Culinary round trip in the restaurants on board the Costa Diadema

Feasting properly on board and having a good time in the restaurant. This is an essential part of cruises for us, which is why we always check out as many restaurants as possible. This time, “Italy’s Finest” awaited us on board the Costa Diadema, because here you can enjoy wonderful Italian cuisine. Everyone knows it and most people love Italian cuisine: pizza, pasta, gelato. When these delicacies are also prepared in authentic Italian style using traditional recipes and fresh ingredients, then this cruise not only takes you to the various ports in the Mediterranean, but also on a culinary tour of Italy.

In addition to the two main restaurants Fiorentino and Andularia, there is also the Corona Blu buffet restaurant. There are also the additional restaurants Tavola Teppanyaki with Asian show cooking, Samsara with healthy delicacies, the club restaurant with a particularly upscale atmosphere and the pizzeria La Piazza with homemade pizzas. This means there are seven restaurants for daily indulgence. For dessert lovers, there is also the Gelateria Amarillo with ice cream, crepes, pralines and hot chocolate. Gourmets will definitely find what they are looking for with this selection.

The main restaurants

The two main restaurants, Fiorentino and Andularia, offer a daily changing menu with highlights such as homemade buffalo mozzarella with Parma ham or regional specialties such as cannoli from Sicily. The Fiorentino stretches across decks 3 and 4 at the stern of the ship, while the Andularia is only located on deck 3. The Andularia is usually only open for dinner. Unfortunately, this restaurant has more the character of a passageway, as many people use the shortcut through the restaurant, which disturbs the quiet atmosphere.

At the Fiorentino, various breakfast arrangements are served at the table in the morning. The selection includes a Norwegian breakfast with salmon on rye bread, a Mexican breakfast with fried eggs on a corn tortilla or a Belgian breakfast with waffles. You can also help yourself to food and drinks from the buffet in the middle of the restaurant. For example, there are Danish pastries, muffins and croissants, yogurt and muesli, cold cuts and cheese as well as fruit salad. There is a menu to choose from at lunchtime and in the evening. Attention is even paid to regional specialties from the port of call, so that the cruise also becomes a culinary round trip. On the left-hand side of the menu card, there is often a loving and imaginative explanation of the dishes. For example, the origin and preparation of the ancient Sicilian dish Macco made from broad beans and fennel is described.

The courses at dinner consist of antipasti (starter), zuppe (soup), primi piatti (pasta and risotto), secondi piatti (main course), insalata (salad), formaggi (cheese) and dolci (dessert). It should be noted that the pasta course is quite generous and the salad is only served with the main course. Instead of butter with the bread, olive oil and balsamic vinegar are served at the table. Extraordinary culinary delights await you, such as risotto with scorpion fish and champagne, spaghetti with anchovies or “Fra Diavolo” prawns. There is also always spaghetti Bolognese or spaghetti with tomato sauce, cod fillet or chicken breast. We also particularly liked the ambience at Fiorentino. In addition to the Italian evening with polonaise, dancing by the crew and an absolute good mood, there is also a great gala evening with a cake parade.

The Corona Blu buffet restaurant

During the day, Corona Blu has a very casual ambience with a buffet selection. The colors of the purple chairs and upholstered benches blend with the orange floor and the blue, eye-catching LED lights on the walls. The design is modern, but also very restless. A cold breakfast is served in the morning and at lunchtime there is a selection of hot dishes, bread, salads and desserts that hardly varies daily. In addition to burgers, fries and pasta, there are also some Asian dishes or simply fish and vegetables. It is usually very crowded and rather uncomfortable here at lunchtime. The selection is also quite limited.

There are no trays, you simply take plates. The cutlery is already set out on the tables in bistro-style cutlery stands. In the afternoon, there is a small tea time with sandwiches and cakes. In the evening, Corona Blu becomes an informal restaurant without fixed table times. Anyone who has been assigned to this restaurant can come and eat whenever they want. This has the advantage that you are not tied to a specific time and can remain flexible. On the other hand, it also has the disadvantage that people come and go around you.

The Club Diadema Restaurant

Fine Italian cuisine and exclusive service can be found in the Club Diadema Restaurant on deck 5 on board the Costa Diadema. Hospitality is a top priority here. The waiters speak very good English and take care of the individual with great attention to detail. Here, too, there is a menu with antipasti, primi piatti, secondi piatti, dolci e frutta. There is also an impressive selection of cheeses. The menu also explains the origin of the dishes with an introductory text; for example, we had a culinary encounter with the imagination and cheerfulness of Campania.

As an antipasti, we opted for the homemade fresh buffalo milk mozzarella. We can highly recommend it, it simply tastes incredibly good. Then we had the Amalfitana spaghetti with lemon prawns. The main course was a light eggplant casserole. A cheese platter is then served and you can choose the cheeses and matching accompaniments (dates, raisins, fig mustard, jam and much more). We chose the Napolitan ricotta cake as the crowning glory. All the dishes were fabulous and the service was extremely courteous.

The Samsara Restaurant

To reach the Samsara Restaurant, you have to go through the Pizzeria La Piazza on deck 5. At first glance, you could almost miss the sign above the doors. But once you have entered, you immediately sense the wonderful ambience in the room. This restaurant radiates a pleasant sense of calm thanks to its different shades of brown, which also fits in wonderfully with the Samsara spa concept. The tables are adorned with white tablecloths, a candle and a small rose. The elegant design also features impressive Asian ceramic masks on the walls as highlights. Passengers in spa cabins dine here free of charge. All others can also visit this beautiful restaurant for a fee (25 euros per person) and by reservation. Tip: Costa Club members receive a 50% discount.

You quickly realize that the focus in this restaurant is on healthy and light cuisine. First we had a greeting from the kitchen, then we opted for the marinated scallops in sake with pomegranate as an antipasti. There was also a choice of mango ceviche from South America or oysters. We skipped the soup. We had Hawaiian fish soup or pumpkin soup with coconut and orange. For pasta, we chose penne with white tuna, ginger and chili. The main course was the absolute highlight. We had duck breast in teriyaki sauce and lamb with a sesame and coriander crust. The food tasted simply fantastic. For dessert, we opted for the chocolate cake with a molten center and malaga ice cream and the mango tatin with vanilla ice cream.

The Tavola Teppanyaki

The Tavola Teppanyaki is the absolute culinary show highlight on board the Costa Diadema. Here, fun and enjoyment are the top priorities. There are several counters with bar stools in the restaurant, where guests can take a seat to watch the chef prepare the food. But it’s not just simple cooking, tricks are also performed and many jokes are made. The chef keeps the guests entertained and the time flies by. You can choose from three menus: a vegetarian menu for 27 euros, the classic teppanyaki for 30 euros and the chef’s teppanyaki for 34 euros. You can read more about this in our blog post on the TOP 10 activities on board the Costa Diadema.

The Pizzeria La Piazza

The pizzeria on board serves homemade pizzas with the option of watching the pizza chef prepare them live. Here you can enjoy a traditional Italian pizza in an open bistro design. The pizzeria has a simple but stylish design. The chairs are modern, the menu comes on a wooden clipboard and there are green plants in a tin can on the table. You can choose from 16 pizzas, including unusual varieties such as Pizza Trentina with mozzarella, bacon, brie and honey. You can read more about this in our blog post on the TOP 10 activities on board the Costa Diadema.

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Many thanks to Costa Crociere for the trip on the Costa Diadema. This article is not sponsored, we are only reporting on our own impressions.