Durant’s lands on New York Times’ 50 best restaurants in America list

Durant’s, the 76-year-old Phoenix steakhouse, has earned a spot on the New York Times’ 2026 Restaurant List, the paper’s annual selection of 50 favorite restaurants in the United States.

Durant’s is the only Arizona restaurant on the list, which spans 29 states.

The Times also published the recipe for Durant’s shrimp cocktail on its NYT Cooking platform.

“For a lot of the year, the Phoenix sun is a punishing presence, but inside Durant’s it’s always dim and cool, the martinis crisp and frosty,” Times reporter Brian Gallagher wrote.

Recognition follows Phoenix landmark’s reopening under new ownership

Brothers Jeff and Mike Mastro, along with their father Dennis Mastro and partner Scott Troilo of Prime Steak Concepts, acquired the restaurant in early 2025 after 75 years of family ownership under the McElroy family.

The group, which also runs Steak 44, Ocean 44 and Dominick’s Steakhouse, closed Durant’s for a 10-month restoration before reopening in December 2025.

The new owners described the project as a restoration, not a remodel.

The signature red flocked wallpaper was chosen by founder Jack Durant when he opened the restaurant in 1950. The kitchen received modern upgrades and the menu was expanded.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Senior Editor Kevin Stone contributed to this report.

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