01/03/09

Great experience!

by whyyouask

My wife and I wanted to have a good meal for our last night in town. On a TV program, Bobby Flay was enjoying a creation by Chef Vincent. The French/SouthWestern style was something that we had to try. We went early because we didn't have a reservation. I would recommend arriving before the rush which is 6pm. We were a little surprised that the tables didn't have salt or pepper on them. When the food arrived we realized that everything was seasoned perfectly. The slightly spicy lobster bisque was excellent. The entrees (braised lamb and braised short rib) were flavorful. The service was fantastic. One of our waiters, Mark from Orange County CA, recommended that we have some desserts. The desserts were over-the-top, GOOD... The lemon crepe with raspberry sauce was light and satisfying. The chocolate souffle was also very good. Chef Vincent was so cool too! It's nice when the owner/chef has the time to meet his customer's and even take a picture with them.

• Pros: Great experience, no drawbacks.
• Cons: none

12/29/08

Please ignore the negative reviews

by nonac

I am appalled by the overwhelmingly number of negative reviews to this restaurant. I am convinced that these people spend their time writing negative reviews that don't make sense and are not true because they find joy in writing lies or they lost their job in which case they would have nothing to do but write lies. Either way, it is a lie. The way that I know that they are liars is that I am a good friend of Vincent and I know for a FACT that the words written by past reviewers are simply not true. For example, JulieLev, wrote,

"The owner is nowhere to be found. He's too busy trying to obtain publicity to manage and cook at his own restaurant."

What a bunch of bs. I dine regularly at Vincent's. He has come every time to the table except for one in which he was at a catering. If the reviewer thinks he is "nowhere to be found because he is trying to obtain publicity to manage and cook at his restaurant", he/she can go to hell. It offends me to read these words because as a friend of Vincent, I know that he is not like that. And it offends me even more to know that people who read this actually believe it. How can you believe something if you've actually never experienced it? This is preposterous!

My recommendation to all you readers out there - go and dine at this restaurant. In response to JulieLev's words of "Don't be fooled by the awards this restaurant has received," I sincerely hope you aren't. If Vincent's wasn't a good place to dine, then why did he receive all the awards that he did including the James Beard Award? Again, don't be fooled or misguided by what you hear. They are just cheap people looking for a free meal and a reason to complain. Year after year, Vincent's has been at the top of the list of fine dining restaurants not only in Arizona but across the US. Why wouldn't you go eat at one of the best restaurants in the US? Because of a stupid negative review written by someone who wants a free meal? C'mon folks...

• Pros: Everything
• Cons: Nothing

04/26/08

One of the worst dinners of my life

by JulieLev

I had heard that Vincent's had great food and was excited to eat my birthday dinner there with my husband. Yikes! What a horrible experience. Shall I start with the broken chair and dead mosquito on the table. Perhaps, I should mention that the pear salad that I ordered didn't have any pears in it. No, maybe I should let you know that the lobster was overcooked to the point that it tasted like jerkey. But wait, they brought out a horrible dessert to acknowledge that it was my birthday. Let's not forget the broken toilet in the ladies room. Oh, and yes I called to complain the next day, and didn't even receive a response back from the management, until I complained a second time. Then, I received a form letter from the owner's wife (my name was spelled incorrectly) with a thank you for eating at their restaurant. ....Not even an invitation to come try them again. What nerve. It's now a mission in my life to inform everyone about the horrible food/service/management at Vincent's. Don't waste your money or time in this past its prime establishment. Don't be fooled by the awards this restaurant has received. The owner is nowhere to be found. He's too busy trying to obtain publicity to manage and cook at his own restaurant.

• Pros: The butter and salt and pepper were outstanding
• Cons: Everything else