No one can bat 1.000. It just isn’t feasible, no matter how skilled they are. The same is true for companies and Virgin Voyages is no exception. They recently made an update to their dining lineup on the Scarlet Lady, specifically to the Razzle Dazzle restaurant, now known as Lucky Lotus.
Originally named after the high contrast, black and white camouflage paint experiments on wartime ships, Razzle Dazzle, the restaurant, aimed to serve up amazing vegetarian and vegan dishes. Unfortunately, much like the attempts at stealth it’s named after, the concept didn’t work as well as initially hoped.
However, like all good companies, when something doesn’t work, you pivot. Virgin has done exactly that by changing the concept to serve Chinese cuisine and renamed it Lucky Lotus.
The more relaxed, but still dynamic decor of Lucky Lotus.
Why the change?
I want to be clear; I like Razzle Dazzle and it’s still around on the Valiant Lady and the Resilient Lady. Scarlet Lady, though, now has Lucky Lotus by Razzle Dazzle.
Virgin takes customer feedback seriously and customers said they wanted a Chinese restaurant. The same customers also had lukewarm reactions to the Razzle Dazzle dishes. And so, Virgin called an audible and changed the evening menu.
Ah, yes, it’s important to note that the brunch menu for Razzle Dazzle is still mostly the same. That’s because the same customers that said they weren’t thrilled about dinner, were also very clear that they really liked the brunch.
The lightly updated brunch menu at Razzle Dazzle, which it’s called in the morning.
Still, the brunch menu did receive a few updates. Now you can order fried rice, dumplings, and wonton soup. All of them are delectable options and add more savory breakfast choices. Rest assured, though, that the favorites of fried chicken, buckwheat waffle, and the ever-divisive bacon are all still there, as are the rainbow churros.
Is Lucky Lotus any good, though?
In short, yes. Very much, yes!
As research for this article, I ordered, almost, everything on the menu over a series of meals. I had a companion with me (my mom!), so I got her thoughts on it as well. We have different palettes, but we enjoy many of the same foods.
Lucky Lotus Menu.
Here are my thoughts by course:
Starters
The apps are so tasty in Lucky Lotus that it’s not even fair. Truly, you can’t go wrong here and trying to pick a favorite is painful! I can confidently recommend just getting all the apps as an option for your dinner. Lots of folks do that on the ship, just order appetizers and eat small portions until you’re full.
Peking Duck Bao Buns – 11/10 no notes! If you like duck, these are an instant success, and they took my top spot.
Those bao buns are something else!
Honey Sriracha Sticky Ribs – A very close second and they have some heat, but not a lot by my standard so don’t be scared by that.
Pan Roasted Vegetable Dumplings – These are a little different than other dumplings, they come with a crispy wafer on top and that truffle soy sauce is excellent! They serve these on the brunch menu, and I had them each day I had breakfast at Razzle Dazzle.
The dumplings are very easy to love, especially at brunch – which is when this was taken,
Trio of Lengcai – Pickled vegetables are a staple in starters and a perfect and refreshing way to start a meal. The lotus root was not something that I’d had before and it was really delicious. These took my mom’s top spot!
Kabocha & Chicken Wonton Soup – I love a good wonton soup and this certainly delivered. The portion on this was much larger than a starter typically is, it really could be a main course for many people. Like the dumplings, this soup is on the breakfast menu as well and it’s a great way to start the day.
Crispy Walnut Prawns – Another larger starter than you might expect, definitely a good one to share. Obviously, if you don’t like shrimp, this one might not be for you. I don’t like shrimp, but I was surprised to like it quite a bit. My mom, who does like shrimp, said it was excellent.
Mains
The entrees at Lucky Lotus are varied and quite different from any other restaurant on the ship. Two of them we didn’t try, the Blossoming Sweet & Sour Fish and the Grilled Ribeye, we simply didn’t have enough time to. The other four were all good enough to make a reservation there a must do on any voyage.
Stir Fried Rice Noodles – This is the final dish that is available on both the dinner and brunch menus. I admit, there’s nothing really special about fried rice, but it’s a reliable favorite for a reason. The inclusion of noodles adds a little something special to it, and if you turn to stir fried rice as your comfort food or your typical breakfast, you’ll find just what you’re looking for.
The Stir Fried Rice Noodles are a hearty start to the day (notice the Razzle Dazzle bacon).
Buddha’s Delight – Ya know, tofu gets a bad rap and it’s completely undeserved. When handled correctly it’s amazing and this dished nails it! I also love the inclusion of asparagus into any meal – just sayin. Not to mention, this was my mom’s favorite.
Szechuan Hot & Sour Noodles – This is a standout! I always love a good hot and sour soup, but this steps it up to a whole other level. Look at those peanuts! The whole dish just pops and was my personal favorite.
Hot and sour soups are a staple of Chinese restaurants and you will love this one – I promise.
Five Spice Pork Chop – Another dish that brought some heat, but only just enough, not too much. Although the portion looks small, the dish is quite filling. We split one and it had both of us stuffed. If you like a breaded and fried meat, you can’t go wrong here.
Conclusion
Virgin Voyages took a gamble here and it paid off in a big way. When you’ve invested all the time Virgin has into figuring out their food suppliers, menus, chefs, process, and everything else that goes into a restaurant, changing all that isn’t your first instinct. I’ve worked in food service, starting anything is scary in that world, there’s so much that goes into it. Retooling your whole concept is almost as scary. It’s a big investment of time and money. Everyone gets retrained, a new menu is created, and new supplies are sourced. Not to mention that the entire space needs to be redecorated!
Razzle Dazzle is often listed as the most skippable restaurant and, even though it works for my tastes, I understand the sentiment. Lucky Lotus, on the other hand, I don’t think will be listed as “skippable.” These are quality dishes, made well, with wide appeal.
What this tells me is that Virgin is in for the long haul on this. They listened to feedback and changed course. They didn’t pull their punches in retooling but they also didn’t overcorrect by scraping the entire concept. That’s the sort of approach that’s keeping them as my favorite line to sail.
Well done!
