In May 2025, we sailed on Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady through the Mediterranean — and we literally ate our way through the ship. Other than the Korean BBQ spot Gunbae, we dined at every restaurant onboard between one and six times. Over our 8-day, 7-night voyage, we had 13 full meals in total, making this one of the most detailed Virgin Voyages restaurant reviews you’ll find online.
Introduction
Because there were simply too many photos, this post focuses only on Virgin Voyages’ specialty restaurants — not The Galley, which replaces the traditional cruise buffet. Every meal reviewed here was from our 8-day, 7-night Mediterranean sailing on the Resilient Lady. Some restaurants were reserved before boarding, and others were booked once we got on the ship.
If you haven’t read my other Virgin Voyages posts yet, check them out here:
- Is Virgin Voyages Worth It in 2025? My Honest Resilient Lady Review
- Virgin Voyages First-Timer Tips: What to Know Before You Sail
Interestingly, I realized after this trip that the menus are almost identical across all Virgin Voyages ships — whether you’re sailing on the Resilient Lady, Scarlet Lady, or Valiant Lady. Only the newest Brilliant Lady has a few updates, so this post is useful no matter which ship you choose.
The Wake Steakhouse
The Wake was hands-down our favorite restaurant on the Resilient Lady — we visited four times for breakfast and twice for dinner. By the end of the cruise, the staff recognized us and waved us straight in. It’s also one of the hardest restaurants to book; one lady stopped by and could only make a reservation at 8 PM.
The restaurant itself is located at the aft of the ship, it’s stylish, elegant, and ideal for both brunch and dinner.
Breakfast at The Wake
Breakfast here felt elevated yet relaxed. You’re greeted with a selection of freshly baked bread, including an indulgent pain au chocolat that became my go-to.
The highlight? Steak for breakfast. Once I tried it, I couldn’t go back — the meat was perfectly cooked, and this was also one of the few places onboard that served freshly cooked vegetables.
The French toast was excellent too — golden, crisp outside, soft inside — exactly how it should be.
I asked for extra cooked veggies as this is one of the few cooked vegetables available on board.
Dinner at The Wake
We ordered shrimp & grits, hanger steak, and lamb chops — all perfectly executed.
Dinner started with warm artisan bread and house-made spreads. Portions were generous, and the presentation was top-notch.
Drinks are charged separately, but Virgin Voyages has a no-gratuity policy, meaning prices already include tips — a nice touch compared to most cruise lines.
Hamachi Crudo
The restaurant also serves a roasted bone marrow appetizer — a rare find to me — though it wasn’t my favorite. Still, it’s worth trying for the novelty.
Shrimps & grits. The asparagus are fresh and in good size.
The hanger steak was rich and flavorful, slightly leaner than a rib-eye, while the lamb chops were juicy and beautifully seasoned.
For dessert, The Wake’s offerings were a bit on the average side. The lemon tart stood out, but overall, the sweets didn’t impress as much as the mains. (For comparison, Celebrity Cruises’ desserts are still my favorite among premium lines.)
Book your first Virgin Voyages and get 150 bar tab through my referral link!
The Test Kitchen – Molecular Dining Adventure
The Test Kitchen is one of Virgin’s most creative restaurants and one of the hardest to book. We managed two meals here — one reserved before sailing and one added later onboard.
The concept is a laboratory-style molecular dining experience with open kitchens, stainless-steel benches, and chefs in white coats. According to internet, there are three rotating set menus (A, B, C). We had the B menu twice, switching some dishes to vegetarian options the second time.
The waiter led us all the way to the kitchen since I’ve taking photos the moment I came in.
Sitting side by side with strangers is inevitable.
Corn Trio – corn prepared in different textures, including a fluffy cotton-candy-like bite.
Smoked Salmon – lightly cured and irresistibly good (I even requested it again with the vegetarian menu).
Seafood Broth with Fish Cake – clear, fragrant, and beautifully balanced.
Lamb Ribs – exceptional; the meats on Virgin Voyages are consistently strong.
Barley Risotto (Pumpkin) – the vegetarian main, comforting and silky.
Wasabi Berry Mousse – an unexpected but fun flavor pairing.
Mango Dessert – bright and tropical, ending the meal on a high note.
Book your first Virgin Voyages and get 150 bar tab through my referral link!
The Pizza Place
Located on Deck 7, The Pizza Place became our go-to spot for casual meals. It’s just a short walk from our Deck 9 stateroom, and the freshly baked pizzas stayed hot even when we took them back to our balcony.
The space is bright and breezy with sea views and self-serve water stations. You can also order soda directly from the counter. The soda is dispensed from soda gun, how cool! We don’t have it in Taiwan. Diet coke is discontinued in Taiwan so we took advantage of it and got it whenever we have a chance.
The menu offers classic Margherita plus daily specials. We particularly enjoyed the pesto pizza. Took the shuttle back to Virgin on the day we visited Dubrovnik, grabbed the pizza, and went back again.
Next door is the ice-cream parlor — a dangerously tempting combination!
Book your first Virgin Voyages and get 150 bar tab through my referral link!
Razzle Dazzle – Modern American Comfort Food
This playfully decorated venue serves American classics with a twist. It’s part vegan-friendly, part comfort food indulgence, and quickly became a favorite.
We visited for both brunch and breakfast toward the end of the cruise and wished we’d gone sooner.
Apple Cruffin & Scone – the Cruffin wins for texture and flavor.
Watermelon Salad – refreshing and beautifully presented.
Açaí Bowl – Instagram-worthy and delicious
Fried Chicken Sandwich & Fries – perfectly crispy and a must-order (if you’re not vegan).
Buckwheat Waffles – crispy outside, fluffy inside; ask for whipped cream on the side.
Salmon Grain Bowl – served with a 64-degree egg and well-cooked brown rice, which is fairly surprising to me as a Taiwanese since rice dishes on board is often a miss.
Desserts like the blueberry green-tea cheesecake were average, but the vibe and mains made up for it. (Interesting update: on Brilliant Lady, this venue becomes Rojo by Razzle Dazzle, a Spanish concept.)
Book your first Virgin Voyages and get 150 bar tab through my referral link!
Pink Agave – Upscale Mexican Dining
Pink Agave offers modern Mexican cuisine in a moody, vibrant setting. Service starts with spiced nuts and a cocktail menu that leans tequila-heavy.
Nuts are served once you are seated.
Guacamole & Shrimp Appetizer – fresh and flavorful.
Rib-Eye Steak with Oaxaca Cheese – beautifully seared and juicy. Trust me it tastes better than this picture shot in poor lighting.
Duck Entrée – rich, perfectly cooked.
Chocolate Taco Dessert – playful presentation, delicious.
Passion Fruit Napoleon – flaky and bright. I think they have the best dessert on board.
Food quality was excellent, though the tables are a bit small and the lighting dim. Still, a must-try for Mexican food lovers.
Book your first Virgin Voyages and get 150 bar tab through my referral link!
Extra Virgin – Italian Trattoria
Before boarding, we’d read nothing but praise for Extra Virgin, so we booked it as our first meal. Unfortunately, it turned out to be our least favorite.
Extra Virgin menu (different from what we had)
The setting is cozy, but the sunset-side window seats get very bright.
Bread service was solid, but the New York strip steak was a miss — dry and overcooked. We also tried pasta with white sauce, ravioli, and fried calamari, the latter being the best dish of the night.
Dessert comes via a roaming cart offering affogato made tableside. It looked fun but the ice cream tasted underwhelming compared to the ice cream bar.
We gave it a second chance later in the week — the appetizers like beef carpaccio and fried calamari were nice, but the main courses again fell flat. We left without having the dessert. One and done for us.
The Social Club – Hot Dogs and Snacks
The food at the bar is worth mentioning! This sports-bar-style space serves hot dogs, chicken wings, pretzels, and popcorn, plus cocktails and American-style sweets.
We tried several hot dog flavors — each one served hot with toppings and sauce on the side. They were so good we came back multiple times.
Book your first Virgin Voyages and get 150 bar tab through my referral link!
The Dock House – Mediterranean Outdoor Grill
We’d heard amazing things about the grilled shrimp and chicken here, but unfortunately never got a table. The Dock House is an open-air venue that fills up quickly on sea days. Next time, this will be our first stop.
The Grounds Club – Virgin’s Coffee Hub
Both The Grounds Club and The Galley serve paid specialty coffees. It’s usually busy, but the quality is worth it. Aside from espressos and lattes, there are a few fun options like bubble tea — yes, at sea — for about US $8 a cup. All pastries and bites are included in your fare.
Virgin Voyages Bars & Drinks
From the sleek Champagne Lounge to the outdoor poolside bars, every venue aboard Resilient Lady has its own aesthetic. The ship’s interiors photograph beautifully — especially the curved bar layouts and neon lighting at night. The bar menu covers everything from Aperol Spritz to craft beer, and the cash-free ordering system is seamless.
Virgin Voyages Restaurant Reservation Rules
Starting in October 2025, Virgin Voyages introduced a tiered reservation system.
- The lowest fare tier allows dining reservations 15 days before sailing.
- The mid-tier can book 45 days in advance.
- The top tier can book up to 60 days in advance.
For voyages up to 5 nights, you can reserve each restaurant only once for dinner.
For 6–8-night sailings, you can dine twice at the same venue.
For 9-night cruises or longer, you’re allowed up to three bookings.
If you can’t secure a reservation, simply show up early and ask about walk-ins.
Final Thoughts
During our 8-day Mediterranean cruise on Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady, we enjoyed 13 dining experiences across the ship. Overall, Virgin’s food quality exceeded expectations — most main courses were excellent, especially the steaks and lamb. Only Extra Virgin was a disappointment. Desserts were the weak point across venues, but the mains rivaled those on paid specialty restaurants of other cruise lines.
If this review helped you decide to try Virgin Voyages, you can book directly through their official site using my referral link to receive a US $150 bar tab credit for drinks and specialty coffees.
As of 2025, my personal ranking for cruise dining is:
- Celebrity Cruises
- Virgin Voyages
- Holland America Line
Stay tuned — I’ll be sharing my Alaska cruise review on Holland America Eurodam soon. Subscribe to my newsletter or follow my page for updates!
Also read:
- Is Virgin Voyages Worth It in 2025? My Honest Resilient Lady Review
- Virgin Voyages First-Timer Tips: What to Know Before You Sail
