Dinner at Bennigans

Today my son and I went to Bennigan's located at 150 South Michigan in Chicago for dinner. I had received a coupon in my email for $3.99 burgers. Today is Halloween so the place almost empty. We were greeted by the hostess that was dress up as a person that had been killed. She had blood and sores all over her skin. It was disgusting to look at. My son and I thought it was awful to look at. Thankfully she was just the hostess and not our waiter. Our waiter Nathan soon came over after being seated. I show him the coupon and we ordered. My son ordered off the kids menu, grill cheese sandwich and I got the Bacon Cheese Burger. We both had Strawberry Lemonade and Buffalo Shrimp. First our waiter. Nice but didn't smile at all until the end when he bought the check. He played with my son a bit a gave him a cookie in the end. The food came right away, faster then any other time we been there. The food is always delicious. Never a complaint. When then order the Oreo Ice Cream. Ymmmmmmmmmmm!!! This is one of the best restaurants in Chicago. Take away the hostess and the non smiling waiter and add great food and service and Bennigan's is a winner.

My Black Guide rating: 9

Disney Online Shopping

On October 20th, 2007 I went to Disney website to purchase a Black Power Ranger Overdrive Halloween costume for my son. The price was great so I placed the order. I use a mailbox location for all of my deliveries so when I typed in the address I made a mistake and put in my home zip code. The order was rejected and asked my to try again. What I found out later that even through the order did not go through my credit card still got hit with the charged. I contacted Disney customer service representative and was told that they did not charge my credit card that they just took an authorization. She told me to go back and do it again. I ask her if another charge would come off my card? She kept saying that the first one was not a charge but just an authorization. What ever it was it took $36 off my credit card. I ask her to use the first authorization and use that to purchase the item I wanted. She said that was not possible. I was also told that the first authorization would not come off my card after 7 - 10 days. I did not place another order with Disney. Instead I have been waiting for that charge to come off. It came off today October 31st exactly 10 days later. To late to purchase a costume for my son. I am a low income single mom. That $36 is what I put aside for his costume and nothing else. When Disney took that money off my card I had nothing left to go some where else and buy him a costume. My son is staying home from school today because I could not get him a costume. I don't believe that a large company like Disney could not solve this issue. Disney both Online and their stores has lost my business.

My Black Guide Rating: 2

Hyatt Regency O'Hare

I found the Hyatt Regency O'Hare hotel to be everything a travel would not want. I attended this hotel in August for a convention. I found customer service and room accommodation to be lacking throughout the hotel.

The room was very cold. I had the the air condition turned off it still did not make a difference. Others at my convention were also complaining. And if the sleeping rooms were cold you an imagine how cold the meeting rooms. Several calls were made asking to fix the problem. The response, their was nothing they could do.

That was the first problem. Problem number two, checking out. When I tried to check out the next day I was told that my credit card would not go through. Puzzled I went back up to my room and access the Internet to look at my account. What I found was several charges made from Hyatt gift shop, Hyatt restaurant and room service, along with a charge for the room. When I comforted front desk personal, their response was I must have forgotten that I charge these things. I did not forget. Someone used my card and they were not going to take responsibility for it. They kept pushing the issue of how I was going to take care of my bill. I informed them that they have already charge my credit card. I printed out a copied of my credit card statement to show the charged. They said that that was just an authorization and not the actually charged. Although the charge showed on my card at the time of check out for the exacted amount need to be charge. She started to tell me how I didn't know what I was talking about and this is here job and she knew what she was doing. I inform them that I had graduated from hotel school and have worked in the hotel business, including the Hyatt, for many years. So I knew how the system worked. I also inform her that I was not given her another cent. That they have their money. I walked away from the front desk while dialing my credit card company and reporting my card stolen and the charges, except for the room were not mind.

This is not an hotel I would recommend to anyone. Unless customer service, meeting and sleeping rooms are address, I suggest going to one of the many other hotels in the area.

My Black Guide Rating: 1