Fogo De Chao - Washington, DC

Entrance

Fogo De Chao is a Brazlian Churrascaria, or steakhouse.  Started in Brazil in 1979, Fogo has built up a devoted following, and emphasizes fresh and top quality food and customer service.

As you enter the restaurant, there is a small bar area to the left.  The restaurant opens up into a bigger space on the right, with upstairs seating, that is only available on the weekends.

Although Fogo De Chao is a steakhouse, diners also have the option of only ordering the salad bar.

At each seat, there is a little disc that is red on one side and green on the other.  When on the red side, it signals the servers that at is red on one side and green on the other.  When on the red side, it signals the servers that you would not like any meat brought to at that time.  Once you turn the disc over to the green side, a parade of different cuts of meat will start coming your way.

To begin your meal, you start at the salad bar, which contains several prepared salads, such as Caesar salad, potato salad, pasta salad and a chicken salad.  I have not seen the chicken salad at other locations, and it was quite good with a light curry type spice and raisins.  There are large chunks of chicken that are still tender and moist in a light mayonnaise dressing.  Other items at the salad bar include roasted beets, grilled vegetables, hearts of palm, salami, prosciutto, and different cheeses to name a few.

Menu

Menu

In addition to the cuts of meat pictured on the menu, there was also garlic sirloin, flank steak, another type of sausage and lamb t-bone (which I have not seen at other Fogo De Chao’s before).  I most likely missed a couple of other cuts brought to the table, as it does get overwhelming after a while.

Some of my favorites were the bacon wrapped filet, as the bacon added much needed salt and fat to an otherwise boring cut of meat.  The smokiness of the bacon added another dimension.  With bacon fat bathing the filet, it keeps it both moist and tender, while adding a punch of flavor.

The flank steak was super tender and juicy, something not usually associated with flank steak.  Well-seasoned, I could easily eat several servings of this alone.

The Picanha, is also the house specialty.  The thick fat cap bastes the sirloin as it cooks, keeping it moist and juicy.  With each bite, a packet of meat juice explodes in your mouth.

While Fogo De Chao is not an everyday restaurant at $51.50 per person, it is certainly worth the money considering the quality of ingredients, expert cookery and the overall experience.

For those interested in miles and points, I was pleasantly surprised when miles were added to my account with a dining program, such as the ones offered by American Airlines, United Airlines or Delta Airlines.

Andaz 5th Avenue - New York, A Second Visit

The Andaz Fifth Avenue is quickly becoming one of my favorite hotels in New York.  It is conveniently located and close to public transportation.  Many shops and restaurants are within close walking distance.

As I approached the entrance one of the hosts were also acting as doorman, and opened the door for us and quickly assisted us to the front desk.  My Hyatt Diamond status was recognized, and all benefits were clearly explained.

Room

I was upgraded to an Extra Large Loft in the main hotel tower.  The hotel has two towers and if in the North tower, you will need to get off on the second floor from the main building to get to your room.

Office

As you enter the room, there is a small “office” area with a desk and TV.  A closet/TV stand separates the office from the bedroom.  The office area is sort of useless if wanting to get work done, as there are no outlets anywhere near the desk.  The lighting is also rather poor.

Mini Bar

Mini Bar

The mini-bar is also near the separation of the office space and bedroom.  As with all Andaz properties, there are several snacks and non-alcoholic drinks are complimentary, including several bottles of water, Coke, Diet Coke and several other drinks.

Bathroom

Shower

Creepy or Cool?

The bathroom is rather large, and contains two sinks with a large glass enclosed shower.  The toilet is not separated from the rest of the bathroom, so privacy can only be had by closing all bathroom panel doors.  What struck me as rather odd, is the picture of designer Tony Chi on the bathroom wall almost looking you in the face when doing your business on the toilet.

Foot Bath or St. Bernard Water Dish?

The shower can easily fit 8-9 people if one desires.  There is also a small chair with a foot bath, which can come in handy after a long day of sightseeing and walking.

Bedroom

The bedroom is kind of cozy with a flat screen TV on the closet wall.  The bed is comfortable, perhaps a little too soft for my liking, but I was able to sleep well.

There are touch controls near the bed to adjust the lighting and temperature.  There is another control pad on the bedroom wall to control the window shades.

Room Controls

Room Controls

As a Hyatt Diamond member, breakfast is complimentary up to $75 and can be taken either in the restaurant or room service.  I decided to eat at the restaurant, but the wait was somewhat long.  The restaurant is not very large and the hostess seemed a little frazzled for some reason.

The brunch menu is somewhat more limited than the regular breakfast menu.  There are both several breakfast options, along with some savory options.

Butternut Squash Soup

I started with the Butternut Squash soup.  Although it looked appealing, it was rather tasteless.  If it wouldn’t have been the small drizzle of pumpkin oil and toasted pumpkin seeds on top, this dish would have been sorely lacking in flavor.

Burger

The Angus Burger is a half pound patty that comes simply prepared.  There are several accompaniments that can be chosen, but I am not a big fan of mayonnaise.  The burger was slightly over cooked, but had a good beefy flavor.  The onions were sweet, but still had some bite to it.  The bun was soft and held up well.

From my limited experience with the Andaz Fifth Avenue, it appears that they excel at breakfast rather than the savory options.

The Andaz Fifth Avenue is a great option when coming to New York as it is centrally located, and service is usually excellent.

Hyatt The Pike - Long Beach, CA

The hotel is located on “The Pike”, the old amusement center in Long Beach formed in 1902.   It eventually turned into a small amusement park, with food stands, shops, arcade, carousel, and most famously the Cyclone Racer roller coaster.

After “The Pike’s” demise in 1979, the property has transitioned into an outdoor mall of sorts, with several shops, many restaurants and several hotels, including Hyatt The Pike.  Unfortunately, the venture has not been as successful as had been planned as there are still several vacant storefronts and restaurant spaces available for lease.

yatthhhhhhdfhdskafhfadkhadfshhHyatt took over the Avia chain, and has converted this into a boutique type hotel, somewhat akin to the Andaz brand.  I did not stay at this property when it was Avia, so I do not know what, if any, changes have been made since Hyatt took over.

There is no valet parking, but there is a parking structure only steps away from the hotel.

As you enter the hotel, lighting is somewhat dim very much like an Andaz hotel.  There is a bar/lounge to the right, with many seating areas throughout the lobby.

As I approached the front desk, there were no employees to be found.  I could hear conversation somewhere in the back, but until we got the attention of an employee we could have been standing there for hours apparently.  There was no apology.

Check-in was quick, but no amenities of the hotel were provided such as breakfast hours, if points, or food and beverage were wanted as the amenity.  I was asked if I had parked in the structure, and was given an overnight pass which allows for in and out privileges.  I was also asked if I wanted a late check-out.

The impression I got from the front desk experience, was not good, and that this was likely to be a poor stay.  The front desk agent did not smile, was not friendly, and somewhat surly and probably perturbed that her social hour had been interrupted.

Hallway

I was upgraded to a Master Suite, which is a larger room with the TV and part of the wall separating the living room from the bed.  I did appreciate having a larger space, but this is not a true suite.

Room 624

As you enter the room there is a mirror hung on the wall with a little shelf, which is perfect to place your keys, wallet, etc.  There is also an outlet directly under the shelf so you could also use this space to charge your cell phone.

There is a small stand on the opposite side of the mirror which can also be used to place keys, wallet, purses, etc.

The living room is to the left and includes a large L-shaped couch which is comfortable when watching TV.  It is very convenient that the TV swivels, so one can watch TV while in bed, on the couch or even while seated at the desk.

Living Room

There is also a long desk with ample working space, and most importantly a conveniently located outlet to charge 3 devices.  Although I appreciate the big work area, the space between the desk and the back of the sofa is very small so there is not much room to maneuver if sitting in the desk chair.

Desk

There is a small mini-bar containing cold drinks on one side, with snacks and alcohol on the other.  Unfortunately, no drinks or snacks are complimentary.  Interestingly enough, there is an alarm built into the mini fridge that automatically charges outlet to charge 3 devices.  There is a small mini-bar containing cold drinks on one side, with snacks and alcohol on the other.  Unfortunately, no drinks or snacks are complimentary.  Interestingly enough, there is an alarm built into the mini fridge that automatically charges your room just for moving any item within the fridge.  There is a small shelf to store personal drinks, such as water, soda or beer, but if you happen to have a cup with a lid and mistakenly move one of the drinks unknowingly like I did then be prepared to potentially pay for that.  After reading the warning signs, I called the front desk to let them know that a drink had been moved but not consumed and was not charged.

Mini Bar

Mini Bar

I think this policy has good intentions, but fails in practicality.  Many people bring or buy drinks when staying at a hotel, and simply remove any items for purchase during their stay, then put them back before leaving.

Bedroom

The bed is very soft and comfortable, while the linen has a semi-silk like feeling.  It is very soft, somewhat slippery and stays mostly cool throughout the night.  There is a night stand on each side of the bed with 3 outlets conveniently located on each side.

Bed

The bathroom is very large, although the tile design can be somewhat mesmerizing because of its pattern.

Bathroom

The sink has ample counter space.

Sink & Toilet

The shower does not have an enclosed door, but does provide a choice between a waterfall shower head, or a conventional one.  Water pressure is very good and there was no variance in temperature.

Shower

Shower

Hyatt Diamond members can take breakfast either in the restaurant or through room service.  You are entitled to an odd amount of $24.55 per registered guest at breakfast.

The Short Rib Chilaquiles is a large dish of fried corn tortillas, a tangy spicy green tomatillo sauce, topped with 2 eggs of your choice, sour cream and queso fresco.  The dish is served in a deep casserole dish and is probably large enough for two, and is a classic hangover food.

Short Rib Chilaquiles

The Cinnamon French Toast is topped with apples.  Although requested extra soggy, most restaurants will not comply with this request, the Hyatt was like most others and failed to deliver.  The French Toast was very tasty and the custard was very prominent in some bites.

French Toast

The Black Forest Ham and Cheese Omelet is served with seasoned potatoes, onions and peppers.  The omelet is loaded with cheese, almost too much if that’s possible.  The omelet is cooked well, still soft and creamy on the inside with a touch of texture on the outside.

Omelet

The Pancakes can be served with or without different types of fruit.  The pancakes were light and fluffy for the most part, but just a tad underdone in the middle.

Pancakes

Overall, Hyatt The Pike is a great property that is conveniently located to many restaurants within walking distance.  There were some service issues that could be improved.  The hotel very much reminds me of a “lighter” version of the Andaz brand.  Although the hotel’s website states that parking is $17/per day, the hotel is only charging $7/day.  A great deal for parking in the area.

Hilton Tucson East

The Hilton Tucson East is located a little more than 10 miles away from the airport.  Although Tucson is the second largest populated city in Arizona, it still has a very small town feel.  This results in very light traffic, and getting to the hotel only takes about 15 minutes.

The Hilton Tucson East is conveniently located about a mile away from the Park Place Mall, and close to the University of Arizona.

Upon entering the hotel a large atrium with many windows and natural lighting greets you.

Hotel Atrim

The front desk is located to the left.  Check-in was fairly quick, but the front desk agent must have been new as he was somewhat flustered when processing my reservation.  He did not explain any features of the hotel, nor did he recognize my Hilton Gold status.  I inquired about getting upgraded to the Executive floor as that would allow access to the Executive Lounge.  He told me that I could not get upgraded as the hotel was sold out.  I then inquired about breakfast, as that is an option for Hilton Gold members (as opposed to the 1,000 point amenity).  He informed me that breakfast was served in the Executive Lounge.  Unfortunately, he did not initially inform me that I was being given access to the Executive Lounge.  It was like playing a game of 20 questions during check-in.

Upon entering the room, the bathroom is to the right.  The bathroom is fairly small.  There is a fair amount of counter space, but not much room between the counter, toilet and door.

Bathroom

There is only a shower, which is fairly large.  Water pressure was excellent, and there were no temperature variances.

Shower

The room is spacious with ample room to walk around.  There is a large dresser with a flat screen TV on it.

Room

Dresser/TV

There is a desk with not much working space, although lighting is somewhat dim.  The internet is complimentary for all, but is painstakingly slow.

Desk

There is a lounge chair in the corner.

Lounge Chair

The bed is comfortable, but a little too soft for my liking.

Bed

There is no central air conditioning, instead there is a large in room unit.  Although it does work, it is rather loud.  For light sleepers, this is a big inconvenience.

The room is starting to show its age, as there are many stains on the carpet.  There was also a patch of carpet that was cut out, and replaced with an area of carpeting about 2 feet by 4 feet.

Although breakfast in the Executive Lounge is supposed to be continental, there are a few hot dishes.  There is oatmeal, a do it yourself waffle making station, and scrambled eggs.  The scrambled eggs are probably some of the best that I have had in a "buffet like" setting.  They were smooth and creamy, and not runny.  The only downside is that they are severely under seasoned, which can be somewhat rectified with salt and pepper.  There are other breakfast options, including cereals, bread, bagels, yogurt and fresh fruit.

The Executive Lounge is an open area on the 7th floor.  There are several tables spread throughout the open area.  There are several attendants present at breakfast and at the "Manager's Reception" in the afternoon, but no one is present during the rest of the day.  Several packages of trail mix, and a small cooler holding about 18 drinks are available during the non-staffed hours from what I could tell.

Parking is also complimentary is a big plus in an age where parking can easily exceed $30 day in many cities.

The Hilton Tucson East could use a bit of a facelift, and improve their Executive Lounge offerings during the day.  The feel of the hotel is more like an Embassy Suites rather than a Hilton.

Babbo - New York

Entrance

Babbo is one of Mario Batali’s flagship restaurants.  It was named the Best New Restaurant in 1998 by the James Beard Foundation, and has been given three stars by New York Times food critics Ruth Reichl and Frank Bruni.

Located in a residential neighborhood and occupying a former residence, Babbo is on the smaller side and has a definite intimate feeling.

As you enter, there is a small bar are which opens up into the dining room on the first floor.  A large, steep stairway leads to additional dining upstairs.

The meal started with amuse bouche of spiced chick pea crostini.  It seemed to be a very rustic Italian take on hummus.  The chick peas were nice and creamy, and whet the appetite for things to come.

Gnocchi with Braised Oxtail

The Gnocchi with Braised Oxtail ($20) is a great pasta dish.  The gnocchi are soft pillows that just melt in your mouth.  The gnocchi is not over sauced, while the oxtail adds a bunch of flavor.  Since the oxtail is braised, it is super tender and not at all tough.

Spaghettini with Lobster

The Spaghettini with Spicy Budding Chives and One Pound Lobster ($28) is an absolute steal for the price.  The spaghetti was a little too al dente for my taste, as it certainly had a “chew” to it, but was almost on the verge of having a little crunch as well.  The lobster was well cooked and tender.  The sauce is not too spicy, but did explode with a strong tomato punch.

Barbecued Skirt Steak

The Barbecued Skirt Steak ($29) is a nicely balanced dish.  The skirt steak is cooked to perfection, still juicy with a lot of beef flavor.  The pickled onions help to cut through the richness of the beef.  The eggplant adds another “meaty” texture to the dish.  The only downside of the dish was the “salsa verde”, as I am not a big fan of any type of parsley.

Braised Beef

The “Brasato al Barolo” Braised Beef ($29) is a super tender short rib that is full of flavor.  The Barolo wine adds depth of flavor and richness.  The creamy polenta is a great vehicle to sop up all of the braising liquid.  The celery tops adds a bit of bitterness to the dish to add another dimension. 

Brussels Sprouts

The Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta ($8) pairs the earthy, slightly bitter and “sulfury” Brussels sprouts with salty, crispy pancetta.  The Brussels sprouts are tender and slightly sweet due to caramelization.

Rapini

The Rapini with Roasted Garlic ($8) adds some serious bitterness to the meal, while the roasted garlic adds some zing and sweetness.  Rapini may not be for some due to how bitter it is.

The Saffron Panna Cotta ($13) is silky smooth, creamy and refreshing.  The rhubarb marmalade and sorbetto helps to add some bitterness and sweetness.  This is a well-balanced dessert and on the lighter side.  Perfect after having a rich, heavy meal.

The Warm Apple Crostata ($13) is a perfect finish to a meal on a cold night.  Paired with maple gelato, maple cider caramel and finished with Sicilian Sea Salt, the dessert is not cloying sweet.  The crostata is not overly sweet and depends on its counterparts to help balance the dish.  The sea salt acts both as a flavor enhancer and palate cleanser at the same time.

Although considered fine dining, Babbo definitely has a lighter side.  The background music is rather loud and consists mainly of rap, such as Kanye West, Dr. Dre and the like.

Service was somewhat lackluster, as our server would go missing for long stretches at a time.  The wait staff also provides a floor show of sorts.  On the ground floor in the middle of the dining room, there is a large table in which many bottles of wine, dishes, bread and pitchers of water sit.

The bottles of wine are opened, and are apparently those sold by the glass.  Many servers would pour themselves a small glass and taste it.  At first I thought it was to make sure that each new opened bottle of wine was okay, but as the night progressed I noticed several servers going back and kept “sampling” every time they passed the table.  I would guess that one server had at least 15 glasses of wine during my meal.  After seeing what transpired, I’m not surprised that service was a little more lax than what I would expect.