13 Most Popular Room Service Items In America (Slideshow)
1. Maryland Crabcake at The Ritz-Carlton, Battery Park, New York City
Despite The Ritz-Carlton, Battery Park's location that overlooks one of New York City's most iconic sights — the Statue of Liberty — the Maryland crabcake appetizer is guests' most-asked-for item. The dish, served with red quinoa mango salad, has been on the in-room menu for just seven months and already sells about 20 per day.
2. Granola at The Jefferson, Washington, D.C.
Those staying at Washington, D.C.'s The Jefferson Hotel prefer getting a light and nutritious start with the hotel's "Power Crunch" breakfast. It's a combination of house-made granola, puréed acai, bananas, blueberries, and Greek yogurt.
"Breakfast is always a top-seller on our room service menu, as The Jefferson attracts many business travelers on the go," says the hotels' executive chef Chris Jakubiec. "'The Power Crunch' breakfast is a quick and healthy dish to start the day, and it's packed with antioxidants from the acai and blueberry. It is a refreshing option for those who usually dine out for three meals a day when on the road."
3. Lobster Roll with Bacon Dressing at The Rittenhouse Hotel, Philadelphia
This AAA five-diamond award-winning hotel's most popular item is the lobster roll, served on a soft house-made brioche bun with bacon dressing. "We put the lobster roll on the room service menu to offer an alternative to classics like the burger," says hotel chef Jon Cichon. "We did not want to reinvent to roll, but we wanted to put our spin on it. Lobster reminds us of grilling, grilling reminds us of summer, and smoky things remind us of grilling. So we decided to use a smoky aioli made with bacon instead of a traditional mayonnaise. To cut the richness of the bacon aioli, we added sliced grapes that lend their acidity to the roll."
4. The Maine Lobster Hash at Castle Hill Inn, Newport, R.I.
Each dish on the Castle Hill Inn's menu is influenced by Rhode Island's cuisine and heritage. So it makes sense that the seafood-laden Maine lobster hash, which also includes poached eggs, arugula, and pea tendril salad with chive crème fraîche, is the most-requested plate. The varied tastes in this item reflect the cooking staff's love of creating their own melting pot of flavors, according to the inn's website.
5. Antipasti at Montelucia Resort & Spa, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Visitors at the Montelucia Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Ariz., prefer to keep it light with the resort's antipasto dish. This ideal-for-sharing item consists of three types of artisan cheese, La Quercia prosciutto, almonds, olives, dried fruit, fig jam, and grilled bread. This European-inspired plate takes its cues from the hotel's theme, which is inspired by the rich cultural history, whitewashed villages, and sunbathed hills of Spain's Andalusia region.
6. Pancakes at Grand Cascades Lodge, Hamburg, N.J.
Classic, all-American pancakes are the most popular in-room menu item at the Grand Cascades Lodge in Hamburg, N.J. You can ask for them however you like, but the most commonly requested variations are — in order of most-ordered — strawberry, chocolate chip, banana, and blueberry. A variety of fruit toppings or compotes are also available.
7. Meat, Eggs, and Potatoes at Hotel deLuxe, Portland, Ore.
Guests of the Hotel deLuxe in Portland, Ore., keep it hearty and American by ordering Gracie's Breakfast. The dish that's ordered 550 times annually includes a choice of meat (one piece of ham, three slices bacon, two chicken sausage links or one sausage patty), two eggs, and breakfast potatoes. The item is named after the hotel's restaurant, Gracie's. The eatery — staying true to the hotel's Old Hollywood vibe — takes its name from Gracie Allen, the comedienne wife and performing partner of entertainer George Burns.
8. The Beverly Hilton Burger at The Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills, Calif.
The Beverly Hilton is possibly best known as the home of the Golden Globes, but the signature Beverly Hilton Burger is also noteworthy. The hotel's most-ordered room service dish since 1955, it's made with freshly ground sirloin grilled with your choice of toppings and is served with french fries, crisp lettuce, vine-ripened tomato, and sweet onions.
The Beverly Hilton Burger at The Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills, Calif.
The Beverly Hilton is possibly best known as the home of the Golden Globes, but the signature Beverly Hilton Burger is also noteworthy. The hotel's most-ordered room service dish since 1955, it's made with freshly ground sirloin grilled with your choice of toppings and is served with french fries, crisp lettuce, vine-ripened tomato, and sweet onions.
9. Margherita Pizza from Tulio Ristorante at the Hotel Vintage Park, Seattle
Seattle's Hotel Vintage Park's cooking staff is most frequently asked to whip up classic and simple margherita pizzas for its guests to enjoy in their rooms. The pie is made with fresh mozzarella, sweet basil, and tomato. As of press time, guests have ordered 299 pizzas since the start of 2013.
10. Roasted Anaheim Cage-Free Huevos Rancheros at the Omni La Mansión del Rio, San Antonio
Huevos rancheros top the list of most-ordered dishes at San Antonio's Omni La Mansión del Rio. In addition to eggs, the plate includes a crisp corn tortilla, refried beans, queso fresco, and is topped off with spicy ranchero and tomatillo salsa. To date, the Omni has sold 810 of these Mexican-tinged plates that reflect San Antonio's heritage.
11. Cleveland Benedict at The Renaissance Cleveland Hotel, Cleveland
The Renaissance Cleveland Hotel's top-seller for breakfast is the Cleveland Benedict. This plate, which was designed to reflect the area's food preferences, includes in-house cured corned beef atop a seeded rye toast medallion, a poached egg, and Amish butter hollandaise sauce.
"We focus on using indigenous ingredients and showcasing local cuisine. In room service, it is no different," says executive chef Brett Montgomery.
12. Chocolate Chip Cookies at The Biltmore, Coral Gables, Fla.
One of the most-ordered desserts at The Biltmore in Coral Gables, Fla., are the comforting (and delicious) staple chocolate chip cookies. They're made fresh, in-house daily. Last year, the cooking staff made 5,941 chocolate chip cookies.
13. Country-Fried Steak at Charleston Place in Charleston, S.C.
The undeniably Southern country-fried steak is one of the most-asked-for room service dishes at the Charleston Place in South Carolina. This filling breakfast comes with beef short ribs, caramelized onion gravy, breakfast potatoes, and two eggs any style. In keeping with the hotel's reputation as one of the most luxurious spots in all of Charleston, all the in-room tables are set with fine china and silverware. Each ordered plate comes with pineapple (the symbol of Southern hospitality) dipped in dark chocolate, along with a fresh-cut rose.