7131 W. Ray Road
Chandler, AZ 85226
We arrived at Grimaldi's at 6:00 and were seated immediately. It was the birthday of one of our party and he had a coupon for $20 off for his birthday.
Drinks were served in a timely manner. For soft drinks they serve Pepsi products. The also serve iced tea as well as passion fruit iced tea. Our birthday boy had a Green Apple Sangria ($8). I personally did not care for it, but he seemed to enjoy it.
Two of our party ordered salads. The small Caesar salad ($8) was nicely done, but the Caprese ($9) left items to be desired. The tomato would not be ripe for another week or two, and the balsamic vinegar was a cheap knockoff.
On to the pizza's. The birthday boy ordered an 18" buffalo chicken pizza ($25). Testing a piece of the chicken, I found it to be dry and very vinegary. The buffalo sauce was there, but not in any quantity nor very spicy. The garden salad (veggie pizza) in 18" was adequate ($24). For myself I ordered the 12" white garlic pizza with mushrooms ($15). I found the cheese to be quite hard and the pizza seemed devoid of sauce.
Unfortunately, as a former New Yorker who has eaten at the original Grimaldi's this establishment just does not measure up to the original standards.
While the place was clean and service was fair, the pizza's just aren't that good. Never before in my life have I spent $88 for pizza for 4 adults and a child. Add in a tip and you are easily over $100.
2 stars
Monday, September 25, 2017
Saturday, September 23, 2017
Nobuo at the Teeter House - CLOSED
Every once in awhile, if you are very lucky, you will enjoy a meal that is truly noteworthy and which will be a long time in your memory. A meal in which you can recall each of the flavors and how it enhanced the meal. Eating at Nobuo was such an experience.
Companion and I visited Nobuo during Restaurant Week, and had an outstanding experience and meal. Our waiter, David helped create such a wonderful experience that I haven't come down from all the smiling I did yet!
We were seated promptly at a fairly sparse table, set in what I would call traditional tones. A candle, two black rocks, and two glasses of water.
Companion started off with a bottle of Ramune, a strawberry flavored drink bottled in Japan. I started off with a glass of Junmai Ginjo Hakkaisan sake. It was as good as anything I had while I was in Japan, and had beautiful legs as in a fine wine. I should mention the amazing assortment of Japanese beers on the menu. I last saw this big an assortment in Tokyo.
As a prix fixe menu, there are still a number of choices available, though not the usual amount that one would see on the regular menu.
Companion ordered some Hamachi, which is an optional extra on the back of the menu. The fish just melted on your tongue and was obviously from a premium fish. I ordered stuffed squash blossoms from the extra menu, and dare I say, they were much better than the ones I make. Perhaps it was the streak of curry powder on the plate that one could dip the blossom into. I don't really know except that it was delicious.
Next came Bento Boxes. Both companion and I had boxes with salad and with cold rice that I think was marinated in a yuzu vinaigrette. While I am not much for eating cold rice, in this case an exception had to be made. The rice was perfectly cooked and the vinaigrette seemed to play with your palate while you ate it.
Companions Bento Box contained 3 different types of fish including one that was cooked en papillote, where the fish is placed in a parchment packet and then baked until tender and moist. Companion deemed it to be one of the best pieces of fish she had ever eaten, though there was no sign of herbs which are usually used in this preparation.
My Bento Box was a meat preparation which included some short rib slices, pork belly on a Chinese steam bun, and a most wonderful preparation of chicken with a sauce that was sheer perfection. Though I was totally full, I was sad that I hadn't tried a bit of everything on the menu.
Last was dessert. In Japan, dessert is usually a piece of fresh fruit if anything, but in this case Nobuo gave a nod to American eating habits and provided actual desserts but with a Japanese twist. Companion had a deconstructed dessert consisting of several sorbet/ice cream combinations including a true matcha green tea ice cream which totally cleansed the palate. For myself, I had a sesame pudding with sweet almonds and a bit of a cookie. It was smooth and tasty with a flavor of sesame that was perfect and not overpowering.
I would be remiss if I did not mention David, our waiter. He was available anytime we had a need, and carefully explained each dish to us as it was presented. A good waiter can make or break a meal, and it this case, he made it happen.
5 stars for outstanding food, great service, and excellent cleanliness
Companion and I visited Nobuo during Restaurant Week, and had an outstanding experience and meal. Our waiter, David helped create such a wonderful experience that I haven't come down from all the smiling I did yet!
We were seated promptly at a fairly sparse table, set in what I would call traditional tones. A candle, two black rocks, and two glasses of water.
Companion started off with a bottle of Ramune, a strawberry flavored drink bottled in Japan. I started off with a glass of Junmai Ginjo Hakkaisan sake. It was as good as anything I had while I was in Japan, and had beautiful legs as in a fine wine. I should mention the amazing assortment of Japanese beers on the menu. I last saw this big an assortment in Tokyo.
As a prix fixe menu, there are still a number of choices available, though not the usual amount that one would see on the regular menu.
Companion ordered some Hamachi, which is an optional extra on the back of the menu. The fish just melted on your tongue and was obviously from a premium fish. I ordered stuffed squash blossoms from the extra menu, and dare I say, they were much better than the ones I make. Perhaps it was the streak of curry powder on the plate that one could dip the blossom into. I don't really know except that it was delicious.
Next came Bento Boxes. Both companion and I had boxes with salad and with cold rice that I think was marinated in a yuzu vinaigrette. While I am not much for eating cold rice, in this case an exception had to be made. The rice was perfectly cooked and the vinaigrette seemed to play with your palate while you ate it.
Companions Bento Box contained 3 different types of fish including one that was cooked en papillote, where the fish is placed in a parchment packet and then baked until tender and moist. Companion deemed it to be one of the best pieces of fish she had ever eaten, though there was no sign of herbs which are usually used in this preparation.
My Bento Box was a meat preparation which included some short rib slices, pork belly on a Chinese steam bun, and a most wonderful preparation of chicken with a sauce that was sheer perfection. Though I was totally full, I was sad that I hadn't tried a bit of everything on the menu.
Last was dessert. In Japan, dessert is usually a piece of fresh fruit if anything, but in this case Nobuo gave a nod to American eating habits and provided actual desserts but with a Japanese twist. Companion had a deconstructed dessert consisting of several sorbet/ice cream combinations including a true matcha green tea ice cream which totally cleansed the palate. For myself, I had a sesame pudding with sweet almonds and a bit of a cookie. It was smooth and tasty with a flavor of sesame that was perfect and not overpowering.
I would be remiss if I did not mention David, our waiter. He was available anytime we had a need, and carefully explained each dish to us as it was presented. A good waiter can make or break a meal, and it this case, he made it happen.
5 stars for outstanding food, great service, and excellent cleanliness
Saturday, September 16, 2017
Alexi's Grill and Catering
Alexi’s Grill & Catering
3550 N. Central Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85012
As part of Restaurant Week, companion and I dined at
Alexi’s. Restaurant Week features prix fixe menu’s with limited selections.
Some restaurants use this week as an opportunity to introduce new customers to
their food selections, while a few others use it to take advantage of unknowing
customers. Fortunately, Alexi’s does not take advantage of their
customers and provides a nice meal for your dollars.
Drinks were brought quickly and we were brought a basket
of warm bread sticks along with some nice salt butter. Many restaurants serve
unsalted butter, which just does not have the taste that many people are
looking for.
Companion started off with the Calamari appetizer. Many
places destroy a wonderful appetizer by over cooking it. Here there were nice
rings and tentacles lightly battered and fried to perfection. For myself, I
ordered the Caprese Salad, which was made with some wonderful buffalo mozzarella,
ripe tomatoes, and a chiffonade of basil. Some excellent olive oil and a dash
of balsamic completed the dish nicely.
Next, cups of bean soup arrived. This was no ordinary
bean soup, did not come from a can, and did not come from the freezer. This
soup was made from scratch with love and attention to detail. Tiny canelé beans
with small diced carrots enhanced with a beautiful broth type soup. No heavy
glop here, if they offered this soup canned, I’d be buying it by the case.
For the main course, companion ordered the Lobster
Ravioli in a cream sauce. Five nice sized ravioli’s gently swimming in a pool
of excellent cream sauce. Very rich and quite satisfying.
I ordered the Pork Chop cooked pink, as the USDA now
allows pork to be cooked. A good sized chop on the bone arrived perfectly
cooked as ordered. The chop was accompanied by al dente broccoli, roasted baby
potatoes, and some outstanding sweet carrots that were stars of the show.
Companion kept stealing some from my plate!
Dessert consisted of Cheesecake with macerated
strawberries, and Tiramisu.
Service was excellent, and cleanliness even to the
outside areas was in evidence. Dings – only one – when any restaurant serves a
nice piece of meat, be it steak or chop, it is wrong to serve a serrated knife
to the person dining. The serrated knife only serves to tear the meat apart
instead of gently slicing it into edible portions. It bothered me to look at my
knife after cutting this excellent chop and find pieces of meat stuck to the
blade.
4 stars for service, quality of food, and cleanliness
Saturday, August 26, 2017
Tumi Fine Peruvian Restaurant
961 W. Ray Rd
Chandler, AZ 85225
Peruvian food is a real treat for me, so 6 of us descended on Tumi's to try the food.
We started off with Jarra de Chicha Morada o Maracuya - a pitcher of purple corn drink. It was unanimous that the flavor was wonderful. The sweetness was not overbearing as the passion fruit drink was.
Next was an appetizer. We ordered Anticuchos which were 3 skewers of heart, grilled with a touch of vinegar and some Peruvian spices. It came with a sauce that (for me) was liquid fire, and some kernels of Peruvian corn which had been softened by boiling in water. Most of us loved the Anticuchos and we all discussed how they got it so tender.
Next were the main courses, and this is where some had a few problems. Companion ordered Tallarin Salteado de Mariscos - Linguine with sea food sauté with onions and tomatoes and cilantro mignonette and instead was given Saltado de Mariscos - Seafood sauté with onions, tomatoes cilantro mignonette and French fries. Companion did not enjoy the dish but chose to not send it back. Companion felt that some components of the dish were not cooked enough.
Another of our group ordered the Cau Cau - Cow tripe on Aji amarillo and turmeric sauce mixed with Potatoes cubed and mint mignonette. This person felt the taste was excellent but the tripe needed a bit more cooking.
Yet another member of our group ordered Lomo a Caballo - Premium beef loin strips sauté with onions, tomatoes, cilantro mignonette and French fries, fried sweet plantains, sunny side up egg. Unfortunately, the egg was tremendously overcooked and there was a large amount of onion on the dish.
Still another member of our group ordered Lomo Saltado - Premium beef loin strips sauté with onions, tomatoes, cilantro mignonette and French fries. The member enjoyed the entire dish.
Our group vegetarian ordered Causa Rellena de Camaron - Two layers of mashed potatoes seasoned with lime and aji and filled with shrimp creamy. The presentation of the dish was first class, though the portion size was a bit on the smaller side.
For myself, I ordered Picante a lo Tumi - A melange of assorted seafood served with a yellow pepper sauce, rice and fried yucca. My food was delicious.
The biggest problem was the waitstaff. When bills were presented they were all mixed up and it took quite a bit of time to straighten them out.
3 stars for the good food, but could have been 4 stars had the service been proper.
Chandler, AZ 85225
Peruvian food is a real treat for me, so 6 of us descended on Tumi's to try the food.
We started off with Jarra de Chicha Morada o Maracuya - a pitcher of purple corn drink. It was unanimous that the flavor was wonderful. The sweetness was not overbearing as the passion fruit drink was.
Next was an appetizer. We ordered Anticuchos which were 3 skewers of heart, grilled with a touch of vinegar and some Peruvian spices. It came with a sauce that (for me) was liquid fire, and some kernels of Peruvian corn which had been softened by boiling in water. Most of us loved the Anticuchos and we all discussed how they got it so tender.
Next were the main courses, and this is where some had a few problems. Companion ordered Tallarin Salteado de Mariscos - Linguine with sea food sauté with onions and tomatoes and cilantro mignonette and instead was given Saltado de Mariscos - Seafood sauté with onions, tomatoes cilantro mignonette and French fries. Companion did not enjoy the dish but chose to not send it back. Companion felt that some components of the dish were not cooked enough.
Another of our group ordered the Cau Cau - Cow tripe on Aji amarillo and turmeric sauce mixed with Potatoes cubed and mint mignonette. This person felt the taste was excellent but the tripe needed a bit more cooking.
Yet another member of our group ordered Lomo a Caballo - Premium beef loin strips sauté with onions, tomatoes, cilantro mignonette and French fries, fried sweet plantains, sunny side up egg. Unfortunately, the egg was tremendously overcooked and there was a large amount of onion on the dish.
Still another member of our group ordered Lomo Saltado - Premium beef loin strips sauté with onions, tomatoes, cilantro mignonette and French fries. The member enjoyed the entire dish.
Our group vegetarian ordered Causa Rellena de Camaron - Two layers of mashed potatoes seasoned with lime and aji and filled with shrimp creamy. The presentation of the dish was first class, though the portion size was a bit on the smaller side.
For myself, I ordered Picante a lo Tumi - A melange of assorted seafood served with a yellow pepper sauce, rice and fried yucca. My food was delicious.
The biggest problem was the waitstaff. When bills were presented they were all mixed up and it took quite a bit of time to straighten them out.
3 stars for the good food, but could have been 4 stars had the service been proper.
Friday, August 18, 2017
California Fish Grill
6150 Slauson Ave
Ste 107
Culver City, CA 90230
Companion and I were in the area and decided to have some fish items for dinner. The Fish Grill is an interesting concept. Customers order from a large selection of items posted on a huge board at the front of the restaurant. They then (hopefully) look for and find a table to sit at while waiting for their order to be ready. Disks with lights and buzzers are given to each person who orders, and they are thus notified when their items are ready.
We started with a basket of calamari. They were beautifully cooked and perfectly seasoned. Two types of tarter sauce are available - regular and New England style, with the latter being more highly seasoned and with a bit of lemon in it. Packets of malt vinegar are also available as is ketchup and an assortment of salsa's.
Companion ordered the grilled Barramundi with chimichurri sauce along with sweet potato fries and balsamic glazed Brussels sprouts and a bowl of clam chowder. Unfortunately, the barramundi was dry and the chimichurri sauce was devoid of flavor. To their credit, they immediately took back the fish and asked companion to order something else off the menu. This is how a customer that is not happy should be treated.
I ordered the Giant Shrimp with garlic butter, sweet potato fries, balsamic glazed Brussels sprouts, and Parmesan string beans. The shrimp, while nicely grilled and tasty were butterflied and still had the shells on. It would have been nice if the menu mentioned that the shells were included as the first bite was what informed me of that fact. The fries were quite ordinary and rather flaccid unfortunately, but the Parmesan string beans were dynamite. Perfectly cooked with not a drop of extra oil on them they had wonderful flavor and are highly recommended. The Brussels sprouts had good flavor and were nicely cooked.
Getting a table may be a bit difficult but fortunately, they have take out ordering.
Sanitation was excellent and food was brought out in a timely manner. Customers then picked it up on large sheet pans for their table.
4 stars for quality of sea food, responsiveness to customers, and excellent sanitation
Ste 107
Culver City, CA 90230
Companion and I were in the area and decided to have some fish items for dinner. The Fish Grill is an interesting concept. Customers order from a large selection of items posted on a huge board at the front of the restaurant. They then (hopefully) look for and find a table to sit at while waiting for their order to be ready. Disks with lights and buzzers are given to each person who orders, and they are thus notified when their items are ready.
We started with a basket of calamari. They were beautifully cooked and perfectly seasoned. Two types of tarter sauce are available - regular and New England style, with the latter being more highly seasoned and with a bit of lemon in it. Packets of malt vinegar are also available as is ketchup and an assortment of salsa's.
Companion ordered the grilled Barramundi with chimichurri sauce along with sweet potato fries and balsamic glazed Brussels sprouts and a bowl of clam chowder. Unfortunately, the barramundi was dry and the chimichurri sauce was devoid of flavor. To their credit, they immediately took back the fish and asked companion to order something else off the menu. This is how a customer that is not happy should be treated.
I ordered the Giant Shrimp with garlic butter, sweet potato fries, balsamic glazed Brussels sprouts, and Parmesan string beans. The shrimp, while nicely grilled and tasty were butterflied and still had the shells on. It would have been nice if the menu mentioned that the shells were included as the first bite was what informed me of that fact. The fries were quite ordinary and rather flaccid unfortunately, but the Parmesan string beans were dynamite. Perfectly cooked with not a drop of extra oil on them they had wonderful flavor and are highly recommended. The Brussels sprouts had good flavor and were nicely cooked.
Getting a table may be a bit difficult but fortunately, they have take out ordering.
Sanitation was excellent and food was brought out in a timely manner. Customers then picked it up on large sheet pans for their table.
4 stars for quality of sea food, responsiveness to customers, and excellent sanitation
Monday, August 14, 2017
Carolinas - Mesa
1450 S Country Club Dr
Mesa, AZ 85210
For those of us that have lived in the valley for a long time, Carolina's in the South Phoenix area was the Mecca for Tortillas. Huge, soft, hand stretched and made with real lard, they had a flavor that couldn't be beat. Time has taken it's toll on the original Carolina's and it is a bit run down, with occasional bullet holes in the outside of the building.
Welcome a new Carolina's on the East Side. Located almost at the intersection of Country Club and U.S. 60 is a beautiful, shiny rebuilt building with lots of parking and plenty of tables to sit at. The same menu items are available and have the same wonderful home made taste.
Companion and I arrived for lunch, and the place was packed. However, we were still able to find tables to sit at. Companion ordered a Carne Asada burrito and was not disappointed. Companion did point out that it would have been nice to have had guacamole on it, and I pointed out that it was available and just had to be asked for.
I ordered the Chicken Chimichanga with 2 toppings. I must confess that this was the best one that I have ever had the pleasure of eating. It was totally filled with pulled chicken, wrapped in one of their fabulous tortillas, deep fried, then covered in sour cream and guacamole. There is a salsa bar that only has one type of salsa, but it had great flavor.
Drinks are sold either as regular or large. You take your cup to the beverage counter and fill your cup with whatever you wish to drink. Refills are free.
I must mention the wonderful flour tortillas that they make. Each one is hand stretched, enormous, and made the original way with a little lard in it which gives it the flavor that so many tortillas are missing. Warmed up, they make a fabulous munch in front of the idiot tube at home. We ordered a dozen to take with us.
Service is fast. We had our food in spite of the noon rush in less than 10 minutes.
Dings - only one - I wish they had some limes available to put on your food. They do have lemons, but in Mexico you will never find a lemon - only limes.
The place was beautifully clean, and there is an outdoor large patio where you can enjoy your food when the weather moderates. Much as I hate to say it because it will bring even more people, I highly recommend Carolina's for some wonderful food.
5 stars
Mesa, AZ 85210
For those of us that have lived in the valley for a long time, Carolina's in the South Phoenix area was the Mecca for Tortillas. Huge, soft, hand stretched and made with real lard, they had a flavor that couldn't be beat. Time has taken it's toll on the original Carolina's and it is a bit run down, with occasional bullet holes in the outside of the building.
Welcome a new Carolina's on the East Side. Located almost at the intersection of Country Club and U.S. 60 is a beautiful, shiny rebuilt building with lots of parking and plenty of tables to sit at. The same menu items are available and have the same wonderful home made taste.
Companion and I arrived for lunch, and the place was packed. However, we were still able to find tables to sit at. Companion ordered a Carne Asada burrito and was not disappointed. Companion did point out that it would have been nice to have had guacamole on it, and I pointed out that it was available and just had to be asked for.
I ordered the Chicken Chimichanga with 2 toppings. I must confess that this was the best one that I have ever had the pleasure of eating. It was totally filled with pulled chicken, wrapped in one of their fabulous tortillas, deep fried, then covered in sour cream and guacamole. There is a salsa bar that only has one type of salsa, but it had great flavor.
Drinks are sold either as regular or large. You take your cup to the beverage counter and fill your cup with whatever you wish to drink. Refills are free.
I must mention the wonderful flour tortillas that they make. Each one is hand stretched, enormous, and made the original way with a little lard in it which gives it the flavor that so many tortillas are missing. Warmed up, they make a fabulous munch in front of the idiot tube at home. We ordered a dozen to take with us.
Service is fast. We had our food in spite of the noon rush in less than 10 minutes.
Dings - only one - I wish they had some limes available to put on your food. They do have lemons, but in Mexico you will never find a lemon - only limes.
The place was beautifully clean, and there is an outdoor large patio where you can enjoy your food when the weather moderates. Much as I hate to say it because it will bring even more people, I highly recommend Carolina's for some wonderful food.
5 stars
Thursday, July 20, 2017
Yasha From Russia
10240 N 32nd St
Phoenix, AZ 85028
Yasha from Russia is truly from Russia. Better still, virtually all the food that they carry is from Russia or the Baltic area as well.
We stopped by to look at the store, and ended up spending $75 on some excellent foods. Of note, ask for a sample of almost anything and they will happily comply.
We started at the meat case. I'm not sure when I have last seen such a huge assortment of sausages, bologna's, salami's, and items that I don't even know the name of. We purchased some excellent polish salami, along with a sampling of other meats. They even carry Lardo, which is almost impossible to find. I sampled it both normally seasoned and seasoned with Hungarian Paprika. The piece seasoned with the paprika was much too strong for me, but the normally seasoned Lardo just tasted of porcine bliss as it melted on my tongue. To be sure, one would not want to eat large quantities of this but a small square of it thin sliced and melting on a warm piece of toast was thought of in heaven.
Next we turned our attention to the pastry case. I was fairly sure companion was going to lose her mind looking at and tasting all the different cakes and pastries. We ended up purchasing 4 different items from the case. I was surprised at the relatively inexpensive prices of the cakes, which, by the way are made on the premises.
A stop by the freezer section loaded our cart with pierogi and pelmeni in assorted flavors which were also available at reasonable prices and in assorted quantities. If you did not want it pre-packaged, it was also available loose in a different freezer where you could pick your own.
In the liquor section I found a bottle of Wild Strawberry Wine. If you have never eaten a wild strawberry you have missed one of the wonders of gastronomic life. The flavor of them is far more pronounced than domestic strawberries. I can't wait to open the bottle and have a taste.
Yet another section of the store had pickles and pickled sour green tomatoes. If you came from back east, you used to see these items in big barrels in deli stores. Here, because of food laws they have to keep them in plastic buckets under refrigeration, but you are free to serve yourself and pick the pickle you like!
They have a small quantity of wild mushroom both frozen and dried in stock. I asked about Black Russian Mushrooms (a fabulous delicacy), and they assured me that they will try to get them for me and will call me when they do.
In going through the store and interacting with the people I found that they would do almost anything to try to please a customer.
I definitely have found a new place to do shopping. 4 stars
Phoenix, AZ 85028
Yasha from Russia is truly from Russia. Better still, virtually all the food that they carry is from Russia or the Baltic area as well.
We stopped by to look at the store, and ended up spending $75 on some excellent foods. Of note, ask for a sample of almost anything and they will happily comply.
We started at the meat case. I'm not sure when I have last seen such a huge assortment of sausages, bologna's, salami's, and items that I don't even know the name of. We purchased some excellent polish salami, along with a sampling of other meats. They even carry Lardo, which is almost impossible to find. I sampled it both normally seasoned and seasoned with Hungarian Paprika. The piece seasoned with the paprika was much too strong for me, but the normally seasoned Lardo just tasted of porcine bliss as it melted on my tongue. To be sure, one would not want to eat large quantities of this but a small square of it thin sliced and melting on a warm piece of toast was thought of in heaven.
Next we turned our attention to the pastry case. I was fairly sure companion was going to lose her mind looking at and tasting all the different cakes and pastries. We ended up purchasing 4 different items from the case. I was surprised at the relatively inexpensive prices of the cakes, which, by the way are made on the premises.
A stop by the freezer section loaded our cart with pierogi and pelmeni in assorted flavors which were also available at reasonable prices and in assorted quantities. If you did not want it pre-packaged, it was also available loose in a different freezer where you could pick your own.
In the liquor section I found a bottle of Wild Strawberry Wine. If you have never eaten a wild strawberry you have missed one of the wonders of gastronomic life. The flavor of them is far more pronounced than domestic strawberries. I can't wait to open the bottle and have a taste.
Yet another section of the store had pickles and pickled sour green tomatoes. If you came from back east, you used to see these items in big barrels in deli stores. Here, because of food laws they have to keep them in plastic buckets under refrigeration, but you are free to serve yourself and pick the pickle you like!
They have a small quantity of wild mushroom both frozen and dried in stock. I asked about Black Russian Mushrooms (a fabulous delicacy), and they assured me that they will try to get them for me and will call me when they do.
In going through the store and interacting with the people I found that they would do almost anything to try to please a customer.
I definitely have found a new place to do shopping. 4 stars
The Codfather
1618 E Bell Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85022
Companion and I had lunch at this restaurant. This was our second visit, with our first having been about a year ago.
We were promptly seated and offered drinks. Unfortunately, their selection of non-sugared drinks is rather sparse and I ended up having tea with no lemon. Fortunately, being a "British" restaurant they have an idea of what tea should taste like and no harm done.
Companion and I started of with a Scotch egg. It was cooked nicely, and served cut into quarters to make our sharing easier. The egg is served with what I surmised to be Coleman's English Mustard, which I really enjoyed. Most Scotch eggs served in the U.S. are made with regular seasoned pork sausage, which is highly seasoned compared to English sausage, however this sausage was perfectly seasoned in the true English tradition.
Next came the main dishes. Companion ordered the Steak and Kidney Pie and I ordered Bangers and Mash.
While the Steak and Kidney Pie was but a shadow of the real thing one would get in any pub (even at a roadside on the M5) the flavor was acceptable, however the kidney was nothing but mince. The pie was more like a Cornish Pasty than a true baked small pie. The pie came with no accompaniments whereas in the U.K. it usually comes with a side of mash and some mushy peas.
My Bangers and Mash arrived and was nicely plated. Unfortunately, that was the only good thing about the dish. The Bangers, while nicely cooked were loaded with salt. I thought that perhaps one of them had received some extra seasoning during the creation process, but alas, taking a bite from the second one revealed the same extreme amount of salt. The mash was acceptable, and was made from Yukon Gold potatoes, but the peas, which we were told were brought in from Boston were shriveled and lacking flavor. This plate was inedible. Companion, who the doctor had just prescribe a much higher amount of salt in her diet ate some of the Bangers to comply with her doctor's wishes. Speaking for myself, I finished three large glasses of Iced Tea and later stopped at a local McDonald's for a large soft drink.
The bathroom was nice and clean and it appeared that the restaurant was also clean. Tables were bussed regularly and wiped down.
2 stars for cleanliness and pleasant service.
Phoenix, AZ 85022
Companion and I had lunch at this restaurant. This was our second visit, with our first having been about a year ago.
We were promptly seated and offered drinks. Unfortunately, their selection of non-sugared drinks is rather sparse and I ended up having tea with no lemon. Fortunately, being a "British" restaurant they have an idea of what tea should taste like and no harm done.
Companion and I started of with a Scotch egg. It was cooked nicely, and served cut into quarters to make our sharing easier. The egg is served with what I surmised to be Coleman's English Mustard, which I really enjoyed. Most Scotch eggs served in the U.S. are made with regular seasoned pork sausage, which is highly seasoned compared to English sausage, however this sausage was perfectly seasoned in the true English tradition.
Next came the main dishes. Companion ordered the Steak and Kidney Pie and I ordered Bangers and Mash.
While the Steak and Kidney Pie was but a shadow of the real thing one would get in any pub (even at a roadside on the M5) the flavor was acceptable, however the kidney was nothing but mince. The pie was more like a Cornish Pasty than a true baked small pie. The pie came with no accompaniments whereas in the U.K. it usually comes with a side of mash and some mushy peas.
My Bangers and Mash arrived and was nicely plated. Unfortunately, that was the only good thing about the dish. The Bangers, while nicely cooked were loaded with salt. I thought that perhaps one of them had received some extra seasoning during the creation process, but alas, taking a bite from the second one revealed the same extreme amount of salt. The mash was acceptable, and was made from Yukon Gold potatoes, but the peas, which we were told were brought in from Boston were shriveled and lacking flavor. This plate was inedible. Companion, who the doctor had just prescribe a much higher amount of salt in her diet ate some of the Bangers to comply with her doctor's wishes. Speaking for myself, I finished three large glasses of Iced Tea and later stopped at a local McDonald's for a large soft drink.
The bathroom was nice and clean and it appeared that the restaurant was also clean. Tables were bussed regularly and wiped down.
2 stars for cleanliness and pleasant service.
Saturday, July 8, 2017
Texaz Grill
6003 N. 16th Street
Phoenix, AZ
A group of 5 of us arrived for dinner at 6:00. The rude hostess refused to sit us at one of the vacant larger tables and instead crowded us into a 4 top. Needless to say, this was not a good start to the meal.
We were offered a choice of salad or cole slaw to start with. Unfortunately, 3 of us opted for the cole slaw, which while nice and creamy was loaded with onion and perhaps some garlic. None of us could finish the cole slaw because the onion was so strong. We tried the biscuits, which were undercooked and pastey. One bite was all that anyone could tolerate.
Next we ordered main courses. Two people ordered the Saturday Special steak Lin Sue. A N.Y. strip steak topped with artichoke hearts, jumbo shrimp and then covered in bearnaise sauce. I don't know who thought this combination up, but neither of the people who ordered it finished it. One of the comments was that the shrimp were well overcooked.
Companion ordered the "famous" chicken fried steak because they had no prime rib available. It came smothered in a very thick, heavy gravy that could only be compared to wallpaper paste. They may have served hundreds of thousands of chicken fried steaks, but if they were like this plate I feel sorry for all those who tried to eat it.
I ordered the pork chops with gravy and mashed potatoes. I was lucky in that the pork chops were nicely cooked - however they were covered in the same "gravy glop" that everything else was hidden under.
Most of our party asked for take home boxes with the idea of feeding the leftovers either to 2 legged or 4 legged members of their household.
Next we ordered dessert. Once again, I picked the winner - peach cobbler topped with vanilla ice cream. Served warm, it was flavorful though the crust was not well cooked. The ice cream was nice.
Another of our party ordered the bread pudding with whisky sauce. The bread pudding was very dense and did not look like any other bread pudding I have ever seen. As we passed it around the table, one of our party got a bite that had raw whisky in it and couldn't stop coughing. Another item which was passed around was the "Old New Orleans Calas" which were supposed to be sweet rice balls, deep fried and dusted with sugar. Whoever made them forgot to put the sugar on them and totally overcooked them to the point that the rice was crunchy and inedible. They were not deemed to be something that anyone would take home.
On the positive side, our waitress was excellent and a total hoot. She was lots of fun and our tips reflected her good nature.
The restaurant is decorated with all sorts of kitsch, which prevented us from ascertaining the cleanliness or lack thereof of the restaurant.
Our party has requested of me that we not return there again. 2 stars
Phoenix, AZ
A group of 5 of us arrived for dinner at 6:00. The rude hostess refused to sit us at one of the vacant larger tables and instead crowded us into a 4 top. Needless to say, this was not a good start to the meal.
We were offered a choice of salad or cole slaw to start with. Unfortunately, 3 of us opted for the cole slaw, which while nice and creamy was loaded with onion and perhaps some garlic. None of us could finish the cole slaw because the onion was so strong. We tried the biscuits, which were undercooked and pastey. One bite was all that anyone could tolerate.
Next we ordered main courses. Two people ordered the Saturday Special steak Lin Sue. A N.Y. strip steak topped with artichoke hearts, jumbo shrimp and then covered in bearnaise sauce. I don't know who thought this combination up, but neither of the people who ordered it finished it. One of the comments was that the shrimp were well overcooked.
Companion ordered the "famous" chicken fried steak because they had no prime rib available. It came smothered in a very thick, heavy gravy that could only be compared to wallpaper paste. They may have served hundreds of thousands of chicken fried steaks, but if they were like this plate I feel sorry for all those who tried to eat it.
I ordered the pork chops with gravy and mashed potatoes. I was lucky in that the pork chops were nicely cooked - however they were covered in the same "gravy glop" that everything else was hidden under.
Most of our party asked for take home boxes with the idea of feeding the leftovers either to 2 legged or 4 legged members of their household.
Next we ordered dessert. Once again, I picked the winner - peach cobbler topped with vanilla ice cream. Served warm, it was flavorful though the crust was not well cooked. The ice cream was nice.
Another of our party ordered the bread pudding with whisky sauce. The bread pudding was very dense and did not look like any other bread pudding I have ever seen. As we passed it around the table, one of our party got a bite that had raw whisky in it and couldn't stop coughing. Another item which was passed around was the "Old New Orleans Calas" which were supposed to be sweet rice balls, deep fried and dusted with sugar. Whoever made them forgot to put the sugar on them and totally overcooked them to the point that the rice was crunchy and inedible. They were not deemed to be something that anyone would take home.
On the positive side, our waitress was excellent and a total hoot. She was lots of fun and our tips reflected her good nature.
The restaurant is decorated with all sorts of kitsch, which prevented us from ascertaining the cleanliness or lack thereof of the restaurant.
Our party has requested of me that we not return there again. 2 stars
Sunday, May 28, 2017
Not Your Typical Deli
3821 E Baseline Rd
Ste J-140
Gilbert, AZ 85234
This is one of the most unusual and wonderful deli's that I have had the pleasure of eating at. Let's start with the food. Almost everything is made in house. Even the pastrami and corned beef are made in house. One of the things that I enjoyed the most is that the food, while very tasty, is not over seasoned. This means that you will not get heartburn from an over seasoned pastrami.
The two chef's are both fully trained and create some of the fantastic flavors that their food has. Example - they have created their own white BBQ sauce. (Welcome to Alabama!) The sauce is fantastic and I only which they would bottle and sell it because I would be buying it by the gallon.
I had the pastrami on rye, which was a huge sandwich with mustard and a pickle and chips. It was so good! I would have liked to bring half of it home, but to be honest I finished the entire thing at the table.
Companion ordered a salad that easily could have fed 2 people. It came in a huge bowl and there was so much that the left over was taken home and made a full meal.
Their drink assortment has the usual variety along with some drinks that I have never seen before.
Their bakers work at night producing some wonderful fresh baked goods. I had a huge apple pie cookie that was absolutely delicious. Companion had the biggest chocolate chip cookie I have ever seen, and it too, was delicious.
They also have a small selection of full sized pies. I purchased a lemon chess pie (which I have not seen in many years) that was taken home and was perfect with a homemade crust.
Perhaps one of the very nicest things about this business is that they support those who are on the autism spectrum by hiring them. Fully 80% of the staff are in some way developmentally disabled and and their smiles and willingness to chat if asked is refreshing and may bring tears to your eyes.
The location is on the back side of a mall and not the easiest to find, but is well worth the energy to hunt it down.
The staff keeps it immaculately clean and is very friendly and helpful.
The restaurant has only been open for about 10 months and already has a nice following. I don't usually ask this, but if you are in the neighborhood please patronize this restaurant which is trying so hard to help these people have a job. I know I will be.
5 stars for excellent food, excellent service, and wonderful people trying as hard as they can to help each other.
Ste J-140
Gilbert, AZ 85234
This is one of the most unusual and wonderful deli's that I have had the pleasure of eating at. Let's start with the food. Almost everything is made in house. Even the pastrami and corned beef are made in house. One of the things that I enjoyed the most is that the food, while very tasty, is not over seasoned. This means that you will not get heartburn from an over seasoned pastrami.
The two chef's are both fully trained and create some of the fantastic flavors that their food has. Example - they have created their own white BBQ sauce. (Welcome to Alabama!) The sauce is fantastic and I only which they would bottle and sell it because I would be buying it by the gallon.
I had the pastrami on rye, which was a huge sandwich with mustard and a pickle and chips. It was so good! I would have liked to bring half of it home, but to be honest I finished the entire thing at the table.
Companion ordered a salad that easily could have fed 2 people. It came in a huge bowl and there was so much that the left over was taken home and made a full meal.
Their drink assortment has the usual variety along with some drinks that I have never seen before.
Their bakers work at night producing some wonderful fresh baked goods. I had a huge apple pie cookie that was absolutely delicious. Companion had the biggest chocolate chip cookie I have ever seen, and it too, was delicious.
They also have a small selection of full sized pies. I purchased a lemon chess pie (which I have not seen in many years) that was taken home and was perfect with a homemade crust.
Perhaps one of the very nicest things about this business is that they support those who are on the autism spectrum by hiring them. Fully 80% of the staff are in some way developmentally disabled and and their smiles and willingness to chat if asked is refreshing and may bring tears to your eyes.
The location is on the back side of a mall and not the easiest to find, but is well worth the energy to hunt it down.
The staff keeps it immaculately clean and is very friendly and helpful.
The restaurant has only been open for about 10 months and already has a nice following. I don't usually ask this, but if you are in the neighborhood please patronize this restaurant which is trying so hard to help these people have a job. I know I will be.
5 stars for excellent food, excellent service, and wonderful people trying as hard as they can to help each other.
Sunday, May 21, 2017
Spinelli's Pizza
420 S Mill Ave
Tempe, AZ 85281
This is a preliminary review of Spinelli's Pizzeria in that it only involves their delivery service and items ordered online for delivery to the house. To be fair, this restaurant will be reviewed again in person at a future time and the rating may change at that time.
One of the things that attracted me to this restaurant is that they will deliver until the wee hours of the morning. They don't shut down until 5 a.m.
The best cheesesteaks I have eaten are in Philly, so I ordered a Cheesesteak Stromboli for myself and a regular Cheesesteak Sandwich for companion.
The cheesesteak sandwich is served on a roll imported from Philly, and can be had with a choice of 3 different cheeses. Veggies are optional but not charged for.
The Stromboli reminds me of a calzone in that the fillings are inside of a stretched piece of pizza dough. Again, veggies are optional but available at no additional charge.
At $10.50 for a normal Stromboli and $19.50 for a large, the prices seemed a bit steep, but a good sandwich or Stromboli can be worth the money.
I ordered our sandwiches, keeping in mind that the restaurant posts that delivery takes between 45 minutes and an hour. Two hours later our food had not yet arrived. I called the restaurant to inquire about our order and they said it would be ready to sent to us in about thirty minutes. Almost three hours went by before our order came. Not exactly one hour service, and the food was lukewarm. Putting it in the oven for about 15 minutes helped immeasurably with the flavor.
The sandwiches were of fair size and quality, but in my opinion nothing special. Perhaps eating in the restaurant will reveal a different experience.
I must admit I was not very impressed by the service or the quality of the sandwiches. I can't remember ever having take out take three hours to arrive. We felt that $33.83 for 2 sandwiches delivered to the house was a bit steep.
2 Stars for delivering until 5 a.m.
Tempe, AZ 85281
This is a preliminary review of Spinelli's Pizzeria in that it only involves their delivery service and items ordered online for delivery to the house. To be fair, this restaurant will be reviewed again in person at a future time and the rating may change at that time.
One of the things that attracted me to this restaurant is that they will deliver until the wee hours of the morning. They don't shut down until 5 a.m.
The best cheesesteaks I have eaten are in Philly, so I ordered a Cheesesteak Stromboli for myself and a regular Cheesesteak Sandwich for companion.
The cheesesteak sandwich is served on a roll imported from Philly, and can be had with a choice of 3 different cheeses. Veggies are optional but not charged for.
The Stromboli reminds me of a calzone in that the fillings are inside of a stretched piece of pizza dough. Again, veggies are optional but available at no additional charge.
At $10.50 for a normal Stromboli and $19.50 for a large, the prices seemed a bit steep, but a good sandwich or Stromboli can be worth the money.
I ordered our sandwiches, keeping in mind that the restaurant posts that delivery takes between 45 minutes and an hour. Two hours later our food had not yet arrived. I called the restaurant to inquire about our order and they said it would be ready to sent to us in about thirty minutes. Almost three hours went by before our order came. Not exactly one hour service, and the food was lukewarm. Putting it in the oven for about 15 minutes helped immeasurably with the flavor.
The sandwiches were of fair size and quality, but in my opinion nothing special. Perhaps eating in the restaurant will reveal a different experience.
I must admit I was not very impressed by the service or the quality of the sandwiches. I can't remember ever having take out take three hours to arrive. We felt that $33.83 for 2 sandwiches delivered to the house was a bit steep.
2 Stars for delivering until 5 a.m.
Saturday, May 20, 2017
Rodizio Grill
Taking advantage of Arizona Restaurant Week, we went to the Rodizio Grill in Mesa. We were a few minutes early for a 6:00 reservation, so we sat outside on a bench while they got our table ready for us. Restaurant week is an opportunity to dine at reduced prices at local restaurants. While our price was $33 for each person, which is about the normal price for a meal, they added at no cost an alcoholic beverage or complimentary house special soft drink as well as dessert at no extra cost.
For those who have never had Rodizio, it is a Brazilian style dinner. It starts off with an unlimited very nice salad bar which was stocked with some very different salads as well as some hot dishes. Available were items like Beef Stroganoff, Feijoada (traditional Brazilian stew), Mozzarella salad, Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato salad, and lots more. However, if you fill up on the salad bar you will not have room left for the main attraction, the "Meats".
Among the meats served were - Picanha Top Sirloin (A lean, juicy cut of beef with a mild and sophisticated flavor), Bife Com Alho (Tender steak basted in garlic seasonings), Maminha Seasoned Tri Tip Sirloin, Miolo da Paleta (Beef Center Cut Skirt Steak), Whole Sirloin, Frango Com Bacon
(Lean, juicy chicken breast wrapped in bacon), Frango Agri-Doce (Sweet and spicy chicken), Sobre Coxa (Marinated & Seasoned Chicken), Coração (Grilled tender chicken hearts), Linguiça, (Brazilian sausage), Lombo Com Queijo (A tender cut of pork, served with parmesan cheese- and bacon, Presunto (Ham), Cordeiro (Boneless leg of Lamb), as well as others that I cannot recall.
On your table is a small rectangular block with one end painted green and the other end painted red. When the green end is up it mean you want more food, and gauchos will circulate in your area with food on long swords and large knives. They will cut off as much meat as you wish each time one of them comes by. There were so many of them in the area that we had to turn our block to red for a while until we could finish what was already on our plates. Then we turned the block back to green and the Gaucho's started coming around with more meat. Because of the way the meat is cooked, you can ask for any degree of doneness and it will usually be available.
The steak with garlic was particularly memorable as was the chicken wrapped in bacon, the ham, and the lamb. We all had seconds and or thirds of these meats, plus the regular portions of the other meats.
The only way to properly describe this restaurant is as a Carnivore's Delight. One of our party was a true carnivore and probably ate several pounds of meat.
When you lay your block sideways on the table it signifies that you are ready for dessert.
Dings - only one - there are two types of waiters and waitresses on the floor. The meat waiters, who did a terrific job of keeping our plates well stocked, and the service waitresses. Our service waitress was a disaster waiting to happen. She made our meal drag on because she could not be found and was so very slow.
Bathrooms were nice and clean and properly stocked.
3 stars for cleanliness and quality of food.
For those who have never had Rodizio, it is a Brazilian style dinner. It starts off with an unlimited very nice salad bar which was stocked with some very different salads as well as some hot dishes. Available were items like Beef Stroganoff, Feijoada (traditional Brazilian stew), Mozzarella salad, Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato salad, and lots more. However, if you fill up on the salad bar you will not have room left for the main attraction, the "Meats".
Among the meats served were - Picanha Top Sirloin (A lean, juicy cut of beef with a mild and sophisticated flavor), Bife Com Alho (Tender steak basted in garlic seasonings), Maminha Seasoned Tri Tip Sirloin, Miolo da Paleta (Beef Center Cut Skirt Steak), Whole Sirloin, Frango Com Bacon
(Lean, juicy chicken breast wrapped in bacon), Frango Agri-Doce (Sweet and spicy chicken), Sobre Coxa (Marinated & Seasoned Chicken), Coração (Grilled tender chicken hearts), Linguiça, (Brazilian sausage), Lombo Com Queijo (A tender cut of pork, served with parmesan cheese- and bacon, Presunto (Ham), Cordeiro (Boneless leg of Lamb), as well as others that I cannot recall.
On your table is a small rectangular block with one end painted green and the other end painted red. When the green end is up it mean you want more food, and gauchos will circulate in your area with food on long swords and large knives. They will cut off as much meat as you wish each time one of them comes by. There were so many of them in the area that we had to turn our block to red for a while until we could finish what was already on our plates. Then we turned the block back to green and the Gaucho's started coming around with more meat. Because of the way the meat is cooked, you can ask for any degree of doneness and it will usually be available.
The steak with garlic was particularly memorable as was the chicken wrapped in bacon, the ham, and the lamb. We all had seconds and or thirds of these meats, plus the regular portions of the other meats.
The only way to properly describe this restaurant is as a Carnivore's Delight. One of our party was a true carnivore and probably ate several pounds of meat.
When you lay your block sideways on the table it signifies that you are ready for dessert.
Dings - only one - there are two types of waiters and waitresses on the floor. The meat waiters, who did a terrific job of keeping our plates well stocked, and the service waitresses. Our service waitress was a disaster waiting to happen. She made our meal drag on because she could not be found and was so very slow.
Bathrooms were nice and clean and properly stocked.
3 stars for cleanliness and quality of food.
Friday, March 31, 2017
Mora Italian - second review
Mora Italian
5651 N 7th St
Phoenix, AZ 85014
This is my second review of Mora Italian. Our group had a 7:00 reservation and were promptly seated. Two of us started off with a Sangria Mora. A nice, light way to start the meal.
We again ordered the bread cart and everyone enjoyed it immensely. Next was the Salume and Cheese platter. It not only had some excellent salume and cheeses, but also had some wonderful chutney with toasted almonds as well as an excellent fig jam. The highlight of the platter was a small pile of thin sliced Iberico Prosciutto, which many consider to be the finest in the world and which I would not dispute.
Next came the Frito Misto and the Octopus. The Frito Misto is served with a squeeze of lemon which is perfect with it and the Octopus is so tender that one cuts it with the side of a fork instead of with a knife. Our waiter suggested that we try a new dish that was just put on the menu - Mussels. They were truly amazing - sweet, tender and swimming in a sauce that was so good that I soaked bread in it and took it home with me!
The Burrata was, to be honest just fair, and could have done with a nice drizzle of good olive oil on it, but the Gnudi were obviously made in heaven and transported to our table. If I were on death row my last meal would be a double portion of the Gnudi.
We ordered the chef's signature dish which is the Pomodoro Spaghetti. The pasta was very obviously hand made and the pomodoro sauce was absolutely wonderful with just a hint of spice added to it.
We also ordered a Margherita and a Soppressata pizza, but were too full to eat them and instead took them home.
Service was excellent, as was cleanliness. If nothing else, a visit to the bathroom is an essential visit, as they are like nothing I have ever seen anywhere else. Each person has their own, private, individual bathroom!
New items ordered this time were the Mussels, the Salume, and the Spaghetti Pomodoro.
Dings - same as last time - the music is much too loud, often drowning out conversation at the table and requiring the waiter to repeat things for us.
5 Stars
5651 N 7th St
Phoenix, AZ 85014
This is my second review of Mora Italian. Our group had a 7:00 reservation and were promptly seated. Two of us started off with a Sangria Mora. A nice, light way to start the meal.
We again ordered the bread cart and everyone enjoyed it immensely. Next was the Salume and Cheese platter. It not only had some excellent salume and cheeses, but also had some wonderful chutney with toasted almonds as well as an excellent fig jam. The highlight of the platter was a small pile of thin sliced Iberico Prosciutto, which many consider to be the finest in the world and which I would not dispute.
Next came the Frito Misto and the Octopus. The Frito Misto is served with a squeeze of lemon which is perfect with it and the Octopus is so tender that one cuts it with the side of a fork instead of with a knife. Our waiter suggested that we try a new dish that was just put on the menu - Mussels. They were truly amazing - sweet, tender and swimming in a sauce that was so good that I soaked bread in it and took it home with me!
The Burrata was, to be honest just fair, and could have done with a nice drizzle of good olive oil on it, but the Gnudi were obviously made in heaven and transported to our table. If I were on death row my last meal would be a double portion of the Gnudi.
We ordered the chef's signature dish which is the Pomodoro Spaghetti. The pasta was very obviously hand made and the pomodoro sauce was absolutely wonderful with just a hint of spice added to it.
We also ordered a Margherita and a Soppressata pizza, but were too full to eat them and instead took them home.
Service was excellent, as was cleanliness. If nothing else, a visit to the bathroom is an essential visit, as they are like nothing I have ever seen anywhere else. Each person has their own, private, individual bathroom!
New items ordered this time were the Mussels, the Salume, and the Spaghetti Pomodoro.
Dings - same as last time - the music is much too loud, often drowning out conversation at the table and requiring the waiter to repeat things for us.
5 Stars
Monday, March 6, 2017
The Habit Burger Grill
The Habit Burger Grill
1817 E Guadalupe Rd
Ste 102
Tempe, AZ 85283
Companion and I were in the mood for burgers for lunch and decided to try a new place. We were promptly greeted from behind the counter with a nice big smile and a cheery hello.
We both ordered the #2 Double Char ($8.15) which includes fries and a drink. Companion added cheese and bacon to his sandwich. I asked for well done fries.
They have a drink bar where you can select whatever you like to drink. This was the first place I have ever seen that has pomegranate lemonade, which was a real treat.
We found seats and loaded up on napkins as well as ketchup for the fries and some salt. Unlike many burger places they do not season their fries, which I prefer to the usual salt shower used in some places.
In due time our burgers were brought out. Big, juicy burgers that oozed when you picked it up. The fries were excellent, and crunched when I bit into them. It was nice to get my food made my way instead of being what they thought I would want.
Companion’s burger was loaded with bacon and had cheese dripping off of it. Neither of us minded getting our hands a bit soiled eating such a big, excellent burger.
The place was spotlessly clean and a member of the crew even came by to make sure our lunch met our satisfaction.
The menu had quite a number of selections on it all of which were at an excellent price point. I’m already planning my next trip there to have the Tri-Tip Steak or the Portabella Char.
Dings - only one - they only cook their burgers medium or well done, and I prefer mine rare or medium rare.
4 stars
Saturday, February 25, 2017
Zur Kate
Zur Kate
4815 E Main St Mesa, AZ 85205
4815 E Main St Mesa, AZ 85205
Five of us met at Zur Kate for a German dinner. The owner is from Germany, and we were looking forward to some real German food. For two of us, it started with 30 ounce steins of Warsteiner Dunkel beer. Dark, cold, and very satisfying. Live accordion playing was taking place in the room next to us, and we soon found ourselves toe tapping to the music.
Fresh rye bread was brought to the table. It was soft and delicious, though I would have enjoyed it more if it had been just a bit warm.
Our waitress was friendly and efficient. I ordered the Jagerschnitzel with spaetzle and a side of curry wurst. Companion 1 ordered the exact same dish, while companion 2 ordered the Leberkase with gravy. Companion 3 ordered the curry wurst with home fries and companion 4 ordered the zwiebel rippchen which is a smoked pork chop with grilled onions.
With the exception of companion 2, everyone enjoyed their dishes and were totally stuffed.
Companion 2 felt that the food needed more seasoning and was a bit dry. Then again, Leberkase is a finely ground sausage loaf that can easily be a bit on the dryer side because the meat is chopped so fine.
I got to taste companion 4's pork chop and it was absolutely delicious as well as mouth wateringly tender.
For dessert, I ordered the apple strudel and was unable to finish it because I was so full. Companion 1, 3 and 4 all ordered the Black Forest cake and pronounced it wonderful. (It had a touch of booze in it which may have caused them to say that)! Unfortunately, they were sold out of the cheese cake for the evening.
When the bill came I initially thought there must have been a mistake because the bill was so low and we ate so much, but reviewing it showed no mistake. The food was quite reasonable, especially since I would have liked a wheel barrow to get out the door.
The only fault I could find was that it was fairly warm inside. Even with the door open, the temperature was a bit too warm. A bit of air conditioning would have been really helpful.
Since every table was taken it was a bit noisy inside, but in truth, most German restaurants are not exactly quiet and they usually have an atmosphere of conviviality and fun.
Everything was clean, and service was as expected.
4 stars for good food, good atmosphere, and cleanliness.
Thursday, February 23, 2017
Pokedon
Pokedon
1753 E. Broadway Road
Tempe, AZ
This review is written after dining at this establishment 2 days in a row. Some of this review reflects excellence, while some of it reflects problems which need to be corrected quickly if they are to stay in business.
Companion and I visited the first time and each ordered the large bowl combo. Lets break this down into actual food portions. You are first given a choice of white rice, brown rice, a spring mix of greens, or Wonton chips. Companion chose white rice and I chose the brown rice. Both were properly cooked and the person waiting on us filled the bowl 3/4 full with rice. Essentially, we were under the impression that they were trying to fill us up on rice.
Next was the protein selection. We were each entitled to 3 scoops. Companion ordered Tuna, Salmon, and Scallop, and I ordered Octopus, Tuna, and Spicy Scallop since I will never eat raw Salmon due to the possibility of parasites. The fish all seemed fresh though the Spicy Scallops did not seem to be very cold and were approaching room temperature.
You can choose from a plethora of sides all of which except Avocado are free. The Avocado is $1 extra. The crab mix was just fair, but the pickled cucumber and the seaweed salad were both excellent.
Next you get to choose a sauce from a group of 7 selections. Companion selected Ponzu mixed with House sauce, and I selected they Yuzu Vinaigrette. All the sauces were excellent and really buoyed up the proteins. It is noted that the fish is kept separate from the hot rice until this point.
Last was the opportunity to have any of 3 sprinkles on top. I chose sesame seeds while companion chose chopped sheet seaweed.
Since we ordered combo bowls ($2.50) we also received small bowls of Miso soup and our drinks.
We also ordered egg rolls ( 4 to a serving), which in reality were spring rolls. The "egg rolls" were fair at best, and after eating one, the rest were consigned to the refuse bin.
Portions on the first visit were of a good size and the waitress who served us was cheerful and willing to let us taste anything we asked about.
On the second visit I was alone and had a totally different experience. The fellow who served me skimped on everything including only putting a half scoop of Octopus in the bowl. When it came to the pickled cucumber and the seaweed salad he skimped again and said if I wanted more than he put in the bowl I'd have to pay for an extra scoop. The way he said it was a total turn off to me and almost had me walking out. I again asked for the sesame seeds on top, and it almost looked like a sesame storm had hit the bowl.
The place is nice an clean, but unless they become consistent with portions they will not be around for long.
3 stars for quality of the proteins, flavor, and cleanliness. Hopefully if they get the portions straightened out I might be able to raise them to 4 stars.
1753 E. Broadway Road
Tempe, AZ
This review is written after dining at this establishment 2 days in a row. Some of this review reflects excellence, while some of it reflects problems which need to be corrected quickly if they are to stay in business.
Companion and I visited the first time and each ordered the large bowl combo. Lets break this down into actual food portions. You are first given a choice of white rice, brown rice, a spring mix of greens, or Wonton chips. Companion chose white rice and I chose the brown rice. Both were properly cooked and the person waiting on us filled the bowl 3/4 full with rice. Essentially, we were under the impression that they were trying to fill us up on rice.
Next was the protein selection. We were each entitled to 3 scoops. Companion ordered Tuna, Salmon, and Scallop, and I ordered Octopus, Tuna, and Spicy Scallop since I will never eat raw Salmon due to the possibility of parasites. The fish all seemed fresh though the Spicy Scallops did not seem to be very cold and were approaching room temperature.
You can choose from a plethora of sides all of which except Avocado are free. The Avocado is $1 extra. The crab mix was just fair, but the pickled cucumber and the seaweed salad were both excellent.
Next you get to choose a sauce from a group of 7 selections. Companion selected Ponzu mixed with House sauce, and I selected they Yuzu Vinaigrette. All the sauces were excellent and really buoyed up the proteins. It is noted that the fish is kept separate from the hot rice until this point.
Last was the opportunity to have any of 3 sprinkles on top. I chose sesame seeds while companion chose chopped sheet seaweed.
Since we ordered combo bowls ($2.50) we also received small bowls of Miso soup and our drinks.
We also ordered egg rolls ( 4 to a serving), which in reality were spring rolls. The "egg rolls" were fair at best, and after eating one, the rest were consigned to the refuse bin.
Portions on the first visit were of a good size and the waitress who served us was cheerful and willing to let us taste anything we asked about.
On the second visit I was alone and had a totally different experience. The fellow who served me skimped on everything including only putting a half scoop of Octopus in the bowl. When it came to the pickled cucumber and the seaweed salad he skimped again and said if I wanted more than he put in the bowl I'd have to pay for an extra scoop. The way he said it was a total turn off to me and almost had me walking out. I again asked for the sesame seeds on top, and it almost looked like a sesame storm had hit the bowl.
The place is nice an clean, but unless they become consistent with portions they will not be around for long.
3 stars for quality of the proteins, flavor, and cleanliness. Hopefully if they get the portions straightened out I might be able to raise them to 4 stars.
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Mora Italian
Mora Italian
5651 N. Seventh St.
Phoenix
This review reflects the soft opening before the formal opening. Soft openings give the staff a chance to work out any problems and the kitchen to perfect their skills. The restaurant is beautifully decorated mostly in black, red and white. The open kitchen is fun to watch and there's plenty of wait staff. Music plays in the background.
Companion and I started with the bread cart ($8/table). Some excellent artisan bread with 4 different toppings available. Artichoke Bomba, Marscapone Butter, Roasted Garlic Spread, and Eggplant Caponata. All of the spreads were beautifully made, with muted flavors and yet with distinction. The caponata was truly amazing, and the garlic, which I expected to be assertive was very mild and mixed with cheese.
Next was the grilled octopus with ceci beans, small potatoes and cured olives ($15.00). I’ve eaten octopus all over the world, and never have had one so tender that I did not need a knife to cut it. The octopus is slow poached in olive oil and has a wonderful flavor.
This was followed by pork and veal meatballs in a semolina pudding ($11.00). Included was broccoli rabe and pesto. The meatballs were tender and sauteed just until perfectly caramelized and brown. A real treat.
Frito Misto was next on our menu ($13.00). Beautifully tender morsels of calamari in a very light coating, fried to perfection along with rock shrimp and served with but a wedge of lemon. No heavy sauces here to disguise the perfectly seasoned calamari and tender shrimp.
Next, cavatelli with braised duck and black truffles ($21.00). Perfectly al dente homemade cavatelli swimming in a sauce of deep braised duck loaded with a black truffle flavor. How does one describe the melding of flavors that are in this dish. For a pasta lover, the cavatelli is wonderful, and for a duck lover the duck and truffles are amazing.
We took a break with spinach and ricotta gnudi ($15.00). Gnudi are essentially the filling of a ravioli minus the pasta wrapper. I’ve never eaten gnudi like these before. The word that comes to mind is ethereal. So light and smooth that you barely know you are eating them. This dish was perfection.
Also ordered was the seafood pizza napoletana ($17.00) A very thin crust pizza with clams, mussels, shrimp, and baby tomatoes in a lightly spicy tomato sauce. I thought it was terrific, and I can’t repeat the words that companion used to describe it in public!
Desserts: A cocoanut cake that is enormous, a salted caramel with whipped cream, and a sherbert/blackberry compote. All of which were too big to possibly finish.
The kitchen sent out a complimentary foccacia di recco. This was a gossamer thin pizza which is best described as the ultimate cheese crisp on crack. The filling is stracchino cheese and sea salt perhaps with a bit of ricotta?
The restaurant is immaculately clean, and the bathrooms have to be seen to be believed. Essentially, each person has their own private little bathroom!
Dings - only one - the music needs to be turned down. Companion and I both left with the beginnings of headaches from it and had difficulty conversing during the meal.
5 stars for outstanding food, cleanliness, and excellent service
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Max’s Mukhaase African Restaurant
Max’s Mukhaase African Restaurant
1245 W. Guadalupe Road
Mesa, AZ 85202
A group of eight of us arrived for dinner at 6:00. The
place, while small is comfortable and friendly. We were delighted that Max personally
came out to wait on our table.
Most of us started off with soft drinks. I had a homemade
ginger beer (non-alcoholic) with mango juice. For those not familiar, ginger
beer is like a hyped up ginger ale, made with lots of real ginger and very
spicy. This was a terrific drink that was made for sipping and not drinking.
Powerful but delicious.
I ordered a plate of fried plantains with peanuts for the
table. When my bill arrived later, it was not on the bill, and I told Max that
he made a mistake. He informed me that it was on the house.
Main courses were varied and were, for the most part
enjoyed by all. I ordered goat soup with fufu (pounded starch in the shape of a
large dumpling). It was totally delicious. Companion ordered peanut butter soup
with chicken, which was not enjoyed as much because of the oil that was
released from the peanuts that floated to the top.
Another companion ordered a goat stew, which was
accompanied by a mixture of beans and rice and was pronounced very good. Yet
another companion ordered tilapia which was nicely fried and plated.
Also ordered was fried rice and chicken which was quickly
devoured.
I also ordered a homemade ginger beer with pineapple that
was a wonderful accompaniment to my goat soup.
By the end of the meal we were all so stuffed that we
could hardly move.
The place is clean, and service is on the slower side due
to each dish being made to order.
I must add that Max is a terrific host. He seems to
always have a smile on his face, and will do whatever is necessary to make his
guests happy.
4 stars for excellent food, good service, and the big
smile on Max’s face.
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