Hidden Jewels of the Desert

Our three-year anniversary snuck up on us this year. Time really does go by too fast, but I blame the month of March in general.  Second to December, March has to be the best and busiest month for weddings, all kinds of celebratory showers, parties and not to mention Spring Break. We found ourselves back in my home state of Arizona for a family member’s wedding the same weekend we got married. Fortunately for us, we spent the weekend at what I used to refer to as my “second home” (it is probably my 3rd home now), the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix. This is where we also spent our wedding night and couple days before we left on our honeymoon.  We had a fabulous time at the Biltmore, as always celebrating our love and visiting another historic, hidden gem, Durant’s Steakhouse.
 

The Arizona Biltmore

The Arizona Biltmore is also known as “The Jewel of the Desert” and appropriately so. It is quietly tucked behind the busy Biltmore shopping district and beneath the Phoenix Mountains Preserve. It’s secluded location and five-star accommodations attract many celebrities and high-profile visitors. In fact, every President since Herbert Hoover (~1930) has been a guest. Sadly,  President Obama ended this almost 80-year-old tradition. During our stay, the NFL had their annual meeting so it was fun to see and mingle with some of the coaches, reporters and broadcasters you normally only see on TV.  Sorry, I don’t have any photo evidence but to name drop only a couple,  I will say Mike Tirico and John Harbaugh were the friendliest. I’m just not the awe-struck celebrity type to ask for photos. Although, I am sure they would have been happy to oblige. You might be surprised by all the history the Arizona Biltmore resort has behind it, and I encourage you to read more about it if you’re not going to visit any time soon: AZB History

I could go on and on about the Arizona Biltmore (and maybe one day I will), but here’s some quick highlights. If you have the chance, stay in one of the cottages, they are my favorite! But you really can’t go wrong with any of their rooms. We stayed in the newly renovated Paradise Wing where we enjoyed our own private patio just far enough away from the busy Paradise Pool.

We enjoyed various libations from both Frank & Albert’s (F&A’s) and Wright’s restaurants. The onion rings at Frank & Albert’s may be the best I’ve ever had and Wright’s has the most beautiful brunch display that is almost too good to eat. Another time, I will have to go into more details because they certainly have a lot more delicious food than just onion rings and brunch! Just know you can’t go wrong with any food or drink choices at either restaurant. Oh, and since I don’t drink coffee, finding some fresh juice at F&A’s was a nice, healthy treat after a celebratory weekend.  

DURANT’S

Durant’s steakhouse has been around for over 65 years in downtown Phoenix. This place is the definition of a hidden gem. It is completely unassuming and you might not even know it’s there unless someone pointed it out or recommended it to you. My family, grandparents and parents specifically, who also grew up in the Phoenix area, have enjoyed Durant’s since it’s early beginnings. We have many fond memories here so it was a perfect place to celebrate our anniversary. And as a frequent diner, they still exceeded our already high expectations.

If you are looking for a good, old-fashioned, steakhouse, this is it. Complete with red leather, dark wood, low lighting and the ambiance perfectly loud enough you can’t hear anyone else’s conversations. It is loud, yet intimate. Perfect for a romantic or private business dinner. The bar is almost always packed and it couldn’t be a more comfortable place to sit and enjoy a pre dinner cocktail or a post work treat. Reservations are highly recommended at all times, especially during the Winter and Spring months when the Phoenix area is most crowded. 

One of my favorite parts about this historic restaurant is the entrance. I believe there is a front door, but I have yet to see it or go through it. You see, the real entrance is in the back through the kitchen. Yes, you walk through the kitchen where you will receive a warm welcome from all the cooks, staff and even get a preview of the what’s to come. Even if you don’t take peak at all the food waiting to go out (which doesn’t sit long don’t worry, no cold food), the smells alone will confirm you made the right choice.

My expectations were exceeded with their attention to detail. I made our reservation on Open Table and simply stated in the notes section we were celebrating our anniversary. I didn’t think anything of it and had no intention of informing our waiter that evening. Not only did the manager seat us, he wished us a happy anniversary as did our waiter, but they also told us to “pick any dessert” on the house for our anniversary.  Sure, I might expect those things had we verbally communicated our anniversary upon our arrival, but like I said earlier we didn’t. The small detail of actually reading my notes from an online reservation platform definitely did not go unnoticed or unappreciated.
   
We enjoyed a lovely dinner that included a crab cake appetizer, the chicken Marsala and small filet mignon with garlic mashed potatoes (my mouth is watering as I type this from the memory) as our entrees.  Even the bottle of wine recommended by our waiter whose name makes us question why we ordered it, The Prisoner, was a perfect complement to our meal. And last but certainly not least, the best dessert is their Key Lime pie… simply amazing! Of course we started eating too quickly (just like the crab cake) before I could snag a picture. Sometimes you just have to enjoy the moment and not take pictures, right? Two hours later we exited back through the kitchen and received several thank you’s and goodbyes.  
The Arizona Biltmore and Durant’s have been and will continue to be amongst my family and I’s favorite destinations in Phoenix, Arizona. Take it from a native, you will not be disappointed. They are worth every penny (and a lot of them is required), but you can’t put a price tag on true love. 

 

Thank you for reading…

Cheers!