Fujiya Market

Fujiya Market

1335 W University Dr
Ste 5
Tempe, AZ 85281

Fujiya Market is a small hidden gem for those looking for Japanese groceries and or snack foods. They have a remarkable selection of items that one would usually find in a small corner market in Tokyo. 

I was looking for cream melon soda, and even though they did not stock it they were more than willing to order a case for me which came in in less than a week.

They have wonderful homemade bento boxes that you can take home and warm up or take with you to any place that has a microwave. The bento boxes are really delicious and well made. Paired with a cold soft drink from their large selection or a cold Kirin or Sapporo and you have a wonderful lunch or light dinner. 

They also carry a nice selection of snacks as well as a small selection of accessories that one would find in a similar type store in Japan. 

There is also an area with table and chairs where you can heat up your selection and eat it on the premises.

For the person looking for Japanese foods and snacks this is the ideal place,

3 Stars

The Keg

The Keg

23 S. McClintock Drive

Tempe, AZ  85281

It was birthday time, and we decided to try The Keg for our dinner. The Keg has a birthday club which I highly recommend, as one dinner is free for the night. In honesty, it is only the main course that is free, with all side dishes and entrees additional cost.

We started off with cocktails - I ordered a chocolate martini and companion ordered a brandy alexander. Both cocktails were full measure and properly made. The barkeep definitely knows how to make a good cocktail and not skimp.

Next came appetizers. I ordered escargot with mushroom caps and companion ordered calamari with ginger sauce and feta sauce. Both appetizers were excellent and I could not resist dipping a piece of the fresh warm bread into the sauce. I'm not sure they would have to wash the plate after that!

Next was the main course. Companion ordered the 14 oz prime rib and pronounced it the best ever. It was served with asparagus and a side of mushrooms. The meat was so tender that companion could have eaten it with a spoon.

My main course was the 20 oz bone in rib steak, which is supposed to be the king of steaks. It was well seasoned. Unfortunately, mine was the joker of steaks. Filled with streaks of sinew that were virtually impossible to cut through or chew. I ordered a side of bearnaise sauce which came in a little metal pitcher that could hold about 2 oz and which was filled with about 1 oz of a very poor, tasteless bearnaise sauce totally devoid of any tarragon taste or champagne vinegar. My side dish was pencil asparagus that were properly cooked though no hollandaise sauce was offered with it, and a pile of limp, flaccid green beans that I'm sure saw a better life the day before.

As befitting a restaurant with a bill over $100, the place was spotless as was the bathroom. Service was paced and not rushed.

This is a mixed review in that one meal was outstanding and the other was poor to be generous. I have eaten USDA good steaks that were more tender than what was served to me. If I were the inspector for USDA I'd grade the steak as utility grade it was so poor. The manager came over and inquired about my steak, which I was busily trying to saw through. When I told him how poor it was he said he would come back and check on it, but he never came back and I have taken the remains home in the hope that a truly sharp knife will allow me to cut it up and feed it to my dogs. This is not meant to be an exaggeration nor a put down of the restaurant, but a plea that they either change their purveyor or inspect their meat more thoroughly. It was a very disappointing birthday.

3 stars for cleanliness, service, and some parts of the meal
.