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The Best Cruise Restaurants Onboard Odyssey Of The Seas

Foodies will find plenty of wow-worthy flavors worth raving about when they sail on this award-winning Quantum Ultra-class cruise ship.

By Amanda Mesa | Published on December 21, 2023

The second Quantum Ultra-class cruise ship ever debuted by Royal Caribbean, Odyssey of the Seas is all about exceeding expectations. This applies to cruise restaurants, too. As a food journalist, I’ve had plenty of great meals — and the offerings onboard Odyssey of the Seas can hold their own against even the most well-known restaurants on land. One of the best things about cruise dining onboard this ship is the consistency of quality from one culinary concept to another. From the table-seared Wagyu beef at Teppanyaki^SMto the hand-tossed pizza at Sorrento’s and the salads, wraps and apps at the Café @ Two70, you can expect the same high standard across the board no matter where you choose to grab a bite.

Another great thing about the food scene onboard Odyssey of the Seas is the sheer variety of cruise dining options you have to choose from. No matter what you’re craving — Asian cuisine, a taste of Tuscany, Mediterranean mezes or something totally out of the box — you’ll find lots of options to satisfy your inner foodie every day of your cruise getaway. Savory Old World-style osso buco? Check. Crispy chicken and waffles? Double check. Yummy tacos loaded with all your favorite toppings? You got it. Honestly, there’s no such thing as an average meal onboard.

If you’re anything like me — that is, easily overwhelmed by too many great options — it helps to know all the best restaurants onboard ahead of your sailing. This way you can make a game plan for your getaway, snagging any necessary reservations at specialty restaurants before you even set sail. Here’s an insider’s guide to the best places to eat on a cruise — the Odyssey of the Seas edition.

1. Chops Grille

If you love a good steak — or a good steakhouse vibe — you’ll want to check out Chops Grille. My go-to for birthdays, anniversary dinners and special occasions, it’s one of the most upscale cruise dining options onboard. It’s been around across the fleet for a long time, too, earning it a spot in the hearts of many seasoned cruisers. The menu here highlights prime cuts of steak seasoned and seared to perfection, plus some seriously delicious seafood like Maine lobster and grilled branzino. You’ll also love the mouthwatering sides, all served family-style. The gruyere cheese tater tots are a must, as are the creamed spinach and Yukon gold mashed potatoes, served fluffy and steaming. Have a sweet tooth? Don’t let the simplicity of the treats on the menu fool you — the classic New York-style cheesecake and key lime meringue pie are among the best I’ve ever tried (and I’ve tried many across the country).

2. Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine

Another fan-favorite specialty restaurant by Royal Caribbean, Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine turns every meal into a wow-worthy, full-sensory experience. Even the menu is unexpected — guests are invited to dip paintbrushes into water, then brush a seemingly blank page. Even if you already know what to expect, it’s always a surprise and delight to see the menu items appear on the paper as if by magic. Based on their flavor profiles, the dishes here are broken out into four categories inspired by the elements: Earth, Sea, Fire, Ice and Sun. From the Fire section, the Buffalo chicken eggs and the crispy shrimp kataifi with scotch bonnet pepper pack a punch. If you’re in the mood for something more refreshing, opt for the white tuna sashimi or the oceanic citrus with yuzu granite from the Ice section. The Sea and Earth sections spotlight creative delicacies like liquid lobster served with bone marrow and caviar, branzino paired with tamarind spice emulsion and Berkshire pork belly served with tart apples and cracklin.

3. Teppanyaki

Teppanyaki is a top-rated specialty restaurant onboard Odyssey of the Seas, and always a must when I cruise on a ship that has it. Offering captivating sea views through floor-to-ceiling windows and an atmosphere that’s stylish and sophisticated, it turns cruise fine dining into a visual feast complete with dazzling cooking displays. The chefs here prepare your meals right at your table, which features a stainless-steel cooktop perfect for searing fried rice, tender scallops and NY strip steak. Some of my favorite menu items include the jumbo crispy softshell crab — an app that’s perfect for sharing — and the assorted sashimi selection. For the main event, I typically go for the sea scallops and lobster or the Wagyu A4 beef (it’s worth the splurge). And for dessert, it’s all about the chilled mochi sampler and the crispy, decadent sesame balls.

4. Giovanni's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar

When I’m cruising with my husband, I love to pencil in at least one special date night onboard. One of my top picks for a romantic night out on Odyssey of the Seas is Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar. This cozy trattoria transports you instantly to the rolling hills of Tuscany with the savory smells that waft from the kitchen and other guests’ plates. One of my top picks of the menu is the truffled caprese salad, served over zesty arugula and juicy heirloom tomatoes. Guests also rave about the classic lasagna, layered with Bolognese sauce, mozzarella and cottage cheese, then oven-baked until the cheese on top is golden. One of the most famous items here is Giovanni’s assorted meat and cheese platter. Heaped with porchetta, mozzarella, mortadella and more, it’s the perfect option to share with friends or your special someone.

5. Sorrento’s Pizza

Speaking of Italian eats, make sure you save room during your cruise getaway to try the pies over at Sorrento’s Pizza. This casual spot is known for serving up some of the best cruise food in the game, one mouthwateringly delicious slice at a time. You’ll find all the classics here — cheese, pepperoni and Margherita. Plus, some unique alternatives like the meat-loaded Carnivore, a sweet-and-smoky BBQ chicken pizza pie and my personal top pick, the Caribbean Dream. It comes sprinkled with pineapple and bacon over BBQ sauce. One of the best things about Sorrento’s Pizza — besides the food, of course — is that it’s open late, making it the perfect pitstop to refuel after a whirl on the dance floor. Did I mention the food here is all complimentary, too?

6. El Loco Fresh

When I’m in the mood for Tex-Mex classics, I hit up El Loco Fresh. Located steps from the ship’s always-buzzing main pool on Deck 14, it specializes in fast-casual yet flavorful noshes like shareable loaded nachos, tacos topped with all your favorite fixings, savory burritos packed tight with beef, chicken or pork and some of the best guacamole I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting. Dessert here is just as stellar, whether you opt for the chocolate dulce de leche, the creamy Mexican flan, the decadent tres leches cake or all three. Here’s a pro tip: El Loco Fresh serves a mean breakfast, too. Stop by in the morning for breakfast burritos, quesadillas, scrambled eggs, hash browns, sausage and more. Like Sorrento’s Pizza, everything on offer at this popular dining spot is included in your cruise fare.

7. The Cafe @ Two70

Sometimes you just want to kick back and enjoy the scenery while you’re munching on something tasty and light. That’s where the Café @ Two70 comes in. Open for breakfast and lunch, this unique bistro-style restaurant serves complimentary flavors from all over the world, including a crisp Thai chicken noodle salad tossed in sweet-and-tangy sesame-peanut dressing, three creative riffs on the classic grilled cheese (I love the version with smoked ham and green apples) and so much more. As you enjoy your meal, you can gaze out through the restaurant’s incredible floor-to-ceiling windows as you sail across the ocean and past new destinations.

8. Solarium Bistro Restaurant

When I want a little “me” time, I head to the ship’s Solarium, an adults-only hideaway equipped with its own tranquil whirlpools, swimming pool and plenty of room to unwind in the shade or sunshine. It’s also home to a top-notch al fresco restaurant that offers free, Mediterranean-inspired dishes during breakfast, lunch and dinner. In the morning, it’s all about the seasonal fruit, creamy yogurt, eggs prepped just how you like them and continental staples like pastries and bagels. At lunch and dinnertime, you can dig into pita bread spread with homemade tzatziki and babaghanoush, tender lamp chops paired with refreshing mint jus, fluffy loukoumades soaked in honey and succulent lobster drizzled with citrus butter. In my opinion, this breezy, laid-back restaurant is one of the best free cruise dining options onboard Odyssey of the Seas.

9. Main Dining Room

The star of the food scene onboard Odyssey of the Seas, the Main Dining Room, serves up an extravagant multi-course feast paired with five-star service that never disappoints. You’ll find new items on the menu from every corner of the globe here every night, including crispy duck a l’Orange, Moroccan-spiced tuna and hearty prime rib. It’s all served in a lavish, multi-level venue that makes every evening feel special. Of course, dinner in the Main Dining Room is free for cruise guests — all you have to do is choose your preferred seating via the Cruise Planner App or once you’re onboard the ship.

10. Coastal Kitchen

If you’ve opted to reserve a suite for your cruise getaway, or if you’re a Pinnacle Club member, you’ll enjoy access to Coastal Kitchen — an exclusive restaurant that fuses farm-fresh California flavors with influences from the Mediterranean. I personally love the restaurant’s menu, which changes to feature seasonal ingredients. Favorites include the breakfast frittata served with feta cheese and spinach, golden-grilled French toast topped with caramelized bananas, tender herb-crusted chicken breast served with roasted squash, and an oh-so-good roasted veal tenderloin served in a vin jaune sauce. If you’re a wine lover, you’ll be pleased to know the wine list here is legendary. It encompasses vintages from Tuscany to Napa Valley.

These are just a couple of my top picks for dining onboard Odyssey of the Seas. Of course, the cruise ship has plenty more restaurants onboard to please even the pickiest eaters — both specialty and complimentary options. See what else is on offer, or start planning your next getaway by checking out popular itineraries.