Monday, March 17, 2008

Some Restaurant Reviews for the locals

Okay so it has been a while since my last batch of local restaurant reviews, and some changes have occurred.

 

- For one Biff's Bagels, in what is now the Old Firehouse Plaza, has closed. It was inevitable, but it sucks. They were the only decent bagel place in the area (in my opinion).

 

- Pangaea Bakery, which I love, is expanding into part of the space that Biff's used to occupy. Theoretically they opened it up today, though I haven't stopped by yet to check it out.... yet.

 

There are also some additions:

- Maya's Mexican Restaurant (S. Montezuma St): Currently my favorite mexican restaurant. The best Carnitas I've had, though they are check or cash only. One of those dives that you fall in love with. Don't go if you are the type who is worried about spotless restaurants.

 

- Garcia's Market Restaurant (W. Goodwin St): Granny J blogged about this place, and I have to say that I enjoyed it. Again, it isn't a clean-freak type of restaurant, but it is right tasty!! Awesome Carne Asada, and a very friendly staff.

 

- Firehouse Kitchen (Goodwin st): A new restaurant located in the Old Firehouse Plaza. Small capacity, and you have to go up a flight of stairs outside to use the restroom (not the best layed out restaurant). The food is awesome however. They are now open for lunch, which is relatively well priced (~$10 a plate). Their dinner is also phenomenal, though more expensive at about $20 a plate. I guess you could call it Modern American food, with the gambit running from Crab Cakes to BBQ Beef Brisket, Hamburgers, Mac&Cheese, etc. My favorite waiter in town (Ralph) is working here, and they also just opened an appetizer and martini bar upstairs with live piano every night.

 

- Fujiyama's (Frontier Village): A Japanese restaurant. Though not quite as good as Esoji (downtown) they have a pretty decent sushi menu, and have VERY regular hours (unlike Esoji). Price is decent for sushi, though they don't have some items that you might like (Uni is one thing that they never seem to have). The wait staff is not the happiest bunch of folks, but if you are looking for a quick fix, it will do.

 

- Prescott Pantry (Iron Springs Rd): A great place that has been around for a long time. Sandwiches and soups are great here. A little pricey for what you get, but darn tasty, with a very helpful staff.

 

- Hawaiian Grille (W. Sheldon Street by PC): I've only been in here once, but I was very impressed with the food. It is a tiny restaurant (I believe there were only 6 or 7 tables), and the food was on the pricey side ($34 for two of us), but the tastes were killer! I keep meaning to go back, but never seem to be able to make it over there.

 

- Thai House Cafe (Corner of Cortez and Sheldon): I love this place! 1/2 of the staff speaks dodgy english, but they always have a smile on their faces and are happy to help. They food is great, and if you like spicy just let them know and they can ramp it up for ya. Personally, I am not a spicy person and they accommodate this admirably. If Pete says you are getting Campbell's soup, watch your bill. He tries to sneak a few thousand dollars on there for Campbell's Soup.....

 

That's all I got in me right now. Any of you guys have recommendations? What about for Prescott Valley? I'm not too familiar with the eating scene out there.

9 comments:

Catalyst said...

Tombo - We have all the favorites: MacDonald's, Wendy's, Arby's, Burger King, Jack in the Box, etc.

Oh, all right, you want to know about the real restaurants. There's a new one I like called Poor Red's Roost on the "backside" of Prescott Valley. Wonderful mussels, great steaks, lots of seafood and everything in between. For a restaurant with what looks like a menu using a microwave heavily they seem to do everything well. We also have Augie's, Garcia's, a place that advertises Hot Dogs but has some of the best pastrami around, Asian Buffet (which used to be up above Costco with a different name), Chili's, Zeke's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Streets of New York, Lonesome Valley Deli, and more pizza places than you can count. There's a new one in the Safeway Plaza called Pauly's Pizza but I haven't tried it yet. Many more restaurants but this is long enough already.

Chickenbells said...

Those are good picks! I love Casa Sanchez and Mayas and El Charro too! Sweet Tart's is rather good, and I just met the person who is opening Roosters (which is going to be right down from the shop)

Food is so fun!!

TomboCheck said...

Catalyst - I'll have to check out the Poor Red's Roost, sounds like a winner to me! I've tried some of the other places you listed, but it sounds like i need to get working on the rest of them. :)

Sadira - Casa Sanchez out on west gurley (by plaza bowl)? If so the one time i ate there it was AWESOME! El Charro hasn't impressed me the last few times I've been in there. They were a lot better ten years ago.
I've seen the sign for Roosters, and can't wait to try it out when they open. They are supposed to be a coffee bar too right?

Thanks guys for your recommendations!

Granny J said...

So I've stopped a couple of times over at the Spaghetti Western coffee place on Sheldon. It's gloriously hokey, but serves yummy gelato. They also have food, but I so want the cold stuff when I show up that I haven't tried it! And never forget the Thai take-out over at the Goodwin Street Plaza.

TomboCheck said...

GrannyJ - The spaghetti western is a decent place. Up until recently my roomate was the head cook, but was let go. I'm not a big fan of the layout or the time it takes to get the food, but the paninni are great, and the sausage/shrimp pasta is stellar! Prices are a bit high for what you get in my opinion.

If I'm looking for Gellato I think I would go to Sweat Ceasar's downtown. Their hot food isn't the best, but they have great cold stuff.

And Thai-Phoon (I think) is the place in the Goodwin street plaza? Good stuff, though I haven't been there in a few years. I might have to stop back in to have another taste.

Anonymous said...

Have you tried Annalina's on Whiskey Row? I think it's not only the best Mexican restaurant in Prescott, but one of the best in the state. The menu mixes the familiar (enchiladas, tamales, etc.) with the more exotic (sopes, rajas, etc.) All is well prepared, and the service is efficient and friendly.

TomboCheck said...

David SB - I have tried Annalina's a three times. The food is pretty decent, but every time I have been in there I have been disappointed by the service. Not only did they get my order wrong on 2 different occasions, but I also had to wait 10 minutes for somebody to take my drink order (when there were only 3 tables busy). 3 strikes and they are out in my book.

Perhaps it was just bad luck those three times...

Unknown said...

Prescott Valley is SORELY lacking any decent resteraunts. Poor Red's Roost was one of the best around and they are closed. Augies is dull and poor quality food. Asian Buffet is cardboard cutout of any asian food buffet on the west coast and lacks any flavor. (I dearly miss east coast chinese food!) Zeke's is pretty good for an average meal. Streets of New York is closed, now replaced by Tailgaters which has the worst service in the world!! Pauly's Pizza had great food but is amongst the list of non-survivors in this town. All the good food leaves! Is it ever going to be possible to get a resteraunt in this town of any higher quality than Denny's??

TomboCheck said...

Christi - I'm sorry to hear it, but that's about the experience I've had in PV as well. A few decent little places like Rusty's for subs, or chips/salsa at Oliva's, but overall I've not been thrilled. I agree on Tailgaiters, went there a few weeks ago and was sorely disappointed; even after Augie's change up I'm still not interested in what they are offering.

The sad thing is when I have to eat in PV with friends I'm just as likely to hit up Chile's as anywhere else. I keep hoping something new and amazing will crop up out there. :)