It’s never easy taking over the family business. It’s even harder when that business has spent three decades as one of Arizona’s best-reviewed restaurants. “I’m always trying to live up to my dad’s legacy,” says Gordon Berger, who took over Tucson’s Le Rendez-vous from his father, Jean-Claude, in 2012. But Gordon has done just that, maintaining the French restaurant’s winning formula while adding touches that have made it more accessible.
Le Rendez-vous dates to 1980, when Jean-Claude, a Frenchman who previously operated restaurants in Chicago, put down roots in the Old Pueblo. He and his wife, Alexandra, bought a pair of houses along Fort Lowell Road, turned one into a restaurant and raised their kids in the other. And success came quickly: A 1983 review in the Tucson Citizen said Le Rendez-vous “sets the standard for excellence in Tucson.”
The surroundings have changed — notably when the road was widened, forcing the demolition of part of the building and a corresponding expansion — but the menu’s celebration of mouthwatering French cuisine has endured. Popular choices include a brandy-flambéed steak with green peppercorns; egg-battered sea bass with croutons, capers, lemon and browned butter; and a gorgeous beef Wellington (pictured). They’re complemented by baked French onion soup, escargots in garlic butter, and trio de champignons (wild mushrooms and brie, wrapped in a puff pastry).
Gordon grew up working at Le Rendez-vous but wasn’t sure what his future was there until 2008, when he was working in real estate and the economic downturn hit. At that time, Jean-Claude was beginning to consider retirement, so Gordon went to France for three years to hone his culinary skills before taking over. He’s since added a menu of small plates, such as pan-seared scallops and a house pâté,
and a few imaginative cocktails to make the restaurant an option for casual diners, in addition to higher-end clientele and those celebrating
a special occasion.
An extensive wine list and delectable desserts, including crème brûlée and a Grand Marnier soufflé, round out the experience, which continues to land Le Rendez-vous on lists of the most romantic eateries in Tucson and all of Arizona. And while Gordon doesn’t know how long he’ll be in the restaurant business, he’s got kids of his own now — so one day, maybe, they’ll be the ones aiming to live up to the family legacy.
Le Rendez-vous
3844 E. Fort Lowell Road
Tucson, AZ
United States