Angry Crab Shack

Angry Crab

2740 S Alma School Rd
Ste 13
Mesa, AZ 85210

If you love seafood and like spice and don't mind getting a bit messy, then this is the place for you.

Companion and I were seated immediately, and were given a list of current available seafood and prices. All seafood is sold by the pound.

I started with a dozen oysters on the half shell, and companion started with the cooked oysters. The oysters were adequate and large, but nothing to write home about.

We ordered a pound of shrimp, a pound of blue crabs, and a pound of mussels. We also ordered corn on the cob and sausage as well. Unfortunately, they were sold out of mud bugs (crawfish) and clams, so they will have to wait for the next trip. They offer 5 different sauces and 5 levels of heat ranging from nothing at all, to a mouth blistering inferno of spice that I don't know anyone that can finish it.

In a reasonable amount of time our waitress brought us bibs (be sure to wear one and old clothes if you have them), and a plastic bag filled with shrimp and loads of sauce. The shrimp come with heads and shell on. Following normal New Orleans style, you pinch the head off (just like a crawfish), and suck the wonderful juices out. Next, came the shrimp itself. Companion opted to remove the shell, and I opted to eat the shell and all. The shrimp were perfectly cooked, big and succulent and dripping with the wonderful sauce. By the time we finished the first bag of food we were already starting to get messy, but with food this good, who cares?

Next came the crabs. Two crabs weighed a pound, which tells you they were really big blue crabs. As with the shrimp, they too were wonderful, and I had fun picking all the morsels of meat out of the various nooks and crannies. We took a break from the seafood to eat the corn. It too had been swimming in a pool of the sauce, and was a real experience to eat. We also ate the sausage at this time, and I could have cheerfully made a meal just out of that.

Lastly, came the sack of mussels. Probably the best mussels I have ever eaten. Moist, succulent and floating in that wonderful sauce, it was a true experience to eat them. Although we were stuffed, we opted to have dessert, and while they were not at the same level as the rest of the meal, they were satisfying and tasty, especially the cheesecake.

The place was clean, tables were bussed quickly, and our waitress was attentive to our needs. I can't wait to go back again.

4 stars for quality, quantity, and cleanliness

Henry's Taiwan Kitchen - CLOSED

Henry's Taiwan Kitchen

119 E Southern Ave

Tempe, AZ 85282

                                                                                                         

We dropped into Henry's Taiwan Kitchen for lunch. Having been in Taiwan, I was familiar with the food, and was looking forward to trying it.

First on the menu was soup dim sum. I had last had these in Shanghai and remembered them fondly. Except for being smaller, they were identical to what I had overseas. Dumplings filled with meat, and then filled with delicious soup and sealed. When you bite into it, the soup floods your mouth, and then you get to bite into the wonderful filling.

Next, was Beef Tendon in Chili Oil. Delightfully chewy and spicy. We also had Eggplant with Garlic. Soft and tender, it was a mouthwatering experience to eat it.

Yet another dish tried was the signature dish of Crispy Fried Tofu. Normally, I can take tofu or leave it, as it usually is just a bland taste in the mouth, but this was a whole new experience. A beautiful, crispy outside with a tasty, soft inside. I'd easily order this again and again.

We also sampled the Bean Curd Tofu with Preserved Egg. The Pidyin was perfectly matched to the tofu, and my only complaint might have been that I would have enjoyed even more of the Pidyin.

Next time I go, I want to try the Miso Glazed Black Cod. This dish was first made by Nobu in New York, and when properly made is like being in heaven. Henry also has another more eclectic restaurant in Mesa which features even more Taiwanese dishes. I find myself wondering if he has Mau Tai there.

I'll have to go review it to find out! There isn't much atmosphere at this restaurant, but the service is attentive and the food is great.

I'll be back for more. 4 Stars

Green

Green
2240 N Scottsdale Rd
Tempe, AZ 85281
(480) 941-9003

We arrived at Green at 6:00, and were surprised to find the place so busy. We stood in line to order while perusing the menu. While vegetarian food is hardly new, finding a place that was totally packed and had such varied items on the menu was an new experience.

We all started out with the eggless rolls ($4.00). Crisp, beautifully made spring rolls with cabbage, carrots, noodles, and spices, served with a lovely dipping sauce. This was so good that it set the stage for high expectations for the main course, and we were not disappointed. Most of us ordered the Big-Wac ($9.00), a perfect take off on the Big Mac*. It was offered with your choice of fries, fruit, or cole slaw. Even with your eyes open you believe this was made at the golden arches. The faux meat looked and had the texture of real meat patties. It even had special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles and a sesame seed bun. It was also just as filling as the variety with meat. This came in a basket filled to overflowing with pencil thin French fries with what had to be homemade ketchup. The only word that comes to mind is delicious.

One of our companions ordered the kung pao bowl ($8.50). While he said he could taste the difference between the faux meat and the real thing, he none the less said it was very tasty and enjoyed it.

A number of us ordered dessert. A large cup filled from the bottom first with cookies, then homemade banana ice cream, and topped with whipped cream. I could not finish either my burger or my dessert.

Beverages are all non-alcoholic, with assorted teas being the only option for those who cannot have sugar.

The premises were clean, and tables were bussed almost as soon as they were emptied. Service was prompt and courteous.

3 stars for quality of food, service, and cleanliness.

Elements / Jade Bar

Elements/Jade Bar

5700 East McDonald Drive

Paradise Valley, AZ 85253

We arrived at Elements @ 5:30 and were seated immediately. The venue is impressive with views overlooking the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. Our waiter and the Maître D promptly presented themselves at our table. We were asked about drink orders, and given some wonderful Crusty Bread and a small dish of Extra Virgin Olive Oil to dip it in. Nice and fruity with wonderful taste. This was a great way to start off our meal.

Companion ordered a Cosmo which was pronounced very good, and I ordered a Brandy Alexander, an old time cocktail that most bartenders have no idea how to make. This was close to perfect, only missing a touch of nutmeg on the top.

Our first appetizer was a Baked Oyster a la MacMillan. It might have been the best item of the entire meal. Succulent oysters on a bed of spinach with a touch of Chinese Lap Chong sausage baked into it. The only word we could think of to describe it was fantastic! It was truly memorable.

For our next appetizer, we had Duck Confit Mushu. Little pillows filled with duck confit, gently cooked and topped with a little salad and a piece of mandarin orange, sitting in a peanut sauce. These were very tender and very light.

Our main appetizer was Steak Tartar. Unlike what many places serve where the steak is ground up, this was obviously hand chopped, lightly seasoned with an egg yolk floating on top and served with some wonderful Crostini. On the side was some Fried Kale that was nothing short of amazing in flavor. An altogether very satisfying dish.

Next came salads. Companion ordered the Kale Salad with Mandarin Oranges. The salad also contained the largest blueberries I have ever seen along with beet chips and orange beets. Companion could have made a meal out of just the salad. I ordered the Buckwheat Noodle salad, which came with julienned green onions, julienned carrots, fresh edamame and, I believe cranberry beans. These last two items really made the salad sing.

Our main courses arrived, and I could not believe the size of my portion. Huge doesn't begin to describe it. A giant double cut Kurobuta Pork Chop with a Korean glaze served over a medley of mushrooms, sweet potato cubes and shiso leaves. The chop came with a giant knife which is the only ding I have for the meal. Since the knife is serrated it tended to tear the beautifully tender pork which did it an injustice. This piece of meat deserves a nice knife with a sharp edge instead of a serrated blade. Companion ordered the special of the day, which was Seared Halibut on a bed of perfectly cooked Risotto with lemon and coconut flavors. The sear was perfection, and it was topped with a small amount of a chicken and veal stock mixture. Again, the portion size was huge but companion made a valiant effort to eat it all. In the end, a doggie bag won out!

Last was dessert. I ordered the Butterscotch Pudding Torte. I hadn't had Butterscotch since I was a child, and this brought back wonderful memories. A pool of butterscotch with a piece of dense but moist cake sitting on it. This was then covered with a tuile cookie which was topped with a wonderful coconut sorbet. Probably 2,000,000 calories, but you don't come here to count calories.

Companion ordered the Banana Bacon Bourbon Parfait, a whimsical dessert served in a mason jar. It was served with a layer of chocolate milk cream, a layer of caramel popcorn, and topped with candied pecans. The restaurant was spotless, and examination of the restroom showed it to also be spotless and nicely stocked with amenities. This restaurant serves a truly amazing meal complete with amazing service. If I defined the food of this restaurant in one word it would be fresh. I give them the easiest 5 stars I have ever given out.

Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant

1 W. Flatiron Circle
Broomfield, Colorado

Four of us went to lunch at this restaurant. We were promptly seated and offered drinks. Since it was noon time, none of us wanted beer, but the menu shows a nice selection of brews. We started off sharing Southwest Eggrolls, which contained pulled chicken, blackbeans, corn, red peppers and pepper jack cheese. It came with a roasted jalapeno ranch dressing. Comments ranged from good to not bad but would not order it again. While it did have some spice, I felt it could have used a whole lot more,.
For the main course, 3 of us opted to order burgers, and 1 ordered a grilled cheese and tomato sandwich. The person that ordered the sandwich left 1/2 of it on the plate. Of the remaining 3 people, one ordered the Marzen Barbeque Burger, a 1/2 pound burger with bacon, cheese, and barbeque sauce on it. This person felt that the sauce was thin and watery, and could use more flavor. Both the remaining companion and myself ordered the Mushroom Swiss Burger. As the menu says that they cook all burgers to 155 degrees, I asked for mine to be cooked as rare as possible and companion asked for it well done. My burger came out medium well done, and as a result was fairly dry.
In evaluating any place that serves burgers, one of my criteria is if the restaurant will cook a burger rare or medium rare. If the restaurant won't, that tells me that they don't trust their meat. If they don't trust it, why should I? The burger was topped with a big slice of tomato and some lettuce, as well as about a tablespoonful of mushrooms. Not at all what I expected for the prices they charge here. Most burgers are $10.95. Companion ordered hers with home cooked chips, which were pronounced very ordinary. Two of us had the garlic fries, which were flaccid and oily though not lacking in flavor, and the other companion ordered the coleslaw, which he pronounced to be with little flavor and extremely crunchy.
Service was adequate, but for what this place charges for items on the menu, it should have been exceptional. Most items on the menu vary from $10.95 to the mid $20.00 range. Sanitation was as it should have been. Something that we all found disturbing was the location of the restrooms. One has to walk around the actual kitchen prep area to reach them, where they are located right next to it. This was a bit distasteful to say the least. The restrooms were properly stocked and reasonably clean. Overall, lunch was a bit of a disappointment. Prices were high, and food preparation was poor to moderate. I give them 3 stars for service and sanitation.

Jack-n-Grill

Jack-n-Grill

9310 Sheridan Blvd

Westminster, CO

Since seeing Man vs. Food on T.V., I have been interested in visiting this restaurant. Their main item on the T.V. show was their 7 pound burrito, which is about the same size as a newborn child. My main interest was to find out if the quality of the food supported all the hype I have heard about it. Our party of 5 arrived about 6:30 in the evening. We had a wait time of about 20 minutes.

When we were seated, we were greeted reasonably promptly and our drink order was taken.

We were served chips and a nice salsa which had good flavor, but which I wish was a bit hotter. Our waiter claimed that the chilies were from Hatch, but if they were, they tasted like no Hatch Chile I have ever eaten. The table next to ours was rather loud and boisterous and busy taking flash pictures, which was, unfortunately an annoying experience.

Companions 1, 3, and 4 ordered a Shredded Beef Burrito smothered in Green Chile, with Sour Cream and one plate with Guacamole on the side. Companion #2 ordered a Shredded Beef Enchilada Plate with Red Chile on the side. I ordered a Shredded Chicken Green Enchilada Plate Sonoran Style, which means it had 2 fried eggs on top. On the positive side, all portions were of a good size, and would easily satisfy most appetites.

Comments were as follows - Companion 1 said the food was just o.k., and didn't know if he would come back again. Companion 2 said that her plate was fair, but the beans were underdone and made her mildly sick. Companion 3 said that the plate was o.k. Companion 4 said the beef was flavorless, and the plate was lukewarm instead of hot. My plate was lacking in flavor in spite of the supposed Hatch chilies, and the beans were totally undercooked and crunchy.

I spend the next day counting the tiles on the bathroom floor. While I had taken a doggy box of leftovers home, I threw it out the next day because I was not willing to take a chance on eating any more of it. Sanitation was adequate as far as I could tell, but the restaurant is a bit cluttered, which makes it hard to truly tell. The bathrooms were adequately clean and reasonably stocked.

If you want to come to a Mexican style restaurant that gives you lots of food, and is a bit on the loud side, this may be the place for you, but if your passion is not to count the tiles on your bathroom floor, you might not wish to eat here. 2 stars for portion size and sanitation.

LongHorn Steakhouse

1434 S. Alma School Road
Mesa, Arizona 85210

(Preface) I don't usually like to evaluate chain restaurants, but with more and more people eating at them it seemed proper to evaluate this one. This is part of the Darden chain, which also includes Olive Garden, etc.
I arrived at 6:15, and though told it was a 10 minute wait, I was seated in 3 minutes. My waiter brought a drink and warm bread quickly and handed me the menu as well as explained the specials of the night. The waiter, Tim, was extremely attentive and honest when asked about items on the menu. How refreshing! I was originally going to get the Rib Eye Steak, but Tim suggested that I get the larger Rib Steak on the Bone. He wasn't pushy, but offered good reasons to get it - an excellent job of up-selling for a restaurant. I also ordered a Baked Potato with lots of butter and a salad with Honey Mustard Dressing. Of the Bread, I can only say it was warm. I didn't care for the flavor of it, and it almost seemed to be under baked and lacking in flavor. The Salad was a nice portion with a good dressing, though I didn't care for the diced tomato on it. Diced tomato is a way of a restaurant saving money by not using premium tomatoes. Not a good idea.
In due course my steak appeared. I had ordered it rare, and it came medium. My waiter immediately took it back, apologized, and had a new one cooked properly with a new baked potato in minutes. Great service. The steak was perfectly cooked this time, with perhaps a touch too much of seasoning, but that is an individual preference. The potato was properly presented with lots of butter as I had asked. My biggest criticism is the same one I have in many steak houses - I hate being given oversized knives with serrated edges. If the steak is as tender as steak houses claim, a sharp, plain edged knife will easily do the job without tearing up the meat. My steak had a bit of silver skin still on it, which should have been removed by the butcher.
My waiter kept checking up to make sure my drink was full and I had everything I wanted. I was quite full, and my waiter promptly brought a take home box and even brought a small cruet to put some horse radish sauce in. (I like horse radish on more than just prime rib). Most places make a big deal out of my ordering it, but my waiter didn't bat an eye and even brought extra. Even though I was full, I wanted to try dessert. While many of the desserts are brought in from the outside, I was told that the Caramel Apple Goldrush was made in house. My only comment about it would be to describe it as comfort food. Warm, gooey, comforting apples in a rich sauce with lots of cinnamon and caramel sauce, topped with a very smooth vanilla ice cream slowly melting over it. I could have made a meal just out of this dessert! It's a real winner. I have eaten in some of the top restaurants of the world, from those of the Iron Chef's to the Flagship of Mortons in Hong Kong to Elements in Paradise Valley, and the service I had tonight was right up there if not better than any of them. Service can make or break a meal, and service was absolutely tops tonight. Kudo's to Tim, my waiter, and I hope my tip showed him just how much I appreciated him. 3 1/2 stars for the food, and an extra 1/2 star for service and cleanliness for a total of 4 stars. I will definitely evaluate this restaurant again in the future to see if the service stays up to standard.

Riazzi's Italian Garden- CLOSED

Riazzi’s

2700 S Mill Ave

Tempe, AZ 85282

(480) 731-9464

                                                                                       CLOSED

I've eaten at Riazzi's for many years, and sad to say, the food is not what it used to be.

I went with a party of 20, and even though they knew we were coming with plenty of advanced notice, they were overwhelmed.

Service aside, the food just wasn't on point. Red sauces were bland, and seemed in short supply.

I asked for Pasta Carbonara, and it was so salty as to be virtually inedible. There was so much pancetta in it that it overwhelmed completely the rest of the dish.

One of our party had pizza, and found it to be just ordinary.

Most of the dishes were not enjoyed with the one exception of the calamari, which was perfectly fried.

I realize that times are hard all over, but the temperature in the restaurant was unbelievably warm, and members of our party kept having to get up and go outside to cool off.

I hope they go back to the fine food they used to serve, because this was a not what I remembered from the past. 2 stars

VinciTorio's

VinciTorio's

1835 E. Elliot Road

Tempe, Arizona

We arrived at VinciTorio's on a Saturday evening at 6:00 with reservations. We were seated in about 5 minutes. Companion and I skipped the appetizers and started with salad. I and companion had house salads; mine with a house Italian dressing, and companion's with a Balsamic dressing that didn't appear to have any balsamic in it.. The salads were fresh with some nice frisee, but lacked tomato.

Main courses were ordered. I ordered Linguini with clam sauce with extra garlic. Flavor was satisfactory, but it would have been much better with a less watery sauce. The clams appeared to have been from a can rather than fresh. While my personal preference would have been a slightly thickened sauce, it was properly prepared and could be easily sopped up with lots of the excellent garlic bread.

Companion ordered ravioli, which when brought out were sitting in pools of water in the sauce. They obviously were not properly drained and/or leaked in the hot water bath. Again, my personal preference would have been to have the sauce thicker so that it adhered more to the pasta, but that is a matter for debate among chefs.

On to desserts, the absolute high point of the meal. I ordered the Panna Cotta which came with macerated raspberries on top and blueberries on the plate. It was smooth and silky and just melted on your palate. It was just as good as the last time I ate here. Companion had the same dessert and pronounced it wonderful. 

Service was at a bit of a rushed pace. The restaurant was reasonably clean. Compared to the last review I did of this restaurant, this was not as good an experience. The food seemed to be downgraded as compared to my last review, though the Panna Cotta was every bit as good as I remembered it being.

Service could use some polish as well as slowing down a bit. I felt like they just wanted to serve us and get us out of the place. One less star than the last review. 3 stars

Pier de Orleans - CLOSED

Pier de Orleans

61 E University St

Mesa, AZ 85201

                                                                                       

We went to dinner at 6:00 on a Saturday night. After cocktails at the bar, which were decent, we were seated at our table. I hate to make generalizations, but this place reminded me of someplace from back in the 60's. It seemed old, with music from the 50's and 60's playing in the background.

I started out with 2 appetizers - the gulf oysters (5.95) and the escargot (5.95). Oysters were supposed to be 80 cents each, yet I was charged the $5.95 for a half dozen. I don't mind paying the price for a good oyster, but these were not plump or very tasty. I had to really doctor them up with a bunch of horseradish and Tabasco sauce.

The escargot were nicely cooked and served with a nice piece of Parmesan bread, but here again, the menu calls them Large, Meaty Snails in Garlic Butter, but what I got were anything but large, though they were, to be fair, very tasty.

One of my companions got the pecan shrimp (5.95) and said they were o.k. while another companion had the calamari, which she pronounced was pre-frozen and off tasting. To its credit, the restaurant took it off the bill. I had the seafood gumbo supreme (13.95), which had shrimp, bay scallops, oysters and one small crab claw in it. For me, the gumbo did not have the kind of seasoning that one would expect to be in a real gumbo, and again, I ended up doctoring it up a lot to make it suit my tastes. After doctoring it, the taste was fine, though the crab claw was definitely not fresh and tasted off. I ended up placing it on a plate on the side and abandoning it there. The meal also came with a cup (they call it a bowl) of soup. I elected to have the clam chowder. To their credit, the clams were nice sized and not overcooked, but on the down side, the broth was a bit thin and watery.

Other companions had seafood d'Orleans (12.95), Cajun sampler (11.95), and Cajun jambalaya (12.95). Comments made by our companion from New Orleans, was that it tasted exactly like Zatarains and they would be surprised if it wasn't. Other companions mentioned that the food lacked seasoning and seemed quite bland to them.

Sanitation was, unfortunately, not up to quality standards. While the tableware and table were clean, none of the tables in the room were cleared while we were there. The dirty dishes were left on the tables from their "Early Bird" diners. While we were there, no other diners entered the restaurant, so I would have to assume the dirty dishes were there for at least an hour and a half or more, waiting to be cleared.

The restroom was clean and mostly stocked. In all, I would say that this was a bit of a disappointment. Serving previously frozen food does nothing to help a restaurant gain customers, nor does serving food that is off do much. Two stars.

Los Reyes De La Torta

Los Reyes De La Torta
1528 E. Southern Avenue
Tempe, AZ  85282

I arrived at the restaurant at 11:30, and was seated immediately. The girl seating me noted that the sun was coming in through the windows at the front of the place, and she opted to seat me at a table that would not be in the direct sun light. This was to be the beginning of a nice lunch!

Within a few minutes of my sitting down, I was greeted by my waiter, provided with what I think were homemade chips and two different salsas, as well as 3 different menus. The first menu was the lunch special menu, the second menu was an assortment of drinks on one side and desserts on the other side, and the third menu was their regular menu. The waiter was prepared for me to take my time ordering, but I opted to order immediately, asking for an item that was not on the menu.

I ordered a Lengua Burrito enchilada style with green chili on it. My waiter didn't bat an eye, but did compliment me on my Spanish! LOL.

I started in on the chips, and found them to be delicious, as were both of the salsas. While both exhibited some heat, one was definitely a bit hotter than the other, though both had excellent flavor and body. None of that thin, watery stuff here.

In short order, my burrito arrived. Large, soft, and swimming in a pool of green chili with a little crema squirted over it. It was so good I emptied my entire plate. I also ordered a Tostada de Ceviche in the appetizer size just to try it. As with the burrito, it too was excellent and a nice size . 

Of interest is that the menu contains proteins that are not usually found in most Mexican/American restaurants, including Lengua (tongue), Buche (pork belly), Cabeza (beef head), and Pierna (pork sirloin). I found that the way the menu was designed, every dish was listed both with a full English description as well as a Spanish description.

The only thing I did not care for was the televisions all tuned to a different Spanish language station. They took away from the atmosphere, which would have been a lot nicer had there been some good mariachi music in the background instead.

The place was spotlessly clean, and service was excellent. I hope they continue to keep up this level of food and service, because this is one of the very best Mexican style restaurants I have eaten in in this state.

4 stars for excellent food, good cleanliness, and good service

Spices Mediterranean Kitchen - CLOSED

Spices Mediterranean Kitchen

4040 W Ray Rd

Chandler, AZ 85226

(480) 491-4777

                                                                                   CLOSED

I've eaten at Spices a number of times, and finally decided to rate it. I'm not sure where someone got the idea that it is Greek except for the gyro, as that could not be further from the truth. You will find the absolutely identical food in Israel and most of the Arab world.

Their hummus is beautifully smooth, with a good olive oil and pine nuts on it. Put it together with a warm pita, and you have a terrific starter. It is also available with 3 different meats on it as well.

The Bourekas (puff pastry filled with feta and mozzarella cheese and served with tomato sauce and Mediterranean salad) are like heaven. They also have Shawarma in several different styles to keep any lover of this dish happy.

If you're having Shish Kabob, bring your appetite, as the portion is large and the taste is wonderful.

One of the very best items on the menu is the Falafel. Unlike many other places, theirs are made fresh, instead of from a mix. How can you tell? When you break it open, you will note that the inside is green, and not brown. The green is from all the fresh herbs and spices in it. Served with tzatziki sauce, and hummus it's great! You would find the absolutely identical item in Jerusalem if you went there.

I'm not sure why they call the salad Mediterranean salad. Throughout the Middle East, it is called Israeli salad. A mélange of cucumber, tomato, onion, lemon juice and spices. I can sit and eat it all day long and never get bored.

If you get nothing else on the menu, you need to get the Sweet Malawach for dessert. Don't count the calories, but do savor the flavor. A warm from the oven pastry, covered in cinnamon, honey and a ball of ice cream melting on top. Not for diabetics, but a fabulous dessert.

The restaurant gets packed during the lunch hour, so plan your time accordingly. 4 stars for excellent food, good service, and general cleanliness

Sahara Middle Eastern Restaurant - CLOSED

Sahara Middle Eastern Restaurant

1804 E Southern Ave

Tempe, AZ 85282

(480) 966-1971

                                                                                      CLOSED

I took a group of 10 future restaurant reviewers to eat at this restaurant, and none of us were disappointed. We all shared, starting off with Hummus and Pita's, which were warm and perfect with the creamy hummus and olive oil. Another companion ordered Babaghanouj, which is an eggplant dip and nicely prepared. We also had Foul Moudamas (fava beans with garlic, chilies and spices in a sauce), as well as stuffed grape leaves.

Several members of our group were vegetarians, and each ordered a different dish from the menu. All were pronounced excellent. Portions were so large than many had to bring home leftovers.

A member of our group ordered the Chicken Tika, and other than she would have preferred it to be spicier, it was totally devoured. Other dishes ordered were Chicken Biryani, Lamb Tika, and the Mixed Grill.

I ordered the Lamb Kuzi, which is a slow roasted lamb shank, served with its sauce over a bed of rice. I love lamb, and this was no exception. Tender and falling off the bone, it was a complete meal and had a wonderful flavor of cinnamon with it, which I found to be both unusual and delicious.

The only dessert available was Baklava, which no one objected to.

Service was attentive and very personable. The premises were clean and by the time we left the place was packed.

4 stars for quality of food, cleanliness and service

Tratto

Tratto

4743 N 20th St

Phoenix, AZ 85016

(602) 368-3273

Chris Bianco opened this restaurant after the success of his downtown pizzeria. The menu here is expanded, and reservations are accepted. I arrived @ 7:00 with two companions and was seated immediately. The waiter was friendly, and had a good knowledge of the food and how it was prepared.

We decided to order several entrees and share them so that everyone could taste. We ordered the Papparadelle with Bolognese Sauce, Beef Braciole or Involtini if you are in Italy, and a Pizza Margherita. The Papparadelle came with fluted edges, cooked reasonably al dente, with an excellent Bolognese sauce loaded with chunks of meat. I found it to be on par with any I have ever eaten, though on a personal note I prefer the pasta to be more rustic and hand cut or torn into uneven "rags".  

My companions did not care for the Beef Braciole as much as I did, but allowing for different tastes as well as living in vastly different locations, I can accept that. I found the meat to be beautifully cooked, nicely presented on a bed of cooked cauliflower, and served with some properly roasted onions. Many people who make this dish tend to overpower it with lots of cheese and bread crumbs wrapped up in the beef. Unlike many variations on this recipe, this one was not overly salted or spiced, which I personally appreciated, as the flavor of the range fed beef came out nicely.

Many reviewers have said that the pizza is the best in the United States. I would differ with that opinion. Certainly, the pizza is very good, but I've eaten many a pizza that I felt was as good. The crust has a good flavor, is nicely thin with a nice edge, but the one we were served had an undercooked center that flopped down when picked up. The cheese is handmade on the premises, and is a real treat, melting into a lacy puddle swimming in a pool of an excellent sauce.

My biggest criticism was with the basil. This pizza is supposed to represent the Italian flag - 3 colors - red (sauce), white (cheese) and green (basil). The pizza was cut into 6 pieces and 5 leaves of basil were put on it. One person would not get a real piece of pizza margherita. Worse still, to me is that you only get a leaf of basil. Which bite do you eat it with? In my mind, the best pizza margherita I have ever eaten had a chiffonade of basil sprinkled all over it, so that you got some basil with each bite. My understanding is that that is how the pizza was supposed to be made originally. You wouldn't serve the queen one leaf of basil, now would you?

I must make mention of the bread that came with the meal. I don't know if it is made on the premises or not, but it was wonderfully crusty, with a chewy interior and a superior texture. It was served with a little extra virgin olive oil, and was really excellent. Overall, the premises were clean, though a little noisy at times. I'm hoping that Chris will put a whole lot more basil on his pizza's, as that is a basic part of the flavor of it. 4 stars for excellent service, good food, and general cleanliness.

Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen

11051 N. Black Canyon Highway
Phoenix

I ate at Pappadeaux exactly one year ago, and decided to give it another try. I arrived by myself at 5:15, and was seated immediately.

My first impression was how very noisy it was. All the wait staff was busy yelling at each other and most of what they were yelling was personal business and not about orders.

The waiter sat down at my table and asked "what are we going to eat?" I was wondering if I had to feed him too. I'm not used to having the waiter sit at my table.

I started with a dozen Blue point oysters on the half shell. After a 15 minute wait, the oysters arrived. At $17.95 a dozen, they don't come cheap, but to be fair, they were without any sand or grit. On the down side, some of the oysters were just put haphazard on the plate, and lost all of their wonderful liquor in the ice. Also bad was the horseradish, which tasted old and had absolutely no heat at all. After dumping the entire amount of horseradish I was given into the oyster sauce, I still had to add a generous amount of hot sauce to bring it up to a tolerable level.

For the main course, I ordered the large order of Fried Shrimp ($22.95). The waiter assured me that these were butterflied shrimp, and they were ordered with a baked potato ($2.95 extra). I was also offered a loaf of fresh baked bread. After an interminable amount of time, the shrimp finally showed up, having been brought by a different waiter. Generally, butterflied shrimp are around a U-10 size - large meaty morsels that will normally fill you up after eating perhaps a half dozen. What came to me might have been U-25 or U30 shrimp, which were improperly cut all the way through so that it looked more like a butterfly than a butterflied shrimp. It came with a tiny cup of tarter sauce. I had to ask the waiter which particular shrimp the tarter sauce was for, as it certainly was not enough for them all. I ended up ordering 5 more cups of tarter sauce. As for the potato, it was close in size to a small football, and could have used a little more baking.

After I finished the main course, the original waiter reappeared, and promptly sat himself down at my table again. His question was "What dessert are we going to get tonight?". After looking at the dessert menu and the prices of the desserts, I opted not to have any.

I was extremely disappointed in the restaurant, and have downgraded it since my last visit. I'll give them 3 stars, but I must say it was a challenge not to give them 2 stars this time. They have cheapened the food, the service is poor, and the noise close to unbearable. I'd give it a lot of thought before going to eat in this restaurant. 3 stars

Addendum - since publishing the original review, the owner has contacted me and offered a replacement free meal. Since I take no free gifts from anyone, I have accepted the offer and given it to one of my employees.

All Pierogi Kitchen

All Pierogi Kitchen
1245 W. Baseline Road
Mesa, AZ

Sometimes you find a gem in a place where you never thought you would find one. This is a gem! The owner (and employees) come from the Ukraine, and the food is as authentic as it gets.

I've eaten there a number of times now, and the food is consistent, flavorful, and wonderful.

I started with a bowl of borscht. This wasn't the stuff from a jar, but real, homemade borscht with sour cream in the middle. I know that in the Slavic countries, borscht isn't necessarily made with beets, and even sometimes has meat in it, but this was so good I could have made the entire meal out of it. Even a beet hater would have enjoyed this.

Next, I ordered the Sample Plate ($13.88). A stuffed cabbage roll, a polish sausage, and 6 pierogi. Eating the stuffed cabbage brought back wonderful memories of my mothers cooking and tears to my eyes. It was a big roll with wonderful sauce on top - not too spicy and piping hot exactly like my mother used to make. Next I tried the polish sausage. Again, different than what you get in most places - flavorful, but not overly spiced, and not a trace of grease. Finally were the pierogi. I ordered mine fried, and they were perfection. In the assortment that I ordered were potato, cabbage, sauerkraut, cabbage and mushroom, and potato and cheese. They were all fabulous and served with a side of heavy sour cream and sauteed onions. In particular, the sauerkraut and the cabbage deserve high praise. The cabbage was almost naturally sweet, and the sauerkraut was not the typical sour stuff you usually get.

They also have sweet pierogi made with cherry, blueberry, apple and cinnamon, prune, and other flavors that you can order. Everything is handmade on the premises (you can even see them making them in the back) and the pierogi are cooked to order.

In the front is a small grocery section which has all sorts of imported foods. The only reason they did not get 5 stars is because there is no atmosphere at all. It's basically a grocery store with 6 tables that you may have to wait to sit at because of the crowd. If you are only interested in having wonderful food, home made, made by wonderful people who are genuinely interested in making sure you have a good experience and leave stuffed, then this is the place for you.

I'm usually happy to write my reviews and share them, but this is the first time I'm hesitant to have it published. The place is already busy and I'm afraid I won't be able to get in if they get any more business!

4 stars for excellent food, attentive service, and cleanliness.

Bavarian Point Restaurant

Bavarian Point Restaurant

4815 E Main St

Mesa, AZ 85205

We visited this restaurant as a party of 9 on a Saturday evening. Upon arrival, a busser tried to seat us, and had a problem understanding that we were a party of 9 apparently due to a language barrier, but it was quickly straightened out and we were seated in short order. Warm bread with real salt butter was quickly brought to the table for our enjoyment.

None of us wanted an appetizer, though they have a very nice list of them, and 8 of us opted for the salad bar, while one opted for soup. The salad bar was small but nicely laid out. I must say that I had the best beets of my life there, and another of our party said she had the most wonderful green beans she had ever eaten. Kudos for the nice start to our meal!

Our waitress came back to the table to tell us about the evening's specials. 3 of us ordered the Pork Osso Bucco from the special menu. Others ordered Jagerschnitzel, Weinerschnitzel, and one ordered a plate of scallops. A few of the items on the menu were not in keeping with German/Bavarian food, but it was all quite tasty. All portions were big; big enough to satisfy the biggest appetite!

The Osso Bucco was cooked to perfection, falling off the bone tender, and with a terrific, silky smooth sauce from the cooking with mushrooms in it. All the schnitzels were properly pounded out thin, and just about completely covered the plates. The only word for them is huge. Companions all pronounced them to be excellent. The companion that ordered the scallops pronounced them to be perfect.

Most of our party took home a doggy bag, though I seriously doubt any of the dogs would get a bite of this hearty food.

Dessert was unanimously Apple Strudel. It was different than any apple strudel I have ever eaten, and was not the highlight of the meal, though the sauce it was swimming it was heavenly. I probably could have ordered and drank an entire cup of the sauce!

Other reviewers have mentioned slow service in their reviews, but we found the pace of service to be just right. A constant stream of guests were seated while we were there and it did not seem to have an effect on the service.

The place was clean, and the only dings were that the ladies room needs to be spiffed up a bit, and the A/C needs to be turned down a degree or two. If you like hearty portions of German/Bavarian food I commend this place to you. 4 stars