Beverly Hills Weekend Trip

We had a wonderful time at the Crown. The staff were very friendly, and the room was suited for our needs. The location was a little off Rodeo Drive, a little over a mile walk but great overall. We had a room situated on one of the higher floors, which was nice because they did not book groups/high schools or any other loud travelers on these floors. The floor was quite, the wind outside the building was noticeable, but the room was a nice place to sleep. Being a rewards member, we were given "sleeping" items: lavender pillow spray, eye mask and eat plugs. The only problem was that there was only one set. Not a big deal, I don’t use any of that stuff.

The concierge was helpful in setting up reservations. You do need to pay a daily parking fee, either valet or self park, don’t bother paying for valet, unless you really need the service. Finding a parking space was easy and I think quicker than valet. For couples who want to be close to great shopping and tourist attar without paying the over rated "Beverly Hills" price, I would highly recommend the Crown Plaza on Beverly Drive.

I wanted to find a place that my wife would really enjoy. She is a gossip reader, so it had to be a "hip and star filled" place. The choices were Spago or Vine. After consulting with the concierge, I decided on Spago. This restaurant is owned by Wolfgang. There are several reviews on other sites that rate this restaurant stuffy and over priced. It is not true. If you were to dine at any other fine dinning establishment, for a three-course dinner, and a few drinks, your bill would be similar to that of Spago. We shared an appetizer, one fish and one chicken entrée, two desserts, and three cocktails, the total bill came to just over $200. Not bad for a famous restaurant.

While the fish was good, the chicken entrée was superb. The portion was so large that I could have taken it home for lunch the next day (not something I suggest you do at this type of restaurant). The service was excellent. The waiter made great suggestions for wine selection, and actually helped my wife select her meal. She has a food allergy, and the waiter made sure all ingredients were accommodating to her needs. We made reservations early, we were the first people inside. (I do suggest eating outside if the weather permits.) The place sure did fill up fast. Unfortunately for my wife, no stars were out tonight…but she can at least say we ate there. Highly recommended!