Palo Steakhouse on the Disney Wish (and the Disney Treasure and Disney Destiny) is one of two elevated, adults-only dining experiences designed to take your cruise to the next level. Inspired by Cogsworth from Beauty and the Beast, this upscale restaurant blends timeless Disney charm with modern steakhouse elegance.
Reservations are required and highly recommended before your sailing, though limited availability may be offered once onboard. A semi-formal dress code does apply; shorts are allowed, but T-shirts, swimwear, and athletic wear are not permitted.
Given that my cruise was booked last minute, Palo Steakhouse Brunch was unavailable to book in advance for my sailing. Once onboard, one of the first things I did was head to Triton’s Lounge where dining staff was on hand for dining reservation changes and assistance. I was able to get Palo Brunch for our sea day for 9:30 AM. Obviously more of a breakfast time than a brunch time but given the last minute options, I took what I could get.
Palo Steakhouse and Enchanté the two specialty dining locations on the Wish are located aft on Deck 12. You will find the entrance through entering The Rose, an elevated bar/lounge experience on board. This spot is great to grab a late night drink or pre-drink to your specialty meal. The entire space is stunning and extremely well themed overall.
I was seated in a booth along the windows with spectacular views of the ocean on our sea day. There is just something magical about enjoyed an elevated meal while watching the waves drift by. Compared to other cruise line specialty dining venues, this is where Palo Steakhouse stands out. For example, Chops Grille on both Icon of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas lacks those views. On Icon, Chops is beautifully located in Central Park, which offers its own charm, but there is no replacing the feeling of dining with floor-to-ceiling windows as the backdrop. Steakhouses on a lot of cruise ships tend to be dark and lack those views.
Enough about the setting, onto the food!
You start your with a complimentary Mimosa or Prosecco. There are other beverages you can order as well such as the Palo Bloody Mary or Bellini. I stuck with the mimosa to kick off this experience. My server Ivan walked me through the menu and offered recommendations including offering advice to not fill up on heavy items such as the waffles or pancakes. There are several sections to the menu from egg and waffle options to stone oven pizza and soups. There is also a starter section with antipasti selections. I followed the recommendations and went with the Charcuterie Platter as my starter. This platter included; sliced Prosciutto, sliced Coppa, sliced Bresaola, Salame gentile, Marinated Cerignola olives, roasted garlic, Caciotta a Tartufo, Parmigiano-Reggiano and Sweet Pepperdew. In addition, you will get a bowl of bread options and some warm croissants. I attempted to not fill up on all that bread but it was hard to not at least try some of it.
For my entrée, I chose the famous Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Breast—essentially a refined take on classic Chicken Parmesan. I’ve heard this dish is a fan favorite at Palo, and now I understand why. The chicken was cooked to perfection, topped with a golden, cheesy crust, and finished table side with a generous sprinkle of hand-grated Parmesan from my server. It was, quite literally, chef’s kiss.
That leads us to dessert which was a harder decision than I anticipated. This made me order not one but two desserts as why not? I decided to go with the Warm Amaretto Chocolate Fondant and Limoncello Torte. I would compare the fondant to a molten lava cake type dessert with a small scoop of ice cream on the side. The torte was akin to a lemon cake type dessert. Both excellent and both something I would order again. I am not typically one for lemon items either but this was really good.
One final touch I wanted to mention was the bathrooms and the elevated touches within there. Inside you will find Elemis branded soap and lotion. They also have actual hand towels instead of paper towels to use. The feel of this bathroom just enhanced the overall atmosphere.
So, how does Palo Steakhouse Brunch stack up? With an extra beverage and additional tip on top of the included gratuity, this meal cost me roughly $85. Is it worth that additional cost? I think so. Standard price before drinks and gratuities is $55. Chops Grille on Royal Caribbean (albeit not for brunch) is similar in pricing unless you catch a sale price ahead of your sailing which is typically what I do. I have also done Jamie’s Italian on Quantum of the Seas and which ranges from $20-35 as well as Bonsai Teppanyaki onboard Carnival Celebration which ranges from $45-60.
Service at any specialty dining is typically excellent. Palo Steakhouse was no different in that. At other specialty dining locations I have been no drinks have been included unless you have a drink package so having that option here was a very nice touch. The bright space with the large windows and the Disney theming elevated the space. The only other specialty dining space that is better in my eyes is Empire Supper Club aboard Icon of the Seas. That is an experience unlike any other. Overall, I loved my visit to Palo Steakhouse for brunch. I will definitely be back but I would love to try dinner or Enchanté to better compare experiences to other ships I have been on.
I would love to hear from you! Have you been to Palo for brunch on Disney Cruise Line? How does it stack up for you?
Want to book your next Disney Cruise and experience Palo Steakhouse or any of the other amazing dining experiences? Contact your Crescent Lake Club advisor today!
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