Greeted as I
walked in, the polite hostess offered my family and I a table. As I followed
the hostess to the table, with every step I took, I was further engrossed by
beautiful artistic expression on the walls, the aroma of savory dishes, and the
lovely voice of the chef himself – Razz. This was just the beginning of a
wonderful meal at the well-known Razz’s Restaurant. For those who visit the greater Phoenix area often or those
whose first time it is in the area, Scottsdale’s own Razz’s Restaurant is a must
attend restaurant. Razz’s is the best choice for fine dining because of the
quality and presentation of the food, the quality of service and staff, and the
quality of ambiance and décor.
Monday, April 8, 2013
The Chef Himself
Erasmo Kamnitzer,
better known as Razz, designs all the food and recipes on the menu. After
attending school and training in Switzerland, Razz moved to the United States
and furthered his culinary knowledge by attending the Culinary Institute of
America in New York. Originally from Venezuela, Razz comes from a family of
talented chefs; in fact, he is the seventh generation. Razz has built quite a
career for himself and the restaurant as a favorite on the TV Food Network,
Ready-Set-Cook, and more (Fire Drum, n.d.).
Quality and Presentation of the Food
The quality and presentation of the
food at this restaurant is the absolute best. It has been featured in the New
York Times as one of Arizona’s Top Twenty Restaurants (Fire Drum, n.d.).
Beginning with the menu, Razz’s Restaurant has all original recipes created by
Razz himself. His menu changes quite frequently. He closes down in the summer
to travel, and spend time with his family. Upon his travel, he seeks out new
recipes to bring back to the restaurant. For example, when I spoke with him on
my last visit, his latest summer trip was to Thailand where he came up with
several recipes that were added to the menu. My personal favorite is the green
papaya salad, with fresh papaya, chicken, shrimp, and various veggies tossed in
a lemongrass dressing. It is delectable I must say. He also added a thai-spiced
pork medallion to the entrée’s that is very popular with customers today. Upon
conducting a personal interview with a customer, the customer said that his
favorite item on the menu is the grilled rack of lamb (V. Lopez,
personal communication, April 4, 2013).
As you can see, the quality of the
food on the menu is well thought out, and original so no other restaurant would
serve what he serves. He uses fresh ingredients, fresh produce, house made
sauces, and the finest of meats. The quality of his food is delectable, and
unique to the Scottsdale area. As the Arizona Republic’s restaurant critic
Howard Seftel said (2009), “Razz led this town out of the meat-and-potatoes
dark ages into the restaurant renaissance” (p. 1). In addition to the quality
of his food, Razz prides himself on the presentation, from kitchen to customer.
Every dish that leaves the kitchen looks absolutely beautiful. Even something
as simple as a starter salad looks fabulous.
The pictures of
the food are beautiful, but if you would like to see even more beauty you should
visit his restaurant yourself. From the quality and presentation of the food,
Razz’s Restaurant is the best choice for fine dining.
Service and Staff
The quality of service and staff of
Razz’s is the best of fine dining in town. Razz is there every night to
personally cook for his customers. He is a fascinating man to have a
conversation with. Razz has travelled the world, he has been to Europe, Africa,
Thailand, Switzerland, and much more. I know this because I have “Dined With
Razz.” Dining with Razz means that you sit up at the bar, and he serves you one
small dish at a time until you are full.
As you breathe in
you can smell the delicious scent of various combinations of meats and
vegetables, you see the staff place each item on the plate and top it with
multiple garnishes and sauces, you hear the sizzle of the meat on the grill,
and then when your food arrives you taste the lusciousness. It is such a fun
experience, you as the customer watch everything, you see everything, you hear
it, and you leave there feeling full and satisfied. Also, the conversation with
Razz is amazing; he is a great guy and has countless amazing stories. The other
members of his staff such as food runners, busers, and the bartender are very
nice as well. They are polite, efficient, and would do anything the customer
asked, which is exactly what a fine dining customer wants.
Ambiance and Decor
Razz’s Restaurant has a unique set
of décor a unique ambiance that is the best fine dining in Phoenix. The inside
of his restaurant has a very modern feel, with nice table clothes, chairs, and
booths.
When you first walk in, the hostess
greets you and then guides you to a table, a booth, or the bar. All three
places lead to memorable experiences. The last time I was there, I sat up at
the bar with my dad, and the whole room was lit with candles. I must say it was
a beautiful site. However, I distinctly remember looking around and seeing numerous
pieces of classy art on the walls and in the bathroom. Razz often changes the
art that lies in the restaurant, with many new creative post-modern pieces.
He tries to give
different artists a chance to show his customers their art. In addition to the
art, Razz serves a fine list of wines, which adds to the ambiance of your meal.
I can still remember to this day the first time I ever visited Razz’s. The
ambiance and décor were phenomenal.
Best Dining
From entrance to
exit, the whole Razz experience is a memorable one. If you have never been to
Razz’s Restaurant, you have truly missed out. It is a must visit. It is the
best dining in the greater Phoenix area. The quality and presentation of the
food is unforgettable, the quality of service and staff is out of this world,
and the ambiance and décor will stick with you until the next visit. This
restaurant is my personal favorite, and the best choice for fine dining. Elin
Jeffords from the Scottsdale Tribune said it perfectly when she said, “he was
the first local chef to fuse a panoply of cultural influences into a smooth,
cohesive and highly personal style” (Fire Drum, n.d.).
References
-
References
Fire
Drum Internet Marketing. (n.d.). Razz’s Restaurant and Catering. Retrieved from
http://razzsrestaurant.com/index.htm
Razz’s
Restaurant and Catering. (2012). [Graphic Photo Online]. Retrieved from https://plus.google.com/107199911839211062898/photos/photo/5728341304668622898?hl=en
Razz’s
Restaurant and Catering. (2012). [Graphic Photo Online]. Retrieved from https://plus.google.com/107199911839211062898/photos/photo/5727089805766128834?hl=en
Razz’s
Restaurant and Catering. (2012). [Graphic Photo Online]. Retrieved from
https://plus.google.com/107199911839211062898/photos/photo/5718041327471704386?hl=en
Razz’s
Restaurant and Catering. (2012). [Graphic Photo Online]. Retrieved from https://plus.google.com/107199911839211062898/photos/photo/5718041354755036066?hl=en
Razz’s
Restaurant and Catering. (2012). [Graphic Photo Online]. Retrieved from
https://plus.google.com/107199911839211062898/photos/photo/5727992224228827970?hl=en
Razz’s
Restaurant and Catering. (2012). [Graphic Photo Online]. Retrieved from
https://plus.google.com/107199911839211062898/photos/photo/5731002153386241874?hl=en
Seftel,
H. (2009, December 8). Razz’s Restaurant Four Stars. The Arizona Republic. Retrieved from
http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/dining/articles/2009 /12/08/20091208razz.html?nclick_check=1
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