Rachel Roland is a mom on a mission - exploring the Valley with her two little companions in search of the best restaurants, attractions, and products for you and your children. See what she has in store for your family today!

(photo courtesy of Mastro's Restaurants)

Being a parent is hard work - whether you're a stay at home parent, a working parent, or a single parent. We all need time to get out and relax and spend some time with another adult that we love spending time with. That's why I'm occasionally going to highlight great date spots in Phoenix - these are places I've been to and enjoyed, and I hope you enjoy them too!

First up, is Mastro's City Hall, which is located just off Scottsdale Road and Goldwater Blvd in Scottsdale (okay, it's not technically Phoenix, but too good to pass up). Mastro's City Hall is a steakhouse, but they also serve seafood and other delicious items!

I love that right on their website, you can set up reservations. Now, if you're a planner, you'll be able to get the time you want. My husband and I decided the night before to book our reservations, and the only times available were 6pm or 830pm. We opted for the later time, and I think it was the best.

Most 'date' spots are quiet, reserved, with waiters speaking in hushed tones and quiet music playing in the background. This is not the case at Mastro's City Hall - it bustles with an energy that is contagious. The contemporary dining room was packed when we arrived, as well as the bar / lounge area in the front. There was also live entertainment, which I couldn't see, but we did hear their music throughout the night. (They were great and played lots of music from the 90's - when my husband and I were teenagers - it was fun to reminisce together!)

The wine list is quite nice, and they also have a great reserve wine list if you're really looking to celebrate. They also offer cocktails and beer, if those are more your style.

Now, on to the food - we started with calamari, which was perfect. Too often calamari is overdone, even in nicer restaurants, but this was absolutely amazing. Then...the steaks arrived. They are cooked at a very high temperature and arrive sizzling to your table - I was actually advised by our server to hold my napkin up to avoid any splashes on my dress.

My husband ordered the 33oz Chef's Cut Ribeye Chop. Now, that's a steak! I teased him about being a caveman - it was humongous. I decided to go dainty with the 12oz Filet and a side of the Gorgonzola Mac & Cheese. Both steaks were perfectly done (we ordered medium rare), and the mac & cheese was delicious, of course. We ended up taking quite a bit home with us because we had to save room for dessert - the "Mastro's Signature Warm Butter Cake" was a perfect size for sharing and it was divine.

By the time our meal was over (about 10pm), the dining room had cleared out quite a bit so we had the place to ourselves. It quieted down and the energy changed, although the lounge was still quite full and didn't seem to be quieting down at all!

I loved Mastro's City Hall and think we'll be back - or we'll try one of their other restaurants. I definitely recommend them as a 'great date spot in Phoenix!'

I'm Rachel - a mom, wife, and 'green' blogger at Small Steps On Our Journey. If you have any suggestions for future articles or any questions on this one, please contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or tweet me @rachelroland!