Durant's
- Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Private Lot
- Attire: Dressy
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: No
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Best Nights: Thu, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: No
- Coat Check: Yes
55 Reviews for Durant's
Supposedly this is where the older gentlement of Phoenix take they're mistresses for afternoon lunch...that's just what I hear...anyway, they make a damn strong drink!
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The partner I used to work for DC was coming into town, and I wanted to take him some place great (by which I mean I wanted him to take me some place great). I wanted a very "Phoenix" place, and a place with great food. Good dining is important to him, and he's eaten in the best restaurants all over the world, so I had my work cut out for me in picking a restaurant! I had been to Durant's once before, for drinks, and several people at work recommended it for dinner, so we tried it. It was excellent. I had the salmon and he had some sort of steak (sorry -- I was busy with my meal and didn't really notice his). We were both really impressed with our meals, and the atmosphere was super fun (LOVED entering through the kitchen -- very fun). It was the perfect choice.
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Red Velvet, Check
Parking, Valet for Free, Check
Ratpack ghosts, Check
Fun People, Check
Strong, yet good drinks, Check
Good happy hour place, Check
Been Around for Ever & Deserves it Rep, Check
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Durant's is clas-sy. I had heard that they had big comfortable booths and fancy meals, but I was still impressed. We stopped in around 11.30 one night, just for a drink (two other places we tried before it were closed). It was very quiet with just a few other patrons. We received great service from the bartender, and will definitely be going back. Maybe for dinner next time - I'll have the mashed potatoes (aka the vegetarian special). :)
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Definitely agree with the majority of the great reviews, this place has amazing steaks. Definitely the spot you want to come back to over and over again. The price is appropriate considering ruth chris and houstons is pricier and the portions are way smaller. If your downtown stop by Durants
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.
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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.
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This place is pretty amazing. Big fan of their bar and martinis. Like my women, I like my drinks strong. Self-assured. Forgiving. Powerful. I want to know who's boss. One sip of a dirty vodka martini and it becomes abundantly clear that person is not me. Because I love all things cheesy and forced, the outfits of the staff make me smile. Plus, the death of customer service in America has not yet infected the staff, who are frankly amazing.
The menu leaves a little to be desired from my perspective but what can I really expect going to a steak house. And all my friends think it's one of the best in town.
The only real drawback? No gangsters. I want to see real O.G.s conspiring in the corner. But whatever. It's still a fun place to go after work.
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My favorite restaurant in Phoenix. The old ratpack style atmosphere and gathering of local business leaders along with politicos just adds to the fun. Unlike most of the new steakhouses along the Camelback/Biltmore corridor, Durant's is not pretentious. In fact, I've even walked in after golfing while still wearing shorts and a windshirt and received great service. While not inexpensive, you also won't pay an arm and a leg for a steak at Durant's like some of the newer places. Don't want dinner or by yourself, hang out at the bar and have a martini - they know how to make 'em!
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Burned my first steak (I said rare, not medium well), fixed it promptly and comped my dessert. Would have preferred a less cramped booth for four grown adult males. $8/glass Peachy Canyon was a pleasant surprise for the stretched out "per diem."
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I really like Durant's. A couple of my best memories were made here. I've had the coconut shrimp and also the crab; both were fantastic. i've also gone there just for drinks, and i have to say that Durant's is probably the best place to sit down and talk over drinks with a friend. It's like entering a different world. It's just so cozy, with those low lights and plush red velvet. I especially loved it because with the two of us at the bar, it felt like we were the only two people in the world. The staff is so incredibly attentive, and the bartender is very jovial and friendly.
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Durants ROCKS.
I love the red velvet walls.
I love walking through the kitchen to get to the restaurant.
I love the garlicky cheesy bread that probably has a million calories in it.
I love the steaks.
I love the decor.
I love the bar.
We all ordered different items when we went here for dinner one night, and all raved about what we had. I don't think you can go wrong, no matter what you order. It's amazing, delicious, and very very unique.
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Unfortunately, my birthday always falls right around Mother's Day. Which means that every time I want to go out to eat for my birthday it is packed. We thought we'd celebrate early by going on Saturday, but it was still packed. We called ahead and the earliest reservation was 9 PM, but the person on the phone said that if we just came down, they would fit us in.
So we sat at the bar for maybe 20 minutes (IN YOUR FACE CHAIN RESTAURANTS!!!) and our beers came with a small appetizer of cheese and salami. These people think of everything. And the wait staff is pretty damn attentive. The hostess heard me say something about my birthday, which was passed on to the waitress so my super huge and yummy meal ended with a delicious dessert of my choosing.
The bread and relish tray would have been more than enough of an appetizer for me, but my partners in crime also wanted the spinach artichoke dip, which was soooo tasty. My steak was SOFT but cooked exactly how I like it. These are true professionals. Asparagus was cooked perfectly. The chicken pot pie soup was exactly what I expected and so yummy. And the dessert? Triple creme brulee - kahlua which tasted like a caucasian, chocolate which managed to be super chocolately but not too rich, and a mixed berry that would have been fabulous if I was a normal rasberry eating human.
Yes, it's a little pricey, but you easily get 2 meals if not more out of one dish. Especially with the yummy bread and relish tray that is also presented before the meal. The atmosphere is cozy and a little crowded. If you are wierd about personal space, this is probably not the place to go.
Overall: I love this place and go every time I get the opportunity.
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Okay, if you've not visited this Valley institution by now I don't understand what you're waiting for. Go now, really-put down your mouse, shut off your computer and GO!
It's certainly the old school aspect that adds to their appeal, for once you get taken back to a by-gone era with the red velvet and killer cocktails, good steaks. Are they the BEST EVER steaks? No, those are cooked up by me at home but Durant's are pretty dang good.
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Many long-established restaurants try to reinvent themselves every few years with menu updates and interior makeovers. Durant's, one of the oldest restaurants in Phoenix, has succeeded by sticking to the same classic format for over 50 years. Even the arrival of a new executive chef in 2007, initially the subject of some controversy, resulted only in minor changes to the Durant's experience, and most of those were manifested in more attractive plate presentations rather than wholesale alterations of menu items.
The slogan of founder Jack Durant was that "...good friends, great steaks, and the best booze are the necessities of life." Durant's always delivers the last two items, along with several seafood specialties and excellent vegetable side dishes. While Durant's cannot guarantee that its diners have good friends, its tuxedo-clad waitstaff, many of whom are veteran employees, treat each customer as a valued guest. Despite the staff's formal attire, customers are welcome to come in neat casual clothing.
Durant's occupies a modest building in Midtown Phoenix, situated just a few blocks south of Thomas. A prominent yellow sign, illuminated at night, draws attention from Central Avenue, but the real action is at the rear kitchen entrance, located by the valet parking stand behind the restaurant. Most regulars enter Durant's through the kitchen, where the staff provide a warm greeting well before customers arrive at the host station. The decor is so out that it's in. Leather banquettes and crushed red velvet wallpaper, all impeccably maintained, set a classic tone that is reinforced by a menu of steaks, prime rib, seafood, and even a few liver dishes.
Meals begins with a signature assortment of crudites and a serving of bread topped with butter and sauteed leaks. All entrees come with a choice of soup or house salad with an upgrade to a spinach or ceasar salad available for a small premium. Besides the obvious crowd-pleasing cuts of beef, the crab cakes, available in either appetizer or entree portions are a favorite. Sides of mashed potatoes, baked potato, fries, or a rice pilaf are included with all entrees, and additional a la carte side dishes feature vegetables such as broccolini, sauteed mushrooms, and steamed asparagus. Notable desserts include a trio of creme brulees and a strawberry shortcake for two. An impressive wine list and a full bar complement the food.
Durant's serves lunch on weekdays and dinner seven days a week and accepts reservations via OpenTable. Booking a table in advance is probably a good idea since Durant's tends to be popular year round as a place to celebrate special occasions. The restaurant maintains a mailing list for regulars and sends customers birthday cards good for a free dessert. It's a nice touch that reminds Durant's fans not to forget about a classic favorite in between meals at newer and trendier spots.
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Durant's is my go- to place for special occassions. I have many fond memories of sharing the "porterhouse for two", which could be called the "porterhouse for five" in reality.
The towering strawberry shortcake is classic and their coffee is worth the drive by itself. I love the decor. The textured wallpaper is classic and seductive. The food is indulgent.
Last time I was there I had a spinach salad with my meal and it was out of this world. If I could only do that to spinach in my own kitchen...
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Over the years my wife and I had heard good things about Durant's so we finally decided to try it out. BIG MISTAKE! Our waitress recommended the Lobster and Steak special for two for around $130.00 so we took her advice and ordered it....Another BIG MISTAKE! The steak was pretty good; however the lobster was overcooked and tasted like rubber. It was actually to tough that my wife couldn't even chew it. I have no problem with paying $130 for a meal for two people however if it isn't good, then I do. I explained to our waitress the problem with the lobster. A few minutes later the manager came over to our table.
I explained that there was a serious problem with both lobsters. The manager proceeded to pick up a piece of the lobster off my plate and bit off half of it and put the other half back on my plate. He then proceeded to chew the lobster and reported to us that it tasted fine to him. I explained that we eat good seafood all the time and lobster should be tender, sweet and not taste like what they served to us. The manger then explained that he had never tried lobster before so he really wasn't certain how it should taste, but felt that we were making this up to get out of paying for our meal. At this point I became extremely upset and informed him that this was not the case that we simply wanted to be served two new proper tasting lobsters. He informed us that this would not happen and simply walked away. Our waitress overheard the whole thing and was extremely apologetic. She offered us free coffee and dessert. However at this point we were both so upset that I simply asked for the bill, paid it and left the restaurant.
Since that night, I have heard horror stories from other friends and co-workers concerning Durant's. THIS IS A PLACE TO STAY AWAY FROM!
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Durant's was the place I had to behave like I never behaved before to deserve. It was the place my grandparents went to meet their peers and friends. It was the place where we'd be interrupted countless times to be introduced to another person I'd never met. In days past, this truly was THE place to see and be seen.
But no more. You can still walk through the kitchen like one of the finger-to-nostril pressing patrons of old, but gone is the standard of service and of food. This USED to be the best martini in town, best steak in town, best crab cakes in town. But alas, no more.
It takes at least 3 visits for me to so drastically change my opinion of a former great star. My last three visits were filled with disappointments. No one knows who I am anymore. Normally this would be a narcissistic thing to say, except that my family in its generations has been dining there since it was first opened. For a steak place you'd think they'd have everything listed on the menu. For my first of three, I gave up after ordering 4 different steaks, all out of stock. I would have to settle for well-done prime rib -- something I leave for the unwashed and people who deserve to have old shoes served on their plates.
The wine list, although unabbreviated was sorely lacking. After 6 tries, all out of stock, I had to call sommelier (who also had no idea who I was) to finally just get me whatever he had left.
Vegetables and side dishes are reminiscent of Jay Newton's Beefeaters' lukewarm one-side-for-all frozen nastiness (think thick over or undercooked wavy cut carrots and faded blue-white cauliflower). Crab cakes have fallen from their former greatness to either being out of stock, or burned up and dry. Roquefort was also unavailable two of the last three times I was there.
Most service details were missed. I don't even want to go into the specifics for mourning of my memory of this place's former greatness. I do have to warn you, if you end up going, take your own napkin. They've changed linen vendors and napkins have that apron-or-dishrag-let's-starch-it-anyway smell to them. I give it two stars for respect of my memory of my grandfather and the gleeful twinkle in his eye to order the steak and lobster and to watch him enjoy every tasty bite.
Sorry, Durant's. You're on the outs. Tourists and unwashed only, and that's to keep the real estate values up for neighbors Switch and Wild Thaiger.
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Five stars, five
1st star Culinary excellence,
2nd star Service perfection
3rd star Atmosphere and history
4th star flawless operation
5th star dessert
Old School Style fine dinning. This restaurant dates way back to the early days of downtown Phoenix.
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Wow! This place is 'Old Phoenix' in a nutshell. You enter through the kitchen in the back and it feels like you're instantly teleported to another era with deep red velvet flowery wallpaper, old portraits adorning the walls, and narrow doors. My hubby and I went here with family, so we sat in a big booth in the corner.
We ordered 1/2 dozen oysters (served on ice-cold black rocks), porterhouse steak (melts in your mouth), scallops, mesquite grilled shrimp, and my grandpa had chicken livers (though I've never tried them, I don't recommend them). My hubby and I shared a 4-layer chocolate cake consisting of a thick icing on top, two layers of mousse, and a moist cake atop a swirl of raspberry sauce.
Needless to say, neither my hubby nor I could drive, due to his enormous gin martini and my indulgence on the wine. The servers didn't mind that we sat a while after the check was paid. No pressure to turn tables here. Definitely recommend if you're in the mood for a delicious meal.
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Steak was gooodddd..... as was the banana cream pie that I had for dessert - I am a sucker for banana-themed sweets - that is 3 stars right there...... however, I was NOT a fan of the caesar salad - it was spicy - where did that come from??
Also, this place is a little weird - very old-skool, in a weird part of Phoenix (the building from the outside is a trip - looks like a cross between a bowling alley and a strip club), and the service just felt a little bit awkward to me. Maybe I am just so used to places with a more casual, modern vibe. We had a good meal here, but I don't know if I'd come back or not. I know it's a chain, but Ruth's Chris is more my kind of place, and I think the steak is better....plus i like the Biltmore area much better than this area (I don't even know what this 'hood is called - central phoenix?)
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We were downtown and looking for an uncommon dining experience, and on the car ride we were taking about crab, beef, wedge salads so Durant's seemed like a natural and obvious choice. My friend had never been, and its probably been five years since my last visit. It was destiny.
As I pulled into the packed parking lot (at 5:54 p.m.) on a Saturday night, the lot was filled and I giggled. Durant's has that natural 'it' factor that is such a nice pull and draw. I looked at my friend and said "Uh, we're probably eating in the bar, this parking lot is filled and all these folks are inside that little restaurant." I was right.
So, I led her through the door that naturally guides you through the kitchen and then the dining room before you visit the dining room captain. Its a great part of the experience. The pristine kitchen full of hustle and bustle, and kitchen employees that speak perfectly good English and greet you upon entering and leaving the restaurant. I love this aspect of the restaurant; it feels really good to me. It smells of dripping hospitality to me and not in a syrupy way, but more of a "yeah, we're proud of what we do, and we've done it longer than any other Mastro's-style-hip-newster in town, and we're still kick ass!"
So, anyway, I speak briefly to the dining room captain, did I mention that they wear tuxedos in the dining room. Ah! Love it! So old school and its just fine with me. I look at the reservation system that he has on his desk and I laugh, because, our visit isn't planned and he has names collected and color-coded all over the screen. We're having a spontaneous dinner, I don't think spontaneity and a full service-dining-room-table-type-of-meal-at-Durant's goes hand in hand. So, I ask if we could have the full menu in the bar and they're thrilled. "Sure, ladies, come on in!"
We belly up to the bar (which I love anyway), and I "sample" two different sips of wine before I settle on the wine I want with dinner and my friend has a Martini that is classically perfect while we wait for our dinner to arrive. Our bartender was incredibly busy, but remained proficient, aware, thorough and we loved her! For me this was the classic Chicago-Gibson's-style steak dinner event that we were hoping to find. We weren't disappointed.
The bill came. I thought my friend was going to fall out of her chair - its not cheap and on the way home, we had a conversation about value. She'd give them maybe 3.5 stars on value orientation. I'm not wavering from my five stars and here's why:
I don't eat like this everyday and I have enough left over steak to feed my steak and eggs this morning, my lunch and dinner for the day, and probably tomorrow as well. It was a huge, juicy, piece of cow and it was perfectly prepared and yeah, I won't need to spend $62/person for another several years.
We departed through the kitchen and this time my friend stops and blows the entire kitchen staff a kiss goodbye and I am pretty sure they fell over themselves admiring her, well, naturally, God-given beauty and two of them rushed to open the back door for her. That was the kicker, she'll pay for this type of attention again.
Classic...
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This classic steakhouse has won me over. I have been on a few occasions, both special and random! As mentioned in the other reviews the decor has not changed a bit. It still boasts weird pictures hanging on the wall of some unnamed man (hmmm? Mr. Durant himself)!? I always opt for the bar area weather having dinner or not. I'm not one for big dining rooms and don't mind eating at the bar, especially with the excellent service the bartender offers. This is a favorite among my friends for birthdays, happy hours, and of course Valentine's Day! (with your friends or your significant other:)
My favorites on the menu: garlic mashed potatoes, fillet mignon, scallops, and all of the salads.
Go, dine, enjoy it is worth the extra dollars:)
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I like Durant's out of principle, but this is by no means a great restaurant by my estimation. The three separate times I've been were riddled with lackluster service, improperly prepared seafood, and meat with the wrong temperature (medium means medium, right? or has beef fallen into the "rare is the new medium" fashion continuum?).
I remain altogether unimpressed. I would, however, hide here if the law was looking for me. It's just that kind of place.
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My all time favorite Phoenix restaurant. Best steak, great atmosphere. Never been disappointed. Great for special occasions.
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Great Lunch hangout. The food is always good. I like the Fat Man Special. Park in the back and walk through the kitchen. Everyone says hi and welcomes you when you walk in. One of my favorites!
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Durant's is a Phoenix icon that I've been looking forward to visiting for years. The steak left a bit to be desired (at $40 it should have been the best steak I've had in years), but the service, atmosphere, and crab macaroni and cheese made up for it. I'll go back again, skip the steak, eat the sides, and have another martini!
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Every major city has a restaurant like Durant's. Old School place, been around for 50 years, with red leather half circle booths, red velvet wall paper, dim lighting, old-time professional waiters with grey hair, and expensive food specializing in steaks. You walk into Durant's from the back parking lot, through the kitchen; not because of the light rail construction out front, but because that is how it has always been done. The logo awning and valet parking is back there in the rear!
Most steaks are in the $40 range, which comes with a choice of potato styles (baked, garlic mashed, fries) and a choice of soup du jour or house salad (Caesar's Salad is $4.50 more, but it isn't the old school with anchovies or mixed at your table by the waiter with wood spoons like some classic restaurants like this do it. It is mostly just sprinkled with cheese. I long for the real Caeser's salad, not this version remeniscent of casual dining places that serve it with chicken!). Seafood selections are mostly in the $30 range. They offer Delmonico steak (In-Bone New York) for $41.50; the 8 oz Filet Mignon is $40.50 (they have a larger 12 oz, too) and the in-bone porterhouse of 32 oz is $72! A large Shrimp and Crab Louis entree is $24.95. Spinich dip appetizer is $8.95, and a dozen oysters on the half shell is $24.95 (6 for $13.95).
All the food is good, but not fantastic given the prices. Service was very deliberate bordering on slow (from the kitchen , not the waiter).
They have a decent wine list. House wines by the glass include the Santa Barbara Avila Merlot, lighter and simplistic, at $6, and the Sterling Merlot from Norcal is $9, with more body but only average.
Drinks may default to premium brands if you don't specify at the bar. Myers Platinum rum and coke, $5.50. Tanqueray and Tonic, $6.00. Stolichnaya Raspberry Vodka and Tonic, $10.95. They do serve the drinks very stiff, though!
The best thing about this place is the bread. They serve a round loaf of sourdough like bread, sliced and soaked in olive oil and covered with minced garlic and basil. It is free and they will keep bringing more as you wait patiently for your other dishes. We had 3 loaves.
They offer typical classic desserts for this type of place, like Key Lime Pie, but we were so full with meat and bread, we passed on it.
This is the place you bring your significant other's parents to impress them with a classic, great old school restaurant, especially if they listen to Frank Sinatra and like meat. But if you are a trendy chic diner, you should pass and try something fresher in ambiance and food but equally expensive (think Scottsdale's overblown newer mega-restaurants which are the new Durant's except with Sushi or Asian Fusion, or oversized Southwest flavored creations with names taken from Cactus varieties.)
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I love love love Durants. I feel like I'm back in the 50's, eating steak with the likes of Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. I love the ambiance, it's super cozy and comfy. They've got these great leather booths, cool old school portraits, and waiters in little tuxedos. I also love the fact that you can enter through the kitchen, giving you that goodfellas vibe when they walk through the kitchen of the copa.
There's a fantastic wine and booze selection (of course, the first thing I look for) and FANTASTIC food. For starters, the waiter will bring you a little plate of fresh veggies and this amazing bread with a garlic herb topping. Then, I totally suggest getting the mushrooms as a side. They are awesome, in this cream sauce that is indescribable. I always get the filet (medium rare) with the garlic mashed potatoes.
LOVE IT!! really good place for a date, a small party, or just a fanciful dinner. Did i say that i LOVE IT??? It is kind of expensive, but completely worth the price. You are guaranteed to leave satisfied.
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Being in Durant's reminds me of being a bit actor in a movie remake of some 1950s cult classic. Like oceans 11.
The original had Sinatra and Martin and Davis, Jr and Bishop.
The remake had Clooney and Pitt and Damon and Garcia.
And although the 2001 version was pretty good, maybe even VERY good, something about it seems disingenuous.
But when we talk about the cool-factor of the 1960s "11", there is no denying that the film makes you feel like you're walking around like your number one.
Well, translate that into this dusty steak joint, that has somehow passed its prime and now seems like a poor remake of its former (classic) self. Their food has sadly nose-dived into average, while their prices have sharply risen like a Vegas hotel room on a holiday weekend.
I only feel marginally dapper drinking in here. Sure the bartenders are cool and quite aware, but the setting is dank and I feel like I'm drinking in an 80s mob bar that is trying to thematically play homage to a 20s speakeasy.
Where once THIS was the steakhouse that others (even chains -- heya Bucco di Beppo) tried to emulate, everything just seems to have spindled out of order. Its trying hard to work, but it just doesn't. I'm also aware that they are under new mgmt and have changed some staples on the menu. We shall see if they will return.
For now, I'm just going to stick to drinking the occasional scotch at the bar before moving on to Capital Grille or City Hall.
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Here on biz trip, didn't expect to find this kind of place in Phoenix, maybe Chicago or Cleveland but not here. Had dinner with friend in bar area and had a great time. Service was good to excellent, nice wine selection, steaks were also good to excellent. As far as others comparing it to Ruth Chris (and other chain steak houses), well it ain't Ruth's... thank God! No R. C. has this atmosphere and look, really old school but still real. Parking in rear was easy and free. Construction was going on in the street making finding the place and access a little tough but that may be over by now. I grant you the place is not for everyone one but I definitely do recommend and will return.
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Awesome caesar salad. Really. I love their caesar salads... which is kinda weird to say about a steakhouse....
I don't care.
I LOVE THEIR CAESAR SALADS!
I did once order the porterhouse for two, and it was ridiculously large. Like, it could have fed a family of Somalians for a year.... or a black bear... it was freakin' huge!
It doesn't get any better than this, dining where Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe did. And it looks the same as when they were there.
This is fine dining at it's best and worth every penny (lots and lots of them).
There is a reason they have been around for over 50 years and they are always crowded (which is pretty amazing since it is really easy to spend $100 or more on dinner for two).
The food was spectacular, as was the service. The water they serve is bottled Perrier. The menu choices are expected, steaks, seafood, etc., but the food is exquisite in both preparation and taste. Best damn $10 martini I have ever had.
This is a great place to go for a special occasion, an intimate evening or celebration. It is a trip back in time to an almost forgotten era, a place to experience great food and fine dining, one you will soon not forget.
This is a fantastic restaurant that is also a piece of our local culture and history.
First, I have to admit I read some of the other reviews before writing this one. While almost all rave about the place, I haven't a clue what glitch in the universe caused the two complainers to have bad experiences. I've been to Durants countless times over the years, often for special occasions. Not once did I have bad food or bad service.
I'm writing this review fresh on the heels of my most recent visit. The occasion was my mom moving to Phoenix and my wanting to introduce her to life in our fine city by taking her to one of its dining legends. After telling her a bit about its history, she really wanted to go despite my warnings that it's primarily a steak and lobster place, of which she eats neither. Durants did not disappoint.
Our waiter was outstanding. Not only was he polite and efficient, but he was charming and made my mom laugh several times. While at the table we chose not to drink any wine, sticking with non-bottled water only. As a water afficionado (not to be confused with "water snobs" who only drink the expensive bottled stuff), I can tell you that I don't know where they get their water from but it is tasty. It can't be Phoenix tapwater because we all know that Phoenix tapwater tastes like, well, poo. If you're wondering why I'm so fixated on the water, I was additionally very impressed by the fact that the instant my glass became half-empty, a busgirl would appear out of nowhere and quickly fill it right back up. I drank a lot of water, so she did this at least 5-10 times during the evening.
The decor and atmosphere were fabulous, and my mom was fascinated as most are upon seeing it the first time. Major political schemes and business deals by Phoenix's power brokers affecting our whole state have been hatched on the back of napkins in Durants. That's the kind of place it is, and that aura sinks in the moment you walk in. We happened to sit in a booth underneath a portrait of a dog. When my mom asked my waiter who the dog was, he explained that the late Jack Durant (google and read up on him at the Phoenix New Times website if you want some background) always had a dog by his side during his life, and this particular one was his during the 1970s (the waiter was more precise but I forget the dates).
The food was top-notch. The beef barley soup I started with was yummy, and I don't particularly like beef barley and wasn't expecting much. I skeptically ordered the coconut shrimp entree, something I'd previously only tried in Hawaii. It was damn good, and the shrimp were huge. My mom ordered salmon with salad and loved both of them. Every meal comes with free bread and Durants own basil sauce, and I wouldn't even mention such a trivial thing unless it was worth it, which it is. The desserts sounded delicious, but we were so stuffed we dared not order any.
In short, the whole experience from start to finish was first-class. They treated me and my guest very well and gave her exactly the lovely introduction to Phoenix I had taken her there for in the first place.
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I would give Durant's 4 stars except for the fact that my prime rib and side dishes were all only luke-warm. Also steak is not my favorite food. But all that aside, Durant's is a pretty cool place.
You walk in and you feel like you entered into a period piece. This is the kind of place they'd use as a set for the Untouchables or Godfather. Very cool classic decor. No windows in the whole place. Plenty of booths and good service. Clearly Durant's has a lot of history.
The food was good in taste. Prime rib was cooked very well and had good texture. I just wish it was a bit hotter because I felt like I was eating something that has been sitting around the kitchen.
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The red flocked wallpaper--the leather banquettes--the way you feel like a Goodfella when you walk in through the kitchen--you know you're at Durant's!
This is one of the bastions of Old Phoenix at its best--or maybe its worst, since a lot of the bad old days of corrupt city governance likely took place within Durant's walls. But since the staff is so discreet, we'll probably never know...
Now to the food: I really like the food, the wines, the service. I've had prime rib here and it was great prime rib. I've had lunch here and it was fab also...now if I could just get hubby to take me here sometime, I'll be a happy woman!
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I knew I would love this place on my first visit about three years ago. They just don't make restaurants like this anymore.
Clubby rat pack atmosphere, comfy leather banquettes, red lighting and wallpaper, stiff martinis straight up, tuxedo clad servers, entrance through the back kitchen (just like old-school LA restaurants). So much character, so much CLASS, and you haven't even gotten to the food or service yet!
It's pricey here, so it's usually a special occasion/I'm gonna get laid sorta restaurant. I came here for happy hour recently, and it was then I realized I hadn't reviewed this or eaten here in a long time. I usually order a steak (New York), but yes, the seafood is pretty good here too.
The servers are top notch, (great sale pitches) and professional in every way in my visits.
The martinis here are easily contenders for the best martinis in Phoenix. The bread loaf with the garlic spread is a good munchie, but let me tell you all you need is two martinis to call yourself done, if you know what I mean.
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