DiningBuzz! - Certain standards you have for the luxury/upscale bars/hotels and restaurants?

Do you have certain standards when to comes to your stays or visits to your luxury hotels/resorts/restaurants?

What about the mini-bar in your luxury hotel? The hotel food and beverage establishments? The regular, upscale restaurants that are not attached to a hotel?

Do they tend to carry the same brands/products

Any other insights you've notice?

As I often travel by myself, when I dine at resaurants at FS hotels, I'm often asked if I would like a magazine or newspaper ^

Not reserved for only luxury hotels in terms of products, but when I ask for a diet coke, I would like a diet coke, not a diet pepsi. If I order a diet coke and you don't have it, please tell me and I will amend my order, as I don't like diet pepsi.

When I stayed on the Club Level at the RC Amelia Island, the housekeeping staff offered to stock the minifridge/bar with my beer/candy selections (my kids were suckers for the M&Ms). Since the Club lounge provided beer & alcohol gratis, the minifridge selections were complimentary, too. This has become my expectation whenever I stay on a Club Level at a Ritz now.

As I often travel by myself, when I dine at resaurants at FS hotels, I'm often asked if I would like a magazine or newspaper ^

Nice little touch.

OH MY GOSH... this is one of my pet peeves!

I cannot stand Diet Pepsi and cannot believe people say there is no different in taste between Diet Pepsi or Diet Coke.

If I ask for Diet Coke and you do not serve it, tell it to me... do not let me get surprised thinking I will not notice.... I will notice... and not be happy about it.

Not reserved for only luxury hotels in terms of products, but when I ask for a diet coke, I would like a diet coke, not a diet pepsi. If I order a diet coke and you don't have it, please tell me and I will amend my order, as I don't like diet pepsi.

A standard I have for any restaurant... if I order a steak with "no pink" do not bring it out almost red in the center.... I know they do not like to overcook... but medium or medium rare is not acceptable.

Not reserved for only luxury hotels in terms of products, but when I ask for a diet coke, I would like a diet coke, not a diet pepsi. If I order a diet coke and you don't have it, please tell me and I will amend my order, as I don't like diet pepsi.

+1 billion!!!

Pepsi is nas-ty! That annoys me so much. What's worse is when they bring you the diet pepsi then keep bringing them after you've asked for an alternative beverage.

This one is usually when I'm dining with my Father. We like upscale places and we like to take our time eating. Now I understand if we're at a place where there's a lot of turnover and a long waiting list but usually when we eat out it's a weekday or a Sunday and we arrive at the restaurant early (plus we're not usually in a trendy place). What bothers us more than anything is being rushed so we tend to stick with places that know to bring us a cocktail then let us relax awhile before taking our orders. Places where the waiter can anticipate when we're ready are the best, I think the best for this is Gibson's in Chicago.

note and remember our preferences (e.g., prefers lime over lemon with water).

FS and RC both excel at this.

If there's a cocktail bar in an upscale hotel, I expect them to be able to make at least mediocre cocktails. I don't expect soda water in my Old Fashioned, 30ml of vermouth in my martini or crappy quality ice in a glass of JW Blue.

To be clear, there's no expectation of delivery of any of the above unless a place is branded a cocktail bar.

In restaurants and bars I expect good, prompt service. It should be clear when I'm ready for another drink or am trying to pay as I'm in a hurry to go somewhere.

OH MY GOSH... this is one of my pet peeves!

I cannot stand Diet Pepsi and cannot believe people say there is no different in taste between Diet Pepsi or Diet Coke.

If I ask for Diet Coke and you do not serve it, tell it to me... do not let me get surprised thinking I will not notice.... I will notice... and not be happy about it.

^


A standard I have for any restaurant... if I order a steak with "no pink" do not bring it out almost red in the center.... I know they do not like to overcook... but medium or medium rare is not acceptable.

I would suggest you order shoe leather. It won't be pink and the the taste won't be much different from your steak. ;)

I cannot stand Diet Pepsi and cannot believe people say there is no different in taste between Diet Pepsi or Diet Coke.
I have to agree with this. Personally I too find Diet Coke to be superior than Diet Pepsi and can definitely tell the difference between the two if you poured me each one of them in two separate glass without telling me which one is which. Diet Pepsi IMO is plain nasty.

Not reserved for only luxury hotels in terms of products, but when I ask for a diet coke, I would like a diet coke, not a diet pepsi. If I order a diet coke and you don't have it, please tell me and I will amend my order, as I don't like diet pepsi.

Let me also add my agreement to you. One time years ago I was feeling very under the weather (read: hangover ;)) and I ordered Ginger Ale at a restaurant. I took one sip of what they served me and asked the waitress what it was. She said "oh, we don't have Ginger Ale so I just mixed you some Coke and Sprite. It's the same thing!" No, not it is not. I refused to pay for it.

As I often travel by myself, when I dine at resaurants at FS hotels, I'm often asked if I would like a magazine or newspaper ^

Always a nice touch. Good high end hotels appreciate single patrons and treat them as well, if not better, than groups. Something that lower-end places sometimes don't do, particularly on weekends. When I'm traveling for work, especially in Europe when my work-day ends around 10pm on Friday or Saturday night, it's nice to be able to go somewhere for a late dinner myself and not feel hassled.

Let me also add my agreement to you. One time years ago I was feeling very under the weather (read: hangover ;)) and I ordered Ginger Ale at a restaurant. I took one sip of what they served me and asked the waitress what it was. She said "oh, we don't have Ginger Ale so I just mixed you some Coke and Sprite. It's the same thing!" No, not it is not. I refused to pay for it.

That is absurd! How did she think they were in any way the same!!!

Hmmm. I myself prefer Diet Pepsi, Diet Coke I find to be too sharp... but I agree you should be told if your preference is not available!

I spent years working for Four Seasons hotels, so my expectations are extremely high. Sometimes I'm so hypercritical it annoys those around me, but frankly that's why I was so successful in my career with them - standards were high and are only maintained by constant vigilance!

Service personnel in "luxury" establishments should be:
1) Polished - well groomed and confident.
2) Well trained - do not tell me you have to check on what beers are available, know if there is fresh pineapple in a certain drink or foodstuff, etc.
3) Psychic - they should be able to read the customer and adjust their service to meet that customer's expectations and needs. This is harder than you might think if you've never been a CS role.

Surroundings should be clean, polished and quiet. In a restaurant there should never be any exposed server areas, bus trays left unattended, or exposed service carts. Last week I was at tea in the Petrossian Bar at the Bellagio, having a very nice time, but every 15 minutes a cleaner would pass my table with a plastic cart - it really irritated me!

Beds - do NOT make me untuck my own bed, only to find the top and bottom sheet come out together so I wind up retucking my bottom sheet back in myself. This irritates me no end!

No exposed power cords if possible, and have HD channels on that huge TV hanging on the wall - otherwise, what's the point?

And I love Bulgari toiletries in my hotel bath ;)

If there's a cocktail bar in an upscale hotel, I expect them to be able to make at least mediocre cocktails. I don't expect soda water in my Old Fashioned, 30ml of vermouth in my martini or crappy quality ice in a glass of JW Blue.

Along those same lines, I shouldn't have to explain to the bartender how to make a Rob Roy or Tom Collins. These are core curriculum at any bartending school, even those "leisure courses" taught for the general public at the local community college.

Beds - do NOT make me untuck my own bed, only to find the top and bottom sheet come out together so I wind up retucking my bottom sheet back in myself. This irritates me no end!

What do you mean by this? Do you not want the bed to be made for you?

Which are the chains that do not untuck the top sheet?! :mad: ;)

If I have been in a hotel bar more than 5 times in a month, I like the bartender to know what I want without asking.

My concept of a "standard' for upscale saloons remains fixed, a glowing memory of my youth, 50 years ago, meeting my uncle, a world traveler and bon vivant, in the cocktail lounge at the old Warwick hotel in NYC. He ordered Martinis, not my regular tipple, and they arrived, small carafes nestled in bowls of crushed ice, and a pair of flash frozen stemmed glasses. The Warwick, even then, was short of luxury, but the lounge was a veritable oasis, where standards remained those of an earlier era.

These days, when finding a bar(wo)man who can mix a Sidecar is a challenge, I still expect that they should wear ties (and even "bum freezer" mess jackets), whilst cocktail waitresses, no matter the length or absence of skirts, are best clad in black hose/stockings!

OH MY GOSH... this is one of my pet peeves!

I cannot stand Diet Pepsi and cannot believe people say there is no different in taste between Diet Pepsi or Diet Coke.

If I ask for Diet Coke and you do not serve it, tell it to me... do not let me get surprised thinking I will not notice.... I will notice... and not be happy about it.

True for me too but I am the opposite -- I really don't like Diet Coke, though I have gotten used to it now mainly because the Diet Coke/Pepsi is, usually, the only diet pop/soda available at most hotels/restaurants.

I LOVE the French service style with Maitre D', Captain's, Waiter's, and Busser's/Waterboy's with table side preparation of certain dishes, etc. However, no longer conducive to today's more relaxed dining, the waiter should be amiable but not be my friend. The amount of banter should match the mood at the table -- if I am having a great time with friends, more banter (again, while remaining professional) is appropriate. If I am in a business meeting, please serve us and leave us alone while occasionally checking to make sure we are okay -- very discreet service.

Waiter's should not kneel down or crouch beside the guest to take orders and should not have to refer to cheat sheets for the specials. They really should know the menu, dishes, preparation style, and even ingredients in the case of allergies, inside out. YEW, at the Four Seasons Vancouver, have many waiters who know the menu inside out. One of our favourite waiter's cautioned one of our dining companions with celiac disease of one dish because he was unsure if the binding ingredient in a goat feta cheese may contain a wheat product. He checked with the chef and it was okay for her to order. VERY impressive.

A great bar I spent much time at is the Lobby Bar at One Aldwych in London. During the day, my favourite table was reserved for me so I could drop in, have a seat, and immediately a Diet Coke (I mentioned I got used to drinking these) would be brought to me. Spent a great deal of £££ there!! Maybe that's why they created a drink in my honor!!??!!??

If I have been in a hotel bar more than 5 times in a month, I like the bartender to know what I want without asking.

Fair enough, but I wouldn't want the bartender to make any assumptions about my drink choice. I frequent bars that are big on craft beers, and the menus change all the time. I want the opporutunity to see what's been added to the menu before making a choice. I don't need the bartender doing that for me, unless he/she is willing to eat the cost if I wanted something else.

Fair enough, but I wouldn't want the bartender to make any assumptions about my drink choice. I frequent bars that are big on craft beers, and the menus change all the time. I want the opporutunity to see what's been added to the menu before making a choice. I don't need the bartender doing that for me, unless he/she is willing to eat the cost if I wanted something else.

Yup, it can be a bit awkward to have your 'usual' [gin and tonic] plonked down in front of you, when actually that evening you really fancied a glass of wine.

Not reserved for only luxury hotels in terms of products, but when I ask for a diet coke, I would like a diet coke, not a diet pepsi. If I order a diet coke and you don't have it, please tell me and I will amend my order, as I don't like diet pepsi.

OH MY GOSH... this is one of my pet peeves!

I cannot stand Diet Pepsi and cannot believe people say there is no different in taste between Diet Pepsi or Diet Coke.

If I ask for Diet Coke and you do not serve it, tell it to me... do not let me get surprised thinking I will not notice.... I will notice... and not be happy about it.
I have a friend with the same preference you guys have. For fun, every once in a while I'll order him a Bacardi and diet, knowing it'll be Pepsi. He's caught me 100% of the time. In fact, we avoid bars because he knows they have Pepsi products.

I have a friend with the same preference you guys have. For fun, every once in a while I'll order him a Bacardi and diet, knowing it'll be Pepsi. He's caught me 100% of the time. In fact, we avoid bars because he knows they have Pepsi products.

You only do that so you get an extra Bacardi to drink, dontcha!

Let me also add my agreement to you. One time years ago I was feeling very under the weather (read: hangover ;)) and I ordered Ginger Ale at a restaurant. I took one sip of what they served me and asked the waitress what it was. She said "oh, we don't have Ginger Ale so I just mixed you some Coke and Sprite. It's the same thing!" No, not it is not. I refused to pay for it.

I wouldn't have paid for it either!

I do prefer my Old Fashioned made with soda water (from the squirt gun is ok) rather than still water.

Time to repeat a peeve, that I cannot repeat enough: unless the owner is the actual person taking an order, the pronoun to describe offerings is "we have ..." not "I have ..." - the latter strikes me as revoltingly pretentious.

Hmmm. I myself prefer Diet Pepsi, Diet Coke I find to be too sharp...

:) That's funny.

I understand some adults drink that stuff, but the passion and faux-connoisseur attitude in this thread about diet sodapop is remarkable. On an alleged food forum! In a thread about upscale eateries!

It is akin to arguing if the onions on a McDonald's or Burger King hamburger are more appealing to the palate.

:) That's funny.

I understand some adults drink that stuff, but the passion and faux-connoisseur attitude in this thread about diet sodapop is remarkable. On an alleged food forum! In a thread about upscale eateries!

It is akin to arguing if the onions on a McDonald's or Burger King hamburger are more appealing to the palate.

Actually, I'm wondering if someone who has an issue with what others drink because (s)he doesn't drink it and then compares it to onions at McDonald's and Burger King just might be the person with a "faux-connoisseur attitude." Just a thought. ;)

BTW, nothing upscale calls itself an "eatery." :p

:) That's funny.

I understand some adults drink that stuff, but the passion and faux-connoisseur attitude in this thread about diet sodapop is remarkable. On an alleged food forum! In a thread about upscale eateries!

It is akin to arguing if the onions on a McDonald's or Burger King hamburger are more appealing to the palate.

So do tell, are we permitted to drink anything other than water in an 'upscale eatery' if we choose not to consume alcohol?

You'd better send a memo to a lot of Michelin starred 'eateries' to let them know that they shouldn't be serving diet coke - because a heck of a lot of them do.

Just decided one more after this weekend at a RC - if you are going to charge $10/day for internet, do more than apologize when it doesn't work. I shouldn't have to ask for a refund.

You'd better send a memo to a lot of Michelin starred 'eateries' to let them know that they shouldn't be serving diet coke - because a heck of a lot of them do.

Name them.

Actually, I'm wondering if someone who has an issue with what others drink ...

You have made a mistake. I never said I had an "issue" with what other people drink, I said it is remarkable that adults argue about what they perceive to be the finer points of sodapop. And it is.

How is that any different from arguing the finer points of Burger King versus Mcdonald's food?

You have made a mistake. I never said I had an "issue" with what other people drink, I said it is remarkable that adults argue about what they perceive to be the finer points of sodapop. And it is.

How is that any different from arguing the finer points of Burger King versus Mcdonald's food?

The topic is standards at upscale restaurants, hotels and bars. If you're staying at the Park Hyatt and you order a Diet Coke from room service, they should bring you a Diet Coke or tell you they only have Diet Pepsi. It has nothing to do with fast food at McDonald's and Burger King, try though you do to make it so. @:-)

If you're staying at the Park Hyatt and you order a Diet Coke from room service, they should bring you a Diet Coke or tell you they only have Diet Pepsi.

Once again, you have made a mistake. My original message was a direct response to another poster who was analyzing the taste of sodapop, not complaining about being served the wrong order.

The only thing I have ever said is that I find it remarkable that adults argue about such things. Sodapop! Certainly that is comparable to arguing Mcdonald's versus Burger King!

Once again, you have made a mistake. My original message was a direct response to another poster who was analyzing the taste of sodapop, not complaining about being served the wrong order.

The only thing I have ever said is that I find it remarkable that adults argue about such things. Sodapop! Certainly that is comparable to arguing Mcdonald's versus Burger King!

:D Yes, remarkable what adults argue about.

So do tell, are we permitted to drink anything other than water in an 'upscale eatery' if we choose not to consume alcohol?

You'd better send a memo to a lot of Michelin starred 'eateries' to let them know that they shouldn't be serving diet coke - because a heck of a lot of them do.

Maybe faux pas;)

But, eateries serve what the customers want.. which only helps business..

Name them.

Had a pepsi at Cafe Boulud last weekend.

Had a pepsi at Cafe Boulud last weekend.

You made a mistake. He said, "them." Them is more than one. ;)

I trust it was better than McDonald's, or at least Burger King! :eek:

Once again, you have made a mistake. My original message was a direct response to another poster who was analyzing the taste of sodapop, not complaining about being served the wrong order.

The only thing I have ever said is that I find it remarkable that adults argue about such things. Sodapop! Certainly that is comparable to arguing Mcdonald's versus Burger King!

I consider myself an adult who's educated and enjoys fine food and drink but I still vastly prefer the taste of Diet Coke to Diet Pepsi and would be annoyed in the scenario ILuvParis mentions.

You made a mistake. He said, "them." Them is more than one. ;)

I trust it was better than McDonald's, or at least Burger King! :eek:

Coke products of a McD's tap is not bad.. sometimes BK is a bit off..

then there are restaurants where the taste is completely off..

For consistency in taste I prefer having coke poured out of bottles..

Coke products of a McD's tap is not bad.. sometimes BK is a bit off..

then there are restaurants where the taste is completely off..

For consistency in taste I prefer having coke poured out of bottles..

(Shhh, we're not allowed to talk about such things here. But McDonald's has managed to get the mix of carbonated water and syrup balanced and consistent everywhere.)

Pepsi, Diet or Regular, has a distinctly "soapy" hint to my discerning palate. All diet sodas share (at least to me) an identifiable tang of non-glucose artificial sweeteners. The least offensive of them is Diet Dr Pepper, not exactly drinkable at 10, 2 & 4, but OK every once in a while. I can sense a difference between "Mexican" (cane sugar) Coke available locally and the "Regular" HFCS version, but have yet to be convinced that there's anything dangerous or evil when it comes to HFCS, although it shouldn't be used like Ethanol as a fuel additive, but then neither should Ethanol, one of the great 'smooth cons' perpetrated against unsuspecting 'Merkins duped by out leaders.

To serve Pepsi, when the order was for "Coke" ranks with the Arian Heresy. As bad as they may have been, even the Albigensians and other splinter groups did not descend to serving Pepsi.

To serve a "Cuba Libre" or "Rum & Coke" made with Pepsi is to admit that you are culturally sub-human, For a restaurant or bar to do so is grounds for license revocation.
Bars which use those big, green, almost juice-less "Persian" limes should be ostracized or subject to assisted suicide, for they have so saving graces. The Key/White/Mexican lime is to a Persian Lime as Ribeye is to Oxtail.

You made a mistake. He said, "them." Them is more than one. ;)

I trust it was better than McDonald's, or at least Burger King! :eek:

I'll help out if we are required to list more than one - Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester (Diet Coke)

I'll help out if we are required to list more than one - Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester (Diet Coke)

New thread idea - list all Michelin starred restaurants where you have obtained a soda . . .