University Club of Phoenix

I used to get really excited for Arizona Restaurant Week. Still, I lost my enthusiasm after I would gain 10 pounds in a week (truly!) and the fact that many of the set menus feature items I wouldn't ordinarily order. For example, I rarely order dessert, and many menus feature it. Events like Arizona Restaurant Week are suitable when a place is really offering a good value or when you have access to a venue that you wouldn't ordinarily be able to get into. Cue my reason for visiting the University Club of Phoenix. This is a members-only club (a four-year university degree is mandatory for membership as is a monthly membership fee of $125) that only opens up to non-members during select holidays and special events. I was advised to monitor their website for special group dinners that open up throughout the year that sounded pretty cool. I had tried to make a reservation here during the fall portion of ARW last year but it had filled up fast. Pro tip: The spring session of Arizona Restaurant Week is always a bit easier to snag reservations for as many snowbirds have already flown away. The other reason that I wanted to try it wasn't simply for snobbish reasons ("Darling, I have reservations at the University Club tonight") but also because of all the ARW menus on offer, theirs is a steal. For $44 a person, you get an alcoholic beverage (pro tip: order the wine over the beer as it costs more), an appetizer, a choice of an entree, and dessert (yup, I'll eat it if it's included!). When I arrived at the Club, I was just blown away to find it. This is truly a hidden gem for downtown Phoenix. The Heard Museum is next door and the residential tree-lined streets (of epic houses!) make this such a charming part of the city. Parking is a breeze as well. Before it opened as a private club in 1965, it was a residence. One of the servers told me that the original owners recently held an event here to reminisce and explained to the staff the changes that had occurred at the property since they sold it. I thought that was cool! I ordered the Caprese skewers which really should be billed as a Caprese salad. It was divine and the word that comes to mind with everything here is fresh. The chef is excellent and clearly takes pride in his craft. For my entree, I went with the prime rib. It was HUGE. I could not believe the size. The accompanying mashed potatoes and vegetable medley was just as good. My guests ordered the salmon which is a decent size and is served with maple sauce which brings out the sweetness of the fish. Creative and yummy! For dessert, we ordered both the cheesecake and the Key Lime pie. Both were good but I would vote for the cheesecake. And for wine, I did a glass of Malbec. The employees here are amazing. Most have worked here for decades (my server, Lourdes, has been working here for 20 years and she isn't even the longest-serving employee!). I changed my reservation about three times and each time was, "No problem!" (this may not be the case every time but Friday night was not too busy). The servers love chatting with guests and will even give you a brief tour of the property. I also got plenty of other restaurant recommendations, too! Other reviews have mentioned that the property is somewhat dilapidated. It's true that the property is in need of a refresh but there is also something quite wholesome and authentic about it. It's not putting on airs, simply serving quality food with exceptional service. The site can be rented for special events and I would see that as being more of an issue if you were hosting something like a wedding (although the backyard is magnificent!). All in all, my visit to the University Club of Phoenix exceeded expectations. It's hard to find something else like this in the Valley. It's a throwback to a different era when people gathered around a dining table and actually engaged in conversation with each other instead of peering into their smartphones. And to my amazement, they are even open for breakfast and lunch. I can't wait to go back!

The good: staff was very friendly and parking was convenient. Several aspects of the meal were tasty and the portions were generous The bad: the overall feel is shabby and outdated. I can't imagine paying for access and exclusivity to go there.

Ok, it depends. I am a member of the University Club and I find it amazingly convenient. They serve breakfast and lunch and it's a great atmosphere to have a conversation. The staff is friendly and they know me and I appreciate their attentiveness. The food is very good. They always have an interesting art exhibit. It's a great venue for meetings and for receptions. Parking is good. So why not five stars?My only issue with this place is that being a creature of habit, I find what I like on the menu and stick with it and at the University Club of Phoenix, there is a level of inconsistency that is hard to predict. Quality doesn't falter but one day a dish comes with avocado and the next time it doesn't. Another time there is an egg on the cauliflower rice and the next time, there isn't. They just need a kitchen checklist and then, I'm all in.

Quaint and adorable venue! Very comfortable and I love the atmosphere and they way they display local artists work. The food was delicious and I was thrilled to be sitting in a place so rich in local history. If those walls could talk!

University Club is a membership club in central Phoenix. I do not have a membership but have attended meetings and a wedding at the club as a guest in the past. You can go on-line to see rates for this under "membership". The wedding, we attended was a while ago but I distinctively remember how beautiful it was out on outside garden. The ceremony and dinner was outside and it was gorgeous. It almost felt like we were not in Phoenix, but removed far far away in some plush other land with greens and plants surrounding us! The food was catered by University Club and was delicious. I remember the staff being kind. As for the meetings I have attended inside the club, they were very nice as well. Nothing fancy dancy over the top, but had a lot of old Phoenix charm. The club is an old renovated 1917 house and each of the dining rooms are parts of the house, it's really neat. It's like being in someones home but not. Go to the website and check out the photos!http://www.universityclubphoenix.com/

I belong to National Association of Professional Organizers of Arizona and we have been meeting at The University Club for over a year for our monthly meetings. The vintage building has been converted into a restaurant and meeting venue. It is immaculate and affords us the space to mingle and give presentations with an overhead screen and microphone. The tables are always set with linen and the buffet style meal is consistently delicious and hot The staff is courteous and move about discreetly-- aware of the meeting in progress. Our attendance averages 25 per month. I highly recommend The University Club for meetings.

This place is located in the one of the older areas of Phoenix right next to the Heard Museum. The atmosphere and ambiance is like taking a trip back to 1965.We were greeted by Summer who took care of us until our server arrived. The servers are all male and have some serious seniority. Initially, there was only one server, but at half past noon several more showed up. We realized that this is a laid back, old school establishment but over two hours for lunch was the limit to our patience. Everything here is classy, with understated and traditional elegance.Unfortunately, our chef hasn't kept up with things. The filet was fatty and soaked in gravy without texture, and the Prime Rib seemed to have come from an older male bovine. (tough) We exchanged both for meatloaf and crab cakes which were better. The mashed potato, fresh green beans, and baked potato were on a much higher level. The berry/walnut salad with feta cheese, apple slices, spring greens,blackberries, strawberries, blueberries and candied walnuts, with a poppyseed dressing was outstanding. The spinach salad with blue cheese, tomatoes, bacon and a vinegarette dressing was a keeper. The Tres Leches Cake was only 1.5 leches as it seemed dry andnowhere as creamy as the norm for this dessert. The Keylime Pie came with a stout presentation consisting of multiple berries and drizzles. This was a winner with a good crust andtasty filling. There just wasn't enough.

Last night, we attend a special event at the University Club of Phoenix. Absolutely everything about the facility from arrival through departure is elegant and thought provoking. Thanks to Executive Chef Jonathan Cullen, the food is incredible and the hospitality personnel are some of the best trained servers that I have ever encountered. Truly, this is the perfect venue for any special occasion!

Went here for Mother's Day, they were advertising a special brunch. $50-$55 per person. Imagine paying 50.00 for eggs Benedict that had uncooked egg whites that are clear, hollandaise sauce that you can peel off like a bandaid in one solid piece, and English muffins with the texture of leather that you can't even cut through with a steak knife. Skip this place... there are so many better options in Phoenix. The service was good and the staff were very nice but the food was suboptimal. The prime rib looked good so maybe that was the way to go. Cute concept with the vintage decor but food was unforgettable and not in a good way.

Had the great pleasure of celebrating Valentine's Day there. As always, the food was delicious. Our party of three thoroughly enjoyed the soup, tastings from each other's entrees (prime rib, salmon and chicken) and sharing the yummy desserts. The servers were attentive, efficient and courteous. The atmosphere was very festive and convivial. Being presented with a beautiful long-stemmed rose upon arrival was the icing-on-the-cake. We all agreed, it was definitely one of the best Valentine's celebrations we've had in years. These guys always knock it out of the park! And NOT just on holidays. Breakfast and lunch are a hit too!Liz S.