My non-vegetarian followers are in for a treat this week! I’m not cruising solo this time, so you don’t have to look at dozens of photos of vegetables and tofu on Instagram while politely commenting, “oh, that looks…interesting.” AND this being my first Platinum cruise on NCL, I get two complimentary dinners at specialty restaurants (my loyal followers know that one of my…many…quirks is that I have a weird moral objection to paying extra for food on a cruise, so I rarely eat at specialty restaurants).
Platinum cruisers on the Encore get to choose their complimentary meals at either Cagney’s or Le Bistro and Los Lobos or Q (since Moderno and La Cucina aren’t on the Encore). I chose Cagney’s because I thought Mama Cruise would like it (I’ll let you know how I do as a vegetarian there in a future post). And I chose Los Lobos because, well, my love for Indian food is only matched by my love for Mexican food. And I really, I mean really love Indian food. So I booked Los Lobos for my first night on the Encore and have been salivating all over Seattle for weeks in anticipation (sorry to all the tourists who accidentally put their hand in some).
Here’s the menu:
Here’s what we ordered:
The guacamole prepared table side (appetizer AND a show) was outstanding. The portion was huge (enough for up to 4 people to share) and the combination of creamy avocado, crisp onion, juicy tomato, tart lime, salt, tangy cilantro, and spicy jalapeno was livelier than a cruise ship sail away party for my mouth.
Mom and I both ordered the enchiladas de mariscos, but mom stuck with the version listed on the menu and I went off-menu. Mom’s version consisted of two small enchiladas filled with scallops, shrimp, and mahi-mahi and topped with queso, a rich and mildly spiced tomato sauce, and cilantro.
None of the vegetarian entrees listed on the menu appealed to me, so I asked if anything else could be modified to be vegetarian. I asked specifically about the burrito rojo but was told that the beans were made with bacon and that the burritos were pre-made, so modifications were not possible. However, my waitress suggested I try the enchiladas de mariscos with vegetables substituted for the seafood. Most of the other sauces were made with chicken stock, but the tomato sauce used for that dish was vegetarian. So I went with that. I had to skip the beans it came with (because, again, they contained bacon) and the chef substituted a side of white rice for the Mexican rice (because it was cooked in chicken stock). I appreciated the accommodations and the time my waitress took to walk me through the menu and point out everything that could be made vegetarian. And I enjoyed the enchiladas which were filled with peppers and onions.
Mom and I both ordered the Mexican street corn (elotes) and it was a highlight of the meal for both of us. It was sweet and rich and our waitress was kind enough to remove it from the cob so half of it didn’t end up accompanying us to that evening’s show down the front of our clothes.
This take on tres leches cake was moist and delicious and huge, with the unique addition of coconut. I’d definitely order it again.
I’m not usually a fan of flan, but this flan included a foundation of dense chocolate cake. Further proof that everything is made better with chocolate!
I loved the traditional Mexican décor of Los Lobos, featuring bold colors and patterns. And I especially liked the freeform ceramic plates on which our entrées were served.
Yes…and no. Our bill would have been $63 had we been paying retail (and we didn’t eat the meal we had already paid for as part of our cruise fare, so the true cost is even more), however I used one of my free Platinum meals to cover it. While the food was good, the entrees weren’t much better than what we could get in the main dining room. While the guac and elote were both excellent, I wouldn’t pay the a la carte prices to eat at Los Lobos. However, I would definitely choose it as one of my free platinum meals again. Mom and I enjoyed trying something new and appreciated the excellent service we received.
Class Dismissed!
Homework (10 points): Check out NCL dining menus and NCL bar menus. And be sure to follow Prof. Cruise on social media.
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