The Horny Toad Restaurant Cave Creek

When out of town relations arrive from all corners of the world, it’s time to treat them to one of the unique Arizona dining experiences. The Horny Toad in Cave Creek provides an entertaining and humorous adventure.

What's a horny toad? According to their website at http://www.thehornytoad.com/ “(Somebody always gets in a nasty chuckle). Maybe to easterners, it's a frog anxiously awaiting an answer to a mating call. Some other innocent soul might visualize a frog with spikes. Well, they are answers, however wrong, but a man named Webster put in a lot of research and when he publicized his book telling what things meant, he came up with "...any of several, small, scaly insect-eating lizards of the family Iguanidae, genus Phrynosoma, whose body somewhat resembles that of a toad or frog. The body is rough, the tail short, the head furnished with horny spikes. Several species inhabit the arid plains of the southwest U.S...." We named our restaurant after this much-maligned desert dweller after hearing the Truly Forgettable Saga of the Horny Toad. Sometime during the last century, an old prospector working the area a few miles northeast of the little town of Phoenix, Arizona, came upon a small watering hole. He thought to himself that this here was mighty purty scenery and he'd bet them easterners would give an arm and a leg for some of this property. They could build them some roads and put up funny names on the street signs and everybody'd be carefree, even if they had to live in caves and drink from the creek. Unpacking his burro, he ate the wrapped tortilla prepared by the Mexican cook back in Phoenix before he unloaded his donkey. As he sat stirring the campfire, he noticed the ruckus the frogs over on the other side of the pond made with their mating calls. They sure sound anxious, he thought to himself. His aching feet reminded him not to buy any more of those 2 for $5.00 boots. As he eased the boots off to soak his tired feet, he saw the many calluses they had given him and he said to himself, I sure am getting horny toed.”
Okay if that story doesn’t convince you maybe the menu will do the trick! Prices vary from time to time. Lunch prices range from $5.25 to $12.95. Dinner prices range from $7.95 to $24.95. Don’t expect anything fancy or frilly. It’s just good old plain western style BBQ and café fare.
Taco Salad (Beef or Chicken), Chef’s Salad, Horny Toad Chicken Salad, Caesar Salad or Chicken Caesar or a Vegetarian Plate all served with pretty darn good “Homemade Dressings” including Blue Cheese, Ranch, Eye-talian, Honey Sesame, and 999 Island. All Salad Dressings & BBQ Sauce can be purchased for Take-Out.
Their list of “OTHER STUFF” includes Soup de Joor, (don’t know if that’s the same as de Jour), Tacos, Cheese Crisp, Hot Wings or BBQ Wings, Saute' o' Mushrooms, Jalapeno Poppers, and their own award winning recipe Chili. And try the Onion Rings, Basket of Fries, Deep Fried Zucchini or Mushrooms, Garlic Bread, Baked Spud, or Cowboy Beans.
For an entrée you might enjoy BBQ Beef Ribs with all you can eat on Monday Nite! They are tender and tasty and you’ll want to bring a big appetite. BBQ Baby Back Pork Ribs, BBQ 1/2 Chicken, their “Famous Fried Chicken”, Pork Chops, Carne Asada, Deep Fried Icelandic Cod with all you can eat on Fridays! Or try Broiled Icelandic Cod, Camarones, Steak & Camarones, Choice Mexican Shrimp, Fajitas, 16 oz. Porterhouse Steak, 12 oz. New York Strip Steak, 8 oz. TOP Sirloin Steak, 12 oz. Ribeye, Toad Cut Prime Rib, Toadette Cut Prime Rib, Mesquite Grilled Salmon or Homemade Meatloaf.
Their Mesquite-cooked 1/2 lb Burgers are great with selections including Horny Toad Burger, Tiajuana Torpedo and Patty Melt as well as a standard burger.
For lunch you might enjoy a sandwich of BBQ Pork, BBQ Beef, BBQ Chicken Sandwich, or a Fish Sandwich. They also have Ham Bun, Grilled Cheddar Cheese, Grilled Ham & Cheese, French Dip, Reuben, Cold Turkey, B.L.T. and B.L.T.C.T. (cheese & turkey).
They also have a children’s menu and great desserts.
So far I haven’t made many comments about the food beyond listing the options and they are many. Over the last decade I have sampled almost everything on the menu above and have enjoyed every single bite. I can’t say I have ever walked away unsatisfied from any meal and there have been many at the Horny Toad. I haven’t commented about the preparation because there is straight forward and delicious. You won’t find unusual or exotic items, just good food well prepared and served happily!
When looking for a place to take the relatives while sightseeing, drop by the Horny Toad and treat them to a Cave Creek legend. And tell them the Cowgirl Connoisseur sent you. 6738 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, Arizona 85331 Phone: 480-488-9542, Fax: 480-488-3270, E-Mail: info@thehornytoad.com.