Wook Chung
Google
Once in a blue moon do I give a restaurant 5 stars in all categories. And at 4.4 rating on Google, I can confidently tell you Bourbon Steak is underrated. Yes, you heard that right. Underrated. Bourbon Steak is what I consider the "workhorse" premium steak house that can be visited often without having to feel awkward, out of place, or artificially frothy, while being able to enjoy some of the best, well balanced, thoughtfully prepared food in Arizona.
The atmosphere is a mix of modern and contemporary layout, but with class and style. This isn't far from your RH Modern catalogue but again absolutely practical. High ceilings. Large windows. Perfect lighting for a date night or business meal. Yet, not too quiet to make you want to whisper. It's not overdone. It's not pretentious. Love the small passage into the restaurant welcome desk from the Fairmont lobby.
Now let's talk about the food. The menu doesn't scream "let me be special and different". This isn't your modern fusion steak house. It's calm. It's composed. And it timeless classics are formulated to perfection, yet with its uniqe pizzazz and character.
The tuna tartare was sublime. Perfectly marinated and oiled. The egg yolk balanced and mixed well on the spot. And there's this micro spice kick that just balances the typical "greasiness" that rich tuna taratre may give off after the third bite. Just with this classic, we knew that the chef was world class. Hamachi crudo was also well balanced. The cucumber bed provides the necessary crunch to hold the slippery crudo in your mouth. And the sauce bonds the ingredients together.
Now to the steak - we had the American Wagyu 10oz cut. I do not believe it is possible to cook a better steak. It was perfect. Perfect seasoning. Perfect crust. Perfect medium rare inside. Perfect cut. I have no other word to describe it. And the lobster pot pie... quite good and put on a show literally but I think it was a tad bit bland and wish there was more of the crust to eat the lobster with.
The dessert. Yes, the beignets were awesome. Some of the cushiest ever. And yes the creme brulee was meaningful. But if you are at the Bourbon, you MUST, and this is a MUST try the "banana foster". I have had hundreds of banana fosters in my life and have never come across a concoction as such. The caramelized banands are thinly sliced and put together on the externals of a some type of soft bread or creme with the ice cream balanced on top. Not only does this look phenomenal but the chef nails the balance of ice cream, banana, the internals, and the sauce. This one dessert was it. I had already made up my mind with the last spoon that this review shall be 5 stars.
And to put the perfection together and wrap it in a bow, was our server DJ (Devon Jones). His hospitality, friendliness, and effort to truly guide us through the night was on another level. The best service is a someone who genuinely cares about you. And Devon deeply cared about our experience and that shone throughout the evening. Thank you.
I do not live in Scottsdale or Arizona. But I'll be grabbing a meal here each time I visit the city. Fairmont Princess has a jewel and we found it tonight.