Ms J Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 I'll be in Pheonix all next week. I expect I'll spend most of my time cooped up in extremely long presentations, but is there anywhere I ought to go to eat? Um...anyone? 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GavinJones Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 I am now irritating myself as unable to stop humming 'By the time I get to Phoenix'. And how about recommendations for lunch in Alburquerque? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rail Paul Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 I'd describe both Arizona and New Mexico as "the southwest" relative to US geography. It's considered a grevious sin by many residents to link either with California, though. Our regional sales guy has mentioned Mezcal (7122 E Greenway in Scottsdale) as good Mexican food, though expensive by local prices. With large mexican populations, both Phoenix and Scottsdale have an abundance of hole in the wall tacquerias. According to OpenTable, Mezcal is located in the Kierland Commons Mall. (That's pretty usual in AZ, by the way) The upscale places in the Phoenix area are often in the very upscale hotels and resorts. Mary Elaine's at the Phoenecian, there's a guy at the Ventana canyon (Theriault?) who's been well written. Phoenix also has a beer brewing pub culture. There are two IN the airport, for example. There are a number of brew-pubs, I recall Coyote Springs to have good food and a wide array of beers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ms J Posted July 23, 2004 Author Share Posted July 23, 2004 Thanks Rail Paul. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Orik Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 I've seen many positive reviews of Pizza Bianco. http://www.digitalcity.com/phoenix/enterta...e.adp?vid=63389 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Aaron T Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 I emailed a friend who is in Phoenix for the summer and she recommended Bloom, (menu available on website link) a new American restaurant, in nearby Scottsdale. She particulalrly enjoyed the salmon. Also from the James Beard website from march 2003, PhoenixBeard Award winner Janos Wilder (Janos) has put his stamp on the new Kai restaurant in the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa. Chef de cuisine Sandy Garcia executes consulting chef Wilder's brand of sophisticated Southwestern flavors, such as lobster tail fry bread, and steak with red chile butter | In Scottsdale, Bradford Thompson (ex-db bistro moderne, NYC) has replaced James Boyce as chef of Mary Elaine's restaurant at The Phoenician. " Also from the Beard site is a feature on Pizzeria Bianco, whose chef won their award as best chef in the Southwest. Pizzeria Bianco info Details: 623 E Adams St Phoenix, AZ 85004-2334 Phone: (602) 258-8300 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Aaron T Posted July 26, 2004 Share Posted July 26, 2004 Another friend staying in Phoenix got back to me and said that it is difficult to find a restaurant there that is not a chain. He recomended Tarbell's, where he had an excellent Kobe steak. Their website is Tarbells site. Good luck in Phoenix Miss J! The lack of non-chain restaurants in the 6th largest city in America is disheartening! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
beachfan Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 Pizza Bianco is excellent. Mary Elaines is very good and super pricey. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Liza Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 Gavin, Do you still need lunch recs for Albuquerque? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GavinJones Posted July 28, 2004 Share Posted July 28, 2004 No, thankyou, as I am already past oklahoma. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Aaron T Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 So how was Arizona Miss J? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ms J Posted August 9, 2004 Author Share Posted August 9, 2004 Well Aaron, I worked far too hard out there and so didn't see (or eat) as much as I would have liked. I also spent much of the time out in Scottsdale, which limited the geography of my eating as I didn't have access to a car. Overall: 1. My most impressive meal was steak. I had a fabulously charred black & blue hunk of sirloin with garlic mash and tenderly grilled asparagus. Everything was simple, pared down, and perfect. The meat was exceptionally fine, the service was outstanding, and they had very good cognac for after. Altogether pleasant. 2. The worst meal was a Hawaiian fusion dinner at a restaurant called Roy's in our ridiculously luxurious (and green) desert resort hotel. I had butterfish in a soy-miso sauce, and it was as sweet and cloyingly rich as anything imaginable. I stuck to quaffing a raspberryish New Zealand rose, which our charming young waiter insisted on pronouncing without the accent. 3. Coffee (filter) was always good. I didn't even miss espresso. 4. Homefries. I'd missed them. And real maple syrup as well, although I have enough stashed away in the UK to keep the withdrawal symptoms from setting in. Next time I want to find some real Mexican (or at least some quality Tex Mex - my forays in this area were both disappointing), try Pizza Bianca, and eat more cactus-based products. Oh, and drive for a long time. I'd forgotten how big the sky can be over there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rail Paul Posted August 10, 2004 Share Posted August 10, 2004 2. The worst meal was a Hawaiian fusion dinner at a restaurant called Roy's in our ridiculously luxurious (and green) desert resort hotel. I had butterfish in a soy-miso sauce, and it was as sweet and cloyingly rich as anything imaginable. I stuck to quaffing a raspberryish New Zealand rose, which our charming young waiter insisted on pronouncing without the accent. Roy's is part of a chain which originated in Hawaii, there are perhaps 15 of them, mostly in upscale, business expense account places. Not distinguished in any way, as far as I can tell. Water is a huge issue in the deserts of the southwest. Phoenix's golf courses soak up an incredible amount of water, and their evaporation, combined with the automotive pollutants, makes a horrible stew in the summer atmosphere. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rose Posted August 10, 2004 Share Posted August 10, 2004 1. My most impressive meal was steak. Ruth's Chris? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ngatti Posted August 10, 2004 Share Posted August 10, 2004 While we're talkin' AZ, I'm planning atrip to Tucson in the next two months. Might there be anything to eat *there*? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.