Different Pointe of View

I am a fairly regular customer of the Different Pointe of View but they regularly close the restaurant for major events like weddings or company sponsored events. Tonight was a good example. Although it was a Tuesday and closed there were no signs telling visitors or guests the restaurant was closed to the public. If you have every been to this restaurant you would know it is a long drive up a steep hill for quite some distance. Once you get there again no sign or anything to tell you the place is reserved or closed to the public. It is only when you try to enter they tell you that you can’t enter. Tonight I brought a friend who just moved to Phoenix to show them the restaurant and bar area. I was told very rudely that I could not go in and was not able to show my friend the restaurant. I explained that I did not want to enter the restaurant or terrace area bit just show them the facility. Very disappointed in the lack of courtesy or at least a sign to show the place is reserved. Welcome to Phoenix and the Hilton Hotel.

I can’t say enough great things about this restaurant. My boyfriend took me for our anniversary and I was blown away. We are new to Phoenix and he wanted to take me somewhere with a view of the valley — and man — a view is what we got. But that wasn’t all. The menu was outstanding. The best appetizer is the duck confit raviolis. For an entire, I ordered the filet, which was cooked to perfection. He ordered the short ribs. The flavors were amazing. Both meats melted in our mouths. For dessert — bread pudding all the way. And not only was the view breathtaking and the menu outstanding, the service was some of the best I ever experienced. I never had to look for my waiter. My water glass was always full. And the staff offered to take photos of us several times in different settings. Even took us outside and took a photo of us with the view behind us. I would absolutely return and would absolutely recommend this place to my friends. Of course, it’s not cheap. Prepare to spend about $ 200 for two people, including a couple glasses of wine. But well worth it for a special occasion.

Simply, absolutely amazing. The delicious food was plated so perfectly. Our waiter, Ian, was very knowledgable in the wine department as well. He offered food and drink suggestions we couldn’t be happier with. Most important they had my favorite dish… Pork belly! Melt-​in-​your-​mouth perfection. To cap it off, we enjoyed a glass of sherry, from the year I was born (1983). After dinner we were were encouraged to go to the downstairs bar, where they gave us complimentary booze-​marshmallows to roast in a fire. The view was also great, as they had boasted. I’ll remember this experience for a very long time.

What can I say? I just can NOT be disappointed with this restaurant! We’ve been going for over 15 years, have gone for New Years, birthdays, anniversaries and countless other special occasions and they’ve never dropped the ball. Not once!
The view… Even if you’re in a miserable mood this amazing mountain top floor-​to-​ceiling panoramic view will make you feel like all the stars in the sky are set out over the valley just for you. It is incredibly relaxing, breathtaking, romantic and makes for beautiful pictures!
The food… well, I must be honest, I’m not sure how the menu fares as we don’t even read it… we’ve only ever ordered the chef tasting menu, but I’ve never been let down. In fact, I get so excited when we make reservations it’s all I think about for days. They do ask if you have food allergies, but be warned, if you’re not up for trying new foods or eating favorites in creative, inventive, non-​traditional combinations this might be too much of an adventure for you:) That being said, I suggest «Live a little», try new things and allow this artist of a chef to take you on a flavor ride. He will convert you to allow someone else to take the wheel. The beauty of the plates, the flavors and combinations are always memorable…
This particular evening we started with pan seared foie gras on top of French toast with a chestnut smear and huckleberry jam.
Our second course was a light and crunchy breaded soft shell crab with a frisée salad tossed in lemon vinaigrette and dotted with fried slivers of jalapeños.
Course 3 was an impeccable pan seared diver sea scallop atop a lobster Parmesan risotto cake served with lobster knuckles, caramelized shallots and (I believe) rapini.
4^th course was pistachio crusted rack of lamb with natural lamb jus reduction over a celery root purée and, spinach and roasted chanterelle mushrooms.
Dessert was a 4 piece sampler per couple.
1.) a citrus bread pudding (mandarin ?)
2.) a s’more type layered chocolate and marshmallow cake
3.) traditional cream brûlée with berries
4.) an amazing combination of peanut butter, chocolate and banana… don’t know what it was, but we almost fought over it and it was gone too quickly to break it down, but if you get a choice (as sometimes we have been offered during the tasting) get the peanut butter, banana & chocolate dessert… all of us agreed!
The wine… well, they have many many many choices and I’m sure you can find your favorite, but why not let your server/​sommelier make a pairing to the chef’s menu? I’ve experienced many wines I might not have bothered to try, and, as an interesting twist, several didn’t care for when poured, but fell in LOVE with when the course pairing arrived. What a gift they have to elevate both the food and the wine! I wish I had written down the wines from this evening, but my phone was not charged, so I am going without pics and from memory (which got fuzzier following 4 glasses of wine;)). Many of the food courses had extra oils, drizzles and smears as well that made for unctuous bites, but again I apologize for the lack of «notes» taken.
First was a sweeter round white from France, second was a crisp, fruity (pear/​Apple) white akin to a Pinot Grigio from Italy, third was a Chardonnay from California and fourth was a cotes de rhone (blend of Grenache/​Syrah). Again, I apologize for no names.
The service… I’ve always felt service is at LEAST ½ of your dining experience. I cannot say enough about the atmosphere created here. They make you feel special without being stuffy. We joke around with the staff and are always made to feel comfortable.
If you ever get the chance to splurge on a special meal, I HIGHLY recommend this as an all around amazing experience.
Compliments to the chef and the entire staff at Different Pointe of view… I look forward to the next time I’m lucky enough to return!

It was recommended to me to try Different Pointe of View and was not disappointed! Joe and Bill ensured that our evening was superb! To start with our table was right by the window and overlooked the gorgeous view of Phoenix at dusk… Appetizers were amazing! Pork belly, ravioli, white truffle risotto and oysters were the selections. Followed by our delectable entrees! The short ribs were out of this world and the Steelhead w/​shrimp risotto was melt in your mouth. Followed by a special anniversary dessert and we added the crème brûlée-​delicious! The service of the waitstaff was impeccable; This was definitely a 5-​star experience and will return!

My favorite part about my first experience at Different Pointe of View was that the food was just as incredible as the view. My wife took me for my birthday and it was a first for us both. We went at night and had a great table w/​a view. The service was incredible as well. My wife and I both started w/​a bowl of Lobster bisque and we both had the Filet Mignon w/​blue cheese and a reduction sauce that was phenomenal. We had Zero complaints and the satisfaction of the moment left little room for words. We added a few cocktails to top it all off. I would definitely recommend dining here.

I’m from Seattle and I took my two teenage daughters for an excellent dinner the evening of January 1^st, 2016.
Everything about the dinner… the view, the interior, the food’s taste and presentation was outstanding, but what really made the experience memorable was the personal attention given to us by Luis, our server. In particular, one of my daughters is finicky about what she’ll try and Luis assured her and explained each dish in detail, relating it to other things she might have tried and enjoyed in the past. (She loved the attention.) He was patient, informative, pleasant… everything you could possibly want your server to be in an upscale restaurant and much more.
If you’re reading this Luis, thank you for making such a memorable experience for us! :-)
Tip: The view from this restaurant is probably the best in Phoenix — I’m surprised the place isn’t packed ²⁴⁄₇ just for the view. That said, I recommend either arriving early or remaining late (with a warm coat for sitting beside the fire pit outside,) so you can absorb the wonderful world view set far below and into the distance.
Enjoy. :-)

Very romantic and elegant place. Enjoyed a 4 course meal on New Years Eve. Not only do you enjoy the amazing food but the view is also breathe taking. We will definitely be coming back here!

My husband and I celebrated our 28^th wedding anniversary here. First, I have to say, that Mr. Ellis of the Pointe, made good on a gift certificate, given to me by my kids. Long story. check out my review of the Tocaloma…
Anyways, we had a terrific dinner, with salads and a drink, beer for my husband, a glass of wine, for me. The view is to die for. And the service was excellent. :)

Came with my hubby to celebrate our wedding anniversary, and was not disappointed. Service and food was amazing! And the beautiful view of Phoenix at night was incredible. Definitely coming back. Would love to thank our waiter Luis for an amazing service. He went over and beyond to make this celebration memorable. Thank you Luis, you’re awesome! Recommend this spot for a romantic dinner or night out with fiends.

What a beautiful view! My husband took me here for my birthday and we had a lovely corner table by the window with the perfect view. Our reservation was late so it was dark, but it was beautiful seeing the city lit up at night. I’d love to come back to see a sunset.
Wasn’t super impressed with the service. Our waiter wasn’t friendly and the person refilling our water spoke to us more than our actual server did. Maybe because it was the end of the night. Still, for such a nice, fancy restaurant I would have expected a little more interaction and attentiveness from the actual waiter. Even though it was my birthday, they didn’t offer any sort of dessert special, which was surprising because most restaurants (even fancy ones) tend to do so nowadays. Food portions were decent and flavorful. But the real reason I’d go back is to enjoy the the view.
Downstairs they have a bar/​lounge with comfortable seating where you can order drinks/​appetizers and enjoy the view. There’s also a fire pit which is nice if it’s a little chilly. Drinks and food are pricey and you’re definitely paying for the ambience. Very romantic spot but next time I may opt for the lounge.

Took a friend for a birthday dinner last week. I don’t think there was anything to complain about really. The server, (Ian, I think) was wonderful. He was knowledgeable about wines as well as everything on the menu including the special of the day. One of the reasons I picked this place is because they have several gluten free items from which to choose. First, we had what I consider the best table in the place, right at the far southwest corner. Perfect view, wish we could have come at sunset, surely it would have been spectacular. We started off with red wine and pork belly for the appetizer. What I will share is that we thought we only ordered one, to share, but they brought us two, no worries, we enjoyed them. Then we had salads. My friend ordered the steak and I got the chicken, so we could try each others. Both were just fabulous. I was way too full for dessert but my friend made room for crème brûlée which was very tasty. The entire meal was nicely done and enjoyable. The meal was not inexpensive, but you kind of know that going in, ours with tip was just over $ 200.

What a great dining experience. My wife and I celebrated our anniversary here recently and will return.
We both enjoyed our meals, appetizers, beverages, and dessert. My wife enjoyed the scallops, delicious. I enjoyed the pork loin, fantastic. The wine list was humongous, and everything was reasonably priced. Our server took good care of us which pushed this to a five star review.
Remember that dining should be a great experience and in my «point of view» this’ Point of View’ checked all the boxes.

The view, the view, the view! It’s magical! The food is amazing also. My husband and I had the pleasure of experiencing the 5 Corse Chef’s Dinner. It was corse after corse of taste bud tantalizing perfection. The service is top notch fine dining service. It’s not cheap but I feel it is not over priced either. Our bill was about $ 200.
It is for sure a luxury dining experience. Call ahead for reservations.

Amazing view and the food was truly delicious. The service could have been stronger… it was not on par with the quality or price of the food, as our server seemed unpolished. That said, the view was incredible and again, the food was amazing. Great experience overall.

The view, the food, the drinks — all delicious. Even if you don’t get a table by the window, you can still see the view well enough no matter where you are. If not, you can head outside after your meal and you will see the view best from there. We made reservations about 2 weeks ahead of time and the hostess said the tables closest to the window book out a month ahead of time. So call early if you want it!
My husband and I each had the filet with scalloped potatoes (divine), we shared the risotto as well as the ravioli — both very good & for dessert, the vanilla crème brûlée (my favorite part). I also very much enjoyed their old fashioned — delicioso!

I had an opportunity to dine here last night & I have been very excited to check this place out for years!
That being said, it will probably be my last visit. This is an outdated «older» clientele restaurant. Anything that appeared on the menu I can get at Steak 44 or any fine dining establishment for the same price & better tasting/​quality.
I had the filet which was over-​cooked, I requested med-​rare. It didn’t taste nearly as good as a steakhouse filet for $ 44.
I started with the lobster bisque, it was very tasty.
No need to go back.
Sorry DPOV.

The best dining experience I’ve ever had. If you’re looking to woo someone, whether its a first date or you’ve been together for a long time, this is the place to go. I treated my boyfriend here for Valentines day, and we had an amazing time.
BIG NOTE: Finding it is a bit difficult if you’re unfamiliar with the area and are using GPS. I didn’t look too into the location, as I rely completely on Google Maps on my phone and that was a mistake. Look into the location and get a good idea of where it is. GPS will send you into a golf course. Its located at the Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort. We took a wrong turn (left at the first turn, you’re supposed to go right), because of some work they were doing on the road that had us confused. When we finally did get there, we had a hard time figuring out how to get to the restaurant, as there is a section for parties/​etc. The main dining area is at the top of the stairs. They were very accommodating of our lateness due to this, and we still got the table that we had reserved.
This is an expensive, up-​scale restaurant. While they don’t seem to have a dress code that you MUST follow (I saw a few people who were more on the casual side of dressy casual), I would recommend dressy casual and above for this restaurant. While the atmosphere is classy, the waiters do not seem like snobs of any sort. They are very professional, courteous, and happy to answer any questions.
I recommend booking in advance with a note for window or patio seating (your preference), and arriving right before sunset hours for the best views and experience.
The food is amazing. The portions seem small to anyone not used to more up-​scale dining, but it is VERY filling and amazing.

I love Different Pointe of View! I came here for Restaurant week, made reservations, and watched the sun set. My fiancé thought it was the best view from a restaurant he has seen so far!
Service was spectacular — first course, Buttermilk Fried Soft Shell Crab
Honey Sweet Corn Polenta, Asparagus Purée, Piquillo Pepper Emulsion. It was a whole small crab and I ate that thing like it was no one’s business!
Second course — Seared Blue Nose Sea Bass Crispy Saffron Parmesan Risotto Cake, Rapini, Peppadew Pepper Reduction. My oh my! It was so deliciously scrumptious!
Third course — Peanut butter cheesecake was so damn yummy! It was a good ending to a great meal! We went outside right after the dinner on to the patio and the view is breathtaking!
Even with restaurant week prices, you do spend more than $ 50/​pp with tax, wine, and tip… but it was worth it!

Last night, I had one of the most delicious meals of my life at Different Pointe of View in Phoenix. I’ve never been to this gorgeous AAA Four Diamond restaurant overlooking Phoenix, part of the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort, and we were immediately treated to beautiful skies and glittering city lights.
I went there for the Insider’s Point of View dinner, where Chef Anthony DeMuro prepares a four-​course dinner tableside for only 12 guests. Attendees are treated to a wine reception with appetizers out at that breathtaking patio before heading in to the chef’s table, with each course paired with a complementary wine. The dinner is held every month besides summer months, and this season goes through May 1. Every featured winemaker is different depending on the dinner, and last night, we were treated to the delicious J. Hofstätter wine from Italy, a winery dating back four generations.
We started out with Pinot Grigio out of the patio with an artichoke appetizer (Different Pointe of View was kind enough to offer vegetarian alternatives for me outside the regular menu — they’ll work with any dietary needs.) The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly, with lots of room for guests to spread out and take in the view.
As an introvert who gets nervous at group dinners, the chef’s dinner was so much fun and low-​stress. Diners are spread out around the makeshift kitchen, and Chef Anthony lets diners know exactly how he’s cooking dishes — it’s like a live cooking show in such a romantic setting overlooking the city.
I love cooking but definitely can use all the tips I can get, and I learned a ton from Chef Anthony, especially in regards to risotto, a difficult dish to perfect, even for the pros. He advised to aim to get the rice crackling when it hits the oil-​filled pan, and to treat it like pasta — get it to the consistency you desire in the broth you’re simmering it in, then drain it.
As someone who regularly botches any type of rice, I appreciated his tips. I also had purple cauliflower for the first time, in the absolutely amazing course featuring a spinach polenta cake, abalone and yellowfeet mushrooms, and a smoked tomato sauce. It was paired with a great Pinot Noir that was devoid of a heavy oak-​y flavor, because J. Hofstätter wine is housed in stainless steel, not wooden barrels.
Our first course was light and refreshing but still really flavorful. My seafood-​eating companion had lobster tail with a frisée salad with lemon zest, herbs, roasted garlic oil and garlic chips, while I had mine sans lobster.
I loved the crunchy texture, and it paired wonderfully with the J. Hofstätter Pinot Bianco, a crisp white wine. My companion doesn’t normally prefer white over red wine, but he loved the Pinot Bianco.
Like Chef Anthony did a wonderful job at explaining the cooking process, winemaker Martin Foradori talked about the winemaking process and reminded diners how important acidity is when pairing wines with food. His vineyard has altitudes up to 6,000 feet, and it was really neat to hear about making wine in Italy while we sipped his vino.
While we noshed on the veggie polenta dish, our companions enjoyed wild boar.
My favorite dish of the night was the herb risotto with golden beets, artichoke hearts and a broccoli rabe sauce — meat-​eaters got short ribs braised in veal stock. It was paired with J. Hofstätter’s Lagrein red wine, which is generally related to a Syrah, compared to the elegant Pinot Noir. Foradori described this wine as fresh and fruity, and it was a great addition to the tasty dish.
Of course, dessert was a treat, a chocolate cherry balsamic cake with chocolate ganache and a chocolate balsamic sauce. The texture was moist and creamy, and I tried to get every last drop of sauce to cover the cake. I loved the cherry flavor, which related well to the red wines, too.
The dining experience was more than a two-​hour feast, and it was so much fun, in addition to making my stomach so happy. The wine dinner is a great value at $ 99 a person, because you get unique one-​on-​one time with the chef and so many tasty glasses of wine in addition to the farm-​fresh dishes that are incredibly healthy.
The next dinner is Friday, March 6, with wine’s from Italy’s Tedeschi Wines. Reservations can be made by calling (602) 866‑6350.