There’s something to be said about a hotel that caters to your every whim. Where any request is met with a smile and a nod. Most upscale hotels will do their very best to accommodate you but at the Clement it’s all inclusive. Walk in the door and forget about paying for meals, tipping servers or worrying about any little thing. It’s my dream hotel.
The rooms are large and airy with a separate sitting room. There are multiple televisions, even one in the mirror of the bathroom. If they threw in a kitchen, I think I could live there comfortably. The rooms are decorated in neutral colors with plenty of comfortable seating in the living area. The bathrooms are lined with stone that is gently warmed for bare feet. There is a large shower and a separate soaking tub.
If you want to get outdoors for a bit, there is a beautiful roof-top pool with cabanas and a hot tub with plenty of room for lounging. It was there we headed after checking in. It was warm and breezy that day, the sunlight golden and the shadows long. We made ourselves comfortable and ordered a Cheese and Charcuterie Plate to accompany our libations. After driving for five hours or so it was the perfect setting to relax and shake off the tension of travel.
Most of the time you come to a hotel to see something or do something, I came to the Clement to just experience the hotel. I had no intention of going out to shop or go out to dinner. Why do that when everything you could want is within reach? So it is no surprise that I had dinner in the Clement’s outdoor patio.
It was a glorious evening with just a hint of fall in the air. The Clement’s patio wraps around the back and side of the hotel and is next to the dining room and open air kitchen. Sitting in the soft glow of candlelight with a green space between us and the big, bad, world, we settled in to enjoy our evening repast.
I started with Lobster and Handmade Goat Cheese Agnolotti with green peas, roasted mushrooms and truffle vinaigrette and my companion the Seared Day Boat Scallops with fennel and citrus. The Agnolotti were delicate pillows of pasta stuffed with tart goat cheese. Pieces of lobster meat dotted the dish as did peas. It was a delightful appetizer.
My companion’s Seared Day Boat Scallops looked so wonderful. They had a nice caramelized crust with shavings of fennel and a citrus tang. In fact they looked so good that’s what I ordered for my dinner with a side of roasted fingerling potatoes. Since this was my main meal the kitchen added an additional scallop to my dish and I have to say those scallops melted in my mouth. They were just cooked and seasoned to perfection.
My meat eating companion took one look at the menu, saw the Roasted Lamb Loin with warm sweet corn and potato salad, Chevre and mint chimichurri and he was sold. There was plenty of sweet-tender lamb and it tasted great with the mint chimichurri. The corn and potato salad was the perfect accompaniment. An all-around yummy dish.
I enjoyed the Toasted Almond Cheese Cake for dessert. It was studded with honey roasted stone fruit, like peaches and plums. The cheese cake was light and refreshing and the fruit pumped it up a notch. My companion choose one of IT’s-IT ice cream sandwiches.
The kitchen is open until 10:00 p.m., so what if you get hungry in the wee hours? The Clement has already thought of that. In the kitchen area is a fully stocked Guest Pantry, full of drinks, frozen treats, fresh fruits, salads, anything you might desire.
The one bedroom suite worked out great for us. My early to bed, early to rise companion could close the door to the bedroom, while the night owl in me could stay up in the other room and not disturb him. This is an issue for us in many hotel rooms. Also he gets up early to work on the computer and so often he has no place to work. I often found him sitting in the bathroom.
The next morning I got to have my favorite breakfast of lox and bagel, plated attractively and tasting glorious. The concierge tried to get us to stay for lunch because on Saturday they have a pool-side barbecue with burgers, dogs and chicken and all the fixins. I would have loved to stay but I had to be on my way.
The Clement is an outstanding respite in the stress of the world. Check-in and then check-out of all the details of everyday living. It’s a great place to stop on your way north or as a destination to treat your senses.
The Clement Palo Alto is located at 711 El Camino Real. For reservations or more information call (650) 322-7111 or visit www.theclementpaloalto.com.
