This Historic Arizona Restaurant Serves The Best Prime Rib In The Southwest
I’ll be honest-I didn’t believe in “once-in-a-lifetime” meals until I walked into Durant’s Steakhouse on a chilly Phoenix evening, the kind where Central Avenue still hums with city life but you just know you’re about to eat something sacred.
The host greeted me like an old friend (even though we’d never met), and then… the prime rib.
Oh, the prime rib. Sliced tableside with the quiet confidence of a chef who’s seen generations fall in love with this very moment.
This is a full-blown Arizona institution, serving up buttery, slow-roasted perfection since 1950. And after one bite?
I’m ready to swear allegiance to the au jus. Walking through its kitchen entrance and into those famous red leather booths feels like stepping back in time, and trust me, you’re going to want to make this journey.
Prime Rib That Sets The Standard
People drive from all over the Southwest just to taste Durant’s legendary prime rib, and honestly, it’s worth every mile. The cut arrives at your table on a sizzling 500-degree plate, creating that satisfying sputter and hiss that tells you something special is about to happen.
Cooked to absolute perfection with a beautiful salt crust on the outside and tender pink perfection inside, this prime rib doesn’t need fancy sauces or extra seasonings.
The smallest portion weighs in at 16 ounces, which might sound intimidating until you take that first bite and realize you could probably eat twice that amount.
Each slice melts on your tongue like butter, rich with natural beef flavor that reminds you why prime rib became a steakhouse classic in the first place.
The meat quality speaks for itself, sourced from premium Midwest-grown beef that’s been wet-aged to enhance tenderness.
What really makes Durant’s prime rib stand out is the attention to detail in preparation and presentation. The kitchen team has perfected their technique over decades, creating a consistent experience that keeps people coming back year after year.
Whether you order the 16-ounce or splurge on the massive 22-ounce cut, you’re getting what many consider the finest prime rib in the entire Southwest region.
Walking Through The Kitchen Entrance
Most restaurants hide their kitchens behind closed doors, but Durant’s flips that script entirely by making you walk right through the heart of their culinary operation.
Guests enter through the bustling kitchen where chefs are working their magic, creating an immediate connection to the food you’re about to enjoy. The staff greets you warmly as you pass through, making you feel like an insider from the very first step.
This quirky entrance tradition dates back to the restaurant’s earliest days and has become one of its most beloved features.
My cousin visited from Seattle last spring and couldn’t stop talking about how cool it felt to see the action up close before even reaching our table.
The kitchen gleams with professional equipment and the aromatic symphony of searing steaks and sizzling sides fills the air around you.
Even after the recent renovation by the new ownership, this distinctive entrance experience remains completely intact. It sets the tone for your entire evening, signaling that Durant’s does things differently and isn’t afraid to break conventional restaurant rules.
The kitchen walk-through serves as a theatrical prelude to your meal, building anticipation and giving you a behind-the-scenes peek that most diners never get to experience at typical establishments.
Red Leather Booths And Vintage Atmosphere
Sliding into one of Durant’s iconic red leather booths feels like joining an exclusive club that’s been meeting secretly since the Eisenhower administration.
The deep crimson banquettes have been thoughtfully preserved and restored, maintaining that classic supper club vibe that transports you straight to the golden age of dining.
Dim lighting casts a warm glow over the rich wood paneling, creating intimate pockets of conversation throughout the dining room.
The recent renovation respected every detail that made Durant’s special while adding subtle improvements for modern comfort.
Dark wood walls absorb sound beautifully, so you can actually have a conversation without shouting over neighboring tables, which is refreshingly rare these days. Some original flocked wallpaper has been preserved and framed as artistic tributes to the restaurant’s storied past.
Every surface and texture in this space whispers stories of decades worth of celebrations, business deals, and romantic evenings.
The vintage telephone booth still stands as a nostalgic reminder of pre-smartphone days, and even the original bathroom signage got preserved because those kinds of authentic touches matter.
This isn’t some theme restaurant trying to fake old-school charm, Durant’s earned its vintage credentials through 75 years of continuous service to Phoenix diners seeking something genuinely special.
Corn Creme Brulee Side Dish
Forget everything you think you know about corn as a side dish because Durant’s corn creme brulee will completely rewrite your expectations.
This signature creation combines sweet corn with cream and then gets topped with a caramelized sugar crust that crackles under your spoon.
The contrast between the savory corn base and that crispy sweet topping creates a flavor explosion that seems almost too creative for a traditional steakhouse.
At 21 dollars it’s definitely a splurge for a side dish, but one taste explains why people order it every single visit without hesitation. The kitchen torches each serving to order, ensuring that satisfying crack when you break through the golden surface.
Rich, creamy, sweet, and savory all dance together in perfect harmony, making this side dish memorable enough to rival your main course.
I’ve never encountered this particular preparation anywhere else, making it a true Durant’s exclusive that you simply can’t replicate at home or find at competing steakhouses.
The portion size is generous enough to share, though you might find yourself reluctant to pass the dish around once you’ve had your first spoonful.
This isn’t your grandmother’s creamed corn, it’s an elevated culinary experience that shows how classic ingredients can be transformed into something extraordinary with skill and creativity.
Strawberry Shortcake Dessert Tradition
Ending your meal without ordering the strawberry shortcake would be like visiting the Grand Canyon and only looking at postcards in the gift shop. This dessert has been a Durant’s signature since the early days, and the new ownership wisely kept it on the menu as an edible tribute to tradition.
Fresh strawberries get piled high on tender cake layers with clouds of real whipped cream that make store-bought versions seem like sad imitations.
The presentation alone makes you reach for your phone to snap a photo, but the taste is what creates lasting memories.
Each component is made from scratch in-house, from the moist cake base to the macerated berries that release their natural juices. The whipped cream gets sweetened just enough to complement without overwhelming the fruit’s brightness.
Long-time Durant’s fans specifically requested that this dessert survive the restaurant’s transformation, and their wishes were granted because some things are simply too perfect to mess with.
My aunt still talks about having this exact dessert on her wedding anniversary dinner back in 1987, and she swears it tastes just as wonderful today.
Sharing one between two people works perfectly if you’re already full from dinner, but ordering your own shows real commitment to the complete Durant’s experience from appetizer through that final sweet bite.
Service That Feels Like Family
Walking into Durant’s means getting treated like someone’s favorite dinner guest rather than just another reservation number. The service team has clearly received extensive training, but what shines through is genuine warmth that can’t be faked or scripted.
Your water glass never sits empty, crumbs get swept away between courses, and the staff checks in with perfect timing that feels attentive without hovering.
The managers circulate through the dining room, stopping at tables to ensure everything meets expectations and addressing any concerns before you even need to ask.
Hot towel service arrives before and after your meal, a classy touch that elevates the entire experience.
The entire team from doormen to servers to kitchen staff works together like a well-rehearsed orchestra, each person playing their part to create seamless hospitality.
This level of coordinated service excellence doesn’t happen by accident, it requires commitment from ownership down through every employee who understands they’re preserving something special for Phoenix.
Thoughtful Renovation By Steak 44 Owners
When the Mastro family purchased Durant’s, longtime fans held their breath wondering if this beloved institution would lose its soul in the transition. Those fears proved completely unfounded as the new owners approached the renovation with respect and reverence for what made Durant’s iconic.
The team behind Steak 44 and Ocean 44 brought their expertise in elevated dining while preserving every detail that mattered to generations of loyal customers.
Fresh polish and improved functionality enhance the experience without erasing the restaurant’s authentic character and historic significance.
The kitchen got upgraded with modern equipment that helps chefs work more efficiently while maintaining the same quality standards.
Dining room updates focused on comfort improvements like better acoustics and refined lighting that makes everyone look great in photos.
Last November I worried that my favorite Phoenix steakhouse would become unrecognizable, but walking in post-renovation felt like reuniting with an old friend who got a really good haircut.
The renovation struck that difficult balance between honoring tradition and embracing thoughtful modernization.
Everything that made Durant’s special survived intact, from the kitchen entrance to the red booths to signature menu items, while subtle enhancements elevated the overall experience to match contemporary fine dining expectations without sacrificing vintage charm.
Phoenix Landmark Since 1950
Durant’s has been serving Phoenix for 75 years, which means it’s been around longer than many of the city’s most famous landmarks and attractions.
Opening in 1950, this steakhouse witnessed Phoenix transform from a modest desert town into the sprawling metropolis it is today.
The restaurant became a gathering place for politicians, celebrities, business leaders, and regular folks celebrating life’s special moments over perfectly cooked steaks.
Generations of Arizona families have marked their milestones within these walls, from first dates to wedding anniversaries to 90th birthday celebrations.
The restaurant survived changing food trends, economic ups and downs, and shifting neighborhood dynamics by staying true to its core mission of serving exceptional food with impeccable hospitality.
That kind of longevity doesn’t happen without earning deep loyalty from the community it serves.
Being Arizona’s longest continuously operating fine dining establishment carries weight and responsibility that the current ownership clearly takes seriously.
The recent temporary closure for renovation caused genuine sadness throughout Phoenix because Durant’s had become woven into the city’s cultural fabric. Its reopening sparked citywide celebration as people rushed to reconnect with this beloved institution.
Durant’s isn’t just a restaurant, it’s a living piece of Phoenix history where the past and present share space on every plate.