With today being Veteran’s Day and having it off from work, I decided on an early morning breakfast at the Lafayette Hotel’s Beginner’s Diner. It has been a little over a year since this historic San Diego hotel reopened to great fanfare after a $31 million renovation. First, a genuine FauxD© shot of the hotel’s exterior. The fire inside the lobby was lit to keep the guests warm; the outside temperature this morning was a chilly 59°!
While my goal was the Diner, I had to snap a few other photos along the way, including the unique light fixtures that hang above the lobby desk.
The Diner itself looks pretty much the same since my first visit in August 2023.
The same cannot be said for the buckwheat pancakes.
When compared to the August 2023 photo below, you can see that they look (and tasted) less rich without the abundance of toppings.
Compare the biscuits and gravy; this morning, the biscuits tasted as if they had been left out on the counter all week.
The gravy had more filler and less meat than their September 2023 counterpart, and as a result, less flavor.
The clock has changed, too. Below is the current one:
…and the one originally installed when the Diner first opened:
This change didn’t bother me as much, although I would say that the original clock seemed more authentic. Overall, it would appear that the restaurant is cutting back or perhaps I just caught them on an off day. I might have to try Rudford’s down the street next time! Stay tuned…
See more Lafayette Hotel photos at my main website.
Glad you had a good time, but agreed on all points. I was there on Sunday with a friend, then 2 weeks ago to take out a retired couple for a birthday celebration. Things felt off but I couldn't put a finger on it as well as you do. My chief ire was not being able to show anyone the bowling alley, although on our late October trip we were able to slip through the unsecured doors in the courtyard and mill around inside. There didn't appear to be any construction going on so why close it? Anyhow, the food we had was good, but I didn't take pics like you so I might not know what I was missing. ...but that clock. Okay, I get it. Someone said they can't read the hands, so someone else said "Fine! I'll make sure EVERYONE can see it!" and thus the Neon Arizona appeared. As you said, authenticity ruined and so soon after all that refurb? :-( Senseless.
ReplyDeleteI would guess these decisions are driven by profit margins. It also appears that room rates have dropped; the smarter trend would have been to start low and go high as the demand increased rather than the reverse which gives that whiff of desperation.
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