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I'm not sure if Durant's is really 5-star worthy, but something about it, I gotta say I like...a lot.
I also don't know what mind boggling insightful information I can provide after 90 plus reviews, but I'll put in my 2 cents (dammit, here we go again with the lack of a cents key on my keyboard--typewriters have them you know!) which will buy you nothing BTW.
Yes, there's red velvet wallpaper and one could argue the interior is more like a "before" shot, but that's part of its charm ("charm"...one of those words you don't like to read in a real estate listing, much like "cozy" or "up & coming neighborhood.") But I think anyone over the age of 40...I'm not saying I am over 40 mind you...will appreciate the comfortable, recognizable, glimpse into the past it offers you. I would have never seen the inside of a place like Durant's as a kid since I would have either been left at home or sent to the car (my parents had no problems with sticking you in the car even when it was 110 outside), but I can imagine this is what I missed.
Service did start a little rocky. Rocky as in at least 10-15 minutes for someone to even consider taking a drink order. But when I ordered a sloe gin fizz, I did not get a blank stare, however, I'm pretty sure I did not get sloe gin either. There was a little overkill on the sweet, so hard to tell.
Once we were able to order a drink, service was impeccable...see what a drink in hand can do for you? We had oysters rockefeller which were seriously delicious, and I had the scallop and filet combination. Scallops were perfectly seared and the filet was almost fork tender. Garlic mashed potatoes were not hot enough, nor garlicky enough either. But I forgot all about that when I saw the size of the strawberry shortcake. When you're sharing, size does matter.
So I love Durant's in spite of a few shortcomings, and I would happily return. Maybe in a few years, when my dad is really old, I can send his ass to the car.
The ONLY thing I like about this dinasour is entering through the kitchen.
Unfriendly bartenderS, two of them, food is ok, but let's not go crazy here, it's not great. Just another "institiution" that gets a free pass because...I don't know why they get a free pass.
The red-flocked wall paper is older than dirt; so are the waitresses. Just so mediocre. So many other places to go.
This review is for the bar ONLY!
First time I came in here it was packed to this gills, and no where to sit so we left.. Next!
Second time I came here I met 2 of the strangest old women I've ever encountered who tried to reel me into a marketing scam, wouldn't shut up about how lovely I was and how both of them wanted me as their daughter, then performed Reiki on me and my friend, waving their hands all around us eyes closed and chanting.. in front of the everyone. I couldn't help but bust out in laughter. Bartender laughed too, then poured more bourbon in my glass and winked.
I really liked this place aside from the geriatric nonsense. Great vibe & I loved the entrance, you walk right through the kitchen and can observe the chefs working their magic. The interior is dark and sexy, with some of the coolest wallpaper I've ever seen.
I am hoping to write an update soon, because I desperately want to try the steak that I have heard so much about, but $60 for dinner is a little out of my budget, thanks to our economical crisis and being unemployed. *sigh*
What a great place. A little dark, dark wood that you would expect in an old steakhouse, experienced servers that know what their doing. The french dip is a large portion, tender, and with perfect au jus. The bacon BBQ onion and cheddar burger was a favorite also. Good starter salad and fries as well. Wines by the glass were fine. They were packed for lunch but they were able to seat us almost right away. The quality of the food and service were both great. I would give it 4 1/2 stars.
So maybe I am partial because my hubby makes their grills...
Excellent food in a very old school establishment.
The original downtown "power" restaurant. I could start a cult based solely on their bread with the garlic-leek-butter drizzled on top. Everything on the menu is tasty, but don't expect Mastro's style steaks, great quality, just more of an old school broiler style. Don't miss the "debris" as an app, delightful little skewers of grilled beef and veggies (they make a perfect lunch as well). The red velvet walls, red leather booths and throwback waitstaff only add to the authentic Rat Pack feel. Growing up in AZ every great story involving local politics seemingly involved the bar here. Truly a local treasure.
Durant's is a difficult experience to quantify. The entrance through the kitchen in the back is odd, especially when the smell of freshly-cooked food mixes with the unpleasant odor of dishes being washed.
The interior is old-line steakhouse, somewhat dark with lots of red light. It has a faded-jewel feel to it, but not in a good way. More tired than careworn, if you will. They bill themselves as fine dining, but it certainly was not based on design or presentation.
The waiter was personable, if a bit bombastic, but it was clear that the John Gotti-esque party of ten seated next to us was the bigger tip and would get the lion's share of the attention. That was a shame because we were there for the experience and at least two of the three of us are generous tippers.
I ordered the Durant's 20-oz Delmonico with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, my friend Bruce the 8oz filet mignon. My steak was good, but not memorable. Bruce found the filet mignon to be very pleasant.
In sum: the decor was deadly boring/worn, the service punctual but perfunctory, and the food good but not an 'experience' as Durant's was billed. If I lived in Phoenix, I would not be back. When I return next year, I will pass it by.
Having lived in Phoenix for over 13 years now, I am well acquainted with Durant's. It is not possible to live here without being told about the place, so unique is it in the land of strip malls and chain-fueled palates. Everything you've heard about the place is true - inside it is a temple to the masculine Hollywood of yesteryear, replete in red velvet and leather. I remember my first experience with the place all those years ago and if my memory serves me correctly, you could expect top-notch food and top-notch service for your top-notch bill.
Not anymore. Durant's has clearly become so enamored with itself that it is of the opinion that it is the destination alone that you will drop a Benjamin per person to experience, and the quality of the food and waitstaff are afterthoughts, annoyances. Their appetizers and sides are criminally paltry, but you won't care because they're terrible. Dry, flavorless, uninspiring. Except the crab cakes, drat it - they're still good - so good that after I ate my forkful-sized portion I was in such bliss that I didn't even think about the fact that that bite and my companion's bite cost me twenty bucks. Their steaks are prime cuts made well, but then again, they ought to be, no?
The real kicker here though is the service. When I'm laying down the kind of smack that Durant's commands, I hold my waiter to a higher standard. The tips are (or could reasonably be expected to be) exponentially higher than average, therefore they should have fewer tables and be far more attentive than average. I'm a very easy guy to get along with and I tip well, so it's not like I'm expecting a backrub or anything, but in both of the last two trips I have taken here, my order has been incomplete or flat-out wrong. In both the last two trips I have gone for ten or more minutes trying to even FIND my waiter, much less ask them for something, and when I did find them, their attitude was absolutely flip if not downright rude. I chalk it up to the casual attire I had on because everything about the waitstaff's behavior indicates that they engage in wealth profiling. In a place where a bad tip has to be somewhere around twenty or thirty bucks, you wouldn't think it would matter. Not so much.
Sorry to have to say it, but I won't be back. I give it two stars for what it used to be.
I would have given Durant's a fifth star, except that the quality has declined in recent years and I must punish them for that. Durant's is nonetheless a classic.
I miss the great times dining here with my grandfather when he was still around. He could always point out the notable lawyers and politicos at dinner time, and I could tell that he enjoyed carrying on his tradition as much as I enjoyed playing a part in it.
What also used to be.... truly exceptional service! It's still great, but I have the fondest memories of the last generation of wait staff. They always recognized the regulars even if we hadn't been there for several months. Likewise, they would often remember our regular orders. This place practically defined classy dining for me as I was growing up, which is why I've always gone there for birthdays.
In more recent years, I admit I've been less loyal, although it appears that others are keeping them busy enough in the mean time. But I recently learned a new way to enjoy Durant's on a budget. A few weeks ago, I took some clients there for lunch and had yet another great experience. The menu revolves around burgers at lunch time, which I wouldn't dream of ordering for dinner, but they are indeed tasty. I think I will be back soon for another lunch, if not dinner and cocktails as well.
Durant's, I wanted to like you. I really did. I'm a huge fan of steakhouses, particularly ones with as much character as you clearly do. But what you did to my $51 bone-in ribeye was too unspeakable to allow me to recommend this place to anyone. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
I was able to get past the fact that the server looked like a mix between an airport bartender and a blackjack dealer at a casino on an indian reservation. In fact, I kind of appreciated it as sort of a promising omen of the character and history I expected from the esteemed Durant's Steakhouse of Phoenix. Surely this veteran of the steakhouse circuit would have her routine polished and provide a truly memorable experience.
Sadly, I was mistaken. She could barely answer simple questions about the cuts of meat coherently. She was slow and inattentive, and got our appetizer orders wrong.
OK, I can get past that. Just having a bad day right? Well here comes my delicious bone in ribeye, mesquite grilled to precisely the "just barely medium rare" specifications I had so politely and clearly requested.
Wrong again. Perhaps near the bone was an area of steak that one could charitably label "medium rare." most of it was much closer to medium and the periphery approached carbonization. In fact, I could not finish it (a first for me). Sadly, by the time our server reappeared to ask how everything was, I was no longer hungry. Of course, she expressed remorse and offered to make it right (bringing the table a complementary order of passable strawberry shortcake), but it was going to take more than strawberry preserves, poundcake and whipped cream to get the taste of charcoal out of my mouth.
If you want excellent steak, as much as it pains me to say it, stick with Ruths Chris or Mastro's. If you want Old Phoenix flavor and are OK with rolling the dice with your meat preparation, give Durant's a shot.
It takes guts to be a steakhouse with a pink exterior, red velvet brocade wallpaper and an entrance through the kitchen. I give them five stars just for having the balls to pull that off -- and for being able to pull it off for nearly 60 years.
Yes, this place is a Phoenix landmark. Anything over 20 years is considered a landmark here, so this place is actually ancient by Phoenix standards. Although I've lived in Phoenix my entire 31 (almost 32) years, I never had the pleasure to dine at Durant's until about a year ago. I came for a work dinner and was pleased to have had a great first experience.
My second experience at Durant's was for lunch. And this time, the experience was better than great, it was fantastic! I had the French Dip, which is one of my favorite sandwiches. I've tired them at many different places, and have found a few that were pretty decent. But that was until I tried Durant's French Dip. Holy Cow! The meat was so tender it literally melted in my mouth. And there was plenty of it! I seriously don't know how I managed to eat what I did. It didn't look like that much, but man oh man, it was piled on there. And to add to the deliciousness of the French Dip, I got sweet potato fries. Yowzer! What a decadent meal. I needed a serious siesta afterward.
Both visits to Durant's were true culinary and mouthwatering pleasures. It is a little pricey for an all-the-time spot, but for a special occasion, it is definitely the place to go. Plus, it has got history and panache. And who the hell doesn't like both those things in a restaurant?!
Durants should move very quickly from your "we need to go there one of these days" list and head downtown for dinner. A true steakhouse with superior cuts of meat, bartenders with a heavy hand on the pour, and veteran wait staff.
had a wonderful lunch today with two of my favorite ladies. Ms Cha Cha and the illustrious Tiphanie Brooke. it was a two part birthday lunching as it was Ms. Cha Cha's birthday last week and mine is upcoming. we agreed upon Durant's as its usually one of my favorite places for birth celebrations.
i got a burger, the BBQ Cheddar Bacon burger..it was a deliciously sloppy wonderfully sexy in a beefy way. okay. Tiphanie enjoyed the prime rib cut and it was perfectly rare and melted in ones mouth...yes it melted in mine..so i can judge that. Ms Cha Cha enjoyed the other delicious burger with bacon on it..Bacon Burger...no fancy naming..oh well.
5 stars? well as my previous review stated it can be awesome or so so. well today was awesome and i probably shouldn't have been so wishy washy about it before. i have always had a great time here..rarely has the food been subpar. so back to the top i take my rating. do i suggest this place to my friends and strangers alike? yea..it's a tradition.
3.5 actually.
food is either REALLY good. or just SO So.
the crab cakes and the debris are my fave…
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So, I noticed that I gave Durants 4 stars. Huh?
WTF was I thinking? This is the universe's greatest bar/restaurant.
It's just so perfect. Pictures of dogs and bartenders who simply could not improve their game. Entrances where you shouldn't sneeze and exits into the gates of political hell. It's just so perfect.
My key board is now wet with the salty stains of my emotional discharge induced by the faintest ghost whiff of their dirty vodka martini. On the rocks.
This place is pretty amazing. Big fan of their bar and martinis. Like my women, I like my drinks… Read more »
Went looking for a nice spot for dinner on our one night in Phoenix. Yelp came through. We made our reservations through Open Table. Even made a special request for a semi-circle booth (thanks to one of the Yelp reviews!). Our reservation was for 8 pm on a Friday night. We were actually sitting in our semi-circle booth at 8:30- granted, had we not specified where we wanted to sit, I'm quite certain it wouldn't have taken so long. Nevertheless, we got a chance to look at the restaurant decor and watch the staff in action. Seems like this place gets a lot of longstanding customers and a lot of new people. An interesting mix- there was a guy wearing a bright yellow hawaiian shirt, brown suspenders and high water velvet tuxedo pants with sandals! Then there's the date crowd, the middle-aged party animals, and random sprinklings of other like us.
I had the New York steak- medium with the baked potato and clam chowder for my appetizer (which came WITH the meal thank-you-very-much). The hubby had the Delmonico- medium rare with garlick mashed potatoes and clam chowda. We came to a consensus that my steak was seasoned far better than his...possibly his didn't have time to cook/marinate in its own juices since it was so rare? Who knows. We walked away satisfied for under a hundred bucks.
Side note- we came with a bottle of wine we were hoping to have...and quickly found out that since the restaurant has such an extensive collection of wines (over 450), they do not allow corkage. Back to the car we went!
Additionally, valet parking is complimentary and there really was no dress code. We came business casual....but found people in there in tank tops and jeans.
Dark, mysterious and sexy....this has got to be the best place to hit last after a mini light rail pub crawl ever. We start at Switch, head to Portlands, eat at Carly's, a drink at Amsterdam's and then as a night cap, the great big, giant, delicious, vivacious, stupendous shrimp cocktail at Durant's with one last Martini for the night. Its like getting the kiss from your dream prom date as a junior in high school with the promise more action to come. The drinks they make are always spot on and the bartenders are dressed up in vests and remind me of Lloyd on the Shining "your money is no good here Mr. Torrence."
Lunch at Durants is exceptional, although pricey. But any of the cuts of beef are extrordinary and the salads (Seafood Louie) are magnificent. The bread that they serve has a delicious olive oil pesto type sauce on it that is smooth and buttery, it makes my waistline grow as we sit at the table. The atomic Horseradish that they have will leave you with no nose hairs at all, it is very strong and so hits the spot with any of the beef dishes and they put a dollop of it right square in the middle of your cocktail sauce with your shrimp cocktail.
If you have a little cash to burn, or want to impress a lunch or dinner date with good food in a historic Phoenix downtown setting, or if you want a nightcap with drinks that are worth the price, I recommend trying this place. If you go in though, do me a favor and imagine yourself riding down the hallway of an old swanky hotel on a big wheel, where the floor alternates wood and carpet.....this place is the Shining baby!
Tradition at it's most... er.... um.... traditional. Every time i eat here i feel like i have been transported to any number of old family owned steakhouses on the North Shore of Long Island, or Brooklyn. The plush red velvet, the dark wood and button tufted leather... The place just screams STUFFY BUSINESS LUNCH. My first experience here was with a bunch of lawyer friends who were dying for meatloaf or a steak with creamed spinach...
The entrance is through the kitchen. That may seem a little odd, but I'd bet it sells dinners. Who can resist the wonderful aroma. By the time you reach your table, you crave rare beef, as red as the decor.
It's the kind of place where you forgo the trendy drinks and have a Scotch with a splash,or a Rob Roy before dinner. The steaks are perfectly prepared, the garlic mashed potatoes are wonderful. I love the place. It isn't cheap, and admittedly, i have never paid for my own meal there. It has always been a treat from some friend who wears a suit to work, or some more traditional back easterner who wants to share their bit of meat and potato lovers heaven.
Whenever I start leaning toward being a vegetarian like my daughter is, I remember the smell and taste of that scrumptious, melt-in-your-mouth filet mignon at Durant's. And the hot fudge sundae for dessert? Dang, just can't beat it. The bartenders are old school--not too aloof, not fawning, just professional and classy. The best.
Flashback to the 70's....picture Henry Hill, Jimmy Conway, Tommy DeVito and Paul Cicero crowded close together in one of the red circular booths in a darkened corner. Can you see it? This is how I felt when I walked into Durant's the other night after seeing Brian Regan at the Dodge Theater.
Red velvet flecked wall paper, dark carpeting with a design straight out of a casino and bartenders in ties......this place was the bomb. Our waitress was professional, attentive and efficient. You can tell that some of the wait staff have worked here for years (but not like in that "I work in a dive diner because I have no other choice" way). These people CHOOSE to work here, and you can tell they love their jobs. This attitude comes through in how they treat their customers.
While I was not that hungry and only had a salad and baked potato, my dining companion ordered the fillet mignon, scallops and garlic mashed potatoes. When he said the scallops were the best he had ever tasted, I skewered one and gave it a try....the rush must be what heroin addicts feel when they shoot up for the first time. It was perfect! Although the fillet was tender, the flavor was a bit off; however even at less than 100% it beat most steak places hands down. My baked potato was anything but ordinary...twice baked and stuffed with cheese and other gooey goodness, it was a meal in itself.
For dessert we ordered the strawberry shortcake for two. When the waitress pulled up in the crane to drop it on the table, we realized this thing was really for five or six people, not two. The strawberries were covered in a sweet and light glaze, which did not soak through and make the short cake soggy (I hate that).
We ate in the dining room in front of the bar, which afforded us a delightful view of the incredibly diverse crowd that came in that night. It was both a culinary and visual delight.
The cherry on the top? Exiting through the kitchen. As I left I thought I could hear the faint sounds of "Layla" drifting through the air....or maybe it was my imagination.
I ate hear the other day for lunch and had the most tender and fried to perfection Chicken Fired Steak. I now live in OK were CFS is on every menu. That State brags about how they make the best. Well I had to come home to get the best, It was very tender and not greasy at all $14.75 got you a cup of soup or salad, along with mashed potatoes and some grilled veggies. This rocked. I have not been hear for dinner, however they were packed for lunch! If you work or are near the central district check it out!
**This is a review of the bar only**
I am at least 15% cooler after having sipped on a vodka gimlet in the bar at Durant's.
Sure I smelled like steak after I left and felt weird about walking through the kitchen to get in and out. But for the hour I was there, I was felt cool as shit. And my drink wasn't half bad either.
It is a unique place, very old Phoenix.
Trust the positive reviews... This place is like no other. When I travel for work to Phoenix, this is the first place I think about whether I get there or not. I've been going here since 1988.
During the right time of the year they fly in stone crabs.
You are not a true Arizonian if you haven't been here..... What an institution.... I wish I had this place in Los Angeles.....
First things first. Act like a local. Park behind the building and walk into the back door and through the kitchen into the main restaurant. But, don't act like a jerk. If you see a waiter with a big tray of steaks, give way and let him go before you. It's busy back there!
Walking into this place is like walking into the 1950's. With the dim lighting, deep leather booths and red wallpaper, I half expected to see Frank, Sammy and Dean breaking bread in the back corner.
I was there for a business lunch, so I couldn't go TOO crazy. I ordered the "Fat Man's Special" (because I'm a Fat Man), with the thick cut top sirloin. It included salad and sides of mashed potatoes and vegetables. The steak was very tender and huge (I only ate half), served up with horseradish and Au Jus. The warm loaves of garlic "covered" bread were an amazing accompaniment, as well.
While the steak doesn't hold court with the likes of Mastro's, Dunant's oozes the charm of days long gone. I definitely plan to go back for an evening meal, when I can imbibe and be a bit more of a glutton.
I really think that 2 stars is a fairly generous rating for this restaurant given my recent experience here. Buy I will give points for the history and the ambiance, both of which I am very fond of. The food, service and prices, however, were well off-base.
I took a group of out-of-town business associates here during a conference at the Phoenix Convention Center. I wanted to take them somewhere that is "uniquely Phoenix", and I felt that Durant's fit that description. I have eaten here before, and i thought it was OK, but many of my same complaints were consistent on this visit.
First, I hate restaurants where the bar makes you close the tab with them before you head to your table. Any quality establishment should put the diner's convenience before the bartenders tip and allow you to transfer your bar tab to your table bill. On a business function, this makes accounting very sticky, and is awkward when you have to stop, ask for the bar bill, run your card, sign it, then proceed to your table. I know that bartenders do it to maximize their tips (I used to be one), but it is bush league, and should have no place in a restaurant like Durants.
Our waiter was flat out terrible. This little weasel obviously did not want to be there and let the world know it. Not only was his attitude poor, but his timing was awful. We sat for almost 3 hours, most of the time waiting for him to take orders or bring food. We never saw the guy. Our drinks were rarely if ever full, but he was sure to try and up-sell more bottles of wine when the time came. When you are paying that kind of money to eat in a place like Durants, the server had better be representative of the price. He was not.
Durant's has a very, very strange pricing scheme. some things are priced well, other things are absolutely obnoxious. Specifically the appetizers are way out of line. Apps were in the $15+ range which is flat out absurd. I dont mind paying for food, but I do expect value, and you will NOT find it at Durants. I ordered a stuffed potato with my steak instead of the standard baker and it was a $5 upgrade. That is ridiculous.
The food was pretty good - the oysters Rockefeller were outstanding and were clearly the best part of the dinner. My steak, a $51 bone in ribeye, was on the poor side of average and worth about $11. Very tough and fibrous, I was not impressed. It was tasty, but I have had far, far better elsewhere on many occasions. Again, it was the value that annoyed me about this place.
Avoid the crab macaroni and cheese at all costs. Horrible. Barely edible, no flavor, the large rigatoni's didnt really go with the white cheese cream sauce and chunks of crab. Pretty bad.
I will say that the wine was very WELL priced, and we appreciated that. Once again, the inconsistency in pricing was perplexing.
The thing that really, really blew it for me though was the 48oz Porterhouse challenge. The thing is like $85 and "if you can eat it all" your name goes on the wall. We bet one of my colleagues that he could not finish it, and each guy threw in $20 as a prize. The steak arrived and it was about 35oz of bone and about 12oz of meat. My mother could have finished that steak and ordered desert. This is one of the biggest marketing scams that I have ever seen in a restaurant. The whole "challenge" concept is obviously designed to get you to order an $85 steak. My ribeye had more meat on it and was probably harder to eat. We should have known what to expect when we asked the waiter how many people finish it, and he said "about 5 people order it each day, and about 3 out of 5 finish it." Pathetic.
So if you are going out for a drink in Phoenix, head to Durants and have a martini at the bar. Order the oysters Rockefeller while you are there. These aspects of the restaurant are really, really great. Then finish your drink and head to another steakhouse for a great steak that will not disappoint you like Durant's.
We recently celebrated an anniversary at Durant's, and I still swear by it. Best steak in Phoenix, +1 star for atmosphere, +1 star for service (top notch all the way around). +1 for the meat, oh so good. +1 for the bar. Can I just go ahead and give it 10 stars? It is, indeed, as good as it gets!
The ribeye is just fantastic.
My all time favorite Phoenix restaurant. Best steak, great atmosphere. Never been disappointed.… Read more »
Holy sh*t.... Who knew Phoenix could hold it down like this when it comes to food? I've been to better steak houses, but most of them have been out of the country.
Let's start at the beginning. We pulled around back to where the valet parking attendant was and the first thing that struck me was that in order to get inside from the parking lot you have to walk through the kitchen. But the kitchen staff was used to it and even said a hearty hello to us as we walked in. It was refreshing to see such openness in a restaurant; I wish more places pulled this tactic as it certainly set the mood. And obviously, it got me in the mood to eat as the walking through the kitchen just forced me to smell the beautiful aromas of cooked cow. I was salivating after the first 10 seconds of visiting this place.
And then the next part of the evening that was unexpected is that they don't allow people to use their cell phones. Our waitress saw a member of our party on the phone while we were eating our appetizers and she approached him and politely told him that cell phone conversations were not allowed during dinner. Wow. How refreshing was that? I mean, I'm one of the worst offenders of using my cell phone (for texting) during dinner... but to know that I wasn't allowed to lifted a weight off my mind. Again, this place continued to set the mood.
And then the steak.
Oh
my
God.
If you're an atheist (like myself), the steak is nearly good enough to make you pray and give thanks and praise to the almighty. If you're a Jew, you might just start to contemplate the second coming of Jesus. If you're Hindu, you might start to think there's something to this whole monotheism thing. My point? It was a purely religious experience eating my bone-in ribeye. I only managed to eat 1/3rd of it because it was so much and it was still incredible.
If you're in Phoenix, run DO NOT walk to Durant's. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, just go. Wow.
Durant's totally hit the spot when my girlfriend and I craved some fine dining. She had been to this place a few times before and raved about it. So I finally made the trip to Phoenix along with her (she was on business) and had a great meal at Durant's. It really is a wonderful restaurant. Fine service, great presentation, nice and large bar area with every spirit you could imagine, mood lighting, lively atmosphere, free AND valet parking, centrally located. Are these enough reasons to try it?
I had grilled swordfish and mashed potatoes. Very yummy! Girlfriend got grilled bacon-wrapped scallops. Those were the best. I could have eaten 10 of them. The leftovers were even good the next day.
Drinks were strong but pricey. The dish of celery, carrots and radishes on rock salt and ice were a nice touch too.
Definitely worth the price.
OK, let's face it: there are better steaks in the Valley. As a matter of fact, if you just took the steak at face value, it might not even crack the top 5.
But Durant's is not just about the steak, or even the food.
Durant's is a classic in every sense of the word, the type of place that can rarely be found anywhwere in Phoenix. It's also a lively and classy night spot, something that didn't exist anywhere in downtown Phoenix for years, and as several new places have developed around Durant's overe the past few years, it has remained consistent and cool.
And that's what Durnat's is really about. Yeah, the steak is pretty good. The seafood's alright. The bread with the hot garlic butter is awesome. But Durant's is just COOL. It's classic Vegas, Rat Pack-style cool, and you feel it from the moment you walk in.
Durant's is an icon. Every photographer in Phoenix can show you at least one portrait of a political figure or celebrity they have shot in these hallowed (red flocked) walls. Every single person you come into contact with as you walk through the kitchen into the restaurant says hello to you. I just have one more thing to say: when you order a beer at the bar it comes topped with a toothpick skewered with meat and cheese. Respect.
If you are staying in Phoenix for any length of time, this is a must stop for at least a cocktail. From walking through the kitchen, to being seated promptly in a booth, this is quintessential gastronomic delight. Durant's is an icon and legend. Period. Wine list is great, have a well-versed sommelier also. I never order Filet, but when in Rome...
I can sum up Durant's in four statements:
1. Great steak.
2. Stiff drinks.
3. Awesome service.
4. Relaxing atmosphere.
I come here when I want something very specific. When I want a slab of meat cooked perfectly to gorge myself on while a perfectly prepared drink sits at my elbow that is so good my liver actually rejoices at its slow and painful demise, both served to me by polite and professional staff in an atmosphere that reminds me of a cross between some 1920's cigar club and a plush VIP room in Vegas, I go to Durant's.
Period.
Durant's is a throwback to early Phoenix - which is great if you like the time travel element. The food is great, though a bit expensive.
Regarding the last review, they're right - stay away from the seafood. If you want lobster, go to the Salt Cellar in Scottsdale. For Steak and martinis and seeing the way things used to be out here, Durant's is a LOT of fun.
Two words, Classic Elegance
It is so nice to sit in a restaurant and have a fully trained staff wait on you. The staff is exceptional. I don't think any of their wait staff is under the age of 40. Which is great. I hate when we ask for a drink recommendation at other places and we hear "I don't know, I'm not old enough to drink, Or we hear, I don't know me and my friends usually just order shots".
The decor is hasn't changed since it opened 40+ years ago. There are no windows in this place and you enter from the back, though the kitchen. We have been here a few times and Durants has never disappointed. The complimentary relish tray is first to make it to our table. I think I can still taste the green onions on my breath. The calamari is some of the best we've had here in Phoenix. Very fresh. The salads are also some of the best we've had. We both had steak which was very good. We ordered a ton of food, however the pace at which they time the courses are perfect. Price is a bit steep we walked out dropping about $200. That included drinks, apps, entrees and desserts.
1960, meet.... 1960.
Durant's has not departed from that era, and I'm glad it hasn't. From the entrance along the red carpet in the kitchen, to the velvet covered walls, high back red booths, and staff in tuxedos, you know you are in for a treat as soon as you walk in. Hell, even the line cooks will wave hi and bye to you.
Featured in the bar every afternoon is a killer happy hour, with half price domestic and well drinks. They typically draw a pretty good crowd that doesn't seem to let up until late in the evening. A lot of the clientele here is the well heeled group from Phoenix Country Club, Palmcroft, and other nicer neighborhoods. It's a diverse group from 20 somethings to the about to die blue hairs.
The honest truth, as others have said, is that you can find a better steak. I would barely put Durant's in the top 10 with stars like Donovan's, Mastro's, BLT, J&G, etc. But Durant's isn't all about the steak, it's about the experience, one every phoenician should encounter at least once in their lifetime. The owners aren't the least bit accommodating either, as they don't have to be. The restaurant fills up almost every night.
I still maintain that if it weren't for Durant's, a lot of people wouldn't even know what Central Avenue in Midtown looks like. I hear very often, oh, downtown, thats by Durant's right? Long live a Phoenix landmark.
Ok so I'm going to make this easy.
A. You go through the kitchen to get in the place (so badass)
B. Louis makes the best martini you can possibly have. (so badass)
C. They gave these chips out like 10 or 20 years ago, that grant the holder
free dessert for life, I happened to know a few peeps who have these
legendary chips. (free dessert poker chips so badass)
D. finally the food is good a bit expensive and the service is always
amazing.
OK in fairness Durants probably really merits 4 stars but the nostalgia factor and the location get it over the top. I have hosted more dinners here than anywhere else--and all of my guests have come away happy. People have even eaten trout (dont ask) and pronounced it the best. Europeans have loved it. Easterners. Far Easterners. Middle Easterners. Its beloved by one and all. Eventually this will go the way that everything goes in Arizona--so get over there and load up as often as you can before it disappears.
Durant's is absolutely perfect. A throwback steakhouse with classy wait staff, perfect cuts of meat, all the trimmings done to perfection, and utterly romantic. Get a cozy semicircle booth if you like the people you're with. I've never had a bad meal or a bad time there.
Shiny red wallpaper? Plaques on the wall commemorating six decades of people who've taken down the 48-ounce Porterhouse? Cigar smoke wafting through the dimly-lit dining room? (Well you'll have to imagine that last part, but believe me, it's not hard to.) No wonder I catch a different Phoenix celebrity every time I'm there. This must be where the goodfellas and muckitymucks go to drown their misery.
Specifics: oysters rockefeller to die for, lettuce wedge of doom, the ribeye, the twice-baked tater and the shrooms. Don't eat for like twelve hours before going though--you'll overorder for sure and they'll throw free food at you to boot! (Bread with amazing tapenade, relish tray.) It's Sunday morning and I'm still digesting Friday night's meal. Oof. :)
I really wanted to love this place. All of the Yelp reviews I saw before going paint Durant's as a place of mystique, a place where old traditions and dining styles thrive and don't change, even as "fusion" and "new American" restaurants surround it. I definitely felt the mystique. I definitely experienced the old traditions and dining styles. I just don't know if I loved how traditional Durant's was. Maybe I just expect that expensive restaurants will wow me with their flavors and need more from a dining experience than the old American formula of a protein and starch, especially when the starch isn't particularly memorable or flavorful.
Don't get me wrong. There were some great things about our experience at Durant's. The overwhelmingly red decor was romantically retro (although I can see it being an awkward color to be surrounded by while on a business lunch), the cream of mushroom soup was creamy and delicious, my lobster tail was huge (albeit a little dry), and our dirty martinis were huge and mixed really well. The service was also very professinal and attentive. However, sticking with an established approach to dining shouldn't mean not being attentive to quality, and I felt like for the price we spent, certain things (like my husband's salad and steak, as well as the pretty terrible rice pilaf and mashed potato sides) could have been brought into the 21st century or at least made more tasty!
As the dinner came to a close (we were there at 9 or so on a Tuesday night), we got to be parties to a very interesting conversation between a woman sitting at the bar and the *very* old-school bartender. She said that she had lived in Phoenix for 35 years but quickly moved to ranting about her daughter, who she claimed was "gorgeous," a part of the "happening Scottsdale crowd," and a former flame of Derek Jeter's! She even offered to bring her to Durant's and introduce her to the bartender. Wow, what a girl (if she does exist). This woman also had opinions on a variety of other subjects, including cell phone providers, and didn't stop talking during our entire main course.
This little dialogue (monologue?) made me realize something, though. Times change. Women who probably used to have meatloaf or roast with a baked potato and spinach for every meal are now sitting in restaurants talking about their daughters dating baseball stars and how bad their cell phone reception is indoors. I figure if they can get just a little bit "with it," so can Durant's. No major changes necessary - just a slight stepping back and re-evaluation of the menu to decide whether rice pilaf would be worth swapping out for a roasted asparagus. I'm not trying to be a traitor to a timeless institution or asking that it change its essential character - I just think that a few little tweaks here and there would keep the local population loyal and keep folks like me, who want really good food (part-way there) in an amazing environment with friendly service (check), coming back.
Great old 50's ambiance. Waiters and bartenders are professionals and ensure that you have a good dining experience. Steaks are good. My preference is always the rib eye. I also like to order the stone crab when it's in season.
Phoenix, AZ
Category: Steakhouses
Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Steakhouses
Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Steakhouses
Phoenix, AZ
Category: American (New)
Phoenix, AZ
Category: Steakhouses
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