Michael Mina Restaurant: Talent alone does not a restaurant make

I've been hearing so much hype about Michael Mina's eponymous restaurant that I finally had to give it a try. Thanks to some very sweet friends, I managed to get a coveted table on a busy night within a week, instead of the normal 2 months wait for a table.

So, I sauntered down to the Westin St.Francis the other night with Dave, Ally, and Paul for our 8pm table. Truth be told, I was not feeling too well that night, but I wouldn't have given up that reservation unless I was tied to a hospital bed. Oh how I suffered for my art—or was it my obsession—any how, you get the point.

In any case, I arrived on time, for a change, and found all my friends already waiting at the newly refurbished lobby of the Westin. The modern, sleek, and understated design has now become the standard of all the Westin hotels around the world—not to mention their truly heavenly Heavenly Bed that had me asking for the Westin every time I planned a work trip.

The decor at restaurant Michael Mina is in the same style, nice mix of warm beige and cool grey, a welcomed change from the stodgy and flowery lounge where my mother and I used to go to tea when she was in town.

We checked in with the hostess and, having arrived early, was told to wait in the lobby while our table was being set up. Someone appeared to whisk away our wines and our coats. To their credit, we didn't have to wait long at all for our table.