I had to laugh... why I hate room service.
May 12, 2009, 8:16 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: ATL
Posts: 3,219
I had to laugh... why I hate room service.
W New Orleans
$20 Pan Roasted Salmon Entree + $3 delivery + 19% service + 9.75% tax = ~$30.
I guess a wedge of lemon or some other garnish would have ate into their profit margin too much.
To be fair it did also come with a small dinner roll and some butter, plus I did have a couple other things (baked potato $5, and braised short ribs $18) which brought the total to ~$59.
$20 Pan Roasted Salmon Entree + $3 delivery + 19% service + 9.75% tax = ~$30.
I guess a wedge of lemon or some other garnish would have ate into their profit margin too much.
To be fair it did also come with a small dinner roll and some butter, plus I did have a couple other things (baked potato $5, and braised short ribs $18) which brought the total to ~$59.
May 12, 2009, 8:18 pm
#2
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The Minimalism of the W brand, carried to its logical conclusion.... 
May 12, 2009, 8:21 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: in your villages
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Yes, but you got free plate rental.
Seriously, I'd be embarrassed if I was a food manager and someone paid $30 for that. Or $20. Or $10.
Seriously, I'd be embarrassed if I was a food manager and someone paid $30 for that. Or $20. Or $10.
May 12, 2009, 8:27 pm
#4
Used to be bulldoggolfer05
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One to add to this (didn't order it for obvious reasons) is at the W New York - Union Square. Simple salad starts at $25. Want chicken on top of that? Add another $17. Then there is the mandatory $5 delivery charge, 20% gratuity, and 8.375% sales tax, bringing your grand total to around $60 for a chicken caesar salad!
May 12, 2009, 8:28 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,849
I'm really not surprised. They should be embarrassed. I laugh every time I read a room service menu.
May 12, 2009, 8:34 pm
#6
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exaggeration 
Obviously, the price doesn't include the side dishes. Once you add the baked potatoes and whatever on the sides, then it becomes a full meal. A salmon with side dishes at any upscale hotel will run you $30+gratuity+delivery+service.
In contrast, here's my recent room service picture a W Minneapolis:
Perfectly cooked filet mignon with truffle oil infused hash and pancetta snow peas. Absolutely delicious. ($38)
The tuna tar tar on the side was equally yummy ($14)
Obviously, the price doesn't include the side dishes. Once you add the baked potatoes and whatever on the sides, then it becomes a full meal. A salmon with side dishes at any upscale hotel will run you $30+gratuity+delivery+service.
In contrast, here's my recent room service picture a W Minneapolis:
Perfectly cooked filet mignon with truffle oil infused hash and pancetta snow peas. Absolutely delicious. ($38)
The tuna tar tar on the side was equally yummy ($14)
May 12, 2009, 8:48 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: ATL
Posts: 3,219
I'm not so dissatisfied with the price as the presentation, since I'm not really paying for it anyways. You would think at a design conscious brand, they would pay attention to such things. Really it wouldn't kill them to add some garnish. I did order a side potato, but it was served on a separate plate. They could have combined it onto one and it would have looked a little less shocking.
The braised short ribs were pretty tasty. A 330ml bottle of Voss water would have been another ~$4.
The braised short ribs were pretty tasty. A 330ml bottle of Voss water would have been another ~$4.
May 12, 2009, 11:01 pm
#8
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exaggeration
Obviously, the price doesn't include the side dishes. Once you add the baked potatoes and whatever on the sides, then it becomes a full meal. A salmon with side dishes at any upscale hotel will run you $30+gratuity+delivery+service.
In contrast, here's my recent room service picture a W Minneapolis:
Perfectly cooked filet mignon with truffle oil infused hash and pancetta snow peas. Absolutely delicious. ($38)
The tuna tar tar on the side was equally yummy ($14)
Obviously, the price doesn't include the side dishes. Once you add the baked potatoes and whatever on the sides, then it becomes a full meal. A salmon with side dishes at any upscale hotel will run you $30+gratuity+delivery+service.
In contrast, here's my recent room service picture a W Minneapolis:
Perfectly cooked filet mignon with truffle oil infused hash and pancetta snow peas. Absolutely delicious. ($38)
The tuna tar tar on the side was equally yummy ($14)
May 12, 2009, 11:54 pm
#9
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I've learned to scout the area around hotels on Zagat or Google Maps for restaurants or take outs before leaving on a trip. The food is usually better, and the bill--integrity dictates that whether I pay for it or charge it through doesn't make a difference--is more honest.
May 12, 2009, 11:58 pm
#10
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Join Date: Jul 2003
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Send that picture to the F&B manager, general manager, and Starwood corporate. It's really appalling; you could get nicer presentation at Denny's.
May 13, 2009, 12:57 am
#11
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: TSV, Australia
Posts: 2,401
What a joke. I would have sent it back.
Certainly posting it here is brand damaging so at least you get that satisfaction.
Certainly posting it here is brand damaging so at least you get that satisfaction.
May 13, 2009, 2:13 am
#12
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP 3 MM
Posts: 4,576
O T
I read this article in the NYT last week. Here's a quote:
“Hotels have always tried to make money with room service, but they never could,” said Joseph McInerney, president and chief executive of American Hotel and Lodging Association, a trade group.
Can this really be true?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/05/bu...Service&st=cse
“Hotels have always tried to make money with room service, but they never could,” said Joseph McInerney, president and chief executive of American Hotel and Lodging Association, a trade group.
Can this really be true?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/05/bu...Service&st=cse
May 13, 2009, 7:35 am
#13
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Nope, and it's definitely brand-damaging: just look at the thread title!
I've learned to scout the area around hotels on Zagat or Google Maps for restaurants or take outs before leaving on a trip. The food is usually better, and the bill--integrity dictates that whether I pay for it or charge it through doesn't make a difference--is more honest.
I've learned to scout the area around hotels on Zagat or Google Maps for restaurants or take outs before leaving on a trip. The food is usually better, and the bill--integrity dictates that whether I pay for it or charge it through doesn't make a difference--is more honest.
Hey, if it 's my money, fine (although I'd rather pay $5 at Subway than have that salmon), but if I'm traveling on business and expensing my meals, I just wouldn't feel right putting it on my expense account even though my boss probably wouldn't blink an eye.
May 13, 2009, 7:45 am
#14
Join Date: Aug 2006
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eating in the room generally doesnt work for me, cost, lingering smell, no real comforatable seat to eat and watch tv
with all the options on the internet to research and try good local places i try to do that
with all the options on the internet to research and try good local places i try to do that
May 13, 2009, 8:02 am
#15
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But you're missing the subtleties in the presentation. Notice how the salmon is slightly off to the side of the plate rather than in the center? You have an asymmetrical balance of two unequal parts creating a visual unity of all working together as one. I have little doubt it took much effort to achieve this result. Consider it like some modern art ...you have to stare at it a while to really get it.