Five-Diamond Restaurant Closes Down In Arizona
The lack of interest in fine dining has doomed the fancy fare in Tucson. The Arizona Daily Star reports that Tucson's only five-diamond restaurant, the upscale Ventana Room at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, has closed. The restaurant had closed for the summer as it usually does but now won't reopen. The resort's public relations director said that people prefer the gourmet comfort food to dress-up dining. The elegant restaurant was on the top floor of the hotel. Earlier this year prices were reduced and the requirement that gentlemen wear coats was dropped but it was not enough to stop diners from migrating to the more casual dining experiences available at the resort.
The Ventana Room served entrees including seared New England diver scallops with salsify and artichoke barigoule, Alaskan black cod with caramelized green apple, parsnip puree and currant balsamic reduction and Australian Wagyu beef tenderloin with Tohono O'odham white tepary beans and pomegranate port reduction. The Ventana room space will be converted to high-end meeting and banquet space for parties and special events. There is now only one five-diamond restaurant open in Arizona, Kai, at the Wild Horse Pass in Chandler, Arizona.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Haywood Matthews Sep 5th 2009 4:56AM
Looks like the menu blew.
People today want real food, not scraps thrown on a plate and called "fine dining".
Dennis Craven Sep 9th 2009 6:16AM
Ditto.
S. D. Humphries Sep 9th 2009 6:33AM
Atmosphere good, food silly.
Jim Kucaba Sep 9th 2009 6:58AM
This is the "wild west" and we don't need no stinkin five diamond restaraunts in AriZOOna !
jm Sep 9th 2009 8:33AM
Dear Jim,
I know that you have a Snatort with a lexicon of at least a dozen profane words he uses often in the Senate, and even at his wife in front of the press. Well, if you all think he is worth re-election, and could even consider him for the Presidency (can you imagine him at State visits to countries that would be so horribly offended by such speach, even in the Senate he has such a reputation for his profanity) ok, then I guess you all are not sophisticated enough for 5 diamond restaurants, and sure don't need any "stinking" distiction for those who can afford it.
Me, I was a teacher of the emotionally disturbed/mentally ill with an MA in Special Education, awarded the distinction by the National Council of Exceptional Children of Professionally Recognized Special Educator, until I was laid off due to the budget cuts in Education by our Republican Governor Charlie Christ so severe that in our county alone 3,200 teachers were laid off in two years. However little education esteemed education is in our state, our rich, retired residents who keep voting for Republicans that have little appreciation for education, we do not consider that we need to associate ourselves with illiterate, unsophiticated population. I am sure that there are many residents of your state who are ashamed of your statement, assuming that there aren't any of your population who are accustomed to luxury and sophistication and can afford it. Naturally, even when I was employed as a teacher, I could not afford it for myself, but I would not want my state to be considered so unsophiticated complete that it was good there were not 5 diamond restaurants for those who could afford and appreciate that luxury. And, coming from a state that survives of hospitality, where many of the jobs our population depend upon, those 5 diamond restaurants provide hefty tips for the wait and service people at these landmarks, and that's a good thing for our state's population.
So perhaps you need to rethink your thoughts about those "stinking 5 diamond" restaurants. You really speak poorly for your state, and you already have McCain to excuse for his behavior, you really don't need to add to that image of illiterate, unbehaved citizens who promote his behavior in the political arenas. Rethink your brief but sharp statements about your state's population, don't speak for all, even those who don't make much don't feel such anger against the successful that they would wish to delete what luxury they can afford, and what tips and economy they afford those who work at these establishments.
tc Sep 9th 2009 8:48AM
JM;
I thank my God in heaven for taking you out of the education system!
It's teachers, politicians and sheeple like you who have almost ruined our once great nation. I just hope and pray that God in HIS wisdom will continue to REMOVE people like you from postions of power and authority.
Kent Sep 9th 2009 10:59AM
The West is no longer wild. Every major city needs a 5-star restaurant. When the fat cats from Wall Street have a meeting or are vacationing in Arizona, do you think they want to eat dinner at In 'N Out every day?
Before we had a child, my wife and I made a point of eating at an expensive restaurant while on a vacation, such as the Palisade in Seattle or the Rob Roy Room at the Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta.
CHARLES GALVAGNI Sep 9th 2009 7:29AM
Seriously? A restaurant closed, and some turnip thinks that's newsworthy. Drive down "main drag" anywhere USA, and find, in some cases, more than 50% of the real estate empty. That is the NEWS. Not some upscale place that was, no doubt, poorly run, with food not quite up to par.
rabitbutrational Sep 9th 2009 8:06AM
Dang it! Now I'm gonna' hafta' re-plan my whole fall vacation! It all hinged on me being able to eat at this swanky place. I guess it's back to Taco Bell for me...
Dave Sep 9th 2009 8:59AM
You live off of overpriced food for overleveraged people with an overblown view of their own illusory wealth and you die by the same!
javier jaramillo Sep 9th 2009 9:43AM
Hey chris i am white and i dont understand what the heck you are talking about you redneck. Get off of your sister or uncle put your oveerhauls on and write about something you know about you hillbilly. i havent heard the word wetback in ages.
jhernan Sep 9th 2009 12:58PM
Damn right.... Chris is a racist, ignorant, fool. He's just angry that a "wetback can afford a steak that he cant. How does it feel? Mexicans work for their money. You freakin hillbilly- face it, werte here to stay, and there's not a damn thing anyone can do about it. Even white politicians wont touch this one.
DJJayito Sep 9th 2009 9:39AM
I kind of disagree. There is really NOTHING wrong with the menu - aside for the prices. It's actually very creative and I would've enjoyed tasting some of these creations... The duck confit ravioli - for instance. For me... You can get away with $40 steaks in Manhattan and a very few (VERY FEW) other big cities. In NYC, where people have multi-million dollar SMALL apartments... a $40 steak doesn't seem like a big deal. Another issue I have - if this menu current - on the website - then it is 'somewhat dated.' You have to be ahead of the trends to charge these prices, but again - you can't charge these prices everywhere, especially in today's economy. I'd rather grill my own steak - these days - or hit up the local DIVE steak joint, which serves AMAZING steaks for like 10-15 bux.
jrtott Sep 9th 2009 9:40AM
you want good food go back east, What does Az. have a bunch of Mexican resturants. Go to Boston, eat good fish,
DJJayito Sep 9th 2009 9:41AM
I kind of disagree. There is really NOTHING wrong with the menu - aside for the prices. It's actually very creative and I would've enjoyed tasting some of these creations... The duck confit ravioli - for instance. For me... You can get away with $40 steaks in Manhattan and a very few (VERY FEW) other big cities. In NYC, where people have multi-million dollar SMALL apartments... a $40 steak doesn't seem like a big deal. Another issue I have - if this menu current - on the website - then it is 'somewhat dated.' You have to be ahead of the trends to charge these prices, but again - you can't charge these prices everywhere, especially in today's economy. I'd rather grill my own steak - these days - or hit up the local DIVE steak joint, which serves AMAZING steaks for like 10-15 bux.
DJ Jayito NYC Sep 9th 2009 9:46AM
I kind of disagree. There is really NOTHING wrong with the menu - aside for the prices. It's actually very creative and I would've enjoyed tasting some of these creations... The duck confit ravioli - for instance. For me... You can get away with $40 steaks in Manhattan and a very few (VERY FEW) other big cities. In NYC, where people have multi-million dollar SMALL apartments... a $40 steak
doesn't seem like a big deal. Another issue I have - if this menu current - on the website - then it is 'somewhat dated.' You have to be ahead of the trends to charge these prices, but again - you can't charge these prices everywhere, especially in today's economy. I'd rather grill my own steak - these days - or hit up the local DIVE steak joint, which serves AMAZING steaks for like 10-15 bux.
parrotmocho Sep 9th 2009 9:52AM
SHERIFF JOE ARPAIO IS PISSING OFF THE GOOD CUSTOMERS WITH HIS RAIDS....!!!
Angela Sep 9th 2009 10:15AM
Out with the old, in with the new! The place already has the equipment installed, the ambience and the location for... a new, dynamite, upscale BAR! Lights, action, good live music and upscale bar food, like wagyu sliders, etc. A year-round festive watering hole which could even be closed on, say, Sundays and Mondays, but rented out for private parties on those days.
steve Sep 9th 2009 10:28AM
The prices are not that bad actually. I would love to eat here.
Pauline Sep 9th 2009 10:31AM
I do not criticize the high priced exclusive restaurants as, in the past, this one here has had many customers. Fine dining is a wonderful experience and, if you can afford it, then that's fine and good. I have eaten at very few "diamond" restaurants but I did enjoy them when I ate there, more for the atmosphere and the great service than the food although the food was good enough. It was an extra special occasion for me, however, as I have never been able to afford eating in them on a regular basis. To be honest, I am not much on trying out the exotic style menus and it's kind of sad that people who do, and can afford to, will be missing out on their preferences. The food business itself I have found over the years is a risky business as opposed to a retail department store or other. You can't just shelve unsold foods like they can. Even here in my city, which has a large abundance of restaurants, we see closures off and on because of either the economy or people not using their credit cards as they have done in the past.
I don't know why anyone who posts here who makes ugly, rude comments and insults feels it's important. Everyone has a right to their opinion, which is what a free country like ours is all about, so insulting others because of their opinions is ridiculous.
-Paula