Dad was making waves that we hadn’t gone out for Thai food for sometime and was dropping hints like crazy that he wanted a big plate of something “with a lot of sauce.” He is so earnest when he gets like that and Mom begs me to take Dad out so that she doesn’t have to listen to endless rounds of “I really hope we have Thai food soon” from Dad.

So, I told Dad to be ready to go at 6 PM sharp and we would be heading west to find some decent Thai food. I wasn’t sure exactly where the place I had in mind would be located, but I copied the address and hoped that there would be some decent signage. The name of the place was Siam Thai Restaurant and I had a feeling it would be in some aging strip mall with a faded sign and smoked glass hiding the interior.

I was correct all the way around and the signage was faded enough that I missed the turn into the parking lot, having to maneuver my way around a couple of city blocks to get back on Glendale Avenue and turn into the place. We parked and entered the place. I didn’t know what to expect because the smoked glass did not allow us to see anything before we opened the door. But when we did, we were pleasantly surprised.

The red and gold interior was serene and fairly quiet, but there were plenty of people enjoying their meals. We were quickly seated off to the side at a spacious table and were handed menus. Our server arrived and took our drink order with Dad and me both ordering Diet Cokes ($2.00 each). She indicated she would be back shortly and headed for the kitchen.

Dad and I looked over the menu and since Dad wanted something “with a lot of sauce” I directed him to one of the many curry options. Dad immediately picked up on the Pineapple Curry with Duck ($11.95) and also indicated he wanted some soup, so I ordered the Tom Kah Soup with Chicken ($8.95). For myself, I got the Gang-Ga-Ree with Beef ($8.95) and also ordered some Thai Toast ($7.95). When our server returned with the drinks, we placed the order and she mentioned that she would return with the soup first.

Dad and I were discussing the feel of the place. It was really comfortable and I liked that the tables were spread out and were quite large themselves. The chairs were comfortable and the place, while worn, was clean and attractive. We watched as the staff was busy clearing tables and seating guests. It was very efficient, but we did notice that when they rolled up the sleeves and started cleaning, guests would have to flag them down for refills and to answer questions.

After about 10 minutes, our soup arrived. Dad was in awe because he had never had Thai soup before. The traditional ring o’ soup with flames shooting out from the center put a look on his face like a kid in a well-stocked candy store. He stared at the soup and then at me hoping I would be willing to guide him. So, I grabbed the spoon and filled our two bowls with the pale brown liquid of coconut milk stuffed full of chicken, mushrooms, galangal, lime juice and stands of lemongrass. Dad took a bite and was a bit caught off guard with the taste. “This is really strong!” he exclaimed. And it was. The seasoning and spice in the soup were quite good and we enjoyed it immensely. Dad was really in love with the soup mostly because of the novelty of it all, but I did think it was a pleasant soup .

As we gulped down the soup, our Thai Toast arrived. Dad had never had this dish either so, again, he looked to me for direction. “You can eat it with a fork or with your hands,” I said. “But if you eat it with your hands, I will have to tell Mom.” I think he took me far too seriously because he used his fork to eat his first piece. I grabbed one as well – oddly, with my fork, too – and drizzled on a bit of the cucumber chutney that accompanied the toast. I cut into the triangle and it was wonderfully crunchy. The toast had been piled with ground pork and spices and then deep fried. The taste was slightly salty and very savory. I loved the sweetness the chutney brought to each bite. The toast was an excellent appetizer and Dad was very pleased with it, although he did say that it would have been better with some peanut sauce (shocking, I know).

There was a short gap between the appetizers and our entrees and we had another round of drinks before out server arrived with a big bowl of rice and fresh silverware (a very nice touch). She removed the used dishes and said our entrees were on the way.

Dad’s Pineapple Curry with Duck was the first thing to hit the table. The aroma was outstanding and Dad was all smiles as he scooped out a saucy spoonful of the red curry and coconut milk and dumped it onto the waiting rice. The curry was orange in color and was loaded with plenty of duck meat, pineapple chunks, onion and basil. I also liked the occasional bit of red bell pepper that gave the dish some crunch. The curry was over-the-top flavorful and Dad and I found this dish exceptional because it was well executed. Everything seemed fragrant, fresh and delicious.

My Gang-Ga-Ree with Beef was also quite fragrant. Dad was giddy when he saw the whole peanuts in the dish along with the beef, potatoes and onions. I loved the mix of flavors but found the spice level to be very inconsistent. One bite would be hot and the next would be rather mild. It was a minor point, but a rather odd experience. The beef was fork tender, however, and the entrée succeeded in making me happy. Dad thought the pineapple curry dish was a better choice but said he liked my dish as well.

After clearing our plates of any molecules of food, we debated on getting dessert. We were initially going to pass on anything as we were getting quite full, but our server ask the magic question “Not even some coconut ice cream?” and we had no choice but to give in and ordered the ice cream ($2.95).

Only a minute or two passed and our Coconut Ice Cream arrived with two spoons. It was a small serving but suited our needs by cooling the fire in our mouths and wrapping up the meal. It was very good and quite creamy. The small rolled cookie was also nice. We found that the small serving was a perfect end to our meal.

We requested our bill and the total was $49.60 which included tax. We thought the value for the money was very good. Other than a few minor lapses, the service was decent and friendly. Overall, we had no complaints other than the inconsistent spice level of my dish which, again, was somewhat unimportant.

As we headed back to Phoenix, Dad was yammering on about the duck and the pineapple curry and launching into stories about how they didn’t have that sort of thing in Arizona back in the 1950s. He then reiterated for the umpteenth time that anytime I wanted to go get Thai food, he would be more than happy to accompany me.

They’re so cute when they get into their 70s.

Siam Thai Restaurant
5008 West Northern Avenue
Glendale, AZ 85301
Dress: Casual
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday - 11 AM to 9 PM; Friday - 11 AM to 10 PM; Saturday - 12 PM to 10 PM; Sunday 12 PM to 9 PM; Closed Mondays.
Notes: The street sign is very small, so look sharp or else you will have to double back.
Alcohol: Limited beer and wine selection.

Sometimes, I scratch my head when I see various restaurants in the Valley. Most of these times occur when I pass by a restaurant like Olive Garden and see the line out the door and down the street with people dying to get in while the outstanding Mom-n-Pop place next door is concerned that the lack of customers means a future closing.

More often than not, it is the latter that I experience. I go into a restaurant that has great food, excellent value and an all-around good time and, yet, there is only a table or two occupied. Such was the case when Tim, Tara, Winedubar and I made our way over to Urban Campfire in Tempe.

Sitting on the southeast corner of University & Rural, the building wasn’t hard to spot with its red, yellow and brown sign right along the road. I pulled in and drove around the back parking along the east side of the restaurant. I moseyed on into the place and saw Winedubar sitting at the table sipping and Iced Tea ($1.69). We caught up on a few things before Tim and Tara arrived and our bubbly waitress brought me a Diet Rite soda ($1.69), which was a completely acceptable substitute for Diet Coke (Tab being another).

When Tim and Tara did join us, we were so busy talking, our very patient waitress would check in on us asking if we were ready to order only to be sent away because we hadn’t even cracked the menus. Tim and Tara did manage, however, to order drinks and we asked for an order of the Yam Planks (part of Winedubar’s entree) and the Garlic Fries ($2.50).

After solving the world’s problems, we were finally ready to order. Winedubar was tickled pink at the thought of getting the Pulled BBQ Pork Sliders ($7.95) and demanded to know if it would come with a deviled egg (which it did). Tara was intrigued by the Midwest Sloppy Joe Sliders ($7.95) and had the Yam Planks as her side dish. Tim went with the Double Dogs ($6.95), selecting the cole slaw and the chili that came with the dogs on the side. I decided to try the Pulled BBQ Chicken Sliders ($6.95) and went with the Basil Potato Salad and had some of the Brown Sugar Beans ($2.50) as an additional side. I also got a cup of the Green Chile Pork Stew ($3.25).

As our waitress flew to the kitchen to place our order, we discussed the menu and other options we would have chosen. Certainly there was something on that menu for everyone except, perhaps, the strictest of vegetarian. It was like going to camp, but having gourmet food.

We also enjoyed the surrounding. Pictures and sports items dotted the walls and there was a signature wall for patrons who praised the food at Urban Campfire. Tim was enthralled with the Red Sox game on the television and I was grinning because the PA system was playing full CDs of Led Zepplin followed by the Rolling Stones and The Who.

The Yam Planks arrived and I think we were all surprised at them. I was expecting thick slices of yam perhaps fried like fried green tomatoes or similar. Instead, these were crunchy yam chips with the texture of fresh potato chips, but much more intense in flavor. They were served, interestingly enough, with BBQ sauce. I liked them right off the bat, and the BBQ sauce was a perfect match. The general consensus was that the ones that were cooked longer were the best, but we had no problems gobbling up every last chip and the crumbs.

The Garlic Fries were freshly cut and cooked potatoes sprinkled liberally with garlic powder. Tara and I were pleased with the amount of garlic that coated the cuts spuds, but Tim said his first fry was devoid of any garlic taste although he did taste the garlic on subsequent fires. The talk was about the kitchen using fresh potatoes instead of something out of a bag in the freezer. It was a nice change.

My Green Chile Pork Stew was another surprise. When I think of “stew” I think of a rich, thick, meaty dish that quickly satisfies. My pork stew had all of those elements except the thick part. This was more like a soup and then I was reminded by my dining companions that stews often vary in consistency. Fair enough. It wasn’t a criticism, per se, but more of an expectation. I was still very happy with the flavor of the stew. There were thick chunks of pork, lots of green chile and plenty of rich broth that held it all together. I also loved the fried tortilla chip that was included.

After some more talk and a few rounds of drinks, our entrees started to arrive and I knew right off the bat that we would be probably be stuffed by the end of the meal. Winedubar’s Pulled BBQ Pork Sliders were three plump sandwiches with a chiabata-type bread and tender pork. Before even getting to the sandwiches, she devoured the Deviled egg saying that is was excellent. The sandwiches were a hit for her, but she was especially pleased with the bread.

Tara’s Midwest Sloppy Joe Sliders were very similar to the ones she had when she lived in the Midwest. She said they had a spicy kick and loved the bread they were served on. She also liked the deviled egg. While she also enjoyed the Yam Planks, she didn’t like the BBQ sauce as a dipping side for the yams.

Tim’s Hot Dogs were plentiful and loaded with goodies. He loved the all-beef franks and the “great grill flavor” they had. He also liked the toppings that were perfect with the dogs. He found the Cole Slaw, however, to be mediocre and complained about the excessive amount of dressing on the slaw. Because the portions were so large, he didn’t get a chance to have more than a couple of bites of the chili before requesting a “to go” container. He found the chili to be quite good and I could see that the serving size was substantial the chili thick and rich.

My Pulled BBQ Chicken Sliders were excellent. (And I apologize for the lack of photos of my meal because I remember taking the shots, but they just weren’t there when I did the download.) The three mini-sandwiches had plenty of moist chicken and were quite satisfying. I agreed with Winedubar that the bread was outstanding. It was slightly chewy and had somewhat of a sourdough edge to it. The only complaint I had about the sandwiches is that I wanted a bit more BBQ sauce. I thought it would have been great to have a small plastic cup of the sauce on the side to adjust to my taste. The Basil Potato Salad was very unique. The salad itself was ice cold and quite thick, but the flavor was smooth and the burst of basil flavor really made this a nice accompaniment to the sandwiches. I also like the Deviled egg. It was a solid find.

The Brown Sugar Beans were really a nice contrast to everything else. Slight sweet, somewhat acidic and full of flavor, these were great. Tim tried a bite and agreed that the beans were a success. I particularly liked the chunks of onion that were slightly crunchy and added a nice dimension to the beans. I was very happy I took the chance and ordered them.

After all was said and done, we had completed quite the feast at Urban Campfire. We were completely stuffed and gave a big thumbs up to the food, the portion size and the cost. Our waitress was exceptionally patient with us and the service was solid.

Just as we thought everything was done, our waitress presented each of us with a small ramekin of salted watermelon. Nothing fancy, but just a nice cap to the meal, although Tim didn’t seem to like the salt on the watermelon. Still, it was a welcome gesture.

So, we requested the bill and couldn’t believe that for all the food we ordered, our bill was a measly $45.47, which included tax. A bona fide steal on any level.

As we gathered in the parking lot to say our goodbyes, we all were trying to figure out why Urban Campfire wasn’t packed with ASU students looking for plentiful vittles at low prices. If I were still attending ASU, this would be a regular stop on my search for food. Instead, there were only a couple of tables sporting patrons and a few people did drop in for some take out orders.

I headed back to East Phoenix, still scratching my head and wondering what more Urban Campfire could do.

From my perspective, they were doing everything just about right.

Urban Campfire
921 East University Drive
Tempe, AZ 85
Dress: Casual
Hours: Monday - 11 AM to 5 PM; Tuesday through Thursday - 11 AM to 10 PM; Friday and Saturday - 11 AM to 2 AM; Closed Sundays.
Notes: Plenty of parking. Outside seating is available.
Alcohol: Limited selection.
Website: www.urbancampfire.com

At least twice a week, I get emails asking me to check out particular restaurants in the Valley. Most are just places that people tried and thought I might be interested, which I usually am. Some turn our great, some not so great and some end up closed before I even get a chance to try them.

However, in the past two weeks, I have had more input on a tiny little restaurant on East Indian School Road than any other restaurant in recent memory. Even a member of our governing board at work asked me if I had been to this new place. With that much interest, I decided to give the place a try.

When I mentioned the place was called Stacy’s Smokehouse and featured BBQ, Dad did the puppy dog face thing so I invited him along. We got into the car and headed out to try Stacy’s.

Pulling into the back of the building where the parking was, we found a lot that was almost completely full. We got the last spot and walked into the little building that used to house Memphx and, before that, Turk’s Fish and Chips. There were no tables available, and some people were standing around waiting for their to-go orders.

Dad and I waited our turn, but before we ordered, I spotted a couple of Valley chowhounds dining on an assortment of goodies from the kitchen. I asked them how the food was and they told me the sandwiches were terrific. Dad spotted a basket of sweet potato fries on the table and inquired about them. “They’re pretty limp,” they said while picking up one that immediately drooped.

It was time for us to order, so we headed back to the counter to order our food and then wait for a table to open up. We scanned the menu and ended up with two BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches ($5.25 each) and I ordered a piece of the fried chicken ($1.99). For our sides, I got the Green Beans ($1.50) and the Mac & Cheese ($1.50). Dad got the Cole Slaw ($1.50) and the Onion Rings ($1.99). We got two bottles of Diet Coke ($1.50 each) to wash it all down.

The total for our bill was $26.50 including tax and we were given our drinks and cups of ice. Dad and I took a seat on some chairs against the wall and waited for a table. The interior of the place was exceptionally small holding only five tables. The place was bright and cheery and the big windows let the sunlight stream in.

We were offered the two-top table the other Chowhounds were at and we settled in waiting for our food. Our table, however, along with another one near to us were clearly in need of some maintenance. Dad and I struggled with our table as the top was loose and would be at a 15% incline depending on who had their arms on the table weighting it down.

After about a 20 minute wait, our food arrived. The first thing we did was attack the BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches. The soft, hot, sesame seed buns were filled with plenty of pulled pork that had been slathered in BBQ sauce. Thankfully, they didn’t drown the meat in the sauce, but gave it a good treatment. We put the top of the bun on the sandwich and dove in. Dad was the first to say, “This is outstanding.” And it certainly was. The pork was incredibly moist and very tender. The sauce was thick, rich, and had a slight sweetness to it that really set the flavors apart and made the whole thing shine. Dad and I agreed that this was really an excellent sandwich and the taste was exceptional. It was some of the best BBQ pork in the Valley.

Our attention turned to the basket that contained the Onion Rings and the Fried Chicken. A small mound of the rings were somewhat covering the fried chicken thigh I had requests. Dad and I each tried an onion ring and we were quite pleased. They were hot, crispy and the onions were not mushy. Whoever was operating the fryer was doing a very good job. I also liked the fact that they allowed the rings to cook a little bit longer than normal, giving the cooked batter a deep caramel color. We didn’t even bother with the ketchup as the rings were flavorful enough to support themselves.

I then tried my fried chicken thigh. One bite and I was hooked. The batter was crunchy and the chicken was falling off the bone. This was stellar. The batter was not oily or greasy, but had a delicious fried flavor and the chicken was scrumptious. Dad had a small bite and said he had a tough time deciding if he liked the BBQ pork or the fried chicken better.

Dad’s Cole Slaw looked pretty good and I liked the fact that course black pepper had been added to the dressing or slaw itself. Seasoning for the win! I asked Dad what he thought and his first comment was, “Pretty decent.” I said that didn’t sound like a ringing endorsement and he said that while the flavor was good and the cabbage fresh, he really hated the fact that there was far too much dressing on the slaw almost killing any taste of the cabbage.

The Mac & Cheese looked promising. In the white Styrofoam cup, the orange color of the Mac & Cheese really popped out. I picked up a forkful of the side and liked the gooey nature of the dish. However, my first bite was … vacant. Without conveying any opinion, I asked Dad to try a bite and tell me his thoughts. After tasting a big bite, Dad just said it like it was: “It doesn’t taste like anything.” He was absolutely correct. While the gooey texture was great and the look very appealing, I simply couldn’t taste anything in this side dish. It wasn’t good or bad. It just wasn’t. I also wasn’t thrilled with the fact that in the bottom of the cup, a good quarter inch of oil was marinading the rest of the pasta. This was very disappointing.

But as disappointing as the Mac & Cheese was, nothing could salvage the green beans. I was somewhat taken aback that they would serve these things because all they did was open a can and heat them up. There was no seasoning, no butter, no bacon or salt pork or anything else. I was completely perplexed as to why they would even bother. Would it have been so terrible to say, “Well, since we can’t really get good green beans right now, we are serving canned” or something to warn patrons that this dish was really just being called in? After one bite, I simply pushed them aside and I am sure my grimace was visible from across the room.

After we finished our meals, I asked Dad what he thought. He said the BBQ and fried chicken were top of the line. The onion rings were excellent and the cole slaw good. “I think their weak point are their side dishes.” Then it occurred to me that my Chowhound acquaintances had mentioned the limp sweet potato fries. I also noticed that several to go orders were simply for the meats with no side orders. It could be just coincidence, but who doesn’t like good BBQ with a couple of sides?

I was somewhat torn by Stacy’s. I will go back, simply because that BBQ Pork sandwich was killer. That combined with a side of onion rings and a drink would be an excellent lunch. I also thought the prices were insanely inexpensive and I want to try their ribs. And, certainly, everyone of the staff we encountered were very friendly and helpful. However, they need to do a little due diligence in fixing the tables and reviewing the side dishes.

Stacy’s is a great addition to that neighborhood and I am keeping my fingers crossed that they will fix a few of the things that I found lackluster.

If they did, they would certainly be looking for a new home to expand because they would have lines out the door.

Stacy’s Smokehouse
1650 East Indian School Road
Phoenix, AZ 85016
Dress: Casual
Hours: Monday through Saturday - 11 AM to 9 PM; Closed Sundays.
Notes: Cash only. Parking is in back of the building.
Alcohol: None.

Another take on Stacy’s Smokehouse can be found over at The Expatriate Mainer.

[Note: In the time between my visit and this review, Mike Thai closed its doors. My apologies to anyone who visited the location to find the business had closed.]

So, after all my adventures with J. and a variety of friends, I thought it was time to spend some time with Dad who was going through Thai food withdrawal. He was insistent that I find some good or great Thai restaurant that would satiate his desires.

I really wasn’t sure what to expect, but I did decide to take Dad on a long drive out to Mesa to try some place called Mike Thai. I was torn about the name because either there was some underlying twist on the Thai language that I wasn’t getting or the place was named after some guy named Mike (it turned out to be the latter). After completing the drive, we pulled into the nice strip mall that housed Mike Thai and parked right near the entrance.

We both were surprised at how large the place was inside. The bright, red interior was trimmed with flashes of gold and lots of decoration. Accompanying this was soothing music that made us feel like we had entered some wonderful spa. The only thing missing was a spa therapist.

After being seated, Dad and I reviewed the menu and a very kind and soft spoken woman approached our table and took our drink order. We asked for two Diet Cokes ($1.95 each) and our server informed us that they were short staffed for the evening so things were taking a bit of time to come out of the kitchen. That was quite nice of her to mention that, but we decided to continue on because we liked the atmosphere and didn’t have any plans after dinner.

Returning with our drinks, our server took our order. To start, Dad and I agreed to try the Mike Thai Dumplings ($7.95) and two Crispy Spring Rolls ($1.50 each). We were rather hungry and the Chicken Satay ($7.95) sounded good, so we got that as well. For our entrees, Dad got the Mike Thai Rama Chicken ($12.95) and I got the Thai Omelet ($12.95). Our server thanked us profusely for dining with them for the evening.

After about 15 minutes, our appetizers started arriving. The two Crispy Spring Rolls were on a small plate and flanked by grated carrots on one side and a sweet and sour sauce on the other. The rolls were piping hot and we cut them open to let the steam escape. When they had cooled, we both drizzled some of the sauce on them. The filling was a mixture of chicken, various vegetables, and glass noodles. We loved them from the first bite. I think what really made them shine was the freshness of the ingredients. Dad mentioned that it looked like they just made them before putting them into the deep fryer. These got the big thumbs up from us.

Next up was the Chicken Satay and that was a bit of a surprise. Four large chunks of marinaded chicken were on long wooden skewers and served with peanut sauce, cucumber chutney and some grated carrots and cabbage. The chicken was fantastic. The meat was char-grilled and had a rich and complex smoky taste to it. It was tender and the combination of the smoke, hearty peanuts and sweet cucumbers was fantastic. Dad and I gobbled this up in record time.

The final appetizer were the Mike Thai Dumplings. Four large dumplings were brought out and served with another batch of the sweet and sour sauce. The dumplings contained chicken, pork, shrimp and various spices. I really liked them. The filling was excellent. What Dad and I didn’t like was that the dumpling skins had cooled too quickly and were somewhat rubbery. Still, the overall points for the dish were in the positive range.

With the appetizers in our stomachs, we settled in to wait for our entrees. As expected, they did take a while to come out from the kitchen, but the two staff members were doing an excellent job of keeping plates cleared, glasses filled and thanking people for being patient.

Dad’s Mike Thai Rama Chicken was slightly red in color and featured chunks of tender, juicy chicken cooked in a pungent peanut sauce. That was served on a bed of spinach and shredded cabbage. The results were outstanding. I loved the fact that the sauce was sweet, fiery and satisfying all in one bite. The addition of the spinach for a bit of bitterness and the cabbage to help put out the spice was welcome. Dad loved every aspect of this dish, but thought the dish was perhaps a bit too spicy. That, however, didn’t prevent him from lapping up the sauce.

My Thai Omelet was massive and the aroma from the eggs had me salivating. The huge square of eggs enveloped pork, shrimp, peas, cilantro and green onions. It was the best dish on the table and about 100 times better than Egg Foo Yong. The little side of spicy tomato sauce gave it a acidic quality, but I preferred it without the sauce. I think Dad and I were really surprised by how much we liked the Omelet. It really surpassed our expectations.

After our feast, I talked Dad into splitting a piece of the Coconut Ice Cream Pie ($4.95). Our server cleared our dishes and refilled our glasses while we waited for our dessert. The place was getting a bit quiet as the other patrons had finished their meals. One stopped by and asked about the omelet and we shared our thoughts on it and he swore he would try it next time he was at Mike Thai.

The Coconut Ice Cream Pie was a large slice of ice cold pie with a graham cracker crust and surrounded with orange slices and maraschino cherries. Dad and I were rather disappointed with the pie. It just didn’t have the richness and complex flavors of good, homemade coconut ice cream. Instead, it reminded me of coconut flavored ice milk. After a few bites, we sort of picked at it but it just wasn’t inspiring us so we abandon it. I wish it had been much better, but I suspected it might have been made off site.

After having another round of Diet Cokes, we requested the bill and the total was $57.97 including tax. We thought that the freshness and quality of the dishes were well worth the tab. The service was fine, even with the delays, and I was very appreciative that they told us up front they were short staffed. A big kudos for honesty.

We started the long trek back to Phoenix and we were very pleased with Mike Thai. It was an unexpected find and even through the dessert didn’t pan out, we were still very happy.

And Dad’s withdrawal symptoms had abated.

The Mike Thai Restaurant & Bar
5110 East Southern Avenue
Suite 104
Mesa, AZ 85206
Dress: Casual
Hours: Monday through Thursday - 11 AM to 9:30 PM; Friday and Saturday - 11 AM to 10 PM; Sunday - 11:30 AM to 9 PM.
Alcohol: Full bar.
Website: www.mikethaillc.com

Howdy, folks!

Last week, I was interviewed on “Computer America,” a nationally syndicated talk show about Feasting in Phoenix.

I was on for about an hour and asked a variety of questions about the blog and my reviews.

If you would like to take a listen to the program, you can do so by going to this pressing the play arrow on the box below (Quicktime may be required).

(If the audio player is not available on your system, you can download the audio file by right-clicking this link and choosing “Save Link As” or “Save Target As” and saving the file on your system.)

Enjoy!

One of the restaurants in the Arcadia District of Phoenix that I have wanted to try but never got around to it is La Fontanella. It sits right there on East Indian School Road around 42nd Street and is in a pretty stand alone building that could have been a converted house. But La Fontanella has been there for ages and I just never got a chance to drop in for dinner.

As fate would have it, J. was craving Italian food and we decided to invite our friend Winedubar along for the ride. The cool weather and the demand from our bellies for comfort food had us trying to find someplace in the Phoenix area and by inspiration or insight I suggested La Fontanella. Everyone was on board, but by the time we got around to things it was pushing 8:30 PM and I suggest we just drop in and see if they could seat us. Luckily, they were fine with finding a table for three, but we did have to wait a few moments.

We were then taken to a spacious but comfortable table for four in one of the anterooms. We took our seats and reviewed the menus. All of us were craving a hearty pasta dish, so we headed for that section of the menu and debated on what to get.

Our server approached and told us he would be with us momentarily, but in the meantime, he set down water and a basket of warm Italian bread. Like vultures circling over a dead body, we each pounced on the bread. It was warm to the touch and each piece gave us great satisfaction. I loved the salty taste of the interior and the crisp texture of the crust, but what really surprised me was the slight buttery aftertaste that really made this a great way to start the meal.

When our server returned, he took our drink orders of three Diet Cokes ($2.50 each) and three mini-bottles of Prosecco ($8.75 each). We also ordered our appetizers. Winedubar started things off by ordering the Stuffed Mushrooms ($7.50). J. selected the Sliced Prosciutto ($8.75). I had the Suppli ($4.50) plus a House Salad ($5.00). Our waiter retreated to the kitchen and we nibbled on the bread as we waited for our appetizers. He returned with the sodas and the Prosecco and we then were ready to place our entree order. I thought the Manicotti special ($15.75) was calling my name and J. had the Lasagna ($15.75). Winedubar had the Mezzaluna ala Zucca ($15.75).

We had just each polished off a glass of the light and crisp Prosecco when our starters arrived. My Suppli was a very simple preparation of rice mixed with ricotta cheese, formed into a ball and deep fried. It was then laid to rest in a small puddle of Marinara sauce. The results were delicious. The crusty shell crackled a bit when I pierced it with a knife and then cut it into thirds. The rice and cheese were soft and creamy and paired so very well with the sauce. Winedubar and J. said it was outstanding.

Winedubar’s Stuffed Mushrooms were six medium size caps stuffed with cheese and breadcrumbs and ladled with a bachamel sauce. I thought they were quite good with the earthy flavor of the mushrooms and the saltiness of the cheese. The sauce was also good. J. and Winedubar thought they were excellent, but we all agreed that the presentation needed to be tightened up a bit as they looked rather scattered on the overly large plate.

J.’s Sliced Prosciutto was killer. The plate was completely covered with large pieces of thinly sliced prosciutto and two nice sized slabs of Mozzarella cheese. The prosciutto was top notch and absolutely decadent. The mozzarella was soft and slightly spongy and had a mild, sweet taste that really contrasted well with the Italian ham. We all were amazed, however, by the amount of meat on the plate. It was almost too much.

Almost.

My House Salad offered a lot more than I expected. The tossed greens also had sliced red onions, radicchio, walnut halves, gorgonzola cheese and an herbed vinaigrette that was slight tangy and slightly sweet. The vegetables were fresh and I loved the addition of the walnuts and cheese. It was a pleasant palate cleanser that set the stage for our meals.

J.’s Lasagna was a veritable brick of pasta, meat, cheese and sauce. The very large dish contained layers of pasta, provolone cheese, peas, tomato sauce with sausage, eggs, ricotta cheese and mozzarella cheese. It was then baked until the top was dark and bubbly. The dish was incredibly dense and rich and the flavors melded together. J. was very pleased with the dish and noted how much cheese was used in the mix. All in all, this was one of the better lasagnas J. had had.

Winedubar’s Mezzaluna ala Zucca was the prettiest plate of the bunch. A dozen or so half moons of pasta were filled with butternut squash and then topped with a walnut cream sauce and sprinkled with chopped walnuts. This was the winning dish of the evening. It was fantastic. The taste of the squash along with the cream sauce and walnuts was pure heaven and we all ooh’d and ahh’d with each bite. Winedubar was thrilled with her dish and I was very happy she offered to share. Additionally, the serving portion was beyond substantial. I determined that the next time I go to La Fontanella, this would be the dish I would order without one second of hesitation.

My Manicotti was a very straightforward presentation. Two large tubes of pasta were stuffed with ricotta and mozzarella cheese and then topped with a thick Marinara Sauce. There was nothing novel or unique about this version, but it did exactly what I wanted it to do which was to give me some comfort. The pasta was excellent and the sauce had a slight sweetness to it. The cheeses were plentiful. The only quibble I had was that I wished my food had been just a bit hotter. It was in the “very warm” range, but I would have preferred it in the very hot range instead. That was a personal preference, but I think a hotter temperature would have enhanced the dish.

After polishing off our entrees, we were full, but did have some room for a bit of dessert. Instead of each getting one, we got two to split: the Spumoni ($5.00) and the Pumpkin Ricotta Cheesecake ($5.00). Our server placed the order and then refilled our drinks and cleared the table for the end of the meal.

The Spumoni arrived and I was a bit caught off guard by the presentation. The Spumoni was cut like a slice of cake and placed in a fried shell and then place on a plate with a drizzle of raspberry sauce and some whipped cream. It was a clever and appealing presentation. The spumoni was very good and quite rich, which was okay with all of us. I didn’t particularly like the fried shell, but everything else on the plate was quite grand.

The Pumpkin Cheesecake was golden brown and also served in a decorative fashion with more raspberry sauce and whipped cream. This was an incredibly thick cheesecake and it clearly had plenty of cream cheese and marscapone cheese and a light pumpkin taste. I thought it was very good, but it was a bit overwhelming as we got to the end of the dish. Overall, I think we liked the Spumoni slightly better.

We were stuffed to the gills and decided to declare victory and request our check. Our meal was $134.85 which included tax. We thought it was a very good value for the portion size and quality of the dishes. The service was very professional, engaging and friendly. We were treated well and everything ran on track. We stumbled back to the car and each expressed how pleased we were with La Fontanella. Our goal had been reached as we were each comforted and satisfied.

As we made the short trip back home, I indicated that I could have kicked myself for not getting to La Fontanella earlier.

I could not help thinking of the all the Mezzaluna ala Zucca I had been missing.

La Fontanella
4231 East Indian School Road
Phoenix, AZ 85018
Dress: Resort Casual
Hours: Monday through Sunday - 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Notes: Portions are quite large. Reservations are encouraged.
Alcohol: Full bar service.
Website: www.lafontanellaitalianrestaurant.com

I freely admit that I am not a fan of the reality shows on the Food Network. I miss the recipe-based shows and early Food TV celebrities like Sarah Molton and David Rosengarten. However, I still had a burst of pride when I saw that Mark Tarbell had beat Cat Cora during the Iron Chef America contest.

According to the press, Phoenix metro has produced two Iron Chef America winners and I was pleased to hear that. Knowing that Tarbell had won, I planned to take J. to Tarbell’s at 32nd Street and Camelback for dinner. I made our reservations and we both put on our fancier duds for a night out.

Arriving at Tarbell’s, we were cheerfully greeted and escorted to a very nice window table for four. We made ourselves comfortable and began our survey of the menu. J. immediately noticed that Tarbell’s winning Iron Chef menu was prominently featured a the top of the first page but we ultimately decided to go al a carte.

Our server arrived and offered to take our drink order. We requested two Diet Cokes ($2.00 each). When he returned with the drinks, he also brought a basket of bread and a small ramekin of olive oil. I thought the bread was rather mundane. J. thought the bread was completely one-dimensional. It wasn’t horrible; it just seemed to lack any complex or complementary flavors like buttery or salty or sweet. I wasn’t sure what was up with the olive oil, but I had a strange medicinal taste to it.

When our server returned, we placed our order. J. started with the Fried Calamari ($12.00) which would be followed by the Halibut with Acorn Squash ($32.00). I selected the Caesar Salad ($11.00) for my appetizer and the Double Pork Chop ($33.00) for my entrée. We also decided to try a plate of the Pomme Frites ($7.00).

I mentioned to J. that I really liked the surroundings. The interior was dark with light reflecting off the bright, white table clothes. The decoration was minimal, but the atmosphere and the view of the kitchen gave the place a comfortable and clubby feel. I also liked our table next to the window.

We only waited about 10 minutes before our appetizers arrived. My Caesar Salad was plentiful and traditional with Romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing, croutons, Parmesan cheese and a hint of anchovy. It was a competent and straight-forward creation and presentation. I was also pleased the salad was very cold which kept the lettuce crunchy.

J.’s Fried Calamari was also quite large in the quantity department. A long, rectangular plate was filled with the crisp rings of squid and accompanied by two dipping sauces. J. found the presentation pleasing and thought the calamari was very good. However, J. wasn’t thrilled with the breading as it was literally falling off the calamari with the touch of a fork. Thankfully, the squid made up for the breading issue by not being chewy, but delicate and slightly sweet.

The plate of Pommes Frites was also a large serving and the golden color of the potatoes was appealing. We both liked the fact the fries were very crisp on the outside and yet tender on the inside. The amount of salt sprinkled on them was perfect, but we felt that they would have been enhanced by some sort of sauce or additional seasoning.

Between the appetizers and the entrees, we did encounter a problem in getting our water and drink glasses filled. I am not sure if our server was over-extended in his serving area, but on a couple of occasions, we had to bring it to his attention that our water glasses were sitting empty.

Our entrees arrived and I was pleased at the appearance of my Double Pork Chop. The exterior had dark grill marks on a canvas of dark amber. The chop was fairly large and rested on a bed of butternut squash stuffing and sautéed spinach. The meat on the chop was tender and moist, but slightly overcooked. Still it had a very pleasant smoky aftertaste that I enjoyed. The stuffing was an interesting mix of textures with the bread being soft and the cubes of squash providing a bit of roughness to the dish. I would have appreciated a bit more seasoning on the stuffing. The spinach was top notch and I loved the infusion of garlic. I was a bit confused by the reduction sauce. It really looked gorgeous on the plate, but the taste was non-existent. I dredged a bit of the stuffing through the sauce and all I got was a bit of additional saltiness. Overall, the chop was a solid choice with the spinach being the unqualified winner on the plate.

J.’s Halibut with Roasted Acorn Squash was quite pretty. The orange color of the squash and the green leaves from the Brussels sprouts made the white, flaky halibut pop out visually. J. liked the fish and the squash but found but felt the dish sounded much better in theory than it was in execution. There wasn’t any “wow factor” to the dish and J. said it “just came across as a nice piece of halibut.”

After our meals, we debated about dessert and decided to each get one. J. went for the Bread Pudding ($11.00) and I had the Spice Bread ($11.00). There was only a few minutes break between ordering and the desserts arriving. J.’s Bread Pudding was dense and looked appealing. J. had no complaints about the taste other than it needing a bit more sauce. The pudding was filled with plenty of raisins and a hint of cinnamon.

My Spice Bread was interesting in that it was served with a small dollop of Pumpkin Ice Cream. I thought the bread had far too much spice in the mix and that hid the rich, earthy pumpkin flavor as well as killing off the subtle flavors of the ice cream, which just came across on my palate as cold. Overall, I was disappointed with the dessert, and J. commented that the $11.00 price tag for each dessert was a bit excessive.

We requested our bill and the total was $131.04 including tax. The service was professional, but somewhat stoic and we did have to request refills a few times.

J. and I made the quick drive back home and we talked about our experience. The verdict was that Tarbell’s was a solid choice with some very good selections and an inviting atmosphere. However, we also realized that Tarbell’s didn’t cross over into the “outstanding” category for us. I am not sure exactly what it was that kept this restaurant on the cusp between very good and great, but we both expressed that we expected just a little bit more from Tarbell’s. Did we expect too much from Tarbell’s after a great showing on Iron Chef America? Or was Tarbell’s playing it safe in the kitchen?

I certainly wouldn’t discourage anyone from going to Tarbell’s. After all, it was a pleasant meal. I wish I could put my finger on what it was that was missing.

In the final analysis, I just wish there had been more Iron Chef America inspiration with the items we ordered.

Tarbell’s
3213 East Camelback Road
Phoenix, AZ 85018
Dress: Business casual on up.
Hours: Monday through Saturday - 5 PM to 10 PM; Sunday - 5 PM to 9 PM.
Notes: Next to Sportsman’s Wine Shop on the southeast corner of 32nd Street and Camelback.
Alcohol: Full bar service.
Website: www.tarbells.com

For some strange reason, people just can’t believe that Phoenix has a very dynamic culinary scene. Whether it is Kai or Binkley’s or even some great Mom ‘n Pop restaurants dishing out top notch Mexican food, Phoenix certainly has been blessed with a growing dining scene and lots of delicious food which seems to befuddle some people. The most famous restaurant in these parts is probably Pizzeria Bianco, not only because it was named as best pizza in the country, but also because people couldn’t believe that the best pizza in the country could be found in the desert.

Having been a big fan of pizza for many years, I was excited when I got a chance to have a pizza at Chris Bianco’s famed eatery and it didn’t fail to live up to the expectations I had for it. So, once you have had the best, can others at least provide a quality pizza that will bring some pleasure and excitement?

J. and I had heard a lot of praises about a new pizzeria in Scottsdale called Humble Pie. We discovered that it was housed in the Hilton Village which is the same complex on Scottsdale Road and MacDonald that plays host to a Good Egg and a Houston’s. Since we were going on a busy weekend night, I called to see if I could make a reservation for two at 8 PM and was pleased that it wasn’t a problem.

Arriving at the location, we had to meander to the most northern part of the strip mall and were lucky enough to find parking right up front. The place was fairly busy and we were immediately escorted to our table. Our host handed us menus and said someone would be right with us.

J. and I immediately noticed the chalkboard near the stone pizza oven that listed much of the fresh and organic produce that was being served and the place of origin. With the exception of the fingerling potatoes, everything was from McClendon Farms.

Our server arrived and asked if we had any questions. We did ask for a few recommendations and our server has very happy to provide suggestions and answers. We were still mulling over the menu and so we requested two Diet Cokes ($2.50 each). Our server said she would get our beverages and then take our order.

Upon her return, we had decided. To start, we selected the Chilled Green Beans ($7.00) and the Crispy French Fries ($7.00). We then decided to split the Veggie Chopped Salad ($9.00). J. wanted the Wild Mushroom Pizza ($12.00) and I decided to go traditional and chose the Margherita Pizza ($10.00).

As we waited for the food to arrive, J. and I took in the minimalist atmosphere. The restaurant is one central dining room with a long bar on the west side of the space and the kitchen on the north and east sides. The majority of the rest of the space was housing plenty of tables. There was also a small patio outside for additional seating. There was very little in the way of decoration, and the bare, concrete floor amplified the noise, but we were still able to hear each other and hold a conversation.

Our Green Beans arrived and the beautiful beans were lightly coated in a creamy mustard sauce and sprinkled with coarsely chopped hazelnuts. The beans were tender crisp and the sauce was addictive. The addition of the hazelnuts was brilliant. The crisp beans, the crunchy nuts and the creamy sauce were a match made in heaven and we polished off the plate of beans in no time.

Next up to the table were the Crispy French Fries. The stack of shoestring fries was hot and crisp with garlic, fresh parsley, lemon zest and Pecorino cheese atop the stack. They were served with a small ramekin of ketchup and a aioli. The fries were excellent and the addition of the seasonings really enhanced the flavor. I did wish they had a bit more lemon zest and wanted more of the aioli and ketchup (the ramekins were just a bit small for this serving size of potatoes), but otherwise, we were glad we ordered these.

The Veggie Chopped Salad was a large plate of mixed greens, jicama, green beans, tomatoes and mozzarella all tossed with an herb vinaigrette dressing. The serving size was perfect for two people and we each took a few scoops for our small plates. The greens were cold and crunchy and the flavor combination was superb. The small slices of bread were piping hot and had a wonderfully earthy taste and a chewy texture (and big bonus points for the brushed on butter and oil). About the only drawback we saw was that the salad needed a couple of shakes of black pepper. It was at that moment we realized that there were no salt or pepper shakers on the table. Other than that, we found the salad a perfect lead in to the pizza.

Our pizzas arrived within minutes after finishing our salad. J.’s Mushroom Pizza was overflowing with a variety of mushrooms including crimini and shitake. I like mushrooms but J. loves them so this was a success in the making. I thought the mushroom pizza was very good, but was a bit overwhelmed by the mushrooms. While the number of mushrooms didn’t appeal to me, any big mushroom lover like J. or my Dad would have found pure bliss in this pizza; and J. sure did.

My Margherita Pizza was absolutely stellar. The crust on our pizzas was soft and chewy, but also a bit crisp on the outer edges. It was a perfect vehicle for the sauce, cheese and basil. The tomato sauce was smooth and rich, but it didn’t overwhelm the pizza. The mozzarella cheese was creamy and fresh and the basil leaves tasted straight out of the garden. It was a simple pizza made even better with the use of high quality ingredients. I would order this pizza again in a heartbeat.

After finishing off every scrap on our plates, we debated having dessert. Our server refreshed our memory of the dessert offerings on the menu and we decided to try the Olive Oil Gelato ($5.00). We weren’t sure what it would entail, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. Our server said the gelato was sweet cream gelato that is then infused with drizzles of olive oil

Within minutes, our server presented us with a frosted glass containing two scoops of Olive Oil Gelato. We both dove in and – I am sure – both had curious looks on our faces. The gelato was interesting and I had a hard time describing my thoughts to J. other than to say that it was exceptionally smooth and had a unique texture for gelato. The flavor did not have any olive oil taste that I could detect, but the sweet cream flavor was quite good. J. was not sure about the experience either. We didn’t know if we liked it or not, but we found we liked it better the more we ate. I wasn’t sure I would order it again, but it was an experience to be had.

We requested the bill and the total was $59.37 which included tax. We thought this was a killer deal for the high quality of the food. The service was very attentive and friendly. I appreciated the fact that our server asked us what we thought of different things and how Humble Pie could improve. We mentioned the addition of black pepper to the salad and our thoughts on the gelato.

After paying the bill, we took the casual drive down MacDonald Road and into Arcadia. Our discussion centered on the meal and how exceptionally pleased we were with the meal. Of course, we couldn’t pass up a comparison with Pizzeria Bianco. It is difficult to say how the two stack up without a real time side by side comparison. I will say, however, that J. and I thoroughly enjoyed the pizzas and I am very comfortable in saying that Humble Pie could give Pizzeria Bianco a run for its money. Again, however, I would want to do a side-by-side comparison.

Regardless of which would be the winner, Phoenix metro is blessed to have two great pizza restaurants.

Despite the non-believers, Phoenix’s dining scene continues to grow and succeed.

Even in the middle of a desert.

Humble Pie
6149 North Scottsdale Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85250
Dress: Casual
Hours: Sunday through Thursday - 11 AM to 11 PM; Friday and Saturday - 11 AM to 2 AM
Notes: At the extreme north end of the Hilton Village.
Alcohol: Full bar.
Website: www.humblepieusa.com

After our distressing trip to Jerome, J. and I were ready to have a stellar experience somewhere. One of the places that had been on my radar for some time was La Hacienda at the Fairmont Princess in Scottsdale. However, I had kept this place at an arm’s length because it is a rather pricey restaurant that serves Mexican food.

As a Phoenix native, the thought of paying large sums of cash for Mexican food is a rather contrary to my nature where one can have a feast at a place like El Nopalito or Pedro’s for less than $10 a person. However, I had seen some positive comments about La Hacienda and decided that for a nice night out, we would dress up a bit and see what La Hacienda had to offer.

There was a mild bit of panic when I called to confirm our 8 PM reservation and was told they couldn’t find my name on the list. Alas, they were looking at the wrong page and confirmed our party of two.

After the 25-minute drive, we pulled up to the valet at the porte chochere and were directed to head up and to the right. We didn’t realize that the restaurant was quite a hike from the entrance and we just made our reservation time. We didn’t mind the walk, however, as we got to tour a bit of the massive and beautiful grounds.

We stepped inside and were told it would be just a minute for the host to return and take us to our table. After arriving at our table, J. and I settled in the darkened room with the fireplace roaring and casting a soft glow over the room.

A few minutes later, our server arrived with menus and pour water. He asked if we would like anything form the bar and J. asked for the Midori Margarita ($10.00) and I had the Prickly Pear Margarita ($10.00). Our server said he would return with the drinks and take our order.

I immediately told J. that I loved the fact that the room was subtle in its decoration and had more of a “ranchero” feel to it. I was pleased there were not bright paper flowers or piñatas parked on ledges. Instead, there were white stucco walls, wrought iron trim and lots of exposed, dark wood surfaces. It was pure comfort and perfect for an upscale restaurant.

Arriving with our margaritas, our server said he had an order to deliver and would be right back with some bread. That was fine with us as we each wanted to imbibe in our chosen margaritas. J.’s Midori Margarita was pale green in a martini glass with salt on the rim. The melon flavor was prevalent, but not overpowering. The salt was an excellent contrast to the melon. The drink was also quite strong. While the alcohol didn’t overwhelm the flavor, it was only a few moments before we started feeling the affects.

My Prickly Pear Margarita was just as good as J.’s. The flavor was rich and the soft sweetness of the prickly pear juice was perfect when played against the tequila. I opted to have sugar on the rim instead of salt and I am glad I made that choice. I was not sure the prickly pear juice would have matched well with the salt. I was very pleased with the drink.

When our server returned, he set down a basket containing two rolls and a stack of flour tortillas along with three toppings. Before we started our tasting, we decided to place our order. For our appetizers, we decided to split the Camarones Culiacan/Bacon Wrapped Shrimp ($14.00) and the Chile Ancho en Nogada ($12.00). We would follow that with the Ensalada de Espinacas ($11.00). J. was craving seafood and ordered the Lenguado Relleno ($33.00) while I had the house specialty of Cochinillo Asado ($30.00). We also ordered two Diet Coke ($4.00 each).

With the orders placed, we dove into the breads. The tortillas were soft, hot and very fresh. The rolls were room temperature, but also soft and fresh. I liked La Hacienda’s flour tortillas. They were slightly elastic, earthy in flavor and had a great taste. The rolls were dense with a slight sweetness to them.

The accompanying sides were a chipotle salsa, a bean dip with sautéed onions and a butter with chili seasoning. All were excellent on the breads. The salsa had a kick to it and a smoky richness that was enticing. The bean dip with sautéed onions was outstanding. The beans were smooth and creamy and the onions added sweet and tang to the dip. The chili butter was very interesting and really made the rolls stand out. Although we liked all three, the bean dip was the clear winner.

We had just finished up the breads when our server brought the Chile Ancho en Nogada. The large, teardrop-shaped chile had been stuffed with a mixture of roasted chicken and dried fruits and then topped with two sauces: a pomegranate sauce and a tomatillo sauce. The chile was fork tender and the filling was moist. After a quick bite, I told J. that the flavors reminded me of Thanksgiving stuffing, but with a twist. I loved the dish and found myself dipping a piece of the tortilla in the sauces that remained on the plate.

The Shrimp appetizer was brought to our table and I was captivated by the orange hue from the Guajillo and Lime Butter Sauce that adorned the three meaty, jumbo shrimp that had been wrapped in bacon. After removing one from the skewer and cutting a piece, I was happy with the combination of flavors. There was little, if any, spiciness to the dish, but the salty bacon and briny shrimp were melded together with the sauce adding a wonderful dimension. This was a success all the way around.

Our server cleared the plates and had split the salad we ordered. In front of each of us was a plate of luscious greens and I could see glistening pecans along with onions. The majority of the greens were spinach leaves and the pecans had been tossed in cinnamon. I was completely impressed by the dressing which can only be called “inspired.” The classic spinach salad had been traditionally served with a warm bacon dressing. In this version, the spinach salad was tossed in a warm chorizo dressing. It was absolutely sublime. The combination of the greens, onions, cinnamon pecans and chorizo dressing had our taste buds doing cartwheels of joy. J. and I agreed that this was one of the best salads we had had in a very long time. Creative, fresh, delicious.

After a short wait, our entrees arrived and we hoped they were going to live up to the success of the appetizers and salad. J.’s Lenguado Relleno was an absolute ocean of seafood. Flounder had been stuffed with crab and then served in a Caldo Verde broth which was adorned with shrimp, bay scallops, and mussels. J. was overjoyed with the amount of seafood and how fresh all of it was, especially noting how the caldo verde was not overwhelming, but a nice treatment for all of the seafood.

My Cochinillo Asado was excellent. The large portion of suckling pig had been slowly roasting for hours and it showed with tender pieces of pork bursting with flavor. Even better were the masa cake and chorizo that were hidden under the pork that had soaked up a lot of the juices from the pork. The extra BBQ-style sauce on the side was a nice touch and I made use of every drop. The baby corn and petite green beans were decent, but seemed more for show than flavor. I loved the pork and the fact that BBQ sauce did not overwhelm the dish. Instead, it was a perfect enhancement. I was also pleased at the portion size. It was gigantic, but it also wasn’t paltry. I was very happy with my selection.

J. and I were both very surprised with our dishes all the way around. The only complaint we had was that we wish the food had been a tad bit hotter temperature wise. All of the hot dishes were warm or very warm. I think we both would have preferred them hot to searing.

Thankfully, we had room for dessert and J. and I were quick to ask for the dessert menu. As we perused the options, we notice dramatic pillars of flame rising to the ceiling as one of the waiters prepared after-dinner coffees for one of the other tables. Well, we couldn’t pass that up so when we placed our order, we went for the Cafe Caballo ($10.00) for our drink along with the Trio de Pastel de Tres Leches ($9.00) and Torta de Chocolate y Crema de Vanilla ($9.00) for our desserts.

Within minutes, our server returned wheeling a cart over to prepare our drink. He used a glass goblet and began mixing a few alcohols in the bowl before setting them on fire. He then grabbed pinches of cinnamon sugar and tossed it into the glass producing large columns of fire that reached the roof. This occurred multiple times until the interior of the glass had been caramelized with the sugar. He then poured in Bailey’s Irish Cream, Creme de Cacao & Fangelico along with strong coffee and topped it with fresh whipped cream.

The final product was presented to us and we sipped on the drink finding it strong, delicious and exotic. The caramelization had added an interesting dimension to the drink and we were very happy with the drink, although it did have quite a strong punch due to the alcohol and sugar mixture. We both commented that we would want to try one of the other five coffees available that were prepared the same way, if just for the floor show.

Our desserts arrived and J.’s Trio de Pastel de Tres Leches was three small desserts of papaya sopaipilla-wrapped mango cheesecake, Kahlua torte and Star Anise ice cream. A candied orange slice adorned the top of the trio. J. found the dessert to be incredibly rich with good flavors all the way around, but noted that it seemed to lack the needed punch to make it stellar. I had a taste and found the flavors quite reserved. While definitely rich, there just wasn’t enough there to fully tingle the palate.

My dessert, on the other hand, was a knock out. The chocolate torte had a thin layer of vanilla bean cream in the center and mousse-like filling leading to a chocolate granache topping and pieces of cacao nib crisps. The dessert was exceptionally rich and the flavors were outstanding. J. and I agreed that this dessert was far better than the tres leches. The combination of sweet, subtle and bitter really made this a stand out. Between this and the after dinner coffee, my sweet tooth had been fully satiated.

We requested our bill and the total was $168.40 including tax. We thought it was worth it due to the creativity, the excellence of the ingredients and the plentiful portion sizes. Service was very professional and friendly.

After departing, we strolled back to the entrance to retrieve the car. We chatted about the meal and I could only think that a lot of people would be put off by a price tag like that on Mexican food. However, J. and I thought it was worth it and enjoyed our meals at La Hacienda. As we drove back to Phoenix, we both agreed that the best dish was the spinach salad. That didn’t mean the rest was bad, but that salad was the stuff of dreams for us.

Other than our desire for the food to be hotter in temperature and the one dessert that seemed mundane, we thoroughly enjoyed our meals at La Hacienda.

La Hacienda
7575 East Princess Drive
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
Dress: Business Casual on up.
Hours: Thursday to Tuesday - 6 PM to 10 PM; Closed Wednesdays.
Notes: Reservations are recommended.
Alcohol: Full bar; margaritas a specialty.
Website: http://www.fairmont.com/scottsdale/GuestServices/Restaurants/LaHaciend a.htm

[Note: A response from the owner of The Asylum is located at the bottom of this review.]

My plan was a simple one.

Since J. was going to be in town for the weekend, I decided to plan a trip for the two of us plus Madge and Boris to have a pleasant day up in Jerome. We would arrive around noon, have a nice lunch and then walk around the tiny village for an hour or so, poking into shops and taking photos.

Little did I know that at 3 o’clock that afternoon, we would be dining at a Jack In The Box in Cottonwood.

It all stared delightful enough. We climbed into the car and made our way toward Prescott to catch the back road into the city. The only glitch was the horrible traffic we encountered in Prescott Valley where the traffic lights were plentiful and hadn’t been timed. But we made due because it was just part of the experience.

After making our way through the back roads, we found ourselves rounding the curve and into Jerome proper. The place was packed and parking was at a pure premium. After two surveys of the city, we finally found parking near The Asylum restaurant overlooking the Verde Valley and the red rocks of Sedona. We parked the car and walked up the long, steep stairs to the entrance. After entering the place, we discovered there was a 30 minute wait, which we were fine with as it gave us time to relax and take a few photos.

Standing out on the patio, we had a captivating view of the town and points beyond with an occasional blast of chilly air. However, the minutes passed quickly and we were called as our table was ready. I was more than thrilled by the fact that our table was next to a large set of French doors that overlooked the red rocks. It couldn’t have been a nicer setting. We were handed menus and our host departed.

After a few minutes, we all picked up on the fact that there seemed to be some confusion about who our server was going to be for the afternoon. We watched as one server took charge of the table north of us, south of us and west of us. All the while, he would circle our table without so much as acknowledging our presence. After about 10 minutes, a member of the bus staff arrived and served us tall highball glasses of water. After another five minutes, I saw the aforementioned waiter walk over to the host station and have a chat with someone who I believed to be the manager. The manager and the server looked at our table and then had a discussion and then the server arrived saying that he would be taking care of our table.

He asked us if we were ready to order and we began with two Diet Cokes ($2.50 each), one Iced Tea ($2.50), and one bottle of Boylans Creme Soda ($3.00). We decided to split an order of the Boneless Buffalo Wings ($9.75). For the entrees, I selected the Turkey Sandwich ($9.00), J. had the New York Cheesesteak ($12.00), Boris chose the Angus Cheeseburger ($9.00) and Madge had the Spicy Chicken Salad ($12.50). I also ordered a Field Green Salad ($5.50) with Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing and J. had a bowl of the Roasted Butternut Squash Soup ($6.50).

Our server left the table and we crossed our fingers that everything would be great.

After another 15 minute wait, we were becoming concerned because our drinks had not arrived and our waters were not being refilled. It was as though our table was in some no-man’s-land. When our server did return, he informed us that he couldn’t get us our drinks because they were out of beverage glasses. He said he would have them out as soon as possible. What we failed to understand was why they didn’t use other glasses, such as the tall highball glasses they were using for water glasses, or the huge wine glasses that they use for wine service as well as sell as souvenirs? So, we tried to be content with our waters, but we had to continually beg the bus staff to fill our glasses.

Another 15 minutes passed and our server told us our appetizers should be out soon. He repeated this mantra about five minutes later. Finally, after an additional 10 minutes, we got our beverages, but they forget sweetener of any kind for the iced tea and we had to ask the bus staff for some sweetener.

More significant time passed and our salad, soup and wings finally arrived. J.’s soup looked quite good and smelled wonderful. The square bowl was filled with hot Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with a swirl of Cinnamon Lime Crema. J. said the soup was very good and had a substantial spicy kick to it. Boris tried a taste as well and was pleased with it.

My Field Green Salad was fresh and crisp with a variety of lettuces and a pungent, tangy balsamic vinaigrette that I thought was excellent. The greens were ice cold and I loved the two pieces of whole grain bread that were served with the salad. The bread had a soft interior, a chewy crust and a savory flavor. My spirits were beginning to pick up.

The Boneless Buffalo Wings, however, were a complete disappointment. While we all agreed that the sauce was good, the chicken was tough and the chunks had been breaded with the skin still on the chicken, which only added to the toughness. We also noted the paltry size of the dish. Four small “wings” for nearly $10.00. Ouch. We also didn’t quite understand who was responsible for the Blue Cheese Dressing. It was as thin as water and had almost no flavor.

We then went back to the waiting game where refills on drinks were never going to happen. Then, things took an even worse turn when tables that had been seated long after we were started getting their food. Each time our server would deliver food to one of those tables, he would stop by and say our food was “coming out shortly.”

At the 75 minute mark, I finally had had enough and went to the host station and indicated that we had a problem. If things weren’t bad enough, the host blurted out, “I really can’t help you. It’s my first day here.” And with that, I demanded someone get my bill as we were going out the door. The brainless host just stood there until another person arrived and asked what the problem was and I sternly said that everyone else in the dining room was getting their food, but we weren’t. I said I wanted our bill. The individual I spoke to asked which table I was at and I pointed to my guests. He turned to a bartender and asked him to print up the bill.

When the bill was presented, I knew there was something wrong as the total was $75.00. Looking at the bill, they had drawn up the wrong bill from the computer and I said it was not our bill. The man then said that he would have to get our server. Wonderful. We didn’t want to deal with our server again. Our server appeared at the host station and asked what the problem was. I was dumbfounded. He knew what the problem was and the man I had spoken to asked him to get our bill. He went to the computer and pulled the bill instantly and presented it to me.

It was evident that our entrees never made it into the system. He couldn’t have possibly removed the items that quickly and they were not even on the bill. He then sort of chuckled and said, “Well, sorry about your lunch.” The injury to the pathetic service was a bill for $35.27 for sodas, a side salad, wings, a bowl of soup and an iced tea. I dug two twenty dollar bills our of my wallet, handed them to our server and pointed said, “I want all of my change back.” He then said, “Oh! Really?”

What an insufferable dolt. This jerk actually thought I was going to give him the $4.63 as a tip.

At that point, I just turned, threw open the door and scurried down the steps, saying lots of things that I am sure would make a sailor blush. Once in the car, I profusely apologized for the horrible lunch experience. J. reached over and squeezed my hand while Madge and Boris assured me that it was all a crap shoot when walking into a restaurant we had never been before. However, I was still fuming. We debated trying to find another restaurant in Jerome, but the crowds were thick and there were lines out of the doors at other restaurants we saw.

We decided to skip Jerome all together and drove down the mountain toward Cottonwood. We turned onto the 260 Highway and saw a Jack in the Box and decided that since it was 3 PM, we should just get fast food. We pulled in and ordered and had our meals and drinks hot, fresh and ready in under five minutes.

As we drove back to the Valley, Madge, Boris and J. kept talking about the numerous plays on words I could make with The Asylum. Boris won the contest with “The Asylum - You would have to be crazy to eat there.” Madge also wondered if the manager made our server take our table when he didn’t want to and was taking out his anger on us.

All I know is that The Asylum was a train wreck and I am still livid that there was no management intervention to at least apologize for the situation.

I wanted to have a pleasant day trip to Jerome because I hadn’t been there in 30 years.

It will probably be at least that long before I return.

The Asylum
200 Hill Street
Jerome, AZ 86331
Dress: Casual
Hours: Sunday through Saturday - 11 AM to 3 PM and 5 PM to 9 PM.
Notes: The Jack in the Box in Cottonwood is on the right after turning onto the 260 Highway.
Alcohol: Full bar.
Website: www.theasylum.biz

Owner’s Response:

Eric Woolsey
Owner