Road work often steals the focus in this season of hustle and bustle. Simply maneuvering from one shopping stop to another requires summit meeting-style negotiations, while grabbing a bit of nourishment in the midst of holiday accumulations adds to the confusion. Consider a restful respite at an Allie's American Grill, located in each of the local Marriott hotels.
It seems an unlikely spot to dine unless you're legitimately on a road trip, but we discovered a nearly private and peaceful dinner at the recently renovated University Park acquisition. Of course, the downtown location provides a brief escape from Crossroads Plaza, with immediate return access. Other Wasatch Front sites, also renovated within the past 18 months, offer a relaxing retreat after a mall shopping shift.After a series of restaurant miscues under the previous management at the University Park, the Marriott folks brought Allie in, (now broadened corporatewide to Allie's American Grill), and tidied up the eating options.
Breakfast comes buffet style with a host of fresh fruit, cereal and freshly baked breads to accompany predictable breakfast choices. Nothing to write home about but entirely adequate and attractively presented.
Dinner brought surprises all around. First, we had our own private server in the club-like dining room that was fashioned in rich shades of green with cherry red accents (perfect for a seasonal touch).
An herb-dusting adds pungent flavor to the Poached Halibut ($13.95), which arrives resting on a bed of lightly seasoned fresh spinach and accompanied by a side of firm-tender julienned vegetables. The Key West Grilled Chicken ($8.95) offers a buoyant blend of Caribbean jerk spices carefully softened with a pineapple-papaya salsa and flavorful mashed yams. A fresh spinach accent saves the plate from an overdose of golden color. A third entree, Cumin-Crusted Pork Tenderloin ($10.95) leaves a wonderful taste of the old Southwest; both the cumin seasoning and the orange-jalapeno glaze bring shouts of "Ole."
Entree salads like the Pacific Rim Yellow Fin Tuna ($8.95) or the Grilled Cilantro Chicken ($7.75), or a trendy Roasted Vegetable Wrap ($8.25) deal with contemporary preferences while the "40-year classic" Marriott Burger ($7.25), a cheddar and bacon marvel, is still available.
Only the tomato basil pasta sauce, a staple for the carbo dishes, disappoints with a bland, lifeless taste. Even the appetizers, Chicken Spring Rolls ($5.95), a piquant blend of spinach, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes rolled in a crispy covering or the Chicken Portabella Quesadillla ($6.25), grilled mushrooms and chicken grilled with jalapeno-jack cheese and topped with a roasted tomato salsa, could be dinner or lunch.
Nutritional analysis on a number of menu items notifies diners of fat gram and calorie counts.
Both the Key Lime Pie ($3.75) a zesty bite with a crumb crust floating in a pool of red raspberry coulis, or the chocolate ganache-coated Snickers Pie ($4.25) arrive looking like magazine photos yet burst with inviting taste.
Allie's American Grill at the Marriott Hotels: 75 W. South Temple, 531-0800; University Park, 500 S. Wakara Way, 581-1000; 101 S. 500 East, Provo, 801-370-3547; 247 24th Street, Ogden, 801-627-1190. Hours: 6 a.m. through 10 p.m., seven days. Payment: major credit cards, cash and checks. *** 1/2