Pillar and Post

The meal was the bright spot. The prime rib was excellent and easily my favorite, the bone marrow was very good, and the tuna tartare tasted nice but was a small portion with little tuna. Our server was attentive and professional, though I’m sorry I can’t remember her name. The spa was a letdown for the price. I paid close to $300 for a massage and scalp massage, but it wasn’t relaxing or worth the cost. There was very little pressure, and no one checked whether it felt right or adjusted it. The scalp massage alone was $113 for just 25 minutes, which was particularly disappointing. There’s also only one outdoor hot spring, which felt limited for a spa of this size and reputation. The hotel itself has a lovely atmosphere, but the spa fell far short of what I expected from a property of this caliber.

Dinner at The Cannery was the highlight of our anniversary weekend. The food was delicious, and the service was impeccable. Derek was attentive and gave us fantastic menu recommendations, making the meal especially memorable. We also used the free shuttle into NOL town and enjoyed strolling around the cute boutiques. We had a fabulous time and would definitely recommend Pillar and Post for a weekend getaway. If you can, book dinner at The Cannery.

My son and his fiancée had a disappointing dinner at the Pillar and Post. The ambience was good, but according to them the meal was just meh, and the service didn’t acknowledge their engagement at all. He had requested a more private table for his proposal, and they were seated more privately. Their waiter knew they had just gotten engaged, yet there were no congratulations, no complimentary bubbly, and not even a dessert to share. Other restaurants, chain or independent, often mark birthdays, anniversaries and engagements with well wishes or a small gesture. I’m extremely disappointed that an upscale, fairly expensive place didn’t offer even the cheapest glass of bubbly or a shared dessert. My family has been going to the Pillar and Post for decades, for Mother’s Day brunches and Easter celebrations. I got married in 1992 and my husband and I stayed there, then about 35-40 relatives from both sides joined us for brunch the next morning. Back then, service, hospitality and appreciation for guests were paramount. A proposal is one of life’s most important, memorable occasions. Someone chose YOUR restaurant for it, and you obviously couldn’t care less. Word spreads, and you depend more on local patronage once the summer tourist crowds thin out.

This is only a spa review, not the hotel or restaurant. The pedicure was great, the service was friendly, and the relaxation room was pleasant. The outdoor setting was tranquil, too. But the hot spring experience was gross and disappointing. I expected something more like Scandinave Spa in Blue Mountain, but this was a small outdoor jacuzzi tub, with comfortable space for only about 6-8 people. You can book it for 20 or so, which seems like a lot for that size. The water looked unclean, with hair and scum floating on top, and seemed to be recirculating oils, fragrances and soap residue from other guests. I didn’t see anyone skim or clean it while we were there. The worst part was the swamp smell. Our swimsuits smelled like stagnant water afterward, not chlorine, almost like wet laundry left too long. I made the mistake of washing them with other clothes, and now everything has a faint swamp smell. I’m washing it all again because the swimsuits contaminated the rest. The tub was warm, not actually hot. We didn’t mind, though a little more warmth would have been nice. I overheard other guests say the same, so it didn’t seem like just our impression. They call it a hot spring, so I’m not sure whether the swamp smell comes from that or from poor pool hygiene. The pool was small, and the jets kept stopping unless you pressed an obscure button inside. It wasn’t obvious where it was, and it was comical watching everyone, including us, try to find it every 20 minutes or so. I can’t comment on the rooms or restaurant. If you’re after a true thermal spa experience, I’d go somewhere like Scandinave Spa. The atmosphere and service were nice, and the pedicure was great, so just skip the outdoor tub.