Peppermill Resort Spa Casino

05/20/09

Three misses and your out!

by QueryAll

I have eaten at the White Orchid thee time and that is only because two times I was coerced by clients. Now I flatly refuse step foot into that place because of ... lets say tummy troubles so not to be seditious.

I have eaten in total dives and some of the best restaurants including Le Cirqu, Jean Gorges, L'Ami Louis, Felix, L'Astance, Delmonicos. I know what to let slide when paying $5 for a meal and have a good understanding of what to expect when I plunk down $250 per person. I have both front and back of the house understanding and expertise. I know my way around a kitchen and could hold my own with some three star chefs. I am a fat SOB because I love food. In short I know what I am talking about when I say the White Orchid is at best a three diamond establishment. No way could I go there three times over a two year period and have service so slipshod each and every time.

When I rate a restaurant I take note of everything around me including how my wait staff provides for my needs. At the four diamond level I expect to have what I want as I want it. I should not wait too long for anything. A truly great wait staff is one that knows what you want before you ever think about it, well thats not the case so... If I have a displeased face, I expect the waiter to notice and quickly ask me what is wrong. I should not have to wait 10 minutes after being served to be asked if my steak was cooked to my liking especially if I predicated my order with extra well done. I don't care if the chef has problems with cooking steak that way, it is the way I like it and I was quite clear on my request.

Even if you excuse the past problems tummy upset to the rich food... yeah... a cup of goose live pate wouldn't faze me, the service has been anything but. Downstairs, the much less celebrated steak house has more attentive servers. Come to think of it the first time I ate at the White Orchid about five years ago, I had to wait 15 minuets for my reservation that was scheduled for early diner. It was an insult to wait that long for a table I had reserved three weeks prior. To make things worse there was only one other couple there at the time, and I was not given a proper apology for my wait. I would have walked out but I was on a date and had to make nice.

Now I must say the Peppermill's wine list is rather good and their handling is exceptional, but that is to be expected if your paying upwards to $150 for a decent bottle.

I do like that the setting, the chairs were quite comfortable and the china was a pleasant pattern. But I go out to eat not be entertained or relax or drink for that matter. I want to have good food, which it was to a degree, but at this price point it should have been better.

• Pros: Atmosphere is exceptional
• Cons: Four diamond - Who's fooling who?

05/17/09

Our Favorite Casino

by DavidJohnston

This is the place to go. Whatever kind of food you want, they got it somewhere. The rooms are fantastic, the pools are great. New parking ramp makes it easy to get to and park.

When they added new towers they remodeled the entire place so it looks like one uniform structure. You do not have "old" parts that got neglected when they built the "new" parts.

To find a casino hotel as nice as this you will have to go to Vegas!!

• Pros: Terrific decor, recently upgraded.
• Cons: There are none.

04/24/09

Too good to be true

by vickigrimes

The only negatives I found were many snobby Narcissitic people from California walking around the casino in their miserable state of mind. These tree huggers, self important rude people can make your time their unpleasant. Stay as far away from them as humanly possible. The room rates are cheap! 5 star quality. I stayed at the Wynn Resort and found our room was nicer and 1/4 the price. Reno people are freindly, The cocktail waitresses are not as rude as the ones in Vegas, and came around every 10 minutes and offered drinks while I was gambling. The food was great at the Oceana, with great service. The Buffet is a great value, so is the coffee shop. We were comped most of our meals, and we didn't spend thousands of dollars either, I never got that in Vegas!

• Pros: Great Prices
• Cons: Unfriendly Bay Area people