Christopher's and Crush Lounge - CLOSED

Christopher’s and Crush Lounge

2502 E Camelback Rd. Suite #102

Phoenix, AZ 85016

As part of Phoenix Restaurant Week 2016, this restaurant was one of several chosen to be reviewed. Companion and I arrived at 5:30 with reservations and were immediately seated. During this week, participating restaurants serve a prix fixe menu, and those who don’t get to eat in some of the more pricey venues get to enjoy them at lower prices.

Our waiter was immediately at our table and introduced himself. I explained that we were there to try the special menu and we were handed both the special menu as well as the regular menu and the rather large spirit list.

We started with cocktails – myself with a Beefeater extra dry martini with a double olive and companion with a pink squirrel. We were a bit surprised at being told that the bar did not have all the ingredients for the pink squirrel, and that it also did not have a blender. Yet, by doing some judicious substituting and some excellent shaking, they were able to come up with a very close substitute for the pink squirrel.

Next, we ordered appetizers. Companion had a large diver scallop, properly seared and perfectly cooked and served with tiny ravioli’s in an excellent sauce. I ordered the cassolette of mushrooms with port sauce. This was a mélange of wild mushrooms including a very young king mushroom in an almost sweet port sauce that was anything but overwhelming and allowed the essence of the mushrooms to come through. I appreciated that the mushrooms were not overcooked and still had good texture.

For the main courses, companion had a very tender petite fillet served over gratin potatoes that had just enough cheese to give flavor without overwhelming the potato. It was interesting that the potatoes were sliced paper thin, were properly cooked, yet still had texture. My main course was the breast of duck with sherry sauce. Duck should be cooked rare or medium rare, and I was not disappointed. The sauce was excellent as was the bed of baby asparagus the duck was served on. A nugget of roasted garlic provided a perfect counterpoint to some of the flavors.

Christopher’s is noted for some of its desserts, and we were not disappointed. Companion had a lemon tarte with berry sauce. The plate also had the base of a tuile covered in a lemon/lime foam that was outstanding and easily cleaned the palate. For myself, I had the gateau marjolaine which had some of the most decadent fudge on it that I have ever eaten, along with a deep chocolate glace sitting on the same tuile unfolded with I believe walnuts underneath it. A sprinkling of fresh berries finished the plate.

An excellent pot of French Press coffee finished off the meal.

As is expected in a restaurant of this caliber, service is polished and cleanliness is on point. Companion only had one complaint and that was with the continuous water to wash hands in the restroom. Companion felt that it was impossible to open a door without it having been touched before by someone who use the restroom first and had not yet washed their hands.

5 stars for excellent service, excellent food, cleanliness and atmosphere.