ExpatExp

Perfectly serviceable. It's a large, wheelchair-accessible room, with a sink, bench, toilet, and shower with shower curtain. Towels, shampoo, etc. are provided and you can request a hair dryer. They will give you a pager (1) so you know when the shower is ready for you and (2) so you know when your time is up. They enforce a time limit of 15 minutes when the door closes, and will page you when that runs out. I don't know what happens if you stay in past the time limit, as I was finished before then.

The water pressure isn't great. But it's fantastic to have the option, coming off a redeye and going straight to meetings ^

platbrownguy

Showed up about an hour ago off of AA BCN-PHL, tried to pop in to the lounge (ideally to shower before an onward connection) but there was a line of 7 or so people, and the agent came out to announce that the lounge was at capacity, so it was one in/one out, like some sort of would-be nightclub. I promptly went back downstairs and found the delightfully uncrowded AA lounge.

drpad

being originally from Israel, I always liked Israeli food. If I were to be offered this , much touted food, I woukd demand my money back...In this case, I got what I paid for, zero quality.

iahphx

They've made some menu changes at the PHL lounge this month; there's a new cocktail menu that keeps some of the old choices but adds some new ones. The bar is still a quality operation.

The food is also a little different, but not better, IMO. Now the meatballs are chicken. It's unimaginable to me that anyone would go for seconds. I'm starting to wonder if they're intentionally serving "meh" food so guests will eat less.

That said, I'm not entirely sure the food is better at the other AMEX lounges. I was in SEA for breakfast the other day and I actually preferred the PHL food (admittedly, breakfast is by far the best meal at the PHL AMEX lounge). While SEA has no weird theme, they still have weird food. Like the only hot breakfast food was (standard issue) sausage patties. Imagine a breakfast buffet with one hot item and have it be sausage patties. I guess I just don't understand the AMEX lounge concept. I think I could easily serve significantly more appealing food for less money than they spend.

drpad

not only the food is of low quality, the whole lounge is low quality as it is overcrowded and small. I cannot believe this food is designed by a highly touted chef unless the positive reviews come from people who must have lost their taste buds. In Israel, customers would shun this low quality so called Israeli food. The whole lounge experience was highly negative.

mia

Seattle is not representative. It is the only USA Centurion lounge without an on-site kitchen. It was originally called a Centurion Studio, but American Express abandoned that nomenclature when the SEA club was enlarged. Unfortunately, the enlargement did not include a kitchen.

iahphx

Yeah, I remember when the SEA lounge was much smaller. I actually think it's now larger than the PHL lounge -- at least the public portions of the PHL lounge.

There are internet rumors that Solomonov insisted on a large kitchen for the PHL lounge, and that not everyone was/is happy with that decision. If it is true that the kitchen is large at PHL, I would submit that AMEX is not getting its money's worth. I think many of us would prefer a larger public area and a new chef. I would also note that the actual preparation of the food served in PHL is inconsistent, although I've always guessed that's due to the folks preparing the food and not the size of the kitchen.

Beltway2A

This post from March 30 of earlier this year remains relevant.

QtownDave

Zero surprised that the food is still an issue. I’ve been there maybe 8 times so far and it’s still weird although I think I’m enjoying it more. Or maybe I was just very hungry.

SP03

At the PHL CL right now. Definitely has a Moroccan theme going on. The chicken was juicy and tender, very flavorful. Squash and asparagus were delicious. The rice was okay, a little on the dry side. Overall, the food was pretty decent.

Since it's a Sat, the lounge is about half full during lunch time (noon).

iahphx

I had this menu yesterday. It is the best dinner food they serve -- superior to their other offerings. I'm not sure I'd describe the squash as "delicious," but I did go back for more asparagus and chicken. If you show up on a good day, you'll think my complaint about "meh" food are exaggerated. If you show up on a bad day, you'll understand why I think they waste their money on expensive-ish badly prepared food.

iahphx

They had the chicken meatballs again. Last time I was served them they were almost inedible. This time they were quite tasty. It prompted me to ask the server what's going on. "It depends who makes them," was the response . They also had chicken soup, which would have been very good had it not been room temperature.

Overall, though, the food seems to be getting better. Unless I'm just getting luckier on who's in the kitchen.

JY1024

Sigh...horribly crowded, every seat occupied, probably 20 people standing around counters, walls, bar...basically anywhere one could plop down bags and occupy 2 sq. ft.

Food was okay. The “harissa chicken” was unimpressive, but the passion fruit dessert cup was quite tasty.

mia

Are they enforcing the Departing Passengers only/ X Hours before departure policy, as has been used at other Centurion lounges that are at capacity?

SpeedyDelivery