6902 East Greenway Parkway
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Ph: (480) 624-1030
Website
Still in search of the ultimate dining EXPERIENCE.....
I figured, what a great time to try and add a little flare to my saturday night in AZ. After several long moments of internet searches, I was drawn to DESEO, a latin restaurant in the Kierland Commons area.
Your dining EXPERIENCE starts from the moment you drive up. PROBLEM. Their location at the West Kierland Resort was like parking at a baseball stadium in general parking, then walking to your position in center field. Just one huge parking lot, too weary to find valet, and no spots except for on the outer edges. Very long walk, finally to the hotel, we find the restaurant.
The restaurant title is spanish for 'I desire', supposedly known for a latin themed cuisine, this just looks like a glorified Applebee's tucked away in the Holiday Inn to me. We were promptly seated at the ceviche bar. Meal time finally.
On the house, 'millionaire tacos' with raw ahi, greens, red onion and jalapeno, yuca taco, very delicious. It's clear already that if they don't cook it, you may be very pleased. Feeling good at this point despite lackluster decor. Next was a trio of ceviche including hamachi with yuzu and sweet soy...simply delicious. Lobster ceviche that the chef presented and pointed to as calamari by mistake...also pretty good. Last was an ahi tuna with creamed coconut...average. Flavors were just a bit muddled. Next was a foie gras and fig empanada. The foie gras was sliced way too thin and just put on top after being cooked too long. No longer with a lush, creamy but firm texture, this foie gras was shriveled to hell. Too small to taste much and overpowered by the fig as well. Entrees included rack of lamb (requested medium rare) with jalapeno-honey and mint mojo. First it was completely overcooked. Basically it was well done. Sauce had very little flavor. This was just downright bad. A disprespect to the lamb and the customer. Also a chilean sea bass....again extremely overcooked. Seared for way too long, edges were hard and chewy. Fish had no flavor. Huge dissapointment considering both of these are very forgiving items to cook and aren't that difficult. You would figure that with chef/owner in town, the chefs would step up. WRONG! The owner Douglas Rodriguez did give us a free course of a stone bowl rice with chorizo, lump crab, and a fried egg on top...Actually very tasty and one of the highlights. Despite knowing I would be dissapointed, we ordered the spanish style creme brulee for desert. HORRIBLE. Cold brulee with no flavor. Texture completely wrong. Berries with red wine for sauce disqusting. Why did I bother?
All in all, would avoid all cooked items in this place including deserts. Overpriced for the quality of food. Decor puts you to sleep. Service is almost embarassing. Food just dropped off without explanation of the ingredients or cooking techniques. We were charged for bottled water that we never asked for. Definitely stop by for the ceviche bar only for a snack. Find valet service if at all possible.
This place did not get me any closer to a true dining EXPERIENCE...
Still in search of the ultimate dining EXPERIENCE.....
I figured, what a great time to try and add a little flare to my saturday night in AZ. After several long moments of internet searches, I was drawn to DESEO, a latin restaurant in the Kierland Commons area.
Your dining EXPERIENCE starts from the moment you drive up. PROBLEM. Their location at the West Kierland Resort was like parking at a baseball stadium in general parking, then walking to your position in center field. Just one huge parking lot, too weary to find valet, and no spots except for on the outer edges. Very long walk, finally to the hotel, we find the restaurant.
The restaurant title is spanish for 'I desire', supposedly known for a latin themed cuisine, this just looks like a glorified Applebee's tucked away in the Holiday Inn to me. We were promptly seated at the ceviche bar. Meal time finally.
On the house, 'millionaire tacos' with raw ahi, greens, red onion and jalapeno, yuca taco, very delicious. It's clear already that if they don't cook it, you may be very pleased. Feeling good at this point despite lackluster decor. Next was a trio of ceviche including hamachi with yuzu and sweet soy...simply delicious. Lobster ceviche that the chef presented and pointed to as calamari by mistake...also pretty good. Last was an ahi tuna with creamed coconut...average. Flavors were just a bit muddled. Next was a foie gras and fig empanada. The foie gras was sliced way too thin and just put on top after being cooked too long. No longer with a lush, creamy but firm texture, this foie gras was shriveled to hell. Too small to taste much and overpowered by the fig as well. Entrees included rack of lamb (requested medium rare) with jalapeno-honey and mint mojo. First it was completely overcooked. Basically it was well done. Sauce had very little flavor. This was just downright bad. A disprespect to the lamb and the customer. Also a chilean sea bass....again extremely overcooked. Seared for way too long, edges were hard and chewy. Fish had no flavor. Huge dissapointment considering both of these are very forgiving items to cook and aren't that difficult. You would figure that with chef/owner in town, the chefs would step up. WRONG! The owner Douglas Rodriguez did give us a free course of a stone bowl rice with chorizo, lump crab, and a fried egg on top...Actually very tasty and one of the highlights. Despite knowing I would be dissapointed, we ordered the spanish style creme brulee for desert. HORRIBLE. Cold brulee with no flavor. Texture completely wrong. Berries with red wine for sauce disqusting. Why did I bother?
All in all, would avoid all cooked items in this place including deserts. Overpriced for the quality of food. Decor puts you to sleep. Service is almost embarassing. Food just dropped off without explanation of the ingredients or cooking techniques. We were charged for bottled water that we never asked for. Definitely stop by for the ceviche bar only for a snack. Find valet service if at all possible.
This place did not get me any closer to a true dining EXPERIENCE...
NOTE: This post is by a guest blogger on Credibly Edible.com.
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2 comments:
haven't tried Deseo and now probably never will. I am in search of a great tapas place in town. We went to Sol Y Sombra at DC Ranch when they first opened; great looking lounge, some friends we were with enjoyed the drinks but the food left me feeling bland s o we have yet to go back.
Dr Foie Gras: Thank you for your great post and sharing with our readers about Deseo. Sorry to hear you had a bad experience. I agree with the last comment that Sol & Sombra would be a better choice for Latin affair.... its a Tapas Bar (sometimes pronounced incorrectly can mean something totally different :))
Its expenseive but its definitely worth it:
http://www.solysombraaz.com/
and my review is here:
http://crediblyedible.blogspot.com/search/label/tapas
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