Durant's

[exit2lef]

Well, this is a BFD: Durant's has been sold to the Mastro family.

https://durantsaz.com/

That's probably for the best. Durant's is legendary but has been running on fumes for a while. I'm hoping the Mastros can revitalize it.

[Brownie Queen]

Yes. When i saw the sale, I was unsurprised but saddened, until i saw the Mastros bought it.

[Skillet Doux]

I am... not as enthused by the Mastros as most of Phoenix, but I actually think this might be the perfect match. If they can resist the urge to change up the menu too much and simply execute those Durant's classics well, that's all it would take to make that place a premiere destination.

That restaurant group has always been a step or two off the pace where high-end steakhouses are concerned. But for Durant's, I don't need them to knock my socks off with 90-day dry-aged beef and sides that are actually worth the price tag. In that room, I just need a decent piece of beef that's well-seasoned and properly cooked. If they do their usual thing, it'll be enough.

Shouldn't they be getting pretty close to reopening at this point? Anybody heard anything?

[JimBoyle]

Last I heard was an early December opening. I would think that should be achieveable, if we're to belive that not much of the dining room and bar would be touched.

And I agree, the place doesn't need the cutting edge tremds in the steakouse market (most of which are gimmicks in one way or another). Just do the classics really well and everything should be fine.

[exit2lef]

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

[exit2lef]

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

https://www.durantsaz.com/wp-content/up ... 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 trendy, including pricey wagyu beef. I wonder about the aspects of the meal that used to be complimentary at the old Durant's: the crudites and the bread with garlic butter. I wouldn't be surprised if they've vanished in a time of rising costs and everything a la carte.

[Skillet Doux]

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.

[exit2lef]

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 the changes will be entirely negative. To a certain extent, they're inevitable given the economics of the moment. I'll wait until after 12/17 to see what I think.

[BillBuitenhuys]

This is not the Golden Steer you're looking for. *purposeful hand wave*

[Skillet Doux]

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 phoning it in. But it's the shift in style that I think is a big mistake. How do you feel that's dictated by economics? Do you just mean that that's what they have to serve to attract customers in Phoenix, or is there something else at work?