"Make no mistake: Chef and owner Vincent Guerithault — Phoenix’s first celebrity chef — is French through and through, but he is also the granddaddy of Southwestern Cuisine in Phoenix, famous for his raisin-studded duck tamales, smoked salmon quesadillas, and lobster chimichangas stuffed with goat cheese and basil-leek pesto. He opened Vincent’s to universal acclaim in 1986, and after the fervor for southwestern cuisine waned, he settled into a classic French menu peppered with a handful of signature Southwestern dishes. Expect rich, satisfying classics such as beef tenderloin with green peppercorn sauce and duck confit with pommes Lyonnaise. The setting is old school yet gracious, a maze of cozy rooms filled with ornately framed art. Meanwhile the broad and deep wine list has been honored by Wine Spectator. Vincent’s Market Bistro, situated behind the main restaurant, is perfect for a less formal, less expensive French meal. Regulars frequently pop in for takeout beef Wellington, beef Bourguignon, or duck a l’orange." - Nikki Buchanan