La Piazza Al Forno Gourmet Brick Oven Pizzeria and Italian Kitchen

Dining Review
By LeeAnn Sharpe

La Piazza Al Forno Gourmet Brick Oven Pizzeria and Italian Kitchen, 5803 W. Glendale Ave., in Historic Downtown Glendale. 623-847-3301 Hours Mon-Thur Lunch 11am-3pm Dinner 5pm-8pm, Fri-Sat 11am-9pm Select Sundays. Website: www.lapiazzaalforno.blogspot.com

Their menu states, “Our passion is crafting delicious Italian meals using simple time honored recipes… Just like the original Pizzerias and Trattorias of Italy, La Piazza is a place for friends and family to gather for good food.”

It was just by chance that my friends and I ended up at La Piazza. But what a fortuitous chance that was. Just south of Murphy Park at 58th Ave & Glendale, it’s tucked away in an almost hidden store front. The food was excellent and the people very friendly. And the prices were very moderate with generous portions.

We all started off with a side salad of mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cheese and cucumbers with a nice Italian dressing, $3. A basket of Italian Bread was $1.50. They offer a short beer and wine list. We had a nice house red wine $5.25 glass. They also offer Calamari $7, Shrimp $7, and Bruschette $3 for Appetizers and a good variety of salads as well.

My favorite has always been Chicken Marsala and its one dish I always compare at any new Italian restaurant. The Chicken Marsala is a grilled chicken breast topped with mushrooms in a Marsala Wine Sauce with a side of pasta $10. It was delicious and large enough serving to make two meals. It made a great lunch the next day!

Spaghetti with Marinara Sauce $7 or with Meatballs or Italian Sausage $9, both were tasty and filling. My friend is sensitive to too spicy foods, but enjoyed the meatballs saying they were just right. Just like Momma used to make! Another had the Italian Sausage and was very pleased with the taste and texture. Some places are too greasy, but these were perfect and flavorful.

The menu offers Ravioli $8, Parmigiano $8, Scampi $12, Linguine $10, Rigatoni $10, Lasagna $9, and Fettuccine Alfredo $8, as you would expect from any respectable Italian restaurant. They offer a selection of sandwiches including Meatball $6, Sausage & Peppers $6 and The Godfather $6.

But saving the best for last, you have to try their pizza! The wood fueled brick oven pizza brings you back to the classic pizza of years past. The crust has texture, volume and flavor to it and is crispy and tasty. Fresh ingredients like mozzarella, ricotta, basil and garlic generously top a pie you can pick up in your hand and feel some weight. They offer a nice menu of “Specialty Pizzas” with a wide selection of traditional (not designer) toppings for only $11 for the 14” to $17 for the 16”. If you want a pizza with real taste, check this one out. It’s a real treat after too many plastic and cardboard tasting pizzas the chains serve up. Now that I’m spoiled for good pizza, it will have to be La Piazza’a!

A family operation, La Piazza Al Forno owned by the Piazzas, (Justin, Rachel, Dennis, Anita and the kids), will make you enjoy family dinners out without breaking the bank and in an atmosphere you will feel comfortable. And the food will make you smile as much as the company!
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Satisfied Frog Restaurant Dining Review

Dining Review Satisfied Frog Restaurant

by Cowgirl Connoisseur

Satisfied Frog at Frontier Town
6245 E. Cave Creek Rd., Cave Creek, AZ 85331
http://www.satisfiedfrog.biz/ (480) 488-3317

I’ve been going to the Satisfied Frog in Cave Creek for years. And yes, I heard all about the change in ownership when the previous owner didn’t pay his bills. Sad that it happens, but when he didn’t have the bucks to pay the staff or maintain the property, its best he left and let someone who can take care of it take over. I would hate to lose the Satisfied Frog because it is such a landmark in Cave Creek. So hurray and good luck to the new management!

Some people say it’s the atmosphere. Others say it was the waitresses legs. I always liked the popcorn machine at the door. But more than anything it has always been the food. When you sit down to eat you want a good quality delicious meal and that’s what has impressed me the most at the Satisfied Frog. It’s always good food.

Lunch time I enjoy the Taco Salad $8.99, the Chicken Quesadilla $8.99, the Pulled Pork $9.99, a Burger $8.99 or Brisket Sandwiches $9.99. And there is soup that is to die for! The Southwestern Corn Chowder is world famous! The Soup/Salad Bar ($9.99 or $2.99 added to any entrée) is great with the best Vegetable Beef Soup you can find anywhere!

For dinner the Steaks and Prime Rib (market price) are great but my favorite is the ribs! Of course they come with all the extras of your choice of potato, vegetables and salad. They also have this Ultimate Chow Wagon, sort of a sampler platter if you can’t make up your mind. It’s Beef Ribs, Brisket and Smoked Chicken ($15.99) all on one plate with Coleslaw, Beans and Bread. You can upgrade to Pork Ribs for $3 additional. They have a special smoker bbq out back that makes the best bbq around.

My daughter and her friends make the Satisfied Frog their destination for every special occasion. They get the giant margarita to share and always have a great time. You can’t beat the atmosphere for a fun gathering.

Frontier Town, where Satisfied Frog is located, has two bars, a bunch of novelty stores, a wedding chapel and the restaurant. The entire complex is built around a Western theme with rugged pine interiors and splashes of modern-day neon and quirky art and signs. It keeps the dining experience interesting as diners catch a humorous quote on one of the signs and their entire table gets a light hearted giggle. A blend of road-tripping families, tourists, locals who know where to get a good meal and newlyweds make up the clientele. Special events bring in big crowds and the crew at the Satisfied Frog are always up to the challenge.
4th of July Fireworks, NASCAR Sundays, "Chicago Cubs" Headquarters for the ball games on TV, the Annual Fiesta Days Rodeo & Parade in April and the Annual Wild West Days in November are a few of the annual events you can find the place hopping.
After lunch or dinner take a stroll through all of the little shops like Glory Bee for great southwest apparel at fabulous prices. And Suzanne’s Hot Stuff for some spicy treats to take home. Jewelry, leather, souvenirs and more are available in the many shops. There’s even a barber shop and beauty salon. So next time you are looking for an adventure and a good meal, check out the Satisfied Frog at Frontier Town. The do weddings and banquets there too!

The Black Bear Diner Dining Review

The Black Bear Diner
By Cowgirl Connoisseur Dining Review

There once was a time when you went to a diner for a meal and found good solid nutritious food in hearty portions and as delicious as Mom’s cooking. Not many of those places survive in the modern fast paced world.

If you yearn for a diner of yesteryear, mosey into The Black Bear Diner. They have two locations in north Glendale at 6039 W. Bell Rd., Glendale, AZ 85306, (602) 843-1921 and in Phoenix, at 2410 W. Bell Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85023, (602) 298-2671. The franchise, out of Mt. Shasta, California, says they have 35 Diners and are still growing! Other Arizona locations include Bullhead City, Goodyear, and Lake Havasu City.
Their menu is an old-time newspaper with stories about local events in the past. On my last visit I enjoyed the California Scramble $7.69 for breakfast. It’s scrambled eggs with avocado, spinach, tomato, onion, and jack cheese. It came with potatoes (your choice of hash browns or diced) and bread (your choice of toast or biscuit). The waitress asked about how you liked everything cooked – regular or crispy. The biscuit was the biggest fluffiest most delicious I’ve ever eaten. And the eggs were fabulous!
Others in my party had the Ham and Eggs $7.69 with pancakes, Hungry Man Steak and Eggs $9.99 and another had the Pancakes Mama Bear stack $4.69. Everyone had too much to eat and couldn’t finish their plates. Servings are extra generous and delicious.
The menus for lunch and dinner are both so extensive and economically priced, you are sure to find what you like. Lunch menu sandwiches are generally about $7.99 and dinner averages about $11.99. A large Senior Menu is mostly about $7.99 for dinners.
Their menu notes they have been trans fat free at all locations fo the last 3 years. Their menu says good old fashioned comfort food. And everything on the menu looks very comforting to me!
The décor includes extra large deep booths and tables where you won’t feel cramped even if your hubby is a double X. And there are stuffed bears everywhere to compliment the pine and rough wood trim. Two giant sleeping bears in the reception area are said to wake up and hug patrons on occasion. It’s a family friendly very comfortable place. Jason and his staff did a good job to make us all feel welcome and happy to return.
They have a website at www.blackbeardiner.com with a gift shop.

Longhorn Saloon and Grill

What were you doing on Friday night May 30th? If you were not at the Longhorn Saloon and Grill, then whatever you were doing you were doing it in the wrong place. The Longhorn Saloon and Grill is the new "In" place in the West Valley. It is family owned and operated withfive star roots that reach into some of the best New York restaurants. Maybe even one or two highlighted in the long running television series and just released movie.

Chef Charles Steppe and his brother Chris opened their restaurant the first part of this year but on the 30th they held a ribbon cutting to celebrate their becoming members of the Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce one of the fasts growing chambers in the West Valley. Chris and Charles and their mother Nancy Tuatagaloa welcomed David Lewis President/CEO of the Surprise Chamber along with a large number of Chamber members, and Youngtown Mayor Michael LeVault and Councilmember Dorena Mello and several other Councilmembers to the Longhorn. Three generations of the family Chris, Nancy and Shay (the chef's daughter) took part in the ribbon cutting. Charles was busy in the kitchen preparing the feast for their guests. Included in this were hamburger and pulled pork sliders, fried mushrooms, chicken croquettes, pigs-in-a-blank, stuffed pasta and fruit, all in large quantities, no one left hungry. If you missed the events of the 30th including Emil Flaim the pianist/singer who entertained everyone throughout the evening, you can enjoy the Longhorn for lunch and dinner throughout the week in their sports bar, lounge or dinning room.

The Longhorn Saloon and Grill is located at 13232 N. 111th Ave., just South of Grand in Youngtown. For all who have no idea of where Youngtown is, the town of just over 6,000 is located on the Agua Fria River in the West Valley, South of Grand Ave., and just West of Sun City. Nearby attractions include the Bradshaw Mountains, Lake Pleasant Regional Park and the University of Phoenix Stadium. Youngtown still enjoys the tranquil, small town feel while providing residents with five parks, its own police force, a library, clubhouse, a lake, beautiful sunsets and wildlife. The town is a vibrant mix of young singles, families, professionals, blue collar and retirees, and is close to all the great shopping, entertainment, art and work locations in the West Valley. The next time your looking for a great meal in a relaxed atmosphere just head over to the Longhorn Saloon and Grill, it's worth the gas. If you would like information on their live entertainment, specials or just need directions call 623-933-6023.

Photo:
On the left in the cowboy hat is the well known Arizona Dude who partook in the celebration at the invitation of Panorama Hills Monthly. On the right in the suite is David Lewis President/CEO of the Surprise Chamber. And in the center cutting the ribbon is Nancy with her son Chris and her granddaughter Shay.

Glendale Carvers Steak & Chops Dining Review

Glendale Carvers Steak & Chops,
8172 W. Bell Road, Glendale, 623-412-0787
www.paragonsteak.com
By LA Sharpe

When the occasion calls for an extra special dinner, such as Mother’s or Father’s Day, I would suggest Glendale Carvers Steak & Chops, 8172 W. Bell Road, (in front of Best Buy) Glendale, 623-412-0787. Prime rib is the house specialty but they have an extensive and impressive menu. Prices range from $20-$30.

Carvers is opening an hour early at 11 a.m. for Mother's Day. You can order off the menu or from the chef's Mother's Day menu that will offer a fish, steak or combo special. Reservations are encouraged.

The ambiance is relaxed upscale with plenty of private rooms for those special intimate parties.

To start we nibbled on the Calamari Fritti, lightly fried with sweet red peppers and onion drizzled with ancho chili mayonnaise $9.95. Yummy. Just the right taste to set the appetite on fire. A companion had the French Onion Soup au Gratin $5.00 which I sampled and enjoyed the deep rich flavor without being salty as many onion soups can be.

I especially enjoyed the Filet Mignon Carver’s Cut $26, their most tender cut, with Sherried Mushrooms $5.00. The Filet is served with salad and potato. From the wide range of choices I selected the spinach salad with honey mustard dressing that was to die for delicious. You have your choice of garlic, au gratin, baked or French fries for the potato. I took the backed loaded and it was perfection. They also offer rice pilaf or vegetables.

My friend had the Prime Rib Carver’s Cut $29. They say it is award winning finest Midwestern beef with a herb crusted slow roasted overnight to ensure the most tender prime rib available. It is wonderful, tender and juicy as it should be.

Dessert was the Chocolate Oblivion $6.00 which I hope left me oblivious to the calories. It was enough to share with my dining partner leaving us both satisfied. Coffee to keep me awake after this delicious meal.

I should mention we finished off three bottles of wine between the four of us. A nice list to choose from and our waiter was very good at making recommendations. Their list allows by the glass or bottle and plenty of general wine information. You can view the list online prior to your visit to expedite selections.

They also offer chicken and seafood which I may try on another visit… haw.. the steaks are too good! I would highly recommend Carver’s in Glendale to anyone looking for a fine dining experience. The service was exceptional and the food perfection.

Carvers is part of the Paragon chain. From its modest beginning with the Jolly Ox Restaurant in San Diego in 1967, Paragon Steakhouse Restaurants, Inc., has grown into one of the country's leading steakhouse operators. Paragon prides itself in a commitment to hospitality, quality, service, and of course, steaks and prime rib. While Paragon's brands range from the upscale, classic American steakhouse to the more accessible sit-down dinner house, the company is best known for serving quality, award-winning choice steaks and prime ribs. The group also included the Hungry Hunter, The Whaling Company and Mountain Jack restaurants.

Skeptical Chymist Dining Review

Skeptical Chymist

by the Cowgirl Connoisseur
Skeptical Chymist, is located on the east side of the Sonoran Village at Frank Lloyd Wright backing to the Pima 101 access road. It's hidden back in a corner of the shopping area and well worth the search once found! Entering you are taken to a turn of the century (early 1900's) Irish pub/apothecary. Dark woods and dim light embrace you; a welcome relief from the summer sun and heat. Cabinets filled with hundreds of little drawers,glassed shelves of antique apothecary jars and interesting artifacts that you can imagine would be found in a chymists shoppe in county Cork Ireland, as many were purchased in Ireland. In times gone by, often a pharmacy or grocery would double as a pub. Customers would tend to take a Guinness or whiskey to relieve their flagging spirits as they came to purchase their provisions. Your apothecarists or "chymists" would fix you up quick as a wink and customers left feeling fine.
The name, Skeptical Chymist, came from a book written by Robert Boyle, The Sceptical Chymist, published in 1661. Boyle was born at Lismore Castle, Munster, Ireland, the 14th child of the Earl of Cork. He was committed to the "New Philosophy", which valued observation and experiment at least as much as logical thinking in formulating accurate scientific understanding and played a key role in founding the Royal Society to nurture this new view of science. That's pretty much science as we know it today.
So much for the name. Skeptical Chymist claims to be Arizona's first Irish owned and managed, traditional Irish pub. Owners have operated Fibber Magees in Chandler (Phoenix New Times "Best Irish Pub" 2003, 2004, 2005), for years. Guinness, Harp and Smithwick's as well as an impressive list of Irish whiskeys are on hand.
As far as filling your belly. Try the "Harp Beer Battered Fish and Chips" our waitress says is their most popular item. It's a 10 oz filet of northern Pacific Cod in homemade Harp batter, served with thick cut chips and mushy peas. Tarter sauce, mild vinegar and ketchup served on the side. $12.95 at lunch or dinner. Delicious and filling. The thick cut chips add up to a whole large potato! The mushy peas had a good flavor and consistency and I was surprised to enjoy. A crisp Pear Guinness was delightful and light to wash it all down!
My companion tried the Peppercorn crusted 10 oz filet mignon served with a jameson, three peppercorn sauce or cashel blue and horse radish sauce, caramelized onions and mushrooms, served with champ or whiskey scalloped potatoes and fresh vegetables at $21.95. He says it was as good a filet as he has ever had, and I can tell you he's had a lot! All was served hot and timely. Our server was there when needed and very efficient and delightful. Colcannon Cakes are an Irish favorite. Pan fried served with savoury sour cream and tomato compote. Guinness Beef Stew of top sirloin and root vegetable braised Guinness gravy while great on a cold winter day didn't seem appealing while the temps are still triple digit. Neither did the Shephard's Pie (not the traditional lamb of a true Shephard's Pie) of lean minced beef and diced vegetables in a savoury gravy topped with champ and melted cheese. We shall to try these on return once the temps leave us needing a warming up meal.

Also on the menu Guinness mustard encrusted pork tenderloin stuffed with spinach and Irish bacon rashers, drizzled in Strongbow apple cider reduction for $15.95, Curry brushed grilled Lamb chops, served with an apricot, honey and tarragon sauce $19.95, Grilled Salmon over saiteed spinach, covered with their own Guinness hollandaise sauce $14.95, and Char grilled Tuna steak accompanied by a roast spring onion and tomato relish $18.95 or Seafood pasta medley of cockles, mussels, shrimp and cod simmered in a white wine garlic broth with tomato, served over bow tie pasta $17.95. So many choices to look forward to in a return trip.
Their website http://www.skepticalchymist.com/ will keep you updated as to the live entertainment onstage and events. So you need only go as far as Scottsdale for a glimpse of old Ireland! Sample the delights of Irish cuisine and sip on many fine Irish beverages. 15688 N. Pima Road Suite #C6 , Scottsdale, AZ. 85260. (480) 609 8677. Cowgirl Connoisseur may be reached at azphm@earthlink.net , P.O. Box 11105 Phoenix AZ 85061.

Alberto's Italian Restaurant

Alberto's Italian Restaurant


by Cowgirl Connoisseur

Alberto's Italian Restaurant located at 7171 E Cave Creek Road, in Carefree. This quaint little spot is about to take off to fresh heights with a new wine bar to complement the rich traditional award winning Italian cuisine of Chef/partner Alberto Liani.

Check out the walls on the way to the immaculate restrooms and you will find a collection of wonderful reviews, that only a lifetime of great cooking can accomplish. And this review might as well join all the others because it contains only glowing words of flattery for Alberto's recipes created with only the finest of fresh ingredients. The food was excellent, the service as good as it gets, and the ambiance was warm and inviting and the people especially gracious.

Salvatore greeted us as we arrived and made recommendations from the menu and took our orders. A plate of homemade crusty bread and a dish of fresh olive oil with herbs appeared with an excellent Merlot wine.

Caprese $10.95 for an appetizer satiated our hunger as we awaited spinach ravioli and spaghetti with sausage. The mozzarella was delightfully smokey and fresh, sliced equally to the large vine ripe tomato that seems impossible to find in the produce section these days. Fresh basil must have come from somewhere other than Arizona because mine from the garden has been too bitter when in the hot sun, and this basil was just perfect. And the balsamic had a gentle bite and yummy flavor. The bread, that large holed yeast bread with a hard crust, was delicious too. The menu offers a full array of traditional Italian fare. The Pasta a Fagioli soup $6.95 at the next table looked hearty and the gentleman sipping it says it was delicious.

A special brick oven brought from Italy bakes at super hot temperatures to make a crisp crust and melt the cheeses to bubbling perfection. Over a dozen pizza combinations with an average price of $14.90 makes me wonder why we would ever order a pizza from anywhere else. Fresh hand tossed, created with the magic only a master chef with over 40 years of experience can attain, means each pizza is a masterpiece.

Pasta is all fresh homemade. "Nothing frozen!" says Liani. "That's what makes it taste so good." Simple traditional recipes from Rome where he still maintains a home. "I try to get back to Rome for a little time every year." The Spinach Ravioli (pre-spinach problems) was delicate and flavorful, and only $15.95. For $19.95 the Spaghetti with sausage had a mild spicy flavor and very filling

A wine list with over 200 wines on hand was impressive. Many are imported from Italy but they also carry many fine domestic wines as well.

It would take many trips to this marvelous restaurant to try everything on their varied menu. You could tell many patrons are regular customers, which always bodes well for the quality of the food.

The new wine bar will open this month, and will add yet another dimension to enjoying the ambiance and companionship at Alberto's Italian Restaurant. The restaurant is open 4pm-9pm Tuesday - Sunday, give them a call today at 480-488-5800. Go see Alberto and Sal and say the Cowgirl Connoisseur from Panorama Hills Monthly sent you!

Caffe Boa

Caffe Boa

By Cowgirl Conniseur

We all end up in Tempe for one reason or another with so many fabulous shows and festivals in the area. So while there, schedule time for a meal at Tempe's Caffe Boa on Mill and 4th Street. The sign is tucked back behind trees, so it might be tough to find, but park near 4th and walk the west side of the street. You will find the darling little patio with a European café air. Inside the décor is modern with clean lines and earthy colors. A mix of photos and art adorn the walls and dining areas are broken up into smaller more intimate areas by ancient red brick arches, ceiling to floor drapes a mix of dark and light wood. It’s all very clean, attractive and comfortable.

At first look, the menu is very different. There are so many unique combinations of flavors, next to a few old favorites. My advice is jump in and try something new. Everything my party has tried on several visits has been delicious. Rosemary-and-twine tied white linen napkins set a mood and all that follows reminds us this is more than just food, it’s a see-touch-smell and taste experience.

The “First Bites” or Appetizers we enjoyed included a wonderful “Caprese.”$6.95 Fresh beefsteak tomatoes topped with bufala mozzarella, basil and our reduced balsamic dressing. The balsamic was so great we had our server get the name for us and it is made by the Queen Creek Olive Mill in Queen Creek, Arizona. Online at http://www.queencreekolivemill.com/ they say they are Arizona’s first working olive farm and mill, pressing the finest extra virgin olive oil from nine different varieties of olives hand picked and blended to make one of the world’s finest extra virgin olive oils. They even offer tours to experience a true Tuscan tasting experience. Amazing how one great little first bite can lead to another great discovery! Caffe Boa is famous for their meatballs “Ragusa” $8.25 sliced and served with sautéed red onions, bell peppers, marinara and melted provolone. This could be almost a meal in itself if you are a light eater and love flavor over volume.

The menu boasts an extensive selection of “Insalata” blending ingredients in such a way as to make it more than just a salad. You can add Cajun or Garlic chicken, Italian sausage or shrimp to any of the salads for an additional $4 making another light eating option. My favorites are “So. Cal Love”, $9.95 a chicken breast, sliced almonds, avocado, alfalfa sprouts with oh so delicate butter-cup lettuce topped with a champagne/lemon Vinaigrette that compliments but does not overpower the ingredients. The “Istria Insalata” $9.95 with organic spring mix with fresh raspberries, candied walnuts, Belgium endive, chevre, and apple slices, tossed with a raspberry vinaigrette is very filling. I added the Cajun chicken for $4.00 extra.

As for the pasta dishes, “Voodoopenne”$14.95 is a great Cajun spiced chicken breast grilled to perfection and tossed with fresh tomatoes, tri-colored bell peppers, light cream, and penne and it was delicious with a delicate mild Italian sausage. But to die for was the “Ravioli Rakovi” $17.95 the most requested special, now on the menu. Jumbo square ravioli filled with fresh pulled crab, marscarpone, ricotta, and herbs, tossed in a light lemon cream with tarragon. Silly me I took a bite off my date’s plate and fell in love! Entrees we enjoyed included the “Filettomignon” $23.95 of 100% certified Mid-Western grown and fed, top quality, 6oz. fillet mignon, grilled to taste and served with Cabernet/Porcini Mushroom reduction and fresh seasonal vegetables. If you can eat all of this hooray for you because it is a lot of delicious rich meat! “Lucasmeatballs” $15.95 are their family perfection of a classic! Italian sausage, premium beef, veal, pork meatballs, made daily and simmered in fresh marinara and tossed with spaghetti.

Mine are all grown, but if you have little ones they also offer a “Luca's Special Kidz Menu” for the under 12-year-old crowd.

Caffe Boa has been voted Winner of the Phoenix New Times, and Get out Magazine 2006, Best Happy Hour, everyday at the Wine bar 4-7pm with 1/2 off ALL appetizers, 1/2 off ALL wines by the glass, 1/2 off Specialty martini/drink list, and $2 for our premium draft selection. Open 7 days a week Sun-Wed 11am-10pm and Thursday, Friday & Saturday: 11am-11pm (bar open later). 398 S. Mill Avenue in Old Town Tempe. (480) 968-9112. http://www.cafeboa.com/

Roka Akor a Dining Review

Roka Akor a Dining Review
By LeeAnn Sharpe

February 15, 2008

You will want to make a note of this new “Hip Robatayaki Cuisine” restaurant, ROKA AKOR. It is located in north Scottsdale at 7299 N. Scottsdale Road, Phone 480.306.8800. Keep that number handy as I’m sure there will be long lists for reservations. Look for the tall blue spiral sculpture out front. Food doesn’t get better than this!

Native New Zealander Chef Nicholas Watt brings his 16 years of international experience and raving success in London to his first Roka location in the U.S. The handsome Watt roamed the dining room engaging his guests with a genuine boyish charm speaking of his days in New Zealand where his mother cooked with the freshest fish. He wanted to bring that to his restaurants. Study in Toyko and his love of fresh fish make Roka a perfect fit for his talents.

My dining companion Julie and I started out with edamame (v) $3.50: steamed edamame with sea salt, hotate no miso-shiru $5.60: white miso soup with scallop and spring onion and maki rolls. We could have chosen any from about 11 different maki options including kappa maki (v) $3.60: a cucumber and sesame roll, chirashi maki $6.90: spicy sashimi fish selection with spring onion and cucumber, age watari gani $8.60: softshell crab, cucumber, kim chi, and chilli mayonnaise, kankoku fu yaki buta $6.30: korean roast pork loin, shiso and chilli cabbage, california maki $6.30: crab meat, avocado and toblko. But we chose the ebi no atama $7.60: a heavenly combination of crispy prawn, avocado, chilli chrysanthemums and dark sweet soy. We would have been happy eating these all night!

General Manager Jeffrey Berkowitz stopped by our table to welcome us and make certain everything was to our liking. He was totally attentive to each guest all evening. All of the staff was obviously trained to the highest level and the service was beyond any you can find anywhere in the world. Eli was our wonderful server, explaining dishes and making excellent suggestions, but the entire wait staff worked together to bring out dishes as they were ready. And each came wrapped in smiles and genuine concern for every desire being met. I can not see how they could have made the dining experience more enjoyable. Executive chef Bjoern Weissgerber directs the symphony of cuisine to perfection.

I love how they label vegetarian dishes with a (v). Some diners might be a little apprehensive about experimenting with unusual dishes or flavors. There’s no need to fear here. Everything is prepared in such a way as to give your palette a thrill ride to ecstasy!
Dishes are on the small side so you can graze through multiple options. Health conscious will find many very healthy low fat opportunities here. Sauces are light and grilling keeps dishes healthy.

The snacks, salads & soups included a wide variety of flavors such as baechu kim chi (v) $4.00: napa cabbage in garlic and hot chilli, butaniku to hotate no gyoza $6.50: pork and golden scallop dumplings, lobster to awabi no gyoza $14.00: lobster and abalone dumplings (I wish I had tried these! They look fantastic!) The gyu no tataki to truffle $14.00: beef tataki with pickled daikon and winter truffle and the abura bouzu no tataki shiro asparagus zoe $12.00: butterfish tataki, white asparagus with yuzu shallot dressing and the maguro no tataki $14.00: tuna tataki salad with apple mustard dressing all piqued my interest as well, but will have to wait for my next visit.

Robatayaki Cuisine relies heavily on the 25 foot long robata Japanese oak charcoal grill which is open to the dining area. Sit at the bar facing the grill so you can watch the dozen or so chefs as they work in unison under the direction of the lead chef who hollars out orders in Japanese and they all respond in a loud crisp retort as if clapping out of a huddle. The robata tradition has been handed down for centuries by Japanese fishermen who cook their daily catch over a charcoal fire and use oars as serving platters. An exceptional ventilation system pulls the little bit of smoke straight up but leaves the room with a warm gentle scent that is very pleasing. Smoke sensitive need not worry. I am the most sensitive to smoke and never had an itch or sniffle all evening. You can also sit in the large dining area with earthy aesthetic clean lines on oak tables and very comfortable cushioned chairs. There’s also an outside patio and an enchanting private event room with a long wood slab table that can be divided in half.

Roka Akor dishes look magical in their presentation. The maguro to caviar no tartar, uzura no tamago zoe $12.00: tuna tartar, sevruga caviar and quail's yolk are served in a dish with a boat like sail in a bed of crystal ice. We had the ebi no kushiyaki $32.50: wild jumbo Madagascan prawn with yuzu koshyu chilli paste with a magical taste like nothing you’ve ever experienced. It starts out with a mild tender prawn taste tinted with a touch of blue watercress and then the fire of the chilli paste presents itself in a subtle burn. Delicious! The presentation on a long dish includes the jumbo prawn head looking like a creature out of a Jacque Cousteau documentary.

My favorite was the sake teriyaki $12.00: salmon fillet teriyaki infused with the smokey grill flavor and complemented by the most delicious teriyaki sauce, not too thick or sweet, just right with a lightness and tang that made me want more!

We also enjoyed the gin tara no saikyo-yaki $24.00: black cod marinated in yuzu miso and homemade hajikami. It was a very lightly blackened cod presented wrapped in a leaf with a sweet white sauce on the side. The cod was beautifully elegant in look and taste.

My friends enjoyed the niku no asparagus teriyaki $9.60: beef and asparagus teriyaki skewer and kobuta no ribs yawaraka nikomi $18.00: baby back ribs glazed with a spiced master stock and cashew nuts. What a flavor combination! That’s what it’s all about at Roka Alor, freshness and flavors presented in delicious combinations, simple yet powerful.

I want to go back (many times) to try the kamo no muneniku hachimitsu sansho fumi $24.00: duck breast basted with honey and sansho pepper or the kankoku fu kohitsuji $26.00: lamb cutlets with korean spices. The hireniku no pirikara yakiniku $28.00: beef fillet with chilli, ginger and spring onion also looked marvelous!

Robata vegetables fill the menu out but who has room for so much! Next time I will try the ko nasu (v) $6.60: eggplant in mirin, ginger and soy and the nimono (V) $5.00:grilled sweet potato with sesame and sweet soy.

Did I mention the sashimi-nigiri zushi selections which included hon maguro- blue fin $16.00: kihada maguro - yellow fin $10.00: bigeye ocean trout $6.60: shima aji - stripped jack fish $10.00: hamachi - yellowtail $5.30: nme dai - new zealand snapper $5.60: tako - octupus $10.00: sake - salmon $6.60: hotate - scallops $12.00: suzuki - seabass $6.60: ikura - salmon roe $9.00: tai - seabream $8.00: unagi - freshwater eel $10.00: ika - squid $9.00:ama ebi - sweet shrimp $6.60: ebi - shrimp $8.00: and kaki - oyster $7.90: The
tokusen displays botan ebi sashimi $14.60: extra large sweet shrimp served with oscietra caviar uni - sea urchin sashimi $15.00: gunkan $12.00: o-toro - fatty tuna $26.00: wagyu gunkan $16.50: wagyu sushi, oscietra caviar, spring onion and fresh ginger, kinme dai - japanese red snapper $12.00.

Dozens of colorful bottles of shochu, a traditional Japanese distilled spirit flavored with apples, pears and raspberries, hang over the bar. Two climate-controlled wine cases hold 600 bottles apiece behind 14-foot-high glass. Bartenders were trained in London and blend the most delicious concoctions not to be found anywhere else, unless you visit Roka in London. The Green Tea and Pear Bellini $12.00 is the perfect combination of the pear shochu and champagne, crisp and light and delicious!

For dessert we had the sorbet with two miniature scoops of tangy ice cream perched on top of a crystal ice mountain. Delightful! And Julie had the chocolate pudding, more of a cake with green tea filling, so rich and beautifully presented. Each piece is a work of art, a feast for the soul as well as the palette.

Designer Noriyoshi Muramatsu with the award winning Tokyo-based firm Super Potato designed the bar and lounge. The décor is so subtle in its simple uncomplicated lines, but makes bold statements. The wall on one end features a wave pattern that evokes an ocean feel. Walls are made of rammed earth, so rocks, straw and dirt are part of the visual and tactile experience. The wood slats in front of the windows and the wide wooden bar around the grilling space is made of reclaimed Irish Oak matching the tables. Heavy glass doors have wood handles. Even the restrooms have natural wood counters and fully enclosed stainless steel stalls with a round European style commode. The elegant water faucets flow freely without a touch, producing perfect temperature warm water. Even the lighting is controlled in a subdued by sufficient level in each area of the establishment. Attention to detail has been mastered on every level. Chef Watt mentioned even the freezers are of a medical lab quality enabling them to freeze to the optimal temperature to keep food perfect. A Japanese ceramic artist was commissioned to hand design the serving plates and bowls in a variety of sizes and shapes that invite touch. All are hand-made, rustic ceramic pieces with grainy textures and nature inspired earthen colors. Great thought went into the design like a slight triangular bend in the soup bowl to make them easy to drink. And simple esthetic enhancement carved into serving plates, not just painted on.

Chef Watt’s blend of contemporary Japanese cuisine and the desert of north Scottsdale is sure to be a big hit. I hope you can get a reservation and enjoy this magical delight!
ROKA AKOR is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily for lunch and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. daily for dinner. Reservations 480.306.8800.
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Lamplight Room Dining Review

Lamplight Room Dining Review
by LA Sharpe
Bronco Bill Pakinis and his lovely wife Colleen invited us to dinner at The Lamplight Room at the Tombstone Boarding House, 108 North Fourth Street, Tombstone, Arizona 85638 (520) 457-3716, (877) 225-1319.

Liz Ingalls had been showing us around town all day and she and her friend Miguel were asked to join the evening party. We arrived to find a delightful private dining room set aside for our group of 7. Owner Sylvia Prysant welcomed us, shared a bit of family history, and left us in the capable hands of her server Andrea. Chips and vesty salsa came to the table right away as our drink orders were being filled. My margarita was delicious, made exactly to order and generous in size.

A very talented traditional Spanish Flamenco guitarist played softly in the background for a wonderful southwestern warm and romantic atmosphere. He even stopped by our table to ask if we had any requests.

The Lamplight Room has a dual sided menu with both Authentic Mexican Fare as well as a more Traditional American Lunch and Dinner Menus. Most of the group chose the Mexican Fare, although Bill’s wife selected the Fettuccine Alfredo off the American Menu.

The Authentic Mexican Menu included such classics as Albondigas soup Cup $2.95 Bowl $4.95, Guacamole, Served with corn chips $5.95, Quesadilla, Monterey Jack cheese & chili $5.95 w/chicken $6.95 w/beef $7.95, and something called The Mother Lode (Nachos Supreme) $7.95.

A nice Taco Salad, served in a flour tortilla basket refried beans, lettuce, cheese and topped with guacamole, sour cream and salsa Mexicana was only $5 .95 w/chicken $6.95 w/beef $7.95 looked good, both generous in size and ingredients.

I chose the 2 Chicken Enchiladas, rice & beans $6.95, taking Miguel’s recomendation since he frequents the establishment regularly. It was a good sized portion with plenty of chicken filling and had a nice flavor. It also came with lots of rice and beans. It was all more than I could eat but delicious!

They also have 2 Cheese Enchildas for $5.95, 2 Beef Enchiladas, rice & beans. $7.95. Or 2 Beef Tamales, rice & beans $7.95, Chile Relleno, enchilada, rice & beans $7.95, 2 Tacos. Soft flour or crispy corn, rice & beans w/chicken $6.95 w/beef $7.95. Macho Burrito, Jumbo tortilla stuffed with refried beans. cheese and mild green chilies topped with enchilada sauce and melted Jack cheese $6.95 Meat & Bean Burrito $7.95. Green Chile Pork Burrito, (a little spicy) and served enchilada style with sauce & cheese $8.95
Pasta a la Petra (Mexican Spaghetti)Small $5.95 Large $8.95.

The Lamplighter featuries a Full Bar with Great Margaritas! Original Margarita $4.25 Grande Margarita (a double) $7.00. Imported Beer $3.25. Domestic Beer $2.75
Open Monday- Thursday 11:30 am until 8:30 pm Friday & Saturday 11:30 am until 9:00 pm and Sunday 11:30 am - 7:00 pm. www.TombstoneBoardingHouse.com (Prices and Menu are subject to change without notice).

I assure you the food will be wonderful and the atmosphere warm and cozy. Tell them you heard about the Lamplighter in the Wild West Gazette and they will give you an extra warm smile!

Find more restaurant reviews and recipes online
at www.wildwestgazette.com

Dillon's Restaurant Review

Dillon's Restaurant Review
By LA Sharpe

Recently two male business associates asked me choose a restaurant to have a business lunch. Dillon's Restaurant was the first place that came to mind knowing these guys would probably love bbq and with Dillon’s you can’t go wrong. And boy was I right!

The soup of the day was a hearty creamy potato and practically a meal in itself. I’ve never seen two guys dig into soup with such intensity. The conversation was at a standstill as they lapped up spoonful after spoonful of the heavenly homemade concoction. Sure it was a cold day and hot soup is nice. But this went into almost hypnotic trance of taste bud delight.

Dillon's claim to fame is their Barbeque and they do it well on everything from ribs and chicken to sausage. The main course today was the Carolina-Style Pork Sandwich, for one of my friends and he was thrilled. I’ve had it before and the sweet sticky sauce is great on the slow cooked bbq pork. Today I choose the Dillon’s Dip, a crunchy French bread roll with perfect beef and creamy cheese and grilled onions along with a full flavored beef au jus sauce for dipping. Delicious! And my other companion tried the Pulled Pork Sandwich which he enjoyed very much. They are both still talking about how much they enjoyed that lunch!

In the past I’ve taken family for dinner and enjoyed the Prime Rib, Slow-Smoked Pork Spare Rib Plate, and BBQ Beef Brisket Platter. All outstanding. Their menu has some interesting different items including Midwestern Hot Beef, Spinach Enchilada Platter, Country Fried Chicken Platter, Country Fried Steak Platter , Lemon Pepper Cod, Catfish Platter, Smoked Salmon Filet.

Event the appetizers include a number of surprises. Appetizers include Onion Rings, Crispy Chicken Wings, Mushroom Bonanza, Sweet & Spicy Wings, Flautas, Fried Pickles!!, Beef or Chicken or Spinach Quesadilla, Nachos, Spinach Artichoke Dip, and Stuffed Portabello Mushroom.

The atmosphere with a nice fire burning at the entry and a community of birdfeeders outside the picture window is as friendly as the people. I felt that the servers were there when you needed them, but knew how to serve without hovering over your table. The food was excellent and each order every time I have been there, which is many, lived up to my expectations. I would not hesitate to recommend Dillon's to friends. I'll surely visit Dillon's often in the future.

Dillon’s was created by Rich Dillon and George Valverde. Since Dillon's beginning in 1999, they have expanded to three locations, as well as provide valley-wide catering.

Another friend told me to try the pulled pork with Cajun sauce. Of course, the Chicken-fried Steak was good, too. All the food has a great taste to it. The baked beans are the best I ever had. The appetizers and entrees are huge, but the price is definitely reasonable!

Every weekend there's live entertainment. Check the website at http://www.dillonsrestaurant.com . They are located at 8706 W. Thunderbird Road, Peoria, Arizona 85381 Just west of I-101 on the north side of Thunderbird. It’s a tough place for parking on occasion but there’s plenty of room inside! 623.979.5353
Llunch hours Mon - Friday 11:00am – 4:00pm Dinner served Mon - Fri 4:00pm – Close Sat- Sun: 11:00am – Close. Dillon's accepts Visa, American Express,
MasterCard, & Discover Card. Sorry, no personal checks.

Grimaldi’s Coal Brick-Oven Pizzeria Review

Grimaldi’s Coal Brick-Oven Pizzeria Review
By LeeAnn Sharpe

With locations in NY, NJ, Arizona, Las Vegas and Dallas, Grimaldi’s is what we once expected of a pizzeria, but is nearly lost in the world today. To find a real coal brick oven is harder and harder to find and the difference in the smoky taste is immeasurable.

The menu placemat says Patsy Grimaldi is a purist when it comes to pizza. He learned his trade from Uncle Lancieri who trained the man credited with opening the first pizzeria in America in 1905. The coal oven gives a unique flavor and crisp crust not possible from gas, convection or wood stoves. His secret recipe sauce and dough have made Grimaldi’s the most award winning pizzeria in the United States.

Tasting is believing and every bite was magic! I tried a couple different pizza variations $9-$17 plus extra for toppings $2-$4. The crust was thin and crisp with just the right blend of cheese, peppers, basil, and Italian sausage.

The caprese salad $7 was heavenly. It’s obvious Grimaldi’s uses only the freshest and finest oil and cheese. The fresh mozzarella slices and basil was fresh and brilliant without any bitterness. The tomatoes were even vine ripened to perfection, so hard to find these days.

Antipasto $8-$12 had a nice Genoa Salami and fresh warm bread. The oven roasted sweet red peppers were tender and sweet. The fresh mozzarella slices were perfection. I didn’t care for the Kalamata olives, but my dining companion enjoyed them very much.

I also sampled the Calzone $10 -$17 with a delicious crust and variety of fillings. The cheese melted evenly with mushrooms and sausage for a warm filling simply delicious.

The menu also boasts several other salads. A wide selection of drinks (wine beer and cocktails all available) and desserts complete the menu.

Another plus is Thursday night dinner theatre from Darknight Productions. Dinner and theatre for about $40.

Lunch time 11am-6pm, you can get all personal pizza and calzone toppings at half price!

For more information and a list of the many famous celebrities who have eaten at Grimaldi’s go to their website at www.patsygrimaldis.com.

Carrabba’s Italian Grill

Dining Review
By LeeAnn Sharpe

Carrabba’s Italian Grill

“We're not real chefs. We're real eaters.” So say Johnny Carrabba and his Uncle Damian Mandola who founded Carrabba’s in Houston, Texas, in 1986. “We're two big Sicilian boys from Texas who love to cook and eat. We love the Sicilian food our parents and grandparents cooked. We love the Creole and Southern food our family members picked up passing through Louisiana and stepping off the boat right on the dock in Galveston. And we love the Western food that's just part of being in Texas.”

My daughter and I recently had dinner at Carrabba’s in Glendale. I’ve been to the Gateway and Scottsdale locations in the past as well. They have all been good dining experiences.

House specialties include crispy calamari, chicken marsala, fresh steamed mussels, a variety of pasta with homemade sauces, and fresh fish, seafood and steaks cooked over a wood- fired grill. Traditional dishes such as margherita pizza, lasagna, spaghetti with meatballs, and chicken parmesan share the spotlight. They also have a moderately-priced wine list featuring Italian and California vintages compliment the menu. A full selection of liquor and beer are also available. Little ones ten and under will enjoy the “Bambini Menu” and pizza dough is offered to keep young customers entertained.

Past visits I enjoyed the Insalata Carrabba Caesar with Chicken $10.99. It’s as good as any I have had anywhere. I especially love the warm bread and olive oil delivered to our table and kept coming. With a nice glass of wine I could make it a meal in itself!

This last dining experience was the best! They had the “Johnny” and “Damian” Specials which were combination plates with three entrée samplers and a salad along with our coupon giving us the Calamari and wine for free! What a deal!

The Calamari came with the marinara dipping sauce and was super crispy and hot just like we like it. The marinara was tasty and we cleaned the plate with bread dipping so as not to waste a drop of it! We were hungry too!

I had the Lobster Ravioli stuffed with tender Maine lobster in a white wine cream sauce with diced tomatoes, Shrimp and sea scallops coated with Italian breadcrumbs, and Salmon all for $16.99.

The Lobster Ravioli was to die for! I could east a whole plate of those tasty little pillows of heaven! The shrimp and scallops were fine and the salmon just right… but oh those lobster ravioli… Did I say how much I loved them?

My daughter had the Lombardo 8 oz. USDA Choice center-cut tenderloin, Chicken Bryan, grilled chicken breast topped with goat cheese, sun dried tomatoes and a basil lemon butter sauce and Mezzaluna the delicate half moon ravioli stuffed with chicken, ricotta and spinach all for $16.99.

So we shared and sampled everything! Culinary overload! But it was all fabulous. Her steak was perfect and the Mezzaluna very good in a mild creamy tomato sauce. They were mild but with good flavor. She wasn’t excited about the Chicken Bryan, but I thought it was good too.

Our server was attentive, informative and made the dining experience delightful.

The restaurants are popular and can get crowded so get there early! As for locations check out their website at www.carrabbas.com . There are 8 locations in the greater Phoenix area.

Duck and Decanter Dining Review

Dining Review
By Cowgirl Connoisseur
Duck and Decanter

On the way to a movie screening my companion and I stopped by the Duck for a light dinner. My publisher had asked me visit as he had run the notice of their 30th Anniversary Celebration in the last issue of Panorama Hills Monthly. I was curious because I remember years ago my Dad taking clients to “Duck and Decanter” for frequent business lunches. They also catered several office parties and prepared box lunches for business road trips. Yet, I had never been into their establishment.

Duck and Decanter, as it is known today, began in November of 1972 under the new ownership of Dort and Earl Mettler. A specialty food, beverage and retail pioneer, has become a monument in the lives of many valley residents. Providing fresh sandwiches, salads and soups in a unique environment surrounded by specialty foods, cheeses, wine, beer coffee, gift baskets, tea, and giftware.

Was I ever pleasantly surprised to find a shop packed with epicurean delights. Everything from sauces and spreads, dressings and noodles, dinnerware and kitchen tools are packed into shelves and rows of displays too numerous to peruse in one visit. Upstairs there’s more. It goes on and on. Food and shopping combine two of my favorite activities!

Duck and Decanter, affectionately known as "the Duck", was the first to provide central Phoenix with unique epicurean services such as wine tastings, a wine bar, and an espresso bar. Over the years, the Duck has earned over fifty prestigious awards from local and national periodicals and associations such as Mobil Travel Guide and Zagats. The awards certificates are lined up on the walls side to side and run on forever!

No doubt I was in for a treat for the taste buds. You order at the counter and they call your name when your sandwich is freshly made. A case of salads was intriguing with so many from which to choose.

I tried the southwest pasta salad with THE CLASSIC REUBEN $6.25 Choice of Corned beef or Pastrami, I took the Pastrami. Swiss cheese, sauerkraut relish, and thousand island dressing. I had it on an onion roll. Delicious!

My friend had the CHICKEN SALADS $7.25 Your choice between Creamy garlic with herbs, Curry with raisins, or Sonoran with spicy oil & vinegar. She had the Creamy garlic and it had a nice mild pleasant garlic and herb taste. It was nothing that overwhelmed, but gave good flavor. She also had the potato salad and it was nice. Nothing spectacular but very pleasant.

Their website at www.duckanddecanter.com lists a huge selection of cheese and catering options. I can see why the Duck has remained a favorite for so long. The Duck has remained jubilant for over three decades in a unique market because of its strong customer base. Customers who realize it is not only the quality of the goods they purchase, but it is the experience as well. I will be back often!

Author: LeeAnn Sharpe is freelance writer/photographer in Glendale Arizona and can be reached at www.leeannsharpe.com or lasharpe@cox.net.
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Pioneer Restaurant and Saloon

Pioneer Restaurant and Saloon
Dining Review
By Cowgirl Connoisseur


The old time cowboy restaurant is almost a thing of the past with all of the modern development taking over much of Arizona’s cowboy country.

Pioneer Restaurant and Saloon located at I-17 Exit #225 west on Pioneer Road can still hold claim to good old-fashioned cowboy food and entertainment. They claim to be “Where Arizona’s Old West is re-discovered and the taste of Arizona’s new west is found”

Pioneer Restaurant and Saloon sits on the Pioneer Living History Museum old west town property, although you can enter the restaurant without going into the museum proper. Many events combine the restaurants food with everything from weddings, corporate parties to the September Wild Western Festival. www.wildwesternfestival.com

Open Wednesday through Sunday, 6am to 9pm, Pioneer serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner in a comfortable old west style dining room and bar. Sunday they have an All-U-Can-Eat Buffet Breakfast sure to satisfy any appetite from Hoss to Little Joe. Thursday night is All-U-Can-Eat Spaghetti & Meatballs, darn near featured in every Clint Eastwood Spaghetti Western. Friday night is the “Famous” All-U-Can-Eat Fish Fry. Gather up your posse of family and friends for this one! Saturday night is Prime Rib and All the Fixin’s. The food has always been of generous portions and cooked to your request.

Friday through Sunday you can enjoy entertainment from honkey-tonk piano to cowboy singers. Pioneer can also host your parties for weddings, corporate events or team building. Bring your out-of-town guests in for a taste of the old west. Their website at www.westerndestinations.com tells you all about a variety of activities available.
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Buffalo Chip Saloon And Steakhouse

Buffalo Chip Saloon And Steakhouse
by Cowgirl Connoisseur

The Buffalo Chip is a cowboy's standard hang out in downtown Cave Creek. It has a real western, kinda rough and tumble feel and it comes by it naturally. All those cowboy boots kicking up their heels dancing and hootin' and hollarin' can leave a mark! "Live in the now, but play in the 1800's" is their motto. Aside from the televisions, you could be walking into an 1880's style bar.

The restaurant is open 10am to 10pm with standard cowboy fare. Big Buckin' Burger and Fries at $6.95, 3/4 lb 100% beef chuck, hand ground and pattied, on a toasted bun with cheddar cheese. You can add Bacon, Green Chiles or Red Chili for $1.00 each. On Fridays, it's "All-You-Can-Eat" Cod, Walleye, Lake Perch and Catfish with fries and slaw $9.95 from 5 to 10pm. The fish is hot and delicious and they keep it coming. What a deal! Be sure to get your fill by 10pm, because the tables get pushed back and the dance floor appears and lookout, it gets crazy. They hand cut their own choice steaks and cook the steaks and burgers are on a Mesquite grilled to your likes. Of the hundreds of steaks I've had at the Chip, every single one has been good, tender, juicy and tasty. They are served with cowboy beans, salad, and a honey butter biscuit. It's nothing fancy, just simple straight forward cowboy dinner and uumm ummm good.

Not in the burger mood? How about a Mesquite Grilled Chicken Sandwich, for $7.95, it is a large grilled chicken breast, hot melted cheese, green chilies, tomatoes, and lettuce on a toasted bun, served with fries. Or a Pit Smoked Pork Sandwich and Fries, $7.95, 3/4 pound of smoked sliced pork topped with melted cheese, coleslaw and served on a toasted bun with a side of BBQ sauce. Or the Smoked Brisket Sandwich and Fries, $7.95, 3/4 pound beef brisket with melted cheese on a toasted bun with a side of BBQ sauce. For the salad lover try the Grilled Chicken Salad, $7.95, Platter of iceberg lettuce, slivered purple cabbage, carrots, and tomatoes with a grilled chicken breast, toasted croutons and side of ranch dressing.

The Chet "ATKINS" Platter, is $11.95, it has smoked pork, beef brisket, and grilled chicken breast with dry BBQ rub and a side of low-carb home-style coleslaw. Pit-Smoked Beef Brisket, for $10.95, is one pound of pit-smoked beef brisket with cowboy beans, coleslaw and honey butter biscuit. Or try the Chicken Saloon, for $10.95, chicken breast, tossed green salad, and a honey butter biscuit.

But the most popular item is the 12 oz. choice handcut Ribeye Steak, for $16.95, served with cowboy beans, tossed green salad, and a honey butter biscuit. Cooked to your order with these guidelines, Rare = Cool Red Center, Medium Rare = Warm Pink Center, Medium = Thin Pink Line in Center, Medium Well = No Pink, Well = May Still Be on Fire!

As a center attraction for cowboys in a western town for so many years, the Chip is nothing fancy. But that patina of so many wild nights has a certain attraction. This is where life really happens. It can get wild. Pretty young cowgirls come in their best western ware and dancing boots to two-step with cowboys in Wranglers and fresh Panhandle Slim snap button shirt and of course Stetson hat. They meet on the dance floor and share a few long necks and the next thing you know there are two kids and dog in the back of his Ford F250. Yep, many a romance has begun under that roof.

The atmosphere is just what city folk and tourists want to absorb. The Buffalo Chip even caters to tour groups and parties with a little western town out back. You can listen to the live music, shoot pool, or throw horseshoes, sit next to a fire pit and enjoy beautiful Black Mountain with a cold one!

There's plenty of music and dancing going on with Wednesday Karaoke 8pm to Midnight using one of the best sound system around. Thursday and Sunday you can enjoy free dance lessons (that's cowboy dancing ya'll) from 7 to 8pm, and Live music and dancing with The Pat James Band 8pm till Midnight, every Thursday through Sunday. And check out Mel's Auction out back where you can bring anything in from 7to 9pm to get sold, and of course you're welcome to buy!

The first Sunday of every month during the Fall and Winter from 7 to 9pm the Chip goes theatre with "Murder at the High Noon Saloon", a Comedy/Interactive Theater and Dinner Show. They serve a Prime Rib, Cowboy Beans, Tossed Salad, Sourdough Biscuit and Dessert for $35.00.

So the next time your gang of cowboys and cowgirls gets real hungry and has some energy to burn, do what we do. Say,"Meet ya'll at the Chip!" Buffalo Chip Saloon and Steakhouse, is located at 6811 East Cave Creek Road, in Cave Creek.

Black Bear Diner

The Black Bear Diner
By Cowgirl Connoisseur Dining Review

There once was a time when you went to a diner for a meal and found good solid nutritious food in hearty portions and as delicious as Mom’s cooking. Not many of those places survive in the modern fast paced world.

If you yearn for a diner of yesteryear, mosey into The Black Bear Diner. They have two locations in north Glendale at 6039 W. Bell Rd., Glendale, AZ 85306, (602) 843-1921 and in Phoenix, at 2410 W. Bell Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85023, (602) 298-2671. The franchise, out of Mt. Shasta, California, says they have 35 Diners and are still growing! Other Arizona locations include Bullhead City, Goodyear, and Lake Havasu City.

Their menu is an old-time newspaper with stories about local events in the past. On my last visit I enjoyed the California Scramble $7.69 for breakfast. It’s scrambled eggs with avocado, spinach, tomato, onion, and jack cheese. It came with potatoes (your choice of hash browns or diced) and bread (your choice of toast or biscuit). The waitress asked about how you liked everything cooked – regular or crispy. The biscuit was the biggest fluffiest most delicious I’ve ever eaten. And the eggs were fabulous!

Others in my party had the Ham and Eggs $7.69 with pancakes, Hungry Man Steak and Eggs $9.99 and another had the Pancakes Mama Bear stack $4.69. Everyone had too much to eat and couldn’t finish their plates. Servings are extra generous and delicious.
The menus for lunch and dinner are both so extensive and economically priced, you are sure to find what you like. Lunch menu sandwiches are generally about $7.99 and dinner averages about $11.99. A large Senior Menu is mostly about $7.99 for dinners.
Their menu notes they have been trans fat free at all locations fo the last 3 years. Their menu says good old fashioned comfort food. And everything on the menu looks very comforting to me!

The décor includes extra large deep booths and tables where you won’t feel cramped even if your hubby is a double X. And there are stuffed bears everywhere to compliment the pine and rough wood trim. Two giant sleeping bears in the reception area are said to wake up and hug patrons on occasion. It’s a family friendly very comfortable place. Jason and his staff did a good job to make us all feel welcome and happy to return.

They have a website at www.blackbeardiner.com with a gift shop.

El Encanto Restaurant in Cave Creek

El Encanto Restaurant in Cave Creek

For years when out of town guests would visit I would take them shopping and out for lunch at the original El Encanto in the heart of Cave Creek. The children especially loved sit along the water of the picturesque pond with the playful wildlife, including ducks, and turtles. The adults enjoyed dining in a romantic Old-World Mission-style restaurant with a great menu and cocktails! They say the menu is authentic handmade Mexican Cuisine, with specialties from regions all over Mexico, including daily fresh fish specials. “All of the Mexican Cuisine at El Encanto is authentic and handmade, from the freshest ingredients, and is considered by many to be the best Mexican food in the Valley.”
They serve Breakfast from 8am till noon Saturday and Sunday. They make wonderful Frittatas of Three cheese (cheddar, monterey jack and Jalapeno Jack) $6.20 or Ham, mushroom, onion and swiss $7.10 or Chicken, avocado, and swiss $6.75 or my favorite Avocado, monterey jack and roasted green chilies $6.50 or also good Fresh spinach, mushroom, onion and swiss $6.50.
Lunch is served 11 am to 3pm everyday and includes all of your usual Mexican food fare, well made and reasonably priced. You can get combo plates with rice and beans or A la carte.
The Shredded beef taco, cheese enchilada and beans $7.45. Cheese enchilada, rice and beans $6.95. Chile relleno, rice and beans $6.95. Chicken enchilada with rice, beans and sour cream $7.55 Taco salad, topped with beef or chicken $5.75. Or the Folded quesadilla "El Encanto" with chicken or shredded beef $6.85. There are many many more selections. The Seafood enchilada with green chili sauce and a dollop of fundido sauce. Served with rice. $6.95 is especially nice as is the Grilled sea bass, served with rice and flour tortilla $6.85.
El Encanto A la Carte Chimichangas of Chicken, of shredded or machaca beef, green chili beef or vegetables $7.15 or Seafood $7.30 all wonderful. Burros, Flautas, Tacos, Enchiladas, Rellenos, Tamales, or Tostadas, offer no better way to warm up on a cold winter day!
At dinner you may want to try Especiales DE El Encanto which include the most special Rellenos of Ancho Chile Relleno, fresh roasted Anaheim chile stuffed with mesquite grilled chicken breast and beans, covered with a savory ancho chile sauce and Monterey Jack cheese served with black beans and rice $15.75. If you are daring you will want to try Carnitas Poblano Relleno, a large fresh roasted Poblano chile stuffed with tender pork carnitas and topped with green chile sauce and jack cheese served with black beans and corn rice $15.75. Chile Relleno or Chile Relleno Con Carne or Pollo Fundido are great too. From The Mesquite Grill try the Sizzling Hot Fajitas marinated strips of chicken, beef, pork or vegetables, mesquite grilled with fresh peppers and onions served sizzling hot at your table with warm tortillas, beans, guacamole and pico de gallo salsa $14.65 Shrimp $16.95 – a bargain when compared to fajitas elsewhere. And it creates and exciting atmosphere when that sizzling skillet appears!
Mole is a blend of red chiles, sweet dark chocolate, a hint of roasted nuts and spices. If you like mole, you will love El Encanto’s mole. Steak, chicken, fresh Sea Bass or Guaymas Shrimp, are served in several ways and all are delicious.
El Encanto recently opened its second restaurant, El Encanto Dos, in Desert Hills Arizona. Their website says, ”The new restaurant has the same great food in a different setting. It also has the feel of Mexico with vibrant colors, tile scenes and wrought iron accents. There is plenty of outdoor dining next to a small creek, where guests sit next to a picturesque fireplace and enjoy their meals.””Both restaurants have uniquely designed indoor/outdoor Cantinas with views of the enchanting setting. Intricate handcrafted details include a bar top made of swirlstone; inlaid Mexican tile; and handmade wrought iron wine racks and chairs designed by local artists. El Encanto Dos also boasts a sports bar with 5 large plasma televisions.””The cantinas carry more than 40 different tequilas that can be sampled in flights, and a distinctive wine selection from Mexico, Spain, South America, California and Oregon. The Cantina Tapas menu offers a selection of smaller, more specialized items to the bar clientele.” ”The owners, Bill Nelson and his daughter Christine, have tried to create an authentic Mexican atmosphere in which to enjoy similarly authentic and in many cases unique to Arizona Mexican specialties. “
In the many years of dining at El Encanto, I have experienced many varied levels of service. But I must say they have always been warm and friendly and have done their best to make it a good meal. At times it’s crowded and busy and the noise level can get up there on those raucous occasions. But I’ve never been unsatisfied with the food and continue to return frequently. I guess you can say they have earned an endorsement as a favorite place by the Cowgirl Connoisseur and you can tell them so the next time you dine at El Encanto Restaurant in Cave Creek. Phone: (480) 488-1752 at 6248 E. Cave Creek Rd. Cave Creek, AZ 85331 or the new El Encanto Dos Restaurant in Desert Hills Phone: (623) 780-5948 at 1112 E Carefree Hwy Desert Hills, AZ 85085. Hours 11am-10pm weekends 8am-10pm at both locations. http://www.elencantorestaurant.com/

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.