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Shifu Ramen Expo Review: Good Ramen or Just a Fun Manga Spot?

1/15/2026

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Shifu ramen Expo Review

Shifu Ramen is a ramen restaurant with a handful of locations primarily in Portugal and Spain. It's known for its manga (Japanese comic book) style decor.

Also on this trip: Eurostars Universal Lisboa Hotel Review

Shifu Ramen Expo Interior Neon Signs

The google ratings were good, but we had to honestly wonder:

Is this actually a good ramen spot or just a fun novelty place to visit?

Inside Shifu Ramen Expo - Step Into Tokyo Japan

If you've been to Japan, this spot will temporarily cure your saudades. The overall vibe will transport you back to Tokyo to relive your travel memories.

But how is the food? What is on offer here?

Japanese Beer

We tried Super Dry Asahi and Kirin Ichiban beers at Shifu Ramen Expo.

Asahi + Kirin Ichiban Japanese Beers at Shifu Ramen Expo Lisbon

Try Zero Alcohol Asahi

Fried Gyoza Appetizer

Over here we love a dumpling from any nation and it's now become part of our staple order to try the Gyozas. when we are at a new restaurant!

Fried Gyoza Top View Shifu Ramen Expo

Really enjoyed the Gyoza at Shifu Ramen. The texture of the outside was so good, fried enough to get crispy, but not so fried that you lose all the chew.

Just look at the texture of these Gyoza!

The Japanese dumplings were pork filled and seemed to be drizzled with a sweet chili sauce.

Fried Gyoza Cross Section at Shifu Ramen Expo Lisbon

Order Gyoza: Amazon

Read: How would you rate this 5 star hotel we stayed at in lisbon?

Infierno Spicy Ramen

The infierno (inferno) spicy ramen was a classic tonkotsu pork broth with all the fixings, including some of the most tender chasu pork (braised pork belly) I've had in a ramen for a while.

It was so easy to break apart with your chop sticks!

Infierno Spicy Chasu Tonkotsu Ramen Pic | Shifu Expo

Spicy Fried Chicken Ramen

The spicy fried chicken ramen was something different for us to try. I thought the coating on the chicken was great and was hugely impressed with how good it tasted even by the bottom of the bowl, when the chicken had been swimming in broth for the duration of the meal!

Spicy Fried Chicken Ramen Pic | Shifu Expo

A note on spicy levels at shifu ramen

Spice levels at restaurants are notoriously tricky to navigate on your first visit. Every restaurant's spice scale is different and the way they make a dish spicy varies. Some just add extra scoops of straight up chili flakes at the end while others weave spicy levels into the actual cooking of the dish.

We like spicy, but I had read that they take spice seriously here, so on a scale of 1-5 I opted for level 3. The waitress really tried to talk me down from that to a 1, I mean she nearly begged me, no exaggeration.

She said she would bring more spice if needed. I asked about a level 2? In the end I am not sure if I got 1 or 2 but honestly she knew what she was talking about. It was a perfect amount of spice to let you appreciate the flavors of the ramen while enjoying some heat.

I probably would not have enjoyed it as much at a level 3.

Mango Mochi Dessert

Stuffed full of liquids (Ramen and Japanese Beer), plus the gyoza, I didn't think I had any space left for dessert, but we did decide to split a single Mochi ice cream... for you, the esteemed reader.

Mango Mochi at Shifu Ramen Expo

Mochi always seem to be around 5 or 6 euros at a restaurant, for a single mochi, which always feels like a lot, but they are good. ;)

We opted for the mango mochi. They are bigger than the mochi we picked up from aldi recently, and it was really just the right size. The ice cream was a nice way to cool off after a hot ramen (temp and spicy), and the chew of the rice dough surrounding the ice cream is just.. such a pleasant experience. :)

Mango Mochi Cross Section | Shifu Ramen Lisbon Portugal

Fully amused by the addition of the spray can whipped cream and wafer garnish. Random, but I'm not mad. Makes the plate feel less sparse than just a single mochi alone sliding around. :)

Try Mochi Ice Cream At Home!

Overall Thoughts on Shifu Ramen

If I am honest, I walked in with low-ish expectations. I mean, I thought this would be more of a gimmicky spot than a decent ramen. A place that's fun to visit once and take pictures with your friends or whatever. But I walked out thinking "Wow, that was respectable!"

Shifu Ramen Expo Location in Winter Time

It was a solid ramen experience on a damp, cold day in Lisbon. The staff were kind and helpful. It's a fun, unique environment to dine in and I'd say it's more than just a novelty spot!

They have great reviews on google, and I do believe they lightly incentivize leaving a google review, but this is a trend I see a lot in Portugal. There are many opinions about this practice, but at the end of the day these restaurants are out here trying to survive in a sea of competitors so I get it.

If you get a ramen at Shifu Expo, I'd love to hear how you enjoyed the experience.

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We hope you enjoyed this honest review of Shifu Ramen in Expo, Lisbon, Portugal.

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Eurostars Universal Lisboa Review: Is This 5-Star Lisbon Hotel Worth the Price?

1/15/2026

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Eurostars Universal Lisboa Review

It's not every day that the likes of us walk into a 5 star hotel, but we recently had just such an opportunity when booking a Eurostars hotel in Lisbon.

Also on this trip: Shifu Ramen Expo Review

Eurostars Universal Lisboa Hotel Review

King Bedroom with sitting area

Eurostars Universal Lisboa has rooms through the 15th floor, with the 16th floor giving access to a small infinity style pool.

Our King Bedroom at Eurostars Universal Hotel in Lisbon

We received a room on a high floor. While the elevator ride was a bit long, you can definitely have some nice views from your room!

Complimentary welcome water

A nice touch was the glass bottle of "água de boas vindas" aka welcome water.

Healsi Portuguese Artesian Water - Available on Amazon!

Water in Lisbon is generally fine to drink from the tap, but who wouldn't rather pour from a fancy glass bottle that probably came from that same tap? Just kidding!

Healsi is actually a premium Portuguese artesian water that is naturally pH balanced and particularly high in silica. It was really nice and you can check it out on Amazon here.

Shop Healsy on Amazon

Azulejos Headboard

Woven throughout the hotel's design were so many nods to Portuguese craftsmanship and culture, including the headboard featuring a design of the famous Portuguese painted tiles, azulejos.

Portuguese touches - azulejos headboard | Eurostars Universal

Shop Portuguese Azulejos inspired tile wallpaper and interior decor - designed by me!

Bedside Toilet Paper Roll Lamps

Beside the bed on either side were beautiful lamps that I soon realized reminded me of rolls of toilet paper and once I saw it, I couldn't unsee it. :p

My favorite toilet paper roll bed-side light!

They actually were quite elegant and I really liked them. I liked them even more for the extra chuckle they gave me. How about you? Can you see it too? hehe

In Room Coffee Maker

A welcome sight was an in-room coffee maker, operating on pods.

Not everyone is prepared to see other humans or be seen by other humans before a solid cup of coffee in the morning.

And sorry, instant coffee does NOT count.

Therefore, I find a coffee machine to be an essential in a hotel room. Period.

In-room coffee amenities at Eurostars Universal Lisboa

Bearing that in mind, it was great to see Candelas coffee capsules from Spain, as well as some tea bags and instant coffee (blech).

There is a note indicating that additional capsules are available for 3 euros a piece at reception. I think this is sort of standard, especially for hotels positioned as 5 stars. But man.. 3 euros for a pod. That seems steep.

Further, our room was only equipped with 1 regular and 1 decaf pod. I think it would be appropriate and reasonable to have 1 regular and 1 decaf per occupant, per night included. Do you agree?

Mini Fridge at Eurostars Universal

The mini fridge was stocked with lots of classics:

sprite
fanta
coca-cola
chilled pringles
kit-kats
compal juice
superbock
pedras
Mateus rose
beer

Eurostars Universal Mini Fridge Offerings

Bathroom | Eurostars Lisboa

The bathroom was spacious with a large walk-in shower, frosted glass into the bedroom area, a rainfall shower head with great water pressure and luxuriously hot water, plenty of room at the sink top and amenities like a dental kit and comb.

Handicap Accessible Bathroom at Eurostars Universal

Designers brought more Portuguese culture into the bathroom with a scene of calçadas, which you see on the sidewalks all around Lisbon and Portugal in general, making a unique backdrop for the toilet.

More Portuguese touches - Calçada toilet back splash - hopefully no splashes...

The only thing missing is the toilet paper roll lamp. ;)

Robes and SLippers!

Look, we love a good robe and slippers with an inspirational message embroidered on them..

Relax with fuzzy robes and fresh slippers at Eurostars Universal

Eurostars did not disappoint in this area! These come in especially handy as Eurostars Universal Lisboa has a Sauna on the 15th floor which is free for all guests to use!

That's right folks. FREE SAUNA!

Lisbon Views

The weather was overall not spectacular during our visit, but you can absolutely enjoy some great views of Lisbon from Eurostars Universal, particularly the upper floors.

View from an upper floor of Eurostars Universal Hotel in Lisbon

When you make your booking, feel free to request if you prefer an upper floor or lower floor. They will do their best to accommodate if it is possible

Breakfast Buffet at Eurostars Universal Lisboa

The breakfast buffet at Eurostars Universal Lisboa is beautifully arranged. A bounty of fresh cut fruit including strawberries, pineapple, cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon, papaya, grapefruit, kiwi, and oranges were available, Followed by yogurt, seeds and nuts, cereals, and a range of pastries.

Paid breakfast buffet at Eurostars Universal Lisboa

Along the far side was an impressive display of meats and cheeses, fresh salad and toppings, an entire honeycomb, some hot foods like quiche, croquetas, and breakfast buffet classics like fried and scrambled eggs, and a breakfast meat.

Breakfast Plate 1 of __ ?

Coffee Service at breakfast

There is also a dedicated made-to-order coffee/beverage station at the breakfast buffet where you can order a drink of your preference and they happily will bring your espresso, latte, etc over to your table.

You may also get a cup to go!

This was a great and quality service that I loved to see!

Breakfast to Go Option

If you have paid for breakfast but have an early flight or conference and need to leave before you can enjoy the offerings, just visit reception. They can prepare a to-go box for you.

Eurostars Lisbon breakfast to-go box offering

Our boxes contained a juice, water, 2 bananas, a white bread sandwich with cheese and ham, and a box of 3 mini pastries.

We did not make any special requests, so we were curious to see what they would include in the box. It's not exactly what I would have selected myself, but it was very convenient to pick up as we headed out for the day!

Review of Eurostars Universal Lisbon

We enjoyed our stay at Eurostars Universal. I loved the hotel decor, I could have shown much more here, and the way it embraced elements of Portuguese culture. I found the service to be warm and welcoming and not pretentious.

To go into a "5 star hotel" seems intimidating to me. What makes a hotel a 5-star hotel, I genuinely don't know, but regardless, this hotel felt very approachable.

They are prepared to cater to English speaking guests, so you will have no trouble if you are on holiday and do not speak Portuguese.

We did have an issue that required us to change rooms. The staff was prompt and helpful, offered a bottle of wine and additional resolution took place upon follow up after check out.

Eurostars operates 24 hotels across Portugal, including 9 in Lisbon.
I'd love to explore each of them and find a favorite!

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Eurostars Universal 5 Star Lisbon Hotel Review

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Ale & Anchor Photo Review + Menu With Prices

12/29/2025

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Ale & Anchor is a beloved English style pub on Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas cruise ship.

More: Royal Caribbean Reviews • Independence of the Seas Review

Ale & Anchor Independence of the Seas

Let's pop inside!

Inside Royal Caribbean's English Pub

An English Pub is always a fun spot to visit irl or on a cruise. The English-style dark wood and decor lend to a cozy atmosphere in which to enjoy a brew with your mates.

Ale & Anchor Menu with Prices - Independence of the Seas

Beertini and Cocktails at Ale & Anchor cost 14 with proper pours of vodka, gin, cordials, cognacs, scotch & whiskies ranging from 9.99-39.99.

Ale & Anchor Menu with Prices

If you're more of a beer person, you can enjoy ales and others from around the world, including three non alcoholic options ranging in price from 6.99-8.25 USD on Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas.

Cost of Beers at Ale & Anchor Royal Caribbean Cruise

monkey Shoulder

Monkey Shoulder at Ale & Anchor on Independence of the Seas Royal Caribbean Cruise

A pour of Monkey Shoulder will cost around 11.99 before the 18% automatic gratuity, making it $14.15.

Most Popular Whisky on Indepencence of the Seas

Here is the line up of the most poured onboard...

Monkey Shoulder at Ale & Anchor on Independence of the Seas Royal Caribbean Cruise

But feel free to ask for anything you don't see. Maybe this is your chance to try Macallan Terra or Enigma from the Quest Collection ;)

More Royal Caribbean Reviews

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Labadee Haiti: What to Expect When Royal Caribbean Returns in 2026 (Photo Review)

12/29/2025

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Royal Caribbean visits to Labadee are paused until 2026, but here's what the experience is like to get you jazzed for when the cruise line's private resort destination on Haiti's northern coast reopens:

Labadee, Haiti Royal Caribbean Cruise Review

Labadee, Haiti - Royal Caribbean's Private Resort Destination

What to do in labadee on A Cruise

There are plenty of free and paid activities for your day in Labadee.

Top Things To Do In Labadee

Water Sports and Beach Bungalows | Haiti Excursions

Beach Bungalows in Labadee | Royal Caribbean Cruise Review

Arawak Water park | Haiti Excursions

Arawak Floating Water Park Labadee | Royal Caribbean Cruise Review

Trails | Free ACtivities in labadee

Trails unlock some exclusive vantage points around the island and introduce you to local flora.

Beach Time | Free Activities in labadee, Haiti

You must spend some time on the beach and in the warm Caribbean waters.

Labadee Beach Pics | Royal Caribbean Cruise Review

Beach chairs and umbrellas are free on Labadee!

Souvenir Shopping in Haiti

If you are shopping for souvenirs you can shop with locals in a particular area or you can shop indoors in a less barter-y situation if you are more comfortabel with that.

Carved Animal Souvenirs | Labadee Cruise Port Photo Review

--> See Also: Souvenir Shopping in Labadee with Prices <--

Beautiful Views | Labadee Haiti Cruise Port

At Labadee, you are of course only scratching the surface, but it's a hint at how much beauty there is on this island. Let your eyes take in as many views like this as you can.

Our visit didn't have the best weather, but it allowed us to see such a variety of cloud formations and moody skies which was a delight.

Beach Bar Menu with Prices | Labadee, Haiti

Labadee Beach Bar Menu with Prices

How much are drinks at Labadee?

If you have a beverage package with your Royal Caribbean cruise, your drinks while on Labadee are included!

Without a drink package, you are looking at around $14 per cocktail and $7-8 for a single beer.

An 18% gratuity will be added automatically and you'll have the option to add an additional tip, should you wish.

Labadoozie

A frozen tropical cocktail seems like the right choice for your day relaxing on a Caribbean island.

Labadoozie | Labadee's Most Popular Cocktail

The Labadoozie is a fruity rum-based cocktail. I was really excited to try this based on a lot of online buzz at "the one drink you must get on Labadee" but honestly I felt it was overrated and overpriced.

What to eat in labadee

A free buffet is included in your stop at Labadee, Haiti.
You'll find things like:

Pasta Salad
Grilled Hamburgers/Cheeseburgers
Fresh Caesar Salad
Watermelon Feta Salad
Corn on the Cob
Fresh baked cookies, cakes, and pastries
Fresh cut fruit and melons
Fruit punch, lemonade and water

Fresh Fruit Available All Day in Labadee

Even toward the end of the buffet hours, there were still plenty of fresh pineapple, canteloupe, and watermelon to go around. :)

Plenty of Covered Picnic Tables in Labadee

There are plenty of covered tables near the buffet locations so you can enjoy your meal with shelter from the rain or sun.

Labadee Cruise Stop Review

Waking up to this view is hard to be mad about, isn't it?

View of Labadee Haiti Cruise Port From Our Balcony | Royal Caribbean Cruise Review

We love when our Royal Caribbean Cruise stops at Labadee! You'll receive a colorful, cheery welcome from the art on the buildings to the performers playing music and dancing all over the island.

Colorful vibes welcome you to Labadee

If you want a chill day relaxing at the beach you can do it totally for free since beach chairs and umbrellas are included or you can upgrade to a private bungalow.

Independence of the Seas in Port at Labadee, Haiti

There is a splash pad for younger kids and thrill seekers can check out the zipline or coaster.

The sip and paint excursion on Labadee is also a great option for anyone who wants a combination of activity and souvenir - we talked to some ladies on our cruise who had a great time on that excursion!

Até Já, Labadee

It breaks our hearts to hear about ongoing civil unrest in Haiti and the struggles the people there are facing. Although Labadee is a secured area from the rest of the island and quite a distance from the dangerous areas, under an abundance of caution Royal Caribbean has had to pause stops here for a time.

We hope the situation improves soon and the residents of Haiti can have some peace on their beautiful island.

Haitian Sunset | Royal Caribbean Cruise Review

So for now we say até já, Labadee. See you soon. :)

More Royal Caribbean Cruise Reviews:

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Royal Caribbean Food Review: EVERYTHING I ate on a 4-night Independence of the Seas Cruise With pictures

12/29/2025

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Main Dining Room Breakfast on Independence of the Seas

We usually love to order room service for breakfast and have a hot pot of coffee, some pastries, fresh fruit, and yogurt delivered right to our cabin - for free on Royal Caribbean!

But we also like to head down to the main dining room at least one day of the cruise.

Fried Eggs with Mushrooms Main Dining Room Breakfast | Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas

Grits with brown sugar, butter, maple syrup - Main Dining Room Breakfast | Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas

main Dining Room Breakfast Menu | Independence of the Seas

Main Dining Room Menu on Independence of the Seas

Lunch on Independence of the Seas

British-style fish and chips on Independence of the Seas

Fried chicken tenders at Fish n Ships

Fish & Ships Full Review

Appetizers in the main dining room on Independence of the seas

Caesar Salad and Butternut Squash Soup | Main Dining Room | Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas

Tomato Soup | Main Dining Room | Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas

Minestrone Soup | Main Dining Room | Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas

Dinner in the Main DIning Room on Independence of the Seas

Vegetarian pesto pasta on Independence of the Seas

Steak dinner in the main dining room

Medium steak on Royal Caribbean

Baked salmon on Independence of the Seas

Curry with naan bread on Independence of the Seas

Some of the most flavorful food on any Royal Caribbean cruise we have been on has consistently been the Indian food - it's so, so good!

Indian chicken curry with rice in the main dining room

Roast beef with asparagus and mashed potatoes on Independence of the Seas

Desserts in the main dining room on Independence of the seas

Boston Creme Pie | Main Dining Room Dessert on Independence of the Seas

Carrot Cake | Main Dining Room Dessert on Independence of the Seas

Rainbow Fruit Bowl | Main Dining Room Dessert on Independence of the Seas

Chocolate Mousse Cake | Main Dining Room Dessert on Independence of the Seas

Peanut butter crisp square | Main Dining Room Dessert on Independence of the Seas

Chocolate chip cookies | Main Dining Room Dessert on Independence of the Seas

Main Dining Room Wine Menu

Wine in the main dining room can be purchased by the bottle or by the glass.

Use your Crown & Anchor rewards to enjoy 50% off glasses of wine

Use your Royal Caribbean Beverage Package to order wine in the main dining room .

Wine by the glass | Main Dining Room on Independence of the Seas

White Wine, Rose, Sparkling Wine & Champagne Menu | Independence of the Seas Main Dining Room

Red Wine and 'Adventurous Sparkling Wine' Menu | Independence of the Seas Main Dining Room

Kids Menu in the main dining room on Independence of the Seas

Even the pickiest of eaters can find something to enjoy in the main dining room. Anyone can order from the kid's menu on Royal Caribbean, not just kids. ;)

Kids Menu | Independence of the Seas Main Dining Room

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Le Grand Bistro on Celebrity Ascent: Specialty Dining Review

12/22/2025

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With so many outstanding dining options included in your cruise fare onboard Celebrity, you may be like me and wonder "Are the specialty dining options really worth the extra cost?"

It's a great question! In this article you will get to see what the dining experience is like at Le Grand Bistro onboard Celebrity's newest ship the Ascent. You'll learn how much it costs, what the ambiance is like, and our favorite dishes that we tried.

Allons-y! :)

Le Grand Bistro Celebrity Ascent

In this post:

Le Grand Bistro

If you're dreaming of visiting France but find yourself on a Celebrity cruise to the Caribbean, don't worry! The boulangerie-patisserie Le Grand Bistro on Ascent will definitely do in a pinch! ;)

And PS you can find plenty of Celebrity Cruises stopping in France ;D

Outside Le Grand Bistro at night. The doors close for Le Petite Chef dining experience.

Le Grand Bistro is located on Deck 4, midship, between its upscale French dining neighbor, Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud and the buzzing Craft Social Bar where you can enjoy beer flights and bar bites.

Fresh Baked Breads on Display at Le Grand Bistro

Whether you sit down to dine at dinner, enjoy a casual lunch, or prefer a demi baguette and a latte at breakfast - Le Grand Bistro has something for you to try!

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Le Grand Bistro Menu on Ascent

Le Petit Chef Menu:

You have a few options if you're interested in dining at Le Grand Bistro.

The interactive dining experience Le Petite Chef can be reserved in the evenings for a fixed price.

The Menu on Ascent was as follows:

Magical Soup: Creamy Potato Leek
Artificial Intelligence: Citrus Poached Cod Loin
Magic Potion: Beef Tenderloin En Croute
Candy Land: Chocolate Cremieux

As is the case in all specialty dining restaurants, 20% gratuity is added automatically to your check.

Le Petit Chef Menu Celebrity Ascent

Le Grand Bistro Main Menu

On the other hand, if you're craving a morning croissant or an afternoon croque monsieur then the a la carte menu is for you!

In addition to always-available starters, soups, salads, entrees, sandwiches, charcuterie, and pastries you will find "Plats du Jour" (Dish of the day)

If one of these French classic tickles your fancy you will want to time your visit accordingly each special dish is only available on a set day of the week.

Le Grand Bistro Menu Celebrity Ascent

Le Grand Bistro Cocktail, wine, and beverage menu

Sip in style with French cocktails and wines or a hand crafted espresso-based beverage. Prices range from $4 for a single espresso to 25 for a glass of Veuve Clicquot, Yellow Label Champagne.

Le Grand Bistro Dessert Menu

All of the desserts and tarts at Le Grand Bistro cost $5 each and include the following tasty treats:

Crème brûlée
Profiteroles
Floating Island
Apple Tatin
Old Fashion Chocolate Mousse
Flan Parisien
Apple Tart
Normandie Tart

Dessert Menu at Le Grand Bistro

Le Grand Bistro To go Menu

Early in the day you will be delighted to see a counter full of freshly baked goods available for $2 a piece. The offerings may include:

Croissant
Savory Loaf Focaccia
Miniature Braids
Demi Baguette
Sourdough Loaf
Madeleines of the Day
Fougasse of the Day

To Go Menu at Le Grand Bistro

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Lunch Experience at Le Grand Bistro on Ascent

We decided to visit during lunch as we didn't want to miss dinner with our families in the main dining room. As the bistro was not especially crowded on the day of our visit, we chose to sit beside the window in order to enjoy the ocean views.

Dining by a huge window at Le Grand Bistro

The meal started with our choice of bread and butter. In the main dining room you always receive a basket of assorted bread/rolls/etc and admittedly it did feel fancier to have the slices hand delivered at Le Grand Bistro.

The bread was really good and I wish the basket came back around during the meal without having to ask.

French Cocktails - $12 + $17

The sommelier handles all beverage orders.

Shown here are the Lemonade Provençal and Champs-Élysées.

Lemonade Provençal - Fresh lemon juice, lavender, sage, thyme, rosemary, Plymouth Gin

Champs-Élysées - Cognac, Green Chartreuse, Fresh Lemon, Angostura

French Cocktails

Steak Frites - $24

Maître d'Hôtel Butter - a compound butter consisting of butter, salt, lemon, and parsley.

Lobster Bisque - $10

Lobster Bisque with Tarragon and Puff Pastry - Peeling back the cute little puff pastry beret (lol) to show you the soup inside!

By the way, have you ever wondered what the difference is between a soup and a bisque? I hadn't until just this very moment! In a nutshell, a bisque is a type of soup that has a thick, rick, creamy base and is traditionally made with some sort of shellfish. These days non-seafood creamy soups are also called bisques.

Take for example the following food math equation: tomato soup + cream = t omato bisque. Voila!

The perfect companion for soup is a salad, right? We did, but didn't, end up with 2 salads. You will understand by the end.

Baby Arugula Salad - $8

Big fan of arugula over here as well as the beauty of simple ingredients that are well prepared making the best of bites!

This baby arugula salad had toasted pine nuts, balsamic vinaigrette and 3 deep fried balls of goat cheese more elegantly known as croquettes.

After procuring this glamour shot we got to wondering where the pork belly was... and the poached egg?

Baby Arugula Salad with Goat Cheese Croquettes

Wait.. Was this even the salad we ordered. Oops. No it wasn't. Quickly the correct salad arrived.

Frisée Lardon Salad - $8

Featuring crispy pork belly, poached egg, pickled shallots and parmesan on curly endive, this salad was a treat. Perfectly poached, if you're team dippy-egg yoke then this picture will no doubt bring you joy.

Lardon Salad

Perfectly Poached Egg

The whimsical texture and freshness of curly endive played nicely with the salty, fatty pork belly and the bright yellow yoke of the poached egg added a pleasing pop of color and richness.

Crème Brûlée - $5

Caramelized vanilla egg custard with fresh berries.

Creme Brûlée is a quintessential French dessert much loved by cruise passengers. You may never order it out back home, but on a cruise you can usually indulge in several of these during your voyage.

Creme Brûlée at Le Grand Bistro

We decided to try the creme brûlée at Le Grand Chef because we genuinely wanted to know if it was different than the "free" creme brûlée available in the main dining room.

To complete the experiment we ordered creme brûlée at dinner in the main dining room that night and we can confirm that YES, it is different! When you are paying extra you want to know you are getting a different product, a better quality, an advanced technique, a personal touch..

Make it at home:

While you can use your oven broiler to caramelize the sugar topping, it's way more fun to use a butane torch ;)

Chocolate Chip Cookie - $3

I've never been to France and I have no concept of what a French-style chocolate chip cookie should be like. For context, I'm an American who loves a chocolate chip cookie that has that little bit of crunch on the outside, a super chewy inside and the deep toffee notes that only come from the labor of love that is known as browning butter.

When I ordered a $3 chocolate chip cookie I was envisioning a large bakery style cookie. I didn't expect it to be the cookie of my dreams, but I also didn't expect it to be this little fluffy nugget. lol

Chocolate Chip Cookie at Le Grand Bistro

This chocolate chip cookie was more on the cake-like side and it honestly wasn't my jam.

I was teetering on whether to order it or not but overhead a lady at the table next to me tell the waiter that they are the best chocolate chip cookies she has ever had and that she had been coming down to order one every day! That locked me in.

The fact that I didn't care for it just goes to show how everyone's tastes are different. There is no right or wrong when it comes to food, it's all preference. So take posts like this with a grain of salt. Read them through the lens of the preferences you know you have already.

If you know you love cake-like cookies then go for this chocolate chip cookie! If you're not a fan of cake-y cookies then skip it (unless you just want to see for yourself which is also cool) and try a more French-y option like a Madeleine or a cherry danish!

Mocha - $5

Espresso, fresh steamed milk, cocoa powder

Mocha on Celebrity Ascent

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Le Grand Bistro Ambience

Le Grand Bistro is very cute "inside" with a decorative piece constructed of French style baking dishes, pots and pans. The walk up counter where you can order pastries and fresh baked bread along with an espresso pulled from the copper espresso machine is a lovely concept along with the seating "outside" mimicking European al fresco dining.

It's important to note that just outside of le Grand Bistro is the Grand Plaza. Shown below is a view of the Martini Bar at night on the lower level of the Grand Plaza (deck 3)

Because various activities and music take place in the Grand plaza, during the day time when the doors of Le Grand Bistro are open, you lose a bit of the cute French bistro vibes. Consider checking the daily schedule and booking your reservation strategically.

I was surprised that during our visit there was no French music playing in the bistro. I would have really enjoyed that as well as having some of the shoji doors closed to block out the distracting lights and activity of the plaza and turn up the French charm. ;)

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LE Grand Bistro Review on Celebrity Ascent

Everything we ate at Le Grand Bistro was good, with the exception of the chocolate chip cookie that I found underwhelming based on my chocolate-chip-cookie-girl high standards.

We had steaks in the main dining room that rivaled the Steak Frites in Le Grand Bistro which is testimony to how good the food on Celebrity is. On the other hand, the salads and the lobster bisque were unique items we didn't see elsewhere during our cruise.

The Frisee Lardon Salad was excellent and unique. I would order that again next time I dine at Le Grand Bistro.

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The baby arugula salad was taken away when we noted that we had been given the wrong salad and that was a bummer as we didn't get to try it to share our thoughts with you. I'm sure the waiter would have left it if we asked, but it happened so quickly that he shuttled it away in an effort to please us and bring the lardon salad asap.

The Lobster Bisque was very tasty. The puff pastry top and fancy bowl are always fun. I just wish there was a touch more bisque and that the lobster meat was more prominent.

Would you have ordered any of these dishes?
If you dine at Le Grand Bistro on your next Celebrity Cruise, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Thanks to Celebrity for hosting this meal. All opinions are my own.

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About this cruise:
On this 7 night Labadee & Cayman Cruise on Celebrity Ascent we sailed in an Infinite Veranda cabin. We visited the ports of Nassau, Perfect Day at Coco Cay, and Grand Cayman. Stops at Labadee were paused during this time period and exchanged for a Perfect Day visit.

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Free Gelato on Celebrity Cruises for Captains Club Members

12/13/2025

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Being a repeat cruiser on Celebrity Cruises brings you some added benefits and perks as part of their Captains Club loyalty program.

Free Scoop of Gelato

Celebrity makes their gelato fresh daily and once you have sailed with the line one time, you can enjoy the free scoop of premium gelato perk from your second cruise on!

This post is part of the series: Celebrity Apex Cruise Review
Filed Under: Client Travel Photos • Real Traveler Experiences

Pistachio Gelato on Celebrity Apex | Client Photos | Celebrity Cruise Reviews

Simply go to the counter, request the most delicious flavor available, and when you scan your Sea Pass the premium gelato will ring up as $0, as the perk has been loaded on to your card. Yay!

Is there free ice cream and gelato on board?

To be clear, yes there are! You can find free gelato every day in the main dining room, in Oceanview Cafe, and soft serve at Scoops and Mast Grill.

This free scoop of gelato captain's club perk is for the premium offerings that are normally an extra charge, for instance at Cafe Al Bacio & Gelateria.

Celebrity Cruise Review

Oceanview Cafe Review | Celebrity Apex Cruise Food Review with Photos

12/13/2025

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A photo review of Oceanview Cafe on Celebrity Apex!

This post is part of the series: Celebrity Apex Cruise Review
Filed Under: Client Travel Photos • Real Traveler Experiences

Chocolate Fountain on Celebrity Apex

Embarkation day on Celebrity Apex starts off on a high note with the beloved chocolate fountain!

Colorful fruit displays, fluffy marshmallows, and moist cakes - all ready to be skewered and covered in chocolate at your request!

Shrimp Cocktail w/ marie Rose Sauce

By the way, Marie Rose Sauce is cocktail sauce :)

A Magnificent Shrimp Tower!

The way food is prepared and displayed on a cruise is truly a work of art and a joy to behold!

This cruise is heading to: St. Kitts • San Juan, Puerto Rico • Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

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Homewood Suites Orlando Airport by Hilton Review With Pics | Pre Cruise Hotel

12/13/2025

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Where to stay before a cruise out of Port Canaveral, Florida

This post is part of the series: Celebrity Apex Cruise Review

If you're like R&M who flew into Orlando Airport before sailing out of Port Canaveral, you have a choice to make:

Stay at a hotel closet to the airport and transfer to the cruise port on embarkation day
Transfer after your flight and stay near the cruise port

Celebrity Apex Sailing From Port Canaveral, Florida

Our clients decided to stay near Orlando Airport at Homewood Suites and transfer to the cruise port the following morning.

Please enjoy their photo review of below!