Durant’s

Can anyone say, Goodfellas? We entered from the back and walked through the kitchen… same era, right? I think a lot of people feel this way walking through there. It’s funny and a cool experience. Anyhow, the place is inviting and on the older side, along with the décor, the lighting is dim and dark, but it all just adds to the charm. Don’t let it scare you. The staff is always friendly.
The food was excellent. I had steak, made to perfection, med-​rare, drinks were good too. I would definitely go back. It is a bit pricey but well worth it.

We ate here last Saturday and while the food was fantastic, the service was not. Especially considering the cost of everything, I expected a five star dining experience. Instead, we waited way too long to order apps and meals, for drinks, and had to remind our blond waitress that we needed water refills. She also didn’t take away the wine glasses from our cramped table after we told her we weren’t drinking wine. It was waitressing 101 stuff that she missed. She gave us attitude when we reminded her of a drink order and said she’d get it when she went back there… As she proceeded to another table. She just was not friendly.
Now that I got that out of the way, the food was great! There were 4 of us and we ordered 2 steaks, seafood sampler and crab cakes. Everyone was happy with their food. We had the artichoke dip and crab Mac n cheese for appetizers and they were both delicious, highly recommend ordering them both.

Best Prime Rib in Phoenix! Durant’s isn’t just skating by on gimmickry and past laurels. Their reputation is well deserved. The serving staff is well trained and courteous. The prime rib uses a very good cut of meat, flavorful with just enough fat. The interior of the restaurant and the food presentation is definitely old fashioned. This is not a calorie conscious purveyor who uses trendy ingredients. They use good cuts of meat and identifiable cruciferous vegetables as sides. As a first time diner, my server informed me that she would be bringing me a complementary dessert. I tried to wave her off since I was so full. She brought over Durant’s full serving of its signature Strawberry Shortcake. This is a huge dessert that is more than enough for two. Despite being full, my dining party polished it off. It’s that good. Don’t forget to try their Lemon Drop Martini with your meal.

I haven’t been to Durant’s in such a long time. It’s same old same old. Nothing has changed. You walk through the kitchen to get to the dining room and the host stand is there to greet you. Oh yea don’t forget to make a reservation. Dim lighting and red velvet on the walls. Man did I miss this place.
We started off with fried calamari and I would have to say that it was okay. Nice and flaky but it was good. I’ve had better. They also brought out bread with a basil and onion on top. The bread was so good. Really good but I had to control myself for my entrée.
April S was telling me to get the prime rib cause it was so good and actually the best. I was planning on ordering prime rib but our server said that ribeye and filet was the most popular and I really can’t resist a good ribeye. I got the 18oz ribeye (sorry April) and it was cooked just perfectly. Nice, juicy and fresh. Boy was that good and I gobbled it all up. Topped that with a baked potato and I’m totally stuffed.
My wife ordered the Salmon with a mango ginger glaze. She really liked it a lot. I didn’t get a bite cause I was so fully but everyone who tried it really enjoyed it.
My son got the 12oz filet Mignon with garlic mash. He really liked it and finished it off.
So after dinner everyone had dessert. Let’s see. They had Key Lime pie, strawberry spumoni, and Cream Brulé tray. They all looked really good and no one was complaining. I just got a cappuccino and that was just outstanding. Just hit the spot after such a big meal.
The service was just outstanding too. Our server was very friendly and really took care of us. Always watching over us. Our drink cups were always filled and our dirty dishes were taken away in a timely manner.
Only complaint is that the restrooms were so tiny. Trying to fit a few people in those bathrooms can be very trying. Just interesting.
So overall we had a really great time. Great food. Excellent service and a nice ambiance. So what else could you ask for. Enjoy.

It doesn’t get any better than this fellow steak lovers!
DURANT’S continues their tradition of PERFECTION. We arrived at 6:15pm — 15 minutes earlier than our 6:30pm reservation. We were greeted warmly and seated immediately. I love the cool vibe which totally takes you back to some of the classic New York City steak houses.
Here’s what we ordered: 8oz. Filet cooked to perfection «black & blue» which is the only way to enjoy a juicy steak. Prime rib, and 2 orders of the 14 oz. NY strip. We ate every delicious morsel. I don’t want to forget the outstanding Italian wedding soup, which was a heavenly marriage of meatballs and spinach in a flavorful broth. I sopped up every single drop of the broth with the crusty hot bread they brought to the table.
For dessert we all shared an apple cobbler with vanilla ice cream.
Everything from start to finish was pure perfection. Our expert server, David Hooley, deserves a shout out for everything he did to make our evening special in every way. I can’t say enough about this place. Sure it’s expensive. But as the saying goes: quality remains long after price is forgotten. I’d eat here every week if they were in my neck of the woods, but it’s a two hour round trip adventure so we’ll just keep it as our occasional treat when we’re craving the BEST BEEF IN ARIZONA!

This is a great place to eat, although it is VERY busy. Made reservations for a Saturday night and arrived 30 minutes early. There was no way they could seat us early. As my guests don’t drink, the bar was not an option. So we sat. And sat. And sat.
The food and service was excellent. I would highly recommend anything at this restaurant as my guests were very satisfied. It’s an old style classy high end steakhouse. This will impact on your wallet, but would may find it worth it.

I love Durant’s, I’ve been going there since I moved to the Valley 11 years ago. My husband and I love sitting at the bar and enjoying the ambiance, the great cocktails and food. I knew about the famous dessert chip, but I never tried to get one. Every time we have guests from out of town, we love to take them there and guide them in through the kitchen. It is always a hoot to see their face. We went for our big dinner this past October and I had as usual my lemon drop martini and my husband had his margarita. We started with the shrimp cocktail, it is really delicious, the shrimp are huge and the cocktail sauce has a lot of horseradish. We decided to split the larger fillet and have it with the mash potatoes and some steamed asparagus. The fillet was delicious, super tender and flavorful. The mashed potatoes were creamy and garlicky. For dessert we had the strawberry shortcake, it was good, but not my favorite. I like their crème brûlée much better, but I wanted to try this one. I got my chip! I just need to remember where I put it, haha.

Yes, the food here — especially the steaks — is fantastic but what really sets Durant’s apart is the amazing service. Earlier this week, my wife and I wanted to go someplace special for an early anniversary dinner. While we were thinking of restaurants to visit, she tossed out Durant’s and the suggestion elicited a pretty instant «YES!» from me.
Durant’s as you know, is classic old school Phoenix. Everyone from political big wigs to mobsters making time in the valley between New York, Jersey, California, Vegas, and prison made the Central Phoenix steakhouse the place to be. They still serve one of the best martinis that you’ll find around. That and some quality time in their lounge should appeal to most people, at least as a one time thing.
In any case, my wife and I managed to slip in without a reservation; it was a Monday night so we weren’t that worried. We both ordered the the 12 ounce top sirloin steak, which was perfection as expected.
Our server, Kevin, was the best. His easygoing friendliness was pretty great and he made us feel like rock stars. While Durant’s has great desserts, Kevin was the cherry on top.

Durants is one of the few places that never, ever, ever lets me down.
Enter via the kitchen to receive a warm welcome from the talented individuals who will soon be preparing your meal.
Invest in the «Fat Man Special» at lunch, to split of course. Look around, and be totally amazed by the sheer number of people having a martini at 11:30am on a Tuesday. Then join them.
Your dinner will be flawless, your steak prepared more your way than you ever thought it could be.
Should you sit at the bar, make friends with your bartender. At Durants, they have forgotten more about alcohol than you will ever learn. Further, should you be lucky enough, you may just be issued a token. It’s unlikely this will happen, but if you do, it’s yours to keep, and it will ensure you receive delicious free desert for life.
Frankly, if you can’t tell, I love Durant’s. It has a special place in my heart. My first visit here was for lunch, company treat. Then I went back for dinner, then again, and again. There’s an ambiance that’s almost mythical — Durant’s has been around for 60+ years, and you know where it has its roots as soon as you walk inside. But even though the décor makes an «old Phoenix» statement, nothing feels dated. It just feels… awesome.
If you’re in the market for one of the best steaks of your life, one of the best meals of your life, one of the best dates of your life, or all of the above, give Durant’s a try. You won’t regret it.

Old school steak house! Mix of young & old. Some good steak & martini!!! Excellent service from Matt!

If I ever get to choose what I want for my last meal on earth, I’ll say «the prime rib and strawberry short cake at Durant». Oh yes Unilocalers… it was that good.
When we first arrived, we walked through the kitchen to get to the receptionist. We all thought we must have gone thru the wrong entrance. No… they later explained that they want their guests to see the people who cook our food (what a great idea). Kitchen isn’t big but it is definitely clean and organized. I was very impressed. The restaurant is very dark in the inside, but its bright enough for you to see all the historic photos hanging on the wall right next to you or from a distance. From what I was told, this restaurant has been opened since 1960’s. The elegant old school decoration is definitely appreciated. As we looked around, we’ve noticed that we were the youngest people on the table. Most guests are at least 40’s and up. Perhaps most youngsters prefer fast food over dining at a elegant restaurant such as this. Or maybe because their food is relatively expensive lol. I’ve found that very interesting.
Shortly after we were seated, waiter, Patrick, came over to introduce himself. He knows the menu extremely well and told us about their specialty and their best items on the menu. The manager, Chris, came over and introduced himself multiple times. He was making lots of small talk with us to make us feel very welcome. The service here is definitely outstanding. The complimentary bread was covered with delicious sauce. The only reason I didn’t finish it was because I was saving room for a steak. I ordered a 12oz slow roasted prime rib for my entrée. It was so juicy and delicious. It was so tender that I could tear it off without cutting it with a knife. My friend ordered a rib eye and it was equally delicious. As for dessert, we all shared a strawberry short cake. That was my first time having it BTW… it has just the right amount of sweet and the strawberry wasn’t too over powering. Every bite makes me feel like angels were dancing in my mouth. Oh yes it was that good.
We all left this restaurant happy and satisfied. If I could, I will come here everyday. If you are a meat lover and enjoy fine dining… you won’t find another place better than this. 5 star all the way

Had a lovely evening with friends at Durant’s. When you enter you go through the kitchen and all the kitchen staff greet you warmly.
The interior is as other Unilocalers note, a nod to the rat pack era, with dark accents, tufted back couches, and lush red wallpaper. It has a very unique feel that you don’t really see in Arizona, where most businesses are so new that everything looks more modern.
When we were seated we were served a chilled crudite platter and bread with a flavorful leek-​garlic mixture. After browsing through the menu I went for the 12 oz prime rib (~$ 38) and I also tried some of the rib eye. The prime rib is some of the best that I can remembering eating. It was so tender, flavorful, and juicy. Cutting through the meat was like cutting through butter it was that tender. The ribeye was cooked to perfection and very flavorful.
We ended our meal with a divine strawberry shortcake. It was the perfect amount of sweetness, creaminess, fruity flavor, and definitely a big plate so it was good that 4 of us were sharing it!
Service was impeccable as drinks were refilled constantly, our server was warm, friendly, and very knowledgeable about the menu, and a manager even stopped by to chat with us.
If you ever want to indulge in a perfect steak, this is the place to be.

Sometimes, when something is considered amazing by everyone I feel less inclined to try because I feel that my expectations will be too high.
This is surely not the case with Durant’s, but I’m guessing you probably already knew that. I can’t believe how late I am to jump on the praise train!
I took a handsome fella here the other night to celebrate his birthday and we had a superb time. Our server Angela was on top of her game; very knowledgeable about the menu and gave great unobtrusive service.
We started with the oysters Rockefeller (my half sans bacon, thanks for being accommodating!) and they were killer! Each of our entrees came with soup or salad (we each got salads which were pretty standard), then for our main course I ordered the 8oz fillet and he the 12oz. They were cooked to medium rare perfection and seasoned just right. The dinner was great, but unfortunately we were too stuffed to try dessert. I know, I’m surprised too…
Next time, I might skip the appetizer to save room for some dessert!

As a Phoenix native, I’ve been eating at Durant’s for ages; therefore, this rating reflects my overall dining experience versus a specific visit.
Simply put — Durant’s has the best ambience of any steakhouse in the Valley, from its deep booths (perfect for date nights) and red velvet wallpaper to its kitchen entrance and Rat Pack swagger. It also has the best food on a consistent basis: I’ve never gone wrong with a classic martini, medium-​rare prime rib, and any chilled seafood choice.
Reservations are recommended, as is eating at off-​peak hours or on Sunday nights, as the bar and restaurant can get crowded /​loud. But no matter when you visit, you’ll see people of all ages in all levels of dressy/​strange/​casual/​business attire — and you’ll enjoy your experience. [It’s much better than Mastro’s or other chain-​steak-​places.]

As their reputation suggests… PERFECTION! The steak, shrimp, scallops and bone in ribeye were prepared and presented in a manner to only dreamed about. Old time décor with wood and red velvet adorn the walls. Red leather buttoned booths finish the ambiance. If you want the best and don’t care about money, this is the place.

Love the ambiance
You walk in through the kitchen for a true steakhouse dining experience which is awesome and one of a kind! The food is to die for from the steaks to the catfish! Love it so much. Definitely a staple for Arizona.

There are few restaurants that can manage to live up to the hype built by obsessive fans. Durant’s is one of the lucky few that more than meets all expectations.
Everything was delicious. Service was fantastic. The furnishings are well kept and classic. I love that red wallpaper — I just want to touch it! I loved how the ladies’ bathroom still has a payphone in there with a couch. The whole place gives off this amazing reminder of an era of class that is long gone otherwise.
We had the shrimp cocktail for an appetizer. It has a huge clump of strong horseradish, so there’s your fair warning. Anyway, our entrees came and our steaks were absolutely cooked to perfection. The husband usually inhales his food before I can blink, but this is the one meal he happily savored. Somehow, we saved room for the strawberry shortcake and I think I died a little. Bye-​bye, diet! And I wasn’t sad about it.
I recommend you save this place in your back pocket for a nice dinner when you want to look like a baller. Unlike husband who suggests coming here every single day for dinner to eat the porterhouse for free with an end goal of spelling out a whole sentence on one of their plaques. More likely is that we’ll be back just to chill at the bar with one of their flawless gin martinis or a glass of scotch and take in the ambiance. And I can’t wait.

First, I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of you who recommended this place to me.
I took my boyfriend here for his birthday dinner.
He was absolutely stoked!
It all started with the entrance through the kitchen (Goodfellas style)!This was one of his favorite parts as he loves the movie.
Then, we were greater by a friendly hosts who escorted us to our table. Our server showed up shortly after and the party has started.
For start, they bring you this amazing bread roll, soaked in olive oil and topped with mixture of leaks and few other greens. Then complimentary plate of raw vegetables served on bed of ice. Amazing!
We started of with some cocktails and deep fried chicken liver for appetizer, which was delicious. For the main course, we both ordered 8 oz. Filet Mignon that was served with super fluffy and delicious mashed potatoes. Easy 10 stars for the main course. The Filet was cooked to perfection and was melting in my mouth like butter.
The dessert was complementary on the house for a birthday boy! We choose to share Crème Brûlée Trio for which, I easily give 5 stars.
The atmosphere was super nice. It made us feel like we were somewhere in New York. The story about the restaurant was super cool and our server was kind enough to share it.
Expect great food, atmosphere, service but also expect to pay $$$$ for it. For special occasions, absolutely worth every pennie!

Beautiful décor. Definitely an old-​school vibe; felt like I was in an episode of Mad Men!
I got a few gin and tonics — very heavy on the pour (which I loved, of course).
The steaks were perfectly prepared. We got a bunch of appetizers; my favorites included the au gratin potatoes, broccolini, shrimp cocktail, and kobe sliders. We also got an order of the oysters, which smelled rotten… we sent it back to the kitchen and they apologized and knocked it off our bill. Minus a star for that.

My Dearest Durant’s, I have long neglected a review of you because I would hate to do you any injustice. We have wined and dined, drank and desserted, celebrated, and commiserated. I have slurped your oysters, sopped up your white wine mussels with your delicious bread, navigated my way through an entire Del Monaco many a time, and indulged in all of your decadent desserts. I know you roll out the red carpet for everyone and allow them to walk through your glorious kitchen with the charming hellos, but I like to pretend it is all for me just as when it was a hush speak-​easy!
I am a member of the Porterhouse Club, yes I ate the whole thing with plenty of witnesses. Based on this I can proudly say Durant’s steak is delicious, otherwise I never would have made it into the infamous club. My favorite is the Durant’s Del Monaco, a lovely bone-​in NY strip cooked perfectly to your desires.
All dishes come accompanied with fresh bread drenched in olive oil and leeks, as well as a dish of fresh ‘iced’ veggies (old-​school style). Their Cesar Salad has a delicious anchovy dressing. The asparagus comes out nicely cooked with a little bit of crunch. Sometimes, if inspired, I get the mushrooms along with my steak and I have never been disappointed.
I have brought friends here for happy hour, partied for special occasions, caught up with relatives, been on romantic dates, and simply just showed up to indulge on steak. Durant’s never disappoints.
The dessert menu is impressive all alone… if you want a treat get the strawberry shortcake for two with extra chocolate curls. Honestly it serves 4; I am not exaggerating, just look at my photos!
And let us not forget the cocktails. Some of these bartenders have been here for decades and they have been for a reason. Durant’s was once a speakeasy and the cocktails have not lost their stiffness. I recommend a dry gin martini with a twist or a manhattan, but if I am feeling fancy a clover club does the trick.
And then there is happy hour… honestly it is amazing this fancy restaurant has happy hour. It is only served at the bar and they have a limited menu that is reasonably priced. The sliders are decent, but my go-​to is the mussels in white wine garlic sauce. They same dish on the regular menu is over $ 20, and it is around $ 8 during HH, and it is HUGE.
The interior is red, like royal red everything, soft velvety wallpaper with private booths. It feels, looks and smells like a steakhouse should. And folks don’t think you will be talking on your cellphone here, that is what the phone booth is for! Just one more reason Durant’s is fabulous.