I arrived at the Holiday Inn Select Pittsburgh University Center about an hour ago. Upon checking-in, Laura at the front desk hands me a couple of coupons for the Bridges restaurant & bar that is attached to the hotel. She was wearing an “in training” badge and elaborated upon every subject (e.g., parking deck, directions to my room, dining options, etc.) well above and beyond the typical schpeel, which I found pleasantly amusing. Anyway, when I travel for work, I try to avoid the hotel restaurants because they are a bit on the pricey side (why does it matter? because my expenses are billed to the client, not to my company). Tonight, though, I decided a free appetizer was incentive enough for me to give it a try.

What I ordered: “Chicago’s Finest” hand-made soft Bavarian pretzels, baked in garlic butter, and served with a LaBatt Blue Mustard for dipping ($7) and “Punxy Salmon” glazed with candied pecans served with a side of “Sweet Potato Hashed Browns” and “Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole” ($19).

What I got: 3 pizza dough breadsticks shaped like infinity signs, a dipping sauce that tasted like sweet sweet sweet honey mustard, a small piece of fresh yet bland salmon fillet that had one pecan half and little tomato cubes sitting on top of it, crunchy borderline-burnt hash browns that I initially mistook as barbecued shredded pork that had been flattened, and 4 tiny broccoli florets mixed in with mushy rice that had a hint of cheese and a lingering aftertaste of burnt pots and pans…

Total cost after tax, tip, and coupon: $25.