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

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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.