Late Night Dinner

Back in Tempe Marketplace one last time, I decided to venture to one of the newest establishments: D’Arcy McGhee’s. D’Arcy’s is an Irish pub in the northeast part of the mall. The restaurant and staff was all decked out in Irish gear giving it a real Ireland impersonation. I ended up there one night after a movie because it is open later than most restaurants in the mall.  Sunday-Thursday it’s open until 11 and Friday-Saturday it’s open until 1 am.

The menu is extensive offering everything from hamburgers to a house favorite, Shepherd’s Pie. The first time I went I decided to get the prime rib burger.  I was good, but to be quite honest it was not anything out of this world or overly spectacular. The burger was served with french fries, but again it was nothing special. The one great thing that D’Arcy’s does is they do a reverse happy hour as well as a normal happy hour. The happy hour during the early evening hours has a deal on drinks as well as appetizers. The  reverse happy hour has it’s own menu “Late Night Menu”  and is served 9 pm-11pm during the week and 11 pm-1 am on the weekends. The menu consists of a few appetizers as well as entrees and drinks.

D’Arcy’s even has a breakfast menu. The only catch with breakfast is that it is only served on the weekends until 4 pm. There are a total of five locations, but four of them are in Ontario, Canada. For hours, menus, and specials for the only American location visit D’Arcy’s in Tempe here.

Big and Fat

Greek restaurant, that is. I have once again decided to venture out to a small state-wide chain and try something new. I had never had Greek food or anything of the sort before I visited My Big Fat Greek Restaurant. But I have to say my first taste of Greece was pretty impressive.  There are nine locations state-wide, but I chose to go to the one on Mill Avenue in Tempe.  The atmosphere at the Tempe location was very cool.  I sat out on the patio and all the people walking by gave it a very small town appeal. The patio also had a bar that was partly inside and out and outdoor seating that could be covered for the winter.

The menu is extensive and had a lot of things on it that I had never heard of being unfamiliar with Greek food. I opted to get the stuffed peppers. It was essentially bell peppers stuffed with rice, sirloin, tomatoes, and spices.  It was served with potatoes and roasted vegateables. The whole reason I got it was because I recognized the name.  My mom used to make stuffed pepers, but I had no idea they were Greek! My mom is a fantastic cook and these absolutely challenged her peppers. I don’t think they were better than hers, but they were definitely delicious and worth the money (since my mom lives 2000 miles away!).  Both of the people I was with got their gyros and said they were out of this world.

So if you’re looking for a little piece of Greece here in the valley, then My Big Fat Greek Restaurant is the place to go.  For more information on locations, hours, and the menu visit them here.

Breakfast Take Two

Fresh off my breakfast review in Chicago, I decided to do breakfast here in the valley. Mimi’s Café in Mesa is my go-to place for all things breakfast. I’ve been there a few times and it’s the one place I take people who are in town visiting. Mimi’s is located at the intersection of Southern Avenue and Alma School Road right by Fiesta Mall. The first time I ate there was because I happen to stumble upon it when I was driving around with my dad. It ended up being one of the best things I have ever stumbled upon.

The restaurant is actually open for all three meals, but the times I have eaten there have been for breakfast. They have quite an extensive menu for every meal, but their breakfast one has quite a variety. It isn’t quite as large as Elly’s, but still proves to have a little bit of everything. Another nice thing about Mimi’s is the prices. The menu is very fairly priced. The breakfast menu ranges from $6.00-$11.00. The lunch and dinner menu ranges from $7.00-$16.00. The lunch and dinner menu offers half portions that are even cheaper.

I chose to get the “Mardi Gras Omelette.” It is your basic omelet but has chunks of ham, sausage, bacon, Cajun sausage, tomatoes, and cheddar cheese. Basically a heart attack in an omelet, but it was absolutely delicious. The service was nothing extraordinary, but not terrible either. I’d definitely recommend it for a quick breakfast any day of the week. For more information about hours, menus, and locations nationwide visit Mimi’s here

 

Taking it to the Streets

After spending months reviewing restaurants in the valley, I have decided to take it on the road. This time we’re heading to Chicago, but I’m not reviewing what you could expect. No not pizza or hot dogs, but breakfast. Elly’s Pancake House is a very small chain in the Chicago area with three locations. I first discovered this family owned restaurant some time ago, but recently went there when I was home visiting family.

It has a very small town feel for such a big city. The same servers are always working and you come to recognize many of them. The couple who has owned it for years is always working. They are always friendly and greet you like they would their own family. The menu is absolutely huge. They have absolutely everything from breakfast plates to omelets to pancakes to skillets.

The best part of Elly’s is how quickly the food comes out. Generally breakfast is a pretty quick meal, but this is exceptionally fast. I always switch back and forth between the potato pancakes, which are to die for, and a bacon and onion skillet. The skillet starts with hash browns then it is topped with toppings of your choice, in my case it was bacon and onion, and then finally with eggs made any way you would like. Once it is served, you mix it all up and dig in.If you are ever in the area and looking for a spectacular breakfast look no further than Elly’s. All three locations are open 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. 7 days a week, 365 days a year. For more information, call one of the three locations: Arlington Heights (847-364-4400), Glenview, (847-635-9500 ), and Mundelein (847-837-8100 ).

On The Road Again…

Seeing as I have spent a lot of time reviewing over in Tempe Marketplace, I decided to head further east and venture to Mesa Riverview. The shopping area is located at Dobson and the 202 about a half of a mile from Tempe Marketplace. One of the many places that stood out to me was Logan’s Roadhouse. It had an ideal location right on the corner. The name of it immediately reminded me of Texas Roadhouse so I was quickly drawn in.

When I walked inside, it felt very much like Texas Roadhouse. Maybe not as loud or as busy, but definitely in that southern-feel-type-of-way. One of the first things I noticed was peanut shells on the floor and it was disgusting. I understand that it was part of the whole laid back environment, but it was gross to be walking to a table crushing food beneath your feet.

Once I got past all the peanuts, I was greeted by server and ordered. I chose to get shrimp kabobs and mashed potatoes. While I was waiting for my food I was brought a basket of rolls. The rolls were warm and buttered already. They were good, but the greasy way they were presented was a little off putting. My dinner quickly followed. The food was absolutely delicious. Despite the fact I was brought the wrong meal at first, it was delicious. I’m very picky about my mashed potatoes, but these actually passed the test.

For more information about locations and hours visit Logan’s here.

Mexico Take Two

After trying Mi Amigo’s in the Arizona Center, I decided to give a much-talked about place called Maria, Maria a shot. It is located in Tempe Marketplace (like many of my resturant reviews) and dominates the northwest corner of the shopping center. The first time I dined there was for a going away party for a friend.  The environment is very different from what I expected. It does not feel like most Mexican restaurants in the area, which makes it stand out among the rest. It is candle lit, has a very “cool” feel and has a very sleek look to it.

The menu itself is very traditional and has the usual suspects like enchiladas, tacos, nachos, and burritos. The items are basically the same, but the presentation was very different. I ordered a chicken enchilada, but what I got was not just an ordinary enchilada. It was garnished and covered to the max. The presentation seemed to reflect the somewhat high prices (compared to the rest of the marketplace), but the actual quality of the food did not.  I mean, it was okay but it did not taste as good as it looked.

The one neat thing Maria, Maria has going for it is the pop culture connection. The restaurant is owned by Carlos Santana and it is actually named after his song “Maria, Maria”. The Tempe location was the restaurant’s second location in the southwest. For more information about making reservations, hours, menu and locations vist the Maria, Maria website.

Sushi In The Desert

Two things that I never thought would go together are sushi and the desert. But surprisingly they do, and one establishment does it fabulously well. Kabuki Japanese Restaurant rises above most when it comes to sushi. The location I visited is located in the heart of Tempe Marketplace and attracts anyone and everyone. Sushi was always something I thought I’d never eat, never mind like. The thought of eating raw fish grossed me out to be quite honest, but then one of friends had her birthday dinner at Kabuki and everything changed.

The menu is extensive and includes everything from traditional Japanese sushi rolls to fried calamari for an appetizer. Customers have the option of sitting and watching the sushi being made, sitting outside on the patio, or just traditional restaurant seating. The atmosphere is very modern and “cool”. It has a sleekness to it that I haven’t experienced in a restaurant before.

For an appetizer I had edamame, which is boiled and salted soy beans. They were very good, but it wasn’t anything special. Edamame is one of those things that generally tastes the same everywhere. For dinner I had a veggie roll. Again, it was good but wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. Kabuki is one of those places you go more for the atmosphere than the food. Don’t get me wrong, the food was good, but nothing I would wait for on a Friday night.

There are two locations in Arizona. They are in Glendale and Tempe. For more information visit their website.

Phoenix Does Little Italy

 

I have always found pizza difficult to find, or should I say GOOD pizza is hard to find. Well, outside of Chicago anyways. For those of you who are like me and struggle to find something decent, I have found an answer. It’s called Café Roma Pizzeria in downtown Phoenix. It is located in Arizona Center and actually is a close neighbor to Mi Amigos.

I have dined there multiple times. Once was during the early evening on a Friday night and the place was hopping. The inside, as well as the patio, had plenty of people. I have also been there during the late lunch hours during the week. It was much slower than a Friday night, but what restaurant isn’t? The restaurant is very casual and lets people pay at the counter, sort of like a fast food place. But I promise you the food is nothing like your typical Sbarros. They have every kind of pizza imaginable and you can actually see it baked right in front of you. They have a variety of choices right behind the glass counter so you can see exactly what each type of pizza actually is.

The restaurant also features salads and a variety of Italian dishes. Their chef salad is absolutely to die for. It features a few different kinds of deli meat along with tomatoes, cheese, and of course lettuce. It has the perfect blend of spice and nice to cure any appetite. For hours and more information call (602) 281-6120

 

 

The House That Fish Built

Located in the very busy, very (restaurant) populated Tempe Marketplace stands one restaurant that rises above the rest: King’s Fish House.  It’s a small chain based out of Southern California and last October they opened their first Arizona location. The first thing that I noticed is the building; it is something that I would expect to see on the east coast.  It’s all brick with door outdoor patios. It has a long and covered sidewalk leading from the street to the front door. The only thing that will turn people off will be the parking.  The parking lot is actually behind the building and forces people to walk almost all the way around the building.  Obviously, this is not something that will attract people who may have trouble walking.

The menu is absolutely enormous. They have just about everything you could imagine. Not a seafood lover? That’s okay! They feature a lot of items such as chicken, pastas, steaks, and sandwiches that will cure any appetite.  All of their fish is delivered fresh everyday (with the exception of Sundays). They even feature an oyster bar and their very own sushi menu.

The service was fantastic and made me feel like I was an important guest.  I noticed that the managers cruised around the restaurant and stopped by just about every table to make sure their experience was going well.  It made it seem like they cared about every single one of the people dining in the restaurant. Friday and Saturday nights tend to be busy so if you plan on heading over then, I recommend reservations.  You can make those by calling (480) 966-9121. Visit King’s Online  for more information.

Hola Mi(s) Amigo’s!

         I stumbled into this place during the lunch hour on a Tuesday afternoon. I had a two hour break between work and class and was strolling through Arizona Center trying to see what my options were. Mi Amigo’s caught my attention right away.

        The front door was surrounded by tons of patio seating, which is where I would have sat if it wasn’t 110 degrees. When I walked in the door, I was greeted warmly and immediately took in the environment. It felt festive and true to Mexican culture. It had music playing that was upbeat and seemed to fit the attitude of guests as well as the staff. The small crowd seemed to comprised of everyone from families with small kids to your business types. I caught them on the tail end of the lunch hour so it wasn’t overly busy, but there were enough people there to keep the staff busy. I decided to just sit at the bar and watch the Diamondbacks game while I ate. I was greeted almost immediately and my lunch quickly followed. The service was quick, but didn’t feel rushed.  

      In Arizona, good Mexican food isn’t difficult to find, but Mi Amigo’s was one of the best places I have found since being out here.  I had a friend whose mother was Mexican and she used to cook out of this world, authentic Mexican food.  I haven’t been able to find anything close to it in a restaurant.  Mi Amigo’s was by far the closest I have ever come.  It was absolutely delicious. Everything from the chips and salsa to the chicken tacos was superb. Whether it’s for a family lunch or a business meeting, I’d recommend Mi Amigo’s to anyone and everyone. 

For menus, locations, and other information visit Mi Amigo’s Online