June 2, 2025 - LongHorn Steakhouse - Mesa, Arizona

 My sister and her husband celebrated my upcoming 77th birthday with dinner at the LongHorn.

We started with drinks...accompanied with an oil and herb mixture for bread dipping .

Appetizer – White Cheddar Stuffed Mushrooms

Dinner  - I ordered Flo’s 6 oz. Filet with a loaded Baked Potato and a Chopped Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing.

Jeanne and Willie shared a 22 oz. Fire-Grilled T-Bone Steak.  Willie had the Loaded Baked Potato and Jeanne ordered the Strawberry and Pecan Salad.

Dessert – Jeanne and Willie brought in a darling small – 3-tier Carrot Cake…and the wait staff brought me a Ice Cream Sundae which I shared with Jeanne and Willie.

Comments – I felt right at home in this restaurant.  It was a Montana style steakhouse

LongHorn Steakhouse
1434 S. Alma School Road
Mesa, Arizona 85210
(480) 461-0790
Hours:  Sunday – Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
             Friday – Saturday 11:00 a.m  - 11:00 p.m..

March 1, 2025 - Main Burgers - Mesa, Arizona

 This is a new burger joint in Mesa.  My friend Peg and I decided to give it a try.  

We both ordered the Classic Burger  - single patty with American cheese, pickles, caramelized onions, lettuce and house sauce…and fries and a drink.  I wish that I had taken a picture because the buns were beautiful.  (And presentation is such a big part of the meal.)  The meat was good tasting.  My fries were hot and crisp.  We ate inside so our meals were brought to us.

 I will be returning because there are two other burgers and a hot dog on the menus…and I am trying every one of them.

 It is a cute…small little restaurant where you stand in line and order.   There is some indoor seating.  Lots of seating on the patio overlooking Main Street and the light rail…but there was so much activity going on in downtown Mesa…that it made for a fun experience on the patio.  Plus one could enjoy the music from across the street at Pedal Haus Bier Gardens.  Who could ask for more on a nice mild Saturday evening.  I love what is happening in downtown Mesa.

The service by the entire staff was excellent.

Main Burgers
161 W.  Main Street
Mesa, AZ
mainburgeraz.com
Hours:  Monday – Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
             Friday – Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
             Sunday – Closed
Must try – Sonora and Chiwas burgers – and the dirty fries

January 21, 2025 - The Kolache Cafe - Mesa, Arizona

After my doctor appointment I was hungry for breakfast.  I remembered putting this restaurant on my "Try List."  So I drove west on Southern Avenue. Found it without any problems. 

I ordered for breakfast one Sausage and Gravy…one Smoked Sausage and Cheese…and then to take home…one Cherry Cheesecake….and a cup of The Buzzed Goat Coffee…delicious.

These are dough stuffed buns.  The softest and best tasting dough I have eaten in a very long time.  A hint of sweetness but not too much…so they must put a pinch or so of sugar in the dough.  They are all homemade right at the café.  Served very warm.

Kolaches are traditional Czech…

I have the whole list of items sold…and I aim to try everyone of them.  Two other ladies were in the café.  We visited a while.  They told me how they tried to find the new café…and didn’t until last night after closing.  How they drove through the Take Out Line. The lady said, “we just had to check it out.”  

(I started laughing.  Yup, I get it.)

Kolache Café

1952 E. Southern Avenue Suite #101

Mesa, AZ

(480) 474-4383

Hours:  6:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

December 31, 2024 - Waldo's BBQ - Mesa, Arizona

The pinochle group that I sub for…asked me if I wanted to go out to eat with them on New Years Eve.  Yes!  I was with Irma, Ethel, Donna, Conne and Jim.

Water was served in big mason jars.

I started with a Blackberry Moon Shine drink.  I didn’t taste any alcohol in it…but it wasn’t bad.  I ordered the Riblets (which everyone else did but Ethel who ordered the Shrimp basket.) my sides were coleslaw- which was house made and very tasty – and the Fried Corn Cob.  I had never seen that on a menu before now.  I really liked it but it wasn’t hot…not even warm….it could have been a show stopper but wasn’t.  I also paid an extra $1 for a piece of the green chile corn bread.  I did not care for it because it didn’t have the consistency of corn bread…and I never tasted a chile even though I could see pieces of it in the bread.  It also was never served hot or even warm.  

They gave me 3 or 4 huge pieces of BBQ meat…it was cooked well and tender…I ordered my sauce on the side and they brought two skillets to our table with sauce…and I did like dipping my meat into sauce because I really don’t like BBQ sauce slathered on my meat.

Our waiter was very nice, accommodating and efficient!  They wouldn’t let Ethel substitute anything for her fries…and her fries looked loaded with grease…and probably warm…not hot and crispy.

I enjoyed my meal because of the people there with me…but I wouldn’t ever chose to just go there for a great meal simply because this restaurant needs to put out the meals hotter…not faster.

After we went to Ethel’s house and played pinochle with five people.  The dealer sat out and the other four played together.  I liked it.  It was fun.  Just before it was midnight in New York at Tines Square, Ethel dug out the asti and we each had a glass as we toasted to the new year…none of us could have stayed up until midnight.

November 30, 2024 - Chile Pepper - Yuma, Arizona

Sylvia and I ate here on our 2-day trek to Yuma. I ordered the Fiesta Platter -  carne asada plate with refried beans and rice…and it came with onions, tomatoes, sour cream, guacamole, and three small flour tortillas.  It was very good.

Chile Pepper    
1030 W. 24th Street                                 
Yuma, Arizona 85364
 (928) 783-4213
 Hours:  Monday – Saturday 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m
               Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.    

November 29, 2024 - Space Age Restaurant - Gila Bend, Arizona

 Sylvia and I ate here on our way to Yuma on our 2-day Yuma trek. 

I ordered the two egg breakfast – two eggs over medium, hash browns and rye toast. I couldn’t believe the prices…this was $14.99…and the wasn’t too bad…but 3 pieces of bacon $8.99…I thought was over the top.

It wasn’t that good but we were hungry.  Plus it was the only restaurant that was open that we could find.  We didn’t want fast food.

Ourside of the restaurant

Sign outside

Door Monitor

Booths

One of the inside murals

Another mural in the eating area

Creatures from another world

Friendly creature at the cashier area

Space Age Restaurant

401 E. Pima Street

Gila Bend, Arizona 85337

(928) 683-2761

Hours:  Daily 6:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

November 23, 2024 - Big Earl's Greasy Eats - Cave Creek, Arizona

 I visited with Sylvia after a wonderful visit to the Cave Creek Museum.  And the bonus- we watched the mill stamp operating.  All the volunteers were wonderful and full of information. 

I ordered the Big Earl’s Cheeseburger and (as  the Museum volunteer Darlene for the day told me - I ordered the adult milk shake) Creamcycle Milk Shake which came in this plastic red cup with the Big Earl’s Logo on it and the saying   “Boozy Milkshakes? Yes,  Please!”  Everything was delicious.  I plan to return with friends.  

After our meal, we went into Big Earl’s candy shop where Sylvia bought two big pieces of fudge which was homemade on Mackinaw Island, Michigan.

Big Earl’s Greasy Eats
6135 E. Cave Creek Road
Cave Creek Arizona 85331
(480) 575-7889
Hours:  Sunday – Thursday 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
             Friday – Saturday  7:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Reto eatery serving breakfast, burgers, shakes, cocktails in a former gas station with a large patio…and a candy store, too.

Big Earl's Sign

A mural on the building wall