"For the past few years, I have found Bellini's to be a work in progress with steady improvement in food and service. My overall impression on the luncheon visits for this review suggest to me that they have arrived, and I find Bellini's to be the best Italian restaurant in Lexington, and one of the finest overall restaurant experiences in the city as well.
Many factors come into play to make this so. Among them are the space addition that accomplished two major changes: the very appealing bar and an enlarged kitchen, from which the recent change in executive chefs gained an opportunity to introduce more and varied entrés. Daily luncheon specials gained ground as well, where recently four were presented by the well-trained staff.
Other factors include moving away from a one-gender wait staff by adding male servers to create a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Moreover, well-trained servers can truly add to the quality of the experience. This was found to be the case in my two visits, when my guest and I were greeted by a very knowledgeable hostess. Unlike most restaurants, Bellini's hostesses describe the specials of the day. Not having to wait for that information from the server is most helpful, and allows the servers to proceed with their role of serving.
I mentioned the recent change in the executive chef at Bellini's as one of the overall positives. Bellini's new chef Ken Larsen came to Lexington in 2004 as executive chef of Le Toulouse. He earned his culinary degree from the French Culinary Institute in New York City. I believe the classic skills he gained through that training have served him well in preparing superb Italian cuisine.
On my first visit, my guest had one of the specials, two cheese ravioli, while I tried the classic spaghetti with marinara sauce and meatballs. My entré was fine, and the special, which my guest shared, was delicious, as the sauce had just the right seasoning to give it a fine, spicy kick.
The second visit produced similar reactions as I enjoyed one of the specials and my guest had Bellini's grilled chicken Caesar salad (which, in his opinion, is the best in town.) I ordered cioppino (Italian seafood stew), and it was wonderful. It reminded me of a dinner I had on the wharf in San Francisco. Served in a large bowl with grilled toast, it contained large scallops, mussels, clams, shrimp and sea bass along with vegetables. The serving was a healthy portion consisting primarily of seafood. The seasoning was excellent as well.
The only negative of either visit was the size and price of the cioppino. I will not argue that it is worth every penny of its $16 charge, but I would find even greater value in three-quarters of the portion for $12 during lunch.
Bellini's has the capacity to offer more than tables in the main dining room for a business luncheon now that they have the addition. I imagine they would welcome setting up the adjacent room to accommodate a moderately sized private luncheon meeting.
We are very fortunate to have an ever-growing dining experience in the downtown area, and Bellini's has done its part!
Counter culture: A great execution of stay
Linda Hinchcliffe
columnist: counter culture
For the parents of high school juniors and seniors, spring break is often the time to visit the colleges and universities their sons and daughters are interested in. Pile a few aspiring freshmen-to-be into the back of the family Suburban, throw in the duffle bags, flowery quilted pieces of luggage, a good supply of CDs and books on tape - plus a good map and set of directions - and an adventure not to be forgotten is about to begin. What was not forgotten in this tale of customer service occurred at the concierge desk of the Marriott Hotel on Michigan Avenue in Chicago.
It's an exhausting experience, traipsing one or two college campuses a day, listening to the marketing pitches of admission folk haling the advantages of their particular institution, filling out form after form, and keeping track of the mountain of printed material that each school has to offer. By the time the family Suburban in this tale reached Chicago, three schools had been visited and tours of Northwestern and the University of Chicago lay in the plans for the following day or two. Long check-in counters lined the wall of the large lobby of the Marriott, and smiling faces beckoned the buzzing group of teenagers and their sole parent escort to their stations. With cards in hand, the group boarded the elevator to their rooms. Plans were made to meet in the lobby in half an hour.
Standing alone at the concierge desk, the parent's exhaustion showed in his eyes. Where was a good restaurant - not to break the wallet, but comfortable - and a place where the four could exchange their impressions and concerns, he asked. A kind face inquired into his day's activities and a congenial conversation ensued. The schools were beautiful, the admission counselors were friendly and helpful and, truly, everyone was having a great time. Guiding the kids beyond their first impressions was something he felt was important. When he mentioned the names of the schools on their list, a nod of acknowledgment and a response of "good schools" ended the brief exchange. He joined his hungry crew with directions in hand to a few appropriate eating establishments within walking distance.
The next fall, the application process began. A flurry of financial information flew back and forth and the dreaded essays were begun. The first were due November 1, the others not too far behind. Another brief trip was quickly planned, this time to visit a much shorter list of schools in the hopes of cementing a final impression of each and creating a prioritized order. Chicago was a definite destination.
Once again, the large lobby of the Marriott ended a long drive, and with keycards in hand, a meeting time to head out to dinner was planned. Once again, the father walked to the concierge desk, and the smile from behind the desk counter was a familiar one. There was a pause - "Did your son like Northwestern?"
"Yeah, we're headed back there tomorrow morning," was his delighted response. He could barely remember the entire list of schools from the earlier trip, and this woman remembered the one they had spoken of. "Where did you end up going for dinner last time?" she inquired, and she offered a few suggestions with its exclusion. Before leaving two days later, the group glanced over to see if the concierge desk was staffed by the same welcoming face. She wasn't there, and they were disappointed.
Parents' Weekends are exciting times, and though there are numerous other places to stay, many much more convenient to Northwestern's campus, the Marriott on Michigan Avenue is a favorite of our tale-teller. Large, looming, and in the middle of a huge city, it is friendly, warm, and comforting to this family, all due to the efforts of one employee behind the concierge desk. Was her information a matter of record, or was she just amazingly astute and in possession of a great memory for faces and facts? It didn't really matter to him.
Being able to identify the individuals who will, by nature, be able to offer good customer service and represent the business in a favorable manner is invaluable. Their ability to sense who will be receptive to which type of service behavior can make or break a good relationship with a customer. And while training to handle possible situations is a definite help, the fitting personality and ability to read a customer's needs are helpful prerequisites. The power of a smile cannot be measured.
From the huge efforts to the miniscule offerings, we'd like to hear your stories of customer service. E-mail or call, but let us hear them. It might make someone's day, or it might make someone's year!
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