Do you happen to have a grill?
They have great carne asada. Just ask for it with marinade ("preparada")and the butchers will add it right to the bag.
Grab fresh tortillas
Fresh cilantro, cabbage, limes
Fresh ceviche
Visit the salsa bar for. different salsas and some prepared fruits with chile powder (yum!) and yummy rice pudding for dessert

And try a sonoran hot dog while you're there.

I love PRM and I continually sing its praises :)

It reminds me of the mercado in Juarez I used to to roam around with my grandparents. My visits always focus on the cooked food (the gorditas are stellar), with a sprinkle of produce and meat thrown in for good measure. We eat and then we shop.

Even if the Roosevelt location wasn't the closest to you, I would recommend it. It just has a different vibe than the others.

While I do like Durant's, Coronado Cafe is an excellent choice as well.

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Coronado Cafe
2201 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85006

Local Breeze (4th Ave & Filmore) has what they call "Low Tide", which is their version of happy hour with drink and food deals. They have a nice open layout with comfortable seating and nice fans overhead.

We were there for brunch on Sunday and they're building a bar and deck under the existing ramada area.

NO!!!!

Sidenote: Mr. Mamamia spoike to Richardson a few weeks ago. He happens to own all of the Dairy Queen/Rokerij land. When DQ's lease is up he's killing it with plans to do something very cool on that corner.

NO!!!!

Are they to two gals(hate that word!) on the corner of the middle row? They have great stuff, especially their root veggies.

Can't remember the Camp Verde farm name, but they sell beef as well. It's just not advertised well.

For a while I was going to just buy those incredible white marsh grapefruit from the Arcadia Farms people. But they're gone for the summer.

Got it. I know the Salon de Venus building.
Thank you!

I'm trying to picture in my mind what building we're talking about?
Anyone care to give me a location in relation to T&C?

p.s. I miss the old Washburn building :(

We haven't been to Marcellino in a good while, but I still mention it when people are looking for Italian in North Central. I'm glad to hear it's still making people heppy.

Incidentally, you mentioned you didn't know exactly how long it's been there. Well...we first ate there when they were about three weeks old. I was slightly pregnant with my first daughter. It was October '03.
We walked out hoping this little unassuming restaurant with great food in a so-so strip mall would make it.

Ha! I noticed my reply from '06, back when I had a different user name for some unknown reason. I was just there a few months ago - happily waited for 3 hours.

I've changed my slant: Would I wait for hours during the months of October - April? You bet! May - September? Forget it.

Ok, Ok, I know you want something other than pizza, but I figured since I'm here I would recommend a good local pizza chain for families: Oreganos.

Scottsdale covers a lot of area - will you be based in North or South/Central Scottsdale?

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Oregano's Pizza Bistro
7215 E Shea Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Sunday - 10am
Carne Adovada & Eggs with a nice cup of coffee @ Richardson's. My favorite breakfast.

It has a way of taking off the edge that a late Saturday night creates.

The Grill at TPC. Can't beat the ribeye, and it's a low key spot.

We've been a few times.

The first was early on and I had issues with the service. You can only sit there and watch other people getting drinks so long before you have to wonder if someone's playing a joke on you.
The second visit was much better, although I would agree they still need to work on things. Do they require basic training before letting people on the floor?

I really like the Moscow Mule - I love ginger so thiis is a drink I enjoy at AZ88 as well.

Hi,

I'm in search of a traditional Chinese hot pot lunch/dinner.
Super Dragon will do them on the weekends with a call ahead, but are there any other hot pot offerings around town?

Wow...we were thinking of going to Fate this weekend. Sens is on the list too - seems like a better choice at this point.

Oatmeal - my kids won't eat mine to this day because "it's not like Papa's!"

He's really not that good at anything else that doesn't come in a can or can be rolled and heated in a tortilla.

A subject that's close to my heart. It's one of my favorite foods.

I'm a big fan of Richardson's posole. My dad has an aversion to very spicy food and he gave it the thumbs up.

If you're looking for something more casual, even allowing you take carry it home in your own pot, try Food City. I've found that the quality varies from store to store, so it can range from just okay to spectacular. My dad and husband like their menudo, but I'm not a menudo fan. It's best on Sunday morning when it's fresh and the demand is high so it's never sitting around long.

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Richardson's Cuisine of New Mexico
1582 E. Bethany Home Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85016

Food City
1940 W Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ

Urban Cookies makes a pretty tasty chocolate chip cookie.

They were at the downtown market last Saturday. Hopefully they will continue to be there through the fall for those of us who run around with our hair on fire during the work week.

I got to see it early on when I sweet talked the paiting crew into letting me take a peek.

But I found this: http://www.hob-nobs.com/

It doesn't resemble the old place, and that's a good thing.

The saga of Willo(w) House may finally be ending...one can only hope. You can read all about it over at New Times blog. But that's not why I'm here.

Coming home last night I saw the former WH building, which has been spruced up and looking all sorts of cute inside - furniture is all there, pastry cabinets are in. The butcher paper was finally removed to reveal the new name, Hob Nobs.

There's been a buzz about it in the neighborhood for the past month. Those of us within walking distance are clammering for good local coffee with a nice comfortable vibe that we feel good about strolling the kids and dogs to.
That being said, they will have to compete with Copper Star for my coffee dollar, but I'm happy there's something coming back to that location.

I feel like those women in the old Mervyn's commercials who would sit with their noses pressed against the door waiting for the store to open: "Open. Open. Open."

I would definitely recommend Karl's. They'll whip up anything for you.

An ex boyfriend hailed from Ohio - I went back home with him once and isntantly developed a liking for Donatos. Everytime I travel back to Ohio-Indiana, I stop in.

Has anyone been to Panini Bakery and Cafe on 12th St & Northern, a couple of doors down from Marcellino?

I pass by quite often, but I'm usually in a hurry on my way to and from work.

UPDATE ON MELROSE CAFE: I drive by every day. This morning I happened to notice a change to the signage. It now says it's Italian/Pizzeria. I don't think it's open yet, though.

New Owners?
Same owners with a case of an identity crisis?

Reserving the big table at Dick's will be the only way the group will be able to sit together, if that's important.

A sidenote: We went to Richardson's last weekend. Service there is usually spot on, but we received poor service from our waiter. Our whole group was scratching our heads on this one....we wanted to slip some cash to our bus boy/guy/dude because he was better than the server. But until we see a pattern, we'll keep on going.

We used to hit TOM for take out when we lived down the street - decent food, but the real lure was location. I'll drive from dowtown for Super Dragon...for TOM, not so much. Ok, this is strange, but I always got the impression that the owner lived upstairs - his van was always there, 24/7. Anyone else ever get that vibe?

I think I'll just sit this one out until I start seeing raves.

Aiello's - haven't been yet and it's often overlooked

I can only pick one - you people without kids have it good. /jealous

Update: hmmmm....I just studied their course offerings for the week. I'm not a huge fan of their main course offerings.

I may have to re-think this.

I'm re-visiting this oldie but goodie from last year.

A gracious co-worker came into my office today and plunked down a Vosge Mo's Bacon Bar on my desk. We were looking for these last year, but ran out of steam after a while. It did lead me to find the Naga Bar, which is nice...but at $7 a pop a bit of an indulgence.

He found them at Cost Plus in case anyone is interested.

**I've passed by Chatham's a few times - please tell me more about it**

You can make reservations at Richardson's/Dick's for the big table in the cellar room. It seats twelve, and because of the setup, it's the only way your whole group will be able to sit together.

They also have a wonderful breakfast/brunch, so you have that option as well. Great coffee, carne adovada with eggs...yum.

Phoenix City Grille is a good option for late night dining as well.