Sir Winston’s Restaurant & Lounge Review - The Ultimate Five Star Gourmet Experience

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Category: Chefs, Fine Dining

Published on Sunday, 30 October 2016 00:53

Written by Janet Walker

Sir Winston's Restaurant & Lounge, RMS Queen Mary, located aboard the historic vessel moored in Long Beach Harbor, is one of the more formal dining destinations in the region offering award winning, five-star cuisine, white glove service against a backdrop of golden romantic ambiance.

The décor is authentic England, rich, old money aristocracy, and as throughout the ship, no detail has been overlooked in the original restoration which occurred after the Queen was purchased and moved to its new home where it would remain on permanent display.

Pictures of its namesake, Winston Churchill, the former Prime Minister of England who lead the nation through its darkest hours of World War II, line the walls. Obviously, a man who enjoyed a good meal from time to time, Sir Winston's has preserved a tradition of fine, luxurious dining, where the meal is presented and the conversation lingers beyond the last course.

The experience of Sir Winston's Restaurant & Lounge begins with the Maître D's welcome. The formal dining area is to the left and a lounge to the right.

Once the party is seated, a dedicated server stops at each seat and with swiftness removes the black cloth napkin and drapes it across each patron's lap. The attention to every detail is just one of the finer points in the impeccable service provided.

Settling in the comfortable seating, the full table setting, beautiful with exquisite namesake china, the server explains the specials for the evening. As a guest, my dining experience at Sir Winston's was somewhat different than the usual family, romantic or celebratory dinner. Our table of nine, were guests of the Long Beach Convention Bureau.

We had just completed a personal tour of the Queen Mary and were now enjoying the luxury of Sir Winston's. Our host ordered several selections of both Red and White wine from the menu offerings which offer a delicious, full, range of vino's and top shelf spirits as well as Evian bottled water.  

One this night the dinner special was Maine Rock Lobster and Filet Mignonette, a classic Surf & Turf, served with asparagus, roasted carrots, and smashed potatoes. Most of the table ordered the special with our tour guide, known as The Commodore, a kind man with a keen sense of humor and encyclopedic knowledge of the ship, past and present as well as all future projects, ordered the classic Beef Wellington.

For appetizers while the menu offers an array including Helix Escargot, Carpaccio, Fresh Market Oysters, Chilled Crab Timbale and Braised Pork Belly, our group all enjoyed the classic Caesar Salad. Soups, Lobster Bisque and French Onion, are also offered. Sir Winston's also offers a variety of salad in addition to the classic Caesar, Lobster, Tomato Caprese, Farmer's Market are on the menu.

The appetizers are simply the prelude to a Classic's and Entrée menu that is Christmas morning to the foodie.

Beef Wellington, Chateaubriand, Dover Sole Meuniere represent the classics with Dry Aged Bone in New York Steak, Australian Rack of Lamb, Steelhead Salmon, Seared Ahi, Seared Day Boat Scallops, Sea Trout Almondine, Petaluma Duck, Herb Chicken Roulade and the nightly special on Classic Surf and Turf, Rock Maine Lobster and Filet Mignonette served with roasted vegetables.

Sir Winston's completes its meal offerings with a variety of desserts and our table enjoyed chocolate dipped strawberries, Chocolate Lava Cake and Chocolate and Lemon Souffles. All exceptionally delicious.

Sir Winston's serves an entremets sorbet. Use in high end and ultra-luxurious rated French dining the non-description, very cool, and unsweetened ice, cleanses and prepares the palette for the full flavor experience.

I truly enjoyed the dining experience at Sir Winston's Restaurant & Lounge. The service was impeccable, the atmosphere, outside the enjoyable group experience, unsurpassed. The fine art of dining service, from the napkin to needs and desires met before spoken. The server watched the table, aware of each person. The delicious entrees, all arrived together, and all were prepared to order. The plating was exceptional and the food retained heat throughout the meal.

The Lobster was exquisitely delicious, so tender it almost melted upon taste. It was a dreamy, delightful, deep sea delicacy, dipped in a butter and garlic sauce. The filet Mignonette, with nice grill marks, was perfectly tender. The knife sliced it like butter. Each bite was enjoyable, savored and experienced. 

I have a single observation, as I looked around and nearing the end of my filet mignonette, I noticed it was a bit more rare than I would have preferred. Ordering at a "medium level," instead of my usual "medium well, pink not red." The center of the cut didn't quite reach the pink stage. I wasn't disappointed as the four "too rare" bites didn't ruin my evening.

After the entrees, we enjoyed a table of luscious desserts all of which were sinfully decadent and wonderfully delicious. The wines, were smooth, rich and full flavored with a nice finish.

OpenTable, the world's leading provider of restaurant reservations, has named Sir Winston's Restaurant & Lounge, in 2015, as one of the top 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America.

Five Stars. Truly, Sir Winston's Restaurant & Lounge is an unmatched, delicious, memorable, unique dining experience. Five stars across the board in service, ambiance, cuisine.

For more information http://www.queenmary.com/dining-bars/dining-bars/sir-winstons-restaurant-lounge/