Dined on 29 November 2024
- Overall 2
- Food 1
- Service 2
- Ambience 1
This Thanksgiving, we chose the Four Seasons Hotel in Boston for what we hoped would be a luxurious and memorable holiday dinner. With a price tag of $1,000+ for three people, our expectations were understandably high. Sadly, the experience was disappointing.
The hotel was stunning, and the valet service was exceptionally helpful, setting a great first impression. We even remarked how we’d love to return to explore the spa someday. However, by the end of the evening, we decided we wouldn’t come back, regardless of the occasion.
Confusion began the moment we sat down and were offered coffee and orange juice, which seemed strange for dinner. When we inquired, staff assured us it was a dinner, though the presence of an omelet station said otherwise. This lack of clarity set a poor tone for the evening.
The event was held in a ballroom, which lacked charm and felt more like a corporate event than a holiday celebration. Instead of a warm, festive atmosphere, it felt sterile and uninspired.
The service, while polite, was inattentive. It took effort to get even basic attention. One of our party had to wait 15 minutes for a drink before giving up and going to the bar. This level of service was unacceptable for a Four Seasons event.
The food was the greatest letdown. For $300+ per person, we expected exceptional quality. Instead, it was comparable to a mediocre buffet. The raw bar featured low-quality crab claws and generic shrimp. The turkey was dry, the stuffing was overcooked, and the pasta was mushy. Everything tasted as though it had been sitting too long under Sterno. The meal seemed worth no more than $85 to $90 per person—far below what we paid.
What makes this experience so disappointing is the wasted potential. The Four Seasons name carries weight, and the hotel itself is beautiful. It should be the perfect special spot. But this event felt like an overpriced and uninspired cash grab, relying on the brand’s reputation without delivering the expected quality.