Two sites have teamed up to help travelers and food fans find those spots. Travel booking site KAYAK knows a thing or two about hotels. And OpenTable, the reservation site, has its finger on the pulse of popular restaurants. Recently, the duo released a joint list of the Top 100 Hotel Restaurants in America.
The list makes the argument that hotel restaurant quality has improved over recent years, as diners' interest has grown. The sites found that 47% of Americans have booked a trip to visit a restaurant. KAYAK data showed a 51% year-over-year increase in its users applying the "restaurant" filter on their hotel searches.
"Hotel restaurants have become formidable players over the years as hoteliers have recognized the power of serving their guests memorable and locally-inspired dining experiences," Scott Hudson, OpenTable's VP of Global Sales & Services, noted in the list.
That increase is reflected in the growing number of destination-worthy restaurants popping up at the Valley's resorts. But the two Valley restaurants that made the Top 100 list have been serving customers long before recent trends took hold.
J&G Steakhouse at The Phoenician made the cut, along with Different Pointe of View at the Hilton Phoenix Tapatio Cliffs Resort.
J&G Steakhouse opened in 2009. Since then, it's been serving hotel guests and locals visiting the luxe Camelback Road resort. Its menu includes a raw bar selection and grass-fed, Prime and Wagyu steaks to be paired with sides and sauces. Entrees also include baked salmon, roasted halibut and a vegan pasta option. The restaurant offers beer, wine and craft cocktails.
When J&G opened, it had big shoes to fill. It took over the famed Mary Elaine's, a legendary fine-dining restaurant that had been open since 1988. Mary Elaine's was known for its 40,000-bottle wine inventory and purse stools, and is one Phoenix's most memorable bygone restaurants.
Longevity is a familiar concept for the second Valley spot to make the list. Located at the Hilton Phoenix Tapatio Cliffs Resort, Different Pointe of View opened over 40 years ago and has been a showstopping destination ever since.
The restaurant and patio focuses on the vistas. Perched on a mountain 1,800 feet above Phoenix, it looks over the Valley, capturing city views and Arizona sunsets. The menu includes steaks, seafood and sides with hints of Arizona flavors, such as prickly pear miso-glazed salmon.
So whether you're visiting the Valley or a you live in town and are making the most of a local staycation, KAYAK and OpenTable make the argument not to overlook hotel restaurants and the enticing meals, service and views they have to offer.
