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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 BistroIf 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! Le Grand Bistro Menu on AscentLe Petit Chef Menu:
Le Grand Bistro Main MenuOn the other hand, if you're craving a morning croissant or an afternoon croque monsieur then the a la carte menu is for you!
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
Le Grand Bistro To go Menu
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 + $17Steak Frites - $24
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 = tomato 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
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.
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 ;)
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Burrata Pizza at Forno d'Oro in Lisbon, Portugal
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who owns forno d'oro?
Forno d'oro is owned by Tanka Sapkota, who was born in Nepal and brought his passion for Neapolitan pizza to Lisbon. He trained under the Gombero Rosso Master Course and his wood-fired pizzas have ranked him in the top pizzas in the world list multiple times.
Above you can see just a few of the many prestigious awards Forno d'Oro (Golden Oven) has received for their delicious pizzas. They are receiving Fiori di Latte cheese fresh from Italy multiple times per week!
Where did forno d'oro rank in the 2024 top pizza in the world list?
Forno d Oro is the ONLY pizzeria in Portugal to rank on the top pizza in the world list, so it's quite an accomplishment! For 2024 they ranked 73rd in the world and the 12th best pizzeria in Europe.
Parabéns! (congratulations in Portuguese)
Parabéns! (congratulations in Portuguese)
What we ordered.
Are you hungry yet? Let's try a few of the best pizzas in Lisbon together!
Diavola - €13.25
Where to stay in Lisbon:
4 Formaggi - €13.95
San Marzano tomatoes DOP, fior di latte, Gorgonzola, smoked Provola cheese and Parmigiano Reggiano DOP 24 mesi.
We were with some dear friends who were moving away and we all decided that in order to mark the occasion properly there was another pizza we just had to try and we could only do it if we worked together as a team lol.
Burrata, prosciutto e Rucola - €15.50
This pizza was so unbelievably delicious and a perfect example of how it takes just a few high quality ingredients to make a dish really shine!
Light and fresh yet highly engaging - we were surprised that this was our favorite pizza of the night! Good thing we ordered it at the last second, right?! ;)
It may even top the fig, prosciutto, and gorgonzola pizza.
We'll probably have to visit another time to know for sure, though. ;)
It may even top the fig, prosciutto, and gorgonzola pizza.
We'll probably have to visit another time to know for sure, though. ;)
Gordon FInest Scotch Ale, Scotland - €8.95
And what's a visit to one of the top pizzerias in the world without trying a new brew?
Gordon Finest Scotch Ale Review
Gordon Finest Scotch Ale - Strong and smooth dark beer flavored with malt whiskey. 8,0% - 33cl
Gordon Finest Scotch Ale Review
Gordon Finest Scotch Ale - Strong and smooth dark beer flavored with malt whiskey. 8,0% - 33cl
"Born in Scotland, Crafted in Belgium"
For those interested in the ingredients and bottling details of Gordon Scotch Ale, see the photos below!
For those interested in the ingredients and bottling details of Gordon Scotch Ale, see the photos below!
Panna Cotta ai Frutti di Bosco - €4.95
Panna Cotta ai Frutti di Bosco | Dessert at Top Pizzeria in Europe
At the end of your meal at Forno d'Oro you always have the opportunity to enjoy the parting hospitality of limoncello or grappa. If you've never tried grappa (it's potent), maybe you should give it a try. After that you'll almost certainly always pick limoncello! haha :)
English Menu - forno d' oro pizzeria
Curious what the prices are like at a top pizza place in Lisbon? Here is a recent menu. You can find English descriptions beneath each menu item.
Couvert/Antipasti (appetizers) and Pizze (Pizza) Menu
Forno d'Oro Lisbon English Menu - Appetizers
Pizze (Pizza) Menu
Forno d'Oro Lisbon English Menu - Pizza
Seasonal Pizza Menu
Forno d'Oro Lisbon English Menu - Seasonal Pizza
Pasta & Dessert (Dolci) Menu
Forno d'Oro Lisbon English Menu - Pasta and Dessert
Southern Caribbean Cruise
- See all Southern Caribbean Cruise Reviews
Wine Menu
Forno d'Oro Lisbon English Menu - Wine
Craft Beer Menu
Forno d'Oro Lisbon English Menu - Craft Beer
Gin Menu
Forno d'Oro Lisbon English Menu - Gin
Forno d'Oro Review
We love Forno d'Oro! When you have such a great experience at a restaurant the first time that you want to bring your friends who are also pizza lovers you know it's the real deal.
Still, there is a smidge of apprehension that a second visit to a place won't be as good as the first, you know what I mean?
As you can tell from our photo review, forno d'oro is living up to our expectations and we won't hesitate to come back and bring more friends the next time we are in Lisbon!
Highly recommend you stop in for some amazing Neapolitan pizza in Lisbon!
Still, there is a smidge of apprehension that a second visit to a place won't be as good as the first, you know what I mean?
As you can tell from our photo review, forno d'oro is living up to our expectations and we won't hesitate to come back and bring more friends the next time we are in Lisbon!
Highly recommend you stop in for some amazing Neapolitan pizza in Lisbon!
Best Places To eat in Lisbon:
- Bandalho Meat and Wine - Burgers, Sangria, and one of the fudgiest brownies in Portugal
- Bubble Time Expo Review - Bubble tea & Bubble Waffles on the Riverfront
- Han Table Korean BBQ Review - Grill at the table with your friends!
- Where to get unlimited sushi in Lisbon - Sushi Fixe in Miraflores Review
In the words of Gordon Ramsay "Wow. Wow. Wow."
If you love a hoagie, give Laspada's Original Hoagies in Fort Lauderdale, Florida a try!
If you love a hoagie, give Laspada's Original Hoagies in Fort Lauderdale, Florida a try!
Laspada's Hoagies Fort Lauderdale, Florida
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Located just a half mile (aka a pleasant 10-15 minute stroll) from our cruise port hotel, Laspada's made up for the disappointing pizza we had the night before. Their first hoagie shop opened in 1972 and has expanded to 5 locations in Southern Florida, Laspada's is worth your visit as far as we are concerned! |
Laspadas - A local hoagie shop in south florida
Loved by travelers and locals alike, this is a classic hoagie shop where you are welcome to dine in or take out. Located at 1495-D SE 17th St Fort Lauderdale, FL 33431.
Laspada's Menu with prices
In addition to small and large hoagies you can also order deli sandwiches which are smaller and served on a round roll, as well as a variety of side salads and salad platters.
What's on an original hoagie at Laspadas? Tomatoes, lettuce, onions, pickles, sweet peppers, hot peppers, oil and vinegar and seasonings on Italian or wheat bread, and provolone cheese. Sounds perfect, doesn't it?
Laspada's also sells a variety of chips which are an ideal crunchy, salty companion to your delicious hoagie!
what we ordered.
For the two of us, we ordered one large hoagie, a can of pop (soda), and a bag of kettle chips.
Total with tax: $17.50
Dr Brown's Natural Flavor Black Cherry Soda - $1.75
Dr Browns Black Cherry Soda With "Other Natural Flavors" Ingredients: Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, cherry and other natural flavors, citric acid, caramel color, sodium benzoate, and red 40. Gah. not red 40...
Dr Browns Black Cherry Soda Ingredients
Dirty Potato Chips Deli Style Salt and Vinegar Kettle style - $1.70
If you want to see the ingredients on these Salt and Vinegar Kettle Chips from Dirty you can see the photo below!
LArge 12" Italian Hoagie - $12.90
Now on to the star of the show! We ordered a Large 12" Italian Special Hoagie - Ham, Genoa, Salami, & Cappicola.
This hoagie was loaded! The cross section is a thing of beauty - carefully constructed, strategically placed layers of freshly sliced Italian meats and toppings.
Laspada's Hoagies Review
A hoagie may seem like a simple thing. Some bread, "lunch meat" and cheese, maybe a bit of iceberg and a tomato? Forget that nonsense. A real hoagie establishment takes pride in every element from the texture at the bottom of the roll to the pillowy bread to the sliced-to-order Italian meats and fresh toppings - Laspada's knocks it out of the park.
Hoagies Made With Love at Laspadas in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
I mean just look at the care going into dressing and seasoning this hoagie...
It's been months since I ate this hoagie, but I still think about it from time to time. Laspada's is the kind of place I would actually make a point to return to next time I am in Fort Lauderdale for a cruise. ;)
Fort Lauderdale Blog.
Spice lovers rejoice! Flavorful Indian food in Portugal is widely accessible!
Let's visit Natraj Indian Tandoori Restaurant in Vilamoura.
Let's visit Natraj Indian Tandoori Restaurant in Vilamoura.
What we ordered.
Papadam + Chutneys
Papadam (think of a big cracker in the shape of pizza dough only lighter and crispier), along with small dips are basically the Indian version of bread and butter or oil at the table before your meal. Typically you will have some sort of sweet chutney, a spicy one, and a cooling mint-yogurt variation.
Samosas
A Samosa is a deep fried dough parcel stuffed with a well-spiced mixture of vegetables or meat. In this case we opted for one chicken samosa and one vegetarian samosa. Often the vegetable samosas are more flavorful than their meat-filled counterparts!
Chicken tikka masala
Much like ordering a Margherita Pizza at every new pizza place we try, we always order chicken tikka masala at every new Indian restaurant we try. This was the first time we ever saw such a red sauce!
An Indian flat bread like this garlic and herbed naan is also a must for scooping up tender chicken chunks and mopping up the sauce!
Desserts
For dessert we tried Galub Jamun (indian donuts soaked in sugar syrup - super sweet) and Pistachio Kulfi (a cold dessert flavored with pistachio).
We had also ordered a mango lassi which is a delicious beverage consisting of mango blended with yogurt. I always order a mango lassi at Indian restaurants because the sweet creamy nature of the drink is ideal with the spicy food!
More vilamoura REstaurant reviews.
If you're looking for a pizza restaurant in Ohlos d'Agua, why not try Fratelli?
What we ordered.
Margherita 10.5€
A classic margherita pizza - Mozzarella fior di latte, tomate pelati, fresh basil, olive oil.
Manzo Balls 14.5€
Mozzarella fior di latte, tomate pelati, meatballs, ricotta cream, fresh basil, spianata piccante (aka pepperoni)
Fratelli Pizza Populare Review
Fratelli's is a great pizza place right by the beach in Ohlos d'Agua. In fact if you sit outside you can enjoy your pizza with a sea view! Their prices are reasonable and the quality of their pizzas is very high.
At Fratellis, they are passionate about serving authentic Neapolitan style pizzas - 24 hour fermentation, 30cm diameter, in the oven for 90 seconds.
Fratelli's serves edible works of art - go check them out!
Pizza in Italy.
I was looking back through photos when we were car shopping. Buying a decent car in Portugal when you're on a budget can be a challenge as the cost of vehicles is high.
One day after driving all around Algarve we ended at Auto D. Henrique in Portimao. We were starving and it was around 7pm yet we managed to buy a few things from the kind lady at Pão d'avó Maria across the way.
One day after driving all around Algarve we ended at Auto D. Henrique in Portimao. We were starving and it was around 7pm yet we managed to buy a few things from the kind lady at Pão d'avó Maria across the way.
PÃO D'AVÓ MARIA PORTIMÃO
Just a few pastries remained at the end of the day along with brigadiero, a Brazilian traditional dessert.
What we ordered.
We ordered two slices of homemade quiche, two coffees (espresso), and a little filled pastry.
PÃO D'AVÓ MARIA Review
Pao d'avo Maria is a small local cafe and bakery in Portimao. The name means literally Grandma Maria's Bread and you have to love the feeling that brings. Our visit was quick and tasty and the service simpatico despite it being the end of day. :)
McDonald's has its place in everyone's heart and childhood memories. Do international McDonald's restaurants live up to expectations?
Let's try McDonalds in Portugal!
Let's try McDonalds in Portugal!
What we ordered.
We ordered take out from the Vilamoura McDonalds.
It had been years since I had a Big Mac so we ordered a Big Mac, fries, and drink.
It had been years since I had a Big Mac so we ordered a Big Mac, fries, and drink.
BigMac Meal at McDonalds in Portugal
McDonalds in Portugal carries some unique items not available in the US including douradinhos (fish sticks) and Caldo Verde soup. Can you imagine getting a kids meal and having soup?
I love a fish stick so I'm all about the douradinhos. Big soup supporter as well, but found the Caldo Verde a bit bland and in need of some salt and pepper.
You can order beer at Mcdonalds in Portugal!
Another surprising discovery is in the beverages available at Mcdonalds. Yes, you're seeing that correctly. In addition to a fruit juice box to go with the happy meal, that is a can of Sagres. You can order a beer at McDonald's! Such a novel concept for us.
Portugal Mcdonalds Review.
My general experience with McDonald's in the US is that it seems like a good idea at the time, it's convenient, and sometimes it even tastes really good, but not long after you are questioning your life decisions.
We were surprised this was not the case in Portugal. Somehow you don't feel gross after eating the Big Mac and fries! We're not sure what the ingredient difference is or why it is the case, but we think McDonald's is better in Portugal!
Noa Cafe Bistro is a trendy spot in Vilamoura. You can find Noa Cafe across from the Vilamoura McDonalds and at the end of the block Mourapao is located on.
What we ordered.
Pancakes 8€
A stack of 2 pancakes topped with sliced strawberries, bananas, and a blueberry was presented elegantly with a drizzle of syrup and dusting of powdered sugar.
Pancakes at Noa Cafe Bistro in Vilamoura
Eggs Benedict 9€
The eggs Benedict came with a small side salad and was finished with paprika and chopped chives.
Noa Cafe Bistro Review
Noa Cafe Bistro is totally an instagramable foodie spot in Vilamoura. The food is really nicely plated and looks beautiful. They have indoor and outdoor seating and it's very chic inside. It's been a while since our visit. What we ordered was good, but nothing I dream about having again, if you know what I mean?
When we stayed in Vilamoura a few times we stopped and looked at the menu again, but always opted to go down to Mourapao instead. Mourapão is not as 'gram worthy in a way, it's more down to earth and has a great variety with better prices than its posh relative Noa at the other end of the block, imo.
I would like to give Noa a try again if I'm ever around Vilamoura to see if our visit was an outlier or if anything has changed.
Algarve Foodie Blogs:
Piri piri is a must-eat in Portugal. But what is Piri-Piri, you ask?
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Well, technically piri-piri (or peri-peri) is a type of spicy pepper that is said to have made its way to Portugal from Africa.
Colloquially, however, piri-piri refers to traditional portuguese grilled chicken and you can order it spicy (with piri-piri pepper oil) or not spicy. For our first frango piri piri (chicken piri-piri) in Portugal we visited O Piri Piri in Vilamoura. |
What we ordered.
O Piri Piri - Vilamoura Restaurant Review
Piri Piri Chicken.
The first thing you'll notice if you're an American is that this chicken is tiny! The second thing you'll notice is how flavorful and delicious this chicken is! You can see the piri piri oil pooled at the bottom of the bowl. Be sure to wipe it up with the chicken as you go. It's spicy and glorious!
Pork Ribs
Again, I have to laugh, because as an American you will probably be thinking.. this must have been the skinniest pig in all the land - there is no meat on those bones!
It's true, these ribs don't have a bounty of meat, but what they do have is a bounty of flavor. I'm not sure what they are marinating these in or if it's just the grilling technique, but on our visit the pork was muito saboroso.
Algarvian Carrots.
On an absolute whim we ordered the Algarvian carrots and boy were they intriguing! This carrot dish is cold. But the carrots seemed soft, as if they were first boiled. They are marinated in what I assume is a combination of olive oil, a touch of vinegar, rough chopped garlic, and cilantro.
o piri piri review
O Piri Piri is a churrasqueira in the heart of Vilamoura, an area of the algarve known for prosperity. The prices reflect the location. The food quality was high. To date their piri piri chicken is one of my favorites that I've had in Portugal (it's all in the spicy oil guysss) and the same is true with the cenouras algarvias (algarvian carrots). We've had them other places and they just weren't nearly as flavorful as at O Piri Piri.
The algarvian carrot saladinha (little salad) is so unique that it's something I would like to learn to make well and feature in Cooking Inspired by Travel. I am thankful that the first place I tried it was O Piri Piri, so that I knew how absolutely delightful this seemingly simple dish could be!
Oh, Hey!
We're Justin and Marissa
We love to travel and eat!
Traveling Through Food is a place to share some of our adventures in travel and food so you can find inspiration for your next big trip whether it's around the world or down the freezer aisle at the grocery store. :p
Check out this recent cruise post:
Check out this recent Restaurant Review:
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