furrybluecyclops's Profile
phx - what place are you glad you gave a 2nd chance
yes the black bean soup is fabulous in every way!!
phx - non-budget busting steak?
I second the AJs recommendation. It's the best cut in town, bar none, and if you know how to prepare it, you'll have the best meal in town!
Christmas Eve dinner in Phoenix?
Just went to Rokerij tonight and went to Richardson's within the last two weeks. Neither was very good as far the food but the ambiance is excellent. The pizza and sea bass at Richardson's were both bland and not memorable at all. The NY steak at Rokerij was barely edible, I would say it was even a bad cut of meat that wasn't trimmed. But maybe they will do better on xmas eve. The veal meatball appetizer was good, but still not write-home-about good, esp for an east-coaster. I'd look elsewhere if you have a foodie on your hands. And BTW the $14 glass cabernet was served cold and tasted like it had been open for days on end. Seems like they need to step things up a bit.
malatesta trattoria
We just had our wedding dinner (25 guests) at Malatesta and it was unbelieveably fantastic. Romantic, efficient, thoughtful and prompt service, and very easy to deal with as far as arranging everything from out of state by phone.
They served pre-selected appetizers (salad, calamari, bruschetta, and more) to the whole group and lovely Primitivo and Chianti wines for the tables. The guests particularly raved about the gnocchi, the lamb chops, the steak, and the chicken, and there was a really nicely done tiramisu cake at the end of the night. Not too sweet, not too heavy, just perfect.
The ambiance was softly-lit, with a certain classy feel without being at all fancy. Our guests, in their suits and dresses, felt just as at home there as the other patrons in turtleneck sweaters and jeans. It even snowed as we were leaving, which was a special treat for us desert-dwellers.
We will surely be back on our anniversary to try everything else on the menu :)
Highly recommended.
HELP! Looking for Good Breakfast in Phoenix
I am a big Matt's fan, but if you want a mimosa, seriously gorgeous food, and a beautiful setting on a weekend morning, head to Coronado Cafe downtown. It blew us away and there was NO waiting that day...
Returning to Phoenix/Tempe/Tucson after many years....
Cibo in Central Phoenix usually doesn't have a long wait, and excellent ambience. For a real experience with chiles, try Los Dos Molinos in South Phoenix. Both are reasonably priced. Zen 32 has great sushi and a nice patio.
Need Input On Best Burger In PHX Area
No one has mentioned Matt's Big Breakfast, which has a pretty decent burger they cook in butter...And I have to say that Uncle Bear's in Gilbert is REALLY good.
Malatesta for an informal reception?
How does Malatesta stack up against other "neighborhood" italian places these days?
We will be a group of about 25 after a very quick and informal wedding ceremony. We want to focus on italian with homemade pastas available, and we can transport our little group (who will all be visiting NYC for the first time, for the most part) anywhere if the food is great, the price is under $30 per entree, and the atmosphere isn't too stuffy but also not too brightly lit or cheesy... It's a very casual group that just wants to laugh it up, have a decent wine with a decently-portioned authentic italian meal, and and make some toasts.
We've already reserved Malatesta, and they have been lovely, but since the wedding is in December, we want to keep tabs on what everyone thinks of it as time passes.
Thanks!!
Best Soup Recipe when you're sick
I always crave Tom Kha Gai from the nearest thai restaurant I can find, made as spicy as they can do it. Great cure for anything.
Caesar Salad - Phoenix Metro
Just had the Tricks caesar again last week and it's gone downhill. Too creamy. Still good, but too creamy and without that tangy zing it used to have.
And definitely avoid the caesar at Fez if you don't like heavy creamy caesars. I got through half and felt like I'd just had a steak, it was soo heavy. The pistachios are a nice bit of interest though.
Scottsdale: Humble Pie!
I LOVE Pino's but their prices always seem a bit high to me for some reason. Maybe we just order too much :) My kids could live on his penne and marinara.
Best happy hour food in Phoenix area?
Awesome suggestions, all!! Thanks so much!!
One last question -- does anyone know if any of these fabulous happy hours go past 6pm or are offered on weekends? Just curious, so we can plan our attack....Furio's goes until 7 I think...
Best happy hour food in Phoenix area?
WOW what a great looking menu! we're there!! Thanks!
Best happy hour food in Phoenix area?
We're looking for really good, but relatively cheap, happy hour specials in the Phoenix area - meaning a chance to taste the menu without shelling out for a whole dinner experience and spending a ton of time. Weeknight recommendations would be especially appreciated - whether the happy hour is early evening or a 'reverse' happy hour. We are open to any type of cuisine for this quest. :)
The ones we've found so far that we reall like are: Kona Grill (Fashion Square - great food and drink specials, including sushi), Zen 32, and we've heard great things about Donovan's.
Any other cheap eats suggestions, whether or not during a specific happy hour, would also be appreciated! Thanks!
Small october wedding in Central Park, late night jazz @ the vanguard...need a good restaurant in-between, 30 people...
Alright, the planning is starting to take shape a little more...After considering our guest list more closely, we've decided to move the date up to Labor Day and take our 25 guests to a somewhat more casual italian restaurant (meaning something cozy and romantic with that brick-walls-and-wood-burning-oven thing going on) that has really authentic homemade pastas (my favorite thing!!), good steak, and excellent service. A true New York experience, hopefully, but without any thing too frou-frou for our out of town guests. (In other words, a pappardelle with lamb ragout would be great, but the more unique dishes at Babbo would be too intense for this crowd.) A private room is not necessary, if the place can accomodate the group's size. It would be nice to find a place somewhere not too far from the village, but location is less important than vibe..
I've been pointed toward:
Acqua
Scalini Fedeli
Puttanesca
Peasant
Malatesta
Crispo
What do you guys think?
Restaurant featuring home made pastas
I cannot say enough about Marcellino's. Pricey, but the papparadelle in lamb ragout was INSANELY good!!!! Perfect al dente texture, perfect sauce. I can't wait to get back there for valentine's day and try one of the many pasta specials they bring out on a platter before you order.
Small october wedding in Central Park, late night jazz @ the vanguard...need a good restaurant in-between, 30 people...
That's what I was afraid of. Well maybe we'll have to head over there after dinner for some jazz and dessert then. I hear the desserts there are pretty great. Thanks so much for clarifying this for me.
West Village - cozy for group dinner and easy on the budget?
Would Piadina work for a group of 20-30, do you think?
Hungry Musicians In Detroit...
You bet, we'll keep you posted...for the record, we stumbled into two cool places right next to the studio - only because they are right next to the studio and it's 5 degrees outside...!
Luci and Ethels, which is a tiny diner at the base of the Leland hotel. Only discovered it because the liquor store is right next door! Ha! But the breakfast was big, great-tasting,the burgers were handmade and excellent too. And not to mention cheap!
And then the bucharest cafe/bar, which has the best Berliner I've ever had.
phx - what place are you glad you gave a 2nd chance
Padres has always been great, IMO.
But our "2nd try" place was Mi Patio. Went there and got the usual taco-type fare the first few times, not really blown away. But then went back a year later and had the Camerones Del Diablo (really super-spicy with warm tortillas and spiced veggies...mmmmm) and the Hornitos Plata silver tequila shots. Been hooked ever since.
Good spot for a lunch meeting, central/east Phx?
Switch has been pretty quiet the few times I've been there for dinner...not sure about the lunch scene. The food is suprisingly good!!
Top 5 in Scottsdale, Top 1 in PHX-SW
I wouldn't risk Durants on such a short trip, except to stop in for a Leyden's gin martini...the kitchen has been sketch the last few times we've been there (we live right near there and used to dine there regularly, until recently).
I would head to Pizza Bianco, Zen 32 (sushi), Los Dos Molinos (long wait, and don't go if you fear HOT mexican food), Barrio Cafe (amazing New Mexican cuisine,with a great vibe), or Postino (wine bar with great soup, cheese plates, and sandwiches for lunch, and GREAT vibe).
Caesar Salad - Phoenix Metro
well, it's been awhile since I've had it, but House of Tricks in tempe had a caesar that I loved. It was heavy on garlic, lemon, and anchovy, and I'm sure the parmesan was fresh grated, at least back then. I think it would be worth another try to test it out.
And yes, Durant's has a totally different kitchen these days, if you ask me. Go for the martinis and then head to Marcellino's (north phx) for an amazing amazing meal..but I too digress. I wouldn't head to Durant's for their caesar, unless one of you thinks it's turning around lately.
Hungry Musicians In Detroit...
Yay! We went to Loui's last night and it was fabulous! Thanks so much!
Hungry Musicians In Detroit...
haha will do! thanks for the great idea, we'll definitely check out the majestic!
Hungry Musicians In Detroit...
The Love Me Nots....www.myspace.com/luvmenots
We will have to thank all the chowhounders on the records' liner notes! ha!
Hungry Musicians In Detroit...
great suggestions, thanks!! the studio is right by comerica park...
Holiday Party Ideas, Please!
Now that all the holiday parties are over...any thoughts on where the best place would be to host a 2008 holiday party, with the following specs:
- 20-30 people (mostly family visiting from out of town) for a sit-down meal
- A friday or saturday night
- under $100 pp
- Italian is preferred
- cozy, maybe even with a fireplace
- any location is fine
Since we're aiming for a December weekend, we want to book early! And any meal suggestions would be much appreciated also. Thanks chowhounds!
Hungry Musicians In Detroit...
We're in Detroit for a few days (from Phoenix) to record an album, which means dinner doesn't always happen until after 9pm,and breakfast is usually around 11am...and we have two vegetarians among us to boot. We are staying in Warren and driving into the city each day to the studio.
Any suggestions between those two places (or not too far from the path), especially for:
Breakfast
Pizza
Thai
(We also hear the hummus here in the motor city is something to check out - any suggestions on that?)
Thanks chowhounds!!
Help me choose: Crispo or Roberto Passon or Bianca on Bleecker Street?
Is Bianca a good possibility for a private party of about 30 people, during the winter months, or is it too small? What do you think?
