Penguin "The Don" S.'s Profile

Not really a remarkable hotel, but I enjoyed my 2 nights. Nice lobby but they didn't really have a comfortable place to sit while waiting for our transportation. Rooms were very nice and the TV was large. No issues in the bathroom and everything worked well. I liked that I could open my window a bit and get some fresh air for a while. The staff were all friendly. Loved the lobby coffee in the morning because they included 2 syrups: pumpkin and vanilla. I never drink coffee, but they had me at pumpkin.

Their work out room was a little small, very bright and nothing much to view while working out. Meeting rooms were spacious and one level up from the lobby via escalators. The drop off area is completely covered, which is great in incliment weather.

If you stay here, be sure to walk up the river 2 blocks and eat at Dinosaur! Great bbq.

Oh, I hope I can get back to Rochester for more of this! As a Texan, I know how to appreciate good meat! And this place made me feel like I was IN Texas, and not upstate Noo York!

I had the original pulled pork sandwich. It was very tasty. Loved the sauce! For sides I had fries, which were crisp and skin-on and very tasty. I also had their chili. It was more like chili cookoff chili and less like chili you would get at a restaurant, so hats off to that!!! I did have to spice it up, however. I guess they have to cater to the quieter palettes of the Yankies.

Also enjoyed the atmosphere and the prompt, thorough service. They have a sign out front that confused me. It read, "Scoop on Parking..." What the eff is scoop on parking? I finally realized it should have read THE scoop on parking. Isn't that how normal people would say it? But I walked from my hotel, any way.

Wish I'd had the develed eggs and wish they'd had plain old pecan pie. Oh well. Next time!

I honestly can't speak to the quality of their overnight rooms, but if the quality of their catering is any indication...

They do a really good job at catering, great food and presentation. I've actually eaten numerous catering meals from these guys; never been disappointed. It would be great if they opened a restaurant and bar!

Their ego kills me. Atmosphere?...Nothing, and nothing but testimonials of how good they are and how much they're loved. You know something, 5 guys? I'm already in there eating. I don't need to be sold any more. SRSLY!

That being said, and trying to ignore that I spent over $10 for their smallest burger with regular sized fries and drink, it's about the best damned burger around! You choose all the toppings you want for free (except bacon). Shrooms, japs, relish...all for your choosing.

The fries undergo a 3-step process: fry, rest, fry again. Skins on, big, hearty tasty fries. I don't go for the cajun seasoning, it was too strong when I tried. I like the simple fry. And the portions are HUGE. A regular can easily be split amongst 2 people.

I love the free peanuts! They were great while I waited 11 minutes for my meal. Yeah, a bit long, but oh, so worth it. Just budget your time to come here. Better yet, find some place else to eat and leave me alone. I'll be back next week! (I'll have to save up my money.)

SO much better than In n Out but without the stoopid bible verses on the paper products. In n Out sux.

Had a Chick a dee chicken sandwich with cheddar. Very thin slice of cheddar, that, in the end, was a waste as it was hardly detectable on my sandwich. Sad.

But the sandwich was maybe one of the best chicken sandwiches I've had. I liked the lube sauce, as they call it.

So why only 3 stars for a great bird sandwich albeit with a scant slice of cheese? I didn't care for the slender fries. I like sturdy, thick fries. These were boarder line shoestring fries. They were good, but not great.

Decent selection of ice cream for shakes.

When the friend I was visiting said we were having dim sum on Sunday, I got real excited. Walked in to see a dead restaurant, and I was a bit scared. It was noon, and normally a dim sum place is jammed at noon. However, the ambiance was great. Lots of detail to the dining room, elaborate decore and a wonderful little private room in back.

The dim sum here is contained on one page in the back of the menu. I was told it was only served from 11-3 on Sundays. I thought that was odd; traditional dim sum can be ordered any time in most places. And the dishes were a bit more expensive than what I'm used to. I was very disappointed in the limited variety, however.

In the end, the food was pretty good and we ordered plenty to share and had some left over. It wound up costing the 5 of us $23 each, so that was a little high.

I'm told this is the only place in Santa Cruz to get dim sum. I hope that's not right, because this isn't a real dim sum experience.

Slow service, but this is dim sum and is not meant to be fast. If you don't have at least 90 minutes, choose another culinary treat!

I prefer the places that bring the food around on carts, but I'm savvy enough to know what to order off the menu.

Their items here are very tasty. Some seemed to have names slightly different than what I'm used to. The Shanghai dumplings were great. The shrimp nest was excellent. The only real disappointment for me was the calamari. It was a bit bland, but at least not chewy.

We met at noon, which meant a longer wait than normal. My general rule for dim sum is no later than 11am, perferably closer to 1030, but I should not be telling my secrets. I may have to kill you now. So sorry.

The slices look impressively huge. but it's all bread. Bready pizza with a bit of sauce, and not enough, and some sort of dry toppings. Sigh.

Arrived here with my cousin visiting from Texas who wanted a nice sit down meal to catch up. We went in mainly because of the hostess at the door who seemed almost desperate to want people to come in. There was only 1 table occupied.

My first impression of the menu was that the prices were a little steep. I relaxed once I read more and realized they had great ingredients. But I was again a bit disappointed when I saw that the portions were on the small side. Not to say that I went home hungry, but I'm glad I didn't have to pay the bill!

They've only been open a week, and in fact, still don't have their liquor license. The mood is warm and the service was very attentive. Two other tables came in while we were there. You're either going to have great service, or the servers are going to get bored and ignore everyone. Not the case here.

The bread was great and was served with a tomato-based dipping sauce. We got seconds.

For an appetizer we ordered a margherita pizza. It was on a very thin crust, well done. It was $13, and my impression was that I could get nearly the same pizza, maybe a bit larger, at SFO for $10. I expected to be offered fresh parmesan cheese, but nothing of the sort occured. Maybe I was to ask, but one should not have to ask when one orders pizza.

My cousin ordered pasta with shrimp. It was delivered with the shrimp whole; heads and all. He wasn't nearly as grossed out as I was, but he did say he normally asks the chef to decapitate them for him. It looked as if the pasta were whole wheat, which I don't enjoy.

I ordered well; pork short ribs with risoto and brussel sprouts. The pork was tender and quite flavorful, the risoto was creamy, cheesy and good. The sprouts were halved and mixed in. They were tender and added a bit of texture. I was very happy with this dish. It was $17.

Wait...what is Penguin doing in an upscale store? Doesn't he usually shop thrift stores?

Why yes, I do. But when you have family who are in the 1% and you go shopping with them, you end up in places like this.

I don't think I've ever paid over $90 for a shirt, and until I win lotto, I never will. But I do have to admit that said shirt was soft and looked nice. And the 3 shirts my cousin bought looked really nice on him.

The store was easy on the eyes with what seemed like quality merchandise. There was an ample clearance area, and I actually did come close to buying a shirt from there.

Not the kind of place for me. But if you've got money to burn...