Jan 17, 2017, 2:18 pm
Centurion Lounge PHL (opened 31 Oct 2017)
Sep 28, 2017, 9:47 am
#106
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,789
I hope the PHL food is good. In another thread, I recently posted that my experiences with Centurion Lounge food is mixed. It's all fancy -- but often pretentious and sometimes not very tasty. I also think the menu would grow tiresome if I visited the lounge frequently at my home airport. AMEX's selection of Solomonov as their chef and the highlighted menu suggests AMEX is doubling-down on their pretentious food strategy. I guess we're all supposed to be impressed by how sophisticated AMEX is. I'm not sure why they don't take a stab at serving high-quality comfort food. I suggested a burger bar as being something way better, and probably cheaper for them. In Philly, that could be a cheese steak bar! Like I don't think most AMEX travelers want malabi with coconut and passionfruit at the airport; just serve a good chocolate chip cookie.
Still, it's way better to have a Centurion Lounge than not have a Centurion Lounge. And I like the bar. But I tend to go for the draft beer selection, since I find the mixed drink menu to also be pretentious and not so tasty.
Still, it's way better to have a Centurion Lounge than not have a Centurion Lounge. And I like the bar. But I tend to go for the draft beer selection, since I find the mixed drink menu to also be pretentious and not so tasty.
I absolutely would not touch a burger or cheese steak in a lounge! Meat would be overcooked, and buns would be soggy. Neither of which is appealing.
Sep 28, 2017, 9:51 am
#107
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,789
Is their demographic much different than that of the other airline lounges? AMEX food is consistently more weird than good. I think it's good to be hip and contemporary, but I can say with 100% confidence that if a restaurant served the food that the Centurion Lounges served, they'd be out of business. "Hip" just doesn't seem do well at airport lounges; simpler food is easier to execute. Kind of like what would happen if you tried to serve this menu on an airplane.
I haven't been to all of the AMEX lounges, but I've been to most of them. The EZE lounge isn't really like the others. The food is more ordinary. That said, about 4 hours after my last visit, I had some very unpleasant gastrointestinal distress. First time I ever had that problem in Argentina. Was it the lounge food? I think so, but it could have been coincidence.
I haven't been to all of the AMEX lounges, but I've been to most of them. The EZE lounge isn't really like the others. The food is more ordinary. That said, about 4 hours after my last visit, I had some very unpleasant gastrointestinal distress. First time I ever had that problem in Argentina. Was it the lounge food? I think so, but it could have been coincidence.
I can totally see these items on the menu at Zahav or Abe Fisher and I wouldn't quite worry about them going out of business.
Sep 28, 2017, 11:09 am
#108
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,421
Challah French toast with tehina and blackberries, Israeli salad with feta, kale tabbouleh with apples and pomegranate, Bulgarian kebabs with red pepper and white bean salad, and malabi with coconut and passionfruit
I can totally see these items on the menu at Zahav or Abe Fisher and I wouldn't quite worry about them going out of business.
I can totally see these items on the menu at Zahav or Abe Fisher and I wouldn't quite worry about them going out of business.
Sep 28, 2017, 12:00 pm
#109
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: PHL
Programs: IHG Diamond Ambassador, AAdvantage Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 263
I agree that Amex spends more on food than Admirals Clubs do on cheddar cheese cubes, but when you look at the food they serve, it's usually an elegant combination of cheap (although high quality) ingredients. I think the Zahav-style menu is a perfect fit.
Sep 28, 2017, 1:29 pm
#110
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,789
It's not so much the menu, it's the execution of the menu. You'll likely understand this problem a year from now when you walk into the Centurion Lounge at PHL for the 5th time and you say "hmmm, I think I'd rather see what's in the soup tureen at the Admiral's Club." It's crazy, because I know AMEX spends tons more money on food per customer than the airline lounges, but I don't think AMEX spends the money wisely.
I get that not everyone has the same tastes, but it's pretty spot on for me.
Sep 28, 2017, 2:16 pm
#111
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: AA Plat, National EE, Marriott Plat, HH Gold, SPG Plat
Posts: 401
I do agree sometimes the centurion lounge tries too hard... DFW for instance has chicken that tastes like it was reheated from yesterdays batch and it just isn't appetizing. One thing I do love about AMEX lounge is they have WAY better drinks than other airport lounges.... the food for me is just icing on the cake.
Sep 28, 2017, 3:56 pm
#112
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,421
I do agree sometimes the centurion lounge tries too hard... DFW for instance has chicken that tastes like it was reheated from yesterdays batch and it just isn't appetizing. One thing I do love about AMEX lounge is they have WAY better drinks than other airport lounges.... the food for me is just icing on the cake.
Sep 30, 2017, 3:56 pm
#113
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...anything with mushroom is 
But we are drifting off topic a bit
PHL being PHL- it would be awesome to have a cheesesteak station (not on buffet- but cooked to order) in the lounge 
These foods don't exactly scream PHL to me that they are going to serve.
But we are drifting off topic a bit
PHL being PHL- it would be awesome to have a cheesesteak station (not on buffet- but cooked to order) in the lounge These foods don't exactly scream PHL to me that they are going to serve.
Sep 30, 2017, 5:09 pm
#114
Join Date: May 2009
Location: PHL
Posts: 2,842
FWIW, the chef that AMEX is working with is the chef of a restaurant in Philadelphia called Zahav. Zahav is one of the toughest reservations in Philly.
Sep 30, 2017, 7:51 pm
#115
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,372
Not to mention, Solomonov has won multiple Awards from the James a beard Foundation, including Outstanding Chef, just this year. Should be good. The ingredients themselves sound simple and delicious.
Oct 1, 2017, 9:32 pm
#116
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,789
It would be unique, something like the noodle bowls made to order in Asia. And not all cheesesteaks are the sloppy variety, Barclay Prime in Philly offers a $120 cheesesteak.
FWIW, the chef that AMEX is working with is the chef of a restaurant in Philadelphia called Zahav. Zahav is one of the toughest reservations in Philly.
FWIW, the chef that AMEX is working with is the chef of a restaurant in Philadelphia called Zahav. Zahav is one of the toughest reservations in Philly.
If you are in the city and get a cheesesteak at Jims, Pats or Geno’s, at least you are getting that experience. But at the centurion lounge, it’s just a cheeesteak.
Michael Solomnov has introduced and redefined moderned Israeli cooking and given the amount of attention he’s gotten lately, I think he’s totally the right chef to showcase his food at the lounge.
The other options would be Starr or Garces, but honestly the quality of these two catering are somewhat inconsistent. And both of them cover such a wide range of cuisines that there’s really no one cuisine that can be uniquely associated with the name.
so in the end, I’m super happy about the choice.
Oct 13, 2017, 8:23 am
#117
Join Date: May 2005
Location: OKC -> NYC
Posts: 58
Update from Oct 13: walked by this morning and all the construction paper on the windows have been removed. Chairs and decorations are all lined up in their proper places. Saw several workers in the lounge but the only equipment appeared to be IT and networking cables. The entry still has the blue facade.
Oct 13, 2017, 11:29 am
#118
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: PSC
Programs: Hilton Diamond/IHG Platinum/DL Plutononium
Posts: 1,728
Update from Oct 13: walked by this morning and all the construction paper on the windows have been removed. Chairs and decorations are all lined up in their proper places. Saw several workers in the lounge but the only equipment appeared to be IT and networking cables. The entry still has the blue facade.
Oct 17, 2017, 7:00 pm
#119
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,372
October 23 Opening Date.
Just spoke with an AMEX rep. I asked her if she knew when the PHL Centurion Lounge would open. She went away for a minute to find the answer, and just said, "The Philadelphia lounge will be opening October 23."