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| - In terms of both cuisine and ambience, Quiessence is about as good as it gets in Phoenix. You can enjoy a multi-course tasting menu in a relaxing environment, as opposed to the stiff old-people vibe of other higher end restaurants. The farm setting is quaint and refreshing - it's almost like stepping out of Phoenix and being on vacation for a brief spell.
As for the food, it won't satisfy your palate if you're used to the typical American cookie-cutter chain with overseasoned, cooked-from-frozen pap. The food at Quiessence is seasonal, organic, locally sourced, and vibrant...perfect for a cosmopolitan palate. They have a very specific philosophy in terms of how they do things. The focus is on quality, which may lead to a slightly more leisurely pace than some are used to, but the wait is by no means long. It's part of the experience - to spend time with someone whose company you enjoy and just relax in the lovely garden setting while eating wonderfully creative food. I've had two tasting menus - one of them at the Brick Oven Table - and while the first was excellent, the second time was just sublime. Apparently, they're opening in the afternoons now for more inexpensive and quicker lunch options.
The one area where I would have faulted Quiessence after my first visit was the dessert...it was good enough, but you could tell they needed a specialized pastry chef. The second time, the dessert had noticeably improved and was up to snuff with the rest of the wonderful meal....we asked, and sure enough, a pastry chef had just joined the team.
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