Lon's at the Hermosa

There aren’t many white-tablecloth Southwestern restaurants quite like Lon’s, a Paradise Valley haven that delivers the total package: ruddy mountain views, a stellar bar, a broad patio sweeping out from a small brown inn accented with turquoise and, most of all, thoughtful food with deep roots in the Valley and its greater region. The menus are seasonal and lean creative. These bring parsnip ravioli with elk shank ragout, a pork ribeye with roasted tomato polenta and buttered prawns and scallops with red curry coconut milk broth. However, weekend brunch might be the best meal at Lon’s, especially when the weather hits just right. Highlights include huevos rancheros, customizable margaritas and a monkey bread so yeasty and loaded with dense cream, caramel and chocolate that you might not need to order anything else. What truly sets Lon’s apart is that the space has a kind of timeless mystique and magic.