresh and healthy cuisine. Located at the front of the ship near the solarium deck, it offers a beautiful ambiance. We found the food in the solarium delicious!! It offered a different variety of food, the location was near our room, and it was overall great!
Highly recommend eating at the Solarium Bistro! Located on Deck 15.
Sorrento’s Pizza*
Sorrento’s is another included spot and offers several types of pizza. They offer cheese and pepperoni at all times and then offer a specialty pizza, ranging from Hawaiian to white pizza. It is open late and good spot for night snacking! We found the pizza pretty good and nice to have included. Located on Deck 5.
Starbucks
You can still have your favorite Starbucks drink onboard the Symphony of the Seas. They offer an extensive menu of beverages and light fare, such as pastries. Located on Deck 5.
Sugar Beach
Located on the Boardwalk, Sugar Beach is where you can purchase a variety of candy and ice cream. It also offers a cupcake decorating class throughout the cruise. Located on Deck 6.
Vintages
Included in our Symphony of the Seas Dining Guide is Vintages, a wine bar. It offers many wines, including Burgundy, Merlot, and Pinot Grigio, and a variety of light bites and desserts to pair with your wine. Located on Deck 8.
Vitality Cafe*
Vitality Cafe’s snacks are included with your cruise fare. However, the smoothies and juices are an extra charge. It is located in the lobby of the Vitality Spa and Fitness Center and offers a variety of healthy fare. Great for after a workout, spa service, or really any time. Located on Deck 6.
Windjammer*
The Windjammer is the main buffet for the Symphony of the Sea and included. For all the restaurants included in our Symphony of the Seas Dining Guide, this is the one that we ate at the most. It offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks in between. We would like to wake up early and eat breakfast by the windows, looking out at the ocean.
It offers a variety of cuisines and there is something for everyone, including healthier dishes, gluten-free options, and decadent desserts. There may be special theme nights throughout the cruise and the menu changes daily. We loved the Windjammer’s food! Located on Deck 16.
Wonderland
Wonderland is an imaginative and fun dining experience based on Alice in Wonderland. The chefs at Wonderland craft an elaborate fare and create the menu around elements: Wind, Ice, Fire, Water, Earth, and Dreams. It is reminiscent of a Chef’s Table where you do not order specific dishes; rather, the waiters ask you your preferences and bring you dishes based on your likes and dislikes.
The entry to the restaurant starts your magical experience as you walk into the space. You are brought a menu and you use a brush to reveal the menu and see all of the options. It is an incredible sensory experience and it was our favorite dining experience!!!
First, we were brought treats from the element of fire, which included Buffalo Chicken Eggs on a nest and the Mad Hatter’s Purple Potted Shrimp. Both were delicious and the Buffalo Chicken eggs were within a glass dome filled with smoke that were then dramatically revealed.
Next, we had the element of sea with liquid lobster and tempura caviar. Then we served ice with lime sorbet and tuna with a Parmesan cracker. It was yummy!
Then, we received another element of ice, Crispy Crab Cones, which were my favorite! They were wanton cones filled with crab, avocado mousse, and wasabi. It was delicious!
Finally, we received several desserts. Our favorite dessert was a chocolate ball that melted to reveal a delicious treat inside! Ultimately, everything was great and we highly recommend the experience, the food, and Wonderland overall! Located on Deck 12.
Thanks for reading our Symphony of the Seas Dining Guide!
