If you’re looking for something a little different from the usual speciality dining experience on MSC World Europa, Chef’s Garden Kitchen is certainly one to consider.

Located on Deck 8, this intimate restaurant combines an open kitchen with a hydroponic garden where microgreens are grown onboard and used within the dishes.

The menu was created in collaboration with Swedish chef Niklas Ekstedt and features an interesting mix of meat, seafood, vegetables and less familiar ingredients.

But how much does Chef’s Garden Kitchen cost, what can you actually order and is it worth paying extra when you already have plenty of included dining on MSC World Europa? Here’s what you need to know.

What is Chef’s Garden Kitchen on MSC World Europa?

Chef’s Garden Kitchen is one of the speciality restaurants onboard MSC World Europa.

It feels quite different from the ship’s larger dining venues. Gold-toned planters filled with greenery divide the restaurant into smaller areas, while dark walls, warm lighting and wooden floors give it a more intimate feel.

There’s also an open kitchen, allowing you to see some of the preparation taking place while you dine.The most unusual feature, however, is the hydroponic garden.

Microgreens are grown onboard in illuminated growing cabinets inside the restaurant, and these are then incorporated into dishes on the menu. During this sailing, the varieties listed included arugula, basil, kale, kohlrabi, red beet, bok choy, broccoli, red radish, mustard greens, pea shoots and wasabi arugula.

So the “Garden” in Chef’s Garden Kitchen isn’t simply part of the name. You can actually see some of the produce growing inside the restaurant.

Who is Niklas Ekstedt?

Chef’s Garden Kitchen was created in collaboration with Swedish chef Niklas Ekstedt, who is known for Nordic cooking and his use of traditional techniques.

That influence can be seen throughout the menu, with ingredients such as beetroot, celeriac, kohlrabi, sea buckthorn, mushrooms and berries appearing alongside meat, fish and seafood.You don’t need to be familiar with Nordic cuisine before you book, though. There are plenty of recognisable ingredients alongside some more unusual combinations.

How much does Chef’s Garden Kitchen cost?

During this sailing, the Chef’s Garden Kitchen dining experience cost €68 per person and included your choice of three dishes. Alternatively, dishes could be ordered individually from the à la carte menu. Starters ranged from €19 to €36, main courses from €32 to €65, while desserts were €9.

MSC Cruises can change its menus and speciality dining prices, so check the current price for your sailing before you book.

What’s on the Chef’s Garden Kitchen menu?

The menu is relatively compact, but there is a good choice across meat, seafood and vegetable dishes. Starters during this sailing included scallop ceviche, cold-poached lobster, Black Angus beef tartare, salt-baked beetroot and raw tuna with smoked eel.

Main courses included roasted lamb saddle, grilled Wagyu sirloin, roasted turbot, glazed beef short rib, butter-poached black cod, seared langoustine tails and a baked Jerusalem artichoke parcel.

Desserts included meringue with sea buckthorn, white chocolate and verbena, warm chocolate mousse, almond cake with rhubarb and a cep soufflé with blueberries.

It’s quite different from a conventional steakhouse-style speciality menu, so this is somewhere to consider if you want to try dishes and combinations you may not find elsewhere onboard.

What are the dishes like?

One option to start is the Black Angus beef tartare, served with rye bread, black pepper fries and a microgreens salad. It’s also a good example of how the produce grown inside the restaurant makes its way onto the finished dishes. For a main course, the roasted lamb saddle and confit breast is served with white asparagus and smoked celeriac, with several elements presented individually on the plate. For dessert, one of the more unusual choices is the meringue with sea buckthorn, white chocolate and verbena.

Presentation is a big part of the experience at Chef’s Garden Kitchen. Rather than large, traditional plates of food, dishes are carefully composed with multiple elements and plenty of attention to detail.

What is the Chef’s Discovery Menu?

There is another dining option that is very easy to miss. Chef’s Garden Kitchen has just four seats positioned directly at the open kitchen counter, where you can arrange a Chef’s Discovery Menu.

From here, you have a much closer view of the chefs working in the kitchen, making it an interesting alternative if you particularly enjoy watching dishes being prepared. With only four seats available, it’s worth enquiring about the experience early if this is something you would like to try.

What about wine and drinks?

Chef’s Garden Kitchen has its own wine list, with Champagne and sparkling, white, rosé and red wines available. During this sailing, wines by the glass started from €8, while Laurent Perrier Brut Champagne was available for €16 per glass.

The wine list also identified some selections as organic, biodynamic or sustainability friendly. If you have an MSC drinks package, check whether your chosen drink is included. The menu during this sailing stated that a 15% beverage gratuity would be added for guests without a beverage package and for drinks outside the relevant package.

Is Chef’s Garden Kitchen worth booking?

Chef’s Garden Kitchen is worth considering if you want one of the more unusual speciality dining experiences on MSC World Europa.

You certainly don’t need to book speciality restaurants to find plenty to eat onboard. The reason to choose this one is that it offers something you won’t experience in the main dining rooms.

The smaller restaurant, open kitchen, Niklas Ekstedt menu and onboard hydroponic garden all make the experience feel quite distinct from MSC World Europa’s other dining options.

At €68 for three dishes during this sailing, it is an additional expense to factor into your cruise. However, depending on what you order, choosing the three-dish experience can work out cheaper than ordering the same dishes individually.

If you enjoy contemporary food, unusual ingredients and beautifully presented dishes, Chef’s Garden Kitchen is certainly one to have on your shortlist. And when the microgreens arrive on your plate, you’ll know some of them haven’t travelled very far at all.

Planning where to eat during your cruise? Discover 5 places to eat dinner aboard MSC World Europa, with more dining options to explore.

Looking for more inspiration? Explore my MSC Cruises hub to discover more about the ships, restaurants and experiences on board.