Rendezvous Lounge

Food is expensive for an airport hotel. I had the Salmon med. salad  for $17 after tip and tax it is over $20 for a mediocre salad that was drenched in dressing. Some of the worst food I had in a hotel in a while.

The new menu is a clear zero in my mind.  I have eaten here a dozen times before under the previous menu but this evenings experience was a big disappointment.

What was not a disappointment was the kind a respectful service from the bar and the servers.  This place is being held hostage by the corporate menu and not the abilities of the talented cooks and service staff.

The Sheraton Gateway's lobby is among the more impressive of LAX's hotel offerings. The opportunity to bask in its upscale atmosphere is made more inviting by Rendezvous ("Lobby Bar"), which sits center stage, between the pool and the business center as well as on-premise restaurants: Paparazzi and Brasserie.

Bedecked in vintage chic, the bar area exudes elegance. High-backed, box-style chairs allow guests to cubby in, which--to me--is more desirable than the "be seen" vibe over at Paparazzi. "No pictures, please!"

Drinks are reasonably priced at about $8-$12, typical of a hotel lobby. Besides, you get SPG points for every dollar you spend, which proves that drinking really does have its rewards after all. ;-)