Fort Couch Road Crowne Plaza's P. J.'s Grille - A Waste of a Beautiful Space

Despite its convenient location less than three miles from our home, my wife and I had not dined at the Fort Couch Road Crowne Plaza Hotel for years because we had found the food to be consistently mediocre.  A Double Take Deal for $30 worth of dining for $15 came along, which prompted us to try P. J.'s Grille again, which we did on Sunday, 7 July.  My advice to anyone considering the spot is that you not waste your money.  You would do better to go to Eat 'n Park, whose reasonably priced Sunday brunch looks good by comparison.

The hotel has the chutzpah to call the Sunday brunch "grand".  The only facet of it which is grand is the price, $16.95.  It is a spartan selection of mediocre, processed food.

The carving station consisted of one meat: ham. The items at the buffet station were creamed chipped beef, scrambled eggs, waffles, quiche with spinach, mushrooms and tomatoes, oatmeal, bacon, sausage, an omelette station, hash browned potatoes whose main ingredient was salt, bagels, sliced breads, danish and other breakfast sweets, and cherry cobbler.  The one dish that had great appeal at first glance was a mixture of sliced strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries, but the fruit medley was warm, apparently intended only as a topping for waffles.  There was no salad of any kind and no green vegetable offered, a rarity for a Sunday brunch buffet.

We received reasonably attentive service from a gracious and pleasant server.

When we departed at 11:30, which should be a busy time for a fine hotel's brunch, there was only one party of two left.  It is easy to see why that is the case.

This is an attractive, comfortable restaurant into which the management has obviously invested a great deal.  It would be the perfect place for a fine dining experience at this, Holiday Inn's "high end" Crowne Plaza division.  It is a shame that a restaurant located in an affluent area is being wasted.  I am thankful that there are many fine dining spots nearby.