Yes, the have closed the coffee shop. I would describe Siegel's as a hybrid between the cafe and a really upscale place. The silverware, dishes, and furnishings are definitely well above the cafe. There are some nice upgrades to the menu, for example you can get salmon on the eggs benedict. It would seem that the steaks are from the Flame's menu - the prices definitely are.
The first time I tried to eat there, they were woefully understaffed. It took over an hour to get seated and fed. The other times, no problem there. Their take on a Monte Cristo was somewhat lacking. No egg batter on the bread, nothing sweet. Just basically a grilled ham and cheese sandwich. It tasted OK, but it wasn't a Monte Cristo.
They've taken many of the items I liked off the menu, such as the turkey sourdough melt and the pecan crusted trout. They upgraded the appetizer menu, but I can't eat much of the stuff on any appetizer menu.
I will say the coffee is much better than it was at the cafe, although they no longer bring the pot of coffee out. Another change is that you pay your waiter. The last morning they had a shuft change and it took a long time to pay.
So I am pretty much ambivalent. Considering that there are no options other than the Siegel's and Subway, I'm not sure how much I'll continue to patronize the El Cortez. Especially since the significantly higher prices really cut into the value of the upfront food comps.
