Abbington Distinctive Banquets

I recently went to this banquet hall for a friend's wedding. I thought the food was pretty impressive, especially the salad. The room we were in was also well decorated and the staff was attentive to our needs. On the downside, they keep their banquet halls very chilly and despite the fact that we were going to dance in several hours and make the place a bit toasty, we had to suffer through the freezing cold for three hours because they couldn't adjust the air conditioning. The good news was, you can't hear through the walls here. I'd say I was mostly satisfied with the experience there.

PROS: nice facility, decent food
CONS: air conditioning too high, bathrooms are crowded on busy nights

Fox & Hound Bar + Grill

I went to Fox and Hound while visiting the suburbs. A couple of friends recommended it. It was actually a pretty decent bar, full of pool tables and an attentive staff of people who kept it clean and tidy. Drinks were reasonably priced and the environment was good for reunions, if a bit loud with all of the music that was playing. Overall, a good experience.

Giordano's

I recently visited this Giordanos on my latest trip to Chicago and was pretty impressed. Although the pizza takes 35 minutes to prepare (at any Giordano's), the wait is worth it. Complete with TV screens to keep you entertained while you wait and a staff that waits on you without bothering you, this Giordano's was pretty impressive. I'd definitely visit this tucked away restauarant if I were going to Millineum Park again since it's so close by!

PROS: great food, close to the heart of downtown
CONS:

San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk

I don't stay in very nice hotels too often so I was really excited about this experience. From the minute I got there, the bellboys seemed resistent to help me. I was there for a wedding and checking in took way too long, as I was late to get to the bridal luncheon. The facilities were nice and very close to the Riverwalk and Alamo, which was great. However, the service on some levels was ridiculous. I called to get replacement towels and didn't get them for a very long time afterwards. Also, there was actually an evacuation in the middle of the night on a Saturday that was very poorly organized. We had to walk down the stairs from the 22nd floor without much explanation only to realize at floor 11 that it was a false alarm. The staff did not inform the guests of the hotel about this unless they called into the front desk. Luckily we had a cell phone or we'd still be trapped in that stairwell. The hotel did not apologize for waking us up at 2AM to evacuate the hotel or explain what the deal was. By the way, those of us on the upper floors would have died due to the poor organization by the hotel staff. Also, I left some items in the my room and when I called about them, they were very blase about it and I still haven't heard back as to whether they were found or not. Annoying? Yes. This is making me want to write the corporation. The only thing good about this experience was George, the guy at guest services, who helped me map an alternate route to the church where my friend was getting married. He was awesome.

PROS: George, the guest services guy. Nice beds and showers
CONS: See my review. Pretty much everything...

Alamo Heights United Methodist Church

I recently attended a small wedding in the chapel of this church and it was beautiful. The larger church is amazing--it's hard to imagine a church like this in America. It's rather remnicent of Europe, actually. I thought that the courtyard for pictures was nice. Unfortunately, it rained on the day of the wedding and there weren't many options for the poor bridesmaids who had to get to their cars in the rain. I wouldn't blame that on the church though. I thought that overall, they did a nice job coordinating the wedding.

PROS: Beautiful facilities
CONS:

Photography by Aron

A freelance photographer who specializes in headshots, families (especially young children), and landscapes, Aron works hard to please his customers so that they can get exactly what they are looking for. I'm often self conscious when it comes to having my picture taken and Aron put me at ease right away. He's willing to work with different budgets and locations. I found that he was really good at what he does.

PROS: nice, will drive to your location, great pictures!
CONS:

4th Dimension

This pool hall, located in Downtown Monrovia is a great place to go with friends if you feel like dancing or playing a game of pool. They are open until 2AM most nights. You can rent a table for under $15 for the whole night.

Foothill Smog & Auto Repair

I went in to Avo awhile back so that he could take a look at my car. I was about to take a road trip and he was really fast and efficient with his work. I had my oil changed as well as a full diagnostic on my car for only $60! It was a really great deal and I was impressed. If Avo can't help you, he'll send you somewhere that can. I needed a new tire (which I didn't realize) and Avo was the one who helped me discover that my car wasn't safe. I'm going back shortly for my next oil change!

Lucio H Kim, DDS

Dr. Kim was the first dentist I've been to who actually listened to my concerns and checked my teeth for more than cavities. He gave me great tips on flossing and really assessed my situation on a personal level. I found the level of care I got from Dr. Kim and his staff to be exceptional. After my appointment, Dr. Kim sent me a $10 Starbucks card to thank me for coming! I will definitely make this my new dental care home!

PROS: nice, listens well, really cares
CONS:

Arroyo Cleaners

I really liked this cleaners. I had to take my expensive down comforter in to be cleaned and they didn't charge me very much for the service. I found the staff to be friendly. I don't often go to dry cleaners but this was a convenient place and I had a good experience.

PROS: close, good service
CONS: