Jeff T.'s Profile

Kearny Mesa Acura has taken care of me and my cars for several years and I'm (almost) always very pleased with their service and the quality of their repairs.

PROS
I always make an appointment, so it's easy in and out. I generally bring work and wait in their nicely appointed waiting room that has free coffee and WiFi (making it better than Starbucks!) plus comfortable chairs and desks if you need one. They provide a free shuttle van and will even hook you up with a free loaner car on major repairs.

The repairs are always done quickly and to a high standard of quality. I've had one problem reoccur and they fixed it at no charge. Everything is explained and the estimates are always accurate. I've had other dealerships try to rip me off on repairs, but never here. And, I appreciate them washing my car for me even if I'm just getting a small service.

CONS
Three drawbacks come to mind. First, the cashier tells you when your car is ready, not the service advisor. This is fine for minor service, but it would be nice if I didn't have to hunt down my service advisor after the big stuff to ask how the repair and/or inspection went. The second drawback is you will be hounded mercilessly to complete surveys or provide feedback on the service. I think it's great they ask, but I'd appreciate it if they dialed it back  bit. Finally, their prices are high. Of course, you get what you pay for in terms of service and convenience.

THE SKINNY
Take your Acura here if you want service and convenience and are willing to pay a premium for it. They'll get you in, do a great job, and get you out. Shop around if you have more time than money and are willing to chance disappointment at some other place.

I love boutique hotels and I love Westins. Amazingly, this is a boutique Westin - the best of both worlds. I've stayed here twice this Fall, and every person I encountered was wonderful: valets, doormen, front desk, room service, housekeeping, you name it!

PROS
* Wonderful associates who are VERY gracious and serve with a personal touch. I was amazed that several people recognized me by sight on my second visit and said "Welcome back".
* The location can't get much better if you want to be in downtown Portland. They're around the corner from the light rail, so save yourself the $29 overnight valet charge if you don't NEED a car.
* The little things add up: free beer tastings most evenings, a "green choice" program that gives you a $5 credit in the restaurant if you skip maid service, and a cozy lobby with plush chairs and a warm fireplace.
* Very comfy rooms with large bathrooms and, of course, the heavenly bed
* Their restaurant is a Daily Grill. I LOVE Daily Grills. Daily Grill + Room Service = DELIGHT.

CONS
Zenith hasn't made TVs for awhile, so I knew it had been awhile since my room had been updated. The good news is the rooms are still in great condition and don't look over worn.

THE SKINNY
If the most important features of a hotel are free parking and free wifi, then don't stay here. However, this is the place to be if you value service, comfort, and feeling like you are at a home away from home.

I've visited the wine bar a couple of times (never the restaurant) and have always had a good experience.  My last visit was on 12/2/09 while I was in Portland on business. The bartenders in particular are very personable and knowledgeable and the whole staff is friendly.

PROS
There is a cozy, social atmosphere at the wine bar. They have some very good wines from Oregon, California, and beyond plus some great small plates. (I suggest the "Farmer's Plate" - cheeses, fruits, and meat - it goes great with a glass of pinot noir.)  Best of all, every server or bartender I've encountered there has been very friendly and willing to answer questions about the wine they are serving or even make a recommendation or two.

CONS
Their wines are good, but the list is a little short. I'd like to see some additional flights and other selections offered. Another weird thing -- the servers' station in the wine bar is in a cramped space directly outside the single-occupant restrooms.

THE SKINNY
This is what a wine bar should be: social, good food for pairing, good wine, and people who work there who care about sharing the wine and creating memorable experiences.

Brother's is a greasy spoon neighborhood diner in Allied Gardens that merits a solid three. There's nothing wrong with being a 3-star place if you are a greasy spoon neighborhood diner, which is why my wife and I go there a lot.

The food is all about average. Average coffee, average bacon, average hash browns, average eggs, etc. The Grandma Jenny's pancakes are quite tasty, though I don't think they stack up (ha ha) against some of the truly delicious pancakes of the world. There are too many other choices for lunch and dinner in the area, so we only go there for breakfast.

PROS
This place is all about neighborhood and families.  (Especially older families.) The staff is all incredibly nice and seem to know a lot of people by name (or at least by sight). There's something comforting about sitting down, having a cup of coffee instantly appear, and your server asking "The usual?"

CONS
The decor is badly outdated, though it's oddly part of the charm. It's a bit hard to imagine there was a time when all of it was new and someone said, "Yes, let's go with that. That looks good." Whenever it was, it was a long, long time ago.

THE SKINNY
Stop here for breakfast if you are in Allied Gardens. You may even find yourself stopping here often if you live nearby because the entire staff is so friendly and welcoming. I wouldn't suggest a special trip if you aren't in the neighborhood.

Bertrand at Mister A's is a triple threat: great views, outstanding food, and attentive service.

PROS
You notice the view right away, especially if you sit outside on their rooftop patio. The restaurant is on top of the Fifth Avenue Financial Center in Banker's Hill, so there aren't other tall buildings obstructing its view of San Diego. The planes heading into Lindbergh are at eye level which is very cool.

Many restaurants would be content with an amazing view and overpriced view, but Bertrand at Mister A's has outstanding food. I love the lamb and steaks, but their appetizers are also outstanding if you are just there for drinks. The staff is also wonderfully attentive and professional and make every visit feel like a special occasion.

CONS
It ain't cheap, but then again, what do you expect for a restaurant that offers so much?  One small gripe - the $30 corkage fee is excessive, especially when most similar restaurants charge $20.

THE SKINNY
A wonderful pick for a special occasion, a date, or when you are trying to impress your in-laws who are visiting from out of town.

Antica Trattoria is a great place for good Italian food, attentive service, an intimate yet casual atmosphere, and reasonable prices.

THE PROS
We eat out for the food, and their food is very good. They have a good wine selection but also feature a reasonable ($10) corkage fee, so bring your own wine if you have a decent bottle. Between my wife and I, we like it all (veal, sea food, pasta, etc.) and everything has been good or great. And, the service is generally attentive.

THE CONS
Most of the servers tend to have their own shtick.  For some people, this works great. At times, I wish they'd be more focused on me as an individual patron rather than going through their routine. However, the service is always attentive.

THE SKINNY
Antica Trattoria is one of my favorite places in San Diego to enjoy a good meal and a nice bottle of wine.  I never hesitate to take family or friends there.

My wife and I enjoyed a fun and tasty dinner here on a recent Friday night.

PROS
The service was excellent and our server was particularly personable. Their food was very tasty with right-sized portions (not too small, but not so big you need a shovel). Best of all was sitting on the small deck/patio overlooking the street.

CONS
It was nice sitting outside, but the seating area was very cramped. I think our experience would not have been as good if we had sat inside -- it didn't look quite as nice inside.

THE SKINNY
A great restaurant for a good Italian meal at a decent price if you don't mind mingling with the India Street crowds and chatting with fellow diners.

I've gone through A LOT of cleaners to find D'Lite and now I'm a loyal fan.

THE GOOD
D'Lite does all the things I'd expect them to do, plus a few extras. They've never lost a garment, everything is always clean and well pressed, and my clothes are always ready when they are supposed to be ready. The extras include calling me at home to discuss a difficult stain (so there are no surprises), pointing out garment damage BEFORE I drop something off, and recommending the best options for garment care.

THE BAD
I can't give them a 5-Star rating, though I can't say why. To me, a 5-Star rating means "unbelievable" while a 4-Star rating is very, very good. D'Lite is very, very good.

THE SKINNY
Get your clothes cleaned here if you live in Allied Gardens, Del Cerro, or San Carlos!

My family visited this winery for some tasting on the afternoon of Saturday, August 22. It was a fairly warm day with temperatures in the 90s.

PROs
The wine had some potential (though none of it tasted good).

CONs
Imagine drinking a glass of water that's been sitting in 90 degree heat all day.  Yuck, right? Well, all their red wines were suffering the same fate. Their wine tasting room was still under construction, so they had two tasting bars. We went to the one under a tent, which offered some shade, but all the wines tasted hot. You could sense there may be some good flavor and structure hidden in there, but the temperature was a real problem.

There was some charm on the grounds, but not much in their tasting venues. Hot, dusty, hot wine. Ugh.

The Skinny
Worth another try once their tasting room opens, but I won't be holding my breath. It's disheartening to see them treat their wines this badly (the prolonged heat exposure is certain to cause permanent damage).

My wife and I rented bikes (no tour) about a week ago so we could ride around the city and head up to Arlington to ride the Minuteman Trail. Urban Adventures made the rental process hassle-free and put us on easy to use hybrids that made our day a lot of fun.

The PROS
We got in, got set up, and got going in less than 15 minutes. They were very organized, their bikes and equipment were all well-mainted and ready to go, and their staff immediately made us feel very comfortable. We rented Globe hybrids, which were very easy to use for anyone with even a small amount of bike riding experience. The $35 daily rental fee per bike included a helmet (yahoo - safety!) and a bike lock which were both handy.

The CONS
This may be a nit, but I didn't like having to pre-pay the reservation fee. My wife and I had considered renting for a second day, but their pre-pay requirement nixed that idea pretty quickly.

The SKINNY
There are some great places to bike in Boston and Urban Adventours is a wonderful place to get going quickly. And, their helpful and friendly staff should be able to make inexperienced riders quickly feel confident.