Apr 28, 2010

Grand Hyatt, New York NY - April 28

Rating - 10.00

Well my friend Jeff (and thanks also to Alex DeChagas) helped me out again as I arrived in town without a reservation and they managed to squeeze me in (and its a rock star room - 3050). Heard the funniest thing when checking in...some dirtball with a big diamond ring was trying to check into his "friends" room who he was staying with, but he didn't know their last name....so he was ranting about staying at the Waldorf and that he was going to call Paris Hilton...LOOSER....the front desk clerk handled it perfectly and got a manager.....I love NYC........

Grand room was excellent for breakfast, and the fitness center is one of the best in the Hyatt family.

Well done!

Total - $349 (room) = $403.97

Pizza Rustica, New York NY - April 28

Rating - 9.4

Went over about 10:20 pm (found out they close at 11) and had a cheese Sicilian and regular sausage....it was EXCELLENT....perfect after an hour at the gym!

Good service and GREAT PRICE.

Total - $5.50

Rock Center Cafe, New York NY - April 28

Rating - 4.1

We took two customers to lunch at 12:30 and headed to a restaurant on the lower floor of Rockefeller Center. I was surprised there were open tables as we were immediately seated. Waiter was right over and took drink orders and delivered a bread basket with EXCELLENT bread sticks.

We ordered and it took a while for lunch to be delivered. It is a bit loud to have a business conversation in there. The two ladies had chopped salads (they were HUGE) and we each had the salmon. Salmon was just ok, very plain, a bit over cooked, but a very big portion. I thought it was overpriced at $24 per.

Lunch for 4 was appox $125

(I had to leave early for another appointment, and didn't have to pay the bill!!)

AA 398, ORD to LGA - April 28

Rating - NOT GOOD

In all the years I have been traveling this is the first time I heard an announcement by a very scared flight attendant asking if there was a Dr or nurse on the plane.....the guy in front of me hit his call button and said he was....he was about 60, dressed in a suite, and calmly got up and walked to the back. It was scary looking at the flight attendant and seeing how scared she was....

We were just getting ready to make our decent when they made the announcement...and the pilot must have needed to get to the ground FAST because it was a strange flight pattern and there were a lot of sharp turns as we quickly descended.....I rarely get nervous or an upset stomach even in choppy weather, but during that process I did....

The Doc got back to his seat just before our rough (hard, I think the plane bounced) and they made another announcement axing everyone to stay seated while the paramedics boarded.

I was in 5E and was surprised that everyone did stay seated.....5-6 paramedics and some police officers boarded and told the attendant they were going to try and get them off the plane because it was too tight to work on them in the back....

Two guys in suits, who looked horrible, were lead off the plane by the paramedics. We then got off, and one of them was on a stretcher - the other in a wheel chair and they looked HORRIBLE. I overheard they were sitting together in Row 32 and one of them passed out....

Scary stuff

Apr 27, 2010

Foxs on the River, Batavia IL - April 24

Rating - 9.97

Second time here in a week, this time with 2 neighbor families, and 8 kids.....just as good as before, and maybe better because the kids went off to the game room and didn't kill us for $$$ since they were watching Sponge Bob......

Something was missing with $2 beers unless they rang us up wrong....but it is a CHEAP night out for excellent pizza and bar food.....service was great again from Kaylyn.

Tried the ribs this time and was disappointed.....overcooked and way too much sauce....fries are AWESOME...

Everyone was happy, and that is great thing.

Give it a try!!

Btl BV Merlot 18.00
Hacker Pshorr (13 @ 4.50) 58.50
Glass Sierra Mist (2 @ 2) 4.00
16" Cheese 15.00
16" Cheese, 1/2 Sausage and ham 17.00
16" cheese, green olive, tomato, garlic, spinach 23.00
10 Cheese sticks 8.00
Calmari Fritti 6.00
Btl "A" Pinot Noir 24.00
Half Slab Ribs, curly fries, cole slaw 12.00
Kid pasta 5.00
Extra Sides (fries) (2 @ 2) 4.00
Btl "A" Poinot Noir 24.00
Ice Cream (5 @1.50) 7.50

Total - $238.12*** great value, and worth every penny

Champps Americana, Lombard IL - April 22

Rating - 9.8

$2 pints on Thursday night - HUGE FAN. Finally, a CHICAGO SPORTS BAR - Portland you should all come and visit.....

Went over last night with 2 buddies and the Hawks, Bulls, Sox, and Cubs playing.....arrived around 7 pm and bar area was packed as usual and so were all the tables. Got seated within 20 minutes in the enclosed patio (just past the bar), biggest downside was only 2 small tvs out there. I used to work out in Oakbrook and was really surprised at all of the places to go out there....

Michelle was our server and was marginal at best, decent with service, but 0 smiles....also don't like the bathrooms all the way in the front...hard to navigate through the bar, better off going through the dinning area...

Food is mid-range bar food, sample platter was ok - chicken strips were HORRIBLE, boneless wings were best (just hot enough to make you sweat, but your tongue still works)... Great crowd watch and cheering the Hawks game...

Left around 10 pm and the place was still packed....

And did I say how much I LOVE $2 pints........

MVB Blue Moon (4 @ 2.00) 8.00
Sampler Platter 15.49
Hacker Pschorr (6@ 2.00) 12.00 --- MINE
Smithwick's 2.00
BBQ Chicken sandwich 9.29
Havana 9.99 -- Gary LOVED this
Boneless Buffalo Tenders 8.99
Caramel Apple Tart 5.99 (can't believe someone ordered dessert - Stivis!!!)

Total - $78.39

Hyatt Place, Portland OR - April 21

I received this response after completing their survey, and it reafirms my belief this place SUCKS:

Dear valued guest:  ***WAY TO PERSONALIZE a response to a pissed off guest****

Thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to complete our Guest Survey. I apologize that your experience was anything less than satisfying. Our goal is to not only meet the needs of each and every guest we serve, but to exceed your expectations to make your stay as pleasant and comfortable as possible. ***Whatever****

Please know that your feedback is extremely valuable to us. Feedback such as yours assists us in improving our service and property on a daily basis. In addition, please know that your comments and issues will be addressed.   ***Yeah RIGHT, just like you addressed my specific concerns****

It is our hope that you will give us another opportunity to serve you. Again, I apologize for the inconveniences during your stay.  ***NO WAY***

If I can provide any assistance, don't hesitate to contact me directly at 503-288-2808

Sincerely,

Jennifer Williams
General Manager
__________________________________________________________________________________
Hyatt Place Portland Airport/Cascade StationRating - -100.00 (yes, its a negative rating)

Brutal, IT SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!

This is a great place to stay if you like a bed that is similar to sleeping in the parking lot (but with worse sheets)....I don't know if my right shoulder will ever be the same.

Its also great if you dig joints that DON'T MAKE THE WAKE UP call...and for a 6 am flight its a good thing I did it on my own.

Finally, the shuttle van has the WORST seats ever.....

NOTHING GOOD HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I went to check in at 10 pm and whoever was working the desk was also busy working the "bar" so I used the self service which told me my "preference" was unavailable........unacceptable.

Then in room 301 the air conditioner is located right next to the bed, HOW STUPID, its awful to have it blowing on you while in bed. The room is like a studio with the bathroom as a part of the main room.

I have only been here for a short time, but it is not pleasant to have the planes flying overhead.....

Stay somewhere else!

Total - $118.00 (before taxes) = $132.75

Henrys 12th Street Tavern, Portland OR - April 21

Rating - 1.3

OVER RATED!!!!!

Sorry Portland, but if this is a Sports Bar there is something missing....

We arrived around 7 pm and the bar was pretty packed, we managed to find a spot for the 3 of us, and had a decent view of 1 big screen tv. The Spurs vs. Mavs does NOTHING for me, and when we axed to have the hockey game put on we were told others were "enjoying" the game....NOT.

Service was pretty brutal, Michelle was our primary server, but others (who were much friendlier) also helped us.

The spinach and art dip was good (they brought us more chips), calamari was ok, and the Gorgonzola fries had WAY too much gorg - waffle fries were great, but too much cheese - 1/2 plate was untouched.

As for entrees, I had the OVERCOOKED Salmon (not good), Orange Chicken was pretty bad, but the Ling Prawns was solid (Epson ate all of it).

Beer selection is good, but if you have horrible service its not worth it. Pass on this and head somewhere else.

1 Spin Art Dip 10.00
1 Calamari 10.50
1 Gorg Fries 9.50
1 Ling Prawns 16.00
1 Salm Wild 23.00
1 Chic Orange 13.00
5 Widmer 27.50
1 Amnesia IPA 5.75
1 NKS IPA 5.75
2 Terminal IPA 11.50
1 Amnesia ESP 5.50

Total - $136.00

Flying Elephant Deli, Portland OR - April 21

Rating - 8.4

Great spot for a quick bite that is really good.

I arrived just after noon, waited 3-4 minutes, ordered at the grill and got some soup. They actually forgot to make my grilled cheese, and when they realized it they were SO EMBARRASSED, and gave me a card for a free meal next time.....

The Tomato Orange soup was AWESOME and the grilled cheese was solid....did not like the Steel Head root beer.........

Quick, good and inexpensive.

A WINNER!!!

1 Tomato Orange 2.90 (-.29 soup and sand)
1 Grilled Cheese 3.75 (-.37 soup and sand)
1 kettle chip 1.50 (-.15 soup and sand)
1 Steelhead RB 2.00 (-.19 soup and sand)

Total - 9.15

Porto Terra Tuscan Grill, Portland OR - April 21

Rating - 4.3

Had breakfast in the restaurant of the Hilton Executive Tower with a colleague. Buffet is small, and there are no cooked to order eggs, but the pancakes are excellent.

Service was decent, and they move people in/out quickly.

Disappointed that it was $18.00 a person - NOT WORTH THAT MUCH.

Total - $36.00

Hilton Executive Tower, Portland OR - April 20

Rating - 2.2

Had to wait in line to check in and I overheard someone saying "you should book at the other Hilton across the street for the lower price and we will upgrade you to the Towers as a Diamond member".....wish I would have taken that advice.

It is confusing because there are two Hilton properties next to each other....I was in the "upgraded" towers location....but there is NOTHING upgraded about it.

Small room, pretty loud all times of day, slow wifi connection....and the work out facility SUCKS - a few outdated machines. I went across the street to use their "fitness center" and its just a bit better - few cardio machines, tight dumb bell area, but they did have a bench (love that), but it is really tight on space.

Had breakfast with a colleague and was pretty disappointed in the price for the buffet ($18 each) for a small selection (no cooked to order eggs) but good pancakes.

The guys I travel with usually stay at the Westin...but I didn't like that either....IS THERE A GOOD HOTEL DOWNTOWN PORTLAND????

Total - $170 (room) + tax = $191.25

Grand Hyatt New York, NYC - April 14

Rating - 9.97

My front office buddy Jeff Monson was out, but I received excellent service from the person who was covering for him......

Stayed in a great room (3226) and enjoyed my stay. Too much entertaining to get to their gym, but did enjoy the bed and quiet night of sleep that I got!

Favorite mid town property!

Total - $349 rate + a lot of taxes = $403.97

Apr 26, 2010

On Deck Bar & Grill, Portland OR - April 20

Rating - 7.31

Strange....we went over on a night the Trail Blazers were in the playoffs, baseball was on, and we wanted to watch the Black Hawks. Got in around 6:30 and the manager was very nice and found us a spot at the bar where one tv had hockey on.

Two rows of tvs above the bar, but they are tub (OLD!) tvs that are not in high def....had a few flat screens on the wall....but all tvs in bar are old.

Jamin was our bartender and he was great, especially when it got crowded later.....beer is GREAT, and bar food was really solid. I thought the wings were GREAT, buffalo chips EXCELLENT, burger was above average (and HUGE), and KS liked the fish tacos.

Weirdest part was when I got up to go to the bathroom and there was a booth of guys playing "Sorry" - the board game......sorry boys but in Chicago you would get clobbered....I was also surprised that not everyone in the place was into the Blazers game.....second class sports town!

Looks like if the sun ever shined they have a huge deck to sit on with tvs out side (thus the name)....

WOW, just realized how CHEAP the food and beer was......it was better than rated.


1 IPA 3.75
1 Wid Hefe 3.75
1 Blazer Wings 9.00
1 IPA 4.50
1 Wid Hefe 4.50
1 Buffalo Chips 5.25
3 Blazer Hefe Pt 11.25
1 On Deck Burger 7.25
add cheddar 1.00
Fish Tacos 10.50
Lag IPA 4.50

Total - $65.25

Lotus Dowtown, Portland OR - April 20

Rating - 9.2

Help me out here...am I the only one to have lunch ONLY and no drinks????

We headed in around 12:15 to have a quick lunch before a 1 pm meeting....it was crowded but we got seated right away.

Waitress was GREAT, quick with drinks and let us know what we should order to get out quick...

We both had the French Dip (it was good - not great) and a few Arny Palmers....and made our meeting on time.Solid spot for lunch!

PDX, Portland OR - April 20

Rating - 9.331

Excellent airport.....Top five in the nation....

LOVE getting off the plane and having the piano player working the keyboard in the center of it. Clean, lots of places to grab a bite, many moving walkways and wide concourse.I had a 6 am flight back to the Midwest and security was crowded but moved right along.....

I did miss the piano player....guess it was too early.

BEWARE: Getting to the rental cars can be brutal and is mismarked. I was going to Hertz and they are actually on the lowest level I believe.....goofy and no good.

Hyatt Regency, Austin TX - April 19

I received this response on 4/27, and while I do appreciate she took the time to respond, you be the judge if it doesn't "feel" like its from the heart:

Dear Mr. Wolniewicz,


Thank you for your recent stay at the Hyatt Regency Austin.

As a Diamond member, we greatly appreciate your loyalty to Hyatt and want to ensure that you always receive the best service. It is my understanding that you were not pleased with your arrival experience? Your reservation was for a King size bed but it appears as though the front desk team upgraded you due to your Diamond Status. As there are only 4 Balcony king rooms in the hotel, this may have delayed your arrival to your guest room. Was this the reason for your dissatisfaction with your check in experience?   ***Give me a break***

We were pleased to hear that you enjoyed the comfortable Grand bed and the robe placed on your bed during turndown. We were however surprised that you did not enjoy the view across the river.
***The Austin "skyline" blows***



As a loyal Hyatt member, we appreciate your valuable feedback and want to ensure that your every stay at a Hyatt Hotel is more than enjoyable.


With that being said, we hope that you will consider staying with us again during future visits to Austin.

We welcome any additional feedback regarding your stay and look forward to your next visit.

Sincerely,

Jessica Higginbotham
EAMRooms Division
Hyatt Regency Austin, Downtown on the Lake
208 Barton Springs Road
Austin, TX 78704
__________________________________________________________________________________


Rating - 7.0

Not a great check in experience.....arrived around 7 pm and was forced to wait to check in....got a nice room (1602) on the top floor...

It was quiet and had a great bed to sleep in. They also put the robe on the bed (so you could remember to wear it), but I got in too late and simply went to sleep.

Location is convenient to downtown ($6 cab ride) and its easy to get cab to/from the property. Staff is friendly and the view across the river is ok...its NOT great....

Total - $191.20 (219.88 inc taxes)

La Condesa, Austin TX - April 19

Rating - 3.4

Not my kind of place...high end/funky Mexican.......no fajitas! We headed over for dinner around 8 pm and went up to the bar...it was pretty empty at that time of night.

I was really bummed about the menu, way to fancy for me, nothing basic. So I just had some tasty margs.......we did enjoy ourselves and had a good time. Never sat in the restaurant, but the bartender did take us down to the private dining room.

It is down a narrow flight of stairs and is in a cellar.....it was the "secret" spot during prohibition and is really neat.

If you like "foo foo" food you should enjoy this spot.

Fonda San Miguel, Austin TX - April 19

Rating - 8.8

Stopped with a customer for some after dinner drinks around 5 pm.....neat place that has a very Southwestern feel with a cool seating area when you walk in (can have drinks here) and a cozy bar just past that....there is also a restaurant but we never made it that far.

Margs are small but EXCELLENT, and probably a good thing they are small because they are also stiff....the chips and salsa they bring are GREAT and we must have had 10 baskets, they kept bringing them and we kept eating them.....

Great spot for some cocktails, and I hear dinner is even better.........

Mango Margarita
El Tesoro Reposado (8 @ 8.50) 68.00
Modelo Especial (2 @ 4.50) 9.00

Total - 84.00

Praire Landing, West Chicago IL - April 18

Rating - 9.8

Excellent golf course in Western suburbs....good value in "off season" on the weekend.......AWESOME STAFF who go out of their way to ensure your satisfaction...

Oh, and a FANTASTIC golf course.

Stop in the restaurant for something to eat and drink once your finished!

Foxs on the River, Batavia IL - April 17

Rating - 9.4

Great family place...several places have been in the same location in the past - Venice Tavern and Sean Michael's....new owners had a restaurant in Orland back in 1963, then opened one on SW Highway in Oaklawn...and this one opened in January of 2010 (Jerry the Manager is a great guy, very nice, and told me the history)......although we just found out recently it was reopen.

First impression is: ITS CLEAN and LIGHT. They did a great job of remodeling, new flat screen tvs in the bar area, clean game room for the kids with their flat screen showing Sponge Bob and a popcorn machine.......

The rest is basically the same, but its light and bright. They still have the awesome deck overlooking the river, and the pizza oven is just as good.

We arrived around 5:45 pm on Saturday night and enjoyed the $2.50 import beers and GREAT PIZZA. Kids robbed me of all my cash - headed to the game room - and we enjoyed some peace. Hot Mamma had the stuffed crab as an app and it was awful (looked horrible, greasy) and we also had some cheese sticks (great). Pizza is a HOME RUN....SO GOOD!

Sara was our friendly/efficient server, and everything went well.

It will be even better when the patio opens as it warms up.

Great spot!

Hacker Pschorr (4 @ 2.50) 10.00
Glass Navarro Malbec 7.50
10 Cheese sticks 8.00
Stuffed Crab Portabe 11.00
16" Cheese, half sausage 16.00
Side Salad 3.79
Kids Pasta 5.00
Glass chalone P Noir 9.00
2 Glass "A" Pinot Noir 16.00

Total - $92.77

Tilted Kilt, Chciago IL - April 16

Rating - 8.0

Arrived around noon and had to wait about 10 minutes for a table....we had a party of 5....and it was hard to have a conversation. You really could not hear the person across from you...not a good spot for a business meeting....

Food was excellent as always, I had my favorite (Irish Dip), and Pauline provided excellent service.

No more bidness meetings here!

Diet Coke (2 @ 2.50) 5.00
Arnold Palmer 2.50
Lemonade 2.50
Irish Dip 8.99
Slider Basket 7.99
Grilled Chicken Club (2 @ 8.99) 17.98
Chicken Tender Wrap 8.99
Side of ranch .50

Total - $60.58

Hale & Hearty Soups, New York NY - April 15

Rating - 10.00

Great soup once again that exceeds all expectations.....quick/friendly service........

1 large Tomato Cheddar 7.39
1 Snapp Lemon 1.80
1 D Chips 1.35

Total - $11.36

1 Med Soup/Salad 8.89
Apple .60
Chicken 1.75
Craisins 1.20

Total - $13.54

The Long Room, New York NY - April 14

Rating - 8.0

Not really sure why we needed ONE more drink....but we stopped here for 2 around 11 pm and were served by Fintan. He was great, and so is the place.

Cool spot to stop for one, two, or a few!

2 Jameson 15.00
2 Ketel One 17.00

Total - 32.00

Langan's, New York NY - April 14

Rating - 8.2

Stopped here after our HORRIBLE dinner at Club 21 for an after dinner drinks.....good spot, nice long bar with friendly bartenders. Good drinks at decent prices.....and comfortable to watch the game on tv and have a conversation.

3 Ketel One 24.00
2 Tanqueray Tonic 16.00
Heineken 6.50
2 Becks 13.00

Total - $59.50

21 Club, New York NY - April 14

Rating - 0.123

BRUTAL.

Had some drinks here about a year ago, loved the "Old School" feel although most of the patrons had gone to school in the mid 1800s, and wanted to try dinner........so......

Sometimes you get what you ask for....and it SUCKS. We actually made the mistake of taking a customer here for dinner. We sat and had an enjoyable few drinks before he showed and our waitress was great.

After he arrived the three of us were seated. The dinning room was approximately 80% full, and I was the youngest one there by about 100 years......the service from Team 6 was THE WORST in 2010 so far. I really think they forgot about us several times, perhaps they were so old they couldn't see us......

Food = HORRIBLE....I am pretty sure the City was short a few rats after we ate. I had the Sirloin the server recommended and it was BAD. I also had the Cheesecake and it was pretty good, and they must have sensed how much we hated it because we got a "free" petit fours and moosecake.

DON'T GO HERE --- EVER.

3 Tanqueray 38.25
1 Absolut Juice 12.25
1 Makers Mark 11.75
1 Gr Octopus 22.00
1 Sambucca 12.50
2 Jameson 22.50 (why do I do this to myself?)
1 Cabernet 10.00
2 Sirloin 92.00 (HORRIBLE)
1 RW Chicken 35.00
1 Apple Crumb 10.50
1 Cheesecake 10.50
3 Comp Petit Fours 0.00
1 RW Moussecake 0.00

Food - 170.00
Liquor - 97.25
Wine - 10.00

Total - $301.86

Hale and Hearty Soups, New York NY - April 14

Rating - 10.00

BEST LUNCH spot at 42nd and Avenue of the Americas....get here around 11:30 unless you are willing to wait in a LONG line........

This spot is GREAT, I love it!

Huge selection of soups, always changing the choices, and simply the BEST SOUP I have ever had. I could eat here every day, and do when I am in the area. Three sizes of soups, and choice of bread/crackers. I had the Tomato Cheddar and it was AWESOME.

My buddy luvs the salads, and always has one.

You can grab your lunch and head over to Bryant Park, or sit in the restaurant. It does get crowded around noon, and it takes some patience to make it because you will bump elbows.

1 Large Tomato Cheddar 7.39
1 Chips 1.35
1 Snapp Diet Lem 1.80

Total - $11.36

HBO Shop, New York NY - April 14

Rating - 8.3

Was headed to lunch in NYC and strolled by the HBO building....there were 2 girls out front holding the book "The Pacific". They told us the author, Hugh Ambrose, was signing inside, so I went in and bought the book, and got to meet him. He was in a sport coat and said "Hey dude, how are you?".....I was kind of surprised because he must be 40........but he was nice and signed the book to my dad.

No line, in and out - just like Wisconsin.

Total - $29.34 (for the book)

Orchard Valley Golf Course, Aurora IL - April 11

Rating - 9.969

Great deal as a resident at $29 to walk. We had a 9:20 am tee time on Sunday morning and I was a bit worried as there was a pretty good pile-up at the first tee. Starter kept everything in order, and after waiting on the 2nd hole we never were held up again.

Course is in great shape, and Billy Casper Golf (who took it over) has spend some money on improvements. The 17th hole (Par 3) played form temporary tees, but all else was in order.

Had a few beers in the decent club house after.

Great day at a great price.

Total - $29.00 (walking)

Arrowhead Restaurant & Bar, Wheaton IL - April 10

Rating - 2.1

GREAT golf course and cool bar........but a HORRIBLE Restaurant...........

We went on a Saturday night with 3 other couples and were the first to arrive around 6 pm....so we naturally wandered into the bar and found the last two seats. It was a full house, and the crowd was split between golfers, couples out on dates, and the few single men....nice tvs all around tuned to the Masters. Great service from the bartenders, quick to refill drinks and friendly...then we got called to dinner.

Dinning room is pretty small and we had a big table in the middle. Nicole was our server and she was marginal at best (worse as the night wore on). Apps were just ok, it was SLOW, and a band began to set up....pretty strange for 7:30 on Saturday night. Anyway after what seemed like a few hours we got to order and the band started to play.

They were LOUD, LOUD, LOUD, so loud you couldn't talk to the person next to you, and the lead singer/guitar player was HORRIBLE and a hog of the "spotlight". I could not believe we were served food while a really loud band was playing in a small space....

The food itself was AWFUL. I had the BBQ Salmon and it was bad, overcooked and had the distinct taste of being dragged in the parking lot prior to hitting my plate.....don't think anyone else really liked theirs either. We were forced to watch and listen to the band because you could not speak to anyone.....

After dinner we wandered back to the bar, and there was still a good crowd. It seemed like many locals hang-out here, and as I said the bar is nice and fun. They also have a brick patio deck that is REALLY NICE.

NO WAY I came back here to eat, would play the golf course any day.

Brushetta 6.00
Fish Tacos 9.00
Calamari 7.00
Cheese Quesadilla 6.00
Sienna Bottle (2 @ 34) 68.00
Nachos 8.00
Key Lime 6.00
Carrot Cake 6.00
Mom's Favorite 6.00
Bailey's 7.00
Pitching Wedge Salad 8.00
Mush Risotto 18.00
Shanghai Chicken 11.00
Veal Milanese 21.00
Stoli (3 @ 8.00) 24.00
BBQ Salmon 16.00
Genuine Dft 22 (5 @ 5.00) 25.00
Whitefish Piccata 15.00
Miller Lite 22 (3 @ 5) 15.00
BBQ Ribs (2 @ 19) 38.00
Grey Goose (3 @ 8) 24.00
Arrowhead Garden Salad 5.00
Shrimp Pasta 17.00
Cosmopolitian (2 @ 7.00) 14.00

Total - $412.52

Hardees, El Paso IL - March 30

Rating - .000001

Yes, there is an El Paso IL and it is somewhere off I39 between Bloomington IL and I88....and I hope I never have to return.........

We stopped so the little guys could go potty, and I could get some lunch. There was a subway right next store, but I was hopping for a roast beef.....but Hardees does not serve that anymore.

Well the natives were getting restless, so I got their new bacon burger combo......and we got back in the car. IT IS HORRIBLE....so bad, greasy and just huge....it helps me understand how people who there often are SO HUGE and FAT.

I think I would rather eat my hand next time....

Combo meal, small fry, small drink

Total - $6.42

Milo's Bocce Garden, St Louis MO - March 29

Rating - 10.00

What a GREAT spot for dinner, drinks and KIDS. We headed over after a stop at the zoo (
http://talesfromtheroad-mwalno.blogspot.com/2010/04/st-louis-zoo-st-louis-mo-march-29.html) and arrived around 5 pm.

We walked through the (smokey) bar, and grabbed a few tables outside. Patio is big, service from GINA was EXCELLENT, and food is really high quality and quite tasty. Kids loved being able to play in the 2 full size bocce courts (and the little guys especially loved rolling around in the dirt/rocks).

While they were busy, we were busy chowing down on EXCEPTIONAL Toasted Ravs, excellent pizzas and boring salads (not me). As I mentioned Gina provided great service, and we always had full beers, wines, and drinks for the kids. Decent bathrooms inside and plenty of video games.....

Great spot to meet family or friends for dinner.....I WILL RETURN!

1 Dr Pepper 1.75
1 Diet Coke 11.75
6 Bud Lt Btl 12.00
2 Pinot Noir GLS 10.50
3 Toasted Rav 15.75
1 Totasted Rav 5.25
14" Chicken 13.75
14" Cheese (1/2 sausage) 13.50
14" Deluxe 15.75
1 Chicken Strips 6.00
1 Large Salad 5.50
1 Large Salad 5.50
1 Side of OBG 3.00
1 Toasted Rav 5.25
3 Pinot Noir Gls 15.75
2 Mich Ultra Btl 7.00
4 Bud Lt Btl 13.00

Total - $159.15

St Louis Zoo, St Louis MO - March 29

Rating - 10.00

It is AWESOME!!!!

Kids loved it and wished we could have spent all day here.......especially after we had spent most of the day at the Science Center (http://talesfromtheroad-mwalno.blogspot.com/2010/04/st-louis-science-center-st-louis-mo.html).

There is a charge for parking, but you can almost always find it for free on the street and THERE IS NO ADMISSION CHARGE!!! There are a bunch of other spots where you can spend, spend, spend (kids rode some kind of roller coaster, merry-go-round, food, souvenirs, etc).

I did buy train tickets for all of us ($5.00 per person for one time around), and the KIDS LOVED RIDING IT. The conductor even let them announce the next stop on the intercom.

There is much to see and do here, and it is easy to walk around (or take the train). You could easily spend an entire day here. One thing to remember is that most of it is outside - so it could be rough on a brutal St Louis summer day, or in the rain/cold.

Beautiful grounds, lots of animals, and a friendly staff make it an excellent destination!!

Total - $30.00 (train tickets for $6)

Apr 20, 2010

St Louis Science Center, St Louis MO - March 29

Rating - 4.3

OVER RATED!!!!!

I was SO DISAPPOINTED....had heard so many great things about it......and after spending 2 hours with 5 kids I was ready to leave....but had tickets for a 2 PM IMAX show......

Next time I would spend all my time at the ZOO.

I was surprised that parking at the Science Center was $8.00, I think a lot of people park on the street, and was surprised again because there is NO ADMISSION FEE. Couldn't understand why there was a line when I walked in (its to buy tickets to the IMAX - $6 for a kid - or the other "special things"). We spend a few hours walking around, and the kids like best building the Arch with blocks and standing over Highway 40 and either using radar guns on speeding cars or watching them go under the walkway (windows on the floor).

However, after walking the entire center we still had 2 hours to kill before the movie. Had a (terrible) lunch in the cafe (awful pizza - not many choices), and then wandered back around.

IMAX was fun, we saw UNDER THE SEA, and the kids liked it.

After that we bailed to the zoo (AWESOME) and our parking was compd because the computers were down.

I would NOT RETURN with the kids (they really liked the City Museum the last time we visited).

Parking - $8.00

Admission - FREE

Lunch - 29.84 (5 kids)
Cheese Pizza Combo 2 @ 7.79
Small Drink 3 @ 2.69
Gatorade 3.49


IMAX - $37.00
$6.00 per kid, $7 per adult

The Senators Basement, O'Fallon MO - March 28

Rating - 10.00

Wow....spectacular.....you cant say anything else.........

Lion's Choice, Chesterfield MO - March 28

Rating - 9.9999

This is SO GOOD, its fast and easy, with friendly staff and GREAT FOOD!!!! I loved it when I lived here in the past, and forgot how much I missed it......roast beef is EXCELLENT.

I would to STL just for this sandwich!!


2 Rst Beef 5.38
2 Slice of swiss .60

Total - $6.44

Double Tree, Chesterfield MO - March 27 - March 30

Revised Rating - 0.00

I received this response today, I take it as an insult to me: Matthew,I am truly sorry that our hotel did not meet your needs. We all work very hard to make sure all of our guests are treated with CARE and we obviously failed in your case. It is so nice to part of the Hilton Family of Brands and to have the Homewood Suites as an alternative hotel. I am sure the large suite concept will meet your family needs. Regards,Matt FellingGeneral Manager

Rating - 0.3

HORRIBLE. Could not be any worse spot in the World to spend 3 nights with the family in Room 1120 - WAY to SMALL - and doesn't work well with 3 kids and 2 adults. I was especially disappointed because I had reached out to the Front Desk Manager prior to our trip and the property was EMPTY during the weekend and we still had a HORRIBLE ROOM. 2 twin beds with really no other space, extremely small bathroom and one sink to get ready at (both right next to me), space reminds me of the Motel 6 - but is NOT AS NICE. Very disappointing especially because when we lived in St Louis in the early 90s this was a premiere property.

Oh yeah, its always nice to HEAR your NEIGHBORS TV blaring all night, and them snoring, because the walls are so thin.........

Customer service at the font desk was pretty rotten also.....

Even though I used my Hilton points so it was free, IT WAS NOT WORTH IT!!!!!!!!!

Their policy on "free" breakfasts pissed me off also.....they allow 2 per room...most Hilton properties will give you as many coupons as you have people in the room (especially for families - another reason I LOVE the BOSTON Hilton in the financial center)...and the buffet was empty on all three days we went, twice we were the only tables. I will say service was EXCELLENT for BREAKFAST, and the food choices were ok (its pretty small, especially on Sunday). And it is EXPENSIVE for breakfast.........

The hotel has a pool, and I hung out with the kids for a few hours. It was large, clean, nice and they had toys for the kids to play with.....small hot tub.

There is also a fitness center attached and its free......it should be because I think it was designed and has the original equipment from the 1960s...not real clean, and OLD cardi0 equipment.

They did comp the roll away - but NEVER AGAIN HERE....there is a Homewood Suites about 1/4 mile that I would stay in next time.

Breakfast - $29.92 I(this was what I had to spend after using 2 "free" coupons

Chicago to St Louis Drive

Rating - .013

Its BRUTAL.....we stayed in the city and then drove to I90 and Randall Road to get the kids....

Headed north on 90 to Rockford and then went down I39 to Bloomington and took I55 to St Louis.

Drive on 90 North was all trucks and 2 lane traffic (BRUTAL), I39 is also only 2 lanes, but traffic moves and not many police spotted, I55 is slower and traffic is much tighter when you get near STL.

It felt like it took ALL day...

Coach Flynnnnnnnnns Basement

Rating - 10.00

Coach Flynn knows how to throw a little party....lots of Natty Light Bottles, some Jamo, and wine, wine, wine for the ladies.....

Kids either played pool, watched Sponge Bob, or played video games (upstairs)....

Spent 2 of 3 nights here and I wish I could move in!!!!!