Ben "Ben Z" Z.'s Profile

Bricks depends too much on its good looks.

Built into a basement grotto, Bricks feels old-worldy and is a nice switch from the modish style of other Chicago spots I've visited recently. High marks for authenticity.  

But the pizza here is just "OK", possibly below average. Their specialty pizzas are loaded with the ingredients pizza purists don't tolerate -- pesto, BBQ chicken, goat cheese, smoked Gouda. The sheer amount of goat cheese on the "Red Planet" pie totally overpowered every other ingredient. Plain old pepperoni and cheese might be a better approach at Bricks.  

The bar is small but features a killer beer list. A 22oz bottle of Fat Tire Amber Ale pairs well with even the worst pizza. They also have Delirium Tremens -- a rare Belgian beer that's 8.5% alcohol. No kidding around.

Finally, I called to check the wait before heading over and was told it was a half hour. But when I arrived ten minutes later the wait turned into an hour. Meh.

Tweet is quirky brunch spot with a vast menu, featuring everything from breakfast burritos to Swedish pancakes to Korean bowls. Dora the Explorer could have created it. But you'll find something you'll like, regardless of your brunch preferences.

The latin-flavored dishes are the real specialties. The breakfast burritos are gigantic and awesome. But the winners are the chilaquiles (eggs, salsa and mole over fried tortillas), and the sausage gravy and biscuits. There is also a wide selection of vegetarian and gluten-free options. Tweet really has something for everyone. The food comes our fast and the portions are enormous.

Fans of the restaurant will describe it as "eclectic", critics will call it shabby and rundown. If you're used to a stylish and modern brunch experience this is not the place for you. The design style could be described as "cat-lady". All the tables wobble.

Prices are fair and the service is attentive -- maybe a little too much so -- the water and coffee guys seem to hover.

But overall Tweet wins with its unfettered menu and won't let down breakfast fans.

I work in the building and Market Creations is my go-to place when I'm in a rush or it's too lousy out to go outside (aka desperate). I can only recommend the  sandwiches, which are made-to-order and not awful.

The buffet, on the other hand, is truly gag-worthy, filled with disgusting, gristly options stewing for hours in their own grease. It just looks like food poisoning ready to happen. It's also not cheap -- $7/lb. You've been warned.

I've been a member at EBC for about three months now and have quickly grown to love this behemoth of a health club.

The Good:
Expansive facilities with something for everyone. There are hundreds of cardio machines of all configurations, an indoor driving range, two pools, indoor track, etc, etc, etc. The scope of EBC is astounding. And that's just the fitness amenities. There are two decent restaurants, daycare, spa facilities, car wash...you name it! If you're used to an Equinox or Chicago Sports Club you'll be astonished by the sheer scope of the place. The locker rooms at EBC have more space than my entire gym back in Boston.

The Bad:
No much. Membership here is pricey and it's easy to get "swipe-happy" -- all the parking, smoothies, and court fees add up quickly. But management offers a few offsetting perks like a $50 gift certificate for your birthday. The decor is a bit out-of-date, but apparently there are some renovations underway.

The Ugly:
First, guys, let me say that I am in no way an ageist, nor am I overly bashful...but there are some utterly amazing, over-the-top displays of male nudity--mostly perpetrated by the older members, of which there are a lot. I've witnessed a number of activities that should never be done in the nude (at least in public): stretching, sandwich-eating, toenail clipping, cheering for the Bears. Bad things, man. Bad things. Avert eyes!

I've stayed a number of W Hotels and found the rooms in Boston to be some of the most spacious and well-appointed of any in the chain. There are nice touches like a phone-charging plate and--if you're lucky enough to get a corner room upgrade--a Bang and Olufsen media player. The corner rooms are awesome. Definitely inquire about an upgrade if you have any SPG status.

The facilities are decent with plenty of room service options. The gym is above average and modern, albeit a little small.

The bar and restaurant are on the stuffy side. Other W Hotels, namely Seattle and San Francisco, have integrated lounge areas for working or just relaxing. Boston's lounge feels entirely like you're in a high-end bar. Maybe it's the palette or layout -- it's just not very comfortable.

If you're visiting Boston and are looking for a boutique hotel, you'll likely choose between W Boston and the Liberty Hotel. While the Liberty has a better facade and scene, the W has better rooms and service.

Marge's is a decent pub and a not a bad place to grab a couple of pints. The problem is that their food is truly awful. I've had a few meals here and everything I've tried has been drenched in grease, over-cooked, or obviously reheated. Also mystifying is the huge diversity of menu items...beef bourgignon?

Hopefully Marge's will get its act together -- it gets a lot of overflow from Twin Anchors; they'd do well with a dependable menu.

Nestled into the Sonoran Desert about 40 minutes from Downtown Phoenix, this resort celebrates its rugged Southwestern spirt while still offering an exceptional luxury experience.

The Four Seasons makes it easy to customize your experience, whether you prefer to explore the nearby desert or lounge by the pool. My wife and I took two desert hikes--there are trails connected to the resort. The approximately five-mile Pinnacle Peak hike is only slightly difficult and offers amazing 360 degree views of the desert. I would recommend hiking in the morning--it gets hot! What a great way to start your day.

We selected one of the mid-rage rooms, and were suprised by its size and apportions. We had two large rooms, two bathrooms, a sun deck. The rooms are luxurious without being stodgy. One nice touch was the telescope--the desert sky provided amazing stargazing.

There are three restaurants: Talavera (fine-dining steakhouse), Crescent Moon (high-end Mexican), and Saguaro Blossom (poolside and lighter fare). We found the food to be the least memorable part of our stay, especially Talavera--which was mildly disappointing. However, the brunch buffet at Cresent Moon is excellent. I would also highly recommend the Carne Asada nachos poolside, which were some of the best I've had.

Perhaps our favorite part of the experience was the quiet and solitude. Maybe it was a quiet weekend at the resort, but we never felt crowded. It was easy to get a prime poolside spot and we just strolled into the restaurants at our leisure.

Service was faultless. This is not an inexpensive weekend but, as I've found in my travels, with Four Seasons resorts you truly get what you pay for. Show owner comment »

I've been to Benchmark a few times and was initially shocked and awed by the retractable roof and wall-to-wall, hyper-HD flat screens. Nice to have in the neighborhood.  

I dropped in last Sunday to catch some football. The first thing I noticed was the staff -- they all had that "just rolled out of bed and came to work" look. I realize it's Sunday, but if you're waiting on tables you should be required to take a shower and put on a clean shirt.

Then came the food. I ordered three basic apps - endamame, chicken wings, and hummus. All three had the unmistakable "fresh out of the microwave" taste. Several of the endamame were rotten. How do you screw those up?

Maybe if was just an off-Sunday, but if Benchmark really wants to cater the high-end bar-going crowd they need to get their staff to wash and maybe toss out the microwave.

The drive from the city and weekend wait are worth it -- Walker Brothers is for real. Nothing here is done fancy; all the dishes are hearty and cooked to perfection. I had the basted eggs and bacon with two pancake sides--regular and potato.

Bacon lovers will like the thick-cut, unprocessed variety they offer. The eggs and pancakes were excellent. But what really stood out were the potato pancakes, which were also as good as my Bubbe would make at Hanukkah (seems strange from a place that feels Scandinavian).

Now I just need another excuse for trip to Glenview!

I've stayed here several times in the last few months. I picked it because it's one of the least expensive Starwoods properties in Greater Boston. It's also right in Harvard Square, which can be a good place to stay.

On the plus side, the hotel is affordable and they have a nice bar/restaurant (which seems to be mostly empty during the week). The staff is always friendly. It's also a short walk from the epicenter of Harvard Square. The 'T' is also close - you don't need a car.

But....

The hotel is on the older side, and even though it has been upgraded over the years, the rooms lack modern amenities and are rather uncomfortable. The in-room HVAC appeared to be from the 1960s; it came on with a loud BANG! that woke me up several times. I played the hot/cold game all night. The room was also painfully dry. They don't appear to have a centralized room humidified like more modern hotels.

A good night's sleeping isn't something I've been able to experience at this hotel.

The Commander is OK for a quick overnight trip--especially if you have business in Cambridge. I'd look for something more modern and comfortable if you're stay is extended.