DPOV – A Different Point of View – A wondrous view of desert valley.

 

Where else can you obtain a view of the desert valley and food to accommodate the atmosphere add a few drinks and you have DPOV.  Located high up on the mountain it allows a different perspective of Phoenix Arizona.  This massive view of a restaurant is at the Tapaito Cliffs Resort.  Although it advertises as a family restaurant I find it more a romantic spot to celebrate a special occasion. 

The menu favors more of the meat variety but they can accommodate vegetarians.  For starters if you love pork then the Crispy Seared Berkshire Pork Belly would be a prize.  The pork is tender and moist and the chef here makes it sweet with roasted fig stuffed French toast and a caramelized peach reduction.  If clams are your thing then I recommend the lobster porcini broth and focaccia.  The clams are well shucked and lobster broth brings a creamy richness to the dish.

I always try to have crisp inventive salad to get my palette energized.  The chef has quite an imagination that works.  The Heirloom Tomato “Carpaccio” was an Italian’s dream.  It was made with Italian olives, artichokes, ricotta salata and a roasted pepper sherry dressing to kick it up a notch.  The Blueberry and Rocket Argula reminded me of a dream I once had in the Roman countryside.  Fresh blueberries, of course a smidgen of Arizona goat cheese, Marcona almonds, shaved organic beets and a sweet Cabernet Lavender Vinaigrette. Those are just a small sampling of what the chef has in mind when he elevates simple rabbit food to the next level.

Entrees come in all sizes from trout and chicken to a fresh hanger steak.  Recommendations and hats off to chef for the Vanilla Brandy Poached Maine Lobster served with Perigord Truffle Raviolis, charred summer squash and smokey lobster Buerre Blanc.  Just the right amount of truffle made these raviolis to die for with the sweet taste of lobster.  You may wonder how you can get fresh seafood in Arizona and I was wondering the same thing but it works.

Grilled Cedar River Filet Mignon was beyond tender.  What made this so special was the watercress horseradish crusted, white bean Truffle puree, summer greens and crispy seared sweet corn polenta.  The polenta was divine and moist paired with the white bean Truffle puree it brought the Mignon to the next level.

Let’s talk dessert and I mean dessert.  My favorite was the “Turtle” layered Ganache, pecan caramel and chocolate cream with butter pecan sauce.  Just roll me out the door.  It was by far the best dessert I had to date.  The Chocolate Hazelnut Brown Butter Brownie was good but it just was not the Turtle.

My hat off to Executive Chef Anthony DeMuro and Executive Sous Chef John Panza for making dishes that sang to me “eat me eat me”.  The food was fresh and so was the thought behind the dishes.

The staff was friendly my only negatives were there lack of selections for vegetarians they need to eat to and the prices.   Granted it was not al le carte which was a nice surprise but you do feel compelled to order an appetizer and a salad to begin with so that just adds to the overall price.   Like I said before this is not a family establishment it’s an event you want to share with that special someone.  So 3.5 Forks up.  You cannot be the view.

Located at: 11111 North 7th Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85020
Reservations: 1-800-947-9784 open for dinner only Tuesday – Saturday.