Beckett’s Table: The soul of culinary confection

Opened in 2010 Chef Justin & Michelle Beckett, along with Scott and Katie Stephens, launched a ‘new’ vision including ‘old’ favorites. Nestled between the elegance of the Biltmore area and the hip and trendy Arcadia neighborhood, Beckett’s Table is an upscale dining experience with a comfortable casual feel. The restaurant owners and chefs strive to support local farms and the culinary community by creating gastronomic dishes inspired by the soul food of the south using local Arizona produce and other ingredients––right down to regional vino on their extensive and award-winning wine list, which is managed by Scott and Katie as the resident sommeliers.

The restaurant décor has a modern and cozy feel, with an inviting brick-lined bar, block walls, subway tile, distressed concrete floors, and leather-capped, comfy cushioned chairs. In the cooler months of the year, the patio has an inviting fireplace for guests to gather around to share their stories.

As stated on the website, “Chef and owner Justin Beckett has created an eatery where you and yours can gather around his kitchen to indulge in a hearty assortment of seasonal, American dishes. The neighborhood restaurant is a safe haven for sophisticated foodies and families alike. Expect excellent food and service without pretension or fluff. Beckett’s Table is a special place to bring close friends and relatives to make lasting memories over incredible comfort food.”

Beckett’s Table has been featured on “Check Please Arizona” and “Table 42” In addition; the restaurant has won several awards and/or accolades including:

Best Comfort Food
Arizona Foothills

Top Chef – 2013
Arizona Restaurant Association

Arizona’s 50 Best Restaurants
Phoenix Magazine

Best Chefs America: 2013
Best Chefs America

Valley’s Top 11 Chefs
Arizona Foothills

We began our soulful culinary journey with a few cocktails and wine, then we moved on to several tantalizing appetizers and salads…eventually savoring several mouth-watering entrées and finishing with a couple signature desserts.

DRINKS

Legend City Cocktail- A tribute to Phoenix nostalgia named after the long-gone amusement park! This was a wild ride of Woodford Bourbon, House-Made Honey Syrup and Lemonade, Ricard, Peychaud Bitters and a twist of lemon.
Farm to Glass- An ever changing and always fresh; seasonal organics muddled and mixed into a happy beverage. The special this day included a mix of lemon and bourbon topped with a grilled lemon garnish. This tasted like I should be sitting on a porch with my granddad in a rocking chair. Old fashioned fun.
Palmaire- Beckett’s home, the little house located on Palmaire, was the inspiration for this magenta-infused cocktail. Ketel One Orange Vodka, pomegranate liquor, pomegranate juice, house-made honey syrup and lemonade soda, garnished with pomegranate seeds & fresh mint. A cooling summer delight.
Duckhorn Pinot Noir- A glass full of berries with a hearty finish. Not your traditional Pinot!

APPETIZERS

Heirloom Tomato Salad – heirloom tomatoes, lavender, gina’s feta, puffed quinoa
Veggie Chopped Salad – seasonal vegetable gems, seeds, fruit, champagne basil vinaigrette
Deep Fried Deviled Eggs, hot sauce aioli, pickled fresno. Sinfully delightful!

ENTRÉES

Red Rock Cod -quinoa tabbouleh, preserved lemon yogurt, chimichurri quinoa and pesto.
Scottish Salmon, garden vegetable ragout, pesto, blistered tomato. Fresh to the last nibble.
Steamed White Bass, mcclendon’s select organic vegetables. A light but fulfilling and flavorful dish. Try it with a touch of cracked pepper as a garnish.
The Special of the Day: Meatloaf with mashed potatoes and green beans with mushroom gravy- Comfort food at its best. Our friend threatened to lick his plate after the last bite. It’s just that good!

SIDES

Cheddar biscuits with apple butter. In a word, YUM! The apple butter in combination with the cheddar and bacon made this a culinary trip for the taste buds. Savory, salty and sweet!

DESSERTS

Strawberry “shortcake”- maple bourbon ice cream, cookie crumb, praline. Tasty, but… Where was the cake? It must be a play on words…
Toasted Coconut Cake, brown butter ice cream, coconut pudding, smoked cashew. A moist mouth-watering sensation of the tropics.
Chocolate Dipped Bacon S’mores, caramel, house made marshmallow, whipped peanut butter, graham cracker. I was not a fan of the chocolate covered bacon, but the combination of peanut butter with toasted marshmallows and graham crackers tasted like I was sitting around an old fashioned campfire. A flashback to childhood.

BOTTOM LINE: Beckett’s Table is a casual hip neighborhood restaurant with a touch of elegance…where, when you enter, you feel right at home. Beckett’s Table, is a must when visiting the Phoenix area.