Palo Verde - Carefree

Had a wonderful breakfast on the patio. The eggs Benedict on the gluten free bread was excellent. I'd go back just for that. We also order the fruit and took that back to our room to eat over a couple of days. The pineapple was great. My daughter had the French toast and it was a large portion that could definitely fed two. The basic breakfasts were also good.

5/1 I made reservation on Open Table for 2 pm on Mothers Day for wife, daughter, son in law, and their 3 young children. Card was required, so I provided one. Day of res route north suburbs of Phoenix to Boulders closed for construction. This in mind, my wife and I left home at 1 PM to make a normally 25-minute drive, as we had detours. We discovered it was going to take longer to reach the Boulders, and would be after 2 before we arrived. My daughter and her family would arrive in time. I called the Palo Verde, told them we would be late, but daughter would be there at 2, OK to go ahead, seat them, and wait on us? The reception person said yes, then said even though I had made a reservation at the Palo Verde that day, that it wasn't open on Sundays and she would “re-direct” daughter to a “ballroom” where they had Mother's Day brunch. I told her that wasn't what I had reserved for, reluctantly agreed.. We arrived to the “ballroom buffet” at 2:30, to be told it would close at 3. So hurried to order and then attempted to eat a meal that was cold and absolutely awful, to go with service staff that we had to chase down, and oncedid, were incredibly rude. I was presented with the bill for $550 plus tax, (charge was $110 person, 2 children were free). I paid using a card different from one I guaranteed with. I'm a Lifetime Hilton Diamond, so contacted Mark Anderson, director of food/bev at Boulders a few days later to share the awful experience. Of course he told me would look into it, but never got back to me. 10 days later while reviewing account for the card I used to guarantee with, I discovered a charge for Grille at Boulders for $770! Not only had Boulders charged me $550 on a different card on 5/12, they charged $770 on the card I guaranteed with! Again I reached out to Anderson and GM John Maskavich, no return calls. Talk about insult to injury, I'd like to know how this isn't a case of theft by the Boulders, charging twice for a horrible experience.

The Boulders has been going downhill for several years after it was sold to Marriott. I have been a guest for over 30 years, so I am familiar with special event buffets. This was a $110 plus buffet that offered three entrees. I was there for prime rib. I don't drink alcohol nor do I eat shellfish but I am a healthy carnivore. The first prime rib served was raw. The replacement slice was the end piece of the rib full of fat and no center meat. I was insulted that a chef would serve a slice of fat to any guest. The mashed potatoes were so salty, I could not eat it either. After the plate was removed (I have a photo the omelet station saved the day. So the bottom line is that I paid $150 for an omelet , salad in a plastic dish , and dessert several in plastic as well. Mother's Day without my family was a disaster a memory I won't forget and I will never repeat.

Everyone was very friendly and helpful. The coffee and waffles were awesome and looked forward to going back the next day to try the breakfast enchiladas that I heard were exceptional.

$150 per person Easter Brunch in a hotel ballroom. Never again. Next year we cook at home! This was having water, no alcohol. Includes automatic 20 percent tip. Food wasn't bad. I was surprised there weren't any carving stations. Entree portion was very small. It was a rainy cold day in Phoenix today and the ballroom setting added to the gloom. Getting into the restaurant with several wet stone steps was hazardous.