What Was Dinner Like on the Titanic?

When people talk about the Titanic, they often mention its size, its luxury, or its tragic fate. But rarely do we stop to ask: what did people eat on the ship?

Spoiler: it depended a lot on your class.

First-Class: Dining Like Royalty

If you were in first class, dinner was less of a meal and more of a multi-course event.

Served in the lavish à la carte restaurant, your evening meal might include:

• Oysters

• Poached salmon with mousseline sauce

• Filet mignon Lili

• Roast duckling with apple sauce

• Waldorf pudding

• French ice cream

• And of course, plenty of fine wine and champagne

First-class menus were printed daily and featured in French—because elegance.

Second-Class: Refined but Practical

Still very respectable, the second-class dining room served simpler but hearty fare:

• Baked haddock with sharp sauce

• Curried chicken and rice

• Plum pudding

• American ice cream

• Biscuits and cheese

Second-class passengers also had afternoon tea—complete with scones and jam.

Third-Class: Simple but Filling

Also known as “steerage,” third-class passengers still had three full meals a day, which was more than some had ever experienced before.

Meals might include:

• Irish stew

• Boiled potatoes

• Cabin biscuits (hard bread)

• Rice soup

• Roast beef with gravy

• Plum pudding with sweet sauce

There was no fine china here, but the food was nutritious and served in communal dining areas.

Fun Fact

The Titanic carried over 75,000 lbs of meat, 40 tons of potatoes, and 1,500 bottles of wine—all to feed its 2,200+ passengers and crew for a weeklong voyage.

Why It Matters

These menus are more than just trivia—they offer a glimpse into class divides, Edwardian culture, and how even in luxury, not everyone had the same experience aboard the “unsinkable” ship.

Want to see what else was aboard the Titanic besides passengers and food?
👉 10 Things You Didn’t Know Were Onboard the Titanic