Mar 29, 2011

GAB Bakery (Terminal 3), Chicago O'Hare - March 28

Rating - 7.444

New configuration right before you get in the terminal......never sure how the service will be or if they will get your order right....but they were friendly if not poky.

1 Turkey sand   6.79
1 Chips   1.29
1 Powerade   2.69

Total - $12.18

Andaz 5th Ave, 485 5th at 41st, NYC - March 28

Rating - 9.9931

This place ROCKS - awesome staff who do anything to make sure you are well taken care of, a cool vibe (doesn't really feel like a hotel) and solid rooms.  I got in early and my room was not ready, so I headed to the gym. 

The gym is OUTSTANDING, 3 treadmills, 3 ellipticals, 1 bike, 2 benches for free weights (up to 50 lbs), and space.  Its in the basement and is excellent for a hotel gym.

Got back upstairs and Michael hooked me up with a GREAT ROOM (#1113).  Quiet, large (suite) and clean...I loved the turn-down service in the evening.

Highly recommend this for biz or personal travel.

Total - 325 (room) + loads of taxes = $376.43

Mar 28, 2011

Benjamin Steakhouse, 52 E 41st, NYC - March 28

Rating - 8.21


Food was exceptional as always - service tonight was acceptable. My FAVORITE waiter (Artie) had the night off so I guess I have a bit of compassion....but I had to walk to our waiter, tap him on the arm, hand him my credit card and ask for the bill.

Met some a few customers in the bar where they have AWESOME CHIPS on the bar for a few drinks -
1 Becks $8.00
1 Stella Draft 8.00
1 Captain Lawrence Pale 8.00

Total - 26.13


We were seated at a booth in the dining room that was alive with people and conversations - for a Monday night the place was rocking from 6:30 pm until we left around 9:30. Such a great atmosphere and so much fun!


You don't need a menu when you have dinner here - order the bacon, and steak for 3 (we had 3 in our party), then have the cheese cake (dry tonight) and a few Jamos.......Bacon is a thick slice that is PERFECT, steak for 3 is 2 porterhouses, and well the cheese cake and Jamo need no explanation.

Great service until trying to get the check in the end......come in and ask for ARTIE!!!

3 Becks 24.00
1 Bud Draft 8.00
4 Stella Draft 32.00 (Jason!)
2 Captain Pale 16.00
6 Jameson 71.70
3 Sizzling Bacon Slice 9.00 (SUCH A BARGIN)
1 Steak for 3 128.85
1 Home Fries 11.95
1 Creamed Spinach 8.95 (EXCELLENT)
1 Cheesecake 9.95

Total - $348.84

Hale & Hearty Soups, 49 W 42nd St, NYC - March 28

Rating - 9.74

AWESOME!!!!!  I entered the store around 4 pm, it was empty and service was GREAT....I got the Cream of Tomato Chicken to go, and walked across the street to the NYC Library and sat in the park on a sunny afternoon.  All good here....this is a "go to" for our NYC office for lunch.....

1 Large Soup    7.09

Total - $7.72

Jul 30, 2010

Rosebud Prime, Chicago IL - July 30

Rating - 9.886

Great time having lunch outside, exceptional service and excellent meal!

Hosted a bidness meeting here around 11:30 am, it was a nice day so we sat on the patio....they have done a good job putting a cover over it to block the sun......service was EXCELLENT....fast with drink refills and anything we needed to have a great time.....

Food was outstanding.....I love the pretzel rolls they serve before the meal....and the steak sandwich was PERFECT.....bread was tasty and toasty...steak was perfect.....

Everyone else appeared to enjoy their meal also....and the mac and cheese was a favorite (as always)....

2 Lunch asian   53.90
3 D Chz Burger   38.85
1 Salmon Salad   22.95
1 Sanw Spec  22.95
1 Arnold Palmer  4.95
2 Ice Tea   6.00
1 Coke  3.00
2 Mac/cheese  14.50

Total - $174.38* (for 7 of us)

Due, Chicago IL - July 29

Rating - 6.2

Long wait for our pizzas (seated quickly), pizza not as good as Uno!

Stopped at our family favorite first as we had 3 hungry kids with us.....told wait was 45 minutes (but like usual line was out the door).....so I walked over to Due where they told me the wait was only 15 minutes.....it was to get seated....but it took over an hour for the pizzas to arrive....and we arrived around 5:45 pm......

I didn't mind waiting for the table because Hot Mamma and I grabbed a spot at the bar and put the kids on our laps (I had one on each leg).....because "kids cant sit at the bar".....but the wait for the pizza was just too long....although the service was really good from Justin C!

And in no way, shape, or form does it resemble a Uno's pizza.....the oldest was hungry and crabby and was not pleased that it was not an Uno's pizza....

Although I heated what was left over for dinner and thought it was much better than the pie in the restaurant last night.....

Its worth the wait at Uno!

1 garlic bread/che     4.79
1 soda   2.49
1 Sam Adams pilsn   6.29
1 Gls Geyser Pk sb   7.29

Total - $20.86  (bar tab)

1 lrg, deep dish, sausage   24.99
1 small deep dish, cheese  12.49
1 garlic bread   3.79  (really good!!!)
1 salad bowl   4.29
1 gls Hess chard7.59
1 kids pasta   3.59
1 Miller Lite  4.29
1 gls Tilia Malbec   7.99

Total - $69.02

PS.  They axed us about desert.....when I axed if anyone ever order it...the server laughed and said usually once a night

Roof (at the Wit Hotel), Chicago IL - July 29

Rating - 9.884

Great/FUN spot to have a drink after work...exceptional spot when the weather is nice....lots of beautiful people and great service...and its not that expensive.

It's pretty small on the deck and gets crowded fast....we arrived around 4:15 and easily found a table on the "Roof".....

It is partially covered, but it was HOT when the sun was out....they could use a few fans.....I was surprised when I got off the elevator....I travel all over the country every week and this definitely a COOL place and it doesn't seem like it should be in Chicago......NY or LA sure...

Crowd was older when we got there....no one under 30 except for the servers. (the younger guys with me enjoyed the "cougars")....but as it got closer to 5 pm it became SRO only and the crowd got younger and very attractive......however, service was excellent and both Tyler and Courtney really took care of us.....

When we left at 5:30 I was surprised how crowded it was inside.....

Must have a drink here!

1 btl Dos Equix Lag   6.31
2 Bt Pilsn Urquel   12.62
1 Cucumb Mojito   12.61
1 Apple Julep  12.61

Total - 49.01

12 bt Pilsn Urquel   75.72
5 Bt Coors LT  31.55
2 Gl Lamarc   23.42
4 Bt Dos Equiz Lag   25.24
1 Bt Corona   6.31

Total - 180.09

Jul 28, 2010

Siri's House, Somewhere - maybe Dedham or Nedham MA - July 27

Rating - Perfect 10.0

What great hosts.....Siri and Andy are AWESOME...so much fun to hang with and have a drink out on their wonderful patio....

It was also great fun to play with "Lumpy" and make him laugh......

Andy cooks a mean burger on the grill.....just what the travel Dr ordered!

Total - F R E E

Admirals Club, BOS (airport) MA - July 28

Rating - 8.9

It was the "Grand Opening" today....actually the Grand REopening.....

There were lots of AA employees who are not usually there making it too crowded, but the new place is nice.  I like the soft colors and all the tables to sit at....

Best of all they kept all the GREAT employees...and CHERYL is one of the BEST in the entire system....the people at the desk will do anything they can to help you and make your day just a bit better....

Cosi Terminal B, BOS (airport) - July 28

Rating - 6.8

I had the usual Bacon, Turkey, Cheddar - decent, not great- and tried the Tomato Aurora soup - ITS GREAT but very small......a bit expensive for what you get....but its the only place I will eat in Terminal B food court.....

Sand, cosi 3    7.79
Gatorade     2.19
Soup, SD Tomato Aurora   2.10

Total - $13.02

MBTA Commuter Rail, Manchester-by-the-Sea MA - July 28

Rating - 9.991

Awesome experience!

Got on in Manchester at 10:20 am and arrived downtown Boston in North Station at 11:10 am......easy, efficient, with very pleasant employees.....best of all its a great value.

Cab to airport was only $15.35

Total - $7.75 (for the train fare)

Dunkin Donughts, Beverly MA - July 28

Rating - 9.4

Great spot for a breakfast sandwich, I loved it!

Located in a rest area/gas station off of 95 there was line when I walked in at 8:50 am.....Bostonians LOVE their DD coffee....almost like Tim Horton's in Canada......

The shop is just part of the gas station, but there were 3 very friendly and efficient ladies working there....I loved the fact that locals came in and they knew what to make them....it was like the corner store!

I had the sausage/egg sammy on a bagel and it hit the spot.....also had a cup of tea - and that was just like a cup of tea....

Egg-saus-chz sesame toasted   2.89
Md Orig Blend   1.86
cmb      -.36

Total $4.70

Jul 27, 2010

Hilton Dedham, Dedham MA - July 27

Rating - 2.1

No way I stay here again.

It is in a weird location and kind of hard to find off the highway.....I arrived around 8:15 pm and check in was a breeze...they had my folio prepared for me.....

Nothing special about the rooms, pretty standard with an OLD and SMALL tv, a couch, bed and desk to work at.....a/c is very cold and room looks dated...bathroom IS dated and smells like MOLD when you close the door.....

I really did not like the vent for the fan....I ran it all night to kill exterior noise.....and it blows right on the bed....speaking of the bed it was NOT COMFORTABLE.

I also thought it was expensive at $202 a night for room 373........

Room = $202 + 12.12 tax +11.51 tax = $225.63

Papa Razzi, Hanover MA - July 27

Rating - 9.22

Excellent spot for lunch....we took 2 customers with us on Tuesday around 12:30 pm and were immediately seated....in fact the place was pretty empty.....

Large list of specials for lunch along with GREAT service from Michelle (she was AWESOME with refilling drinks).......they first bring a basket of crispy bread sticks and then some kind of warm bread that was SO GOOD.....

I had the salmon and it was excellent....large piece of fish that was perfectly cooked.....I also sampled the Chicken Parm and it was OUTSTANDING....the ladies also liked their salads and pasta......

Great spot for a business lunch!

Winner!!!

1 soda club   2.75
1 soda diet   2.75
2 Arnold Palmer   5.50
2 Iced Tea   5.50
1 Farfale Pollo  10.99
1 Pollo Parm   12.99
1 Cesare Pollo   10.99
1 Salmon   16.99

Total - $72.74**  **not too happy that I was charged for 2 Arnold Palmers and 1 ice tea, I HATE IT when they charge the Arnie's by the glass!!!!!

Millers Pub, Chicago IL - July 22

Rating - 9.4

GREAT new burgers.....changed the roll to a pretzel roll and they are AWESOME....took 3 people here for lunch on Friday afternoon around 1 pm....and got seated at a booth in the bar.....

It was really crowded at that time....bar was full....and service from Dylan was SLOW....no drink refills and it took a long time for lunch....but it was worth it.....

Burgers were great (I had a cheddar burger) and fries were good (they are steak fries).

2 Coke    5.00
1 Hamburger   8.95
cheddar   .50
bacon  .75
Mushrooms  .50
1 Hamburger  8.95
American    .50
1 hamburger   8.95
cheddar  .50
1 hamburger   8.95
Swiss cheese  .50
mushrooms  .50
Ice Tea   2.50

Total - $52.24

Memphis Airport, Memphis TN - July 21

Rating - 6.1

Easy airport to get in on a Wednesday around 4 pm....no lines in security and TSA people were actually friendly......


Sucks to return a rental as they are off site and it is a long bus ride....

Had a GREAT time drinking Margs at the Varsity Grill......

Horrible place to fly AA because they only have 1 gate.......

Varsity Grill, Memphis TN (airport) - July 21

Rating - 6.2

The service was good....food is marginal at best - pass on the nachos and chicken fingers were just ok (not worth $10)....the margs are Great but expensive (it is an airport after all)....in fact our waitress said after we had the second "I usually like to tell people after the second they are $13 each".....funny.....

Christie was a great server, and it was extremely funny to see them card anyone who ordered a drink....didn't matter if they were 70.......

Different review for the airport itself.....

1 Soda   2.69
1 Draft Stella 20 oz    8.79
6 Patron El Rita   78.42
1 Nachos Grld Chix  10.00
ass Guac    1.49
1 Chicken Tenders   10.99

Total - 116.60

Jason's Deli, Memphis TN - July 21

Rating - 1.2

It certainly seemed like I was bothering them when I stopped in for a quick breakfast sandwich around 9 am....they were setting up for huge catering jobs and I had to walk to the register to see if I could grab a bagel sandwich......

I know they were not happy to see me...and the breakfast was awful.

NO WAY I would ever go back....

Bagel sand
Cup of Tea

Total - $5.60*  ***not worth it

Doubletree, Memphis TN - July 20

Rating - 8.1

Historic building with a GREAT LOBBY....with a free HHonors Happy Hour.....located right across the street from an excellent AAA baseball team and park (make sure to go) and 2 blocks from Beale Street - which I think is WAY over rated.....can be a scary walk back to the hotel later at night.....

Service was excellent at check in, I was in room #433 on a prepaid rate....room was large and bed was great....only issue was the bathroom is HOT - must be no a/c in there.....and the place is a little "beat up" but I believe that gives it charm.....

Didn't take advantage of the breakfast - its served in a TGI Friday that is attached......but I liked the place....very quiet at night!

Total - $136.50 + 12.63 + 6.83+2.32 taxes = $158.27

Blues City Cafe, Memphis TN - July 20

Rating - 3.2

Disappointing......everyone suggest we come here...and we arrived after a great time at their AAA Baseball park around 9 pm and were seated next to the bar/lounge to the right....place itself is really neat and the service was good.....

However, I did not think the ribs were that good....dry with a smoky flavor....but something was missing and the 1/2 slab did not have that much meat on them......Tom had the catfish and that was really nothing special.....

Would not return!

1 half ribs    14.95
1 Best Meal on Beale  17.95

Total - $35.94