Yesterday we headed to the W for a business lunch. We were abruptly stopped in the lobby by a large man with an ear piece. We explained that we were going to the roof for lunch and he told us to step aside and wait for the "end" elevator so we could be "escorted" to the roof. Uh, never had to do that when it was Hotel Washington. We waited for the elevator and a woman with a clip board asked us if we had a reservation. We did not and she told us that she wasn't sure if she would be able to seat us since they were completely booked for lunch. She asked us to sit in the lobby for 5 minutes while she checked into things. She eventually came back and told us she could seat us at a lounge sofa with a coffee table and we could eat lunch there. I asked to see exactly what she was talking about and she escorted us upstairs. For drinks, the configuration would have been fine, but for eating lunch it was completely unacceptable. We stood there and debated where else to go for lunch and she quickly came back over and said that she could seat us at a table now. Very odd, but we agreed. We stayed for over an hour and not one table filled up!!!! There were people at the bar having drinks, and there were people sitting on the sofa's having drinks but the tables (which were allegedly reserved for those who had made reservations) were empty!!

Oh and let's not forget the food! A $19 cheeseburger is a bit extreme in DC! Pricewise the menu is out of control and the food is certainly not worth the price.

Though the view is amazing and I may consider going back for a $15 cocktail, if I get a raise, I certainly would not be inclined to have another business (or leisure) lunch there. It's such a shame because Hotel Washington had more of the DC, historic, feel to it and the W has changed the feel all together into a trendy New York hot spot.