Samuel "Showbiz Trivia Junkie" G.'s Profile

After many, many recommendations of "best pie places in Chicago", for our last dinner meal before returning to D.C., we opted for Giordano's, because we heard it was supposed to be "the best of the best", and also because it's practically a stone's throw away from the Hyatt.

Two lessons I have taken away from that meal: Lesson One - when somebody tells you to bring your appetite to Giordano's and NOT to have any appetizers beforehand, LISTEN TO THEM.

And Lesson Two? The "best stuffed pie" debate may continue to rage on, but it's all fairly subjective.  I can't say that a bite of Giordano's generously endowed "small" pie (and I use the word "small" facetiously) had me shouting to the rafters for joy, but for what it is, it's a pretty damn good pie.  I just wish we hadn't had chicken fingers and spinach artichoke dip before. It was a damn shame we couldn't take the leftovers back to the hotel room with us, because that would've kept us fed for another two days at least!

And no offense, but just in my own opinion, Giordano's still has a ways to go before it usurps the throne of Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinders Company. Now THAT is pizza worth fist-fighting for!

Okay, so right off the top, I must warn those who are 'newbies' to Vaccaro's...the outrageous thirty-to-an-hour-long waits for food are legendary...and THAT'S just for "carry-out." We decided to brave the Vaccaro's gauntlet one night a couple of weeks ago, after having dinner with some friends at our reliable Little Italy chow place down the street, La Tavola. The lines have now practically turned the place into a freakin' FIRE HAZARD, because the downstairs area has now been completely shut down for long-overdue renovations, (here's hoping that's all said and done by the time we make a comeback trip.)

We'd all been hearing about the awesomeness of Vaccaro's pastries, ices and gelatos forever, and we decided that now was the time to venture forth and find out what the deal REALLY was.  Our friends and my other half got in line about twelve people ahead of me, and there were so many that there was almost no room to even get upstairs to the counter to order.  But after about ten minutes, I couldn't take it anymore. I just used their bathroom, then fought my way back downstairs and waited for everybody else outside.  I don't mind waiting in line and I don't mind crowds, but THAT was a claustrophobic experience I'd rather not have again anytime soon, thanks!

After what seemed like a decade and a half, they finally came back out with bags of goodies.  My partner said the menu was so extensive that he couldn't decide, so he just picked out a bunch of stuff, while our friends opted for what looked like the yummiest chocolate gelato double-scoop cones I've ever seen in life.

What we had were two huge cheese pastries with an unpronounceable name, a rich, filling and an amazing, nutty, crispy crust that unfurled into these delicate spirals when you took a bite.  Then there were light-as-air cream puffs filled with what has to be one of the "nectars of the gods."

But what truly won my pudgy heart and the five stars you see above, were their KILLER almond cookies.  Sweet, chewy disks bursting with rich, creamy almond goodness, sprinkled generously on top with mounds of crispy, toasted almond slivers...

Remember how William Hurt felt about Kathleen Turner the first time he saw her in BODY HEAT? That's what these frickin' cookies have done to me...and I haven't even seen the menu yet!!!

If I don't want to wind up weighing 500 lbs. before my 50th birthday, I have to make an unbendable rule about Vaccaro's...I think we should only make a visit ONCE every month or so, maximum.

For the rest of you who can handle it, whatever you've heard about the insanity of the wait for such heavenly delights is true...and MORE.  But whatever you have to go through to get some today is more than worth it, too. Vaccaro's is molto, MOLTO bene!!!

The mark of a great business establishment, especially a place like a hotel, can be found in the staff's ability not just to deliver great service, but also in the display of their problem-solving skills when it comes to customer service. Based on the outcome of the following story, I would choose the Hyatt as my place to stay every time I come into Chicago from now on.

I was working as a volunteer at an event on the Navy Pier, sponsored by the NPO I work for. Naturally, as a "volunteer employee", my hotel and travel accommodations were supposed to be taken care of once I followed the proper procedures for filling out paperwork and obtaining confirmation numbers.

The flight was fine, the trip from O'Hare (mostly) uneventful. But imagine my shock and surprise, when my partner and I arrived at the hotel and we were informed that THE ROOMS WEREN'T PAID FOR. NOW was the time that the event coordinator chose to tell me that we were expected to pay for the rooms in advance OURSELVES, to be reimbursed at a later date.

"Mortified" doesn't even begin to describe how I felt, especially since I didn't have a credit card that would cover the entire expense of the stay. At that moment, I was pretty much ready to haul it out of there and find the nearest Motel 6, Econolodge or Days Inn. But it was thanks to the quick and diplomatic thinking of Jennifer, the front desk rep, that the situation was made easier.

She advised me and the event coordinator about what to do (obviously, this was not the first time she'd had to deal with a problem like this.) Plus, in the meantime, she made sure we still got a room at least for the night, (with a SPECTACULAR 27th floor view of "The Loop".)

I won't bore you with the other details, but the situation was eventually resolved and we all lived (and slept and dined) happily ever after. Not only is the atrium of the Hyatt dazzling to behold (with probably the world's most interesting designer fountains), but the quality of the customer service didn't stop with Jennifer.

I think everyone there did an outstanding job, but personally, I think Jennifer deserves a raise.  And the Hyatt deserves my future business, which they will most definitely have the next time we return to Chicago.

We got to experience Stetson's while staying at the Hyatt, during my most recent "working vacation" trip. VERY nice place with a laid-back yet classy atmosphere - nothing less than what we would've expected from a well-attended Chi-town eatery.

There was live music from the front lounge...the guy at the piano was good, but not great. Not that it mattered...it was the MEAL that gets it five stars. I had the 10 oz. filet mignon, which was "like BUTTAH", and practically melt-in-your-mouth heavenly.  I don't indulge in red meat much these days, but when I do, I want it to be good and this exceeded my usual expectations.  The sides were phenomenal - sauteed spinach swimming in butter garlic, just the way I like it...and a twice-baked potato so big that I couldn't finish it all.  ME, "The Portion Killer"!

The staff was wonderfully attentive and welcoming, and the highlight was when our server brought us dessert - ON THE HOUSE. We'd been admiring these chocolate-dipped strawberries served on a bed of dry-ice  - an incredible and eye-catching presentation, and we found ourselves with containers of those same berries to take with us up to our room. (Sans dry ice, natch, but still...how 'COOL' is that?)

The cost was about what you'd expect to pay for a really nice meal, expertly served.  When I come back to Chicago, I want to make it a point to stay at the Hyatt again, and spend at least several more dinners enjoying Stetson's. (Ruth WHO???)

This hotel hosted the Texas Frightmare Weekend this year, and I'm glad they settled here! Like any hotel, it had its good and bad points, so just to quickly review:

THE GOOD: First of all, if you want to save on transportation fare from the airport, keep the hotel's number handy. They have a free shuttle that will pick you up right where you are...just let them know when you call.  

Nice, clean rooms and certainly big enough to spread out in (I like to use the extra bed as a catch-all for souvenirs and stuff when I bunk in a room with doubles.) Housekeeping was very consistent and thorough, which is not something you find in every hotel - even the pricier ones.

Decent buffets for breakfast, lunch and dinner down in Ashley's, the hotel restaurant - great for me since I don't drive, and most of the "usual suspects" are not within walking distance of the hotel. Great sports bar with very good "bar food" (chicken tenders, burgers, etc.)

Free internet service for guests in the lobby, which I also appreciated since I didn't bring my laptop on this trip, and in-room internet service usually sucks anyway. Simple print jobs were also free. Great coffee bar that served Starbucks products (though it closed way too early - just my opinion.)

And the staff was courteous, friendly and helpful right across the board. Absolutely no complaints there.

THE BAD: There is a small convenience store just adjacent to the main entrance, but one visit there and I kept in mind that I need to bring EVERYTHING with me on the next trip. Most items were wildly overpriced, even by hotel retail standards. (A 20 oz. Vitamin Water cost THREE BUCKS!!! - and if that weren't bad enough, it tasted like it had been put in the cooler back in the early '80's!) Travel-sized basic items like lotion, toothpaste, deodorant, etc. weren't much better. Lesson learned: go to CVS or Target or whatever drug store you frequent and STOCK UP before the trip! And make sure you bring all your electronic necessities. The store sold some power cords/chargers for cell phones and such, but the cheapest one was about $25.00!

As somebody mentioned in another review for this place, the cost of bottled water in the rooms is CRAZY - so be sure you bring some drinks with you, or plenty of dollar bills and change for the vending machines (there's one on each floor). There was a problem the first night because the machine on my floor hadn't been serviced (everything was sold out!), so you might want to check the ones on the floors above or below as well. Water and sodas run about $1.00 - 1.50.

As I mentioned before - the coffee bar closes pretty early, so if you're a fan of evening caffeine, either get your fix before closing or get to the restaurant. Some coffee drinks might be available through room service, but I didn't rely on that this time around.

The elevators were having some issues during the convention, (aside from some tipsy con-goers who forgot how to use them). You need your room key to access the security lock on the elevators to get to your floor, but sometimes the elevator wouldn't stop on the floor you were going to, even after you inserted the card and pressed the button. I hope they work on getting that fixed.

My room didn't have a safe, so take the usual precautions you would with cameras, phones, jewelry, wallets, etc.

As I mentioned before - if you're not renting a car or don't drive, and you aren't with friends or family who do, there isn't anything you can walk to from the hotel, so count on eating all your meals there, stop for food and snacks to bring along with you, or count on cabbing to other restaurants in the area.

Overall, though, I would stay at this Sheraton again, and I'm glad that it's already been selected for TFW in 2010 as well!

(NOTE: The price range indicated on this review is based on the Convention Rates, not the regular rates.)

We were doing one of our traditional "Boyz Nites Out" - dinner and a trip to the new Ziegfeld's/Secrets afterward. It usually starts with either a restaurant close to home, or one relatively close to the bar, somewhere on Capital Hill - usually Las Placitas.  Once we hoofed it down the street from the Metro, though, one look at the huge knot of people on the sidewalk told us we weren't going to get into the place THAT night. Trattoria Alberto across the street? Ditto. Matchbox? FUGGEDDABOWDIT.

So we made one more try with Banana Cafe, which I'd been hearing about for years, but never been in.  Busy also, but the big difference was that they were able to get us a table in about ten minutes' time - a shocker, considering it was packed, and the crowd noise level was such that you could barely hear the piped-in tejano tunes...a first!

The decor is "Mondo Mexicali", for lack of a better way to describe it.  Lots of masks, figurines and very unusual paintings - the one above our table had bas-relief tidal waves that were so close and so prominent, I could've set my water glass on top of it as an extra shelf.

The chips and salsa were okay, but heated the chips would be great. We had single-serving Gold Cadillac Margaritas, and one sip told me that we made a great judgment call not ordering a pitcher. I didn't feel like getting pulled over later for a DWW - "Drunk While Walking".

The chicken quesadilla appetizer was one of the best I've had at a mexican restaurant...even a tad better than Las Placitas.  The main event - the ropa vieja - is something I would highly recommend, but the accompanying black beans were nothing to write home about...very watery and lacking in just about any kind of flavor. (Some more fresh onion, cumin, cilantro and a little more black pepper, perhaps?)

I've heard that you really need to be in the Upstairs portion on Karaoke Nights, but NOBODY was getting upstairs that night...that's how packed it was.  Maybe for our next BNO, we'll just skip Ziegfeld's and try staying there for a change, just for "shiggles"...

We were in the mood for Italian when we stopped by Tyson's II, so we found Maggiano's. It was on the weekend, a Saturday to be exact - NEVER a good time to make a spur-of-the-moment decision to drop into a restaurant in any popular location.  (I guess the stories ARE true: in this rough economy, going out is the new "instant vacation".)

We had to wait at the bar for about forty-five minutes before we got a table, but since we knew that in advance, it was no big deal.  Plus the bartender made a MURDEROUS rum-and-Coke, so all was forgiven, anyway.

We have eaten at one of the Atlanta locations in this particular chain, so we knew in advance what to expect. Medium-to-good appetizers and entrees, with a guarantee of doggie bags to take home, even when you only do HALF-ORDERS from the menu selections.  I had the Rigatoni-D with chicken. If you are really finicky about al-dente pasta, I wouldn't recommend it, but I happen to like mine cooked pretty well, so I was happy, (and the cream sauce was "kickin'!")  Bear had the chicken parm, which was actually better than my entree.  But hey, no problem...when we left, there was enough in our doggie bags for another meal...which is the great thing about Maggiano's.  Dinner is good, sure, but it makes even better leftovers.

The service was great, and our waiter was...interesting.  (Just ask for Stephanie on your next visit.)  She had that unique "Big Apple" flava! (LOL)

If I had anything to complain about, it wouldn't be about Maggiano's, but the Corner Bakery, which you have to walk through to get to the main entrance of the restaurant.  We were going to stop in and pick up something for dessert, but by the time we were done, the Bakery was closed...Who does that??? Oh, well...I'll just chalk it up to 1100 calories that won't get stored on my ass or gut for that particular trip...

A recent visit to LA SANDIA in Tysons reminded me of this place. Admiring the decor of the restaurant with the dark wood furniture, wall accents and the see-through bar arrangement, I happened to look up and see the ornate ceiling, which was made of decorative tiles of what looked like metal - tin, maybe.  When I asked Bear where we'd seen that before, he reminded me...and that's what brought Sabatino's to mind.

We went there as a group, back in the early days of our junkets to Balto's Little Italy, where we decided to try and compare all the different places.  One of the many we did that turned out to be "one-offs" was Sabatino's. Turns out that it's the classic neighborhood "family" restaurants - meaning that it tends to cater to VERY large parties.  So if you want a quiet, intimate, subdued setting to enjoy a nice meal by candlelight...KEEP WALKIN'.

I remember the service being medium - not great but not horrendous by any means, but our waitress seemed to be pretty swamped by her raft of customers.  She had couples' and small groups tables like ours, but was also juggling several other large, boisterous groups as well.

The food? Like I said - it's a "family" restaurant all the way, so if you're used to the kind of fancy-schmancyness at a place like, say, DELLA NOTTE across the street, you're bound to be disappointed.  I seem to remember having the chicken parmagiana...It wasn't Stouffer's or anything that ghastly, but I just don't recall it being a dish with any kind of 'WOW' factor.

Now, here's the funny thing.  What I DO remember is the loaf of fresh, hot garlic bread they brought as an appetizer. Oh...my...GAWD.  Give me two or three of those bad boys, a couple of glasses of wine and a nice, fresh chicken Caesar salad, and I would be good-to-go for the evening. In fact, if I ever find myself there again, I think that's EXACTLY what I'll have.

So, yeah, if you're not looking for much more than a good hot meal for yourself and maybe thirty of your "closest friends", this would be a good place to go. If it's just you and the other half or a close friend, and you just want to partake of the "ambience", that's fine, too. But be prepared for a wait.  We had to cool our heels for about 25 minutes before we finally got in...and it was in NOVEMBER.  Not a good time of year to have to wait by the door.

Bear and I are avid fans of good Mexican food, and he treated me to a Valentine's Day dinner here.  I think I might have passed the place one time before and not even noticed it, but once we got there, the chips and salsa sure as hell made me sit up and take notice!

La Sandia is run by the same company that also created ISLA, a restaurant in Vegas at Treasure Island, where Bear reminded me we'd had a great Mexican meal before. Like I always say - you can tell what kind of a meal you're going to have in any Mexican place by the quality of the chips and salsa, and with the first bite, I knew we'd scored nicely once again.

The spicy guac prepared table-side was a deadly but delightful challenge for the palate, and the chicken flautas appetizer rescued us with flavors that helped even out the "fuego" effect of the habanero-centric dip. Bear had the beef brisket while I went for the beef barbacoa enchiladas, with extra sides of fried plantains and refried beans.  Everything was outstanding...leagues above the usual "shove something in your piehole" fare from places like Chipotle and Baja Fresh.

Nice job, La Sandia - especially with some outstanding service from our attentive (but not OVERLY attentive) waiter. This definitely warrants another trip!

From the ashes of the old Club Lime location, rises a newer, bigger, BETTER Ziegfeld's/Secrets out near Buzzard's Point, and if opening night was any indication at all, it is here to STAY! Where the old club was a one-level affair, here the drag queens are downstairs, the dancing boyz upstairs! The stages on both floors wouldn't be out of place in the best cabaret clubs in existence, and both are islands on a gigantic dance floor sea, should patrons be in the mood to "shake their groove thang" to the explosions of sound thundering from the new "earthquake" worthy systems.

Amazingly, nearly all of the original Secrets dancers are back, along with some stunning new "cast-members." And downstairs, Miss Ella Fitzgerald and her ladies seem as if they couldn't be happier to celebrate having a new home.

The crowds are more diverse and lively than ever - gay, straight, bi and "still figuring it out". Things were certainly hectic and there's plenty of bugs to iron out, service and security-wise, but these are the growing pains of any new establishment that looks to be a smash hit.

So to Jon, Allen, Steve, Darryl S., Miss Ella and all the management, staff and entertainers...WELCOME BACK!  Three years was too damn long, but it was more than worth the wait!!!