j&g steakhouse, my new favorite place!. so, a couple of blogs ago susie wrote that when she told me that she wanted to go to bourbon steak at the fairmont princess here in scottsdale, i rolled my eyes and said "does scottsdale really need another steakhouse" (it's true i did say and do that). however, my visit to j&g steakhouse at the phoenician changed my mind!
i was with two new and exciting friends that i met this year. we sat in the lounge, which if you have not seen it in person or on the website is unbelievable! rich leathers and checkerboard butcher-block polished tables. jackie and shelly are both foodies like us fans and enjoy culinary adventures as much as susie and i do.
lounge
lounge
now, let me just say, i would put my experience at j&g in my top 5 of restaurants, not just steakhouses, in arizona. here's why:
1. the place looks like your rich uncle's new york city loft. (not an onion blossom in sight.)
2. the service is beyond anything we traditionally get in arizona. alicia, our server, was really able to enhance the experience by ensuring that our every need and possible need was taken care of… all with grace and professionalism.
3. the presentation of the food, under the directional lighting, makes it look like its about to sing a solo on a darkened broadway stage. (think "memories" from cats)
4. and most importantly, the food. oh, the food. when i took a bite of the sweet and sour pork belly, i had one of those moments of pure and utter joy. similar to the first time i laid eyes on my first titanium powerbook a few years back. (i know..i dork out easily)
as you can see from the pictures, weordereda few appetizers to get a feel for the variety in the menu. one of my favorite things to do when trying out a new restaurant is to sit in the lounge (or at the bar), order a few appetizers, and get to know the bartenders. a good trick to becoming a "regular" at a restaurant in relatively few visits is to know the bar tenders. you walk in, sit down, they know your name and your drink of choice! (right now for me it's a st. germain, champagne and soda in a tall glass with ice and a lemon twist..great summer drink)
sweet and sour pork bellysweeet corn raviolicalamarituna_tartar
ok..back to the food. as i already squealed about, the pork belly was my favorite. i think anything that reminds me of bacon immediately shoots to the top of the list.
next on the list was a sweet corn ravioli with basil butter and cherry tomatoes. they were almost too cute to eat..almost. great blend of flavors and as you can see from the picture they were as good as they look.
the calamari came next, it was also delicious. light and crispy exterior served with a lemon dip. for sure, i will order that again.
the spicy tuna tartare with cucumber and black olives was an unexpected blend. next time, i think i will start with that one before i order anything else. the taste is very delicate but definitely something that will appeal to all tuna lovers.
the manager, michael shapiro, stopped by a few times to ensure that we had everything we needed. great guy, he just moved out from ny (why he would give up the restaurants out there, i will have to find out). he really understands the service standard that fine diners need here in arizona and is able to have his team execute it flawlessly.
i will definitely be back. they have an amazing menu and for the summer, they have a $35 summer prix-fixe menu. take a look at their website and when you do visit be sure to say "hello" to michael and tell him you read about the restaurant on foodies like us! click here to make a reservation!
bon appetit!
foodie jay