The Westin La Paloma Resort Review - Extraordinary Views, an Ordinary Stay

We spend two to three weeks per month on the road, staying in hotels across the country. Along the way, we keep a running list of properties with standout staff, memorable experiences, and little frustrations. After the great response to our restaurant reviews, it felt like the right time for our first hotel review.

We traveled to Tucson, Arizona for a family member’s graduation from the University of Arizona. Heading there for the first time, my expectations were low based on people’s characterizations and the rumblings of the recent Nancy Gutherie case. We chose the Westin La Paloma Resort because it’s located within the scenic Catalina Foothills and they market themselves as a luxury wellness resort with a AAA Four-Diamond designation. Just what I need.

As a Marriott Bonvoy member, I’ve become jaded with their program, pricing, and offerings. I enjoy some JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton locations, but their pricing doesn’t justify the offerings in comparison to other hotel brands high end properties or luxury independents. Fortunately, we booked early enough to secure a solid rate at one of the nicer properties in the Tucson area.

The resort makes a strong first impression as you arrive. Valets greeted us with energetic smiles and the entrance is grand, open, and inviting. Walking into the lobby, you’re welcomed by warm tones and a partial view through the rear windows toward Mount Kimball. The ceilings soar overhead, to the point where that invitation seems lost as you scan the overwhelming space trying to locate the front desk.

John at reception was excellent, helping us secure a room at 10 a.m., explaining the layout of the large resort, and providing complimentary breakfast for two, which I’ll circle back to later.

Our room was dark and cool, a welcome contrast to the Arizona heat. A big bathroom, with a separate spa tub and a standup shower and a double vanity. The bed was extremely comfortable, paired with oversized, fluffy pillows. The room felt spacious and included a patio overlooking another section of the property.

The resort itself is very Arizona, similar to the larger resorts you find throughout Scottsdale. Adobe-style architecture stretches across the property, with multiple pools, a waterslide, expansive meeting spaces, a golf course that appeared to be in excellent condition, and two dining options, one in the main lobby building (La Luz) and another outside of the main building (Contigo Latin Kitchen). The on site coffee shop was perfect for early mornings, and the hotel also features a TopGolf Swing Suite for guests looking for additional entertainment. We didn’t have time to enjoy the extracurriculars and apparently neither did other guests, as the entertaining areas were empty.

La Luz sits down two flights of stairs and offers stunning views of the Pima Canyon mountains overlooking the resort. Breakfast and lunch were enjoyable for the 2 times we dined, offering an adequate breakfast buffet in addition to the menu. Before heading to graduation, we grabbed drinks at the Casa 71 Tequila Lounge in the lobby, where Austin was a fantastic bartender and host.

The pools provided a needed break from the desert heat, with servers constantly moving through the area so guests rarely had to leave their chairs. Our server Tatianna was easy going, conversational, and attentive. There was also just enough for kids to enjoy themselves, with the waterslide offering an alternative to endless cannonballs in the main pool.

Overall, the resort delivered what I’d describe as a typical Arizona luxury resort experience. The rooms and service were solid, while the main building housing the lobby and restaurant felt enormous to the point of excess, with the considerable amount of unused space. My smaller complaints include not fully understanding what the $45 resort fee covered and the absence of a concierge.

The larger issue involved the “complimentary” breakfast mentioned earlier. When I received the check for our family’s breakfast table of six, I noticed a 27% service charge attached to the bill. I asked Magda, who had been our wonderful server the previous day, and she explained the service charge is automatically added when guests redeem the complimentary breakfast certificates. This was never explained by the front desk staff, nor was any fine print presented during check-in. I understand the hotel wants to offset part of the breakfast cost, but the principle being labeled complimentary when it isn’t, is disingenuous. More importantly, I would have preferred that money go to the server rather than as an added hotel fee disguised within the experience.

The Westin La Paloma Resort markets itself as a grand experience, while they can claim that from the scenic mountain views along with a vast resort, it ultimately delivered a three-star average experience wrapped in a five-star marketing exaggeration.

Find Your Way to Atlas Bistro

It’s always intriguing when a friend demands that you must eat at a certain restaurant, especially when they are animated in demonstrating the reasons why. This was our initial reasoning of visiting Atlas Bistro.

Our friend Ricky goes back with the owner Todd, who is from Massachusetts like me. Ricky knows the place, so when you walk into Atlas with him, it’s like the king has returned to his castle.

That aside, Todd opened Atlas 25 years ago and it’s one of the Valley’s premier restaurants, known for its seasonal tasting menu and that it’s BYOB. Todd has Atlas Wines, which is connected to the restaurant and is a vino’s dream store.

The night we first dined at Atlas was an experience that we’ll never forget. Todd and his manager Oscar were like old friends, the wine flowed, and Chef Jabari’s food was brilliant, with subtle refinements that enlightened each dish.

I knew we’d return, which is what we did a few weeks later, just prior to their summer shutdown and the impending birth of our baby. Our experience was just as special as the first time.

Fast forward to now, we realized we haven’t been in almost a year because our lovely daughter was born last July and with that comes sacrifice. Alas, we must celebrate Mother’s Day at Atlas!

We entered Atlas and were immediately greeted by Oscar, who despite being a Liverpool supporter, is wonderful and it was great catching up with him. If you’ve never been to Atlas, expect to spend a couple of hours there, not just for the courses, but for the wine, conversation, and the post-meal realization that life is beautiful before heading home.

We brought a 2014 Quintessa to join us for dinner, and it paired perfectly with the evening’s tasting menu. Dinner began with oysters topped with a zesty mignonette and fried shallots nestled within the shell. Each oyster was fresh and vibrant, a strong lead-in to the exciting flavors that followed throughout the night.

Our server Mason then brought over espresso-sized mugs of tomato gazpacho, a welcome addition on an unusually hot May night. The chilled soup carried a softer acidity than the oysters while remaining bright and refreshing enough to awaken the palate. Mason was a delight throughout the evening, engaging and excited to see us return as we exchanged stories about the “fun” adventures of parenting a 10-month-old.

With the opening bites completed, the first official course arrived: Spanish octopus charred over hummus infused with feta alongside tomatoes, onions, and peppers. The octopus offered a nice snap before giving way to tenderness, though the hummus stole the show. Most hummus is faint, but the additions of feta and chorizo dressing created an enjoyable and lasting Mediterranean flavor.

Next came a fresh beet carpaccio salad featuring arugula, romaine, frisée, fennel, pistachios, and bursts of pomegranate. The dish reminded me of summer in New England. What tied everything together was the orange and spicy sherry dressing, which brought both sweetness and a lively zing that elevated the greens.

Atlas also offers additions to the tasting menu, which we always say yes to. Alongside the oysters, we added a seared foie gras. Generous portion and sourced from the Hudson Valley, it could have served as dessert on its own because it’s savory composition. Served with pieces of bundt cake and carrot cake streusel, the foie gras was decadent and satisfying.

The pasta course featured cavatelli cooked perfectly al dente with sausage and a honey chipotle sauce. The sauce carried a zing, revealing different layers of flavor with each bite and making the dish increasingly intriguing as the course went on.

The fourth course was a filet accompanied by a mushroom bordelaise sauce that was terrific. Alongside it were a celery root arancini and crispy cauliflower florets, which offered a delicious alternative to traditional fried potato sides. The filet was perfect with slight grill marks and butter-like tenderness. I could eat this steak every day.

Lastly was dessert and although the foie gras was a preamble to it, we were ready to indulge one last time. Arriving was a chocolate brownie, tied together with a chocolate mousse, vanilla whipped cream, and raspberries. Thankfully the portion wasn’t overwhelming because we were already full, but each bite provided the perfect ending to another excellent experience at Atlas.

Words do little justice to the food and service at Atlas. The pricing is sensible for a tasting experience of this quality, and the intimate, relaxing space sets the tone for the evening ahead. It’s a great setting for what you’re about to embark on, a fantastic journey of culinary excellence, captivating conversations, and a fulfilling night that makes you remember to visit soon, even if you had a baby.

Atlas Bistro - Within Wilshire Plaza, 2515 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ

Book reservations via Tock: https://www.exploretock.com/atlasbistro/

It’s the Good Life at Sinatra

Las Vegas has evolved. What was once a playground of reasonably priced meals and comps designed to keep you at the tables has become one of the most dynamic food cities in the country. You can still find excess here, but now it shows up on the plate as much as it does on the casino floors and nightclubs.

Vegas is an adopted home, as we’re headquartered there, and while cities like New York and Chicago set the gastronomic standard, Vegas belongs in that conversation. The range of cuisine is staggering and it’s executed at a high level across the board. Living on the west coast had me yearning for a great classical Italian restaurant and while I found really good ones; Madeo in West Hollywood, Piero’s in Vegas, I never found one that fully satisfied, until I sat down at Sinatra.

Tucked inside a corner within Encore at Wynn on Las Vegas Boulevard, Sinatra is easy to miss if you’re not looking for it. It sits slightly removed from the chaos, which feels intentional. That separation sets the tone for what ends up being a refined, comfortable, and deeply enjoyable dining experience.

The bar is where Sinatra reveals itself. It’s intimate yet spacious, lively without being overwhelming. A single television above plays a rotation of Frank Sinatra films or a big game, all while you get a sense of Frank’s celebrity by seeing the his pictures and memorabilia scattered around the restaurant. There’s a rhythm as the hosts gently settle guests in, offering drinks and a cozy bar spot prior to their dinner where conversations start naturally, and before you know it, everyone is best friends. It’s a special place where maybe the characters in one of Frank’s movies are watching us play out at the bar.

If you’re fortunate, you’ll find yourself in the hands of KeAo behind the bar. She’s exceptional, warm, intuitive, and deeply knowledgeable, plus one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. One minute you’re discussing wine, the next you’re talking about life. It’s hospitality in its best form. She’s surrounded by fellow stars, Greg, Rich, and Ashley, who keep the room moving seamlessly. Even at its busiest, chaos never looked so refined.

The wine list obviously leans heavily Italian, with depth across regions and varietals, alongside thoughtful Old and New World selections. I usually ask for any new wines and then a few Barolos appear to taste before I finish my sentence. Not a bad way to begin our journey.

The menu from Executive Chef Theo Schoenegger, balances tradition with just enough flexibility. There’s a clear respect for classic Italian cooking, which shows immediately. Chef Theo cooked for Ol’ Blue Eyes while in New York, which ties the entire story together.

To start, the polpettine are tender and flavorful, though I’d like more sauce with them. The buffalo mozzarella is clean and refreshing, and the tuna tartare also offers a lighter option, as our eyes are on the entrée prize. The octopus is another strong choice, simple, balanced, and a good signal of what’s to come.

Across the main courses, the consistency is impressive. If seafood is your choice, then the halibut, scallops, branzino, and salmon, are all prepared with precision and freshness that makes you realize you’re in the desert and not Cape Cod. The chicken marsala is excellent, but again, I wish for more sauce. Italians have a law that bread is to be in the non-fork hand and to soak every remnant of sauce in a dish, to which I strictly adhere to. If you come here for steak, you’ll still eat well, but I’ll roll my eyes. Both the ribeye and filet are fantastic, accompanied by Italian red wine reductions.

Moving on, there are few places that make an exceptional fra diavolo dish because it’s difficult to get the consistency of the sauce and spice levels correct. It mustn’t be thick or overly red and the spice should zing you without needing an fire extinguisher. A restaurant that gets it right is Vinoteca di Monica in the North End of Boston. Sinatra is also a made man in this small fra diavolo syndicate with their lobster fra diavolo dish.

Here it’s balanced, the sauce has just enough spice without overwhelming you, and the consistency is exactly where it should be. The lobster is generous, the fettuccini is right at home within the sauce, and somehow the dish remains light enough to keep eating despite its grand portion. Fork in my right hand, bread in my left reveling in the fra diavolo, which I realize I may be addicted to it. Formerly a dish that would come on special now and then, it has made the menu on a full time basis, which is music to my ears and stomach.

We move onto the veal parmigiana, which is my favorite and their signature dish for a reason. A large, perfectly prepared veal chop, finished with a Nonna-like homemade red sauce and melted parmigiana, it delivers on every level. My prayers for abundant sauce are answered in this dish. Each bite is complete, especially with a side of pasta alongside it. Each taste is tender, the red sauce offers the balance of zest with a little acidity, which is countered by the parmigiana. Being a larger dish, it’s definitely one to share, especially if it’s your first visit. Besides, the tiramisu is worth saving room for.

What you’ll most enjoy at Sinatra isn’t on the menu or the walls, but it’s the realization of being a part of a wonderful evening. Yes, it’s at Wynn’s Encore so there’s a premium, but you see the expressions of joy on people’s faces on having a nice night out, relishing the conversations with new friends, appreciating the stellar service from their servers and bartenders, and the pictures taken of the plates because the evening means more than food. You leave Sinatra with the memories of a great experience and meal, eager to return soon. It’s a restaurant that lives up to Frank’s phrase that “nothing but the best is good enough for me.”

Sinatra - Located in Encore at the Wynn Resort - 3131 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV

Make reservations via OpenTable here: https://www.opentable.com/sinatra-encore-at-wynn-las-vegas

Bistro du Midi Perfecting Timeless with the Inventive

There’s never been a hotter time for the Boston food scene right now, with new openings showing off inventive cuisines and refreshed spaces bringing excitement across the city. Sometimes you are reminded that true hospitality does not chase trends, it refines them. That is what you will find at Bistro du Midi.

Located on Boylston Street with sweeping views of the Public Garden, Bistro du Midi strikes a balance that is timeless while offering generous moments of creativity. Under the direction of Robert Sisca and backed by the respected Himmel Hospitality Group (Grill 23, Harvest, Grand Banks, 2 new restaurants coming to Seaport), the restaurant leans into French tradition while introducing subtle, modern reinterpretations that keep each dish engaging.

The experience began with a sense of intrigue. An oyster arrived, but not as expected. It is delicately topped with caviar and presented in an edible shell, creating a playful and luxurious start. From there, our table leaned into indulgence with a seafood tower that delivers freshness and abundance, followed by tender Spanish octopus and rich foie gras. It is unapologetically decadent and exactly the kind of experience worth savoring.

Entrées continue the theme of refined abundance. A shared selection of duck breast, halibut, ora king salmon, and a filet highlights the kitchen’s range, with the dishes executed with precision alongside accompaniments that round out each dish. The duck breast was a personal favorite, perfectly seared, deeply flavorful, and exceptionally tender. My apologies for the reckless usage of superlative adverbs, but a basic description of the meal would not suffice. Seasonal sides of carrots, asparagus, and velvety puréed potatoes complemented the meal without feeling secondary.

Dessert provided a memorable finish. The chocolate soufflé and pistachio soufflé are light yet indulgent, they linger long after the last bite. The crème brûlée stood no chance once arriving onto our table. Sipping on a Montenegro to conclude the evening brought thoughts of Napoleon and how he must have felt after being coronated. It's good to be king.

What truly elevates Bistro du Midi is the service. The team is warm, knowledgeable, and attentive, striking a natural balance between polished and personable. Paired with an award winning wine program recognized by Wine Spectator with a Best of Award of Excellence, the entire experience feels both elevated and inviting.

In a city full of exciting new options, Bistro du Midi proves that reinvention does not always require starting over. Sometimes it comes down to perfecting what already works.

(photos courtesy of Bistro du Midi Instagram page, Brian Samuels Photography)

Greater Boston Concierge Association’s April All-Members Meeting

The GBCA April all-members meeting was a launchpad to the upcoming summer for Boston hospitality. Hosted by Mastro’s Ocean Club in the Seaport District of Boston, featuring their captivating views of Boston Harbor.

Presentations by Charles River Boat Company, Boston Harbor River Cruises, and Old Town Trolley Tours of Boston offered exceptional opportunities to experience this rare gathering of ships as part of Sail Boston from land and by sea!

Seaport Social

Enzo hosted a neighborhood networking event at City Tap in the Seaport District of Boston, bringing together hospitality professionals and vendors that are located within the Seaport. The idea is to have events thate are targeted, bringing together professionals that may not know of other hospitality services within their neighborhood.

The Seaport is a bustling and modern district, as well as the newest area of Boston, being developed over the last 15 years. There’s Fortune 500 corporations across biotech and finance, as well as a who’s who of America’s best restaurants. Bringing people together to connect and hopefully collaborate is the mission of these events.