This review will be quick and easy. First, you must realize that any of the LAX properties get the living tar beat out of them. I have stayed at most all of them including the Marriott, The Westin, and Embassy Suites - just to name a few. These hotels normally have a high occupancy rate, with most travelers staying for one night. The area outside of these properties is sketchy and probably not the place for an evening stroll.
In section one, I cover the doorman, check-in process, and the lobby. I didn't use parking or require any concierge services on this stay. The lobby is pretty small, but adequate. The people at the front desk were very friendly and the check-in process went smoothly. The doormen were moderately friendly, but never greeted you upon arrival or departure. I saw one bellman toss a woman's bag in to the back of her trunk. In fairness to him, the cheapskate didn't even flip him a buck. The Embassy Suites LAX receives 49 out of 70 points in this section.
In section two, I cover the room, housekeeping, the business center, and the property overall. The layout of all Embassy Suites rooms is perfect for the traveling business person. Having a full-size table to lay your stuff out on is great. I like having two rooms and a couch to watch TV on. I will say the room was overall pretty clean, but the furniture is thrashed. Nothing disgusting, but everything in the room showed a lot of wear and tear. My bed was comfy and the sheets and towels were clean. The business center was small, yet very functional. The internet stations were very slow. The Embassy Suites LAX receives 115 out of 195 points in this section.
In section three I cover the restaurant/bar, the workout facility, and the pool. I only had beverages at the bar and didn't eat any food. The bartender was very friendly and attentive. At one point, the manager came over to chat with me. Also a very friendly and engaging person. I will say the omelet chef in the morning was fantastic. It may have been the best free omelet I ever had! Oh BTW, don't forget to tip your omelet chef. I can't stand when some business guy barks out his omelet order and the doesn't even tip the guy a buck. The gym was moderate. They actually had an indoor pool. A pleasant surprise. Although I didn't swim, the pool and pool area were very clean with ample seating. The Embassy Suites LAX received 55 out of 70 points in this section.
The last section I cover location and overall comments. The location to the LAX terminals is excellent. You are literally a couple of blocks away. The location to the 405 freeway is also very good. I would highly discourage walking around in this neighborhood, especially if you are a woman. The bottom line is the Embassy Suites LAX is super convenient if you get into LAX very late, or have an early morning flight. The rooms are functional and the free breakfast is great. The Embassy Suites LAX scored 246 out of 380 points available. This property will never be invited to a beauty contest, but it delivers good value for the price. I would recommend for a one night business traveler. I don't recommend for leisure travel unless you have an early morning flight somewhere better.
Happy Travels!
The Travel Brain
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Hyatt Irvine: Things you DO NOT want to see in your hotel bathroom
Sometimes during a stay, you have a couple of major incidents that usurp any other score in any category - and this is one of those cases. First of of all I have stayed at this property numerous times and have always felt it was great for the business traveler. This property had two major problems on this particular stay. Anybody who follows my blog knows how I break down my evaluation into four sections. So here we go!
In section one I evaluated the reservation, check-in process, lobby, and doorman. I didn't use valet, self parking, or bell service on this stay. The Hyatt Irvine scored 76 out of 85 points available in this section. The drop-off area and lobby are quite nice. The lobby is open and clean. I have always had some of the nicest people help me at the front desk. This part of the experience was good.
In section two I evaluated the room, housekeeping, the property overall and the kiosks. I didn't use the business center on this stay. I was upgraded to a corner room on the concierge floor. The room was nice enough...until I went into the bathroom. There were hairs (not hair) all over the tub and the shower wall. One of the three bath towels and some type of stain on it. The rest of the room review doesn't matter. I'm a clean freak and this was gross. One stray hair is one thing this was multiple hairs. The shower and tub had clearly not been cleaned. The property is nice enough and the grounds are very well maintained. Did I mention the hairs in my tub? The Hyatt Irvine scored 129 out 195 points in this section.
In section three I cover the restaurant/bar facility, as well as the workout area and any spa type activities. Here comes whammy #two. After checking in and going to meet my colleague for a drink and dinner, we were told the main restaurant was closed for a private function. They would be happy to seat us outside or come back after 7:30. We ended up leaving the property after a long day of flying. This was a very disappointing development. The workout facility is pretty good, as far as hotel gyms go, and one of the reasons I choose this Hyatt. In this section, the Hyatt Irvine scored 35 out of the 50 points I could evaluate. I would bring this section down another 50% based on the restaurant being closed.
In section four I evaluate location, Regency Club, special requests, and general comments. The Regency Club is very nice with outside seating and a tremendous view. The hostess is very nice, but I did notice less food choices than in most of my previous stays. I will say what I ate was very good. The location is decent for driving, but nothing is within walking distance. I made no special requests on this stay. The Hyatt Irvine scored 63 out 85 points in this section.
Overall, the Hyatt Irvine scored 303 out of 415 points. This is a property I have stayed at many times and like very much. When you travel as much as The Travel Brain does you just have to realize that sometimes hair happens... and it's not the end of the world. I am actually more upset at the restaurant being closed. If the restaurant were open and the bathroom clean, it would get a strong recommend for business travel. For now they just get a "recommend". It is "okay" for pleasure travel, but the Hyatt Newport Beach may be a better location for vacation stays. I will give them another try and see if they cleaned up their act.
Until next time... Travel well!
The Travel Brain
Full Disclosure: For the benefit of the FTC, I did not receive any compensation directly for this blog post. All opinions expressed are strictly those of The Travel Brain.
In section one I evaluated the reservation, check-in process, lobby, and doorman. I didn't use valet, self parking, or bell service on this stay. The Hyatt Irvine scored 76 out of 85 points available in this section. The drop-off area and lobby are quite nice. The lobby is open and clean. I have always had some of the nicest people help me at the front desk. This part of the experience was good.
In section two I evaluated the room, housekeeping, the property overall and the kiosks. I didn't use the business center on this stay. I was upgraded to a corner room on the concierge floor. The room was nice enough...until I went into the bathroom. There were hairs (not hair) all over the tub and the shower wall. One of the three bath towels and some type of stain on it. The rest of the room review doesn't matter. I'm a clean freak and this was gross. One stray hair is one thing this was multiple hairs. The shower and tub had clearly not been cleaned. The property is nice enough and the grounds are very well maintained. Did I mention the hairs in my tub? The Hyatt Irvine scored 129 out 195 points in this section.
In section three I cover the restaurant/bar facility, as well as the workout area and any spa type activities. Here comes whammy #two. After checking in and going to meet my colleague for a drink and dinner, we were told the main restaurant was closed for a private function. They would be happy to seat us outside or come back after 7:30. We ended up leaving the property after a long day of flying. This was a very disappointing development. The workout facility is pretty good, as far as hotel gyms go, and one of the reasons I choose this Hyatt. In this section, the Hyatt Irvine scored 35 out of the 50 points I could evaluate. I would bring this section down another 50% based on the restaurant being closed.
In section four I evaluate location, Regency Club, special requests, and general comments. The Regency Club is very nice with outside seating and a tremendous view. The hostess is very nice, but I did notice less food choices than in most of my previous stays. I will say what I ate was very good. The location is decent for driving, but nothing is within walking distance. I made no special requests on this stay. The Hyatt Irvine scored 63 out 85 points in this section.
Overall, the Hyatt Irvine scored 303 out of 415 points. This is a property I have stayed at many times and like very much. When you travel as much as The Travel Brain does you just have to realize that sometimes hair happens... and it's not the end of the world. I am actually more upset at the restaurant being closed. If the restaurant were open and the bathroom clean, it would get a strong recommend for business travel. For now they just get a "recommend". It is "okay" for pleasure travel, but the Hyatt Newport Beach may be a better location for vacation stays. I will give them another try and see if they cleaned up their act.
Until next time... Travel well!
The Travel Brain
Full Disclosure: For the benefit of the FTC, I did not receive any compensation directly for this blog post. All opinions expressed are strictly those of The Travel Brain.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Hyatt Place Minneapolis Airport-South: Unremarkable
Some properties are so unremarkable that they only get a couple of quick sentences and a score. This would be one of those properties. The Hyatt Place properties I have stayed at are functional, but have a pretty low-end feel to them. It really is an AmeriSuites with a paint job. I think there is a saying about "putting lipstick on a pig"... well, you get what I'm saying.
The check-in experience took more time than it should have. The lobby is small and cluttered. The lobby/breakfast area/TV area/lounge occupy maybe 500 sq ft (no joke). The free breakfast in the morning is acceptable. Overall, out of 100 points available, the Hyatt Place Minneapolis Airport-South scored a generous 70 points.
The next section covers the room, housekeeping, and the property in general. The room is a small functional suite. My room was generally clean, except for a fruit tray that was covered with something sticky. The bathroom is maybe the smallest I've ever seen. The bed was moderately comfortable. I do like the large, flat-screen TVs... very nice perk. Out of 170 points, the Hyatt Place MSP scored 104 points.
Section three I covered the workout area and restaurant/bar. The Hyatt scored a 60 out of 110 points. The workout area consisted of four aging cardio machines in a tiny room. I'm sure it's fine for some travelers, but not for anyone serious about fitness.
In the last section I covered the location and general comments. I gave the Hyatt Place a 24 out of 45 points in this category. The Hyatt Place MSP scored 258 out of 425 possible points. The property is low-end to average at best, but you get what you pay for. It works fine for a quick overnight near MSP airport. I really only continue to stay at this property so I get my Hyatt Gold Passport award points. The employees aren't up to the typical Hyatt standard. The Hyatt Place also gets a lot of traffic from Delta/Northwest flight crews.
Final thoughts: I wouldn't recommend for leisure travel, unless your budget dictates a low-cost option. This property gets a marginal "recommend" for business travel. Not one of Hyatt's best efforts. However, TheTravelBoss (my wife) likes to remind me that the road to amassing Gold Passport points for vacation-use is often paved with hotel stays I would rather forget. On a good note, this stay did help me earn my first "The Next Big Thing Free Night Award". For more information on this current Hyatt promotion: http://goldpassport.hyatt.com/gp/en/offers/you-choose-offer.jsp.
Happy travels,
The Travel Brain
Full Disclosure: For the benefit of the FTC, I did not receive any compensation directly for this blog post. All opinions expressed are strictly those of The Travel Brain.
The check-in experience took more time than it should have. The lobby is small and cluttered. The lobby/breakfast area/TV area/lounge occupy maybe 500 sq ft (no joke). The free breakfast in the morning is acceptable. Overall, out of 100 points available, the Hyatt Place Minneapolis Airport-South scored a generous 70 points.
The next section covers the room, housekeeping, and the property in general. The room is a small functional suite. My room was generally clean, except for a fruit tray that was covered with something sticky. The bathroom is maybe the smallest I've ever seen. The bed was moderately comfortable. I do like the large, flat-screen TVs... very nice perk. Out of 170 points, the Hyatt Place MSP scored 104 points.
Section three I covered the workout area and restaurant/bar. The Hyatt scored a 60 out of 110 points. The workout area consisted of four aging cardio machines in a tiny room. I'm sure it's fine for some travelers, but not for anyone serious about fitness.
In the last section I covered the location and general comments. I gave the Hyatt Place a 24 out of 45 points in this category. The Hyatt Place MSP scored 258 out of 425 possible points. The property is low-end to average at best, but you get what you pay for. It works fine for a quick overnight near MSP airport. I really only continue to stay at this property so I get my Hyatt Gold Passport award points. The employees aren't up to the typical Hyatt standard. The Hyatt Place also gets a lot of traffic from Delta/Northwest flight crews.
Final thoughts: I wouldn't recommend for leisure travel, unless your budget dictates a low-cost option. This property gets a marginal "recommend" for business travel. Not one of Hyatt's best efforts. However, TheTravelBoss (my wife) likes to remind me that the road to amassing Gold Passport points for vacation-use is often paved with hotel stays I would rather forget. On a good note, this stay did help me earn my first "The Next Big Thing Free Night Award". For more information on this current Hyatt promotion: http://goldpassport.hyatt.com/gp/en/offers/you-choose-offer.jsp.
Happy travels,
The Travel Brain
Full Disclosure: For the benefit of the FTC, I did not receive any compensation directly for this blog post. All opinions expressed are strictly those of The Travel Brain.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Park Hyatt Chicago - Perfection on Michigan Ave.
As painful as writing a bad review is, giving a good review feels great. So let the good times roll! I have already admitted my bias towards certain brands, Hyatt being one of them.
For disclosure purposes, I will mention that I have Diamond Membership status with Hyatt. The automatic benefits include: 1) the best room available including Regency Club or Grand Club rooms; 2) a suite upgrade at time of reservation four times annually on paid room nights; 3) a special welcome point bonus or food and beverage amenity during each stay; etc.
I had a reservation at the Park Hyatt in Chicago from 11/1 to 11/3. My wife (aka TheTravelBoss) makes all of my travel reservations. She was able to redeem a suite upgrade (Diamond Membership benefit) for the stay. I was upgraded to a beautiful 900 sq ft suite on the 12th floor, but let me go back to the beginning.
In the first section of my review, I evaluate things like the reservation process, check-in, lobby, doorman, parking, concierge, and bell service. I did not have a car and did not use concierge or bell service on this stay. I had 20 data points to score - for a maximum total of 100 points in this category. The Park Hyatt scored a whopping 99 points (I probably should have given them 100, but I felt like that might have been over-the-top). When you arrive, you feel like you are at a luxury private residence and not a hotel. For goodness sake - the morning coffee is served in the butler's pantry... how nice! A traveling business man could get used to that kind of treatment. The doorman was exceptional. He went as far as to walk a block with me showing me where I was going. He always greeted me "Sir", but had a very warm demeanor. The perfect blend of manners and friendliness. The check-in process was a breeze, and the associate was very helpful at the front desk.
In section two, I evaluated the room, housekeeping, and the property. There were 39 data points worth 195 points in this section. The Park Hyatt scored 180 points. The room itself was a spectacular two room, two bathroom suite. I had a view of Lake Michigan and the furniture was beautiful by any standard. My one major pet-peeve was also apparent in this room. The window treatments. Even though it was a terrific room, the window treatments were tattered. It is one of the few items you always look at in a room. Why are they always the last items to be upgraded? The other data point the Hyatt gets dinged for is the toilet paper dispenser. It is a very cool looking stainless-steel item that hangs in a slot by gravity. The only problem is when you go to dispense the toilet paper, the roll falls off the spool and rolls away from you. It is "ah-ha" moments like this when you realize function is much more important than form. Other than those two items, you couldn't ask for a better suite. The linens where crisp and the cleanliness was impeccable. The furniture and art work were just the right touch. With new window shades and a non-self-ejecting toilet paper dispenser, the room would have scored a perfect 195 points.
In section three, I review the restaurant/bar, workout facility, pool, and the spa. The bar/restaurant is located on the 7th floor. It doesn't have the "hotel bar" feel at all. The crowd is sophisticated, yet friendly. I played trivia with some people I met at the bar. Quick trivia question: What are the three universities where the university name is a color? I'll tell you later. Back to the review. The bartender is a guy named Nick. He was fantastic. A great bartender is very important to business travelers - especially me - and not to be overlooked. Nick is extremely professional and one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. The only food I ordered was a delicious sausage plate. It was served piping hot and was very wonderful paired with a glass of red wine. The workout area is one of the better ones you will find at a hotel. In the gym, there are ample free weights and weight machines. No shortage of running and elliptical machines either. I didn't use the spa services, but the facility looked quite nice. Overall, the Park Hyatt scored 118 out of 140 points in this section.
In section four, I cover Regency Club, location, gift shop, special requests, and general comments on the property. The Park Hyatt of Chicago doesn't have a Regency Club, but the whole property effectively feels like a Regency Club. I also didn't use the gift shop or make any special requests during my stay. There were 40 points available in this section. I awarded 29 out of 40 points. The location was good, but not great.
Overall, the Park Hyatt of Chicago scored 426 out of 475 points. I would rate this property as a "strong recommend" for a high-end business traveler. The price tag would get it excluded from most travel budgets (a hefty $475 per night), but the product is first-rate. It would be an ideal option for a higher-end leisure traveler visiting Chicago. The Michigan Avenue location is perfect for shopping, sight-seeing, etc. I guarantee that if you can afford it, you won't be disappointed. Well done Park Hyatt Chicago!
Oh and the answer to the trivia question: Brown, Auburn, and Sienna. The person at the bar tried to claim a fourth university - Navy. I cried BS, as the official name is The Naval Academy at Annapolis... Just saying!
Happy travels,
The Travel Brain
Full Disclosure: For the benefit of the FTC, I did not receive any compensation directly for this blog post. All opinions expressed are strictly those of The Travel Brain.
For disclosure purposes, I will mention that I have Diamond Membership status with Hyatt. The automatic benefits include: 1) the best room available including Regency Club or Grand Club rooms; 2) a suite upgrade at time of reservation four times annually on paid room nights; 3) a special welcome point bonus or food and beverage amenity during each stay; etc.
I had a reservation at the Park Hyatt in Chicago from 11/1 to 11/3. My wife (aka TheTravelBoss) makes all of my travel reservations. She was able to redeem a suite upgrade (Diamond Membership benefit) for the stay. I was upgraded to a beautiful 900 sq ft suite on the 12th floor, but let me go back to the beginning.
In the first section of my review, I evaluate things like the reservation process, check-in, lobby, doorman, parking, concierge, and bell service. I did not have a car and did not use concierge or bell service on this stay. I had 20 data points to score - for a maximum total of 100 points in this category. The Park Hyatt scored a whopping 99 points (I probably should have given them 100, but I felt like that might have been over-the-top). When you arrive, you feel like you are at a luxury private residence and not a hotel. For goodness sake - the morning coffee is served in the butler's pantry... how nice! A traveling business man could get used to that kind of treatment. The doorman was exceptional. He went as far as to walk a block with me showing me where I was going. He always greeted me "Sir", but had a very warm demeanor. The perfect blend of manners and friendliness. The check-in process was a breeze, and the associate was very helpful at the front desk.
In section two, I evaluated the room, housekeeping, and the property. There were 39 data points worth 195 points in this section. The Park Hyatt scored 180 points. The room itself was a spectacular two room, two bathroom suite. I had a view of Lake Michigan and the furniture was beautiful by any standard. My one major pet-peeve was also apparent in this room. The window treatments. Even though it was a terrific room, the window treatments were tattered. It is one of the few items you always look at in a room. Why are they always the last items to be upgraded? The other data point the Hyatt gets dinged for is the toilet paper dispenser. It is a very cool looking stainless-steel item that hangs in a slot by gravity. The only problem is when you go to dispense the toilet paper, the roll falls off the spool and rolls away from you. It is "ah-ha" moments like this when you realize function is much more important than form. Other than those two items, you couldn't ask for a better suite. The linens where crisp and the cleanliness was impeccable. The furniture and art work were just the right touch. With new window shades and a non-self-ejecting toilet paper dispenser, the room would have scored a perfect 195 points.
In section three, I review the restaurant/bar, workout facility, pool, and the spa. The bar/restaurant is located on the 7th floor. It doesn't have the "hotel bar" feel at all. The crowd is sophisticated, yet friendly. I played trivia with some people I met at the bar. Quick trivia question: What are the three universities where the university name is a color? I'll tell you later. Back to the review. The bartender is a guy named Nick. He was fantastic. A great bartender is very important to business travelers - especially me - and not to be overlooked. Nick is extremely professional and one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. The only food I ordered was a delicious sausage plate. It was served piping hot and was very wonderful paired with a glass of red wine. The workout area is one of the better ones you will find at a hotel. In the gym, there are ample free weights and weight machines. No shortage of running and elliptical machines either. I didn't use the spa services, but the facility looked quite nice. Overall, the Park Hyatt scored 118 out of 140 points in this section.
In section four, I cover Regency Club, location, gift shop, special requests, and general comments on the property. The Park Hyatt of Chicago doesn't have a Regency Club, but the whole property effectively feels like a Regency Club. I also didn't use the gift shop or make any special requests during my stay. There were 40 points available in this section. I awarded 29 out of 40 points. The location was good, but not great.
Overall, the Park Hyatt of Chicago scored 426 out of 475 points. I would rate this property as a "strong recommend" for a high-end business traveler. The price tag would get it excluded from most travel budgets (a hefty $475 per night), but the product is first-rate. It would be an ideal option for a higher-end leisure traveler visiting Chicago. The Michigan Avenue location is perfect for shopping, sight-seeing, etc. I guarantee that if you can afford it, you won't be disappointed. Well done Park Hyatt Chicago!
Oh and the answer to the trivia question: Brown, Auburn, and Sienna. The person at the bar tried to claim a fourth university - Navy. I cried BS, as the official name is The Naval Academy at Annapolis... Just saying!
Happy travels,
The Travel Brain
Full Disclosure: For the benefit of the FTC, I did not receive any compensation directly for this blog post. All opinions expressed are strictly those of The Travel Brain.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
The Venetian Vegas: Peeling the onion part 2
Let me continue my review of The Venetian. The property itself didn't score very well. However, two of the three restaurants did much better. During my stay, I dined at The Grand Luxe Cafe, Pinot Brasserie, and Bouchon. I rated each of these restaurants on 19 data points for a total of 95 points.
Evening 1 we dined at the Grand Luxe Cafe. I rated the quality of the food a 4 out of 5. I also gave Grand Luxe a 4 out of 5 for diversity. The food was served hot and the server was extremely friendly. I ordered a cheeseburger medium rare. To my surprise, it was served a perfect medium rare. The major downfall to this restaurant is that it is located at the entrance to the gaming floor. It was busy and I rated the service timeliness a 3 out of 5. The major distractions for this location are the noise from the casino and the cigarette smoke. If you are a non-smoker, this is a strong "Do not recommend". Overall this restaurant scored 67 out of 95 points available. The overall experience and value delivered was good, but not great. The major drawback is the location.
Evening 2 we dined at the Pinot Brasserie. This was far and away the worst dinner we had in Vegas. We had planned on dining at Valentino next door (which I've eaten at several times in LA). Although the properties shared the same wine list, that is where the similarities ended. We had 3 people at dinner. One hour after placing our order, we inquired about our entrees. We were told the kitchen was backed up, as two restaurants are now sharing one kitchen - due to budget cuts. That was too much knowledge and not our problem (except for the fact that we had no dinner, which made it our problem). I live in Portland, OR and prefer Oregon pinot noirs. Our server had little to no knowledge about wines and was completely lost in the conversation on wine. When the food was finally served, my veal was mediocre at best. Overall the food was quit unremarkable. When one of my guests asked what they were going to do to make up for the experience the server replied, "What would you like us to do?" After calling the manager over, we were comped one dessert. For the record, I just wanted to leave. The dinner was very pricey for the quality of food and service delivered. Pinot Brasserie scored 59 out of 95 points available. The wait was long, the quality mediocre, and the service was shoddy. Thank god for the almonds I had saved in my room. This restaurant gets a strong "Not Recommended"!
Evening 3 we dined at Bouchon. This restaurant is brought to us by Thomas Keller of "French Laundry" fame in Napa Valley, CA. Well - finally a light of redemption at The Venetian! The evening started with our server recommending one of my favorite beers from Europe. I can't even remember the last place that had Delirium Tremors available. We had a party of 3 dining this evening. I ordered the highly recommended lamb shank. The preparation was exceptional, as was the quality of the food. The server and sommelier were both outstanding and scored 5 of 5 points. The food was served hot and everyone at the table was raving about their meal. The ambiance is sophisticated, yet friendly. On a side note, I collect crumbers. Yes, I know it is unusual. It takes some deft and negotiation to get a server to part with his crumber. Our server played the game masterfully and garnered a 25% tip, while making us all laugh at my begging. My evening ended with a flight of ice wines for the ages. From the minute we entered Bouchon until the moment we left, the service was amazing. Bouchon scored a 91 out of 95 points. This was far and away the best thing The Venetian has to offer. While it isn't the French Laundry of Napa, it was the most memorable experience at The Venetian. Bouchon receives a very strong "Recommend"
Overall the dining options were much better than the accommodations themselves. If you go to The Venetian, don't skip Bouchon! Matter of fact, stay at Wynn and eat at Bouchon for the ultimate Vegas experience.
Safe travels!
The Travel Brain
Full Disclosure: For the benefit of the FTC, I did not receive any compensation directly for this blog post. All opinions expressed are strictly those of The Travel Brain.
Evening 1 we dined at the Grand Luxe Cafe. I rated the quality of the food a 4 out of 5. I also gave Grand Luxe a 4 out of 5 for diversity. The food was served hot and the server was extremely friendly. I ordered a cheeseburger medium rare. To my surprise, it was served a perfect medium rare. The major downfall to this restaurant is that it is located at the entrance to the gaming floor. It was busy and I rated the service timeliness a 3 out of 5. The major distractions for this location are the noise from the casino and the cigarette smoke. If you are a non-smoker, this is a strong "Do not recommend". Overall this restaurant scored 67 out of 95 points available. The overall experience and value delivered was good, but not great. The major drawback is the location.
Evening 2 we dined at the Pinot Brasserie. This was far and away the worst dinner we had in Vegas. We had planned on dining at Valentino next door (which I've eaten at several times in LA). Although the properties shared the same wine list, that is where the similarities ended. We had 3 people at dinner. One hour after placing our order, we inquired about our entrees. We were told the kitchen was backed up, as two restaurants are now sharing one kitchen - due to budget cuts. That was too much knowledge and not our problem (except for the fact that we had no dinner, which made it our problem). I live in Portland, OR and prefer Oregon pinot noirs. Our server had little to no knowledge about wines and was completely lost in the conversation on wine. When the food was finally served, my veal was mediocre at best. Overall the food was quit unremarkable. When one of my guests asked what they were going to do to make up for the experience the server replied, "What would you like us to do?" After calling the manager over, we were comped one dessert. For the record, I just wanted to leave. The dinner was very pricey for the quality of food and service delivered. Pinot Brasserie scored 59 out of 95 points available. The wait was long, the quality mediocre, and the service was shoddy. Thank god for the almonds I had saved in my room. This restaurant gets a strong "Not Recommended"!
Evening 3 we dined at Bouchon. This restaurant is brought to us by Thomas Keller of "French Laundry" fame in Napa Valley, CA. Well - finally a light of redemption at The Venetian! The evening started with our server recommending one of my favorite beers from Europe. I can't even remember the last place that had Delirium Tremors available. We had a party of 3 dining this evening. I ordered the highly recommended lamb shank. The preparation was exceptional, as was the quality of the food. The server and sommelier were both outstanding and scored 5 of 5 points. The food was served hot and everyone at the table was raving about their meal. The ambiance is sophisticated, yet friendly. On a side note, I collect crumbers. Yes, I know it is unusual. It takes some deft and negotiation to get a server to part with his crumber. Our server played the game masterfully and garnered a 25% tip, while making us all laugh at my begging. My evening ended with a flight of ice wines for the ages. From the minute we entered Bouchon until the moment we left, the service was amazing. Bouchon scored a 91 out of 95 points. This was far and away the best thing The Venetian has to offer. While it isn't the French Laundry of Napa, it was the most memorable experience at The Venetian. Bouchon receives a very strong "Recommend"
Overall the dining options were much better than the accommodations themselves. If you go to The Venetian, don't skip Bouchon! Matter of fact, stay at Wynn and eat at Bouchon for the ultimate Vegas experience.
Safe travels!
The Travel Brain
Full Disclosure: For the benefit of the FTC, I did not receive any compensation directly for this blog post. All opinions expressed are strictly those of The Travel Brain.
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