Brilliant Lady To Introduce Rojo by Razzle Dazzle
Until recently, Virgin Voyages’ three ships have been nearly carbon copies of each other, with the same restaurants and dining options available on all ships. Back in November, that changed when Scarlet Lady went into dry dock and replaced Razzle Dazzle, the veggie-forward restaurant, with Lucky Lotus by Razzle Dazzle. Now, Virgin Voyages has revealed they’ll be adding yet another different option on their upcoming fourth ship, Brilliant Lady.
Traditional Razzle Dazzle Restaurant
When Razzle Dazzle first debuted, it was billed as a vegetarian/vegan option with a few “naughty” items (i.e., meat) available. Over time, the menu has evolved, and now about 50% of the menu is vegetarian and 50% includes meat—but it’s not really clear what the restaurant’s concept is anymore.
Visually, the restaurant is probably one of the busiest-looking ones you’ve ever seen. Themed after the “razzle dazzle” camouflage on old British ships during World War I, the space was particularly jarring. With lots of black and white and an abundance of reflective red surfaces, it could be headache-inducing.
Lucky Lotus by Razzle Dazzle
Recently, Virgin Voyages revamped the Razzle Dazzle restaurant on their first ship, Scarlet Lady, during dry dock. Called Lucky Lotus by Razzle Dazzle, this venue now features food with an Asian flair, like dim sum. The space has also been reimagined, toning down the décor and getting rid of the large communal tables.
Brilliant Lady Will Introduce Rojo, a Spanish-Themed Restaurant
When Brilliant Lady debuts in September, the Razzle Dazzle restaurant will be transformed into Rojo by Razzle Dazzle. This space will feature Spanish-inspired cuisine developed by chefs Justin Severino—a four-time James Beard Foundation award nominee—and Nate Hobart. They are co-chefs at Morcilla, the Spanish-style charcutería in Pittsburgh, and many of their popular recipes from that restaurant will be onboard.
Virgin describes the food as “ingredient-driven, sharable dining innovations at sea.” Rojo’s new menu will feature Morcilla’s Oxtail Montadito with braised oxtail, caramelized onion, mahón cheese, and a crostini.
Razzle Dazzle will still serve a casual brunch, which is a very popular option with many guests, but it will now have a Spanish-American twist. New and exciting dishes include jamón croquettes, paired with morning classics like açaí bowls, pastries, and frittatas.
The bar at Rojo by Razzle Dazzle will also get a makeover. Virgin Voyages partnered with Onada Consulting from Barcelona to bring an authentic Spanish touch. For brunch, Rojo will serve artisanal vermouths, vibrant sangrias, well-paired sherries, and sparkling, provocative cava spritzes.
The look of Razzle Dazzle will also be toned down. Rich wooden accents, deep reddish-orange tones, and sleek finishes make the new design pop. Oddly, they still chose to go with shared tables—something that was not popular in Razzle Dazzle on other ships.
Our Take: Diversity is Always Good, but Branding is Confusing
For people looking to sail on Virgin Voyages a second, third, or fourth time, returning to the exact same restaurants on every ship can be a bit boring. Adding diversity makes sailing different ships in the fleet much more exciting. Now, guests on Scarlet Lady can enjoy Asian-inspired cuisine, while Brilliant Lady will offer Latin-inspired flavors.
As for Razzle Dazzle, it makes the most sense to customize this specific venue, as it seemed like the least popular restaurant onboard (anecdotally, it was the only one that always had tables available during peak times on our sailing).
The branding is odd, though. Why is it called Rojo by Razzle Dazzle? Razzle Dazzle doesn’t seem like a popular enough name or “concept” to be carried over into a new restaurant title. What does it stand for? What does it mean? If anything, the name is more confusing for guests—what exactly is Rojo by Razzle Dazzle? It would make much more sense to simply call it Rojo, with a brunch and dinner menu, just like The Wake.
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