There are very few restaurants in Phoenix as established and distinguished as Durant’s Steakhouse. First opened in 1950, when Phoenix’s population was just 106,000, Durant’s quickly became known for its quality cocktails, steak and seafood, as well as its dark and cozy ambiance. Today, the restaurant has become a staple of the gastronomy scene in central Phoenix, rumored to have served ICONIC guests from Marilyn Monroe to John Wayne.
Last year, the restaurant underwent an ambitious restoration and just opened its doors again on December 17. The owners, James Beard-nominated brothers Mike and Jeff Mastro, along with their father, Dennis Mastro and business partner, Scott Troilo, focused on reviving the restaurant instead of renovating it.
“It’s the perfect next step and really speaks to who Mike and Jeff Mastros and their dad are. It’s [about] longevity and substance, and they’re the perfect family to take this over and steward it for another 75 years,” Chief Brand Officer Oliver Badgio says.
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Notable refurbishments included reupholstering the original booths, reopening the restaurant’s private dining room, which had remained closed since the 1970s, and, of course, keeping the ICONIC guest entrance through the kitchen.
“It is everything that everyone loved about Durant’s,” Badgio explains prior to the restaurant’s reopening. “It’s still here, it’s better, it’s improved and it’s just terrific. I’m excited for everybody to see it.”
The menu, which is in the trusty hands of Chief Executive Chef Marc Lupino and Executive Chef Felix Ruiz, reflects a blend of both classic and new dishes, from the beloved porterhouse for two to the newly-added veal parmesan.
While many Phoenicians have been concerned about the restoration project, Jeff assures that those who have loved the restaurant for decades will appreciate that the charm of Durant’s has stayed the same, down to the refurbished porterhouse plaques on the walls and their commitment to honoring Durant’s famous free dessert tokens.
“There’s a lot of excitement but also a lot of nervousness. A lot of people are nervous because they were worried some guys would come in here and contemporize it, but we did not do that,” Jeff explains.
All those behind the restoration process are excited to be finally welcoming guests back to Durant’s and grateful for the community that has established this restaurant as an ICONIC landmark of Phoenix for the past 75 years.
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“It’s the history and the fact that it’s been here for so long and has been so beloved. It’s about the people who are working here and the people who come and enjoy it,” Badgio adds. “That’s the flavor; that’s the character of the restaurant.”
Cheers to new chapters, and cheers to Durant’s.
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