raul "Yelp Addict" z.'s Profile

Rating depends on what you want to get out of the Y....  Here is the breakdown:

The Y has been mostly remodeled and a whole new wing added.  The lobby is big and inviting with coffee made in the morning for patrons.  Remodeled is the child care area as well as the weight and machines gym area.  It is very nicely done with plenty of windows all around.  Most machines have their own TV and also TV's hanging off the ceiling for those that do not.  The only thing, I find very strange that they have the food network on which is a major distraction when trying to work out and you see a big fat guy cooking a super huge fatty burger with greasy fries...  makes me loose my concentration!

The pools wing and locker area has not been remodeled and totally shows.  Lockers, shower and toilet area is very rusty, moldy and smelly.  I tried to take a shower and use that area but I can't use it anymore.  It is just old and in major need of renovation and/or a facelift.  If anything, I only use the locker to store my coat and personal items while working out but I rather take care of my personal hygiene when I get home.  A dry sauna is also located in the locker room but, like the rest of it, needs replacement.

The group classes are given in the annex building which is a 'hike' from the main building. The rooms are in need of major renovation or at least, a fresh coat of paint.  I go over there to take the kickboxing, steps and total body conditioning classes.  When laying on the floor to workout, you can see how dusty and dirty the floors are.  I wonder how often they are cleaned.

Now, you might wonder, why did I give it a 4-star rating when I think that the only good thing of the Y is the weight/gym area?  Well, it is the price.  At $50 a month, it is reasonable for the classes, equipment and friendly staff, teachers and pools.  Overall, it all depends what you want to get out of it.

We are staying at the hotel next door (Radisson) and, as it was a cold late evening, we decided to stop here to have dinner and some drinks.  

The drinks:  My friend ordered a martini and I ordered a beer.  The martini is the smallest I've ever seen.  It looked more like a kids drink.  A super tiny glass that it was finished in a handful of zips.  My beer was fine as you really cant cheat on those!

The Food:  We ordered a couple of appetizers starting with the Fried Chicken Tenders.  They were soooo greasy it was not even crispy.  Seems that the oil they were friend on has been used over and over and over.  Tasted more like oil and the drips of it as you picked it up made your heart arteries wanting to bounce off your body.  The salad was ok as it has to be very bad to screw up a salad.

For the main course, I ordered a glass of wine and it was very cheap tasting.  Not enjoyable at all.  Food-wise, I ordered the grilled salmon and my friend the steak and lobster combo.  My grilled salmon was good but the sweet potato that came on the side had way too much brown sugar and butter.  I had one bite and left it there.  The rice was good.  The steak was ok but I wished it has better taste and not as chewy.  The lobster was good.  However, it just felt cheap, too greasy, too buttery and just massed produced...

One of my pet-peeves is when the server brings you the check while we are still easting which she did.  What if we wanted dessert or something else?  What's the rush?  There is no one waiting!  While she was friendly, it was more like she had to bel.  The bathrooms were clean but could have used a little touch up.

The Final Verdict:

Restaurant Ambiance/Decor:  3.0 out of 5.0

Staff Service/friendliness :  1.0 out of 5.0

Seating Arrangement/Layout:  3.0 out of 5.0

Seating Comfort:  1.0 out of 5.0

Food Quality/Flavor:  1.5 out of 5.0

food Price/Value:  1.0 out of 5.0

Wine/Alcohol Selection:  3.0 out of 5.0

Wine/Alcohol Taste/Flavor:  1.0 out of 5.0

Wine/Alcohol Price Value:  1.0 out of 5.0

Bathrooms Cleanliness:  2.0 out of 5.0

Price Value:  1.0 out of 5.0

Final Score:  18.5 out of 55  (34 out of 100% or F grade)

Final Comment:  Overpriced, fatty food and rushed service with super small mixed drinks.  Go somewhere else...

We had an event at our place for about 35 people.  As we were looking for places that would cater, we decided to stop here and talk to them about the services they provide.  We are quite familiar with the location as we constantly go to Seaholm Wines (review available) to stack up on wine and supplies.

I walked in and spoke to Mary.  I explained to her our plans.  She was very helpful!  She assisted me in putting the menu for my event together.  She explained to me all details of the food menu for the party and even did variations of what was in the catering menu to accommodate our needs.  Besides the food, they provide juices for the mixers, ice, bartender and the servers.  

The staff arrived 30 minutes before the arrival of our guests.  (They usually ask for 1 hour but we requested for 30 mins).  They went to work immediately.  The staff was very nice and professional.  When guests arrived, appetizers were immediately passed and the bartender offered drinks.  They were constantly ensuring that all guests had enough food and drinks.  At the end of the party and when guests departed, they stayed for a while longer helping clean up the dishes and area.  Plenty of leftover food was nicely packed for us and placed in the refrigerator.  

This is a place I highly recommend for all of your catering needs.  As Franco C. said, a little pricey but it is worth every penny.  Service is fantastic and food is delicious.  A place I will use again!

We had a big outdoor party/dinner for about 30 people planned at our place.  We started looking for party rental equipment and where told to check this one out.

The showroom is quite small and overcrowded.  Some of the equipment seems that it has been in the showroom for a while and it is a little dirty/dusty and not in very good condition.  We walked in and two people behind the counter, while nice, they were not very helpful.  We told them of our party and they said, "yes, let us know when you decide".  We took our time looking around but a good sales person would have been more involved and give us options on chairs, plates, glasses combinations, etc.  

We knew we need the rentals, so we are kind of trapped with them...  In fact, some of the equipment in the brochure was not in the showroom.  When we asked, they did not even have pictures, they just describe them.  We were not familiar with the names, description and sizes of plates, silverware, etc. as stated in the brochure and what we were looking at in the showroom.  We kept asking questions and they would just shout short answers from behind the counter.  

However, when it came for us to tell them what we needed, (I even made a comment to my partner saying "do I get a sales commission?  I did all of his work!")  they were friendly.  We made the order.  A deposit is required.  We told them the day of the event.  All the rentals are delivered the day before and left in your driveway or assigned location.  Then is picked up the next business day.  As our event was on a Friday night, it was delivered on Thursday and picked up on Monday afternoon.  They only require that the equipment is placed back as it was delivered and plates do not need to be washed, just rinsed off.  

The equipment was fine but some of it was not in very good condition.  The bar was quite nasty and well pass its usable time.  I got my cleaners out to try to make it more presentable (it was white so all stains showed up easily) but to no avail.  We ended up putting a tablecloth over it to help disguise the bar condition.  In addition, one of the coolers we ordered did not have a spigot stopper so as the ice melted, the water poured out into our yard where people would be standing.  So we had to do some more fixing.  Some of tables and chairs where also past their due date.  Luckily, the party was at night so some of the imperfections where hidden.  The rest of the equipment was ok.  The rentals were delivered with no problems and picked up as scheduled.

In summary, this is a rental that, sadly, seems to have most of the monopoly of this side of Long Island.  A few other rental locations but could not supply all we needed.  Ok service, ok rental equipment and ok condition makes this an "A-OK" place to rent from.  Go to the showroom knowing what you need and get the sales person to be more involved in the sales process otherwise, you will be left on your own.

In the former location of "Taxi's", Nader's Fish on the Run is quite an interesting place.  By the name, you think that is all about fish, but the menu is quite extensive.  The location is way off the Main Street location and next to the Firefighters Station.  A few picnic tables are outside and just be aware when the fire station alarm goes off, it might make you jump of your rockers!  

As I mention, the menu is very eclectic.  There is from chicken, to pulled-pork, to tacos to quesadillas.  Of course, the specialty of the house is all seafood related items.  I was in the mood for fish and chips, which I ordered ($8.95).  

At first, the portion looked good.  But a closer look, we saw that there were three pieces of the very overcooked and overly fried, flavorless fish.  The fish was very thin as well.  At some points I felt that I was eating more fried bread crumbs than actual fish.  The fries, while tasty and spicy, where too greasy which means that they were either re-fried or fried in very old oil that needs to be changed.  The food did not impress me much...

While I am a fan of "Bravo! Nader's" restaurant, this is one I won't be coming back to anytime soon.  I rather go back to the restaurant and eat well cooked delicious food than the scaled-down version of it.

PS:  Better Fish and Chips with a side of coleslaw at "Marty's Seafood" just down the street (review available) with very nice and thick cod, properly cooked, great fries and service while price is even cheaper than Nader's.  Kitchen at Marty's only opened from Wednseday thru Friday only.  Plan accordingly!!!!

After leaving a Broadway show matinee, we were looking for a place to have dinner.  We ran into this place while walking down the street and decided to give it a try.  We came in and the ambiance is nice with a nice long bar and plenty of tables in a dark, hardwood decor.  Television screens are all around the bar area playing sporting events.  The hostess sat us in the table closest to the door, hostess stand and the "take-out" counter which seems to be a congregating area for employees.  The place was quite empty as it was between lunch and dinner.  The chairs and tables are made of wood with no cushion so they are a little uncomfortable.  

We were immediately greeted by the server and it seems that he was in a very big rush to get our orders.  Seriously, there was hardly anyone in the restaurant.  There was about 5 tables only! We ordered some beer and the portions where quite pathetic!  I had a 'pint' for $6.95 and I swear I got half of a pint.  The server just stood there to take our order.  What's the rush?  Can I read the menu first?

We both ordered the chophouse burger for $12.95.  Each additional topping costs an extra $1.50.  We both ordered cheese and I added mushrooms and onions.  I think I was done with my super small portion of beer by now but would not pay an additional $6.95 for another anemic serving.  I am staying with water.

While we waited for our food, the busboys had to move chairs and bar stools from one side of the bar to the other.  This is the kicker... they were sliding them on the floor from one side to the other and it made a horrendous scratching noise against the hardwood floor.  The noise was so loud we had to stop talking.  Even the people seated a couple of tables away from us started shaking their heads after they saw what was happening.  Meanwhile, the server is missing and no one to complaint.  This went on for a very long time.  We were getting very annoyed!

The food took a long time to arrive.  We were wondering why it was taking so long as it was only about 5 tables and most of them were already eating.  While we waited for the food, our very rushed server was nowhere in sight, my glass of water empty and were are getting annoyed.  Finally the food arrived.  By now, while the food was good, we are not having a good time.  The burger was juicy and thick, but for $12.95, it was a small burger.  The fries were crispy and portion ok.  I am still chewing the last bite of my burger and the rushed, missing for long periods of time server appears to collect the dishes and offer desserts.  We had to tell him to give us a moment.  He comes later and we ordered the 'smallest dessert' and it was the highlight of the meal.

This place is for made for large groups and events.  The downstairs is set up as an entire stand alone section for these events with a bar.  The bathroom is also located downstairs and it was clean.  We paid the $60+ bill and left.

The Final Verdict:

Restaurant Ambiance/Decor:  3.0 out of 5.0

Staff Service/friendliness :  2.5 out of 5.0

Seating Arrangement/Layout:  3.0 out of 5.0

Seating Comfort:  1.0 out of 5.0

Food Quality/Flavor:  2.5 out of 5.0

food Price/Value:  1.0 out of 5.0

Wine/Alcohol Selection:  4.5 out of 5.0

Wine/Alcohol Taste/Flavor:  3.0 out of 5.0

Wine/Alcohol Price Value:  1.0 out of 5.0

Bathrooms Cleanliness:  4.0 out of 5.0

Price Value:  1.0 out of 5.0

Final Score:  26.5 out of 55  (48 out of 100% or F grade)

Final Comment:  While the food is good, it is overpriced and very slow to come out.  Service, while friendly, is rushed no matter how many people are in the restaurant and floor presence is non-existent.  Lets just say I won't be coming here anytime soon... or maybe at all.

The Element hotel is part of the W (Starwood) hotel chain family. As we needed a place for the night, we used points to book the room.

Location:   It is on 39th street between 8th and 9th Avenue (closer to 8th).  We took the train to Penn Station on 34th street and walked the 4 blocks over to the hotel.  For the subway, you need to walk back to 34th or up to 42nd street.  The closest line is the A, C or E (blue) lines.

Lobby:  Quite a small check-in counter with everyone congregating in the small area.  There are three stations in this L-shaped desk for the front desk agents and one around the corner for concierge. The desk is located in the hallway that leads to the elevators so you can imagine every guest with luggage checking in and out plus those other guests walking to get to the elevators... it is quite messy.  Meanwhile, there is a huge seating area located in the lobby.  Some re-arrangement and placement of the furniture could help dramatically with the flow of people and guests.

Rooms:  The room we had was located between two of the elevators.  My first thought was that we were going to be up all night with elevator noise but we did not hear a beep.  We got an upgrade to the 34th floor with a north facing view of the city.  The room has dark hardwood floors with a full kitchenette with a full size refrigerator, pots, pans, silverware, cooking utensils, paper towels, microwave and a dishwasher!  This would be a great room for someone who will be a long-term guest.  The only problem is that the closet was next to the bed and I literally had to step on the bed (and I mean, on top of the bed!) to open the closet doors.  Really bad placement of this unit.  

There is a nice glass work desk and a very small TV (for most hotel standards) and a loveseat couch.  The windows are double-panned so the street noise is minimal but late at night can still hear some.  The window frame is metal which transfer cold air in and staying here in one of the coldest days of the week made the window area a little drafty.  The aircon unit worked well.  

Bathroom:  A nice clean look to the bathroom however, the counter space is VERY lacking.  The sink is quite big and stands out of the counter.  Personal items have to be placed around the sink or in the ledge over the toilet.  Lighting and mirror is good.  The "rain feel" shower-head was nice however the water pressure kept going between strong and low all the time which was annoying.  There is a hair-dryer and plenty of towels.  

Amenities:  This is the best part:  

(1) free internet (which is a luxury in most hotels).

(2) free breakfast with egg,bacon and cheese sandwiches, waffles and home fries as well as pastries, cereals, yogurt, fruits, coffee, tea and juices available.  

(3) Free Happy Hour with red and white wine, beer and plenty of food with cheeses, tortilla chips, salsa and hot meat "empanadas" which where quite tasty and delicious.  The bartender was very nice serving full glasses of the wine.  As anything free, it gets quite crowded in the lobby area but there is quite a nice seating area behind the elevators to accommodate guests.  

My only problem is that I did not see much of a control of people coming in and out (which could lead to people walking from the street to grab a bite) as keys were not checked but who knows hat kind of security measures they have in place.  Some yelpers complaint about being crowded but that's what happens when free food and alcohol is offered.  Would be the same in any other hotel.

Gym:  One located in the basement but did not use.

Wake-up call:  Did not use however our phone rang once at 8am and again 5 minutes later...  I was quite upset as we had a late night the night before and were still sleeping.  I wondered if it was housekeeping trying to wake us up?

Service:  Friendly front desk staff and concierge.  As the concierge was right next to the desk, they were able to jump in and help guests while being checked-in but again, the desk being so small it gets very noisy and crowded but they do their best with the available situation.  The bartender at happy hour and security staff were very friendly.  The morning staff helping with breakfast was very good dealing with the massive crowd and kids spilling drinks and food all over the floor.

Door and Bellman:  While I was there, it did seem that there was one person doing double duty and while the hotel was busy, we had to wait a long time for our bag to be stored and be picked up.  In fact, I had to ask the concierge to help us track the bell/doorman down to retrieve our luggage.  The security agent offered to help us but the door/bellman appeared shortly thereafter.  

Overall Experience:  No doubt that I would stay here again, specially if it is more than one night.  Friendly staff and free amenities that in other hotels in a luxury and location make this a favorite hotel of mine.

We flew to Chicago to spend Christmas with the in-laws.  As we used to live in Chi-town, we decided to get together with friends at this well recommended place on our last night.  Close to the Jefferson Park L-stop (almost across the street), is very accessible by train or bus with a little problem with parking if you drive over.  However, it is a great place once you get in.  The bar area is very nice and comfy.  There was a jazz band playing great hits and the bartenders were friendly and made great mix-drinks at a very reasonable (price) compared to New York standards.  (Ok...  I give you the lowdown... in NYC we pay $40 bucks with two drinks, not including tip but in Chicago, we bought a round of drink for 8 people and only cost $53 with tip!)

We had to wait a little for our table to be ready however we did not care as it gave us a chance to enjoy the band and drinks.  The table was ready shortly thereafter.  As we looked at the menu, we realized we were there for the "Monday Rib Special" which is a full-slab of ribs for $18 with one side dish.  The main dining area has tables spread out which made it nice for a nice conversation.  The decor is a little dark but it is ok.  I would do a little revamping of the decor as it is getting a little worn out.  

Our server was great and friendly.  Always making sure everyone was having a good time.  We order two bottles of red wine and took our meal orders.  I had to order the Monday nighty special with the french fries.  My friend ordered the fish special of the day which was a trout with spinach and vegetables.  The ribs were delicious!  The meat fell off the bone and it was very tasty.  The fries were very crispy.  The side dish was quite small and I wish I had more fries.  The fist was very tasty and delicious too.  For dessert, I ordered the chocolate mousse.  While it was delicious, it was too sweet and could only eat a bit of it.  It also tasted too generic but did not stop me from easting some of it.  Everyone had doggie bags to go home afterwards.  

This is a place I will recommend for the food, ambiance and service.  Just a little re-vamping of the decor will make this place even better!

A great theater!  Went to see An Evening With Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin and truly enjoyed the theater and the essence of it.  As usual and the same as most NY theaters, the lobby is small and getting in and out can be quite hectic.  My solution for this is, come in 10 mins before showtime start to avoid the rush of people coming.  After the show, just stay seated for a few minutes until the rush of getting out of the theater is over.  I suggest seating in the orchestra or the front mezzanine levels, no more than that to enjoy the best views.  Location is fantastic just across the street from Tricolori (review available), one of my favorite Italian restaurants in the city, where you can have a drink, or dinner, before or after showtime.

The name of this hotel is the Conrad Condado Plaza.  Since I was a child, I've seen this hotel change names many times over but always kept the Condado Plaza part.

As we walk in, we found a nice modern and bright lobby.  It is quite modern and very art deco.  It has a very big fish tank, funky red lighting, interesting seating and bar.  It is a little confusing to get your bearings the first time in the lobby but after a while, we got used to it.  The hotel consist of two buildings across the street from each other and connected by a skybridge.  The main building faces the ocean and the other one a lagoon.  Prices are based if you have ocean, lagoon or street view.  The check-in process was smooth with a very professional staff.  The concierge were very friendly and attentive.  

The main building has a great pool with a slide, volleyball net, poolbar and plenty of seating around.  There is a smaller 'salt' pool as the beach area is small and it is for those who do not want to deal with the sand.  Finally there is also a whirlpool.  The beach is quite small but never crowded.  There is also a Starbucks next door where you can charge your purchases to the room.  Massages by the pool are offered but it is very expensive.  

The room is quite nice with a nice big bed facing the ocean.  All rooms have balconies to sit outside and enjoy the ocean view and listen to the waves breaking against the coral reef and feel the nice warm breeze.  There is also a nice couch to watch tv.  The only problem is that the tv is very small and was quite disappointing.  The bathroom was one of the biggest I've seen with a huge shower, a refrigerator, coffee machine and a big mirror and sink.  In fact, the bathroom was almost as big as the bedroom!  Nice closet size and decor makes this room quite an enjoyable one.  Free internet for guests.

There are plenty of restaurants in the hotel.  One is a tropical cafe style with lots of latin food offerings and a great view of the beach.  This one opens for breakfast and opens until alte afternoon with light and main entrees offerings. There is also a sushi bar next to the casino, Pikayo and a few other ones.  (Pikayo Restaurant in separate review).

As for entertainment, the casino is, for San Juan standards, small but has live music so it is enjoyable to sit at the sushi bar and listen to the nightly band.  The lobby had a DJ but no one dancing and two of the three bars, and what it seems the dance area were closed.  Bartenders did a good job at making great martinis and friendly staff.  

The fitness center is located in the second/across the street building.  It has good machines with televisions on each.  All equipment worked well. This smaller hotel has the business center which is attended during business hours and offers all types of business necessities.  It also has a smaller and more private pool for those who do not want to go to the main hotel building.  

Every night we were offered two complimentary bottles of water.  The poolbar made fantastic drinks and the food was very good too.  Our overall experience was great.  Do not have a complaint at all.  This is a hotel I would love to come back to and spend more time relaxing and enjoying the many amenities offered here.