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| - I am not sure how anyone could say the service here is subpar. I often stop in for happy hour and am always treated well, even when just having a few cocktails and a snack. The bar staff is very friendly, and I seem to always meet someone new and interesting in the lounge (recently it was a certain individual running for congress in the district - admittedly, I had no idea who he was on sight, but he was cordial and indulged me in a little political banter).
As for happy hour - how many high-end resorts or steakhouses offer any kind of a happy hour, much less one so reasonable? The bar offers 5 appetizers, 5 wines by the glass, 5 beers, and 5 cocktails for $5. The food offered are truly appetizers - don't go in looking to get stuffed on the $5 menu (although if you like lounge food you can always go next door to the R-Bar - review on that to come). I do love that they keep you plied with gourmet olives and almonds (complimentary and good for your skin - win, win).
The choices of wine by the glass are impressive given the price tag - I could drink the Malbec daily. The cocktails are a mixture of new and old world and offer some unique combinations. The spicy peach Collins features a jalapeno infused gin. One of the aforementioned friendly bartenders showed me how to make it for myself and I'm looking forward to using it to impress guests.
Yelp is showing the restaurant has a summer prix-fixe menu for $50 - it is actually $36 ($50 during Arizona high season), and is a notable value. If you check their website know it doesn't get updated regularly, although, it does change regularly. The last time I was in the menu offered a blue cheese wedge, scallops, a crab stuffed twice baked potato and somekindofwonderful blueberry dessert. The prix fix menu provides two choices for each of four courses, these were just my favorites.
Up until a few days ago I probably would have written a 4 star review for the BLT, but recently was in with company who ordered the $85 porterhouse steak (for two it isn't such a bad price when you compare it to steak prices at places like Morton's, the Capital Grille etc). I've been working my way through a list of overdue reviews and after having a few bites of this steak decided this one had to be done and had to be 5 stars. This was far and away one of the best steaks I have ever sunken my teeth into. It was relatively rare for my usually Midwestern medium tastes, but it was so soft, tasty and buttery, I may just be a convert .
If I have one negative thing to say it is that the patio space could use a serious revamping to make it a comfortable and an enjoyable place to sit and watch the sunset across Camelback Mountain, Malbec in hand.
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