Review: The Mason Jar on Royal Caribean, Allure of the Seas
One of the most exciting new additions to Allure of the Seas following its $100 million makeover is The Mason Jar, Royal Caribbean’s Southern-style specialty restaurant. Tucked just off the pool deck, in a space that once housed a teen club, The Mason Jar brings rustic charm, live music, and seriously good Southern comfort food to this Oasis-class ship.
Watch our experience at the Mason Jar here:
Location and Atmosphere
The moment you step inside, it feels like you’ve been transported to a cozy front porch somewhere in the Deep South—complete with hanging flowers, rocking chairs, and plenty of wood paneling. Inside, the space is larger than on other ships like Wonder of the Seas, with a full-service bar and a stage for live country music in the evenings. It’s a big, bold, and very welcome addition to the ship’s dining line-up.
You can choose to eat from a smaller menu at the bar—no reservation needed—or make a reservation at the restaurant for either brunch or dinner.
We made a reservation for dinner before our cruise using the Cruise Planner. We paid for this ourselves, and Royal Caribbean didn’t know we were reviewing it.
Cost – What You’ll Pay
The Mason Jar is a specialty dining venue, so there’s an extra charge to dine here. At the time of sailing:
Dinner: $39.99 USD per person (plus gratuity)
Brunch: $34.99 USD per person (plus gratuity, available on sea days)
You can also visit as part of your dining package. Food ordered at the bar is priced per item.
Cocktails and drinks are charged separately but are included if you have the Deluxe Beverage Package.
The Mason Jar Menu
The Mason Jar’s dinner menu is split into three sections: Lil’ Plates, Hearty Plates, and Meat n’ Two Fixin’s. There’s something for everyone—from snack-style starters to rich, indulgent mains.
Our server explained that dinner includes:
Bread service
One Lil’ Plate (we were allowed to order an additional one to share at the server’s discretion)
One Hearty Plate or a Meat n’ Two Fixin’s option
One Dessert
Bread Service
Jalapeño cornbread
Buttermilk biscuits with whipped herbed butter
Lil’ Plates
Pimento Cheese
Lobster N’ Crawfish Gumbo
Smoky Deviled Eggs
Fried Green Tomatoes
Blueberry Johnny Cakes
Crab Beignets
Caesar Salad
Charred Watermelon Salad
Hearty Plates
Shrimp N’ Grits
Blackened Cajun Catfish
Chicken Pot Pie (vegetarian option available)
Classic Po’boy
Crispy Chicken Sandwich
The Southern Burger
Meat n’ Two Fixin’s
Choose one meat and two sides:
St. Louis-Style Ribs
Beef Brisket
Meemaw’s Fried Chicken (Regular or Nashville Hot)
Sides include:
Coleslaw
Sweet Potato Fries
Cajun Fries
Mashed Potatoes
Sweet Potato Mash
Mac n’ Cheese
Collard Greens
Desserts
Cherry Pie
Warm Bread Puddin’
Chocolate Pecan Pie
Twice-Fried Oreos
Gone Bananas
Our Dinner Experience at The Mason Jar
Pre-Dinner Drinks at the Bar
We arrived a little early to grab a drink at the bar and try something from the cocktail menu. The service was friendly—everyone was welcoming and helpful—but noticeably slow, so it’s worth allowing extra time if you’re planning a pre-dinner drink.
David started with the Apple Pie Old Fashioned, served with an actual mini empanada on the side. The drink was great, but the empanada? Absolutely delicious. We’d honestly order the cocktail again just for that.
He also tried the Far From Manhattan—a mix of brown sugar bourbon and Angostura bitters, finished with a slice of candied bacon. It ended up being one of the best cocktails of the entire trip (minus the bacon, which Ben happily ate since David’s a vegetarian).
After our drink, we headed to the restaurant where our server talked us through the menu and took our orders. We were allowed to share an extra starter, and our server gave us fair warning: the portions here are not small.
What We Ate at The Mason Jar
We kicked things off with the jalapeño cornbread, served warm with whipped herbed butter. It was sweet, soft, and absolutely bursting with flavour—easily one of the best bread services we’ve had at sea.
Starters (Lil’ Plates)
The deviled eggs, topped with crispy chicken skin, were a highlight—rich, creamy, and with a perfect crunch.
The smoky watermelon salad was bold, fiery, and surprisingly refreshing, though it did nearly set David’s mouth on fire.
Ben went for the blueberry Johnny cakes, topped with pork and chicken—an unusual combination that worked brilliantly. The sweetness of the blueberries paired perfectly with the savoury meat, all on a fluffy pancake. A creative and delicious way to start.
Mains
Ben had the Nashville Hot Fried Chicken, served with seasoned fries and mac and cheese. The chicken was perfectly crisp with just the right heat. The fries were well-seasoned and tasty, and while the mac and cheese was fine, it was nothing to write home about. The real winner was the BBQ sauce—so sweet and moreish, we ordered an extra pot.
David chose the fried chicken sandwich, served on a soft brioche bun with spicy mayo. It was messy, juicy, sweet, and rich—absolutely delicious and one of his favourites of the cruise.
Desserts
We tried the Gone Bananas—a layered pudding with roasted bananas, vanilla pudding, and graham cracker crumble. Unfortunately, it was too creamy and lacked the texture we were hoping for. T
The cherry pie was warm and comforting, but nothing particularly special.
Is The Mason Jar Worth It?
The Mason Jar is easily one of the best new venues on Allure of the Seas. This isn’t fine dining—it’s comfort food with big portions, bold flavours, and a lively, welcoming atmosphere.
The service was relaxed, friendly, and knowledgeable—the kind of crew that clearly enjoy working there. That said, the restaurant was sold out the night we visited, so service was a little on the slower side.
The food is heavy, so definitely come hungry. Drinks were another standout: David’s Apple Pie Old Fashioned was both fun and flavourful, and Ben’s non-alcoholic spritz was light and refreshing.
If you enjoy Southern food (or just love comfort food done right), The Mason Jar is well worth the extra charge. And if you’ve got the Royal Caribbean dining package, it should be one of your top picks.
Would we go back? Absolutely—just for the cornbread… and the fried chicken… and the empanada… okay, all of it.
