To be clear, I don't necessarily think the changes will be entirely negative. To a certain extent, they're inevitable given the economics of the moment.

No, a standard Mastro's menu will definitely be an improvement over what Durant's has been serving the past few years. That kitchen was just ...

Yeah, I think they screwed the pooch here. They're trying to shoehorn a standard-issue wannabe trendy Mastro's menu into a throwback steakhouse. I was really hoping they'd be smarter than this.

The model is the Golden Steer in Las Vegas. This is not that.


To be clear, I don't necessarily think ...

Durant's has announced a reopening date of December 17 and has posted its new menu:

https://www.durantsaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/94666-Durants-Dinner-Menu-1.pdf

There are definitely some legacies from the old Durant's, including the giant porterhouse, but also some items that are new and ...

I've been there. Like other restaurants run by Pretty Decent Concepts, including Wren & Wolf and Cleaverman, there is a strong emphasis on the visual. That said, there were no items I disliked, and these two stood out for me.

IMG_7078.JPG

Skewers of shrimp and oyster mushrooms over fried rice ...

Thanks. It sounds sort of like the second definition, but as you say, "harnessed for good." When it comes to food, I like it to be somewhat funky but maybe not at a George Clinton level.

What do folks think of LeDu? I tried it a while ago and they’ve now opened up closer to the house. I got Khao Soi and thought it was fine but nothing special. Wondering if I should give it another chance.


For me, LeDu is a nice middle ground between the modular menu at most Thai restaurants ...

I recently spent a long weekend in Denver. Food highlights included the Konjo Ethiopian food stall at the Mlik Market, a downtown food hall, and the tacos at El Cimino at Highlands Square. I was most impressed, however, by Odell's Bagels, also near Highlands Square. There are a few Japanese ...

That gyoza pizza sounds really interesting. I agree about the peach. I've even had a cherry pizza at Myke's.

They've got a liquor license application pending, so I'd say an opening later this year is still a strong possibility.

https://www.phoenix.gov/content/dam/pho ... 584app.pdf

I'll second the recommendation of Chelsea's. In late spring, it can be fun to eat there right before (or after) sunset and combine the meal with a short stroll along the canal to see the bats emerge from their human-made cave: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/phoenix-bat-cave

Other ideas ...