Review: Indian Garden (Chicago)

Note: this also appears with my reviews over on Yelp.

Overall Impression:
Dinner at the Indian Garden can be a cool experience in a somewhat unique city setting. It isn't inexpensive, but the food is good and the service is a tad friendlier than what I have commonly experienced in some of Chicago's other Indian restaurants.



Highlights / Lowlights:

What was great -

- The Entrees. We enjoyed our entire meal, but the entrees were the best part. My wife had the Chef's Special Murg Tikka Masala and I had the Chef's Special Jai Puri Aloo, both over the Kesari Pulav. Ridiculously tasty. The kind of delicious that triggers one's "just keep shoveling that good stuff into your food hole" reflex. Being in public, we worked to restrain ourselves and maintain the appropriate sense of decorum.



What wasn't so great -

- The "we're out of that" response. Our reservation was for 7pm on a Saturday night (i.e., prime time). Yet they were out of one key appetizer (cashewnut rolls, which we've found to be excellent at their Devon location) and one key dessert (the pistachio kulfi). Kind of odd to be out of those things early on a weekend night. Hoping that next time we try this place they have those in stock.

Scorecard

Two Critical Questions

- Would I eat here again?
Absolutely. Devon is closer, but this is worth the occasional trip, especially in the winter. Valet adds $12 - $15 to your night, but that's not a bad price to pay to avoid the parking hassle and subsequent walk in the December/January elements involved in visiting Devon.

- Did it seem like a good value?
It's fair. Two appetizers, two entrees (leaving enough to wrap up so tomorrow's lunch is also covered), two rice dishes, naan, two desserts and three glasses of wine for ~$110. Good food in a nice room - seemed worth it to me.

Essentials



Food - Very good entrees, pretty good appetizers, solid dessert. The samosas seemed a little less than fresh, as the shell was just a touch too crispy, but the Aloo Tikka was nice. We really liked the gulab jamun, which was served hot -- our preference -- and wasn't overly sweet and syrupy - well done. The mango kulfi came out ice-cube frozen, but with patience the softened state kulfi was very tasty.

Service - Solid and friendly. We were initially greeted by a man who seemed to be either the manager or possibly part of the ownership team. He looked snappy in a nice dark suit and provided a very graceful welcome once we mounted the mountain-goat-steep staircase leading up to the dining room. Later, a woman who appeared also to be part of the ownership team was doing rounds of the dining room, chatting up guests. The table behind us in particular got a lot of love, but she spread it around pretty well, checking in on everyone. And our service team was just a little friendlier than what we've experienced on Devon, where the servers can often come off as all-business and prioritize efficiency over the warm fuzzies.

Amenities



Atmosphere - Sophisticated, but comfortable. Soft, dim lighting. Dark walls, ornate chairs. Nice elevated perspective with the second floor view of Ontario St. Only thing a bit out of place are the plastic table coverings. I understand the practicality of it, but every time I went to pick up my wine the bottom of the glass stuck to the table for just a second. Kind of disconcerting amidst the smoothness the rest of the experience delivers.

Valet parking - $12 is a little steep where $10 seems the norm, but it's not outrageous. Know that you will need to find the valets over by their home base at Ron of Japan, then double back over to Indian Garden.

Review: Hotel Lucia, Portland OR

Note: this also appears with my reviews over on Yelp.

Overall Impression:
The Lucia is stylish without being over the top. It has the cosmopolitan, boutique feel of a San Francisco or Manhattan hotel right in the middle of Portland.

Highlights / Lowlights:

What was great -

- The small touches
Someone running the Lucia realizes that the cumulative impact of little things can deliver a strong brand experience. For example, room service coffee is served French press style - nice (once you figure out how to use it, if you're an ignoramus like me and don't get it right away). Even better was discovering an umbrella in my closet before heading out to get some xmas shopping done in the rain. Looking out the window and seeing it pour outside I was hoping I could borrow one from the front desk or the doorman, but no need - right there, in my closet. Nice.

- The location
If you are going to get a surprise 3 day trip to Portland the week before xmas, at least stay in a place that is close to some shopping so you can still cover off last minute gifts. There are a number of shops within walking distance and it's only a short cab ride to some of the hipper neighborhoods (e.g. Pearl district)

What wasn't so great -


(Be advised: you will likely hear your neighbors' in-room activities sometime during your stay)

- Thin walls (and all that implies). I personally heard some animated conversation from my neighbors between 10:30 and 11:30 pm one night. But I had it good. A colleague of mine reported hearing his neighbor enjoying the adult entertainment. To each his own, of course, but damn, that's kind of nasty if I have to hear it.

Scorecard:

The two critical questions

Would I stay here again?
Certainly. It is conveniently located and pleasantly appointed. But I have only been to Portland once, so I can't speak to what superior options might exist.

Did it seem like good value?
Yes, but I got a good deal (less than $200/night) via a corporate rate.

Essentials

Room - Small, but stylish and functional. Nice flat screen directly facing the bed.



Bed - Comfortable



Bathroom - Small, but modern and well done.



The Internets - Very good. Wireless connection that is strong, consistent and available throughout the hotel (i.e., in the lobbies as well as the rooms, and the lobbies are definitely worth hanging out in)

Amenities

Room Service - Pretty good. Prompt and decent value as far as boutique hotels go ($18 including tip for large pot of coffee, bagel w/ cream cheese and cereal). Also, the Typhoon fried rice from the in-house restaurant was pretty tasty.



Lobbies - Unlike some other boutique hotels, these are actually worth spending some time in. There is a nice range of art on display, the furniture is cool and comfortable. Plus, with the persistent wireless connection available, you can be productive whilst you lounge.





Meeting rooms - I can't speak to what the cost is, but there are some conveniently accessible meeting rooms just downstairs from the main lobby that feel more like a very cool conference room in a very cool office than the meeting room of a hotel. If you must be cooped up working on the road, this isn't a bad way to go.

Review: Apart Pizza (Broadway location)

Note: this also appears with my reviews over on Yelp.

Finally a neighborhood pizza place that my wife doesn't dismiss as "too creepy". Realized on Wednesday it was open and tried it last night. Apart will definitely crack into our take out rotation, giving That Little Mexican Cafe an occasional rest.

Their pizzas are thin crust and creative. We went with the Francese (yes, there is egg on the pizza; yes, it is good) and the Capriciosa (a lot of artichokes here - unless you are some kind of freak you won't likely need to ask for extra artichokes). Both were great. We also randomly tried the sweet filoncino (chocolate), and liked that, too. To this layman's eye it seemed like pizza dough filled with a not too sweet chocolate cream and topped with powdered sugar. What was ordered as a throw in became a highlight.



For $18 we got 2 personal pies, the dessert and two cans of pepsi. Good deal.

Review: Vong's Thai Kitchen

Image Source: A.S.V.

Note: this also appears with my reviews over on Yelp.

Overall our experience at "VTK" was okay, but when weighing the cost and the experience, I think this place is in a bit of a no man's land for me. If I will be spending $100+ for dinner with my wife, I want to enjoy the experience more than I did here. And if I just want some good Asian food, I can easily do that for less than $100.

There was some creativity in the dishes we tried, and service was mostly pleasant. I think a big reason I didn't love this as much as perhaps I could have was the table we were given. We were seated at the banquette, immediately on the other side of the host stand. Definitely felt apart from the rest of the space's vibe. If you are intent on going to VTK, I'd suggest declining that table if it is offered to you.

Highlights / Lowlights:

What was great

Tenderloin satay. Mouthwatering, tender, delicious.

What wasn't so great

Host / hostess service.
We were there at 7:30 on Christmas Eve and they were closing at 9. The place wasn't packed and there were better tables available in the dining room, but the hostess just dropped us at the nearest table she saw, on the banquette. This kind of thing indicates she's either clueless and not thinking that 'hey, it's kind of a special evening and there are better tables out there, why don't I hook them up?', or she just flat out didn't care about anything other than putting out minimal effort. Of course, this could totally be an isolated incident, but you hope that a restaurant's management sets the tone for service basics to the point where it's second nature for everyone on staff.

Scorecard:

Two critical questions

Would I eat here again?
Sure. But I wouldn't go out of my way to do so.

Was it good value?
It was fair.

Essentials

Food - Mostly good.

Appetizers were mixed: tenderloin satay was fantastic, the tofu jenga wasn't great (clever name and presentation, nice tomato ginger sauce, but the tofu itself was over seasoned - each bite was a mouthful of salt and garlic).

Entrees were pretty good. The pad thai in the salmon pad thai was great, with moist and flavorful noodles. But the cut of salmon perched atop the noodles didn't add much to the dish. (Not sure how else one could prepare this dish, but it was just odd seeing the fish in one big piece sitting on the noodles. No other pad thai that I have seen comes like this. Chicken, beef, tofu - they are all shredded or cubed or spread out in the dish one way or another.) My wife had the shrimp and scallops in the citrus curry and she claims it was good.

Their wine options provided a nice breadth of options if not a lot of depth. The list includes one bottle (maybe two, max) of interesting choices like beaujolais, tempranillo, malbec, but they also cover off the more common US wines (cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir). My adventurous wife opted to try the 'mistletoe' - a concoction of gin, strawberry liqueur and maybe mint. $11 worth of 'not great'.

For dessert we tried the 'creme brulee trio' and the warm chocolate cake. Cake was fine - not too sweet, which is nice - but it wasn't particularly memorable. The creme brulee trio -- ginger, tamarind, coconut - was mixed. My wife loved the coconut, I liked the tamarind and, to my palate anyway, the ginger flavor was so subtle I would have believed it if you told me it was a placebo serving.

Service - Our server was pleasant and helpful, but maybe a little less frequent with the check-ins than we would have liked. Good enough, not great.

Amenities

Atmosphere - Probably would be nicer from every other table in the room than from the one we had, so I am not the best judge. Dark, contemporary, nice enough.

Review: Doubletree Metropolitan Hotel, Manhattan

Note: This is also posted with my reviews over on Yelp.

Overall Impression:
The Doubletree is a decent, functional option, especially if you're looking to avoid the suddenly all too common $700+ hotel night in Manhattan. They try pretty hard to make a strong first impression, but a few things on the follow through somewhat disappointed me.

Highlights / Lowlights:

What was great:

- The greeting. This could irk some people (including me) depending upon your mood upon arrival, but they have a greeter to say hi and guide you to the reception desk. Very Gap-like. And a bit odd since the reception desk is maybe 8 feet from where you meet the greeter. I took it as a nice gesture, though. Once checked in you get a warm cookie. It comes in a bag with a kind of hokey spiel about warm cookies mean warm hospitality or some such. Maybe a little corny, but it surprised me, I'll remember it, and the cookie was pretty good.



- The price. At $385 or so plus tax, it was more than $200 cheaper than many other options we usually try. When you're staying one night and going to be there for ~10 hours, there's almost no sense at all paying the extra $ unless you're a total princess.

What wasn't so great:

- Room service / room amenities. This is one of the two things that knocked Doubletree from being a really good value to being a relatively cheap and functional but disappointing experience. Room service hours are 7a - 10p. That hurts when you check in at 11p and want some coffee at 6a. No dice. Of course you can schlep to a Starbucks, but that isn't especially convenient. What's worse is that there is no in-room coffee set up either. I could deal without the room service if I at least had the option to make my own.

- Random note: They secure their irons to their ironing boards, as if iron theft is a big problem for them. I wasn't sure if I should be insulted or concerned, as they either feel I'm a threat to steal the iron or I'm staying in a hotel full of desperate petty criminals.



Scorecard:

Two Critical Questions

- Would I stay here again?
If I had to. Can't argue with the relative price. Would try to avoid them on trips where I need to get up early due to the unusual difficulty in securing caffeine.

- Was it a good value?
It was okay. If you aren't an early morning coffee freak like me, it might be a terrific value for you.

Essentials:

Bed - Fine, nothing fancy, but comfortable



Bathroom - Fine

Workspace - Pretty good

Amenities:

TV - Okay. Smallish, but flat screen.

The Internets - Good. Wired connection, reliable.

Room Service - Disappointing, limited hours

Great Utility for Finding Flights: Kayak Buzz

I love this. Something that lets you set your travel criteria, keeps a constant search of multiple sites going, and lets you access results how you want.

Kayak Buzz lets you configure settings for destination (by broad region), price, number of stops and broad time frame (upcoming weeks, or by specific upcoming months). Then you can elect to receive results by email or rss feed (pictured below). Brilliant.

Review: Apartment Rental from ColonialEcuador.com, Quito, Ecuador

In a previous post I had written about the lodging options I was zeroing in on as I planned my vacation this past summer. This post provides a long overdue review of our apartment rental experience.

Overall Impression:
The apartment we rented via ColonialEcuador was fantastic. It is a stylish, comfortable and incredibly convenient apartment in the heart of Quito's Old Town neighborhood. By the second day of our stay we were ready to trade our Chicago condo for this apartment. The pictures on the rental site give every indication of this being a very nice place, but the actual experience exceeded our expectations.



Highlights / Lowlights:

What was great


View Larger Map

Location - On Benalcazar just south of Olmedo, you are within a three minute walk of Plaza Grande (aka, Plaza de la Independencia) as well as a number of shops, a few restaurants and a grocery store. One place in particular that we liked was the Hotel Patio Andaluz, which has both an original boutique (Folklore Olga Fisch) whose offerings range from very nice souvenirs to serious artwork, and a very pleasant restaurant (El Rincon de Catuna - picture below), which had great food and sincere, gracious service.



Design - The whole of this apartment is greater than the sum of its parts, as the vaulted ceiling and open flow result in a beautiful, open space. And when you consider that the weekly rental price is as little as one half to one third of what you might pay for a moderate to nice hotel, you simply cannot beat this apartment.
That said, some individual features merit specific call outs.



* The dining room has a wall of windows looking onto the building's courtyard and the houses that work their way up the nearby hill. At night the setting makes for a brilliant view. Shamefully this was not something we utilized during our stay, but was probably the top feature driving our condo envy.



* A close second to the dining room was the wall of french doors in the living room and kitchen area that look out onto Benalcazar.



All of the doors open, but one of them opens onto a small balcony that lets you sit with some coffee in the morning as Quito wakes up below you or stand at night con una cerveza, soaking in the later stages of Velada Libertaria, if you happen to be lucky enough to be in Quito during that part of August. Hearing the sounds of musicians and fireworks pour in through those open windows was a tremendous way to get geared up for a night of roaming among the thousands of celebrants.



* Amenities. While it was absolutely a great experience to be immersed in the middle of Old Town Quito, it was also nice to be able to connect with the world back home when we wanted to. In that regard, the DirecTV set up in the loft with BBC and CNN International (the real channel, not the awful loop you get in European hotel rooms) was excellent. On the other side of the loft was a modest desk where the high speed internet cable is accessible.

What wasn't so great:

* The one modest gripe we had with the apartment was about the "queen" size bed, which was actually two full size beds pushed together. This is not an uncommon arrangement in apartment rentals and economy hotels outside the U.S., but in my experience when the room is arranged that way it also includes a brace of some kind to secure the frames or the box springs together. This wasn't such an inconvenience that we bothered to visit the management about it, but it is worth noting as something you may wish to address with them before your stay begins.

Scorecard:

Two Critical Questions:

Would I stay here again?
Absolutely. I don't think I would even bother investigating any new alternatives.

Was it good value?
Again, absolutely. The convenience, space and comfort for the dollar was great value.

Essentials

Bed - Okay - would have been better with a brace.



Bathroom - Very good. Spacious, modern and ...

... with a neat view out of a porthole window in the shower (below).



Kitchen - Excellent. Full range of up-to-date appliances.

Amenities

TV - Very good. DirecTV package is great, the TV itself is a bit small, but plenty good enough for the occasional use it gets on a vacation.

The Internets - Very good. High speed, reliable and set up on a nice desk in the loft, making for a nice place to have some coffee and catch up on news from home.

Dining Room - Beautiful - just wish we actually used it.

Balcony - Great perch for watching a slice of Quito pass you by.

Review: Affinia Manhattan

Note: this also appears with my reviews over on Yelp

Overall Impression:
If you want something functional at a relatively decent price, this could work for you. If you need modern touches (say, something from within the last 15 years) and any kind of glamor vibe, keep looking.

I had stayed at another Affinia property a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it (think it was either the Dumont or the Shelburne Murray Hill). Sleek room plus a small kitchenette at a comparatively great price. So I was a little disappointed when I got into room 1616 at Affinia Manhattan. While the lobby may give off some grand airs, the room transported me to a 1980s roadside motel in Maine. Old TV, old a/c, awful old 'window treatments', old light fixtures. Ugh. In fairness, this was late at night, and during the day with the shades up and the windows open it has a much nicer feel. But the immediate impact of walking in at 10pm after your cab ride from LGA can take the spring out of one's step.

Definitely not a top choice, but in the current hotel climate where rooms at the W next week are quoting $900/night, this is a sane, serviceable option.

Highlights / Lowlights:

What was great

Kitchenette - Not because it is especially nice, but just because I love having a kitchen when I travel. Making some coffee in the morning. Pulling some milk out of the fridge for cereal. Grabbing a beer and watching SportsCenter. Little things make it feel a bit less like you're away from home. Not to mention it can be 15 times less expensive than room service. Especially when there is a nice market 2 doors down the block on 7th Ave.



Front Desk - Friendly, helpful and smooth. Randomly had a little self-serve picnic like dispenser of Snapple cran-apple or something when I checked in. Odd, but nice gesture.

The Internets - Reliable, decent speed.

What wasn't so great



Furnishings - Everything in the room had seen better days. The desks could have been salvaged from a not-so-well-off estate sale. TV was a 25" old school model. In general it had the feel of a 2-star, out of the way discounted joint you might accidentally fall into while trying to do Europe on a tight budget. Wasn't what I expected for $420/night directly across from Madison Square Garden.

The Scorecard:

Two Critical Questions

Would I stay here again?
If it was $200/night cheaper than other options again, sure.

Was it good value?
Only relatively speaking.

Essentials

Space - good size rooms

Service - good and friendly

Bed - comfortable

Bath - okay, somewhat small



Workspace - okay to below average; desk is tiny

Amenities

Kitchen - good, useful if outdated. Note: the cleaning service will tidy up used dishes for you, which is nice.

Room service - N/A

TV - okay

Fitness center - great selection of cardio machines and free weights, possibly the most modern aspect of the entire property

Review: Alcatraz Brewing Company, Indianapolis

Note: This also appears with my reviews over on Yelp

Overall Impression:
Somehow Alcatraz Brewing Company manages to be generically over the top. The space is Costco-like vast and on the day we were there it was decked out with Colts blue and white balloons, a la a car dealership during a sizzlin' summer sale. What it lacks in authentic charm, though, it makes up for in convenience. Very close to the dome, which probably means this is a little money minting factory.

I was only here for two beers prior to heading over the the RCA Dome for "Super Bowl XLI 1/2", so my review won't go into the usual depth but rather just hit a couple of key points.

Atmosphere - Definitely a little crazy for pre-game. Crowded with Colts fans. Made for some slightly uncomfortable areas near the bar, but it was early enough that people weren't too drunk or surly about bumping into each other.



Service - Our waitress wasn't thriving on the energy. She seemed overwhelmed. Well-intentioned, but over matched by the crowd. Again, it was still early so I don't think her demeanor was a result of dealing with a string of over served a-holes, but rather just being swamped. Servers in this kind of atmosphere can either embrace it and begin counting the money of they can wilt. Ours wilted a bit.

The Beer - This was the bright spot. Standouts were the October Bock and the Pelican Pale Ale."

Review: St. Elmo Steakhouse, Indianapolis

Note: This also appears with my reviews over on Yelp

Overall Impression:
St. Elmo is an old school steakhouse serving some very good food. The place is massive. Capacity has to be north of 400 people with all the different rooms. It is also pricey, but they deliver on the quality end of the equation, so it is worth what you layout. The vibe is traditional, with semi-formal service and a comfortable clientele (at least on Colts Sunday afternoons where Manning and Harrison jerseys are badges of cool no matter where you are).

Highlights / Lowlights:

What was great

Food - I had an excellent filet mignon, getting the 10oz. medium well. They say they cook it a little light, so medium well still has some pink in the center. I found it perfect for my tastes. Still juicy, flavorful and not butterflied, which I often see with filets ordered medium well. Nicely done. Also good was the tomato, onion and bleu cheese salad with vinaigrette dressing. Add a couple of pints of Guinness and yes, I am getting ready for some football.

Atmosphere - If you like old school joints, you'll love St. Elmo's. They do the same walls-of-fame photo arrangement that you tend to see at most steak places. I don't know if it was because I didn't expect it here in Indianapolis or because they just do it better than other places, but I was amazed by both the number and variety of pictures on display. e.g. A young Lee Corso from his Indiana days, or local legend 'Dick the Bruiser'. Hundreds of others I can't recall. Over their ~100 years of service they have certainly accumulated an impressive array of star shots. You dine at St. Elmo's and you join the long line of storied guests who have also polished off a fine steak at these tables.



What wasn't great

Sitting downstairs - While still nice enough, the downstairs dining area definitely has a kids-table-at-Thanksgiving kind of feel to it, especially after you trek through a couple of the spiffy upstairs rooms on your way there. We were there on a high volume day, as it was Patriots - Colts game day, so we didn't have a lot of room to negotiate on table choices.

The Scorecard:

Two Critical Questions

Would I eat there again?
Sure, but I would definitely want to be upstairs.

Was it good value?
It is pricey. 10oz. fillet is $36. But it was a damn good fillet. So the value for money is there. But it didn't hurt that this was a business related lunch and was therefore expensable.

Essentials

Food - Excellent

Service - Good. Random note: Waiters are in tuxedos and apparently the Colts game day tradition is blue bow ties. Kind of corny with a prom-like feel, but nice show of school spirit, right?

Amenities

Decor - Classic.

Private party room - While downstairs I glimpsed what appeared to be a set up for a bunch of big hitters to watch that day's NFL schedule in a small room with a table set for 8 or 10 people and a flat screen TV on the wall. Not a bad way to spend a special Sunday, I suppose.

Review: Brgr, Manhattan

Note: This also appears with my reviews over on Yelp

Overall Impression:
I wish Brgr would open in my neighborhood. I found it accidentally while venturing out for a burrito during a business trip. It is right next to Chipotle on 7th Ave. and I'm glad I passed on the burrito. Chipotle I can get any time. Who knows when I'll have another crack at Brgr.



Their creative take on the burger is refreshing - making an everyday kind of item feel special. And the space has a cool feel. I have no real idea what a loft apartment in Oregon might look like, but I picture it being something like the interior of Brgr. Another way to describe it would be a blend between Urban Outfitters and a wine bar ... in Oregon (something about the exposed brick walls and wooden beam ceiling keeps the Oregon theme in my mind - or maybe Vermont).

Highlights / Lowlights:

What was great

Food - A creative variety of menu options. I had the veggie burger with brie and caramelized onions with sweet potato fries on the side. Really nice flavor combination. One thing to note is that the veggie burger isn't especially patty-like. It's somewhat loose - somewhere between patty and sloppy joe-esque form. You need to be a little careful to not have it all over yourself. But the taste was excellent. They have a range of beef, turkey and veggie burgers, so it's likely you will find something to suit your tastes.



Atmosphere - The exposed wooden beam lattice-type structure halfway up to very high ceilings produces a nice effect. Airy, yet snug. Combine that with the right lighting levels and a soundtrack that hit both the Clash and Cee-Lo during the few minutes I waited for my to go order and it is definitely a pleasant place to hang out for a burger.

Beer - I didn't partake on this visit, but there is Spaten and Sam Adams on tap. At a burger place. Nice.



Logistics - When you order you get a metal stand maybe a foot and a half tall with a numbered card on it. This lets them find you when your order is ready. No random shouting, no confusion. Brilliant simplicity.

What wasn't so great
- N/A - I had a good experience

Scorecard:

The Two Critical Questions

Would I eat here again?
Yes - regularly if I had the chance.

Was it good value?
I think so. ~$12 for a good sized, above average tasting burger and a generous side of sweet potato fries doesn't seem bad at all here.

Essentials

Food - Very good. Creative, tasty - I wish I could try more of their offerings.

Service - Helpful, efficient, pleasant.

Amenities

Decor - Very good. Clean, nice flow, comfortably lit.

Item for the Wish List: Hotel Everland, Paris

Image Source: Trend Hunter Magazine

I learned of the Hotel Everland while reading the Economist's Paris city briefing, which I will include below because I think the link will be overwritten with the next briefing update.

"Business travellers tired of their usual hotel can spend a night on the roof-top of the Palais de Tokyo. Hotel Everland, a capsule hotel created by two Swiss artists, perches 30 metres above ground level and overlooks the Seine and the Eiffel Tower. The one-room hotel, which comes with a luxurious bathroom and 24-hour room service, doubles as an art installation, and has already travelled to cities in Germany and Switzerland. Paris is its last port of call. Sabina Lang and Daniel Baumann intend viewers to become part of their artwork (for about €400 or $560 a night). The thrill of walking through a contemporary-art museum to reach your bed might just be worth it. The hotel can be booked online."



Image Source: FunForever.net

The Palais de Tokyo itself is a cool space.



It is situated just across the Seine from the Eifel Tower. You can get some pretty cool views from right nearby the museum. The views you'd enjoy while staying a night at Hotel Everland must be simply amazing.

Review: May St. Cafe, Chicago

Note: This also appears with my reviews over on Yelp

Overview:
May St Cafe was pleasantly unusual. It's dark, snug, lively, loud and idiosyncratically laid out. They serve worldly dishes with a uniquely local feel. It's urbane, yet unpretentious - haute cuisine, neighborhood style. The food is delicious and the presentation is excellent.

Highlights / Lowlights:

What was great

- Food. We tried some classic combinations (pork chop, black beans and rice) and some clever innovations (two types of quesadillas to start: mango & shrimp, and brie & pear - both really well done). The salmon entree was also very, very good.



- Seasonal touches. The kitchen demonstrated a bit of its range and imagination in the way they incorporated pumpkin into the menu on the night we visited. The pumpkin mashed potatoes were subtle, not sweet like you might expect - very nice. And the pumpkin flan was excellent, with good flavor and balance, not overpowering - really well done. It surprisingly overshadowed a very good 'warm lava cake', in my opinion.

- Service and attitude. Welcoming from the moment we approached the restaurant. Pulling a quick u-turn on Cermak after we passed the parking lot, we saw someone give us a friendly wave as he pointed us to an open spot. Later, when the Executive Chef, Mario Santiago, made the rounds of the dining room, we realized it was him whom we had seen in the parking lot. Somehow I don't picture Mario Batali doing that, but maybe I'm wrong. In addition to Chef Santiago, we also had good experience with our waitress, who was very on top of things.

- The kitchen. Kudos to those in the kitchen on this night - they turned around high quality food very quickly.




- Ambiance. Two things about the ambiance in particular are worth noting. First, the very interesting artwork on the walls that evinces a hand-crafted, personal kind of expression - a nice complement to the spirit of the restaurant. Then there is the lighting, which is very dark and intimate. The house lights are dimmed to nearly off, and you're left with a combination of the flickering votive on your table and the light of the street lamps diffused through the window treatments. I'm still kind of new to Sweetest Day as a holiday, but for a smoothly romantic setting on Sweetest Day, this was good.

What wasn't great

- Space and acoustics. The dining room is by no means large. Seats 50 people, tops, in one relatively small room. And on this night there was some party of 10 or 12 stretched across two perpendicular tables. Their presence unmistakably impacted the layout and the atmosphere, offsetting some of the positive ambiance points. But I am willing to chalk that up as a one-off. I'm guessing it isn't common for ~25% of their patrons to account for ~85% of the noise. We were fortunate enough to get a 4-top along the south wall of the restaurant, near the window onto Cermak. That felt like the best place to be in terms of space. Even there, though, we couldn't escape the drunken cackling of this large party's doyenne hostess, who seemed to believe she was entertaining in her own private salon, either completely oblivious or unconcerned about how her idiotic bleatings might detract from the enjoyment of her fellow diners. There was a tangible difference in the room's vibe once she finally left, but unfortunately her stay coincided with most of ours. At least we had dessert in peace.

Scorecard:

The 2 critical questions

- Would I eat here again? Definitely. Just wish it wasn't such a trek, as Edgewater to Pilsen isn't a casual jaunt.

- Did it seem like good value? Pretty good. Our bill for two appetizers, two entrees and two desserts was $86 before tip. It's byob, which is nice. It isn't inexpensive, but the quality merits the price.

Essentials

Food - Excellent

Service - Very good.

Amenities

Space - Nice, but small

Bathrooms - Pretty cool - I envied them their stone sink and counter tops.

Parking - Excellent. Couldn't be any easier.