A MIX OF THOUGHTS
We received a gift (credit card) as a birthday present to this hotel. On arrival and pulling open the double glass doors (quite old) there is the sign on a stick "Guests only beyond this point" or words to that effect. Over to the right is a typical hotel desk, and if you are noticed, they say welcome and indicate you should come over. The staff at the desk are pleasant but not overly friendly - sort of a reserved butler type of effect. Our reservation was handled but at noted in other reviews of this establishment "your room is not ready yet (it was 3 pm.) but we do have another that is for an additional $25." We declined it after asking why it was more expensive and she said it had a street view. Our room had a street view also - the street behind the hotel and the parking lot across that street.
Although the gift card was generous, the room rates here are definitely $$$$ and they don't include the various taxes which jack it up beyond the rate. They can calculate the total cost for you if asked, although on one phone call for that purpose it required a second person with a calculator (apparently) to do the necessary math.
We did not want to leave any money on the card, so we ate dinner in the restaurant which is on the main (lobby) floor, all of which is open space graced by many pillars with ornate wood. The second floor is visible via the lack of a ceiling in the restaurant area, and the "roof" of the area is a very nice stained glass atrium cover. Around the perimeter of the space hang many original chandeliers, which are also the predominant features of the rooms. They have done well with the renovation work for the most part.
The restaurant food was good - not gourmet and $$$ pricing. The service was on the slow side despite a Friday night wait staff of 4 men, 2 of which work out of the small bar area which is adjacent through a couple of portals from the lobby. Little things like the complimentary bread was not ready (needing to be baked), the table tops are not covered in linen and your silverware is laying on top of the table instead of (at least) on a paper napkin. The corkscrew for our bottle of wine had gotten away from the server, and his ball point pen quit working after he had left the cheque and disappeared from the scene. I robbed one from the reception desk to sign the bill.
The live music from bar area was easily heard in the restaurant, but it clashed with the musak system that was playing horrible classical music just as loudly so the cacophony of musical noise spoiled the ambiance of the room. They try hard to be upscale, but are tripping over their shoe laces to make it happen.
The room we got was 310 - the last one on the hallway of the 3rd floor. Ordinarily it would seem to be a nice quiet room but we noticed an annoying humming sound that was constant. With the television on, it wasn't so noticeable, but when we went to bed it kicked on with much more noise and force. The air handling equipment is apparently mounted on the roof, and tightly attached to the building framework so that the operation of the machinery is well heard on the 3rd floor. For the same money you will be smarter to only get a 2nd floor room. There are ways to isolate the machinery from the building structure but apparently the HVAC contractor did not do it. If a good droning noise, punctuated by periodic louder noise is your ticket to a good night's sleep then this is the room for you.
Breakfast is in another room near the elevator and is a buffet for $13, despite what the booklet in your room tells you. It was "nice" with cold cereal, hot cereal, slices of bread, waffles in a warmer, scrambled eggs, coffee and juices and a fellow making omelettes to your specifications. They were good, not fluffy, more a pancake thickness.
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