One of the greatest things about the Mardi Gras is the number of dining options. Many of them are included in your base cruise fare, but there are also several premium dining options. One of these premium options is Cucina del Capitano, which we fell in love with early on. We ate there at least half of all evenings because it was so wonderful. In that time, we learned a lot about the restaurant and its staff. Read on for our Cucina del Capitano review. Learn why we believe Cucina del Capitano is the best restaurant on the Mardi Gras and truly the heart of the ship.
What is Cucina del Capitano?
Cucina del Capitano, which means the Captain's Kitchen in English, is the Italian restaurant aboard the Mardi Gras and other Carnival cruise ships. It is a cozy restaurant with an authentic Italian menu based on recommendations from Carnival's many Italian captains. The atmosphere is romantic with a true feeling of being at home, and the hospitality is second to none.
How much does Cucina del Capitano cost?
Cucina del Capitano is one of two mid-tier premium dining options that are included in your fare the first time you try them aboard the Mardi Gras and other Excel class ships. Cruisers can eat at Chibang! and Cucina del Capitano one time each for free. After that, each person pays $8 per meal to dine there rather than at one of the included dining options. We tried both options on our last back to back aboard the Mardi Gras, and Cucina del Capitano quickly became our favorite place aboard.
Apparently some cruise ships offer Cucina del Capitano but do not comp you the first meal. Our only experience with the restaurant is aboard the Mardi Gras. Read more about our experiences on the Mardi Gras here.
What to Order at Cucina del Capitano
All of the food is amazing at Cucina del Capitano. From our first visit, I planned to write up a Cucina del Capitano review so I tried several things across many visits, and I was never disappointed with anything. But time and time again, we came back to the same things.
The best appetizer at Cucina del Capitano
We both ordered the Nonna's Meat Balls appetizer every single time. You only get one, but it is the best meatball ever. I tried several of the other appetizers, and they were all good, but the meatball is a must.
The best entrees at Cucina del Capitano
As for entrees, again, everything we tried was excellent. The Chicken Parmesan is delicious, thin, and large enough to share with the table. The Veal Marsala is next level, and the parmesan semolina gnocchi served with it are the tastiest little bites. Hubby ordered the grilled shrimp most nights and really enjoyed it. Don't forget that you can order two entrees so choosing a pasta and a protein isn't out of the question.
Apparently each Cucina del Capitano has a slightly different menu with a special featured entree. Aboard the Mardi Gras, the feature is Farfalle Al Pistachio, a favorite dish of Mardi Gras' inaugural Captain, Giuseppe Giusa which is frequently prepared by his wife, "Giusy" Giuseppina. This was my favorite entree on the menu. It is made with a pesto of pistachios, bacon, and herbs, and once you try it, you'll be hooked.
The best dessert at Cucina del Capitano
The best dessert on the Mardi Gras
For dessert, the tiramisu is our favorite dessert anywhere aboard. We may have taken an extra slice back to the room several nights. I tried other things to get a well-rounded perspective for this Cucina del Capitano review, and they were all good, but the tiramisu is so excellent that everything else pales in comparison.
The Service
On our first night eating at Cucina del Capitano, my husband failed to mention a food allergy. He didn't think that it would be in what he was ordering and wasn't paying attention when the waiter asked. When the meal came, he apologized and said he couldn't eat it. He knew it was his mistake and didn't ask for anything else, but within a few minutes the head chef for all of deck 8 came out to the table and offered to remake the dish himself without the ingredient my husband was allergic to. My husband explained that the waiter had asked and it wasn't their fault, but Chef Tahir insisted on remaking the plate.
This experience began a series of interactions with Chef Tahir, the Maitre d', Ouaudi, and the rest of the staff at Cucina del Capitano where we really felt like family. They all went above and beyond to create an atmosphere of hospitality and service. We came back several times because we loved the food so much, and as we returned time and time again, we were impressed by both the service we received and the obvious culture of care and genuine hospitality that was present in the restaurant.
Cucina del Capitano is the heart of the Mardi Gras
The branding for Cucina del Capitano is all centered around the Italian notion of the kitchen as the heart of the home. It is obvious that the staff at Cucina del Capitano aboard the Mardi Gras take this seriously, as they work tirelessly to create that very atmosphere. When we ate elsewhere aboard, the service was great, but at Cucina del Capitano, the service was heartfelt in a way that felt like visiting friends or family for a meal. A large part of the reason that we will be returning to the Mardi Gras later this year is so that we can see the wonderful people we met again before their current contracts end.
The Best Restaurant on the Mardi Gras
After we'd been to Cucina del Capitano a few times, we realized that the waiters were really encouraging us to mention the restaurant in the Carnival surveys. More so than in other dining rooms, they were consistent about encouraging us to do so with each visit. Eventually, they told us that the restaurants are ranked according to those surveys and that Cucina del Capitano is never number one because so few people mention it by name, in large part because most people only eat there the one time that is included in their base cruise fare.
As we got to know the servers more, they expressed dissatisfaction at their own ranking and a real desire to be number one, not because they wanted the recognition but because they genuinely wanted to be the best restaurant on the Mardi Gras. In our experience, this was absolutely evident, and in our experience, they were.
I hope that this article will encourage people to eat at Cucina del Capitano during their cruise and then take the time to mention the restaurant in their survey once they've returned home so these great staff members can get the credit they deserve for the wonderful service they provide and atmosphere they create. Cucina del Capitano truly is the best restaurant on the Mardi Gras!
