Lon’s At the Hermosa

Thank you Bill for inviting us back… Today was the Lon’s I remember!!! The food was great… the service was great… John (the manager was charming and delightful).the mango crème brulee was one of the BEST desserts I have ever tasted (don’t miss it)…everything was pure PEFECTION. Obviously this restaurant seriously CARES about it’s clientele. The most beautiful atmosphere in Phoenix. Lon’s is back amongst my top 10 restaurant picks!

Went during Arizona Restaurant Week and everything was fabulous.

I was looking for a «local» restaurant and certainly found it at Lon’s. When I entered the property I was met with a beautiful courtyard with candles, a fountain and musicians. The hostess and maitre d’ greeted me warmly and seated me at a small table beside the fountain. I thought I had found the perfect place to enjoy dinner. Unfortunately my waiter was not so attentive as it took too long to take my drink order and then too long to take my food order. I basically felt ignored. (Full Disclosure: I mentioned my frustration to the maitre d’ who was very apologetic and ultimately compensated me for part of my meal.)
With that said, the duck that I ordered was absolutely wonderful. The duck breast was cooked perfectly, very flavorful and was plated with gnocchi.
Had I not experiences the service glitch, I would have given Lon’s a full five stars. I am sure this was not normal for Lon’s but for me, it gave a less than desirable impression.

Do not wait, run to this restaurant. Particularly in the current Phoenix weather. The outdoor seat ambience is superb. This is 5 stars all the way around.
The only con was in our group we had a chef who asked a question about 1 item, the waitress did not know the answer and departed to the kitchen to ask. She returned stating their chef laughed out loud and refused to answer. A request to have the chef appear went unheeded. They may have an asshat for a chef.
Other that that superb service, incredible food and amazing wine list.
Go experience this hidden jewel!

The atmosphere is so amazing! I got the strawberry salad which was amazing with chocolate vinaigrette– must visit this place !

I have dined here for over a decade always great until tonight
After a few years away it seems they have bought into the hype
Pretentious service previously not experienced in Phoenix
Find a new young chief that’s still trying!

Time for an update: I’ve concluded that Lon’s is one of my top restaurants in the valley! I absolutely love the ambiance, the service, the food, everything except the price. Haha but definitely worth it!
I had to bring my hubby here because he’s never been even though I’ve dined here twice. We decided to make reservations for date night around 5:30p. It was the perfect weather at the perfect restaurant. We had to wait a few minutes to be seated because we were early so we sat at the patio and I ordered a painkiller while hubby ordered a beer. The painkiller was refreshing and we were finally seated outdoors. Live music started playing and it was so romantic, I felt like I was in a movie.
We ordered the calamari, the pork special (split), and the truffle Mac and cheese. Oh my — everything was decadent! The calamari had the perfect seasoning, the pork special had so much flavor and ingredients that went well together, and the Mac and cheese was cooked perfectly (not too hard and not too soft). We were so full that we skipped dessert.
Check came to $ 87 — if you split a plate, they will charge you $ 5. Service was great and it was a great date night!

Great setting. Enjoyed dining on the patio under the lights with live acoustic playing nearby.
The service was good; the food was decent as well, but I thought it was definitely on the high side, price-​wise, even for an upscale venue like this in Paradise Valley.
They asked us if we were celebrating a special occasion and we said yes, we had a birthday in our party. They made it a point to note that and our server offered a birthday greeting, but nothing else occurred. Not that we were expecting something but since they made it a point to ask, we kind of thought they were going to bring us a drink, appetizer or dessert-​or do something. Ended up being disappointed by that just because they seemed to set us up for something; had they not said anything, it wouldn’t have been an issue whatsoever.

Dined al fresco here on Valentine’s Day for brunch. The limited menu, watered down, overly iced white sangria, and forgetful waitress (or chef– not sure which) are the only reasons I’m giving this establishment four stars instead of five.
It was otherwise very good.
I ordered the superfood salad with kale, pomegranate seeds, sweet potato, pistachio nuts, quinoa, and dried cranberries. I asked for sauteed salmon on the salad but out it came with no salmon unfortunately.
I was too hungry to send it back, so I ate it as is. It was excellent! So good in fact that I’m going to try and replicate this magic at home in my own kitchen!
I won’t forget the salmon though. ;-)
The waitress did give me a free «birthday» dessert (despite the fact that it wasn’t my birthday) to make up for the forgotten salmon, so that was nice. It was some sort of brownie entrée. Not my fave, but it tasted pretty good.
I just wish they offered a few more non-​meat centric items on the brunch menu for those of us who don’t eat land animals.
Would definitely try for another meal here though– perhaps dinner. The hotel and grounds are absolutely lovely and the live music was a nice touch. Classy joint!

THIS is a premium date night, special occasion, celebratory place! My husband surprised me one night to a night out at Lon’s At The Hermosa. He had been for before for business dinners and wanted to share how wonderful it was with me. We arrived a little earlier than our reservation to take advantage of a drink during happy hour at The Last Drop on the amazing patio. This, without a doubt, instantly became one of my favorite happy hours in the valley for the setting and the ambience alone. The happy hour includes $ 6 cocktails and $ 4 apps. The evening that we were there, we sipped amongst the cacti, fire pits, sounds of live jazz-​ical strums underneath a coppery desert sunset; how could a person NOT love this place? We did not have any apps as I was saving all my space for the dinner I was about to devour, but I’ll be back for happy hour drinks and apps one evening for that! My husband had a hand stirred mojito, made with mint from Lon’s own garden. Lon’s has its own on-​property garden of herbs, veggies and fruits and a majority of those are used in the cocktails and in the dishes prepared! The meats and seafoods are fresh and brought in mainly from the west coast. Not only do I love to support locally, but eating organic and as fresh, as possible, makes this even better !
Our reservation was ready right on time and we were shown to a beautiful table under neath the glow of white strung lights and next to the roaring fire place on the patio. Lon’s has a authentic southwest feel that is beyond measure and to me, the patio is a must when making a reservation; it simply was ambient and beautiful and truly added to the night in such an amazing way.
Our waiter was welcoming and went over every inch of the menu, which has parts that change weekly. We started with a charcuterie and cheese board that could have easily served four! There were three different cheeses; three meats; a few peppers; dried fruits, along with Arizona honeycomb! How local and unique from other charcuterie boards! This all came with various bread pieces and a jam dipper. See what I mean? It’s ample!
Dinner was the Rack of Lamb for my husband and the Pecan Grilled Filet Mignon for me. I added the splurge, worthy Foie Gras add on for $ 19; as the waiter assured me, it would be divine and he also assured me that if I wasn’t happy with it, he would take it off my bill. Sold! We did NOT need to order the Truffled Mac and Cheese to share, ha! BUT, we did. A Sommelier is on hand and when we were overwhelmed by the very extensive wine list that is a thick, multi-​wine-​type-​volumed book!, he was more than happy to suggest a great wine, allow a tasting or two to get us on the path of vino pairing greatness.
Our entire meal was perfect. The Foie Gras was melt-​in-​your-​mouth like butter perfection! The wine was perfect; the staff and again the utter beauty of Lon’s.
We didn’t want our night here to end and we shared a Citrus Crème Brûlée and had cappuccinos to finish out the night.
Lon’s is an experience, it’s not just a place for a meal or drinks. One time here and you will see how this was a setting for a movie and why it gets such amazing reviews.
I can’t wait to return for another special occasion and make a stay-​cation out of it by staying at The Inn at the Hermosa! For now I have the memory of one of my favorite nights out in this beautiful desert.

Lon’s at the Hermosa Inn
On a scale of 1 – 5 this was a 10!
We had the Chef’s Selection (5-​course pre fix menu $ 69) on our 1^st visit to Lon’s at the Hermosa with the 5 paired wines ($ 35) and it was nothing short of amazing. Flavored we’d never tasted began with a squash soup, followed by a squash & pasta course, scallop & risotto, 3 types of pork with grilled root vegetables, mango sorbet and pumpkin pie – all with accompanying 3-​ounce pours of select wines.
We have been in 30 counties, great hotels & cruise ships & never had a better meal— but that’s not all. The patio was beautiful with a clear sky, full moon, great music, heaters to chase away the chill, a roaring fireplace and great service.
We will be regulars at Lon… And if they can’t match that night — it’s ok. I can’t imagine a more amazing night! Thanks for the memory

Everything about this experience was amazing. The food, the service and the exceptional ambiance. Very special place and highly recommended.

Contrary to what one reviewer noted, Lon’s does fail, especially at this price point. We’ve had the pleasure of eating there on two other occasions when the service and culinary creations were spot on. The current rendition of Lon’s leaves much to be greatly desired. Nutshell, the food and service slightly better than a national chain restaurant. Yes, really.
When we arrived early, we told the hostess that we wanted to enjoy a couple cocktails outside on the patio before dinner. Unfortunately that did not happen due to the very slow bar service with only two bartenders handling the whole restaurant. One of the managers (which there appeared to be at least three roaming around) came by and asked about our drink order and said he will make sure it comes out expeditiously, but that didn’t happen either. The hostess kept asking if we were ready to go in, and the response was no, we would like to enjoy a couple cocktails before dinner, but were waiting patiently for them. You’d think for how much you pay at this establishment that this would be a reasonable request… goodness, a patron wants to spend money on drinks!
We finally succumbed to the hostess when she said that her manager requested we take our table inside now. Key to note here is that we did not want to sit outside on the patio, which was more in demand with the nice weather and live entertainment of a singer. No, we specifically requested inside, as the ambience is very pleasant. This encounter set the tone for the rest of the dinner, a folly if you will.
Once we got to our table inside, it was not a full. I found this interesting since there was such a «hurry» for us to get to our table. Our drinks arrived at the table, however my husband did not enjoy his, and no one asked how we liked them. What did happen is the waiter saw we had full drinks and started to pressure us into getting down to business by selecting wine and dinner.
Now remind you, this is supposed to be a higher end restaurant that supposedly prides itself on service. I made a comment to the waiter that we are not in a rush and would like to enjoy our cocktails first and get settled into our evening, the menus, and wine selection. Again, you’d think that this was a simple request, but not so. The waiter came to the table again, slightly rushed in demeanor, asking if we were ready. The response was no, and we are not in a hurry. He said that’s fine, as he has numerous other tables outside to handle. Wow, such an odd response. So not only is the bar short staffed, but now the wait staff, perhaps.
When we made it through our drinks, wine and dinner selections, we waited patiently for our waiter, as he traveled back and forth from the kitchen to the patio. He did even stop by our table, our menus were closed, and asked if he could take one of the empty cocktail glasses away, but never asked if we were ready to order! So odd and inefficient! We watched the other waiter tend to his tables with more interest and desire to please. We finally caught the waiter’s eye and ordered.
The pinnacle dinner folly was when the food arrived. They brought out the wrong meal for my husband. We immediately advised the person delivering our meal (which was not our waiter) that he ordered something else. The response by the deliverer was along the lines more negotiating if we would settle with what he brought, or would we rather wait for the correct dinner. My husband responded with he’d like what he ordered. Of course the waiter and one of the floating managers were notified, and the manager came over to apologize, and the waiter apologized and said something about his scribbled handwriting on the order.
So they took both plates back. I ordered salmon, so now either my salmon was going to be cold, or slightly over cooked under a warmer while they corrected my husbands. Most high end places would bring out completely fresh entrees for the patrons (at least that is my experience), but not the case. I got the same dish back and my husband got his seabass. Interestingly, when it was delivered, fairly quickly, the response was along the lines that someone else will be waiting a bit longer for their dinner.
The portions were minuscule, especially the seabass. It was not a good plate. My salmon was just ok. Honestly, the best highlight of the culinary creations were the little hushpuppy type rolls. We never got an explanation of what the breads were, just plopped down the bread tray and moved on.
We narrowed down our dining selections to either Lon’s or Durant’s, and wished we went to Durant’s. As others noted, Lon’s is not what it used to be, food is unremarkable and forgetful, and the service needs significant polishing (see review for The Henry/​Matthew the wonderful waiter). Obviously the owners and management are looking to make as much as they can off the dinner crowd and packing folks in. Go elsewhere for service and food.

We went to this restaurant because we were told it has a beautiful outside patio. We had a reservation but they would not sit us outside, even though there were a number of empty tables. The blond hostess was rather firm and rude, insisting there were no patio tables available. Rather they put us inside in an empty room with two other tables with guests. We speculate they needed to keep the inside waiter busy and could careless that we chose the restaurant because of the out door dinning.
The food was ok but would never go back because of the way we were treated!

MEN: READ MORE FOR AN EASY DATE IDEA! My boyfriend surprised me with a simple Happy Hour date night here the other night. He came home, pulled me away from my computer and insisted that we head straight to a surprise location. His goal was to watch the sunset but unfortunately their gorgeous patio was pretty secluded and we couldn’t really see it. However, I must say that it was still the most romantic date spot! It was literally a sanctuary. They had relaxing live music that started at 6 PM (you may want to call first to confirm if they will have it on the night that you decide to go), fire pits everywhere, candles, white lights strung throughout, $ 6 drink specials and $ 4 bar snacks with other delicious appetizers (Their chips, salsa, and guac were heavenly!). An appetizer trio that comes on a pretty dish was $ 15. Beyond the drinks and apps, this place is sure to send your significant other’s heart wild. When we left, I felt like I had just relaxed all day at the Spa!
Here are their daily specials!:

My wife and I simply adore this place. Nestled within a lonely road right off of Lincoln Drive, this place is a hidden gem.
We love the valet parking, the intimate outdoor setting, the views of the mountain and the open sky, and just the overall general atmosphere of the grounds of the Hermosa Inn.
And the food is simply delightful! We’ve only had dinner here, but look forward to having breakfast here one day in the fall /​winter.
We have tried the Halibut, the Salmon, the Chops, and have always been impressed not only with the flavor, but also with the presentation. Truly marvelous to behold, and appetizing as well.
When we visit, it’s just fun to sit and chat with my wife as we enjoy the serenity of the area, and the delicious food. And the service is par excellence!
We wholeheartedly recommend this place for special occasions, or a date with that special someone.
Of course, to this day, I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying those special evenings here with my wife, my pal, my best friend!

Some places never fail to deliver a dining experience. Lon’s is an all time favorite. Dinner begins with drinks on the patio. Appetizers include crab cake and calamari. The «hermosa salad» bridges to our perfectly prepared filets. The mixed green veggies were the best of our side trio including Mac and cheese then beets.
Desert was heaven. When in Phoenix this is a must for an upscale night out.

Excellent private dining experience. If you get dessert, go for the toffee pudding (Sooo great!). Menu was great and food was delicious. Atmosphere was even better. Service was lacking, hence the four and not five stars. Three problems:
1. I was part of a large group and I asked the server to change my order before he put in the ticket for the table. The server was openly aggravated at my request. I didn’t like that.
2. The duck/​gnocchi dish did not actually have any gnocchi in it. It came with roasted veggies instead so that was a surprise. Still delicious, but was not as advertised. We received no prior warning from the server that gnocchi was not part of the dish.
3. I ordered my fillet medium rare and it was served medium well. I didn’t touch it. The server had nothing to say about it.

Best outdoor patio in the springtime. It is oh so enjoyable to sit outside and have a drink and their daily appetizer. Gorgeous flowers, music, ambiance — they’ve got it down. Lon’s is also terrific indoors. The southwest décor and comfy homestead feel really put you at ease. Valet parking is free. There are terrific private room options for special occasions. I’ve had many of the appetizer options but also some wonderful lunches and dinners. Service is exceptional. This is a perfect spot for happy hour or a special meal.

How in the world have I not known about this place? Absolutely beautiful setting (out in the middle of nowhere). I only came here for the Happy Hour and I will definitely be back.
The patio is stunning and would be a great spot for brunch. We opted to stay inside and enjoy the great happy hour deal. They have amazing deals on wine, cocktails, beer as well as Taco night! the tacos are delicious and at $ 3. who can beat that!!! Elegant, classy, etc.