When making reservations for our Christmas Day meal, it dawned on me that the restaurant we chose (Lons at The Hermosa) was located in Paradise Valley, a wealthy enclave nestled between Phoenix and Scottsdale. Paradise Valley is backdropped by the Camelback and McDowell Mountains. It’s known as a luxurious desert oasis with high-end resorts, golf courses, fine dining, and affluent residences. For some reason it made me ponder just what children would consider paradise. I wondered if Art Linkletter ever asked kids on his program Kids Say The Darnest Things what they consider paradise to be. Alas, that question was apparently not asked during the lengthy television run of that beloved program.
During a 2005 interview on CNN’s Larry King Live, Linkletter did discuss his personal views on the afterlife and heaven, contrasting them with the traditional view of paradise. In the exchange, Larry King mentioned that Billy Graham expected paradise after death. When asked for his own beliefs, Linkletter responded that “Heaven sounds too placid” for his taste and that he would prefer a lot of activity. This suggests that for Art Linkletter, an ideal afterlife would not be a place of quiet, eternal rest (a common interpretation of paradise), but rather one of continuous engagement and action.
So, is Paradise Valley the idyll its name implies? Chief executives, celebrities and athletes certainly think so. It’s the wealthiest city in all of Arizona with a median household income exceeding $210,000. Median home values often exceed $2 million, with many estates valued much higher. Extremely expensive homes–often multi-million dollar estates–and exclusivity are two attractions. Another would have to be Lon’s at the Hermosa which is a renowned, four-diamond restaurant located within the Hermosa Inn, a high-end, atmospheric restaurant famous for its unique food and historic ambiance. Lon’s is known for its globally-inspred Southwest cuisine prepared over wood fires (roasting, grilling, smoking) in a romantic, historic seating. It offers upscale dining with such unique experiences as underground wine cellar dinners. Lon’s has been honored with a DiRōNA (Distinguished Restaurants of North America) award.
Lon’s at The Hermosa Inn has earned its reputation as one of the most beautiful restaurants in the world–even if you don’t dine in an underground wine cellar. Al fresco dining is the way to go. Thankfully the Valley of The Sun has the weather to accommodate outdoor dining under arboreal splendor. Five with five outdoor fireplaces, a trickling fountain and colorful flowerbeds are the backdrop for your meal. We also had continuous entertainment with our meal. Seated next to the multi-layered fountain, we were entertained by birds either bathing in the water or leering at our meal. Ocassionally one of the feathered fiends would swoop down and abscond with a bit of bread or a packet of sugar. Our server told us he’s done everything he can to shoo away the birds. I suggested he tell them ICE is coming for them.
Christmas meal 2025 was a three course prix fixe experience, essentially an appetizer, an entree and a dessert. A very comprehensive wine menu eclipses any meal menu. Lon’s consistently receives major wine and dining honors, notably Wine Spectator’s ‘Best of Award of Excellence’ for its cellar and list and OpenTable recognition as one of America’s most romantic/outdoor dining spots, celebrating its acclaimed wine program and unique ambiance, including its historic subterranean wine cellar and outdoor patio. Obviously dining at Lon’s is an experience; everyone was dressed to the nines.
Five starters graced the menu: Smoked Cauliflower Soup, Hermosa Salad, Butter Lettuce & Arugula Salad, Lamb Ragout and Rock Shrimp Cocktail. Any and every one of them sounded like a great way to start off a memorable meal. As such, I asked our server to rank the top three. His favorite was the rock shrimp cocktail (clamato, tomatillo, cucumber, avocado). It was an excellent choice, albeit one that left me craving a larger portion. The rock shrimp had the snap of freshness and there was plenty of it. The tomatillo and clamato pairing was genius. It had just enough acidity and tanginess to titillate my tongue.
My Kim opted for the Hermosa salad (apple, pomegranate, candied pecan, goat cheese, maple vinaigrette (gluten free)). Although she’s not especially fond of frisee (curved endive) or arugula, other ingredients worked concordantly to obfuscate the lettuce flavors she doesn’t like. This was an excellent salad though it could be argued there just wasn’t enough goat cheese, candied pecans, apple or pomegranate. The vibrant burst of sweet, tart and tangy juice from the pomegranate, its refreshing flavor and satisfying crunch were especially noteworthy. The goat cheese contributed its signature sour notes.
It’s very rare that my Kim and I order the same entree as it seems inevitable I have to try something different. Four entrees were available for our selection: Herb Crusted NY Striploin, Two Wash Ranch Chicken, Pan-Roasted Salmon and Mushroom and Wheat Berry Risotto. Our server didn’t mince words in expressing how good the NY striploin was. My carnivorous bride can enjoy steak every day of the week, while once or twice a year is often enough for me. Still, it would be interesting to see how Lon’s NY striploin and Lon’s steak sauce would compare to the steak for two we shared at world-renowned Peter Luger’s Steakhouse in Las Vegas.
Let’s just say Peter Lugar sets an impossibly high standard. There is no better steak in the known universe. That’s not to say Lon’s NY striploin was a slouch. In fact, it was quite good. The steak sauce, however, paled in comparison with Peter Luger’s incomparable sauce. So would any other sauce. The striploin was well marbeled and flavorful. It was perfectly prepared at medium-rare with lots of pink to show for it. Accompanying the striploin were asparagus and horseradish mash with a few mushrooms and microgreens glancing the top of the steak. Despite heckling and begging by the birds, I finished my entire steak.
Only two dessert choices were available–Peppermint Mousse Cake and Spice Cake. Winter, for some reason, seems to elicit cravings for the refreshing flavor of peppermint. The peppermint mousse cake didn’t disappoint. A flourless chocolate cake with white chocolate curls, it had the flavor of Christmas–even on a 70-degree Arizona day. For my Kim, the spice cake (cream cheese frosting, candied pecans) hit the spot. Not only was it as beautiful as a Christmas ornament, it was absolutely delicious.
It would have been paradise for us had we been able to visit one of the multi-million dollar estates in Paradise Valley for a much needed post-prandial nap.
Lon’s at The Hermosa
5532 N Palo Cristi Road
Paradise Valley, Arizona
(602) 955-7878
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LATEST VISIT: 25 December 2025
# OF VISITS: 1
RATING: N/R
COST: $$$$$$
BEST BET: Peppermint Mousse Cake, Spice Cake, Herb-Crusted NY Sirloin, Hermosa Salad, Rock Shrimp Cocktail
REVIEW #1506