Work brings me to Columbus on a fairly regular basis and, after trying out several downtown hotels over the last few years, the Doubletree Guest Suites on South Front Street is definitely my hands-down favorite. This nicely kept all-suites hotel offers great accommodations, each with a large living room, a work and dining space that includes a wet bar with fridge, microwave and coffee maker, in addition to an adjoining, but separate, bedroom and bathroom area that is equally spacious. All of the suites feature huge floor to ceiling windows that let in fantastic light, and a few choice rooms facing Front Street offer great views of both the Scioto River and the gorgeously restored historic building that houses the Ohio Supreme Court. In my experience, these premium rooms can be easily reserved with adequate advance notice, at no extra cost.
While perhaps not the most exclusive place in town, the Doubletree's downtown location cannot be beat, the staff is super friendly and helpful, and the connected garage makes parking a breeze. The Doubletree's prices are extremely reasonable and quite frequently the least expensive of all hotels in the downtown Columbus area. (To be fair, I should note that my stays are usually at a crazy-cheap government rate of eighty bucks per night, but a phone call to the hotel directly has scored the same or similar rate even when I have not been staying for business purposes.) The wireless is free, each room comes stocked with bottled water, Wolfgang Puck coffees, an assortment of fine teas, as well as some fabulous Neutrogena bath and body products (all complimentary), and every guest upon checking in is presented with a huge, warm and delicious chocolate chip cookie. Need I say more?
Well, actually, I must, because on this visit we have discovered yet another reason to love this hotel. And that, of all things, turned out to be their chicken wings. Yes, chicken wings, the appetizer staple on chain restaurant menus across America and the most ubiquitous of bar foods, a dish that is too often presented overcooked, slimed with ridiculously greasy sauce, and usually suffering from the fact that the kitchen started with poor quality chicken parts that were not properly trimmed.
At the risk of sounding anti-American, but for the reasons I just described, I must admit that it has been several years since I have been possessed with the urge to order up a serving of chicken wings. But last evening, after checking in and quaffing a few cold beers at the Doubletree, Scott and I needed a quick dinner before falling into bed and so we ended up phoning in a room service request that included their Buffalo-style wings.
While Columbus is chock full of awesome eateries, I knew from past experience that, if time or situation demands it, the restaurant at the Doubletree does not disappoint. Last night was no exception, as we were rewarded within twenty minutes by dinner delivered to our suite, a meal that included a very decent Caesar salad for me and a well executed burger for Scott. But, oh my goodness, the wings!
The chicken wings we had impulsively ordered were the best either of us had ever tasted...large but well trimmed, they were perfectly prepared. Big and juicy, with meat that fell off the bone with just a nudge, the wings were beautifully dressed in a sauce that tasted, as it should, of hot sauce and butter, but that was also balanced in terms of flavor and consistency. The sauce was ideal...spicy hot but not to the extent that it left our lips burning and, while Buffalo-style sauce is by definition full of butter, the Doubletree's wings were nicely messy but not in the least bit greasy.
We are so completely hooked on these wings and, since dinner last night, have mentioned them again and again. If I possessed the necessary attributes, including time and patience (as well as a deep fryer), I would attempt to recreate these babies at home. As that is not the case, we have yet another reason, among the many, to look forward to future trips to Columbus and stays at the Doubletree.
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