One of my favorite travel indulgences is hotel room service.  Landing in a new city, arriving at the hotel and perusing their room service menu gives me a sense of the hotel, the food culture and a bit of sticker shock (burgers are quite expensive!) I anticipate the knock at the door to announce the arrival of my food. It’s exciting each time as the setup differs, the experience created varies and I still love when they remove the covers for each part of my order.

With the current covid-19 pandemic affecting the world, travel has been essentially shuttered for all but essential travel. Hotels, used to seeing 60-80% capacity, are now operating at 10% if opened or have decided to close altogether.  It’s a massive industry employing people of all skills and backgrounds. How the hotel industry comes back to serve travelers is still an unknown – obviously cleaning will be the top priority.  But what about food service at the hotel and specifically room service? Is covid-19 the death of room service as we knew it? Will contactless delivery become normal?  Will outside delivery services (UberEats, Caviar Food Delivery, DoorDash, Deliveroo, etc.) be allowed to deliver food and if so, will they delivery to the front desk for guest pickup or be allowed to access your guest floor (I’m thinking the former rather than the latter which is security risk).  Hotels will likely limit the number of staff in guest rooms going forward for safety reasons and this will likely include hotel room service.

Hotel Room Service Pre-Covid 19

From the perspective of costs, room service is often a big expense for hotels and often loses money – they need to have a large inventory of equipment (cart, linens, salt/pepper, utensils, glass wear, etc.) to deliver room service meals. Hotels and/or restaurants also need to staff the room service department 24/7 for that crazy person ordering a burger at 1 a.m. (ok me after a night at the pub).  All of the parts needed to create the room service are many as seen in the photos below – smaller condiments, butter containers, bread baskets, etc.  My breakfast platea alone has 20+ pieces of supplies before the food is added.

I am already starting to mourn room service as I knew it, as I enjoyed it, as it wowed me!  I want to set expectations for the future room service experience now (I can already imagine becoming one of those “I remember when….” travelers).  I want to envision how it can still retain the allure of indulgence, the high touch artistry of delivery all while continuing to honor the hotel brand of service and keeping everyone safe in the process.

Best Room Service Experience – The Soho Hotel London

The best room service experiences have often lead me to become more loyal to the hotel.  I still remember my first room service order at The Soho Hotel in London.  I ordered sorbet for dessert and was asked if I wanted it with my food.  I was surprised by the question – don’t they deliver all the food at once?  They explained that my appetizer and main meal would be delivered and then I would call room service to return and pick up the plates when I was ready for dessert.  At that time, they would deliver the sorbet.  If they delivered all at once, they feared the sorbet would melt and not be the right experience (I’m sure many of us have eaten melted ice cream/sorbet).  I really never thought about this and they allowed me to rethink the room service experience while offering a high touch service. Staying at other Firmdale Hotels, like Charlotte Street Hotel London, they also emulated high touch room service so I never had melted dessert again.

New Hotel Room Service Takeout Delivery Model

Years ago, in Philadelphia, I was invited to experience the new Curio collection property,  The Logan Hotel, for the weekend.  I ordered room service from Urban Farmer, the onsite restaurant concept owned by Sage Hospitality.  When the food arrived at my room, I was a bit taken aback.  There was no rolling cart, no table setting with linens, condiments, flowers, no presentation.  I was handed a brown bag with my “takeout” order.  My food was wrapped in takeout containers along with plastic utensils and packets of condiments.  For someone who loves room service and boutique hotels, I was disappointed. The food was fantastic as always but it wasn’t the experience I love.

The big question is how to replicate the fine dining, steakhouse or hotel restaurant experience in a takeout container?  I’d rather eat at the restaurant but now will I want to eat in a large hotel restaurant with social distancing and possibly a mask while not eating?  Probably not right now – I’m going to have to embrace the new room service and contactless brown bag, plastic containers and utensils.  Little did I know that Urban Farmer at The Logan were years ahead of the room service food curve.

Hotel Room Service Memories

So in the spirit of any trip down memory lane,  enjoy my photos of great room service memories – the food, the plating and set-up, the experience, the desserts and the many special touches (plants, flowers, personal notes).

London Rosewood Hotel – dessert was divine!  The panna cotta with fresh strawberries, shortbread biscuits (cookies) and fresh flowers.

Melbourne (Australia) Sofitel – the club sandwich with chips (fries).  Room Service tray with linen cloth and a personal note included.  I was exhausted when I arrived at the Sofitel from a long journey and just needed to eat, shower and get sorted to explore the city.

London Hyatt Andaz hotel club sandwich is not a normal “London” food so I often order room service to get a bit of American comfort food.  With thick chips (fries) in the center accompanied by three dips, it was a wonderful way to have a taste of home.

Hotel Room Service New Normal

So many facets to reimagine room service.  Hotels are working hard with government and health agency directions on the state, local and country level.  Each hotel brand may have a global standard or could have a bespoke model for that city.  Will delivery robots be used in hotels to deliver your food/drink?  (robots are expensive!).  Will the room service experience include touchless paper bags outside the door?  My quiet anticipation of the knock at the door could be deflated as I remember when…

I’m not much of a gambler, to be honest, I tend to lose more than I win and think how I could use the money elsewhere to enjoy (i.e. – shoes or vacation). That said, I do enjoy visiting the casinos for the food and entertainment options.   Having grown up in Philadelphia, Atlantic City was only an hour (in off-season) away to enjoy good food, music and a quick spin of the slots.  But in the past few years, Philadelphia now has its own casinos with a plethora of restaurant and entertainment options to enjoy much closer to home.  I was attending the Sarah McLachlan concert at the Parx Casino Xcite Center so figured best to try out the new food options in Bensalem (about 1/2 hour from Philly with no traffic). Joining the already tasty list of food options at Parx Casino is Liberty Bell Gastropub (“farm to fork” menu) and Oliveto (Italian classics) each with compelling menus.  Since I was in the mood to cheat on my diet with fries, the Pub won this time but I’m definitely going back to try the three course Oliveto $18 lunch special menu (Wed-Sun 12pm – 3pm) or Wild Boar Bolognese for dinner.

Liberty Bell Gastropub

Parx Casino recently added the Liberty Bell Gastropub to their dining line-up in January 2018.  I chose to try the Liberty Bell Gastropub because I was intrigued by their “grass-fed” meats and in-house rotisserie options (plus fries). The restaurant considers their menu “farm to fork” and surprisingly downplays the “grass fed” instead calling it craft food. For the Bensalem area lined with a variety of fast casual and casual chain restaurants, the “farm to fork” menu is a welcome change in my opinion.  The prices for the portions and quality were reasonable if not a bargain compared to Center City Philly options.   The bar area was quite busy for a Monday night with the side booths and tables filling up quickly with hungry people before the Monday night concert.

The large restaurant has a contemporary design and yet retains an intimate feel to the separate dining areas around and behind the U-shaped centerpiece bar.

Liberty Bell Gastropub Dinner

I met the press group for dinner and we couldn’t decide what to try and share so they ordered a bunch of appetizers.  I ordered the grass-fed short rib with jalapeno cornbread (note that the short rib is hot but the cornbread is not. the jalapeno heat was a surprise kicker).  The table ordered wild mushroom crostini, clay pot crispy fired shrimp,, fish tacos and pub wings.  They also enjoyed many of the signature cocktails like I’ll Have Another (Casamigos Reposado, cucumber, fresh lime and ginger) and the popular Fig-get-me-not (Knob Creek rye, fig + rosemary, lillet blanc, fresh lemon and black walnut bitters)  while I stuck with a glass of Pinot Noir.

Our server was noticeably busy with many tables seated at once, but he handled it like a pro and we were quickly acknowledged and served.  He suggested options, favorites and helped explain a few dishes. As a former waitress, the service was spot on despite the number of tables seated at once in his section. The cocktails did take time as the bar quickly filled up.

The appetizers were quickly delivered and filled the table with temptation. (Sorry about the lighting challenges I had).

I stayed on the sandwich side of the menu, opting for the Featured Sandwich – Grass Fed Roast Beef Sandwich (essentially a French Dip) with French fries.  My dining companions ordered the entrée Short Rib, the Pork Loin and the Rotisserie Chicken.  Each was a good size portion (if slightly on the larger side) and my dining companions easily cleared their plates, proclaiming their entrees were tasty.

Final Thoughts – Liberty Bell Gastropub at Parx Casino

To be honest, I expected a Pub even a “Gastro Pub” to have the same burgers, wings and salads so I was happily surprised by the varied “farm to fork” menu with fish, grass-fed meats in entrée and sandwich form and the variations of appetizers offered by Liberty Bell Gastro Pub at Parx Casino.  Spying other tables, the famous burger could be seen in abundance as a fan favorite.

I grew up not far from Parx Casino and spent a lot of time in the area at chain restaurants so it’s nice to see that Center City Philly quality food (and dining) has come to Bensalem.  Since this is a casino, you do need to be 21 years old to enter.  The Liberty Bell Gastropub is open from 4 p.m. – 2 a.m. to satisfy your comfort food cravings – with free parking and attentive staff, it’s definitely worth your time to go visit.  Maybe you’ll also get lucky on that slot spin!

Note that concerts tend to fill the restaurants quickly so I suggest making a reservation at Liberty Bell Gastropub and allowing ample time to enjoy your meal.  We arrived 1.5 hours before the concert and with appetizers had to forgo the dessert menu (yes, I was sad to miss out on the brownie!).

Thank you to Parx Casino for hosting me for dinner.  As always, my opinion is uniquely me on this dining occassion.

A Philly Cheesesteak in London?  Call me skeptical, as I’ve argued Philly Cheesesteaks around the world.  No…… green peppers are not a topping…mushrooms and green peppers are even worse and don’t get me started on the bread.  The Philadelphia Cheesesteak is imbedded in my childhood and those memories of how to do it right won’t go away.  I’ve since stopped telling food truck vendors around the world how they are ruining my city’s iconic sandwich.  That said, even at home, I’m a picky cheesesteak person.  So would Passyunk Avenue London pass my Philly Cheesesteak test? Can you really export an authentic taste of Philly?

Growing Up in Philly – Cheesesteak Memories

Growing up, the local butcher supplied my mom with the thinly sliced ribeye that she would then fry up and fill the local Amoroso rolls that my dad would bring home from his visit to the bakery.  Cheese Whiz, a key ingredient in the more famous Philly cheesesteaks never made it into the kitchen pantry.  Don’t think Mom was being health conscious of the fake processed cheese stuff, she favored another fake processed cheese, Velveeta.  Ah, those memories of childhood foods.

As I began traveling after college, back in the days before the smartphone, internet and globalization of foods, my “welcome home meal” was at the local diner, The Dining Car, with my parents who would pick me up at the airport.  My dad would insist it was “my treat” with leftover money I converted (he would do anything to make me pay).  My “back to the US” meal was a cheesesteak royal (American cheese no onions), extra pickles and a Pepsi.

As I grew older, the cheesesteak outings lessened (damn healthy lifestyle!) and somewhere along the way, it became a special treat when I was back in my childhood diner (an hour away) or if I wanted to relive my high school South Street memories at Jim’s Steaks.

When I discovered the posh cheesesteak eggrolls of Davio’s it allowed me to experience my childhood cheesesteak in a posh way – the cheesesteak in an eggroll, deep fried and served with onion strings and spicy ketchup.  But I never outgrew (or abandoned) the original cheesesteak.

Philly Bar in Fitzrovia

Philadelphians have their own cheesesteak memories and favorite places (hint: neither of which are Pat’s or Geno’s). But now I was in London and on my way to the quiet Fitzrovia neighborhood to the new Philly Bar, Passyunk Avenue, to see if an authentic Philly Cheesesteak in London really exists. The London Philly Cheesesteak version?

Fitzrovia is a residential neighborhood that I’ve stayed in many times before at my favorite hotel, The Charlotte Street Hotel.  On Cleveland Street, many blocks from the hotel, I saw the Passyunk Avenue sign and then the famous Philly “Yo” on the street and knew I was in the right place.  They might need to add JEET to the sign.

Passyunk Avenue London Philly Cheesesteaks

Immediately upon walking into the sport themed filled “dive” bar, I walked into the small neighborhood Philly bar of my youth.  Crossing the line from the outside in was strangely comforting – the wood panels, the tables and metal chairs, the music playing rock in the background.  The only indication I wasn’t at home in Philly were the accents from the tables – those were British.  I could imagine my college self eating here watching sports in my youth – it really was designed to capture the rowhouse bar experience.

I was told to take any table so I walked to the booth that gave me a view of the bar, tables and the street.  The mural at my booth was familiar, the television was playing the Phillies and another was playing “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” (to be honest, I’ve never watched the show but it does have a following).  I didn’t get a chance to ask when “The Goldbergs” would be shown (a television comedy based on growing up in suburban Philadelphia in the 80’s which is so spot on with local references that I can’t help but watch, reminisce and be proud).

Passyunk Avenue London Philly/American Menu

Unlike the Philly cheesesteak shops at home, Passyunk Avenue in London has servers (and takes reservations!).  My server was from Jersey (New Jersey that is, not the nearby Channel Islands).  She fell in love with a Brit and moved to London a few years ago (I think that’s the plot of many movies).  I ordered wine, a cheesesteak wiz without (onions) and a side of skinny chips (fries to us Philly folk).  I had to argue a bit about the parmesan and oregano fries which she said were “a south philly thing” because I’ve never heard of those as being “a Philly thing”.  The crab fries with Old Bay, yep, those are a “very Philly thing” and Passyunk Avenue has those on the menu along with hot wings and mozzarella sticks (which falls into the American food column).

Other Philly things – hoagies, roast pork sandwiches and the selections of parm sandwiches (eggplant, meatball and chicken).  In the coming soon column – soft pretzel bites!  I’ve learned how to make the Philly pretzels and they are a bit tricky so I can’t wait to see how those turn out. On the bring your own menu – Tastykakes.  If you want the iconic krimpet or chocolate cupcakes, you’ll need to bring your own from Philly and if you do, bring a few extras to share with the staff.

Now to be fair, I had read the background of how Passyunk Avenue came to be (origins: food truck called Liberty Cheesesteak Company) and how the owner, JP Teti, has created his own version of Cheese Whiz (seriously folks, not everything needs to be exported).  So I had high expectations for the Philly experience.

The London Philly Cheesesteak experience

The cheesesteak presentation was a winner, served in the plastic tray with a sheet of paper underneath for the grease and mess, because there is always a mess.  This is a sandwich meant to be eaten by picking it up with both hands, not cut with a fork and knife as so many Brits do with their burgers.  For me, I didn’t care how I looked, I picked my half up with both hands (so very American of me) and bit into it and started to laugh.

I was laughing because I could instantly taste the quality of the cheese used for the cheese sauce and it’s already a bit high end for the cheese whiz folks but it was mighty tasty and complemented the meat in such a way to fake out my senses.  I could have been home in Philly as this was the real deal. Even the bread was close enough to an Amoroso roll to pass the test (we take our bread quite seriously in Philly).

During my meal, the booth in front of me, adorned with an accessible sticker (adhered on the day that Professor Stephen Hawking passed) a young girl was seated.  We got to talking as solo travelers do but also as Philadelphians around the world do.  She was also from New Jersey (Cherry Hill) and working as an au pair in Paris during her work sabbatical as a primary school teacher.  She was in London for the weekend for a music festival and craving a pizza steak, which is a cheesesteak with pizza sauce (marinara) on top.  As we chatted about how good our meals were, two guys from Philly came into the bar bearing gifts (Philly sport pennants).

Dessert at Passyunk Avenue London

At the tables around us were a variety of people which my server said were either local students or Londoners.   Did I want dessert?  To be fair, I was stuffed as I went beyond the typical cheesesteak meal with the fries but agreed when told the owner has his own cannoli.  Hmmm, cannoli?  I requested they be put in a takeaway container so I could try one and take the other two back to the hotel.  Italian pastry is also a contentious issue in Philadelphia with Termini’s and Isgro’s to name the two more famous cannoli bakeries in South Philly. The cannoli filling was a bit too sweet for me as I rarely eat cannoli but that said, they will also get a pass from me as being really close to home.

Passyunk Avenue Basement Bar – Nick Foles Bar

With my stomach confused by my foods – are we home in Philly?  Or are we still in Europe? I decided to descend to the basement “Nick Foles” bar, named for the Superbowl MVP who helped our Philadelphia Eagles win the Superbowl in 2018.  It wasn’t open during my visit but ok to go look at the cozy spots and additional sports memorabilia.

While taking photos, the manager escorted those Philly guys (on their business trip) from the bar (one guy lives 5 minutes away from me at home) downstairs to show them the key piece of Philly memorabilia – the bar back from Dirty Frank’s (classic dive bar) in Center City.  He talked about how they obtained the décor, moved from successful food truck to storefront and about the various groups in London that meet in the bar for sports games and school alumni events.

Eagles Game in London – October 2018

I asked about the upcoming (Philadelphia) Eagles game to be played at Wembley in London in October.  I can’t imagine how this tiny, quiet street (and the rest of the city) will react to chants of E-A-G-L-E-S.  He said media outlets had contacted them already and they are hoping to have a bit of street event to watch the game (it’s so Philly to close the street for a block party).  No word at this time if the street event is approved so as my British friend likes to say “watch this space”. I’m sure many media outlets will broadcast a story (or a hundred) about Passyunk Avenue in London.  Who doesn’t love the London Philly Cheesesteak story?

Passyunk Avenue London Philly Cheesesteak Verdict

If you are craving the Philly accents, food and sports, Passyunk Avenue in London is a definite must do.  If you are keen to learn about this iconic Philly sandwich (without having to take the flight and deal with the jet lag) then put the fork and knife down and learn to be messy at Passyunk Avenue London.  After twenty years of traveling to/from London, it’s nice to finally have a place to go and have a taste of home (and play the which Philly neighborhood are you from game). The cheesesteak is definitely a winner for me and I can’t wait to return! Thankfully there are no calories on vacation right?

A few notes:

1. The server telling the table of four that a “steak sandwich” is not a filet steak inside bread (yuck!).  That’s usually what people tend to think at first.  The steak is thinly sliced like the meats on the charcuterie tray or the Iberian ham on the tapas menu.
2. Cheesesteaks are a fantastic late night snack after the bar – in the US the bars are open to 2 a.m. and many diners are 24/7 so cheesesteaks after drinking were a normal outing (for my much younger body and self).  In London, the bars tend to close at 11 pm or midnight (Passyunk Avenue closes at 12:30 am) so it’s a perfect after the pub destination or takeaway option as well as all day dining.
3. If you are visiting from Philadelphia, bring Tastykakes and sports memorabilia (I’m already planning my next visit with Villanova NCAA Championship banners!).

Knowing that my Art Weekend in D.C. was planned out, I stayed an extra day to explore on my own.  I asked a few D.C. based twitter friends for restaurant suggestions, along the lines of “what’s a must eat food experience in D.C.”  A few replies were “the best burger in D.C. is at Bourbon Steak in the Four Seasons Georgetown”, I searched online and was instantly hooked by the description and the accolades as one of the best burgers in D.C. I decided to book a lunch reservation at 12:30 p.m. which gave me enough time to enjoy lunch before my Amtrak home. I started my day early to ensure that I would be hungry at lunch time.

Before I would arrive at the boutique Four Seasons Georgetown with 164 rooms and 58 suites, I had a tour of the Capitol, a quick spin in the Library of Congress and a drive by inside the Supreme Court in my attempt to build up an appetite worthy of the best burger in D.C. I would then order an Uber in the rain for the twenty minute ride to the hotel.  As the car arrived in the Four Seasons Georgetown driveway, the door was opened by the bellman and I was welcomed to the hotel. As I had no luggage, I mentioned I was there for lunch and he told me to walk through the lobby direct to the restaurant.

The Four Seasons Georgetown

As you enter the hotel, you are met with a lobby seating area that is modern luxury in design and feel – very luxe and private.  In the middle of the long entranceway there are two desks on either side of the hall (front desk & concierge).  Further afield is another seating area and a door to the large private garden patio.  The lobby was full of art, so much art that I asked about it and found out that their art collection is over 1500+ pieces throughout the hotel.  That’s impressive for this six story building that has more of a boutique hotel feel to it than an other urban Four Seasons hotels I’ve stayed at.

Bourbon Steak – First Class Service

As I approached the hostess desk, I was welcomed and taken to my table by the window.  I observed a large restaurant in different sections – private dining, a lounge, bar and dining rooms.  I also saw a few solo diners, a young family and business lunches taking place. I was instantly greeted by name and provided a menu.  Another staff member filled my glass with water (I would never get to the bottle of my water glass as it was constantly filled throughout lunch).  My server came back for my order and I mentioned I was there for the burger & duck fat fries. She said it was a popular choice.  I added bacon because well it’s bacon and why not.  I also ordered a glass of wine because I thought it would complement the meat well and I wasn’t driving – Amtrak was.

The first bit of fun to arrive was the cast iron pan of rolls.  I said yes to a roll thinking I was getting one buttery ball of goodness but the pan was placed on my table and well, that wasn’t a good thing as I was hungry and instantly off my gluten free weekend.  The roll had salt on top but was croissant like inside and the butter required me to cut the roll with a fork and knife because I was covered in butter and thought licking my fingers wasn’t a good thing at the Four Seasons.  Because I was hungry, I ate two rolls which I knew would spoil my lunch but when you go off the gluten free train, you go over the cliff into gluttony (in my case anyway).

The Best Burger in D.C. at Bourbon Steak

My burger arrived and did not disappoint.  It was presented with a pickle and pepper on top held with a wooden stick through the burger. A+ for presentation and when the fries arrived, well A++++.  I told the server I ordered the side of fries and she smiled and said “that is the side order of duck fat fries”. No one warned me of this – there were three tasting containers of duck fat fries each with a different seasoning and dipping sauce.  I could have made a meal of the fries and this was a case of needing to “phone a friend” to help me. But I took on the herculean task of this lunch knowing that I could be defeated.  The first bite of the burger had me, it was one bite and I knew why this was a best burger in D.C.  I then sampled each fry type and sauce, also award winning in their French fry category.  I had rosemary herb fries with spicy ketchup, onion seasoned fries with chive onion crème fraiche and smoked paprika fries with Chef Michael Mina’s bbq sauce.  I wasn’t a fan of the smoke paprika and bbq (in the middle one) which makes sense because I’m not fond of bbq flavors.

As I slowly ate my lunch to savor each flavorful bite, I knew that the burger would defeat me.  Even after I removed the flaky bun to eat the burger, I couldn’t finish it.  It was the buttery rolls that disadvantaged me.  Burger 1, Sue 0.  I waved the white flag and looked out the window at the outdoor patio space and view below.

The staff removed my plates and the server returned and asked about dessert.  My head wanted to see the menu while my stomach was definitely saying “no space at the inn”.  I looked at the dessert menu and laughed at the last entry “No Space for Dessert?  Get our Signature Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies to Go”.  I thought train ride home, cookies might be good if I’m ever hungry again and said I’ll take the cookies to go.  The cookies arrived a few minutes later in their brown bag with restaurant sticker and cookie recipe attached.  I could feel the warmth and gooeyness of the cookies in the bag and looked forward to ending my day of gluten in chocolate happiness.

Bourbon Steak Signature Cookies

When I arrived home after 6 p.m. I was slightly hungry and managed to find a glass of milk and eat only two of the three cookies for dinner.  That was all I could manage as I was still so fully satisfied from lunch.

Final Thoughts – Bourbon Steak D.C. in the Four Seasons Georgetown

If my lunch service and fantastic burger/fries combo is any indication, I can only imagine a steak dinner must be heavenly at any of the Bourbon Steak locations in the U.S. For now, I’m a fan of the best burger in D.C. at Bourbon Steak in the Four Seasons Georgetown and you will be too if you go visit. I don’t even think I want to try any others in the city…afraid of disappointment now that I’ve had this burger. So go hungry and bring a friend!  Share the bread and fries but don’t share the burger or the cookies – keep them all for yourself!  It was an indulgence lunch that was worth every calorie, worth every penny, worth the extra gym time and worthy of a return visit.

Best Burger in D.C. – The Details

The burger cost $22, side of fries $8, glass of wine $14, cookies to go $8 and tip.  My lunch was definitely indulgent but totally worth the splurge.

Bourbon Steak at the Four Seasons D.C. Georgetown is owned by Michael Mina, award winning chef and restauranteur.  He has other Bourbon Steak locations in Los Angeles, Miami, Scottsdale, Santa Clara and Nashville in addition to the Washington D.C. location. Michael Mina also has other restaurants throughout the U.S.

Finding myself at the only (for now) Starbucks Roastery  in Seattle wasn’t quite on my itinerary but my local friends said “I had to see it”.  I was curious to experience the Starbucks Reserve Roastery & Tasting Room in Seattle plus we were all in need of a snack after our Infinity Mirrors exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum.  It was also a good excuse to finally use all the Starbucks gift cards I had (apparently my friends/family had read my gift list for travelers but forgot I don’t drink coffee or tea) because one can only buy so many bottles of water and slices of lemon cake at the airport.

Welcome to the first Starbucks Roastery & Tasting Room

We drove from downtown since we were on our way to my friend’s house but it’s not a far walk (about nine blocks) from Pike Place Market, where the original Starbucks is located. The Starbucks Reserve Roastery & Tasting Room is located at 1124 Pike Street and parking is tough so I’d suggest walking, public transit or uber/taxi.  As the five of us entered the building, we were instantly greeted by a staff member who talked to us about the various sections of the property.  He offered us a guide book and directed us to the counter for drinks & food.  He was surrounded by racks of coffee, tea and expresso accessories as well as Starbucks Reserve branded merchandise (no green/white Starbucks merchandise here).

Starbucks Reserve Roastery Design Layout

The property spans two levels with the top floor showcasing the food, drink and gifts while the lower level showcased the roasting process along with a tasting bar and factory line that reminded me of a winery with bags of coffee passing by instead of wine bottles.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gRozgmPF6s[/embedyt]

The bar décor is a center point of cool design in the Starbucks Roastery.  The copper and glass was unique and nowhere in the Roastery would you see the traditional Starbucks white and green.  This was definitely something different – contemporary with a nod to the past with the historic building and its architecture.  There are many tables of different sizes and heights (all full so we stalked and then joined a communal table) as this is meant to be a destination experience.

Coffee Beans

There is a separate counter and menu for coffee beans from around the world.  You can scoop up the beans for a great souvenir to enjoy at home and remember your Seattle visit. Some of the coffees are only available at this Starbucks Reserve Roastery location.

The Experience bar is on the lower level with siphon brewed coffees and drinks you can’t order at the main counter upstairs.  Think tasting flights of coffee and drink guinea pig as you become part of their test kitchen for new drinks that may (or may not) be rolled out nationwide.  Here’s a list of 6 “only at Starbucks Roastery” drinks you can only get at the Seattle Starbucks Roastery (for now).  After your tasting experience, you might want a new expresso machine or drip coffee accessories to replicate at home.

Starbucks Roastery Food & Drink Bar

The pastries (hello lovelies) were showcased behind the glass along with the various sandwiches and food options. The girls ordered grilled cheese sandwiches, cold coffee drinks and a pastry while I went with a standard order of orange juice and a chocolate croissant.  When our name was called a staff member met us and carried the trays with food and drink to our table (nice touch) that we were sharing with others because it’s a popular place and seats are scarce.

The Starbucks Roastery Show

It’s hard to miss the roasting machines and production line as it seems they designed the consumer spaces around the experience of watching the beans fly out and spin every few minutes. With videos on record we were all in awe of the process. A bit silly but still fun even for big kids like me who don’t drink coffee.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAOPecWPQKw[/embedyt]

Future Locations of Starbucks Reserve Roastery

New York is scheduled for 2018. Shanghai and Tokyo are the first Asian cities to see a Starbucks Reserve Roastery.  Chicago’s Magnificent Mile is set for a four story Starbucks Roastery experience in 2019. Can’t wait for those locations to open?  You can go online to order a Starbucks Roastery experience at home.  They offer coffee subscriptions from $19-$44 per month (1-3 bags).

Final Thoughts – Starbucks Roastery in Seattle

I may not drink coffee but like the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, the Starbucks Reserve Roastery & Tasting Room in Seattle is part attraction, part store and part food & beverage location.  It can serve everyone.  For now, it is novel to be the first of its kind and experience it before the rest of the world does.

After my long travel day to Seattle, I just needed to go to my happy place – red meat, red wine and chocolate cake!  I asked the concierge at the Four Seasons Seattle for the best burger in Seattle, and she recommended Palace Kitchen.  She did caution that they don’t take reservations (good sign of a popular spot) so be prepared to wait or maybe hope to snag a seat at the bar. It was a summer Friday at 5:30 pm so I had a good chance she said as the restaurant opens at 4:30 p.m.  (they stay open until 1 a.m. if you have a late night hankering for the best burger in Seattle). With that, I started my trek from the Four Season Seattle hotel, walking past Pike Place Market looking right for a flat cross street to walk up (Seattle has crazy hills), I chose Pine Street up to 5^th Avenue before I turned left.  Walking toward the Space Needle with the monorail above I saw the restaurant at the end of the street next to a parking garage.

The windows of the restaurant were open (they do not have outdoor seating). The three guys in front of me left disappointed that there were no tables for them so I was a bit worried.  Lucky for me, there was one seat left at the bar for me (the universe knew that I needed to eat here). It seemed that the locals know to show up early to get a table at this no reservations, Tom Douglas institution, as the place was full.

Looking around the restaurant, the open kitchen, baskets of bread and tables full of people enjoying food was very encouraging.  The bartender was doing his best impersonation of a whirling dervish to mix the drinks for the servers and bar patrons.  He handed me a menu in the middle of his spinning.

Once the orders calmed down, he came over to chat and take my order saying “great choice” with my burger ($22 all in with extra toppings and fries) and Willamette Valley Pinot Noir ($14).  I was torn with the plethora of tempting options on the menu – the rotisserie chicken with blueberry and ginger jam or the double r ranch NY striploin with garlic and herb butter.

Seated with me at the bar – three businessmen enjoying happy hour and two couples on my side and a full bar across from me with couples. Thankfully the three guys didn’t have a friend so the seat was empty for me.  Good thing because I was tired and hungry and just wanted to people watch.

The bartender set up my spot and when I saw the steak knife I knew that it was a great sign of the wonderful burger to come.  When my meal was delivered, I used that knife to cut into the local bun made by Dahlia Bakery and the farm to table beef by Gebbers Farms with a Walla Walla (love that town name) onion.  I had added cheddar and Applewood smoked bacon to the burger and chose the fries over a salad (ugh, salad too healthy).  One bite into the burger and I smiled knowing this was a really good burger, possibly the best burger in Seattle I’ve had over the years.  I was slowly slipping into my happy place bite by bite and forgetting about the awful hostage situation of delays on the plane ride I had.

By this time the happy hour crowd had departed and I had free seats next to me so both bartenders  stopped by to chat with me (I was sitting in front of the beer taps so its hard not to stare at each other and not talk) and see how I was enjoying the burger. I shared the story of my very long travel day and they were both surprised.  One bartender asked if I was going on a cruise (most visitors are pre/post cruise nowadays) to Alaska and I said I was.  He told me of his family’s cruise and then refilled my wine glass. It was really easy to dine solo here and not feel out-of-place.

As for the burger? I ate the WHOLE DAMN THING – I had no shame in doing that.  Saying no to dessert was really hard for me with all the great choices offered especially the blueberry cobbler.  I had zero room left at the time (my stomach would find room back at the hotel for wine and chocolate to fully immerse me in my happy place and ready for vacation) despite my long travel day of one meal.  The bartender brought my bill and I noticed that Palace Kitchen automatically adds a 20% gratuity on the bill – it’s noted on their menu and many Seattle restaurants are doing this (as a former server I wish I could have done that).  I probably would have tipped more because the service was good and I know what it’s like to work a summer weekend (less money) but there is no option for that on the bill (so bring cash if you want to tip extra).

My Seattle friend asked me where I ate and when I said Palace Kitchen she replied “it’s one of our favorites” noting that the concierge had done well with the recommendation.  On my next visit to Seattle, I’m definitely going back to The Palace Kitchen for another meal (hopefully without the airplane drama) and will save room for dessert!

Have you dined at Palace Kitchen in Seattle?  Is it the best burger in Seattle?

So I took a silly quiz recently to see “How British Are You” based on the list of British foods you’ve eaten.  It was a fun quiz and not surprisingly I scored “you are a picky eater” which made me laugh because I won’t eat haggis for extra points. One tradition I could finally check off was the famous British Sunday Roast.  With all my years of business travel to London, I would miss the traditional Sunday roast dinner (yes, I know that some restaurants have it on their everyday menu) because my flights home were on Sunday afternoon.  So when planning my train from Edinburgh to London, I chose to arrive just before dinner time on Sunday, giving me enough time to check into The Dorset Square Hotel and walk to the pub to meet my friend for drinks before dinner. After drinks, we had a reservation at The Grazing Goat in Marylebone for my first Sunday Roast Dinner.

Marylebone is not a neighborhood I’m familiar with as it was my first stay in the area so I searched online for “Sunday Roast Dinners”, read posts on my TimeOut app, reviews from The Telegraph and consulted OpenTable.  I narrowed my search to three options and then looking at their menus and dining rooms, I chose The Grazing Goat gastropub due to its warm country home feel with the soft design – it seemed open, airy and bright with a simple modern design.

The Grazing Goat in Marylebone

As it was a bank holiday weekend in May, the area was quiet and despite this the restaurant had a good crowd inside, outside and upstairs on the first floor dining room.  This was a residential area with a few smaller hotels so I got a sense that the guests were locals moreso than tourists like me.

We climbed the stairs to the dining room and met the restaurant manager who seated us against the open window which was nice to have fresh air.  The dining room was decorated with wood and light accents.  It could be a romantic or casual depending on your dining companion.  When seated by the manager and asked if we had been there before, I said “no this is our first time here and my first Sunday Roast dinner”, he smiled and said “it will be the best experience and perfect Sunday roast dinner”.  My friend and I laughed because we rarely have the “best experiences” together, he calls me a jinx with so many memorable experiences and stories.  We told the manager, he just cursed us and laughed.

The menu had a good selection of starters, entrees, sandwiches and salads plus the roast menu.  We ordered a nice bottle of Chianti, two starters and our roast dinners – grass fed beef for me and lamb for my friend with a side order of sweet potato fries just because I was in the mood for them. The wine quickly arrived followed by our starters – calamari for him and asparagus in goat cheese for me.

The presentation of my starter was wonderful and the flavors even better. So far we were off to a good start on this “best experience”.  We should have known better from experience but were too busy talking and enjoying the wine.

When we noticed the bottle of wine was nearly finished and our Sunday Roast Dinners were AWOL, I caught the eye of our server who seemed a bit hesitant to approach us. I knew there was a problem as I’ve had that look before when I was a waitress. As other tables around us, who arrived much later than we did, were eating their roast dinners, I knew the kitchen forgot us.  He apologized and said that when he saw we didn’t have our dinners (they have food runners) he asked the kitchen about it and realized they had skipped our order.  He reordered our entrees so it shouldn’t be much longer. We were not happy and when the manager came over to apologize before delivery of the food, I told him “this isn’t quite the best experience so far, you definitely cursed us from the onset” and I laughed to help make him feel a bit better.  I also explained that I’ve worked in restaurant so understand things can happen, I wished were we told sooner rather than asking. He said he would comp us the sweet potato fries for the delay,  the nearly hour delay deserved a bit more than free fries in my opinion.

The Grazing Goat Sunday Roast Dinner(s)

Then the entrees arrived.  My meal looked just as I expected it would – yummy and massive. Under the big slab of tender beef was vegetables and potatoes. I expected a bit of gravy for the bread but there wasn’t any of that to dip into.

The big popover on top is Yorkshire pudding which to me not a “pudding” (dessert) which prompted a lecture into the history of Yorkshire pudding from my British friend and rather than argue over this, I bit into the popover to end the conversation.  I enjoyed my beef roast dinner with the accompanying vegetables.  I don’t eat cauliflower but my friend said it wasn’t cooked properly and needed more time.

My friend’s lamb was more fat than meat so we flagged the manager over and he apologized and went in search of more lamb.  My friend wasn’t keen on his “sunday roast dinner experience” but he put up with it on my account.  To be honest, he always has issues with lamb when we go out so I’m not sure why he still orders it.  I pick restaurants that serve lamb or are known for it and he has issues (funny aside, the next restaurant I picked for lamb, he chose the beef instead so I can’t win).

By now, I was happily eating my food while he wasn’t having any fun focusing on the bad parts of our meal so far. To add insult to injury as they say we were out of wine (never good) and he wasn’t keen on ordering another bottle and staying here longer.  We were already waiting on my dessert (pudding) as I needed a bit of chocolate to end this meal and finsh my wine.  This was a special dinner for us as we hadn’t seen each other in months to catch up and pre-celebrate his birthday.  So there was a few more layers to our disappointment. To the manager’s credit (the poor guy), he apologized to us and removed the lamb roast dinner from the bill plus my dessert in addition to the fries. None of this was requested but he did it anyway which helped my friends mood a little bit to know I didn’t have to pay for his bad meal as I was treating him for his birthday.

Having worked in restaurants, I have a different tolerance for what can and can’t be controlled and understand mistakes happen.  However, when the server realized the oversight, he should have immediately informed us and set the expectation, in this case he didn’t and that’s what was bothersome – we were hungry, folks around us were eating and we continued to wait without knowing when our food would arrive. Hangry (hungry + angry) people are not happy people.

Overall Review – The Grazing Goat, Marylebone

I’d go back (my friend would not) to The Grazing Goat again for a Sunday Dinner Roast as I enjoyed the food and the flavors.  However, next time, I would be more cognizant of the timing and pacing of our meal to recognize a problem earlier. I had read many reviews that the food was good but the service uneven. I had forgotten about that as I was caught up in the haze of wine and conversation. The manager tried his best but, in the end, even he acknowledged he cursed our meal by promising “it would the best experience”. It was definitely a memorable experience, one in which has banned me from picking restaurants in the future when dining with my friend. But that’s ok, I have other friends in London to dine with at the Grazing Goat in Marylebone.

Have you ever had a meal with a friend where your food was good and theirs wasn’t?  What did you do?  Would you go back to the restaurant without that friend in the future?  Or would you be one and done like my friend?

New York City has a dizzying array of food options and yet, I always find myself in Midtown Manhattan in search of food – solo.  While in the past, I’ve ventured to Chelsea for Eataly, the frigid weather kept me within a few blocks of the Refinery Hotel in the Garment District and the Broadway theatres on my last visit.  My puffy winter coat along with layers of hats, gloves and scarves seemed a bit too much to find space in a small cafe or at a bar seat so I jumped into the deep end of OpenTable for a Saturday night dinner for one (not all restaurants take a reservation for one so you may need to book a table for two to get a seat).  I scrolled past many early options, starting at 5 p.m. which was fine as I had matinée ticket to Hamilton.  Many openings had a * indicating alternative seating which can mean a bar seat or open kitchen counter which can be a bonus or have you seated with a view of a wall which sucks.  I decided to go with my happy place – red meat, red wine and chocolate cake – aka a steakhouse.  Having seen STK around the world on my travels, I decided it was time to explore the trendy steakhouse so I booked my 5:30 table for one at STK Midtown Manhattan.

STK Midtown – Location

The restaurant is set back from the street so I almost missed it if not for the stop light as I was walking in the wind.  I looked left and saw the sign STK behind the outdoor seating area of the office building. I also saw a fireplace in the window and I was freezing so of course that looked inviting from ½ block away.  Located on 6^th Avenue (aka Avenue of the Americas) near 42nd street across from Bryant Park and two blocks from the new Whole Foods.  It is also a short walk from Radio City Music Hall and Grand Central.

Arrival

Looking as if I was arriving from the cold tundra which was just outside, three staff instantly greeted me at the front host stand.  One took my coat, another said “follow me” and the other “enjoy your meal”.  It was a quick blur as I was whisked from the frigid memory of outside into the warm interior.  We walked past the front dining area, through the bar area, up some stairs to the elevated dining room with plush leather booths and tables with a view of the entire restaurant.  I had my own dinner theatre of people watching from the back corner of the restaurant – it was early on a Saturday so no nightclub DJ or party scene to deal with – just a relaxing early dinner.

STK Midtown Décor

Unlike the traditional dark wood-paneled steakhouses that you are most familiar with (and that I do love), STK Midtown was a design delight with vaulted ceiling design, white leather, wood accents and gorgeous tall vases with fresh flowers.  It was a dining room for all.  My table was along the wall of banquette seats so they can accommodate large parties (they also have a private dining room and back bar).  Next to me was a corner booth and I could see families, friends and a few children (and babies in high chairs) throughout the dining room.  It was early in the night, not quite 6 p.m. but the pre-theatre crowd was filling the room pretty quickly and it was nice to see how the steakhouse is evolving to capture diners of all ages including families.

STK Midtown Food

The décor was not a distraction from the wonderful food.  Classic steakhouse options abounded on the menu at familiar price points.  Various cuts of beef with topping and sauce choices shared space with other entrees like fish, oysters, appetizers and sides.  While I was tempted by the short rib ravioli, two pieces for $24 deterred me as I dreamed of dessert instead.  I would request the dessert menu to take a look to see how to plan out my dinner and depth of indulgence. It should be noted that the desserts are not made in-house by a pastry chef so that was initially disappointing to know but helped in my planning as I spied three dessert contenders.

I chose the smaller filet option, the 6 oz. medallion and added a healthy side of asparagus.  Side choices are meant to be shared so take note when it’s just you.  Try as I might I wasn’t able to eat the entire plate of asparagus which was seasoned and grilled perfectly.  It was the bread that did me in, I forgot to say “hold the bread” on my gluten-free diet and lacking any carb willpower I dug into the bread pulling off each piece happily stuffing the warm, buttered bread in my face.  Washing this down with a glass (or two) of Malbec made me happy.

The food was even better than it looked – and it looked pretty good at first glance.  I topped the filet with peppercorn crust and it came with a brown au jus sauce (I was definitely a dipper and dunker that night).  The tenderness of the beef with the spicy pepper and flavorful gravy was a delicious combination to enjoy.

STK Midtown Dessert

The server was attentive to check on me at various points of my meal which was welcomed and not too much or too little (sometime solo diners can be ignored or fawned over by restaurants). I told him I needed a break before dessert.  He suggested the “warm cookie” as the best dessert but unknown to him, I had a Bouchon brownie and double chocolate cookie in my bag, along with boutique chocolates from La Maison du Chocolat (my after theatre diversion and reason I was slightly late for my dinner reservation).

I chose the Berry Parfait as it sounded refreshing and a bit healthy (berries).  When it arrived it was a deconstructed berry crumble – three scoops of creamy raspberry sherbet with berry compote in the middle with graham cracker crumble sprinkled around.  I surprised myself when I ate it all!  I guess some part of my lactose intolerant brain thought it was ice cream and relished the idea of eating ice cream again without getting sick.  Never mind that it was literally 10 degrees outside – I was warm in my happy place of red meat, red wine and dessert!

Final Thoughts STK Midtown

My dining experience from start to finish was fantastic.  As a solo diner, I would definitely return to STK Midtown and also try their other locations around the world hoping to replicate my dinner experience. At no point did I feel odd dining solo, I was treated like any other guest which was good to see.  My meal with two glasses of Terrazas Malbec cost $112.15 before tip – a luxury dinner to complete my luxury weekend in New York City.

We had just arrived in Paris after the long journey from JFK to Heathrow to Charles de Gaulle and we were hungry.  After getting sorted in the charming small luxury boutique hotel, Hotel Therese, we started walking around the area – the 1^st arrondissement.  There are a plethora of cafes, restaurants and even the Pierre Hermes patisserie for macarons to choose from but I was I search of a classic restaurant for Mom’s first French dinner.  Then it started to rain and mom was getting hangry (hungry + angry) when I vetoed a bunch of place “too touristy” “no pizza, this is Paris”, “you won’t like it there” etc.  I would quickly learn to feed Mom (ice cream, slushee, ham/cheese baguette) at the first sign of hunger for the rest of the trip but for now….

She spied a café on the corner near the Paris Opera, one that screams classic Paris café but also TOURIST, EXPENSIVE, ENGLISH MENUS outside, etc.  So being the travel snob that I am, I tried to steer her away from it but then the wind started blowing the rain and our umbrellas were losing.  I looked at the menu (which had those oh so french foods hot dog and cheeseburger), saw a croquet monsieur (ham/cheese sandwich) and salads and knew that she would be able to eat something there.  As for me, after a two month gluten free stretch, I was about to go rogue (it was Paris and there were baguettes to be had).

Cafe de la Paix at The Intercontinental Paris

As we walked past the outdoor café seating which was full of people under cover but nonetheless a bit wind-swept and rainy, so we entered the restaurant lobby and had two menu and dining room choices.  The décor was quite Versailles meets corner café with a marble like statue plus gold touches around – the place screamed historic and upon research the cafe has been there since 1862! Not knowing at the time that the cafe was attached to the luxury Intercontinental Paris (I missed out on points!), I felt that in our jeans, sporting a bit of jet lag we wouldn’t fit in well in the posh dining room with white table linens so I chose the brasserie which was inside by the windows or outside along the street. Grumpy Mom = Inside & Dry.

We were shown to a window table so we could see others navigating the rains and wind outside.  When the French waiter (all men that I could see) came to the table, I ordered tap water (in my best French) and a glass of Bordeaux for €12 a glass (I earned it) and then Mom said something that cause my brain to stop and shout “NOOOOOOO” in that slow motion movie moment – Mom said “I’d like a Diet Coke”.  My face gave me away and Mom asked “What’s wrong?”, I replied “Mom the glass of soda costs €8, you should never order soda in a restaurant because it’s such a rip off”, then Mom says “I’m on vacation” – oh boy, this was the first of many interesting justifications on the trip (she had another diet coke at another cafe the next day and then a few days later when her Galleries Lafayette lunch cost  €8 that she said “that was an expensive soda”).

French Food for Picky Eaters (i.e. Mom)

Mom’s first French meal in Paris was……a club sandwich (€24), I chose the Croque Madame (€22) which is French ham, cheese with an egg on top with a side of frites.  Then the bread basket arrived (happily free of charge) and I reacquainted myself with gluten and French butter, a wonderful combination.  When the food arrived, it was plated nicely – I especially liked the egg cutout on my sandwich.

The service was good, the food lovely but a lesson for Mom in restaurants – look at the menu first, avoid places that take advantage by charging exorbitant amounts for soda (go to the market instead) and try to order a local special (the club sandwich isn’t quite local Mom).  Mom didn’t care as her next days would be filled with pasta, chicken and burgers.  I laughed when she said she was tired of ham/cheese baguettes – she wouldn’t try others because of the mayo or other odd thing she didn’t know or recognize (she’s 74 on her first trip out of the U.S.)  I would later manage to get her to try my duck (not a fan), the strawberry crepes (she ate the fruit) and the macarons (doesn’t have a sweet tooth).

Travel Lesson Learned – Mom will be Mom

Lesson learned for me – she was happy eating what she ate – she didn’t need to experience French food for the Paris trip to be successful.  Her comfort food zone for over 70 years has been American food so I had to go with it even if it meant €8 for a Diet Coke.  We did manage to find a classic French cafe, unfortunately it was in a five star hotel with five star prices but as Mom said “we’re on vacation!”. Our luxury trip started on an expensive note and would progress as Mom would develop a fondness for French champagne but that’s another story.

On my infamous trip to Paris when I was abandoned at Valentine’s Day, I had visited Angelina Paris because my friend HAD to try the famous hot chocolate as it was on the list of must do Paris activities she had printed from CNN and had to check each box.   At the time, 1994,  I was only a few years out of college, living at home with my parents and not eating at fancy places like this so spending what was then a lot of money for a croquet monsieur (ham/cheese sandwich) and a glass of Coca Cola seemed ridiculous.

So fast forward to Mom’s luxury trip to Paris & London. Our hotel, Hotel Therese, welcomed us with Angelina chocolate bars and I had flashbacks to the good parts of that doomed trip, namely the lovely Parisian experience of a cafe lunch.  Yes, it’s high on the tourist scale but most of Paris will be full of tourists so get over that.  The prices are high (it’s a tourist attraction in my opinion) but it’s an experience that I think you should try at least once. It’s been an institution in Paris since 1903!  Think of all the people who have enjoyed this tea room and indulged in the pastries and chocolate (each unique works of art).

While Mom really enjoyed cereal and coffee each day in the hotel, I was dying to escape to a French café or patisserie for breakfast.  Knowing that cereal wouldn’t be on the menu, I had to take a chance that Mom might eat eggs for breakfast on our last day in Paris as I explained “this is a classic Paris experience”.  I chose breakfast at Angelina because I knew it wouldn’t be crowded (you can reserve a table on OpenTable) at 8 a.m., since they open at 7:30 a.m.

The Takeaway Treats at Angelina Paris

When we entered I immediately noticed the pastries that I wanted to consume en masse – they were gorgeous works of art and I wondered how I missed those on this trip.  Oh right, Mom – she has no sweet tooth at all so we passed most of the patisseries this trip.   The small area has colorful macarons, delectable social media worthy #foodporn French pastries and a wall of chocolate options (bars, tins and bags of treats) as well as Angelina specialities.

The Angelina Paris Breakfast

There is a smaller upstairs dining room but as it wasn’t crowded this Friday morning, we were greeted and shown to a table for two in the main dining room.  Mom commented “this is a small table” and I laughed and said it was perfect café type size with a small side table to hold the larger items.  Looking around the walls and ceiling had décor that seemed to evoke an era gone by and that’s part of the charm.  You can imagine the elegant past of this famous room with its Belle Époque architecture and details.

I had already looked online at the breakfast options and prices so I wasn’t surprised, Mom was a bit taken aback but this was a lady who was ok with her €15 cereal/coffee combo and €8 diet coke so really should she have been surprised?

I ordered the Angelina breakfast (€29.50) with is a good mix of bread & pastries (croissant, pain au chocolate, raisin and baguette), coffee, orange juice, hot breakfast (eggs) – it’s cheaper to go with this instead of ala carte each item.  Mom ordered the ala carte Angelina croissant (€14) with ham since she was drinking my coffee (I don’t drink coffee) and sharing the pastries.

Of course, I inhaled the tray of carbs and told mom of the joys of French butter – she smothered her baguette with butter and understood quickly asking “can we take the butter with us?”  I said “there won’t be any left to take but we can take the jams and honey jars with us”. Happily full of French carbs, my eggs arrived simply plated while mom’s ham and egg croissant stole the show.  We were both surprised to see that it was a croissant sandwich stuffed with scrambled eggs and ham – she loved it!

The Angelina Paris Dining Room Conversation

The room was a mix of French people, Asian & American tourists.  The American ladies were seated at the table across from us (Yes, I was eavesdropping but frankly it was hard not to as the ladies were a bit loud arguing over what to do for the day and what to order).  At one point, one lady got up and stormed out leaving her friend alone.  Of course, knowing that scenario all too well, I leaned over to chat and tell her that she could mix/match the menu like Mom and I did to save money and not waste food.  She quickly shared that this was her dream trip with her mom who sadly passed a few years prior so she was with her friend.

While she was content to wander the streets of Paris to take in the sights, sounds and smells, her friend didn’t want to go to Versailles alone (this was a classic case of conflicting travel styles and why you need to quiz your friends).  When she went to find her friend outside thinking she was smoking to calm down, she returned to tell us that her friend left her without a text, call or email.  But the Southern Lady from Atlanta wasn’t about to let this get to her – she ordered her Angelina breakfast and wanted to enjoy this historic taste of Paris that was on her list (she thought it was too early for the famous hot chocolate, I said I didn’t think so – it’s chocolate after all!).

As we wished her a great stay in Paris, we again walked past the pastry counter and I vowed to return after our boat cruise to pick up treats for our Eurostar journey to London (alas, all good plans – traffic on the Seine prevented me from coming back in time).

Parisian Breakfast at Angelina Paris

Mom enjoyed this little slice of Paris – she loved her breakfast sandwich and was engrossed in all the drama of the American ladies next to us (classic café culture of the stories all around you).  I told her that’s what happens when you travel – you enjoy good food, meet interesting people, share stories and if you are lucky indulge in chocolate!

Angelina Paris is priced on par with many hotel breakfasts and in that case, I’d say leave the hotel buffet behind and splurge on a taste of historic Paris, on pretty patisserie and luxury chocolates at Angelina. This is a food memory of Paris that is a good one – at breakfast, at lunch, brunch, the ice cream cart or from the patisserie case – so indulge!

Angelina Paris Location

We at the original location across from the Tuileries Gardens (between the Louvre and Plaza Concorde), at 226 rue de Rivoli in the 1^st arr.  Rue Rivoli leads to the Champs Elysees and the Louvre so the main street is also easy to navigate and the Metro (Line 1 yellow) stops at Tuileries.  There are other locations throughout the city so go indulge your sweet tooth.