Hotel Blake Chicago

A Mustache On The Mona Lisa

The decor of the Blake is artsy and beautiful, the arrival faces are immensely friendly and charming, and the beds are heavenly. Housekeeping and room service are abysmal.

We arrived in the evening and the doorman and concierge were brilliant. Check-in was swift and hassle free and we got a great recommendation for dining. Arriving in the room was slightly gross, however. Just inside the door the marble had a big coffee stain, there were plastic wrappers on the bathroom floor and the bedside tables were sticky with drink rings. It was a beautiful room and it was a downer to find it a bit grubby.

Room service was absurd. I'm still not sure the guy who took the order wasn't making game of me. My order went like this:

ME: Hi, room thus and so. I'd like to order the Artisanal Cheese Plate.

STAFF: Uh. What? What Kind of cheese do you want?

ME: I... I don't... Okay, what kind do you have?

STAFF: *long pause, kitchen noises* We have, uh... we have Something Farms, and that's cow. And we have Something Dairies, and that's goat. And we have Something else farms, and that's more cow. And we have...

ME: Do you have gouda, or brie, or --

STAFF: What? I don't know what you mean. We give you cranberry bread and nuts with it.

ME: Okay, it's cool: how about you give me two cow and one goat. How's that?

STAFF: Okay, thank you. Will there be anything else?

ME: (from menu): Just a bottle of Perrier.

STAFF: I'm sorry, but we can't deliver alcoholic beverages to the rooms.

ME: It's not alcohol, it's water. Sparkling water.

STAFF: Sparkling water?

ME: Water with bubbles in it.

STAFF: Just a moment.

After another long hold, STAFF returned and informed me that they didn't offer Perrier, but they had another type of water with bubbles in it, and so we ended. Except for the fact that the guy who delivered after an epic wait made a big deal of telling me where to add the tip, and when I advised him that the gratuity was included, felt he had to argue for it. And when he left we discovered that he'd declined to give us cutlery, so we ate with our fingers. It was good for a laugh, but not really stellar service.

I should say the disputed plate of Cow and Goat was fabulous. Delicious. But between the extortionate service charge, 18% gratuity and the extra tip I added just to get the importunate dude out of our hair, it was a mugging.

The next day we left early for touristy stuff and placed the tag for housekeeping. When we returned late that night the room hadn't been touched. It was a little bizarre.

I really feel I should mention the good things again: the evening doorman is a star, the concierge is a delight, and the place is simply ravishing, design wise. The wifi was excellent, the beds paradisaical. It's baffling that management would allow such a great travel experience to be marred by untrained wait staff and malingering housekeepers.

I do recommend the Blake, with cautions (don't order rooms service! Make waves at the desk about housekeeping!) simply because it's pretty, well-located, and quite gracious. I suppose it's one of those eccentric places where the informed guest can take the rough with the smooth. But it's a pity, because it could be so much more.

The decor of the Blake is artsy and beautiful, the arrival faces are immensely friendly and charming, and the beds are heavenly. Housekeeping and room service are abysmal.

We arrived in the evening and the doorman and concierge were brilliant. Check-in was swift and hassle free and we got a great recommendation for dining. Arriving in the room was slightly gross, however. Just inside the door the marble had a big coffee stain, there were plastic wrappers on the bathroom floor and the bedside tables were sticky with drink rings. It was a beautiful room and it was a downer to find it a bit grubby.

Room service was absurd. I'm still not sure the guy who took the order wasn't making game of me. My order went like this:

ME: Hi, room thus and so. I'd like to order the Artisanal Cheese Plate.

STAFF: Uh. What? What Kind of cheese do you want?

ME: I... I don't... Okay, what kind do you have?

STAFF: *long pause, kitchen noises* We have, uh... we have Something Farms, and that's cow. And we have Something Dairies, and that's goat. And we have Something else farms, and that's more cow. And we have...

ME: Do you have gouda, or brie, or --

STAFF: What? I don't know what you mean. We give you cranberry bread and nuts with it.

ME: Okay, it's cool: how about you give me two cow and one goat. How's that?

STAFF: Okay, thank you. Will there be anything else?

ME: (from menu): Just a bottle of Perrier.

STAFF: I'm sorry, but we can't deliver alcoholic beverages to the rooms.

ME: It's not alcohol, it's water. Sparkling water.

STAFF: Sparkling water?

ME: Water with bubbles in it.

STAFF: Just a moment.

After another long hold, STAFF returned and informed me that they didn't offer Perrier, but they had another type of water with bubbles in it, and so we ended. Except for the fact that the guy who delivered after an epic wait made a big deal of telling me where to add the tip, and when I advised him that the gratuity was included, felt he had to argue for it. And when he left we discoved that he'd declined to give us cutlery, so we ate with our fingers. It was good for a laugh, but not really stellar service.

I should say the disputed plate of Cow and Goat was fabulous. Delicious. But between the extornionate sevice charge, 18% gratuity and the extra tip I added just to get the importunate dude out of our hair, it was a mugging.

The next day we left early for touristy stuff and placed the tag for housekeeping. When we returned late that night the room hadn't been touched. It was a little bizarre.

I really feel I should mention the good things again: the evening doorman is a star, the concierge is a delight, and the place is simply ravishing, design wise. The wifi was excellent, the beds paradisaical. It's baffling that management would allow such a great travel experience to be marred by untrained wait staff and malingering housekeepers.

I do recommend the Blake, with cautions (don't order rooms service! Make waves at the desk about housekeeping!) simply because it's pretty, well-located, and quite gracious. I suppose it's one of those eccentric places where the informed guest can take the rough with the smooth. But it's a pity, because it could be so much more.

This hotel was simply awesome! When I first arrived, there was only a small wait with a few people ahead of me checking in or out. The only downside to the place was that the desk clerk was always answering the phone while trying to help people checking in and out. The lobby is awesome and has a very modern mood to it. They have a computer in the lobby with internet in case you don't have a laptop with you.

The room (216) was wonderful! Nice few of the street/city life below with huge windows to look out and people watch. The room has lifted ceilings and makes the room that much bigger. The bed was amazingly comfortable and the other furniture in the room gave it a great feel. The bathroom was also huge and spacious. It had a waterfall type shower head that made leaving the bathroom just as hard as leaving the soft, warm bed! There is also a great little eatery right next door called "Potbellys" that serves sandwiches and soups etc.

Even though the desk clerk was often on the phone, he made up for it everytime we left to go out because he would always ask where we were off too and he would give us great advice or tips on where to go for what we were looking for! He was very kind and helpful...when not on the phone of course! We stayed here for two nights and then went to stay at the Hilton for a night, which turned out to be a bust. Sure the Hilton was all fancied up in the lobby and looked like something out of the movies, but the room which was a junior suite was a bust. It was small and like any holiday inn or red roof room you could find along any highway. I would strongly recommend The Hotel Blake of Chicago as I will be returning this Spring/Summer to stay again!

Save yourself the agony! Hotel Blake in Chicago looks like an upscale modern hotel with all the up-to-date stylings and amenities any traveler could want.

If you're planning a trip to Chicago don't step one foot near this disheveled mess. As soon as we walked off the elevator we had a problem; the smell of an unidentified object lingered throughout the hallway for three days. Our room was missing a light bulb (that we still have yet to receive) our poor toilet paper dispenser looked as if it was ripped out of the wall and the sound of a jack hammer was coming through our vent.

To make matters worse no one answers the phone! I have complained to several people (when they finally did answer) and a manager has yet to rectify the situation or let alone call me back. Oh and that great restaurant that pops up on the first page also doesn't exist. I guess that's just there for show. Spend the extra money and go to the "W" - It'll be money well spent. If you see this place, run fast!

The room needs a good cleaning. Dusting as well. The shower is so bulky until one can burn themselves just trying to get clean. Shower caps for the three of us had to be shared because there was only one cap in the bathroom. Our room was in the basement away from other people. Of course we are African Americans. This should tell you something. After we got off the elevator on the 7th floor, then we had to carry our luggage and walk down some stairs to get to our back your room which faced a blank wall. If anyone is looking for a room, don't stop at this one. I am going to report it to Better Business Bureau because they jacked up my Visa card without my knowledge and there was nothing I could do about it. After you read this review, RUN, RUN away from Dearborn St.