Hotel experts and chefs advise on the best and worst items to order off the room service menu.
There are some things I am not: a night person or a budget airline person and yet, alas, that’s a combination I frequently find myself in. After a long, treacherous journey the last thing I want is to discuss my bouncy server’s favorite appetizer at 10 p.m. First, I don’t care, and second, I smell like Economy Lite. That’s why room service is often a savior.
On my first Virgin Voyage from Miami, I had a “cauliflower steak” delivered straight to my cabin on night one while the rest of our traveling party hit a Korean restaurant. Eating alone in my balcony hammock, I was soothed by the ocean breeze. The hammock pattern indented my skin when I got up, but it was totally worth it. No chit-chat, just tasty grub and a nice hot shower for the night.
While that experience was divine, the food or service doesn’t always match up. Once, I was delivered ice cream at the same time as my starter and main…in MOROCCO. It’s hot in Morocco, in case you didn’t know, and so was the puddle of vanilla on the tray when I finished my tagine. How do I ensure that same Virgin satisfaction over and over? Here, I seek expert help on what and how to order off the room service menu.
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Tips for Ordering Dinner to Your Room
“The best room service dishes are quick to prepare, stay fresh for longer, remain visually appealing and delicious even after several minutes, and, most importantly, fulfill the guest´s appetite and craving for the right food at the right moment,” says Sebastian, who works in food and beverages at a Kempinski hotel.
“I once worked at a mid-range hotel that would reheat frozen pizza from the supermarket and sell it at three times the price for room service.”
Christie, a former hotel employee, suggests always going with classics.
“A club sandwich or cheeseburger is hard to get wrong,” she says. “Vegan options like your cauliflower steak are also a smart choice on such a big property. Executive chefs never work the graveyard shift, so avoid complicated specialty items, especially of the seafood variety. If you can wait, order your ice cream whilst finishing your main. Otherwise, switch it out for a dessert that doesn’t melt.”
The CDC recommends hot and cold food be packaged separately during any kind of delivery for safe consumption.
“In my opinion, the chicken Caesar salad is one of the safest dishes for a room service dinner,” Cliff, a Fairmont hotel chef, advises. “Guests should ask for the hot protein to be placed on a separate dish from the cold salad so each retains its correct temperature. To ensure the lettuce also holds, I’d ask for dressing on the side.”
But what about ordering breakfast? In-room breakfast tends to be the most popular time to order room service. When it comes to ordering your breakfast in bed, here’s what experts suggest.
Ordering Breakfast to Your Room
Nibbling your croissants without worrying about cleaning the sheets is a holiday treat for many, but not me (unless I’m sharing a suite with the world’s most pampered cat). Why? Because I like my coffee piping hot. Also, breakfast-in-bed photos are done to death.
“You’re not going to get a better cappuccino in your room than if you were to put some pants on and get it straight from the barista downstairs,” says Alex, a Fora travel advisor. “Breakfast is the hotel kitchen’s busiest time of day, so by the time it has traveled from the basement to your room, it’ll be lukewarm. You might as well use the Nespresso or wait till you head out.”
And when at an exotic beach resort with the beau, I’m told to tick items that can sit in the sun when selecting a floating breakfast.
“Outside heat and humidity will increase the temperature of the breakfast, so skip yogurts and stick to items that can hold up well under the sun, such as fresh fruit or avocado toast, and be careful not to get pool water on them,” Alex adds. “This can result in contamination.”
For Sophie Cullen, founder of The Hotel Journal, seasonal items are always a safe bet.
“I like to choose local, seasonal items rather than anything imported. If you’re having breakfast in Thailand, for example, go for abundant produce like dragon fruit, lychees, or mangosteen over anything grown elsewhere,” suggests Cullen. “When you eat like a local, not only do you learn about different flavors but it’s better for the planet too.”
As for the rest of the day’s room service, we all know that raw meats, seafood, and poultry are the main culprits of any holiday illness. The safest options may indeed curb the upset stomach, but they aren’t necessarily foolproof.
“Pizza is such a safe option; it’s one of the most delivered foods in the West, but I once worked at a mid-range hotel that would reheat frozen pizza from the supermarket and sell it at three times the price for room service,” warns Christie.
Even five-star hotels can fall short. Reddit user Junior-Champion627 experienced a shock at the “five-star” Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana. “My cat has made vomits that looked more appetizing,” screamed one of the comments. Clearly, a five-star hotel does not always equate to five-star room service.
“Look, even the normally safe foods won’t be at their peak when it comes to nighttime room service,” explains Giles, a current four-star hotel restaurant employee. “When you make French fries, the oil will have been in the fryer all day. You’re just filling space. But isn’t that what you’re trying to do at midnight? Are you really expecting to have the meal of your life by way of a burger or pizza?”
I guess not. And after $6 Pringles and a Minute Maid concoction, who am I to complain? I am, after all, a budget airline regular.
