Mardi Gras dining guide: Emeril’s, Chibang and an included-food plan
Find Mardi Gras dining options, from Emeril’s Bistro 1396 and Piazza Panini to Chibang, Cucina, Big Chicken and included cruise meals.
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On Mardi Gras, you can pair a paid Creole meal at Emeril's Bistro 1396 with included pizza, panini, chicken and tacos elsewhere. The choice is how much of your trip you want to build around restaurant meals and how often you would prefer a quick stop between activities.
A successful plan leaves room for both: included meals when speed or simplicity matters, and one chosen restaurant when the cuisine is the attraction. Pay particular attention to Chibang and Cucina del Capitano, where the current first-meal offer is different from an unlimited free-dining promise.
What matters for your decision
- Emeril’s Bistro 1396 is the ship’s New Orleans-inspired paid venue.
- Piazza Panini and Pizzeria del Capitano are useful included alternatives to poolside burgers.
- Chibang and Cucina each currently include a first visit, with $8 per person for later visits.
Which restaurants are included on Mardi Gras?
Build around the Main Dining Room, Lido Marketplace, Guy’s Burger Joint, Big Chicken, BlueIguana Cantina and Street Eats. Piazza Panini adds sandwiches and Pizzeria del Capitano provides pizza. Carnival’s current Chibang and Cucina pages identify Mardi Gras as eligible for a first meal on the house, with additional visits charged and premium selections subject to their own terms.
| Venue | Food and occasion | Cost / access |
|---|---|---|
| Main Dining Room / Lido Marketplace | Served meals / buffet | Included base meals |
| Guy’s Burger Joint / Big Chicken | Burgers / chicken | Included |
| BlueIguana Cantina / Street Eats | Tacos and burritos / rotating dishes | Included |
| Piazza Panini / Pizzeria del Capitano | Sandwiches / pizza | Included |
| Chibang! | Chinese and Mexican menus | First-meal offer; repeat visits charged |
| Cucina del Capitano | Italian meal | First-meal offer; repeat visits charged |
| Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse–Brewhouse | Barbecue in a brewery setting | Included lunch and dinner; beverages and premium items may cost extra |
| Emeril’s Bistro 1396 | New Orleans-inspired dishes | Extra charge |
| Rudi’s Seagrill / Fahrenheit 555 | Seafood / steakhouse | Extra charge |
| Bonsai Sushi / Bonsai Teppanyaki | Sushi / interactive grill | Extra charge |
| Seafood Shack / JavaBlue Café | Casual seafood / specialty coffee | Extra charge |
| Fresh Creations / Swirls | Salads / soft serve | Included; hours and access apply |
Creole food in the French Quarter and panini in La Piazza
In the French Quarter, Emeril's Bistro 1396 offers paid New Orleans-inspired food. Carnival lists po'boys, oysters and gumbo with duck and sausage among its examples, with breakfast also available. Compare the current menu with your other plans: a daytime bistro order may fit better than another full specialty dinner.
Piazza Panini serves hot pressed sandwiches in La Piazza, near Pizzeria del Capitano. That pairing gives your group an included alternative to poolside burgers. Choose a meeting point and check opening times if people will arrive separately from activities.
The Chibang sample menu includes chicken with Sichuan peppercorns and cashews on its Chinese side and mushroom tacos among the Mexican choices. You can mix the two cuisines. Steakhouse selections and the roast-duck option carry extra charges, as does a third main course or more; drinks and service charges need a separate check.
Which Mardi Gras meal suits your occasion?
For a first visit, try the casual included venues and choose Chibang or Cucina if the menu appeals. The current first-visit offer at each is followed by an $8 per-person charge for later visits. Keep ordinary dining-room dinners in the plan when your party prefers its menu or familiar service routine.
For a paid occasion, match the restaurant to the person celebrating. Rudi’s is seafood-led, Fahrenheit 555 is the conventional steakhouse and Bonsai Teppanyaki adds a shared performance. If you want to explore New Orleans flavors rather than a formal occasion, Emeril’s may be the more relevant expenditure. Those are different kinds of value.
Fit barbecue and specialty dinners around port days
Carnival's current directory includes ordinary Guy's Pig & Anchor dinner food on Mardi Gras, alongside complimentary lunch service. You can plan an evening barbecue meal without a restaurant cover, while budgeting separately for drinks and any premium selections.
On an excursion day, confirm what is serving when you expect to return. Save the specialty booking’s time and cancellation conditions alongside the tour information. If the schedule is tight, an included meal after returning avoids turning a normal port delay into a missed restaurant reservation.
Your decision checklist
- Compare an Emeril's breakfast or lunch with a full specialty dinner.
- Check the Chibang menu supplements and repeat-visit charge.
Questions travelers ask
Can I eat on Mardi Gras without paying for specialty restaurants?
Yes. Mardi Gras has a broad included-food base, including its main restaurants, buffet, burgers, chicken, tacos, pizza and panini. Chibang and Cucina currently advertise a first-meal offer with charges for additional visits.
Which Mardi Gras restaurant should I book first?
Choose a restaurant tied to a specific priority: Rudi’s for seafood, Fahrenheit 555 for a steakhouse occasion, Bonsai Teppanyaki for the grill experience or Emeril’s for New Orleans-inspired dishes.
Does Mardi Gras charge for every Pig & Anchor dinner?
No. Carnival’s current named-ship policy includes the ordinary Pig & Anchor dinner on Mardi Gras. Beverage purchases and any premium menu choices should still be checked.
Official sources and further reading
Sources checked September 20, 2026. Explore the original policies, destination guidance and provider information behind this article. Each description explains what you will find at the source.
- Carnival Cruise Line: Mardi Gras ship pageShip-specific roster, Piazza Panini and Emeril’s Bistro 1396.
- Carnival Cruise Line: ChibangFirst-meal offer on Mardi Gras.
- Carnival Cruise Line: Chibang sample menuSeparate cuisine choices and premium dish markers.
- Carnival Cruise Line: Cucina del CapitanoFirst-meal and repeat-visit distinction.
- Carnival dining directory: Excel barbecue inclusionCurrent directory explicitly includes Smokehouse–Brewhouse dinner on Celebration, Jubilee and Mardi Gras; generic venue paid markers do not override named-ship exception.