Thursday evening, I was invited to The London West Hollywood Hotel for a private tasting of their new menu concept from famed chef Gordon Ramsay. We were given a small tour of the extensive kitchen, and we sampled appetizers while mingling with the chef on duty that evening. The real fun began when we were ushered into their beautiful dining room and given almost every dish on the menu. Their concept of smaller plates allows a group of people to share a little bit of everything — you are able to enjoy a bit of fish, meat and pasta  rather than be bogged down by one giant dish all to your self.

I spoke with Edward Costa, the general manager, about how this menu also intrigues me as a frequent business traveler. When staying at a hotel by myself, I often find going down to dinner on my own a bit daunting. After a long day of meetings, my first choice is to not sit down at a hotel’s four- or five-star restaurant and endure its drawn-out five-course dinner with just my iPad for company. This smaller plate menu allows you to enjoy the delicious food but in a more affordable manner and easier style. As a business traveler, I can easily pick a few items from the main course section and a dessert and be done eating in 30 minutes or so while still being in a great atmosphere and experiencing the hotel.

Some of my favorites items off the menu were the steak tartare, lobster roll, braised pork belly and upside-down pineapple cake.

How often do you experience the hotel’s premium restaurants versus just ordering room service?

— Carly Allen, vice president