Dulles Global First Lounge Transformed into Chinese Restaraunt
Jun 13, 2016, 10:55 am
#46
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Potomac MD
Programs: UA MP 1K
Posts: 7,182
OK, you skeptics are right. Was in the GF lounge Sunday. Chinese entrees were some noodle slop, unidentifiable vegetables, and bland brocolli. Told the folks at the desk and they brought out the chef and I told him that this was not good Chinese food. Bring back the shrimp--and the cookies (there were none). Chinese food was similar to the now closed Mayflower restaurant in Rockville MD (which my wife says is the worst restaurant of any kind she has ever been to).
Jun 13, 2016, 11:06 am
#47
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,926
OK, you skeptics are right. Was in the GF lounge Sunday. Chinese entrees were some noodle slop, unidentifiable vegetables, and bland brocolli. Told the folks at the desk and they brought out the chef and I told him that this was not good Chinese food. Bring back the shrimp--and the cookies (there were none). Chinese food was similar to the now closed Mayflower restaurant in Rockville MD (which my wife says is the worst restaurant of any kind she has ever been to).
This was no upgrade.
Jun 13, 2016, 11:16 am
#48
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
....
The reality is of course more subtle; as with restaurants, lounges' food offerings and comfort are highly variable. There are some truly spectacular lounges abroad, and it appears UA is trying to bring some of that feel to the Polaris lounges when they're rolled out -- and also piloting significant upgrades to certain UCs at hubs.
As stated elsewhere, only time will tell if they'll succeed.
The reality is of course more subtle; as with restaurants, lounges' food offerings and comfort are highly variable. There are some truly spectacular lounges abroad, and it appears UA is trying to bring some of that feel to the Polaris lounges when they're rolled out -- and also piloting significant upgrades to certain UCs at hubs.
As stated elsewhere, only time will tell if they'll succeed.
Jun 13, 2016, 12:05 pm
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,926
Jun 13, 2016, 12:57 pm
#50
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott/SPG/Hilton Gold, PreCheck + Clear
Posts: 2,306
I know you're just being sarcastic, but I highly doubt the two initiatives are related.
Jun 14, 2016, 9:21 am
#51
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: SQ, QF, UA, CO, DL
Posts: 2,884
The Global F changes were clearly cost reduction moves. Even the fresh sliced fruit is gone and replaced with a basket of whole fruit. Everything that they have out now could probably be purchased at your grocery store for about 30% less than what they had out previously.
So it isn't the end of the world and neither is it something that anyone is looking for sympathy for, its just a sign of the continued downgrade of Global F amenities on the ground
But NeoOfTheCRS, no point lamenting the passing of Global First, it's gone in all but name already.
Jun 14, 2016, 7:07 pm
#52
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 19
Maybe I'm the exception to the rule . . . and I was there about 2 weeks ago, but I much preferred the new menu at the IAD GFL.
IMHO, the old food was awful. The shrimp was tasteless -- which is hard for shrimp and the only way to eat it was to douse it with seafood sauce. Ditto for the old sushi. The cheese was bland, the sandwiches not good, the soup -- awful.
Last time I was there with the new menu, there was tuna tartar in a salad -- not exceptional but more than decent. Some sort of cold shrimp dish which looked good. Cheese was tasty. Didn't see any Chinese menu items.
My only nit was that, when I mentioned to one of the servers that the champagne was empty, she pointed me to a bottle and watched while I opened it myself. OK, I can do that, but . . .
I'll be there again on Thursday and will report back. But, as noted above, any menu change had to be for the better b/c the old stuff was awful. We shall see . . .
IMHO, the old food was awful. The shrimp was tasteless -- which is hard for shrimp and the only way to eat it was to douse it with seafood sauce. Ditto for the old sushi. The cheese was bland, the sandwiches not good, the soup -- awful.
Last time I was there with the new menu, there was tuna tartar in a salad -- not exceptional but more than decent. Some sort of cold shrimp dish which looked good. Cheese was tasty. Didn't see any Chinese menu items.
My only nit was that, when I mentioned to one of the servers that the champagne was empty, she pointed me to a bottle and watched while I opened it myself. OK, I can do that, but . . .
I'll be there again on Thursday and will report back. But, as noted above, any menu change had to be for the better b/c the old stuff was awful. We shall see . . .
Jun 16, 2016, 7:57 pm
#53
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: SFO homebase
Programs: Everything -- lately United 1K*G, Marriott Pt, National XElite
Posts: 64
Jun 16, 2016, 8:44 pm
#55
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,317
Unfortunately this is true - as someone who works in the industry it's less about Sodexo vs. Aramark vs. whoever and more about the spec that UA puts out and is willing to pay - that's why the food at SQ lounges is way better than UA lounges in same airport and same caterer - it's all about the money....
Jun 17, 2016, 11:56 pm
#59
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,115
Through here last week also. I don't really eat there, so I guess the food could be a preference issue; I had no use for the food pre or post changes. But my god, the smell. The whole place absolutely reeks of the aforementioned Chinese food odors.
I found it tremendously unpleasant. It was a relief upon leaving and getting back to the "normal" smells of the terminal.
I found it tremendously unpleasant. It was a relief upon leaving and getting back to the "normal" smells of the terminal.