mrfoody's Profile
phx - what place are you glad you gave a 2nd chance
The Vig on 40th street. Thee weeks after this joint opened, Michelle Laudig at New Times ripped everything from the food to the patrons...even commenting on the fancy cars that filled the parking lot. Nikki Buchanan at Phx Mag echoed many of her comments a couple weeks later. I must say, I had to agree with much of their criticisms....my wife and I tried it a few times early on, and the food left a lot to be desired. I think the ownership must have listened. I've heard they brought in Micheal Demaria from Michael's at the Citidel, and his team to reconstruct the menu and put in place a new Chef and kitchen crew. Nikki must have given them another try, because she recently named them with one of the best new restaurants in Phoenix. When we read that we felt compelled to give them another try. We're glad we did. The menu is still very basic, filled with grill type items that might be best categorized as comfort food with a twist. But everything our crew has tried has been solid. We love the wings, burgers and many of the salads...the rock shrimp appetizer is terrific. It's all priced reasonably and the food can be enjoyed in a cozy booth or by the fire on their spacious patio. I heard bad things about the service early on as well, but our servers are always friendly and efficient. People can find fault in any restaurant, but The Vig seems to have found it's stride by offering a basic 'grill' menu at reasonable prices along an atmosphere that not many establishments can match. It's no five star restaurant, but I don't think that is The Vig's intent. It's a neighborhood tavern where the food is as good as the people watching. We're regulars, now.
Overeasy - Coming Soon (PHX)
Ya, its open. May is partners with the guys that own The Vig next door. Breakfast only, seven days a week from six am to 11. I've been there twice and both experiences have been great. Funky little neighborhood joint that's already filled with a diversified mix of patrons...just like the Vig. Waffles and Corn Beef Hash are off the charts yummy. Dig in, Arcadia.
Looking for trendy, not so expensive restaurants in Phoenix
I don't think I've seen a more polarizing spot on chowhound phoenix then The Vig. I find it hard to pass judgement on a place simply because it's deemed 'trendy' (there's a few others on your list that get the same biased treatment -Barrio, AZ 88, Ra.) Let's face it The Vig and others don't go out of their way to be trendy or popular...they just seem to resonate with a crowd that is obviously different then those you like to hang out with. Way to many bloggers are closet haters and simply use this forum to take out their obvious dislike of people different then themselves. I don't consider myself trendy, but do appreciate quality food served in a fun/cool atmosphere... so places like Fate, The Vig and others would land on my good list while over rated and played out spots like Richardsons, George & Dragon, Pink Pony etc would replace them on the bad list.
Radio Milano - Phoenix
i'm not sure if this bodes well for the LGO group or not, but some folks that work at RadioMilano told me that Pam, the former GM of The Orange, Chelsea's Kitchen and now RM, quit the other day. If anyone knows Pam I'm sure you'll agree that she'll be tough to replace. We'll see if her replacement can help them turn things around....
