Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival Freedom

Venue Overview

The Sun King Steakhouse is a Manhattan-chic steakhouse that is decorated with pictures of its namesake, the French King Louis XIV, and a whole lot of gold. It offers round tables for parties of four or more as well as smaller, two-person square tables that are perfect for an intimate dinner. White table cloths and imitation candles top the tables. Each patron will have to pay an extra $20 for the privilege of dining at the Sun King, but it is well worth the price.

The menu focuses on gourmet steaks and seafood. The Sun King is great for those looking for a romantic night out, and also for those who are red meat lovers. Expect some of these meal choices to grace the menu at the Sun King:

Appetizers: Escargot Bourguignonne in garlic herb butter, grilled portobello mushroom with olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar, beef carpaccio with mache lettuce and shaved Parmesan, ahi tuna tartar, jumbo shrimp cocktail, New England crab cake on roasted pepper remoulade, lobster bisque with vintage cognac, baked onion soup, as well as different salads such as Caesar’s, baby spinach and mushrooms, heart of iceberg with red and yellow grape tomatoes, sliced beef steak tomatoes with Gorgonzola crumbles.

Entrees: 14 oz Broiled New York strip loin steak, 18 oz grilled prime rib chop, 24 oz classic porterhouse steak, 9 oz filet Mignon, surf & turf with Maine lobster tail and filet Mignon, broiled lobster tail, 2 grilled lamb chops, Maine lobster ravioli with scampi, grilled filet of Chilean sea bass on young spinach salad;

Sides: Baked potatoes with trimming, sauteed medley of mushrooms, mash potatoes with wasabe, creamed spinach with garlic, steamed broccoli; Sauces: Three peppercorn, wild mushroom, Bearnaise, which are dribbled over the meat upon serving.

Note: In June 2012, Carnival increased the surcharge on all its steakhouses, to $35 per person.

Lunch / Dinner

The culinary experience starts immediately at the Sun King Steakhouse as shortly after seating a waiter brings a piece of focaccia with salted butter, eggplant tapenade and tomato confit that borders on the divine. As you finish this pre-appetizer, the waiter brings an amuse bouche, one of the chef creations of the night. We received a miniature tomato soup with croutons and Parmesan that was excellent.

For the rest of the meal, we highly recommend the thinly cut beef carpaccio. The mache lettuce and drizzle of olive oil complements it very well. It is a perfect appetizer as it is light, piquant and the beef just melts in your mouth. The beef tomatoes with Gorgonzola crumbles is superb as well, both fruity and savory at the same time.

The main feature, the steaks, are cooked precisely to your order. The lamb was our favorite dish here. Two lamb chops are served with three small pieces of lamb tenderloin, accompanied by mashed potatoes and mushrooms on the side. The lamb came medium rare, the chops almost fell off the bone and had the taste to match the perfect texture. The potatoes were a little too fatty for our taste, employing a little too much garlic, but the mushrooms were exquisite.

Dessert

Desserts were especially rich at the Sun King. The menu included cheesecake with a hazelnut biscuit, caramelized Washington apples in a puff pastry dome, a chocolate sampler, home made ice creams and sherberts, as well as fresh fruit. The desserts sampler was our favorite choice, with tastes of bittersweet chocolate cake, banana pannacotta, tiramisu, and chocolate marquise with raspberry and mint. Of these, the marquise stood out the most because of its flavor and, after a large steak dinner, it was the lightest of all the dessert samples.

Wine List

The wine list at the Sun King is certainly extensive, including white, red, sparkling, and reserve wines from all over the world. You can have a glass poured for as little as $7, or a whole bottle of Opus One Reserve for $225, and anything in between.