Heading upstairs, you are met with an immaculate presentation of tables, art, lighting, and a view of the kitchen, along with an impossibly polite staff to match.  As you sit and take it all in, you feel comfortable, warm, and at ease.  Conversations around you are at a minimal volume and not distracting from the ambiance of the restaurant.

Then the drinks arrive.  These are no ordinary drinks, but perfectly crafted, properly glassed, works of art in liquid form.  Exquisite ingredients, perfect amounts of ice, the right ratio to allow each flavor to dance on the tongue.  My drink of choice tonight was the Manhattan neat, and I left there craving another.  It was perfect, heavenly in nature, velvet on the tongue.  Smooth would not begin to describe this drink.  (It is actually the drink that inspired our latest quick fix recipe)  My fellow diners all tried other classics, from a simple vodka and lemon to an Old Fashioned, all of which were enjoyed at the perfect pace and in the same, pleasant manner.  This was the perfect start to an amazing evening.

Now, there are often a few dishes I lean towards when dining out, and lately it has been Brussels sprouts.  Having been the victim of horrible recipes in the past, it took me a long time to get passed the memories and horrible flavors to rediscover this amazing green.  OneUP has a side order of crispy Brussels sprouts, and please take it from me, you want to order these first.  Multiple plates of them.  Make these your appetizer.  The char, the bitterness, all mixed with oils and fats from the bacon and seasoning, made these heavenly.  Were they the star of the show?  I would not go that far, but to say they stole quite a bit of the spotlight would be an honest statement.  They were astounding and easily shared and enjoyed by the whole table.

The star of the show though came with the main dish, and not even mine.  Across the table, one of my fellow diners ordered the mushroom risotto, made with sauteed mushrooms, leeks, truffle oil, and Parmesan.  Simple ingredients prepared so perfectly, brought together at the right time, it was heavenly.  The risotto was cooked to perfection, the perfect texture, as the Parmesan and truffle oil did not mask, but enhanced the whole dish.  It was balanced, light, and filling.  By no means were the braised ribs I ordered anything to sell short, but this perfectly made mushroom risotto was the meal of dreams.

It’s hard to wonder how such a perfect dining experience could exist in a hotel, where food is often thought the be the afterthought of most places.  But here, within the walls of the Grand Hyatt, I sat in wonder and amazement at the ingredients I had just experienced.  The perfect balance of ambiance, modern flair, and perfectly crafted food and drink, all within a welcoming and warm setting.

The post An evening at OneUP Restaurant & Lounge appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Now, let me be upfront.  I was there for business.  I booked the Parc 55 based off location and amenities, and having stayed there before, knew it would fit the bill.  During the week I was in town, to get a room at all is difficult, especially anything magnificent, so when the opportunity arose for me to stay here, I couldn’t say no.  Walking distance to both the tourist side and real side of the city, I was very much comfortable with my choice.   While my stay before was not totally ideal, the hotel and brand had since won me over for all my business focused trips.  It’s a business hotel with clean, comfortable rooms and all the amenities I look for when travelling, and even with over 1000 rooms, never feels cramped or busy.

Let’s talk about the hotel in general.  It’s the 4th largest in the city, and with people coming and going so much, it amazed me after 2 days the staff recognized me and my basic schedule.  The lobby is open, modern, and fresh, with great windows surrounding it and stone tile leading up to the desks.  The restaurant Cityhouse sits right off the lobby and provides a darker, modern lounge feel while still flowing great into the main floor.  The hotel itself is right next to a BART station and easily within walking distance of many of the city-center restaurants.  While some might see a bit of the area as rundown, it felt more like a real city then the typical, sparkle-shined tourist traps that surround.  Want a great meal for breakfast?  Head up two blocks to one of the many diners filled with locals.  Looking for a great, cheap drink?  Right around the corner are lounges with great music and local drinks.

The rooms, beyond the suite I was in, are all spacious, clean, and kept up.  The decor is a bit plain, but it allows you to focus on the views out the windows.  Every room has a bay window so you can look around and take it all in.  The beds are comfortable with a great selection of pillows, and bathrooms clean and stocked with Bath and Body Works toiletries.  For a city as packed as San Francisco, there is a surprising amount of room in even the basic rooms, and you cannot hear your neighbors one bit.

Overall, I love this hotel and it will be my go-to every time I am in town, upgrade or not.  It is clean, comfortable, and consistent.

So here I was, sitting in my armchair looking at one of the towers of the Golden Gate to my left, the capital building in front of me, and the bay to the right.  The hills had fog rolling in over the distance, and I took it all in.  Every bit of it.  It was amazing.  I am sometimes lucky, but not this lucky.  The Parc 55 has surpassed every thought or expectation of comfort, truly delivering one of my greatest extended trips I have had in a while.  The view, the room, the staff; everything was beyond perfect.

I didn’t just visit the Parc 55 San Francisco; I became a resident.

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