Phx Restaurant Reviews

I've reviewed restaurants for years, and people I know have been asking me to do it again. So... a few caveats!
1. I remain anonymous at all times
2. I accept no tips, gratuities, free meals, etc.
3. Any owner that does not agree with my assessment is free to request another review - at a time of my choosing and without any former knowledge that I am coming.
4. Reviews represent my personal opinion. Others may think otherwise and are free to disagree with me.
5. My reviews cover everything I see and/or touches my lips, from sanitation to seasoning.
6. While this is called Phx Restaurant Reviews, I travel quite alot, so it could include anything from New York, to Denver, to the west Coast. In other words - any establishment I eat in is fair game.
7. Reviews will not only be the classy, ritzy expensive places, but the mom & pop shops too!

Copper and Sage

SENTRY - WATCHING RESTAURANTS

Copper & Sage

322 E Camelback Road

Phoenix, 85012

Sometimes one is caught between reporting the truth and trying to sweeten bad news. I decided that only if I reported the truth would I be honest to myself and my readers.

Three of us went to Copper & Sage for dinner and were promptly seated. Our water glasses were filled with tap water and our waitress informed us that no other water was available.

Companion 2 ordered a “Respect Your Elder” cocktail. Upon sipping it declared it to be vile. After sharing it around the table we all agreed that whoever invented it has no idea of what a proper cocktail should be. Companion 1 and I both drank non-alcoholic drinks.

This still being Restaurant Week, Companions 1 & 2 ordered off the special menu and I chose to order off the regular menu.

Both companions ordered Hush Puppies as a starter and neither could eat much of it. I’ve never before encountered a hushpuppy with a liquid center. Disgusting was a proper description.

Companion 1 ordered Hot Chicken and Beignets. While each part of the dish was acceptable on its own, the combination was weird. Companion said they had never had a main course served with a dessert as an accompaniment to it.

Companion 2 ordered Duck Confit but was told that they were sold out. The restaurant had just opened for the night and it was difficult to understand how it could be sold out of food. They ended up being served Duck Leg Jambalaya. Not only was the dish overcooked but the flavors were quite different from what a “normal” jambalaya would be.

For myself, I tried several appetizers and a main course. I started with Fried Green Tomatoes. They were properly breaded and cooked, but then came the weird twist. Goat Cheese and Balsamic Glaze. Strange bedfellows to a southern dish. Next I tried the Bourbon Deviled Eggs. Properly cooked hard boiled eggs topped with overcooked bacon jam with no promised pecan on top and no chives added as described. While the flavor was decent it was hard to get the bacon jam out of my teeth. On to my main dish. I ordered Walleye Fish and Chips and was told that they were sold out! How can a restaurant that just opened for the evening be sold out?

I ended up ordering Shrimp and Grits. A plate of grits that had the same look and texture as oatmeal, with half inch chunks of over cooked pork down the center covered with 6 small shrimp. The grits had the same mouthfeel as wallpaper paste and the pork was inedible. I had ordered a dish of collard greens as a side dish. Crunchy undercooked collards with the same over cooked pork cubes and no proper vinegar or hot sauce with it. When I asked for some vinegar I was told the kitchen doesn’t have white vinegar but they sent out some cider vinegar and tabasco sauce. I’d have given anything for some Trappey's vinegar hot sauce.

I opted out of having any dessert but companions dinners came with it. Deep Fried Donut with Banana and Caramel Sauce. While the presentation left much to be desired the flavor wasn’t bad.

I must mention that the “bartenders” kept referring to sheets of paper on how to make cocktails. I’m not sure I have ever seen that in a running bar.

In this industry when something should be removed from a menu we say to 86 the item. In this case I would 86 the servers, the bartenders, the cook, and most of the food. The manager tried his mightiest to keep the ship afloat but with no food and no good help this is a sinking ship rapidly going down.

In all my years as a restaurant critic I have never written a review like this. I normally post my reviews within 24 hours of eating but in this case I had to really think about how to be kind in my writing and finally decided to be honest with my readers.

1 star

Sea and Smoke

 SENTRY - WATCHING RESTAURANTS

Sea and Smoke

2475 W Queen Creek

Chandler 85248

Companion and I had reservations for 5:30. We were seated as soon as we arrived.

Two different menus were offered to us, as this is part of restaurant week. After looking at both menus we decided to order off the regular menu, though some of the selections on the restaurant week menu looked tempting.

Companion started off with the Clam Chowder Bowl. We both agreed that the clams were very overcooked and had the texture of small erasers. The flavor was satisfactory, but the mouth feel was not proper. 

For myself, I had the Firecracker Shrimp, which was excellent. A nice size portion of what I believe was rock shrimp, battered and fried and then sauced. Served in a metal martini glass I would happily order it again.

For the main course, my companion ordered the Double Cut Pork Chop. It was perfectly cooked and came with an apple ginger pineapple sauce that was wonderful as well as whipped potatoes. The portion was too large to be finished, but a valiant effort was made!

My main course was Fish and Chips. A lovely cut of Haddock which was lightly battered and deep fried to perfection. It came with seasoned fries.

I was too full to have dessert, but companion decided to give it a try. This was the only disappointment in the meal. It was described on the menu as Macadamia Nut Bread Pudding, but tasted like no other bread pudding either of us had ever had. It left an aftertaste in our mouth that was hard to get rid of.

Sanitation was excellent and the restroom was spotless.

Service was properly timed and very good.

4 Stars

The Stone Korean Tofu House

 SENTRY - WATCHING RESTAURANTS

The Stone Korean Tofu House

1870 W Main Street

Mesa  85202

Companion and I were anxious to try this relatively new restaurant and arrived at 5:30. We were seated immediately. I was immediately struck by the lack of menus. Instead, you were to use your smartphone to look up the menu online. Based on what I saw on line and the prices on the menu I was taken aback by this.

We shared a Fried Dumpling appetizer ($8.99 for 6). In reasonable time a long plate with the 6 small dumplings was brought out. On the positive side they were nicely hot, but on the negative side they were oily and were with little flavor.

For main courses, companion ordered Seafood Soft Tofu Soup ($17.90). It came out boiling in the pot with a raw egg as it should be for companion to crack into it. While companion found it to be adequate, after tasting it I found the tofu to be nice but that was about all. To me, it was lacking a lot of flavor.

My main course was Beef Bulgogi Bibimbap ($16.95). The presentation was nice, but once again the food was lacking flavor and the meat was not like anything I have ever had in the U.S. or overseas. It can only be described as roughly ground pieces of beef. The bibimbap was served with proper gochujang sauce on the side. 

We were also served Banchan as is proper. Some of it was excellent and some was not. The cabbage and  the fried tofu was excellent, but the kimchi was flavorless and some of the dishes I had no experience with so I could not judge them. Missing from the table was any hint of garlic or perilla leaves which would have really helped flavors.

Service was nice and sanitation was reasonable. Although others seem to like the food there, I cannot be so generous.

3 stars being generous

Sunny's Diner

1825 E University Drive

Tempe

Companion and I decided to try this restaurant for a breakfast and were totally surprised. Sunny's has been at this location for a long time and I have passed it by probably a hundred times without stopping in.

While parking is a bit of a problem in a crowded parking lot, the inside is spacious. We were seated immediately and were offered a drink to start with. Coffee was very good and an assortment of creamers accompanied it.

The menu is huge and it takes a bit of time to peruse the entire thing, but we eventually made our choices.

I ordered the Chicken Fried Steak breakfast which came with three eggs, hash browns and English muffin {my choice}. What arrived was a huge portion. A perfectly done portion of chicken fried steak along with 3 nicely cooked eggs the way I ordered them and excellent hash browns. All items were cooked exactly the way I ordered them.

Companion ordered the Cowboy Skillet. Home Fries layered with sauteed onions, bell peppers, melted jack cheese, chicken fried steak and sausage gravy. Only complaint was that the portion was huge and could not be finished. 

Sanitation was good and service by Hailey was well above what is usual in diners.

A good place for a breakfast or lunch but bring your appetite!

5 stars for excellent food, service and sanitation. A rarity these days.

Dozo Izakaya

Dozo Izakaya
440 W. Warner Road
Tempe, 85284

The original owners have retired and the restaurant is being run by the new owners with the same menu.

It has been 8 years since my last review of this restaurant and it was time for a new review. In keeping with a proper review, I ordered most of the same things that I had the last time so that I can compare my writing from the last time.

There were 3 of us and we were seated immediately. The restaurant wasn't crowded so we could pick our table.

Companion #1 ordered milk tea and Companion #2 after tasting it also ordered it. For myself, I ordered the house green tea, which while a little cloudy had the same flavor as Ito En commercial tea.

For those who are not familiar, an Izakaya is a small restaurant that serves alcoholic beverages and mostly small plates similar to a Spanish Tapas.

Companion #1 ordered a Carburetor roll which is shrimp tempura topped with crab sticks, avocado and eel sauce. I had wanted to taste it but it was gone in a flash! Also ordered was Tako Yaki which are small cooked balls with a piece of octopus in the center. They are then sauced with Japanese mayo and eel sauce. Again, they were eaten before I could even get a taste.

Companion #2 ordered the Gyoza's which was a nice sized portion and pronounced them excellent. Also ordered was a California Roll which was pronounced delicious. I had ordered a Spicy Crunchy Tuna Roll for myself, but by the time I got to eat it, it was half gone having been eaten by Companion #2 who said it was wonderful.

For myself, I concentrated on the Yakitori menu. Skewers of Chicken Hearts, Chicken Gizzards, Chicken Skin (Cooked perfectly and crunchy) , and Chicken Wings (which were succulent). . I found myself almost in tears as the flavors brought back wonderful memories of Izakaya's in Tokyo. The Yakitori was cooked perfectly and had a nice Tare (sauce) on it. I also tried the Unagi (Fresh Water Eel) and the Saba (Mackerel) which many places over marinate and this was perfect.

Service was excellent and cleanliness was evident.

In my last review I gave them 4 stars, and the food was so good this time that I am giving 5 stars.

Lior the Baker

10953 N Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd

Ste 105

Scottsdale, AZ 85259

Companion and I were in the area of the bake shop and decided to give it a try. We were not disappointed in the slightest as we departed with $75 worth of baked goods. 

 We started out with several Bourekas. Small packages of flaky dough filled with cheese or mushrooms. Heaven in your fingers. 

 Next were the apple turnovers. Unlike most turnovers these were not the crunchy type but more of a pastry stuffed with seasoned apples. 

 For those who prefer a less sweet pastry, try the sesame Bourekas. Larger than the sweet ones, it is covered in sesame seeds and has a less sweet filling that is delicious. 

 While the holiday of Purim is past, you can still buy hamantaschen there filled with apricot filling.

The rugalach were amazing and if you miss old fashioned cheese danish this is where you can get them. Beautifully made and glistening with a shellacked finish of honey. 

 Of course no bakery worth is salt can skip bread, and theirs is wonderful. A lovely challah pillowy light and with wonderful flavor. Just imagine the French Toast you could make with it. 

Cleanliness is very evident and it was a pleasure to be waited upon by Lior. As an observant Jew from Israel, the shop is closed on weekends starting with late Friday, but it has enough open days to satisfy most people. It's best to get there early as many selections sell out quickly. 

 I will be returning again and again for the wonderful pastries and bread.

5 Stars

TOMASO'S ON CAMELBACK

3225 E Camelback Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85018

My companions and I arrived promptly at 6:00 and were seated immediately. The decor reminded me of many Italian restaurants in New York right down to the dress and demeanor of the waiters. 

We were offered drinks and I opted for a glass of the house Barolo which was mellow and gentle. Others decided on Stella Artois and coffee.

Our orders were taken and in reasonable time appetizers came out for those who ordered them. I had the Fritto Misto which was very young calamari, tender and nicely done. It came with shrimp and zucchini which was also breaded and fried. The shrimp was a nice size, but had a bit of a fishy flavor that I did not enjoy. It was accompanied by the house marinara sauce. Companions had Zucchini Blossoms which were stuffed with mozzarella and ricotta cheese and then deep fried. They found them to be nice.

Main courses came next. For mine I ordered the Pappardelle with short rib ragu. The ragu was excellent but the pasta was nothing like I was expecting it to be. Pappardelle mean rags, and should be hand torn or cut wide noodles in varying widths. This was uniform cut noodles with an unusual consistency and much thicker than it should have been.  Both I and another companion left the pasta on the plate but ate the ragu.

Another companion ordered the 10 layer Lasagna. While it was a large portion of pasta, the companion said  it was boring because the layers alternated between meat and cheese with no difference or counterpoint to be found in the entire portion.

Yet another companion ordered the Mixed Grill Siciliano which comes with sausage, ribeye, and a chicken breast. Companion said it was good except that they felt the sausage had too much salt in it. Tasting it myself, I found that it did have a bit of salt to it but also a lot of fennel.

Next was dessert time. One companion ordered the cannoli because on the internet it said it came with candied fruit, yet when it came, there was no candied fruit to be found. When our waiter was asked about it we were told that they never got around to changing the menu on line.

Another companion ordered the Tiramisu and enjoyed it and another ordered the Lemon Cello cake. For myself I had the Pistachio Gelato which was nice and creamy but a very large portion.

Inspection of the restrooms showed them to be immaculate and with nothing showing up under ultra violet light. 

The bill for 4 people came to $277 which with tip came to a grand total of $333.

3 stars for cleanliness and attentive wait staff. Perhaps my next review will be a bit better.

Native Grill and Wings

 7273 North 95th Avenue
Glendale, AZ 85305
(623) 877-4500

Companion and I arrived at 5:00 to meet up with a group of friends. Since we were early we decided to have a bite to eat. While this is not exactly a gourmet restaurant, being a sports bar we none the less expected normal service and reasonable food. Big mistakes on our part.

After waiting an interminable time at thew hostess station, we decided that we probably should seat ourselves. Selecting a table we seated ourselves and eventually a waitress came over for drink orders.

The menu is virtually all fast food and specializes in wings as well as pizza and sandwiches. We found a single entry for fish and chips and decided that it would be hard to mess that up. Wrong!

Our plates came out with burnt fish that was so hard that a fork could not penetrate it and fries that were flaccid. The only hope of eating the fish was to pick it up, grease and all and gnaw our way through it.

I have had fish and chips many times and this was the first time in my life that it was virtually impossible to cut it. Had our waitress stayed around we would have asked to have it recooked, but she disappeared and only reappeared after we finished the plates whereupon she asked how was the meal. We told her and she made the motions to reorder the food, but we were afraid to have another helping.

At this point I felt a need to visit the restroom. Filthy and disgusting are two words I would use to describe it. Picture attached. Paper towels all over and not cleaned. Urine on the floor and seat of the toilet, and a host of other unsavory things which I don't think should be published in this forum. 

1 star because I cannot give less that that. This restaurant needs to be visited by the health department.

Aloha Kitchen

2950 S Alma School Rd Ste 12 
Mesa, AZ 85210

Companion and I decided to drop in for a Hawaiian dinner. This is a small place that has been in the same place for many years. It has changed little over the years.

The menu is somewhat extensive and varied and has a fair amount of foods that you might get in a typical Hawaiian place on the big island.

Companion ordered the tempura shrimp and teriyaki chicken plate.

I ordered the fried shrimp and teriyaki chicken plate. As in the islands, plates come with 2 scoops of rice and a scoop of macaroni salad. 

Companion's tempura shrimp were very large and came with a dipping sauce while the chicken was all dark meat and had a small amount of teriyaki sauce on it.

My plate came with 5 decent sized fried shrimp (not all breading) and a dipping sauce for it also. As we both prefer dark meat chicken, that was a plus for us as it was nicely cooked and quite juicy.

Drinks were typical soft drinks though one could also choose from an assortment of island sodas and juices.

All orders are served on foam plates with plastic dinnerware.

Unfortunately, sanitation is not their forté. Not only does the health department not like their food handing, but to be honest, neither do I. The girls at the counter who also handle plates of food need training on how to handle food and sanitation. While we were there the girl with the black hair was observed to place her bare hands inside her pants and onto her butt cheeks. She then proceeded to remove them and serve food to another customer. This is a major violation of health code.

4 stars for decent food and nice portions, but deducting 1 star for poor sanitation.

Cholla Prime Steakhouse eval #2

We had reservations for 5:30 and were seated immediately. We were brought a basket of house baked bread and an amuse of a piece of steak.

Our meal began with an appetizer of slow smoked pork belly with a maple, honey and brown sugar glaze. As with the last time, it was excellent.

Between courses we were brought small glasses with a ball of raspberry sherbert as a palate cleanser.

Companion ordered the New York Strip Steak medium with sauteed mushrooms and garlic mashed potatoes. It was pronounced delicious. 

For myself, I ordered the rib steak (which was perfectly cooked), sauteed spinach w/garlic, and to share at the table a fresh off the cob corn casserole in a fennel cream and onion sauce which is to die for.

Topping off the meal was a chocolate cake with caramel sauce for companion and a creme brulee for myself along with a glass of  Grahams Port to wash it all down.

What an excellent dinner this was. If anything, the food has gotten even better since  my last review.

5 stars for excellent food, good service, good cleanliness.

Cocina Madrigal

Cocina Madrigal
4044 S 16th St 
Phoenix, AZ 85040

Companion and I had an early dinner here. We made reservations for 4:00 and when we arrived we managed to get the only parking space still free. Our reservation time was honored and we were seated immediately.

We were brought chips and dips right away and the salsa was so good i took a pint of it home with me. We also tried the habanero salsa which was well made and almost fruity in flavor but not in heat. This was the start of a really good meal.

Because we were driving, companion ordered a virgin margarita. This was the first one and was followed by another.

We ordered our main courses. Companion ordered the Al Pastor Tacos. While they are really good, next time companion will order them as lettuce cups to keep down the carbs.

For myself, I ordered the Al Pastor Burrito. I have seen babies that were smaller than my burrito! It was absolutely delicious but I could not finish it and took half of it home. While the rice was nothing exceptional the beans were first rate - toothy and with nice flavor and a sprinkle of cotija cheese on top.

Service was first rate. As a person who has reviewed restaurants around the world, I am used to good service, but this was truly exceptional. Servers literally ran from table to table taking care of customers. Our server Gabriella was fantastic. She was right there with anything we needed. I should mention that our food came out from the kitchen beautifully hot. It was obvious that it had just been made and was not sitting under heat lamps.

5 stars for outstanding food and service. Highly recommended.

Harlows Cafe

1021 W University

Tempe, 85281

Companion and I went for breakfast at Harlows Cafe early one morning and were surprised to find that it was packed. I've been in many other places for breakfast and they don't usually get so full at opening time, but this was an exception.

After perusing the menu, our wait person took our order. 

We started with cups of steaming hot delicious coffee. Everyone serves coffee, and a lot of it is bitter and poor, but this was really good. In addition, without having to ask for it we also were brought glasses of ice water.

Companion ordered a "short stack" of blueberry pancakes. I place it in quotes because their short stack was bigger than many regular stacks that have been served to me. It came with a cruette of maple syrup.

To say that these were terrific is an understatement. Loads of  big blueberries in a nice matrix of pancake.

Companion was not able to finish the plate!

I ordered Creamed Chipped Beef on Toast, alias SOS. It has been many years since I last had it and to be honest, this brought back memories of when I was a lot younger. Slightly salty in a nice cream sauce served over slices of toast with hash browns I almost had tears in my eyes.

The decoration of the place is very old fashioned with wood paneling on the walls and old time pictures hanging. Looking around at the others eating, revealed lots of people over 40 scarfing down big breakfasts. As soon as someone got up from their table, it was bussed, reset and another person sat down to enjoy a great breakfast.

Companion and I will be back again to try other items on the menu. This could easily become one of my favorite places to eat at.

Cleanliness was apparent and service was very good.

5 stars for excellent food, good service, and cleanliness.

 The Henry
4455 E Camelback
Phoenix, AZ  85018

Companion and I had reservations for 5:30. We were seated promptly in an area were I could watch the expeditor as well as most of the cooking and prep. 

Our wait person arrived fairly quickly and brought menus. Instead of bringing both a regular menu and a Restaurant Week menu she had to be asked for a Restaurant Week menu. 

Except for main dishes companion and I both ordered the same food. We started out with the Caesar Salad. Probably one of the worst interpretations of a Caesar Salad I have ever forced myself to eat. Barely dressed, the salad was dry and covered with a mountain of grated parmesan cheese that reminded me of Kraft! It would have been a whole lot nicer if it had some shaved parm on top and some actual dressing on the salad. The croutons were the best part of the salad.

For main courses, companion had the Bolognese, which was quite adequate. Personally I'd have liked a bit of tomato in it, but that is personal preference. The penne pasta was properly al dente. Companion could not finish the entire bowl that was served.

I had the Korean Skirt Steak. I had asked for it to be blue, but our waitress had no idea what I was asking for and I had to teach her. Not my job, but someone had to do it! The steak was cooked perfectly and had good flavor. It was served of a delicious fried rice medley.  I was barely able to finish the portion.

Next was dessert. We both ordered the bread pudding made with Warm Croissant bread, caramel ice cream and whiskey raisin sauce. I'd return if for no other reason than to have the dessert again. 

Sanitation was apparent. Silverware and dishes were spotless with a person inspecting each piece and wiping it by hand. Very nice.

Dings: This is yet another restaurant that serves serrated knives with steak. All they do is tear the fibers of the steak instead of cleanly cutting it.

The open kitchen concept as well as the brigade was interesting, but  I certainly did not enjoy seeing into their spice pantry which had a curtain to block it off but someone was too lazy to pull it. Restaurateurs need to be aware of things like this and have them taken care of. Patrons really don't want to see the back of house. 

I find myself on the edge between 3 and 4 stars. When that happens I will always give the higher star rating in the hopes that when I return for a second eval, which I will, that they will show that they deserve the higher rating.

4 stars

Cholla Prime Steakhouse

524 N 92nd St.
Scottsdale, AZ 85256

Companion and I had reservations for dinner at 5:30. Upon our arrival our waitress tried to seat us at a small table for two. Upon asking for a regular four top she quipped that we would have to leave by 7:00 because the table had a reservation for that time. We assured her that we would leave by then. Foodnote: When we left more than half the tables were still empty!

Our busser quickly brought out a nice basket of assorted breads including a wonderful whole grain cranberry walnut? bread along with sweet butter and pesto. We were off to a good start.

We shared a starter of Maple and Honey Glazed Pork Belly which was wonderful.

House Caesar Salads were next and were ice cold and served with shaved Parmesan cheese on top. Very good.

We were next brought a strawberry sherbet palate cleanser, which was delicious and reminded me of dining at Jean-Georges in New York by MOMA.

For the main course, we shared a huge (32 oz) Porterhouse Steak which was perfectly medium rare and came with a cup of Demi and a cup of Bearnaise Sauce. The Bearnaise was one of the few dings in the meal, as it had little flavor and nary a tarragon flavor to be found. The Demi was a nice touch and graced the top of the steak nicely.

We opted to purchase the Prime Sides, one of which was Lobster Mashed Potatoes which had nice chunks of lobster along with (I think) parmesan cheese. It was excellent.

The other Prime Side was the Sweet Corn Casserole which I could have eaten all night and into the next day. It was fresh and devine!

Desserts were a weak area with a limited menu. Companion ordered the Chocolate Caramel Bar, and left most of it on the plate.

I ordered the Crème Brulee which was properly made and literally covered in assorted fresh berries which I shared with companion.

A glass of Grahams finished off the dinner.

The table was bussed as needed and everything was immaculately clean.

5 stars for excellent food, reasonable prices, and a good busser that deserves a raise.

Andreoli's Italian Grocer

8880 E Via Linda 
Scottsdale, AZ 85258

We went to Andreoli's for lunch today and as far as I am concerned, I had lunch in Calabria! Only thing missing was a bocce ball court.
The place is small, but it is made up for with the food and wonderful service.
I ordered a Porchetta Sandwich and companion ordered an Antipasto Plate. We were given a nice table in the middle of the room, and shortly after sitting down next to a large party all speaking Italian, we were brought a small but exceedingly delicious basket of bread and some nice olive oil to dip it in. Mind you that I have eaten in Italian restaurants all around the world, and a lot of them don't even think of giving you a bread basket.
The Porchetta was perfect, and came on a homemade Italian Bread petite loaf that was divine. Also on the plate as a lovely fresh green salad which had  oak leaf, red leaf, arugula, and other greens with a very homemade oil and vinegar dressing that was perfect.
Companions plate was a beautiful combination of several assorted meats and cheeses as well as a number of other items and was pronounced delicious.
The restaurant is stocked with true Italian products, as they are just about all written with Italian instructions! Hard to find items such as small buckets of Lupini beans and Anchovies in hot spices as well as many types of pastas adorn the shelves. They also carry a number of fresh made and frozen pastas which are made on the premises. Among items in the cold cases were homemade Coppa as well as homemade Pancetta. Among the dessert case are wonderful cakes including a magnificent Pistachio cake like no other that I have ever seen.
While the decor is not the most romantic, it is more than made up for with the wonderful food and the excellent service. Sanitation was excellent with tables being bussed as soon as the diners left.
I want to go back as soon as tomorrow to try some of the other items they make such as their Pasta dishes with homemade sauces, and their legendary Pizza. I'd also like to try their Carpaccio as well as their fresh made Burrata.
The easiest 5 stars I have ever given out!

I'm almost afraid to post this review because I'd love to keep this place quiet and all to myself.

Opa Life Greek Cafe

227 E Baseline Road

Tempe, AZ  85283

We arrived for dinner without reservations at 5:30. While the restaurant was busy, they had an available table. Every table outside was taken and most of those inside were also, especially one with a party of  about 16.

Our waiter was Christian, and he was terrific. A whirlwind on his feet, almost running from table to table.

We started with appetizers. I had the Avgolemono soup which I can only describe as comfort in a bowl. One of my companions had the Calamari which was nicely cooked with very light  breading. Another companion ordered the Tzatziki which came with a nice portion of fresh pitas to dip in it. 

Main courses came next with one of my companions ordering the meat lovers wrap (Gyro meat, Grilled Chicken, Bacon, and assorted veggies in a tomato basil wrap). Another companion ordered the Garlic Shrimp Pasta (A garlic lovers dream). For myself, I ordered a half order of  Souvlaki lamb with a Greek salad. Probably the best Greek salad I have eaten and the lamb done to perfection.

We decided to share desserts. First was the Baklava Cheesecake. My considered guess is that it was somewhere near 8000 calories, but it was magnificent. Next was Loukoumades (deep fried donut holes with vanilla bean ice cream, cinnamon, honey, whipped cream, fresh strawberries, chopped walnuts and another 8000 calories!)

Our waiter kept our glasses topped off, and was there for our every need. I have eaten in much more expensive restaurants with much worse service. He is a gem!

The premises are clean, crowded, and yet service is great.

5 stars for great food, great service, and cleanliness.

Highly Recommended

Benihana

3025 W Chandler Blvd
Chandler, AZ 85226

Our reservation was for 6:30 and was honored on time. The restaurant was full and was very noisy. Our table was in the very back and we were told that it was not a table that is usually used. We found the area temperature to be quite cold and asked to have it turned up. After a while a somewhat disheveled manager with his tie in all directions except the correct one showed up and said he turned the temp up.

 

Orders were taken and that was the last we saw of our wait person for some time. He eventually showed up and told us that he had to check out another table which took a long time. Salads were brought, all exactly the same with a dollop of unidentifiable dressing on top and the bottom swimming in water.

After an unknown span of time, the show started, with the first thing being that our cook forgot to bring eggs and had to ask for someone to bring them to him. 

Appetizers were brought from the kitchn for those who ordered them. I ordered the soft shell crab, and it was nicely cooked though the dipping sauce could have used a bit of thought in its preparation. Companion ordered gyoza's, which showed up just at the same time as the main course. The other companions ordered tempura and sushi all of which arrived at the exact same time requiring the rest of us to move our plates over to make room for the burgeoning load of dishes.]

There did not seem to be any order or direction to how the meals were cooked. It appeared that the cooking of the chicken fried rice was of great importance while main courses waited. The cook tried too chat with us but the place was so noisy that it was often difficult to hear what he had to say. Two of the people at our table should not have been allowed in according to the "official" dress code of Benihana. The man came to the table in a sweat shirt and pants and the lady insisted on playing loud games on her phone. If your going to have rules than enforce them of get rid of them.

My main course was the spicy shrimp. They were nicely cooked and came with 2 pieces of pepper and that is all. The rice which I had ordered never came and was never served.

Companion ordered the Steak Yakisoba, and was the last to be served at the table. It wasn't even started cooking until everyone else was served.

After the entire table of 8 was finished our cook served an appetizer as well as a pile of onions and mushrooms to everyone. It seemed a bit out of order, since we were all mostly finished eating and the appetizer shows up!

Finally, we were offered dessert of ice cream or sherbert. This was one of the highlights of the meal.

Inspection of the bathrooms showed them to be badly in need of attention and cleaning. Sanitation at our table left a bit to be desired as plates were not bussed until there were piles of them.

To say that I was disappointed in the dinner is putting it mildly. This was a birthday celebration which turned into a partial disaster. When I spend $240 for dinner for 4 I expect a lot better than I got.

2 stars and that's all.

Koreatown - 3rd Review

Koreatown
1832 W Broadway Rd.
Mesa, AZ 85202

I am so happy to report that Koreatown has done a complete turn around as well as an all new interior. It is now set up for Korean BBQ with tables being able to cook their own food. The decor is outstanding, and the food has improved so very much.

Companion and I came to eat Korean Fried Chicken, and were not in the slightest disappointed. A large pile of succulent, crackling fried chicken pieces perfectly cooked. We ordered half with garlic and half with gochujang and were not in the slightest disappointed. Wonderful flavors assailed our taste buds. 

Our banchan was up to usual standards with the Daikon as usual being terrific as well as the Kimchi. New items have been added to the banchan and were a welcome invitation to nibble.

Our drinks were not on the menu, but were produced upon our asking - Barley and Corn water, which is wonderful with the rest of the meal.

Our meal was excellent and of course, we will be returning to try the new BBQ menu. The owner informs me that they are bringing on a third chef and will be redoing the menu, removing non popular items and perhaps offering some new items as well.

The place was spotless, well lit, and well ventilated so that the smoke from the BBQ was removed immediately.

The turnaround is so complete that I have re-evaluated my thoughts and am taking them back up to 5 stars for the best Korean Fried Chicken I have ever eaten. 

Great food, Great Cleanliness, Pleasant people. 

Highly Recommended

The Keg - 2nd Review

The Keg - 2nd Review

23 S. McClintock Drive

Tempe, AZ  85281

The Keg was last reviewed by me on 12/22/2016. My review at that time was mixed with the service being good and the food review being mixed.

I returned to The Keg on 12/20/2021 and reviewed it again. In all honesty, I can't say I saw any improvement and if anything, it has gone downhill.

We were seated immediately and our waitress came over after a bit of time and gave her introduction. We informed her that this was a birthday celebration to which she gave a perfunctory nod and promptly forgot about it.

Companion and I ordered the garlic shrimp to start. It was served in an escargot dish and had more cheese than any other seasoning on it. On the plus side it arrived still sizzling on the plate.

We next both ordered the bone in rib steak, which is usually noted for its fine flavor and texture. The steak would pass as USDA grade good, but certainly not choice. The seasoning was spot on, mne was served blue, and not close to rare as I had ordered it.

We also ordered the cream corn for two, which had excellent flavor and a little spice from chile's. My personal preference would have been a thicker sauce or a bit less of it, however, that is my personal preference. Unfortunately, it came with the appetizer and had to be sent back to be remade for the main dish. I am not sure if it was actually remade or was reheated and served again.

My dish came with fresh vegetables, which unlike the last time I visited were a vast improvement in flavor and freshness.

Unfortunately, our waitress was in dire need of training. I had to call the manager over to clear the table because no one else would clear it. Our waitress came to our table and said she would get us refills, but it was late in the meal before they showed up.

Next was dessert, or lack thereof. Companion ordered the Billy Miner Pie, which is a signature dessert of The Keg chain. The waitress came back and told us that they were out of their signature dessert. I ordered carrot cake. The waitress came back and told us that they were out of carrot cake. In frustration, I asked what they did have and was offered creme brulee. The creme brulee was properly made, but would have been so much nicer with the addition of some berries as many high end restaurants serve theirs.Alas, no berries were to be found.

We asked for our check, and the first one to arrive was $159.00. When it was questioned, the waitress took it to the manager who took off the two desserts. Next, we reminded her that this was a birthday and back again to the manager to take off the cost of one dinner. After perusing the new bill, we found that the rib steak which is on the menu for $45.00 was marked up to $54.00. There was no notice on the menu or from the waitress that the price of the steak was higher even though it was on the menu at a lower price. Yet another trip to the manager reduced the price of the steaks to $45.00. Final bill was $87.56.

Dings - First and foremost our waitress Destiny should not be allowed to wait on customers. In all my years as a critic I have never had such poor service.

Second, the restaurant needs to find a new meat purveyor. Either they are trying to pass off lower grade steaks as high end, or the meat purveyor is not giving them what they think they are getting.

Cudos - Unlike many other steak houses they give you a real steak knife (not serrated) to cut your meat with. Unfortunately, the steak knife is placed on the butter plate and the butter knife is with the fork and spoon.

3 stars bordering on 2 stars