flandery

It completely depends on the lounge's offering. I'm not going to make a meal of potstickers unless I'm desperate. Other properties put out roast beef, garlic potatoes, grilled vegetables, a salad buffet, and have a wine selection available.

JBord

You're missing out if you've never made a meal of all appetizers/small plates . But I do typically prefer a higher quality for that than most of the lounges provide. The Marriott I stay at most for work sometimes has bacon-wrapped scallops and other slightly more upscale items rather than just bar snacks. The wine offering there is terrible though -- and both the red and white wines are way too warm. But again, nothing in most hotels (including hotel restaurants) is as good as you'll get in a real restaurant.

I've actually eaten dinner twice at the hotel restaurant when I got in late and missed the lounge appetizers. The food in the restaurant was, at best, just as good as in the lounge.

ryw

Often, yes, particularly if I’m traveling alone. Even more so if I’m tired, tight on time, or in a more suburban area. I can usually wind down with a book or something while eating too (or alas sometimes, do some work while eating)

chipmaster

So does anyone have insight as to why lounge in America's is so limited than Far East. I'd venture the value of the property / sq-ft is a toss up, simply the labor or tradition and expectation ?

Got to believe if Hilton gave status match and made matched to what they do in the Far East, I'd probably move all my stays there.

kalo93406

I'm at 130 actual nights so far this year (164 with doubles). Most have been in Shanghai, some in Beijing, Xiamen, Guangzhou, a few in other cities. Most of the lounges in Shanghai are fairly good and I enjoy the food. I was changing hotels every 4 nights taking advantage of the now ended Citi Prestige 4th night free benefit. For me the food is more enjoyable than going to some Chinese restaurant that I'll have a bit of trouble ordering at and not sure of the quality. If I go for a nice western meal it would usually be $70 - $120 for two depending. Since I'm not on a company expense account I do enjoy getting some decent food at a very good price. Free.. I doubt I'd use the USA lounges the same way though, so it really depends where you are and what's available. The Ren Sh Yangtze lounge has nice quality food with about 4 different proteins, while the Ren Sh Zhongshan Park not so great, one mystery meat. La Meridian Xiamen was very good, Ren Beijing Capitol not so good (same owner as Ren Sh Zhongshan Park?) A couple Courtyards in Shanghai are fairly good too. The CY near the main train station has some rooms on the 30th lounge floor and it's very nice to use the lounge for coffee during the day if staying in those same floor rooms. At CY Pudong tonight and the lounge is nice, could make a decent green salad and had some seafood pasta and mushrooms with chicken, etc. I ate a lot..

EDIT: The Citi prestige 4th night is still available twice a year, but in reduced advantages form. Wouldn't stay at CY Pudong again as other room noises and door slams are not good.

MSPeconomist

The Nines (legacy Starwood LC) in Portland has a pretty good lounge with nice local wines.

ntamayo

Part of it is, many hotels in the Far East cater to the local stay-cationers who buy up to club level for their families, especially on the weekends, and it becomes a food-fest for them. So, both tradition and expectation I guess.

Jon Maiman

My experience is with domestic US lounges. If I am really tired I may eat dinner in the lounge. I try not to do so since the food offerings usually aren't particularly healthy. On the other hand, if I am that tired I would probably be just going out for a burger and beer and that isn't particularly healthy either.

As others have already noted in the thread, hotel restaurant food isn't particularly good either. It used to be better but has gone downhill in recent years. There are still some exceptions where the hotel restaurant food is good. I think it mainly corresponds to properties where the restaurant is outsourced as a concession. In house Marriott restaurant food just isn't up to snuff any more (unfortunately). Sheraton lounge and restaurant food seems to be a partial step down from Marriott.

All of that said, I do find lounge breakfast to generally be fine and appreciate the convenient access to coffee, soft drinks, and snacks throughout the day. So lounges are still a big plus, just not the best dinner offerings. YMMV....

--Jon

andrewstahl

100% agree. I try to avoid eating domestic lounge food and use food delivery apps to try to get better quality and healthier dinners.

slpybear

Ahh, the Fremont Marriott! One of my favorite properties and one of the best lounges I have visited! I've had that view many times, Chipmaster. Enjoy!

daloosh

Those pics make me miss LRM Shanghai! As others have said, if I'm expensing dinner, then a snack to see what's in the lounge after work is nice before heading to dinner. If vacationing, there have been many days where we spend the entire day trekking about town, get in at nite and are just too darn tired to head out again. We always say, well let's grab a bite to soothe the hunger, and go out to dinner later. What happens is we eat a little more than that, and then collapse, not to be seen again that evening!
Hum, never stayed there, will try to do so next time traveling thru SJC!

toothy

Almost never in Europe or North America, I like trying local restaurants instead.

In Asia it depends. Have had some great meals in The Westin Kolkata, where they basically make what you want, but I also like to get out and try things locally too.

It does amaze me how many people seem to be happy to spend the whole evening in the lounge. I’d rather get out and find somewhere, particularly in cities like London. I do remember a thread on here with someone asking about the food in a hotel in Rome, which in my mind is a city where you easily find great food at a good price.

T

42000ft

This for me too ^^

kcaluwae

I used the lounges in India a lot. I didn't really trust the food in the other restaurants. Of the few times I had eaten outside the hotel, a few times I had the famous "Delhi Belly". The hotels also were a luxurious retreat, away from the hectic life out on the street. I usually enjoy getting outside for drinks or dinner but I hardly ever did that in India, I was always so pleased that I survived another day in the heat and the crowds that I enjoyed sitting in the lounge with a cocktail and some good food. The food was almost always excellent, sometimes even small meals delivered to your table.

ExpatSomchai

Seldom in Europe or the US however in Asia, as many have pointed out, definitely. When I was younger I would eat in the lounge and it left my expenses for the drinks in the evening. These days with a Wife we will go to the lounge and she will eat and eat then when we walk out ask where we are going for dinner as she had only eaten snacks.We would go to a restaurant and she would order a main and not finish it but you know you can't say anything.