Le Âme (pronounced LAY uhMAY, contrary to all rules of French grammar) exudes an open-arms welcome. In fact, everything about the interior design invites guests to relax and get comfortable, starting with its spaciousness — a characteristic built into every amenity of The Global Ambassador hotel.
Real estate is valuable, especially at this prime Phoenix corner of 44th Street and Camelback Road, yet restaurateur-turned-hotelier Sam Fox shuns crowded tables that would maximize the number of guests he could squeeze in. No, tables are spread apart. And the room seems larger than it actually is due to being bookended by a wall of mirrors on one side and, opposite that, windows to the hotel’s central courtyard. The warm welcome is heightened by the warm orange glow of shaded chandeliers, soothing color tones and the sueded texture of the booths, with polished wood floors another soothing element and coffered ceilings another artistic focal point. Or take it outside to enjoy open-air dining with a sense of sidewalk café on the garden patio that is open to the courtyard.
Arranged in four long rows, the tables end at the gleaming, white-tiled exhibition kitchen from which the white-jacketed servers bustle forth all day — for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Breakfast hours flow into lunch hours, then the restaurant closes at 2 to reopen for dinner at 5. Fox describes Le Âme as a Parisian steakhouse, but it’s really for dinner that the steak menu shines. Lunch has many of its own standouts.
Duck Spring Rolls is one of a varied handful of tempting appetizers. Served as a make-your-own wrap with Bibb lettuce, cilantro and basil, it comes with house-made, tangy plum sauce to spoon on to individual taste.
Another choice is Frites — actually, three choices, as these French fries are featured with three distinct treatments: Classique, Truffle and Crispy Onion.
Frites are also on the lunch menu for Steak Frites, where they share the plate with thin slices of tender, perfectly grilled steak. Another lunch entrée is Ora King Salmon, a seared filet served with potatoes and mushrooms over a rich wine cream sauce.
There is a team ethos among the servers, and their eagerness is palpable to make sure patrons enjoy their visit.
Le Âme
The Global Ambassador
4360 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix
(602) 800-2211
Smoked Salmon Plateau (breakfast) Smoked salmon, Bagelfeld’s everything bagel, cream cheese, capers, red onion, cucumber and dill $25 |
French Ham Benedict (breakfast) Crispy jambon on a sourdough English muffin with Hollandaise sauce, served with potatoes and petite greens $19 |
Ora King Salmon (brunch, lunch and dinner) Filet of Ora King salmon served with pommes chateau and Shiitake mushrooms over a Pernod fumet blanc sauce $39 |
