Sunday Indulgence: Solaris Offers Brunch on the Bay
By Bruce Collier
August 12, 2004 Issue

If you have ever been to Shalimar Yacht Basin you may wonder, like me, why all those big fancy boats are just sitting there. An oft-heard remark from sightseers is “if I had a boat like that, I’d sure be out on the water.” We can’t all be yacht-owners, but for a pretty reasonable sum of money, you can spend two Sunday hours eating, drinking, and pretending on Solaris, SunQuest Cruises’ 125-foot dining and entertainment yacht.

We had a floating brunch on a recent Sunday, accompanied by beautiful weather and about 35 other diners, most of whom seemed to be locals. Solaris can accommodate up to 150 passengers. The brunch cruise costs $44 per person, gratuity included. Alcoholic beverages and there’s a full bar, cost extra, and the cruise runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. My friend and I got there early, and sat in a shaded outdoor dock/waiting room, where smoking is permitted. Certain portions of Solaris are also smoker-friendly, though the bar and dining areas are smoke-free.

We boarded between 11 and 11:30, with the captain on hand at dockside to welcome passengers. It was already pretty hot, so we headed into the air-conditioned dining room, to our reserved table. We got a deuce with a window view, but the wide windows ensure that every table has a good view. Of course, one is always free to move around. At 11:30 promptly we got underway.

Two waiters seemed to be handling everyone in the room, including several larger groups. We ordered coffee, which took a little while to get there, but once it did the service picked up speed and efficiency. Offering real cream rather than non-dairy creamer in disposable containers would be an improvement. Small jugs of half-and-half or real cream would add to the table’s elegance and coffee drinkers would appreciate this added touch.

Brunch is served from a buffet, and while the staff set up we wandered up the stairs to the second of three decks. The second deck is a bar and lounge with glass doors opening up onto an outdoor shaded smoking area, with tables, chairs and a view off the fantail. Several other passengers were already outside. One of them bummed a smoke, twice, off of my obliging friend, so we were obviously there for a purpose. The staff circulated among us, letting us know that brunch was served, so we went below, accompanied by a Bloody Mary and champagne mimosa.

The food was laid out on an L-shaped buffet, with fresh fruit and pastries first, followed by hot items and a made-to-order omelet station at the end. In addition to the usual grapes, bananas and pineapple, the fruit plate included fresh plums and sweet cherries, a welcome seasonal touch. Pastries included apple, raspberry and cheese Danish and various muffins. Available hot were roasted potatoes, Asian style stir-fry, cheese manicotti, barbecued chicken, shrimp and tomato bisque, baked grouper, quiche, link sausage, bacon, and steamed spicy shrimp in the shell. There was no printed menu, and the food probably varies every week.

The omelet station featured bowls of assorted omelet additives such as shrimp, crabmeat, peppers, mushrooms, cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and herbs. Made-to-order omelets were obviously highly appealing that day. The delay in making them led to stalled lines. As long as you have patience, and faith that the kitchen will continue to replenish all that food that’s being eaten up before you get to it, you will be fine.

Finally, in the center of the dining room is a separate table for sweets and desserts. On offer were chocolate and white chocolate petit-fours, huge slices of key lime pie, tiramisu, apple pie, pecan pie, and cheesecake. We tried most of them, and all were quite good. If you like dessert, make sure you don’t overdo the sausage and bacon.

Brunch is continuous, so after you’ve eaten, or if you’re just taking a break while the omelet maker fetches more cheese, it’s pleasant to get up and walk off the meal in the lounge or on the smoking deck. Serenading us were Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Miles Davis, to name a few of those on the brunch soundtrack. The music seemed especially suited to the predominantly middle-aged and senior crowd.

We spent most of the remainder of the cruise sitting on the smoking deck, chatting with other locals and admiring the real and personal property built or moored around the inlets. Above the smoking deck is an observation deck, open aired and very sunny. I went up and assisted with a few group photos. It’s breezy, but a great view.

The Solaris returned to its dock, and the captain and staff saw us off cordially. Unlike some entertainment and dining cruises I’ve taken, the mood here is relaxed, not at all frenetic, free from forced gaiety or drink hustling—in short, just what you’d want at Sunday brunch. The food was well thought out and prepared, the staff was courteous and unobtrusive, and the water was, well, you know all about the water. You can’t ask much more than that for 44 bucks, even on the Sabbath.

Solaris is available for a variety of dining, entertainment, wedding and business functions. For details, call SunQuest Cruises at 243-1800, or go to www.sunquestcruises.com.