Restaurants on Norwegian Joy: A Quick Guide With Menus

Cruising soon and wondering what the restaurants on Norwegian Joy are like? We’ve eaten at most of them and have pics and all the details for you.

Norwegian Joy is a stunning cruise ship that offers a variety of dining options to satisfy even the pickiest palate. The ship has fourteen restaurants and cafes, serving everything from quick snacks to gourmet meals.

When you cruise on Norwegian, you have a choice between two types of restaurants: complimentary and specialty. Complimentary restaurants are included in your cruise fare, while specialty restaurants have a cover charge that varies by venue, are available via your Free at Sea specialty dining package, or are à la carte. If you’re staying in The Haven, the suites-only enclave, you can also dine at The Haven Restaurant.

Let’s take a closer look at the restaurants on Norwegian Joy and what makes them stand out. To enlarge a menu, click on its photo.

Complimentary Restaurants

There are six complimentary restaurants on Norwegian Joy:

• Garden Café – the buffet
• Manhattan Room – the largest main dining room
• Savor – a main dining room
• Taste – a main dining room
• The Local Bar & Grille – a pub-style restaurant that is open 24/7
• American Diner – 1950s diner-style

Garden Café

The Garden Café is Norwegian Joy’s buffet restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Its menu features a wide range of both American and international dishes, including Asian stir-fry, Italian pasta, and Mexican tacos.

There is also a full bar. Iced tea, milk, juices, and lemonade are available for free, but alcoholic beverages and sodas must be purchased.

Each night, the theme of the food is rotated, so you’ll have new choices as well as old favorites.

• Location: Deck 16 forward
• Specialty: Buffet
• Dress Code: Casual
• Breakfast hours: 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
• Lunch hours: 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Dinner hours: 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Manhattan Room

The Manhattan Room is the largest and most elegant of the three main dining rooms. It is only open for dinner.

The Manhattan Room is an elegant restaurant that serves classic American cuisine with a modern twist. Inspired by the glamorous supper clubs of the 1930s and 1940s, it features live music and dancing. The menu includes a range of choices including steak, seafood, and vegetarian options.

Note that all three main dining rooms share the same kitchen and the same menu. Each night, the menu varies slightly with a different focus.

• Location: Deck 7 aft
• Specialty: American fine dining
• Dress Code: Smart Casual
• Dinner hours: 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Savor

• Location: Deck 6 aft
• Specialty: American fine dining
• Dress Code for lunch: Casual
• Dress Code for dinner: Smart Casual
• Breakfast hours: 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. (approximate)
• Lunch hours: 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. (approximate)
• Dinner hours: 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Taste

• Specialty: American fine dining
• Dress Code for lunch: Casual
• Dress Code for dinner: Smart Casual
• Breakfast hours: 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. (approximate)
• Lunch hours: 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. (approximate)
• Dinner hours: 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The Local Bar & Grill

The Local is a casual pub-style restaurant that serves classic American comfort food. Its menu includes burgers, sandwiches, and bar snacks like chicken wings and nachos. The atmosphere is laid-back, making it a great place to grab a bite and have a beer with friends.

Be sure to try: Chicken Salad Sandwich with Fries.

• Location: Deck 7 forward
• Specialty: Classic American comfort food
• Dress Code: Casual
• Hours: Open 24/7

Our review of The Local can be found here.

American Diner

American Diner offers a small buffet for breakfast and a full lunch. Although it used to be a specialty restaurant, American Diner is now complimentary.

Be sure to try: Lobster rolls served on embarkation day. They’re a crowd favorite!

• Location: Deck 17 aft
• Specialty: Diner-style burgers and more
• Dress Code: Casual
• Lunch hours: 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily

Our review of American Diner is now live.

Specialty Restaurants

There are seven specialty restaurants on Norwegian Joy, each with their own focus:

• Cagney’s Steakhouse – steaks
• Food Republic – fusion
• La Cucina – Italian
• Le Bistro – French
• Ocean Blue – seafood
• Q Texas Smokehouse – barbecue
• Teppanyaki – Japanese

When you dine at a specialty restaurant, you can pay à la carte or you can use your dining plan. With Free at Sea, Norwegian offers from one to three dinners at a specialty restaurant for free, depending on the length of your cruise.

Cagney’s Steakhouse

Cagney’s is Norwegian’s signature steakhouse, offering high-quality cuts of meat and seafood. Passengers can choose from a variety of steak and seafood dishes, as well as sides like creamed spinach and truffle fries.

Be sure to try: Rib-eye steak. It’s tender and delicious!

• Location: Deck 8 aft
• Specialty: Italian classics
• Dress Code for dinner: Smart Casual
• Dinner hours: 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Check out our take on Cagney’s.

Food Republic

Food Republic is a contemporary restaurant on Norwegian Joy that serves a variety of international cuisine. The restaurant features a menu of small plates inspired by street food from around the world. The dishes are designed to be shared, making it a great option for groups or families. Its atmosphere is casual, making it a great place to grab a quick bite or have a leisurely meal.

Be sure to try: Crispy Salmon Rolls.

• Location: Deck 8 mid-forward
• Specialty: Global fusion
• Dress Code: Casual
• Dinner hours: 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

We finally tried Food Republic recently. Here’s what we thought.

La Cucina

La Cucina is Norwegian’s Italian restaurant, serving classic Italian dishes such as pasta and seafood. The restaurant has a cozy atmosphere and is the perfect spot for a romantic dinner for two. It also serves pizza, which is available for take-out.

Be sure to try: Lasagna. It will redefine how you think lasagna should taste.

• Location: Deck 8 mid-ship
• Specialty: Italian classics
• Dress Code for dinner: Smart Casual
• Dinner hours: 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

La Cucina is always a favorite for me. Here is our review.

Le Bistro

Le Bistro is a classic French restaurant that offers an intimate and romantic atmosphere. The restaurant serves gourmet French cuisine, including escargot, French onion soup, and beef bourguignon. Its menu also includes vegetarian options, and the wine list is extensive. Le Bistro is a great option for a special occasion or a romantic dinner.

Be sure to try: Escargot. They have just the right amount of garlic and butter to please.

• Location: Deck 8 aft
• Specialty: French classics
• Dress Code: Smart Casual
• Dinner hours: 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Be sure to read our review of Ocean Blue.

Ocean Blue

Ocean Blue is a seafood restaurant that serves fresh, locally sourced seafood dishes in a stylish and modern setting. The menu includes a variety of dishes, including lobster, shrimp, and sushi rolls. It also offers outside dining, making it a great place to enjoy a delicious seafood dinner while taking in stunning ocean views.

Be sure to try: New England clam chowder.

• Location: Deck 8 mid-ship
• Specialty: Seafood classics
• Dress Code for dinner: Smart Casual
• Dinner hours: 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Q Texas Smokehouse

Q is Norwegian Joy’s barbecue restaurant, serving up authentic Texas-style smoked meats. The menu features a variety of options including brisket, ribs, and pulled pork, as well as classic sides like baked beans and mac and cheese.

To learn more, check out our post.

Be sure to try: The Pitmaster Platter. It has a little of everything. Yum!

• Location: Deck 6 forward
• Specialty: Smoked barbecue
• Dress Code for dinner: Casual
• Dinner hours: 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

We’ve eaten at Q Texas Steakhouse twice now. Here is our review.

Teppanyaki

Teppanyaki is a Japanese Hibachi-style restaurant that features live cooking shows where chefs entertain as well as cook on a large griddle in front of the guests. The chefs put on an entertaining performance as they prepare delicious Japanese dishes, including steak, seafood, and vegetables. It has a casual, fun atmosphere that’s perfect for families or groups of friends.

Be sure to try: Asuka combination: steak and jumbo shrimp.

• Location: Deck 6 mid-ship
• Specialty: Japanese Hibachi-style
• Dress Code for dinner: Smart Casual
• Dinner hours: 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Teppanyaki has long been our first-night dinner on Norwegian. Here’s our review.

The Haven Restaurant

The Haven Restaurant is an upscale establishment only available to guests staying in Haven staterooms. The venue is large and gorgeous, lined with floor-to-ceiling windows that provide amazing views. Its cuisine and service are second to none, creating a bucket-list experience for cruisers. It also has an outside seating area.

To learn more, see our post.

Be sure to try: Pork Belly appetizer. It’s decadent and oh so good.

• Location: Deck 18 forward
• Specialty: American fine dining
• Dress Code for breakfast and lunch: Casual
• Dress Code for dinner: Smart Casual
• Breakfast hours: 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. (varies by port)
• Lunch hours: 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Dinner hours: 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Our Gift For You

Download your free copy of our Norwegian Joy Restaurants Guide. Enjoy!

free!

Joy Restaurant Guide

Would you like a restaurant handout you could print out and take with you on the Joy? Our exclusive handout gives you the location, dress code, and hours of all the restaurants on the ship. Of course, the hours are subject to change.

get your free guide

Final Thoughts On Restaurants On Norwegian Joy

Overall, the restaurants on Norwegian Joy offer a wide variety of dining options to satisfy any craving. Whether you’re looking for a romantic dinner or a casual meal with friends, there’s a restaurant on board that will suit your needs. With so many delicious options to choose from, you’re sure to have a memorable dining experience on Norwegian Joy.

Happy cruising!