As a Hilton Honors Gold member, I've stayed at numerous Hilton locations both domestically and internationally. The DoubleTree by Hilton in Park City, formerly known as The Yarrow, is beautifully situated with stunning views and convenient access to all local attractions. You're even next to a grocery store, which is quite handy. The room cleaning staff and front desk personnel were professional and provided satisfactory service.
Now, on to the less favorable aspects of my stay. The hotel features a restaurant, The 1800 Cafe, where I found breakfast to be a safe bet. However, after a four-night stay, I strongly advise against dining there for any other meals. Though the prices are comparable to average dining in Park City, the quality was disappointing.
I attempted to order the Beef Wellington. Unfortunately, it was prepared using flatbread dough, typically used for pizza. The dough was undercooked, oily, stretchy, and overall a disaster. More concerning was their use of pre-cooked beef, which I suspect might have been leftovers. On my visit on Wednesday, May 21st, the meat was rancid, and even the mushroom sauce couldn't mask the smell of spoilage. I brought this to the attention of the server, who faced communication challenges due to a language barrier. When I requested the dish be removed from my bill, he explained that only the manager, available in the morning, could make such adjustments. In the end, I was charged $25 for an inedible dish.
Additionally, I tried the Caprese Sandwich, which should be simple yet delicious, typically made with buffalo mozzarella, tomatoes, pesto, and a balsamic vinegar reduction. Unfortunately, this too was a letdown and far from what one would expect.
They slathered a thick layer of pesto, about 4 cm, on both sides of the toasted bread—a layer so generous that it surpassed the combined thickness of the thinly sliced tomato and mozzarella. The pesto carried the classic flavors of pine nuts, basil, garlic, and olive oil. While the taste was not unpleasant, the abundance of pesto was overwhelming. It soaked the once-crispy bread in olive oil, rendering it soggy and greasy.
The surprise element? A balsamic vinegar glaze drizzled over the entire sandwich. Picking it up was akin to handling an olive oil and balsamic-covered burger, leaving my fingers slick and stained. This attempt at culinary flair turned the simplest item on the menu into the messiest. Repeated burping kept me revisiting the pesto taste throughout the night.
This was more than a pesto sandwich; it was an oily concoction garnished with minimal tomato and mozzarella. The next day, I expected to be haunted by the vibrant green of pesto as I bid farewell to the night's meal.
On the bright side, the fries were absolutely divine! Now, onto the blackened fish dish: a simple preparation of lightly breaded fish, grilled to perfection. However, the seasoning was so heavy that the edges of the fish were crunchily burnt. The fish itself was moist, but all we could taste was the overpowering seasoning, which carried a savory yet burnt aroma throughout.
Service during the mid-season was significantly scaled back, making it difficult to find assistance from the restaurant staff. My wife and I ended up retrieving our own menus, seating ourselves, and waiting. After 10 minutes, we heard some noise in the back area. I knocked on the door leading to the dishwashing area, where we found a staff member on their cell phone. He noticed me and called for the chef, who then asked for a waiter. The waiter finally arrived 15 minutes after we had initially sat down.
As it was the mid-season, the dining area seemed desolate; for two out of the three nights, we dined alone in the entire restaurant. Is this solely due to the slow season, or could it be attributed to erratic service and rather unsatisfactory food? I should note that breakfast was delightful, and we never encountered any issues during the two times we dined there.
Overall, while the hotel's location and views are commendable, the restaurant leaves much to be desired. I recommend exploring other dining options during your stay.
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