Quiessence

Where:   Phoenix, AZ
When:    November 24, 2011
Who:      Mo, Malcolm, Pepito and Kate
What:     Restaurant
Cost:      $65 for Thanksgiving Dinner
Rating:   5.0 stars (out of 5)

Entrance to Quiessence

When we were thinking about how to spend our Thanksgiving, which decided to mix it up this year and splurge a little by going out to dinner.    Quiessence is one of those Phoenix gems that we’ve always wanted to try, but it is also one of those places that is reserved for a special occasion, by that I mean it’s pricey!  It’s pricey, but it’s beautiful.  I had been here before for a company event and Pep had been here for a wedding, but none of us had been here for dinner. 

Beautiful Ambiance

For Thanksgiving, like all restaurants, Quiessence had a price fix menu for $65 that included three courses.   I know what you are saying, “$65 for a turkey dinner – how good can it be?”  Well, I have to say, was the food worth $65 alone, probably not, but combine the atmosphere and service, definitely!   The first course was a choice between salad or soup.  The second course had four choices;  Wild Venison, New England Lobster, Polenta or Turkey.  Lastly the dessert was a choice between pumpkin pie or apple crisp.  All dinners were served with bread and sides; carrots, potatoes, stuffing and green beans. 

Thanksgiving Menu

Quiessence is located at the Farm at South Mountain that houses three restaurants; Morning Glory is the breakfast restaurant, The Farm is the lunch restaurant and Quiessence is the dinner restaurant.  Don’t let the location scare you away from trying each of these restaurants; 32nd St. and Southern.  I’ve now eaten at all three restaurants, and I recommend all of them…highly!  The location is so charming and nothing like any other restaurant I’ve been to in the valley.  The uniqueness of each restaurant is hard to describe, so I won’t try; but so well worth the treck to these gems. 

Not Your Mother's Turkey!

For the first course, everyone had the soup except for me; I had the beet salad.  Both were excellent as you can imagine.  For the second course, only one of us didn’t get turkey; yup the brit!  Malcolm ordered the wild venison which he said was okay – not fantastic.  What the hell was he thinking anyway…who doesn’t order turkey on Thanksgiving?  Well, he missed out because the turkey was excellent.  How could can turkey be, you might ask?  Really freaking good!  For dessert, most of us ordered the apple crisp which was to die for!  It was so good, we kept trying to stuff more into our full belly’s…but none of us could finish it. 

Apple Crisp

Quiessence is one of those places you don’t just go to but you experience.  Treat yourself.  Treat your partner.  Treat your parents.  Whatever, but just go.  By the time it was all said and done (wine), each of us paid $101 for Thanksgiving dinner.  Was it worth it?  Hell yes!  We all work hard and deserve a little treat now and then and this was just the place to do it. 

Great Friends!

Eat, drink and be merry and most importantly enjoy your friends, family and life!

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