Dining

There are two main dining rooms on the Triumph -- the London and the Paris. Breakfast and lunch are open seating in the Paris dining room while both are open for two dinner seatings each night. Both are two levels and feature an open and airy floor plan that minimizes any crowded feeling once at your table. However, there were long lines and crowds around the entrance on the first night, prompting us to arrive at the dining room ten minutes late on the subsequent evenings and allowing us to stroll right our seats and receive attention from our waitress immediately.

The dinner menu in the formal dining room was small, but there was enough of a variety to make choosing difficult. While lamb and turkey entrees were spot on, the much-touted lobster dinner (which was actually a lobster tail) was rubbery and disappointing. Though I didn't sample it, there was a "Spa" menu at each dinner with entrees that reflected those on the main menu, with slight variations. There is a children's menu with chicken fingers, pasta, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that comes with a coloring book and crayons to keep kids occupied.

On the Lido deck, the South Beach Club serves up the breakfast and lunch buffets daily. You can also choose to have dinner there if you're in the mood for something more casual than what the dining room offers. Besides the typical cold salads and hot carving station fare, there are two more places to check out: The New York Deli and the Hong Kong Noodle Co. While the menu at both is limited, the food at the deli is more authentic (Reubens, overstuffed pastrami on rye, and bagels with cream cheese and lox) and therefore more delicious.

Hint: The New York Deli is wildly popular and each order is taken individually, often resulting in long lines. It has extended hours of operation though so you may want to check it out in the off-hours when the majority of the lunch crowd is elsewhere.

Other options include the Coney Island Grill that features hamburgers, hot dogs and French fries by the pool, and the 24-hour pizzeria that serves up your typical toppings but also offers a few gourmet selections and a Caesar salad. If your sweet tooth is acting up between meals, head to the Vienna Cafe where you can get a slice of cake or a gourmet coffee at an additional cost. A limited room service menu with salads and sandwiches is available free of charge 24 hours a day and the service was prompt. If you've partied a little too hard, you can hang your breakfast preferences on your door until 5 a.m. for delivery at the time of your choice.

Hint: If you enjoyed a particular wine during dinner and then decide you'd like another bottle delivered to your room, be sure to make a note of its name. The room service staff has no access to a wine list and is unable to help in any selection beyond red or white.

In keeping with the "fun" them, there is complimentary ice cream and frozen yogurt offered at various stations 24 hours a day.

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