We just got back from a week at The Roosevelt Hotel. It is Hilton's Waldorf-Astoria class hotel. The staff displays Southern hospitality at its best. Before we arrived we received an email from our personal concierge. This was a nice touch. She set up a driver to pick us up at the airport - pricey, but worth it since we had never been to New Orleans. When we arrived at the hotel, check-in was a breeze. It was nice to be greeted by our names. The front desk staff was definitely well-trained. We are Hilton Gold Card members and we were immediately given an upgrade to a king suite. Again, a very nice touch. Our rooms were lovely with an exceedingly comfortable bed, two closets, two bathrooms, and a sitting room. I think even a basic room would have been just as lovely, as the staff really makes you feel at home. One especially nice amenity was a shower with multiple jets from the wall, as well as an overhead rain shower.

This is a hotel with a grand history. Huey Long, former Louisiana governor, once had a suite on the twelfth floor that was his exclusively. He used it whenever he came down from Baton Rouge. The Sazerac Bar has been remodeled, but they kept the hole in the wall where a bullet missed him during an altercation. Also on display is the Deduct Box replica. They say he deducted a portion of the wages from men for whom he found jobs. Quite a character from the old world of politics, circa 1930s.

The food was exceptional. The Sazerac Restaurant, adjacent to the Sazerac Bar, prepared some of the best food we have ever had. My breakfast favorite was the Creole Crab Cake Benedict. In place of the traditional English muffin was a crab cake with Hollandaise sauce and a poached egg. I would have had this every day, except I didn't try I until our last day. Lunch in the Sazerac was also very good. The Prix Fixe menu was the way to go. Three courses for $25 was a steal!! They did not offer the Prix Fixe menu in the evening, although a server said they were bringing it back. It is worth asking about.

The absolute best time we experienced was the Sunday Jazz Brunch in The Blue Room. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. you dine on exquisite food while listening to the James Rivers Band. James Rivers was in the movie The Bridges Of Madison County. You see him singing to Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood, look for his signature black beret! To our delight, he also dedicated a song and sang to us. A magical moment.

The Sunday Brunch food was a real feast. Starting with appetizers, salad, and gumbo soup displayed tastefully, we sampled some of everything. This was NOT your Vegas type buffet with mounds and mounds of food, just plenty of the appetizers that we had been ordering throughout the week in the main restaurant, plus some added treats. The caviar was one of the extra treats.

The main course offered nine entrees, all served at our table. My husband chose the enormous Prime Rib that was an inch thick and filled his plate, and I chose the Herb Marinated Grilled Poussin (chicken) with oyster dressing. I don't think you can go wrong with any selection.

Throughout all of this our waiter was freely pouring Mimosas and champagne. We never had to ask, he was just there.

The dessert bar included Bananas Foster, creme brulee, cheesecake, an array of pastries and chocolates, and, of course, pralines (my personal downfall). See the pictures, such delightful food.

People make or break a hotel. One of the nicest hotel administrators was the Emporium Manager. She was also the hotel weekend manager. We kept running in to her throughout our stay. She saw us in the Sazerac during dinner and happened to have the table next to ours during Sunday brunch. Whenever we saw her in the hotel, she was wave or say, "Hello."

Finally, our week came to an end. The Roosevelt had become our home away from home. I will miss it.