P&O Ventura - An Evening Of Fine Dining In The Epicurean.

Created by 3GoExploring.

"The Epicurean fuses classic dining elements with the best of modern British dining to create a sensuous menu, uniquely presented in a sophisticated and contemporary setting.”As advertised by P&O.

The Epicurean is a specialty restaurant on Iona, Arvia, Britannia, Ventura, and Azura. It requires pre-booking with a cover charge. Was it worth it? Continue reading to find out….

As previously mentioned in our other blogs, cruising with allergies requires pre-ordering meals in advance in any restaurant. Unfortunately, with a Tree Nut & Peanut allergy, many of the meals must be avoided as the ship's company cannot adapt these meals to be free from nuts. This does make ordering at times tricky as the menu was limited, these are the same experiences whilst dining in the Main Dining Room (MDR).

Having made our booking for 18:00 the Epicurean seemed quiet at first, only two other diners were seated. We were shown our table located near the window boasting spectacular views from the aft of the ship over the Atlantic Ocean. 

We had chosen the right time to dine as the sun was beginning to set and the evening glow set the mood as we dug into our complimentary rolls with marmite butter, delicious.

To complement this we had a Mango Amuse-Bouche, unlike the MDR’s Amuse-Bouches given out on celebration nights which are often turned down this one was lovely, a brilliant palate cleanser to kick start the night.

As Paul & Cathy began to order, the waiter informed Amy that unfortunately after checking with the chef, the dessert contained nuts and an alternative choice was required, with only two options that were guaranteed to be nut-free. This was a bit of a blow as it made the process of pre-ordering the night before feel pointless and no option but to choose another dessert from now a very limited choice. Taking into consideration personal choice and what is available that is nut-free, the choice seemed disappointing given this was a speciality restaurant.

As you can see, this is the menu provided, it does alternate between two menus during the week. We felt that for longer cruises, this may become repetitive for those that enjoy frequent visits to the Epicurean, however, there is a lot on offer on the menu. We found for a one off special visit the menu was great and there were lots to choose from for non-allergy sufferers. 

However, for anyone with allergies, the experience did at times become stressful and there was a lack of choice of meals. This is something to take into consideration when eating in Speciality Restaurants, as you are paying a lot for an environment that can be of limited options.

Roasted Pepper Parfait

The experience itself was grandeur and at no time did we feel rushed, the MDR can feel overwhelming with the close locality of tables depending on where you are located, but for a special evening, or a celebration, we would highly recommend a visit to try out the Epicurean.

Onto the main courses, the Giant Tiger Prawns were certainly Giant! 

Giant Tiger Prawns

Cod & Lobster Tail

The Taster Plate for Two was slightly disappointing, with a digestive biscuit for its cheesecake base, it felt oversimplified for a premium desert. The presentation of the deserts was delightful.

Taster Plate for Two

At the end of the meal, we were provided chocolate truffles, again these contained nuts. It does sometimes feel baffling that P&O cannot provide an alternative to the chocolates, as these are also given out on celebration nights within the MDR. Something as small as truffles can put a slight negative onto the evening vibe. Overall the meals we were served were very enjoyable and to a high standard. 

Was it worth it and would we go back to the Epicurean? Personally, the food was brilliant, however, the meals within the MDR can also be deliciously mouth-watering. But the service was exceptional, we couldn’t fault the staff waiting on us, they provided reassurance on every meal that was served confirming it was nut free. However, the lack of catering abilities for a nut allergy sufferer did severely affect our experience and we have a lack of ambition to go back. We are interested in trying out both the Sindhu & Beach House, which are both available on Aurora & Arcadia - our next ships to be cruised on. Let us know below if you’ve tried the Epicurean and what you thought of it.

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