Asylum Restaurant, Jerome

There were 9 of us and I felt like we had to wait awhile for our reservation and the main waiter was a bit slow in getting drink and food orders. The food was wonderful but the level of service just wasn t there for a place with such amazing food and above average pricing.

We went to The Asylum on Easter Sunday. First, if you go there, don t expect it to be rapid-fire assault like at a Chinese restaurant; the waiters actually set a slower tempo for your meal, so you enjoy each course and can enjoy the experience. Would you pay $50 per person only to be ushered out in 10 minutes? We made reservations a couple of weeks in advance. We chose a later hour, since Jerome usually has a very heavy weekend crowd on any given weekend. When we got there (15 minutes early), we were immediately seated. Now, granted, it was Easter Sunday, so the crowd was not as heavy as a normal weekend. We did not get a window seat, but one opened up right after they brought the water to our table, and the host offered us that table. We had the great experience of looking out across the valley as the sun set and the lights came on. Another thing you have to know about this place: there are only 25 or so hotel rooms, and 25 or so tables, so it is a fairly intimate experience. The dining area is roughly L shaped, so there are only 3-4 tables with a window seat, but you can see out of the window from all of the tables on the cliff side of the restaurant. I had heard that the butternut squash soup was to die for, so we each ordered it. I really liked it (spicy, good consistency, color was a little weird, and the cream design in the center was a nice touch) but my wife did not. Our waiter immediately substituted her soup for a salad at no additional charge. We also ordered glasses of wine to complement the meal. If you are REALLY into wine, you might find fault with the wine list, but we were pretty happy with the selection. We ordered the calamari, also based on a recommendation from Yahoo reviews, and were very happy with it. It is not the flash-fried calamari you get at your local Greek festival; it is very tender, and served on a bed of greens with three different sauces. For entrees, we had the duck and the filet mignon. Both were cooked perfectly, with great presentation (all entrees are brought to your table under an ornate dome cover). Great flavor, great texture, sauce a little heavy on the duck, filet was the same. Prices range about $20 (vegetarian) for entrees to $32. They do have specials; for Easter it was lamb, but we did not try it. We spent just over $100 for two, excluding tip, with wine, appetizer, soup/salad, and entree. Well worth the experience, view, and meal!! We did not save room for desert or coffee, and the waiter did not push it on us; he was gracious, professional, and attentive throughout the whole meal. Afterward, we roamed around the Jerome Hotel, and ended up at the front desk talking to the manager about ghost sightings and history. All and all, a GREAT experience. Once again, don t expect to speed through your meal; savor the view, tastes, and history, and you will have A BLAST!!!!

Sorry but we had a terrible time there. Had reservations for 7:30 and were not seated til 8:15. No apologies. Food was indifferent when we finally got it. Not worth it. Do not understand the great reviews.

Even though the bill was $69.99 for two people splitting an entree and dessert, don't let that scare you off. It's worth it! My husband and I made reservations for a Sunday night and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We each got a drink, we didn't have wine, but apparently their wine is fantastic. We had the New Zealand Calamari for an appetizer, the best I have ever had! And, we had Butternut Squash soup which was delicious to go along with our Maple Leaf Duck (don't quite remember the name) meal. We topped it off with a Chocolate Toffee Mousse piece of cake to split. ABSOLUTELY DECLICIOUS!! They also bring bread to the table. And just to let you know, with all this splitting, my husband and I were both quite satisfied, and full, by the end of our meal. The service was excellent!!! This is a must do if you have the money to splurge a little and want to go out for a nice dinner with friends or your sweetie. (the atmosphere is great!)

The food is consistently great! The service is most attentive! The views are the best in Yavapai and Coconino County - what's not to like? May seem expensive but look at where they are and what they serve... It's the best, by far! Prescott, AZ resident

The service was excelent, and the people were pleasant. The food is a bit expensive, but it is worth it. I recomend it to anyone looking for a good meal in the cottonwood area.