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T. Cook's
Category: Restaurants Canadian (New) Canadian (New) [Edit]
Royal Palms Resort and Spa5200 E Camelback Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85018
(602) 840-3610
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
120 reviews for T. Cook's
Review Highlights
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"...am always a sucker for lobster bisque and the version at T." In 9 reviews -
"Creme brulee cheesecake was heavenly." In 4 reviews -
"We shared a pear salad and crab cake to start with." In 6 reviews
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120 reviews in English
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Review from Jessica W.
Phoenix, AZ
4/4/2012
We went here this week to celebrate our first anniversary and were totally impressed with the food, service and experience. This was such an overall fantastic dining experience, that exceeded my expectations.
We arrive to a table covered in rose petals with custom printed anniversary menus. We had absolutely delicious food and drinks and a customized anniversary dessert. Service was perfect as well.
The property is beautiful and quiet and doesn't have a 'big resort feel' which was nice.
I fully back my 5-star rating! -
Review from JO Z.
Phoenix, AZ
5/14/2012
I had the best experience with breakfast.
The ambiance- excellent- the reason I am coming back and can have a 5 hour dinner.
The service- pretty good
The food- from "ok" to "really good" (but not the best)
I recently had an over saltet paella.
Great for happy hour, not sure about the quality.. if you want something light - there are not many options. Not good if you are on gluten free, grain free diet.
Dinner/ full menu has more options for something light.
Secluded and luxurious - a great hideaway from a crazy, busy world :) -
Review from Melissa H.
Phoenix, AZ
2/19/2012
Have been here both for dinner and lunch. Spendy, but worth it for dinner. The lunch crowd is very much the "ladies who lunch" set. You'll be hard pressed to find a guy in the place, but for dinner you will find larger corporate groups as well as couples wanting some romance in Scottsdale. Go while the weather holds and you can sit on the patio. They have some of the best fois gras around. (Possibly even better than Lon's if you happen to like fois that is). You'll also see some intimate wedding parties, baby and bridal showers etc in the back rooms. My favorite is the "library" room.
Their desserts are wonderful and I should note that they will also customize cakes for special occasions, and the cakes will rival any bakeries in town.
Try not to fill up on the bread, although I always do due to the pesto that is served with it. -
Review from Glenn G.
Las Vegas, NV
Updated - 5/20/2012
I'm not lowering my rating (yet) but was very disappointed in the service during my recent visit. Most of the service came, not from our waitress, but from the waitress in the adjoining section. At the end of the evening we had to have a manager find our waitress to get our check.
Listed in: Best Happy Hours In/Near…
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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3/29/2012
I'm a big fan of T. Cook's. It was my first time there during Spring and I was happy to find I… Read more »
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Review from Beth S.
Phoenix, AZ
5/11/2012
I just thought T Cooks was ok food wise/ambience wise. Nothing to get foodgasmic about. As far as patios/food go I would much rather dine at El Choro which I love. I am not in a rush to eat at T Cooks again, however, my fiance did propose to me after dinner in February at Royal Palms after eating at T Cooks. We were walking the grounds and found a "private patio" and the bf popped the question. in the middle of the proposal a server came out and asked if we were part of the wedding party...I am not a good liar so I said no, so we nicely got booted...dude you are interrupting a moment here..anyway we continued with part 2 of the proposal somewhere else on the resort grounds..:)
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Review from Deb E.
Great Falls, MT
5/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
I have been to T. Cook's several times over the past few years- both lunch and dinner. I think it is a beautiful and romantic dining experience. The food has been well prepared and presented over all of my visits although I would stop short of calling it phenomenal. I have mixed feelings on the service as I feel that some of the staff come across as a bit superior or condescending which I find offensive. Others have been marvelous. My next goal is to stay at the resort...and have at least one dinner at T. Cook's.
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Review from Greg H.
San Mateo, CA
1/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
You've got be kidding me. Possibly the worst upscale dining experience I've ever had. I don't mind paying a lot for food when it's good, but this just felt like complete robbery. So many things wrong from start to finish.
My brother asked for his ribeye black and blue (very rare) and it came out medium. For a $50 steak you gotta get it right. On top of that, four out of our five entrees sat outside getting cold (we were eating outside in January) while waiting several minutes for the fifth to arrive. When it finally did come, it was excruciating to watch the backserver study the ticket at length before placing each dish at the table. When the food is that much at risk of getting cold, you should have more than one person serving.
Another thing I cannot forgive is the lobster. From the description and the $44 price, you assume it is a whole lobster. In fact it is a claw and half a tail, the same thing they have as a side dish for $20. The preparation and side dishes were very minimalist, so I'm not sure what that extra twenty four bucks is for. Like I said I expect a certain markup for good food, but you don't have to gouge people quite so egregiously.
I started with the lobster bisque, a "house specialty." Not really remarkable, basically what you expect. For entree I had the scallops with chorizo and basquaise sauce. I like each of those things individually, but together they were just fighting in my mouth. Desserts were nothing worth writing about.
Food and service are below average for this price level, period. The only thing you can say is that the hotel surroundings are attractive. With so many good restaurants in the area, there's No Excuse for going here. Go to Tarbell's down the street and enjoy a superior experience. -
Review from Amanda H.
2/1/2012
3 1/2 stars. Delicious. Was it the best-most watering experience, eh. But was it worth trying, for sure. We celebrated my husband's birthday here, we were seated on the outside patio. It was gorgeous, 60s in Jan...gotta love Arizona winters. We ordered the clam chowder (soup of the day), and it was creamy and flavorful. I would have enjoyed more clams, but it was good. The bread is served with a house made pesto sauce. Pretty good, especially since the bread comes out hot.
For entrees, we ordered the Carbonara and Paella. The Paella for $32 was a very good size. The shellfish in the dish was delicious, tasted super fresh, almost like right out of the ocean. The pasta dish was a bit stingy in portion (eat lots of bread if that's the only thing you're ordering...mmm...more carbs.), but the sauce was rich and yummy. I guess that is was the chef made when he was on Iron Chef.
Overall, great ambiance, beautiful resort and decent food. -
Review from Jeff M.
4/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
Get your credit card ready. As long as you go in knowing you may be spending a little more than usual for the nice dinner, you'll be okay. I was staying at The Royal Palms and this was the on-site restaurant. Honestly, it's hard, anywhere, to find a hotel with as good a restaurant as this. Dress nicely. Not that they'll turn you away, but the meal is so good, you almost feel obligated. The interior is beautifully decorated, but the outdoor seating is worth taking advantage of if the weather cooperates. The comfortable cushioned chairs are almost like thrones. The service. Props to my waiter, one of the best I've had in a long time. As someone with nut and peanut allergies, I can't remember the last time I felt this comfortable at a meal. Just watching him at work with other guests too, he wanted to make sure you felt taken care of. Now the food. Panzanella salad with butter toasted brioche, mixed greens, fresh mozzarella, heirloom tomatoes, and basil vinaigrette. Fresh, simple, and rejuvenating. Lovely. Duck a L'Orange with duck breast, leg, and thigh, candied orange, asparagus, thyme fondant potatoes, and traditional sauce. This is one of the best ducks I've ever had. It is also the most generous portion of duck I've had: breast, leg, and thigh! As I was savoring each bite, the waiter came and simply said, "Life is good?" "Life is excellent," I replied. The side of butter-poached lobster sealed the deal. Eclairs to satisfy the sweet tooth and a cappuccino to buy time to soak it all in. It's the kind of meal that is so satisfying that all you want to do is go home and go to bed. There's no point in doing anything the rest of the night since there's no way to top it. An added plus is if you stay at The Royal Palms, your room is a short walk away.
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Review from Ripp C.
Scottsdale, AZ
Had such an outstanding meal here last night. Our server Candy was simply outstanding. We were taking our time and she was great in giving us space while ensuring we had what we needed. Plus she offered great suggestions.
I highly recommend the short rib ravioli, but T. Cook's is one of those places where everything is excellent.
Happy dining! -
Review from H. M.
Lake Balboa, Los Angeles, CA
12/27/2011
The food, the atmoshere, the service... it was all just top notch.
Everything was excellent, but I especially enjoyed the paella. It was outstanding, the best paella I've had. Just be aware, it's a little different (in a great way) than most paellas in that the rice is fully cooked, but remains just very slightly al dente. Too many paellas have soggy rice, but the texture of the rice here really brings the dish to a higher level.
Everything was excellent. -
Review from Pepper T.
Phoenix, AZ
11/17/2011
No reason NOT to give FIVE stars.
Excellent atmosphere,service and most important excellent food.
We shared the antipasto platter that included house cured meats, house made cheeses,humus and pickled vegetables (one was brussels sprouts)
I had Scottish Salmon that came with crispy onions, asparagus, and a cheese supreme lemon tomato tart. Everything was seasoned and prepared perfect. The tart was so unique and unusual, it looked like a slice of pizza and I was tempted to pick it up with my hands to eat.
My dish was great but my husbands dish might be the dish T Cooks is most proud of, it was the Paella. Some of the ingredients that were in the Paella were cockles, calamari, pork belly, chicken, perfect prepared shrimp , sausage and mussels. Not only a delicious dish but also over generous in size to be enjoyed again.
The inside out ice-cream sandwich tasted almost like a gourmet milky way bar it had those flavors but it was made of chocolate sponge cake and frozen milk chocolate mousse.
I did not have a problem with them adding a 18% gratuity to our bill for two people since I usually tip 20% and added on the rest. I am not sure if they normally do this or only since I was using my preferred restaurant card that gives me one meal for free.
I liked the Menu that they had it seemed that they offered something for everyone including vegetarians and vegans.
Our waiter was very professional, knowledgeable and welcoming.
Great for Special occasions or High End Dining!Listed in: High End Date Night
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Review from Frank G.
Anthem, AZ
3/19/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Great menu choices at the Sunday Brunch. Buffet, a la Carte or both.
Very good service.
Only negative was that they let someone smoke a cigar outside at the front entrance and the smell started coming in. -
Review from K M.
Tucson, AZ
1/17/2012
Unique in many ways, tasty, good service, good selection of food and drinks and excellent atmosphere.
3 and 1/2 to 4 stars. -
Review from Michael R.
Phoenix, AZ
12/9/2011
Not the T Cooks we use to know and love. I decided to take the family and two friends to T Cooks for the Thanksgiving Day brunch and it was a monumental disappointment! We've attended their normal Sunday brunch on several occasions and it has always been good, but for some reason, on this day, they really dropped the ball.
We were seated on the patio and at the time of the reservation we were assured that if it rained they would be adequately prepared to accommodate us with indoor seating. Well, when it began to rain, they were not prepared, and in fact we were kind of ignored, even when we tracked down our server. Now see, the having to track down your server at The Royal Palms shouldn't even be in the same sentence, right?! Anyway, we dealt with the rain, it didn't last too long but the food in our plate was no longer edible after it had been substantially rained on. Ok, it's buffet so we can get more but that's hardly the point. In general our server seemed stressed, possibly overwhelmed (trying to give the benefit of the doubt) and as a result was not very attentive. We received cold coffee, lack of replacement silverware, etc...
The buffet itself was very average with the exception of the crepe, waffle and omelet station; they were delicious. The mushroom soup was cold and sub par, the Caprese salad, stuffing and sweet potatoes flavorless, as were many other items.
I have been in the service industry for almost 12 years, so it's not my style to complain but it was embarrassing especially because our guests know we frequent this establishment and couldn't help but ask "Why?" Oh, one more thing, on a side note: They add 18% gratuity to all checks regardless of the size of the party, and normally we would tip at least 20%. My guests found the automatic gratuity insulting for such an establishment...I would have to agree! I wanted to give 1 star but I'm giving 2 stars only because of the atmosphere of the resort.
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Review from Gabriel W.
Tucson, AZ
10/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
My family comes here once a year, every year, for my uncle and sister-in-law's birthday and we do the whole Sunday brunch thing.
I would have to say the best thing about the place, even though the food is really very good, is the ambiance. Its an experience that from the second you pull into the driveway at the Royal Palms Hotel begins to surround you and cut you off from the outside world. The hotel itself is modeled like a Spanish villa, and the restaurant maintains this theme with large round hardwood tables that could probably support the weight of an elephant, a huge fireplace, exposed beam ceiling, wrought iron fixtures and embellishments, and Spanish tile on the floors. Everything seems very calculated down to the smallest detail including silverware and water pitchers that look to be hand hammered.
The brunch thing is a little odd in how its constructed in that there is a buffet brunch which is more than enough to have as a meal, but there are also menu items which you can order in addition to the buffet. The odd thing is that everything is priced such that if you go for just the buffet, it costs more than if you were to get the buffet in combination with a meal, and in the end by ordering a meal you wind up paying a dollar or two more. Very strange. As such, it always seems worth it to me to get a menu item even if you're not that hungry and just have whatever you dont eat boxed up to take home and eat later.
The food is really very good. I cant really complain about anything, but I will just say that there are certain shortcuts that are taken that are noticeable. For example, on the buffet they have kinda a gourmet version of home fries with onions and peppers and whatnot in it. I ordered an egg white omelet that was advertised as having potatoes, onions and peppers in it, but didnt really think that what would come was literally egg whites with the buffet dish mixed in. I mean, the dish was delicious, don't get me wrong, but it probably would have been better if the potatoes onions and peppers had been prepared a little differently...a different cut or a different cooking method--something to mix it up a little.
The price isnt cheap, roughly 22-28 bucks per person for the buffet/menu item combo (21 for buffet only), but this is not the kind of thing you do every day. Its a special occasion kind of deal and I think that generally speaking its well worth it. The waitstaff is very attentive and they tend to be very unintrusive as well. I appreciate that especially when you're trying to have a special lunch out with the family.
Overall, I would say this is a fantastic place to go if you're looking for a romantic dinner or a classy brunch every so often. Its a good solid choice any time, every time...especially if you like home fries!Listed in: Phoenix Phood
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Review from David G.
Scottsdale, AZ
10/20/2011
If you judge T. Cook's against restaurants in general, it probably deserves 4 or 5 stars, but if you judge it against what it purports to be, three stars is more accurate.
T. Cook's is a resort-style fine dining establishment. The attentive valet parking, impressive entranceway, decor, and certainly the prices prove that. However, it doesn't fall into the class of gourmet fine dining restaurants because the food is not imaginative and simply prepared. Nor is it one of the currently-fashionable "modern comfortable" places. Rather it is a throw-back to old-time formal dining, but done, unfortunately, without the class that such retro establishments must have. Simply, it seems to cater to an older clientele, probably in accord with the people that stay at the Royal Palms resort.
That said, T. Cooks has many good points. The food is very well prepared, the wait staff is certainly knowledgeable, and the restaurant is attractive and not too noisy. You won't have a bad experience here until the check arrives. Of course, you expected the check because you saw their menu (maybe even online before you arrived). But after finishing the meal, the net effect is "this was just not good enough for the price."
Tip: before you go here, you might consider buying the Preferred Restaurants of Phoenix card. Sunday through Thursday (or early on weekends), this gives you two entrees for the price of one, saving you $30-$35, and the card costs less than twice that. Then you have a year to try about 30 other places. -
Review from Renee W.
Phoenix, AZ
10/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Love the atmosphere ...
It is absolutely lovely to sit in the courtyard to enjoy brunch/lunch in T Cook's ... it got the spanish villa feel with very nice landscape and overlooking the camelback mountain ... it is truly enjoyable.
As far as the food, they are good. Went there couple time for brunch and lunch, they are nice but then it's not out of the world.
Of course, with the location, atmosphere, nice landscape ... it comes with a price ... but not too bad .... the food can be better .... it is nothing out of the extraordinary and the quality is good but not great ... stop for a causal weekend lunch outside make a very relaxing afternoon in the winter -
Review from Erik W.
Newport Beach, CA
11/10/2011 Seated via OpenTable 2 Check-ins Here
Came for the amazing brunch.
What I love about their brunch is the options. For $33 you can get their buffet brunch which includes the better than usual goodies: omelet station, crab legs, already peeled shrimp, lox, fresh fruit, warm breads, various salads, waffles, grilled veggies and a dessert bar.
Now to mix it up, they also offer delicious items off their menu. These dishes range from $10 - $15 a plate, but are fantastic and large.
However, if you want to then add the brunch buffet to your menu selection, you can pay an additional $23. So, in essence, you can get the $10 pancakes and the $23 buffet, and pay the same price as getting the stand alone buffet.
I got the banana-pecan French toast off the menu. OMG, it was perfect - especially with the warm "real" maple syrup.
Service there is great and very attention driven. Even my napkin would be neatly folded by the time I returned to my seat.
We came for a birthday and they had inscribed a nice note on top of the piece of dessert. A very nice touch.
I also love the ambiance and the grounds of the Royal Palms property. It's gorgeous there. -
Review from Harvey S.
Laveen, AZ
9/19/2011
This is my first fancy restaurant in Arizona, and it certainly deserves to be one of the best; one I will return to for special occasions.
My wife picked it as a romantic spot for her birthday, and it didn't disappoint.
This place is awesome. You drive in, the palm-lined circular driveway instantly transports you elsewhere. The valet takes your car, and you pass through passageways of intricate lighting patterns. Warmly welcomed into the dining room, which is surrounded in brick, long drapes, and exposed beams to give a classy but comfortable feel. The chairs have nice comfortable cushions for a long stay.
Waitstaff were all friendly and as fast or laid back as you want them to be.
One thing that I really note is the bread course. Is the bread hot or cold? How is it served? Here, a small loaf of Italian bread with the signature dustings of flour, signifying an "artisan" bread, was served with a small bowl of fresh pesto sauce. The bread was hot, the crust crispy, the sauce deelish. It was a good omen.
The food was all first-rate. While I had a vegetarian string: yummy Quorn empenadas, pear salad, and the delicately fried stuffed squash blossoms, my wife had the escargots napoleon (she loved it), the lobster bisque (which I tried--great flavor), and the Meditteranean Lamb. I also had a side dish of potato puree--creamy garlicky heaven!
It is an expensive place, but I would say it is worthwhile, and definitely good for a special night. The food was delicious and servings reasonable: if you get all the courses, you can actually take some home! The dessert menu was quite extensive, too. I think enough to please everyone. I definitely would go back sometime--just make sure you have money in the bank, know what I mean? -
Review from Matt B.
Chandler, AZ
1/31/2012
Great eats at this joint. New York strip was awesome! Pear salad was bomb and service was superb. I'll be back march 10th!
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Review from Matthew C.
Chandler, AZ
6/12/2011
My wife and I stayed at Royal Palms for our 13th wedding anniversary. We love the resort.
The T Cook restaurant was fabulous as expected, except for one component (see below).
Wife had green eggs & ham, I had banana French pecan toast. Both of us loved the food and I highly recommend these entrees, especially mine. It also came with toast that had lovely jams and soft butter, including strawberry, marmalade, and other other I couldn't place
She also had a mimosa, and I the orange jiuce. Because our entrees took so long to come out, they comped us a 2nd mimosa, so that was smoothed over.
Waiting for the check seemed to be an issue. We didn't see our server for a long time after he checked on us while eating our breakfast. Probably 10-12 minutes passed until we actually got our check. Now I understand a leisurely pace but this was ridiculous. On top of that it was someone else's check.
I went to the host stand because our waiter was no where to be found and he corrected the tab, we signed and little a little annoyed.
Had it not been for this I would have been happy to give 5 stars. I look forward to revising my review the next time I come out. -
Review from Krsna V.
2/7/2011 3 Check-ins Here
If this is one of the hallmarks of fine dining in Phoenix, I feel sorry for your city.
We were in Phoenix for a weekend to enjoy what the city has to offer. Apparently, not much!
Yes, this place is pretty, classy, rich, etc etc.... what it lacks is good food and a decent crowd. If your idea of a date night is eating below mediocre food while being sneered by ignorant old people, this is the place for you. I prefer some place where I do not have to worry about such things.
The menu is quite disturbing - a lot of sea food and no game (isn't this a high end restaurant?). It makes me uncomfortable to eat sea food in land locked places like Phoenix (and all of midwest), it just ain't right. Anyway, that's my issue, not a judge of the quality of food at any restaurant... moving on...
The food: partner's duck is probably the worst duck I've ever tasted. His salad was laughable - spring greens and pears. Really? I ordered escargot - the snails were already shelled and served with mushroom ravioli and watercress salad. Passable at best. My lamb was quite bland and flavorless. Lamb is one of the, if not the most, tastiest red meats. I am (un)impressed that the chef made lamb taste flavorless. Unforgivable.
You know it is bad when the saving grace of a meal is the wine. The Sancerre saved the evening. Yes, there was dessert. Something dark chocolatey. It was so unmemorable that I don't even remember what I ate for dessert.
Let's get to the crowd: wtf is wrong with you people in Phoenix? Have you never seen an impeccably dressed interracial gay couple before? We got the stares everywhere we went, not just at this restaurant. Granted the restaurant set up a table with rose petals and gave us menus with the words "happy anniversary" printed on them, but I would trade all that for decent food and a nicer crowd. The kicker is that our meal cost over $300 including wine and tip. I almost never quote prices at restaurants, but T.Cook's below mediocre food needs to be upgraded to abominable when you consider the price range.
I wanted to give T. Cook's one star, but then I remembered their Mediterranean benedict we ordered for room service breakfast. That alone deserves an additional star. A very well made item. Capers, chives, petite diced tomatoes on eggs benedict added a great flavor. It was so good I ordered it three mornings in a row (yes, we stayed at the Royal Palms for the weekend).
Thanks for ruining our anniversary weekend, T. Cook's. I am now taking the man to Key West and Koln to make up for the damage you have done.Listed in: Oh he-ell no!!, Desert rain
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Review from Tori B.
7/29/2011
We stayed at Royal Palms this past weekend for the 4th year in a row to celebrate my Husband's Birthday. Normally we do go T Cooks, but usually for dinner. This year, we decided to go for breakfast, and boy and I glad we did!
The food is always good at T Cooks. We've enjoyed dinner here a couple times and they always treat you nicely and make a special occasion even more special. So, our breakfast was great. I had the croissant sandwich and my Husband had the pesto omelet. He LOVED the pesto flavor in his omelet, as well as the english muffin it came with and the apple cinnamon jam. It really was fabulous. My croissant sandwich was to die for. I loved how they mixed the cheese in the eggs and the eggs were cooked just right - not overdone.
The waitress was so nice, she noticed it was my Husband's bday and brought him a plate that said "happy birthday" and had some truffles.
Love, Love, Love T Cooks and Royal Palms - you must go! -
Review from Charles S.
Scottsdale, AZ
1/12/2012
Great service, Great food...what else can I say but bring your cash to fork out.
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Review from keith c.
Mesa, AZ
4/29/2011
Its hard not to love the Royal Palms setting, the gorgeous Mediteranean grounds, and the elegance of an evening at T. Cooks. We typically come a bit early for our reservation and walk the grounds to enjoy the texture of it all. It feels special to be there, and over the four times we've been, its pretty much lived up to or exceeded expectation three times.
The last time we went however, was a rather surprising contrast to what we had come to expect. Having been used to exquisite and thoughtful service, as well as wonderfully prepared and presented food, we were not prepared for an evening of disappointment. Despite a dining room that was perhaps half-full when we were seated, the amount of time we waited to give our order, as well as the time between courses, seemed almost geologic. When entrees arrived, one was wrong and another had portions that were cold (not luke warm ... actually cold). We waited again hoping to ask for remedies, but we didn't see a member of the wait staff again for quite a while.
Now, that said, when we did finally get the chance to raise our concerns, the dishes were quickly re-prepared and returned ... and the staff comp'd our bottle of wine for the evening and brought an incredible mulit-chocolate dessert huge enough for three to share with leftovers. So, although I was disappointed in the evening, I applaud T. Cooks efforts at repair. And I will definitely return; one off-night isn't enough to dissuade me. And that lobster bisque ... incredible. -
Review from Michael P.
Chicago, IL
2/2/2011
I am just going to leave at this: this is phoenix: people don't know better.
When our server introduced us by saying the chef was on the iron chef program - I knew right then we were going to have a less then adequate meal.....
When there was a plethora of shellfish and no game on the menu I knew we were going to have a less then adequate meal (this is ARIZONA in the winter y'all!) Escargot - really? in Arizona?
Though menu items usually have spare descriptions I am used to elegant presentations with many components (a la Iruna). Especially all the "hype" around T.Cooks - alas my salad was mixed greens and sliced pears - yes mixed greens and sliced pears - made me giggle (then I remembered this was phoenix).
So ordering the duck breast - I was thinking this will be okay - sigh - why was my duck breast rubbery? I am guessing after they seared the breast the chef/cook sliced it too fast neglecting to wait the minute for the meat to rest - forcing my duck breast to be inedible...
Then I looked around the room (gasp) white haired old people abound - these folks are from Phoenix - ha! They are having a grand ol time - ok I won't dog them but how about the mousy haired frumpy chick next to us with the beaded top
Dessert - we may have had dessert - I think we did - it was that memorable.
Service was lovely - our server was proper - that's nice - but I will trade bad service for excellent food any day of the week.
So yea - this is not the place for good food- -
Review from Jacqueline H.
Scottsdale, AZ
2/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Whisk your date away into old colonial Spain, where Mediterranean breezes and flavors waft into your nostrils. The mood is set with dim lighting, siena and sunburnt vaulted ceilings, cozy fireplaces, and an elegant ambiance.
Start your evening off in the lounge, with its posh leather couches, mahogany bar, antique lamps, and baby grand piano to set the mood. The menu of specialty cocktails will make any discerning carouser dance with delight. From the "Sweetheart" with chambord vodka, champagne, and chambord - to the "Rose Petal Infusion" with grey goose, strawberries, st. germaine elderflower, and a rose petal, your lovely lady will be swooning with ardour, or from the strong martinis. The mixologists here know their libations. Drinks are poured with the finest spirits and crafted with love, and you pay accordingly for an average of $14. However, do not let this dampen your spirits as Happy Hour is from 5p-7p, and reverse Happy Hour from 10p-midnight Sunday through Thursday. Appetizers are half price, featured drinks and wines by the glass for $6.
So after your palate has been readied for the culinary splendour that is about to meet your lips, try one of the lounge's appetizers or wait until you are seated in the restaurant to be impressed. The lounge has an eclectic menu which features "Fruit De Mar" (tempura fried calamari, shrimp, and scallops), the very popular Belgian snack of "Mussels and Frites" (mussels dish served with a side of french fries), "Adana Kebabs" served with pita and yogurt, and even an American favorite, the short rib sandwhich. Average price is $12.
Want to impress your date? Order the Chilled shellfish and bubbles entree right at the bar, as the piano man croons in the background. This delectable entree comes with maine lobster, king crab legs, jumbo shrimp, and oysters on the half shell, and is served with two glasses of house champagne, for a mere $55. Now if that isn't the perfect aphrodisiac...
If dining solely in the restaurant, you will not be disappointed by the first class service, attention to detail, and the fine food that is so lovingly prepared by its chef.
The meals are split up into courses, and I strongly suggest you do all three to fully explore the tempting Mediterranean treats that this restaurant has to offer.
Start off with the "Burgundian Escargot" (with mushroom raviolis, roasted beets, watercress salad, and vegetable beurre rouge) or the phenomenal "Crab Cakes'" (with house-made chorizo, clams, and roasted clam puree). Not in the mood for seafood, but still enjoy good belly timber? Then try the duet of roasted bonemarrow and sauteed sweetbreads served with their housemade brioche and a horseradish infused orange marmelade.
Now you are ready to clear your palate for your main course, something light to pique those tastebuds...the "lobster fennel bisque," or the unbelievably ambrosial "Pear Salad" with its gorgeous blending of spiced pecans and blue cheese on organic greens.
If you are a devotee to food, then you have saved room for the main course. Choose from Chef Lee's Carbonara, (my personal favorite) with garlic cream, pancetta, prosciutto, and egg yolk. For Spanish fare, there is T. Cook's signature Paella, straight from the fireplace, or a sinful slow roasted lamb stuffed with feta. Many more seafoods and steaks grace this menu, for an average cost of $32. You will definitely expect to pay accordingly for the quality, flavor, and love that is put into these amazing dishes.
A dining experience fit for the gods, sure to impress your date, and your palate. -
Review from Lori C.
6/2/2011 5 photos
Don't be afraid to try the green eggs and ham. It is out of this world.
T. Cooks is beautiful, with superb service and a wonderful menu. The desserts are design masterpieces.
The table bread is fresh and made every day.
There is certain to be something on the menu you will fall in love with.
Whether you eat in the court yard, inside or on the patio, this place is perfect by yourself, with your sweat heart or a group.
The grounds at the Royal Palms are beautiful and you will feel like you are in Paradise. -
Review from Cat M.
Flagstaff, AZ
12/29/2011
PLENTY of reasons not to give five stars.
For the, ahem, "upscale" pricing, the quality of the food should be absolutely superb. It simply is not.
While the atmosphere is lovely and the service was very good, the food was a huge disappointment. I had the flaxseed vegetable napoleon for the first course. It was completely underwhelming and the flaxseed patties were impossible to cut through. Additionally, the taste was not very good.
For my main course I had the New York strip steak. It was good. The brussels sprouts were great, but the Yorkshire pudding was not thrilling--perhaps that is a matter of personal taste. The pesto that is served with the bread was awesome--but messing up pesto is pretty hard to do.
The side of whipped potatoes were WAY over-salted, and the mac and cheese was entirely underwhelming. I felt like we paid an outrageous price simply because it said "truffle" on the menu. In reality, the flavor was salty, decidedly average, and it was quite dry. Very disappointing.
For dessert we shared the eclaires and the gingerbread/apple upside down cake. The eclaires were absolutely nothing special. I have had better, many times in my life. It was very saddening because we had heard such raving comments about the pastry chef, and in fact the quality of the pastry--both in taste and texture--was pretty sub-par for a dessert that costs like 20 bucks. The ginger cake was good, but unmemorable.
The service and the steak were the best parts about the experience. The steak was very good, and the service was also good but I have had better and more helpful in other places.
For a meal that essentially cost $100 per person, the taste was AVERAGE, and the overall quality of the food was horribly disappointing. Every single person in our party agreed. It is very easy to be taken with the fancy atmosphere and get carried away thinking the food is a lot better than it is because it looks pretty, it costs a lot, and the Royal Palms is beautiful. Don't let the external appearances fool you. Taste the food for what it is. Disappointing for the price.
EDIT: It should be mentioned, however, that the lobster bisque was absolutely delicious, far better than anything else I ate the whole night. Very, very good. -
Review from Jay D.
Gilbert, AZ
12/12/2011
Great service and location. Food was ok nothing great. We all ordered the Sunday Brunch.
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Review from Tina M.
Phoenix, AZ
I have to say that all of the food was perfectly prepared and delicious. My complaint is the time it took to get our food. 7:30 reservation and we didn't get our main course until 9:15, 1hr 45 minutes shows that they were over booked for what they can handle. For the price they get for dinner it seems they could manage their/my time better.
The fish special was trout with mashed potatoes, asparagus & hollandaise sauce. It was very tasty and perfectly prepared.
The seating outdoors is fabulous, comfortable w/ heaters when needed and very chic with great patio landscaping. -
Review from Kate N.
Scottsdale, AZ
Updated - 12/26/2010 3 photos
Had a lovely Christmas Dinner at T. Cook's : )
As it was just the three of us this year we decided to go out for Christmas Dinner and we had a truly wonderful meal in a very pretty setting.
For appetizers we had the lobster bisque with asparagus and caviar and the wild burgundy escargot with crisp brioche, lightly scrambled eggs, mushrooms and roasted garlic mascarpone cheese....both were delicious.
For mains we tried the slow roasted lamb stuffed with feta, tomatoes and oregano on a bed of marinated tomatoes, roasted green peppers and fingerling potatoes as well as the glazed ham with Italian fennel sausage dressing, haricot vert, sweet potato gratin and cranberry relish....tastebud sensations!
Once again we sat on the patio which was just perfect with Christmas day temps in the 70s. We had our beautiful newborn with us and when she got slightly fussy we were able to calm her down by walking through the gorgeous gardens and courtyards. She just loved all of the beautiful colors and smells : )
The staff were also wonderfully friendly and helpful. Highly recommend T. Cook's for any meal or event.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/29/2009
Had a beautiful brunch here. Sat outside among the bougainvillea listening to the many birds (some… Read more »
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Review from Arlin B.
10/12/2010
Wow, great experience! T. Cook's restaurant located in the royal Palms Resort and Spa in Phoenix is a beautiful place to wine and dine. Their colonial Spanish architecture with a Mediterranean flair is both elegant and romantic. The Resort and Restaurant are both decorated with hardwoods and cherry woods everywhere with and hand-painted Italian frescoes and beautiful floral arrangements throughout. The unfortunate thing about my visit, I was there for a business dinner... lol
The service from start to finish was outstanding. The bar was fairly busy mixed with Resort guest and people like us just their to dine. The servers were very attentive and we got our food fairly fast considering the type of restaurant. The Sommelier was knowledgeable and eager to help us find the right wines to go with our meals. Excellent service all around.
I started my dinning experience with a glass of Chardonnay and Pear and organic mixed green salad. It was good but I was expecting the pear to be grilled. For the entree I had a wonderful Cabernet Sauvignon recommended by the Sommelier, to go with my New York Strip. I added a side of roasted brussel sprouts with duck confit which was outstanding! My steak was cooked extremely well and delicious. I did not have room for desert, but made room for a cup of coffee, which was very good as well.
My next visit to T. Cooks I plan to bring my lovely bride and have the pan roasted halibut with herb potatoes and local veggies cooked in a red wine butter sauce, YUM!! It looked really good from across the table : )
I recommend T. Cooks the next time you are planning a nice dinner for two or with some good friends wanting to have a great evening together. Their wine selection is good and they have an Oktoberfest menu for you German Food fanatics.Listed in: Steaks! My carnivorous…
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Review from Jay C.
Phoenix, AZ
Updated - 5/19/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I remembered I loved the atmosphere here so I tried it again.
I went with a group of three others.
This time, the food was better than I had remembered.
But there were two hiccups that come to mind.
The first hiccup was at the beginning of the evening when we arrived 15 mins before our reservation to be told that there would be a wait because a very large group came before us. Hey, I didn't really mind because as a matter of fact, we were early.
However, we sat in the lounge/bar and spent close to 40 dollars on four glasses of what was a very poor imitation of sangria. Having been to Spain and having had the legit, elixir of the gods, that even non-drinkers have been known to fall in love with, I didn't expect as much. But then again, I didn't expect Hi-C Fruit Punch.
20 mins AFTER our reservation time, we were seated...
But from then on, everything was pretty much smooth sailing.
We ordered the sweetbreads & bone marrow, escargot, antipasto plate, and the mussels for appetizer courses.
Antipasto plate was awesome, lots of different things to nibble on and share with others.
Mussels were good and the portions were big, considering this was a "fancy" restaurant where portions tend to be miniature servings. I can't remember if it came with bread or if we used the bread from the antipasto plate or house bread that came, but we were all sloppin' up the juice from the mussels!
Escargot... Usually served either in a unique dish that holds the individual shells and you pop them out with a miniature fork; or cooked together with other ingredients but still in its shell. At T. Cook's, they do all the work for you, serving the snails out of its shell cooked with the other ingredients... It was good, but I didn't like that it took the "special" out of a typical escargot dish. It's like going to eat crabs and all the meat was already picked out for you... Or sunflower seeds already out of its shell...
The sweetbreads and marrow dish really sucked the last time I came here but ordered it anyways because there really aren't many chances to order this type of "offal" dish in Arizona. This time, it really was good. Very well prepared and delish! However, we were wondering what sweetbreads were called in Spanish. We got our young Hispanic waiter who spoke Spanish by the way and asked him. I'm not fluent, but hearing "pan" and "dulce" were not what I was expecting... I was like "Uhmmm... Excuse me, this isn't bread..." He was "It's not like a bread pieces glazed with a sweet sauce?" I had to pull out my phone and look it up. Holy moly! A waiter who doesn't even know what he's serving? Is that acceptable T. Cooks???
By the way, sweetbreads are Molleja in Spanish.
We also had 4 soups or salads, 4 entreés, and 4 desserts; nothing really outstanding or super memorable from what I remember.
Along with a 50 dollar-ish bottle of wine, our bill was around 410 without tip.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/13/2010
T. Cook's atmosphere and the ambience is hard to beat in the Valley of the Sun.
However, the food… Read more »
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Review from Bryan F.
Scottsdale, AZ
6/29/2011
This is one of the better restaurants in the Phoenix valley. Not only great food, service and decor, but also a great resort to walk around with mature landscaping that is worth the tour.
The service was top notch, and the food was excellent. This is a great venue for date night, or for a group gathering as a special event. There was no rushing from the service and the food delivery was right on from appetizers through desert.
I would highly recommend this restaurant and hotel. -
Review from Kuorosh F.
Phoenix, AZ
12/17/2010
If you want to drop $250-$300 & absolutely not impress a date this is the place!!!
Stuffy, Pretentious, uncomfortable, & Mediocre Summarizes This Venue!
The Resort entry & valet parking is very impressive! (1st class)
You will walk thru a beautiful Spanish Hacienda Court Yard to enter this old world decadent restaurant! (Still 1st class)
"So what's the problem" you ask?
Well when you enter this restaurant with a reservation, a snooty hostess will guide to their rather cramped bar to wait for 1 - 1 1/2 hrs. to get your table!(OK it's a popular high end place, & you can practice your art of conversation over the loud volume of many other patrons waiting the same lousy treatment from the hostess....) Oh this is when sticker shock is about to hit you $30-$35 for a beer (a Guinness) & a glass of wine!
You finally get seated & the waiting staff is doing one hell of a job trying to sell you an expensive bottle of wine! (This part of the experience is very similar to buying Time Share!)
So you order another glass of wine & beer which makes you seem like a cheapskate, or get treated as such.
Now the food does taste good, but with rather small portions & rather hefty sticker, it makes you masticate every bite & really taste your dish! But how much am I paying for this dish!
It's only half a cut of the fish!
Despite all the mastication, it is very hard to swallow!
Somehow you finish your dish! (Mom would be so proud of you cause' your plate is as clean as if it came out of the dish washer!)
So you are now ready for the big finally & the waiters "Fave Pick" on desert! Well off course there are two scrumdiddlyumptious recommends that you will have with the two tiniest espresso shots!
So your bill for $240+ makes its way to the table, & boy if you're planning tipping only 15% you will get the "you cheapskate evil eye" walking out of this restaurant!
Oh 'yah' don't forget to tip the valet, $5 tip also will get you a "are you kidin' me look as well!"Listed in: Places To Avoid In Phoenix
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Review from Isis G.
Scottsdale, AZ
6/26/2011
Great service, great food, great environment. Choosing T Cooks was a great choice to celebrate our anniversary!
We arrived early enough to have a cocktail in the cozy bar before being seated at our table with rose petals scattered on the cloth. Happy Anniversary was typed on the menu and all the staff said congrats. We ordered the Crab Cake, Pear Salad, Paella with Lobster and the Lobster Ravioli. Every bite was perfect. From start to finish every flavor was spot on. The pesto served with the bread to the Gelato with the Pineapple Upside down cake. Wine list was arranged by characteristics (oak vs. No oak) and had bottles starting in the $30ish range.
The server took time to answer questions about the unique property and share stories. Even with a full dining room, we could hear each other. My glass was always full and I never had to ask for anything. My husband even mentioned his like of heirloom tomatoes on his crab and the server came back with a small dish for him to enjoy even more. Another staff member came by and took our picture to send us via email. Brilliant, yet so easy.
Did I mention they have Happy Hour from Sunday to Thursday? They will be seeing us again soon. -
Review from Lisa T.
Sherman Oaks, CA
10/17/2011
We were in AZ to celebrate our 5th anniversary, and chose T. Cook's for the occasion.
To start out, we had to wait a little more than 15 minutes for our 8:00 reservation. No apology, no nothing. It was puzzling, as there were many open tables. So things didn't start out on the best of notes.
Once we were seated, the service was excellent. The table was decorated for our anniversary, and our server was very informative. He also hooked us up with LOTS of extra wine, so that was a plus. But really, those were the highlights of our dinner.
I started with the crab cake, which I did not care for. It was very, very crispy/crunchy, and didn't really have any flavor. DH had the short rib ravioli to start, and it was also bland. The sauce was not to our liking either -- kinda tasted like the dark brown gravy you can make from an envelope. For entrees, I had the paella and DH had the duck. The paella was enormous. Seriously...could have been shared by 4 people. It was fine, I guess. Not horrible, but really not so great either. DH said he enjoyed his duck, but he is more easy-going than I am. I tasted it, and thought it was tough and flavorless. We shared some chocolate dessert, which was good.
I would probably give it 2.5 stars if I could. The atmosphere was really nice, the service was quite good, and my entree was okay. But if this is one of the best restaurants in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, I pity those who live there. -
Review from Ryan J.
7/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
You'll pay a decent price for your meal but here's how I see it. You might save a few bucks doing the fine dining thing elsewhere but you are missing the complete experience that T. Cook's has cornered. Yes, the food is great, particularly anything from the sea, but it is the ambiance, service, location, history, and attention to detail that make make this a truly masterful Phoenix experience.
