The newly opened Terra Tempe Kitchen & Spirits at The Westin Tempe is gearing up take its place at one of the downtown area’s top dining destinations. The new high-res hotel is home to a rooftop bar, Skysill Rooftop Lounge, that dazzles from guests and locals from 18 stories high, to boot.
Westin is no stranger to producing incredible dining destinations, and Terra Tempe Kitchen & Spirits is another stunner in the brand’s delicious lineup. The restaurant, located next to The Westin Tempe’s beautiful lobby, is the perfect balance of chic and comfortable; it’s a lovely spot for date night or drinks with friends but also a laidback locale for travelers to grab a bite after a long day. And we’d bet Terra’s living wall, vibrant with lush greenery, will be the backdrop of many Instagram posts to come.
Terra’s menu, which blends flavors from Spanish, Native American, Mexican and early American pioneers, lives up to its beauty, starting with Whipped & Pickled. The plate of whipped Crow’s Dairy goat cheese, balsamic strawberries, nopal relish and slices of lightly charred rustic bread is a heavenly way to kick off the meal. Terra’s Hot Stone comes highly recommended, and we can concur with the hype. Diners can choose between buttery wagyu beef or Pacific ahi tuna, paired with cilantro scallion salad, pickled ginger and serrano ponzu, to be seared at the table on a steaming hot stone.
Another popular dish is the cilantro-dusted Chilean sea bass, sided by avocado crema, mizuna, tempura jalapenos and sweet corn pico. The lightly sweet sea bass is like silk and especially delicious partnered with the crispy tempura jalapenos. Seafoodies will be likewise delighted by the arroz negro, which is a bed of forbidden rice crowned with Maine lobster, jumbo shrimp, mussels, calamari, crab, chorizo and Grana Padano. The saffron aioli is the cherry on top.
Don’t skip dessert at Terra and really, really don’t skip the orange creamsicle cheesecake. The presentation is adorable, as the cheesecake is made to look like the classic ice pop, and the freeze-dried mandarin oranges add a tempting crunch. If you’re in the mood to drink your dessert, the coffee-centric Café on Seventh is divine.
Pre- or post-dinner, head up 18 floors to Skysill Rooftop Lounge and savor incredible views (it is a particularly popular spot at sunset or to see fireworks after ASU football games) and great sips. The Skysill Iced Tea, made with Jim Beam Bourbon, is a refreshing, easy-drinking option, while It’s a Dry Heat kicks up with the temps with Ancho Reyes chile liquor.
For more information or to book a reservation, please visit TerraTempe.com and SkysillRooftop.com.