Arizona has always been defined by its five C’s: Cattle, Cotton, Climate, Copper, Citrus. LON’s at the Hermosa Inn lets the state add another C: Classic.
LON’s is an authentic Arizona hacienda tucked within the grounds of the Hermosa Inn. The historic charm of the property is traced back to Lon Megargee, Arizona’s famous first cowboy artist, who created the property to be his private retreat in the early 1930s before opening it up to guests.
A trip to LON’s at the Hermosa Inn lets visitors feel like they have discovered their own private retreat, surrounded by spectacular scenery just minutes away from bustling Phoenix. LON’s dining room is a fusion of homemade adobe, rustic ironwork, flattering lighting, original art pieces by Megargee and carefully set tables. Consistently revered as the “best dining patio in the Valley,” LON’s spacious outdoor seating — complete with fireplaces and unrivaled views of Camelback Mountain that set the mood of tranquility and relaxation — is a perfect setting for a romantic night out with a loved one, closing your latest deal or as the ultimate gathering spot with friends or colleagues.
Beyond the spectacular view and the lifetime of stories the location could tell, what really makes LON’s at the Hermosa Inn an Arizona institution is the food.
Executive Chef Jeremy Pacheco brings his own history to the table: His family’s Arizona roots go back nine generations and he brings the tastes he developed growing up on the family farm to LON’s. Because of his roots, the farm-to-table movement is more than a trend to Pacheco — it’s in his DNA and defines LON’s menu, where locally sourced items are an integral part of each dish. Pacheco and LON’s master gardener grow a wide selection of herbs, vegetables and fruit on the grounds. Harvested at the peak of their flavor and combined with other locally grown produce, the ingredients are incorporated into brilliantly creative dishes.
Some of the can’t miss dishes on the menu:
• Start your meal with the Himalayan salt seared ahi tuna ($18) with yuzu-soy sauce, crisp rice cake, cilantro and pickled onion. The flavors are so vibrant and the dish is so creative and brilliantly presented, Instagram will never be able to do it justice.
• While every single beef dish at LON’s exceeds spectacular, the braised beef short ribs ($34) with green chili-goat cheese polenta, roasted cipollini onions, oyster mushrooms and natural jus will have you planning your next visit before you take the last bite.
• It is impossible to find a more perfectly prepared duck than LON’s Maple Leaf duck breast ($36) with duck confit cannelloni, pea puree, baby carrot, i’itoi onion and bitter orange jus. There is none better.
Simply put, Arizona doesn’t do it better than LON’s at the Hermosa Inn. The food is delicious, the ambience is delightful and the service is knowledgeable and attentive without being smothering. LON’s is an Arizona classic.
