QE2 Restaurants

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Below is a photo where you can see the ceiling better, Isabelle

Louis, I have been meaning to thank you for that! An excellent view of the ceiling, that.

Sometimes I find it mind-boggling to think of all the changes which the interiors of QE2 have gone through... and it is amazing that some spaces have remained intact until now (those lovely Bannenberg cabins).

Thank you also for the Mauretania photo -- I might have preferred that look to the final incarnation of the restaurant.

[Michael Gallagher]

That ceiling lasted just under three years. It was put in in December 1996 only for it to be ripped out and replaced in December 1999!

[Lynda Bradford]

Previous posts mention dinner dances being held in a restaurant.  What year did these dinner dances stop?  Also what year was the midnight buffet moved to the Lido?

[QE2 Canuck]

Hi... this is a message for Isabelle.....hope you don't mind me asking.......I just had a quick look at the pictures you took of the Britannia Grill on your trip Sept/2008.  My sister-in-law and I were on QE2 Mediterranean Sojourn in Aug/Sept 2008 a few weeks before you and we dined in the Britannia Grill also..... and we were at that table for 8 ajacent to your table.......were your waiters Wendy (male) from Mauritius and Angela from South Africa?   I also remember the 2 Maitre'D's   especially Raul Lucas who told me his son was working on Queen Mary 2 (I told him I would look him up when I returned to New York on QM2 a couple of weeks later) Didn't find him though... when I went looking for him, he was always off duty.
We really enjoyed our meals in the BG and Wendy and Angela were excellent.
Just curious......

QE2 Canuck     Linda C

[Matron]

Pehaps Flagship can help me out with some info regarding the Mauretania dining chairs that were replaced in the 2004 refit.  Do you know how long they had been there?

During the refit they were moved to the Pavillion bar, which was the 'recreation area' for the crew and contractors on board and so ended up in a slightly sorry state (dusty, greasy, smoky) before they were disposed of.  Except that I felt obliged to rehome a few.... The label underneath gives Kesterton as the manufacturer and they are reddish wood, with dark green/blue fabric.  I seem to think they appeared in photos in at least one of the brochures in the early 2000s.

Thanks!
Matron

[Michael Gallagher]

Matron

The chairs you refer to were put on board in 1994 when the room became the first class Caronia Restaurant. They were replaced with the blue covered chairs in 2004 as you say. A lot of the 94 ones were recovered and they were placed in the original One and Two Deck suites. The top picture shows the 1994 chairs while the middle one shows the 2004 ones while the bottom shows a recovered one. Hope this helps.

Flagship

[Michael Gallagher]

This was my favourite incarnation of the original Columbia Restaurant. This was how the room looked from December 1996 to December 1999 - so a shortlived look - before it was given the Titanic look in 1999. The original Race chairs are here. The room was known as the Mauretania Restaurant when refurbished but it was renamed Caronia in April 1997.

To recap on the room names:

1969 - 1994: Columbia
1994 - 1997: Mauretania
1997 - Retirement: Caronia

[Louis De Sousa]

What year did these dinner dances stop? 

The dances floor in the Columbia and Mauretania were removed in the 1994 Refit

Also what year was the midnight buffet moved to the Lido?

After the 1994 refit too and that was the best think that happened to the waiters in that restaurant

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Hi... this is a message for Isabelle.....hope you don't mind me asking.......I just had a quick look at the pictures you took of the Britannia Grill on your trip Sept/2008.  My sister-in-law and I were on QE2 Mediterranean Sojourn in Aug/Sept 2008 a few weeks before you and we dined in the Britannia Grill also..... and we were at that table for 8 ajacent to your table.......were your waiters Wendy (male) from Mauritius and Angela from South Africa?   I also remember the 2 Maitre'D's   especially Raul Lucas who told me his son was working on Queen Mary 2 (I told him I would look him up when I returned to New York on QM2 a couple of weeks later) Didn't find him though... when I went looking for him, he was always off duty.
We really enjoyed our meals in the BG and Wendy and Angela were excellent.
Just curious......

QE2 Canuck     Linda C

Well that is amazing... and one of these things that happen in this Forum!

Here are Wendy and Angela :



https://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/3131610182/

and here are Raul Lucas and Pramod Verma :



https://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/3801979226/

They were all excellent and gave us a very happy time in the Britannia Grill.

[Matron]

Thank you Flagship - and good to see the reincarnated chairs in the suites - am I right in thinking that they were the ones in better condition that were saved and re-upholstered?  The ones I rescued have certainly seen better days and are rather creaky and not very comfortable, but I love them anyway...

[QE2 Canuck]

Thank you Isabelle for your reply and the 2 pictures of our excellent waiters and Maitres'D. My sister-in-law and I enjoyed them very much and brought back many memories of a magnificent final cruise on the beloved QE2.  By the way, sister-in-law is "Sheels" on this forum..... shy, doesn't say much but reads the forum a lot.   Hope she doesn't mind me saying that...
Again thanks.... the world becomes a bit smaller with shared memories of the QE2.

QE2 Canuck     Linda C

[Twynkle]

Well that is amazing... and one of these things that happen in this Forum!
....and here are Raul Lucas and Pramod Verma :

They were all excellent and gave us a very happy time in the Britannia Grill.

Pramod is now one of the Head Waiters upstairs in the Britannia restaurant on Queen Elizabeth.
There are several others all who worked on board QE2, including Jamie Firth, - ex QM2 Maitre' D in the Princess Grill, now Maitre' D downstairs in the Britannia on board Queen Elisabeth.

[Pat Curry]

Pramod is now one of the Head Waiters upstairs in the Britannia restaurant on Queen Elizabeth.
There are several others all who worked on board QE2, including Jamie Firth, - ex QM2 Maitre' D in the Princess Grill, now Maitre' D downstairs in the Britannia on board Queen Elisabeth.

First met Jamie when he was a regular waiter mostly in QE2's Queen's Grill, I think in 2004.  Noted him because he was most attentive and had and amazing memory. (Dominique reminds me, he is very tall and slim and had blonde hair.    (Can't say I noticed all that myself!). Next cruise he was a Lido supervisor, (promoted to junior Officer).  Next cruise he was Stores Manager.  Then one of three assistant Maitre' Ds in Queen's Grill./ So now a Maitre' D in his own right and I guess under 30 years of age. 
Watch out for him to become a Cunard Hotel Manager. 

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Here is a new (to me) video of the Queen's Grill restaurant and lounge :

Note: Link not active

To me, it really brings out the atmosphere of the place. The Queen's Grill, where we dined for one voyage only, was not my favourite restaurant -- but seeing this video makes me go all nostalgic...   

Description: You tube video “The Queens Grill Restaurant onboard QE2” uploaded by CruiseDotCo showing the  Queens Grill Restaurant and walk through the Grills Lounge

See also You tube video: 

Description:The Queen Grill and Lounge uploaded by airships 129

[cunardqueen]

  The Queen's Grill, where we dined for one voyage only, was not my favourite restaurant -- but seeing this video makes me go all nostalgic...     

Dare we ask why it wasnt your favourite  restaurant? What did you like about it.What didnt you like? did you order off the the menu?
A number of years ago l had a Dinner up there, and l really didnt like it at all, the atmosphere was stuffy and the food quite rich. Given me the Mauretaina any day, nice relaxed and fun.. then again l guess a lot depends on your table mates. I was always put off not only by the price, but the thought of all the one upmanship.