Whitwell K.
Yelp
I was in Phoenix for a conference and I asked a local friend, "if you were only going to be in Phoenix for only one night in your life, where would you have dinner?", and her response was one word, "Hush".
At first I thought she was telling me to shut up, but I went to Hush's website and booked reservations, which was much easier than some other platforms I've seen on other restaurant websites. So good website/reservation experience.
When the Uber dropped us off, I was a little taken aback, because it is in an upscale strip mall, and much smaller than I assumed. Now I know why reservations are required, and why larger groups would've been difficult to accommodate. It is not a big place.
The experience from the start was excellent and cozy. The table wasn't ready, so we sat at the bar on the nicest barstools I can remember. Very comfortable. Everyone from hostess to waitresses to bartender to manager was very friendly and professional.
Starting cocktails - dirty martini, gimlet - were very well executed. Once seated at our table, we started with the steak fries and the grilled oysters, both excellent.
For dinner, we decided we wanted to try the two most popular entrees - Italian Beef and the Duck Fried Rice - so we got a double order of each and extra plates, so everyone got a half order of each. I'm a little embarrassed at how quickly we inhaled them, it was a tad indecent, but they were both so good we couldn't help ourselves.
The Italian Beef plate is an homage to the Chicago sandwich, and it is probably the best thing I've eaten this year. The presentation reminds me of something I might get at a Southern diner, very comfort food feel, every component was well executed and the finished combination was perfect. The oxtail gravy was so good, I wish they sold it in jars.
I've spent a lot of time (years) in Asia and eaten lots of fried rice in my life, and the Duck Fried Rice did not disappoint. I especially loved how crispy the rice on the bottom was, and the duck confit was well seasoned and very tender.
The service was excellent, the staff were attentive and funny. I won't repeat some of the jokes, because I'm sure they get recycled for every new guest, but they were good enough that I'm stealing them!
This was a wonderful choice to spend our only free evening in Phoenix and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Hush Public House is a really special place.