Unlike most cruise lines, Cunard’s dining experience varies by the cabin category you select. On QM2, there are 3 distinct main dining rooms:
Queens Grill: Open Seating from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - dine when you like; with whom you like. All “Q” Category duplexes, apartments, penthouses and suites
Princess Grill: Open Seating from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm – dine when you like; with whom you like. All “P” Category junior suites
Britannia Restaurant: Two Seatings – dine early (around 6:30 pm) or late (around 8:30 pm) at assigned tables. All balcony, oceanview, atrium view and inside staterooms
Given that the majority of accommodations are balcony, oceanview, and atrium or inside staterooms, most QM2 passengers dine in the Britannia Restaurant.
Queens Grill: Both Fieldings and Berlitz have rated the Queens Grill as one of the most exquisite dining experiences afloat. The ambiance is intimate and quiet, yet the amount of caviar, lobster and champagne consumed in this space is legendary! So willing is the waitstaff to please (and so well-stocked the galley) that the menu is just a guide to your culinary pleasure; “flexibility” is the operative word here! An adjacent Queens Grill Lounge provides a private space for diners to meet before or after their meal.
Princess Grill: As with the Queens Grill, dining here is an intimate occasion. And as with the Queens Grill, the French-American cuisine offered here is created under the direction of Daniel Boulud, one of the foremost chefs in the world. Dining is paced according to your wishes; anticipatory and attentive yet never smothering. And, of course, only the finest labeled wines and spirits are served!
Britannia Restaurant: Unlike the intimate spaces of “the Grills,” dining here is opulent in design and majestic in scale. A grand staircase descends into the two-level restaurant further defining the atmosphere. Three stories above, a glass “skylight” provides added openness to the Art Deco décor. No doubt about it – this is a restaurant truly befitting an ocean liner of this size and luxury. At mealtime the room is a bit “busier” than at the Grills, and yet the service is excellent and swift.
Kings Court: On most cruise ships, the buffet typically located up top on what is typically labeled the “Lido Deck.” But remember, QM2 is not your ordinary cruise ship. Accordingly, this OCEAN LINER places this dining venue in a location more comfortable and more practical for the sometimes-blustery transatlantic crossings – mid-ships on Deck 7 – the “Promenade Deck.”
Kings Court undergoes a metamorphosis with every meal.
At breakfast, Kings Court offers various stations serving up the standard fare: omelets, quiches, breakfast meats, rolls, croissants, cereal, fresh fruit, crepes, pancakes, and the like.
At lunch Kings Court is subdivided into specialty areas offering an Asian/fusion option (“Lotus”), fresh-carved meat (”The Carvery”), Italian fare as well as burgers and fries (“La Piazza”), and the interesting, 36-seat “Chef’s Galley” where, for a reservation and an extra fee, guests can pull up a chair on the galley itself and enjoy an interactive dining experience with the galley’s chefs!
For dinner, the “Court” maintains the lunchtime themes but takes on a more elegant, intimate ambiance with table cloths and table service. Reservations are recommended at night.
The Boardwalk Café: Not far from the pool on Deck 12, this lunch venue serves as the QM2’s “Lido Deck” buffet. Hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, fries and salads fill the bill here. It’s always casual here and it’s open for breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner and, for those with the late-night munchies – it’s open past mid-night! But as this is an outdoor venue, weather dictates hours of operation.
Golden Lion: Authentic pub food in an authentic pub atmosphere is available here for lunch (generally from noon till 3:00 pm). Fish & Chips with mushy peas, Bangers & Mash with a Yorkshire pudding, Cottage Pie or Steak and Mushroom Pie – they’re all on the menu most days and the ales and lager are top drawer, too. The Golden Lion operates as a pub into the night as it doubles as the ship’s “Sports Bar” (and occasional Karaoke Bar) with televised sporting events and live fees, when and where available.
Todd English: The two-time James Beard award winner has long received accolades for the cuisine his Boston restaurant Olives offers. The accolades have followed him aboard QM2 with the fine Mediterranean cuisine offered in the restaurant that bears his name. Originally offered at no charge to QM2 guests, Todd English was overwhelmed with reservations. Cunard now charges a modest fee for dining here and even still, the demand outstrips the availability of tables.
The 156-seat Todd English occupies a premiere location aboard QM2 – aft, with views of the Deck 8 Pool and the sea beyond. Weather permitting; al fresco terrace dining is available for guests. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and, of course, reservations are a must. Currently, there is a restriction to one dining visit per cruise; an exception is made for passengers traveling in the “Grill classes” (categories P2 and higher who dine in the Queens or Princess Grills).
Queens Room: Though normally an entertainment venue, Queens Court does double duty as the location for Cunard’s traditional English High Tea service. Each day of your cruise white-gloved wait staff will pamper you with fine teas, scones with whipped or coddled cream, finger sandwiches and delicate pastries. The atmosphere is formal, but so satisfyingly pleasant! Besides, it’s truly a Cunard tradition – one you shouldn’t miss!
Room Service: Almost every accommodation aboard offers an adjustable-height coffee table that makes in-stateroom dining convenient and comfortable. But here is another area where your accommodation category impacts your cruise experience; Queens and Princess Grill guests (categories P2 and higher) can order from the evening’s dining room menu. Guests in other accommodations are restricted to a relatively uninspired menu of sandwiches, salads and pizzas.
