Reviews for Durant's

05/12/2024 - Michael W.
Easy

12/08/2016 - GastroEclectico
Our visit was disheartening to say the least! Noting their fabulous ratings on the likes of Zagat, Yelp and Trip Advisor, my wife and I were dismayed with our recent visit to this Phoenix mainstay! Durant’s does take you back in time. Coming in through its front/back door, impresses you with the feel of walking into an old Speakeasy! You actually meet the kitchen staff before anyone else – fun! The furnishings, booths, table and décor are a throwback to the 50’s and 60’ and you feel like the Rat Pack is about to walk past your table any moment – we loved the ambience! That being said, that’s where delight pretty much ended. We began our evening and though dinner with an excellent Sonoma Chardonnay. Our appetizer of Fried Calamari left a lot to be desired of, where it appeared to be over cooked, chewy and its coating tasteless. We proceeded with our meal - my wife started with a Chicken Caesar Salad and I had the regular Caesar Salad, both of which were adequate, but not worth writing home about. I was sincerely looking forward to a fine Sautéed Calf’s Liver and Onions, one of my favorite dishes I’d not had since moving to Phoenix. I’m sorry to say it lacked tenderness, (maybe needing better preparation or product) taste with overwhelming caramelization of the sautéed onions, rendering them slimy! As a connoisseur of a well-prepared Calf’s Liver, I have discerned much better… of all the restaurants to have this dish across the country, Old Ebbitt Grill in Washington DC is a recipe Durant’s should attempt to emulate, or come close to. I did quite enjoy the au gratin potatoes. And our dessert of Durant’s Cheesecake was satisfying and tasty. All things said, as a Speakeasy/Lounge it’ll make a great visit for Martinis and chat. Highly recommended for the business lunch set, but for formal or semi-formal dinner or romantic evening out, it left me pondering. It was unfortunate that my Wife’s Birthday Dinner, ended up being a nonchalant and unmemorable meal. With the exception that my Wife’s flowers delivered timely to the table – we rarely interacted with wait staff that just zipped by hurriedly doing their thing, at other tables. I plan on returning, but that may be a slow process. Caveat Emptor and Bon appétit!

04/19/2010 - christine
What a restaurant! It was cozy, clean, & the best prime rib in AZ! Every dish that was served was excellent, the wine was of great quality, and the service was incredible. I highly recommend this restaurant for its atmosphere, excellent service, & a mouth watering steak!