Monday, November 30, 2015

November 28, 2015 - Blue Lemon - Gilbert, Arizona


Revised:  September 9, 2018  - this restaurant is no longer in business at this location...nor have I found it at any other location.

I visited with Sandy Wilts, Carol and Mike Thompson after our morning of shopping at At Home.

Mike ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken  - al dente pasta sautéed  with garlic, portobello mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes., spinach, and lemon pesto tossed with creamy  alfredo  sauce and drizzled with sweet balsamic glaze and a Garden Salad.  He said the fettuccine stuck together too much. 



Carol ordered the Grilled Balsamic Chicken Panini – balsamic glazed chicken, with sliced tomatoes, grilled onions, garlic, peppers and herbs, provolone, and lemon pesto aioli on grilled sourdough bread.




Sandy ordered the Lemon Grilled Chicken BLT – grilled chicken, crispy turkey bacon, vine-ripened tomatoes, provolone, fresh lettuce dressed with Blue Lemon vinaigrette, and lemon pesto aioli on grilled sourdough bread.




I ordered the Coconut Chicken Curry – grilled chicken breast over blue lemon rice an red coconut curry sauce served with sautéed asparagus, peppers, onions, topped with mango salsa and toasted coconut.  I was so excited about looking at all the food and taking pictures that I forgot to take a picture of my plate.  Darn!  My meal was very well presented.


Sandy also ordered a whole order of the Artichoke Spinach Cheese Dip  with grilled flatbread and veggies – cucumbers, carrots and celery.




One of my negative comments is the Artichoke Spinach Cheese Dip was served...and like three seconds later our entrees were delivered.  Don't offer starters if you aren't going to give us time to enjoy the starter before our meal begins.

The motto is "pure clean food with a twist".  Don't serve it as it was fast food.  This restaurant has a really good idea...and some really good presentations but I fear people who want to go out shopping on a Saturday afternoon like us just won't feel comfortable in this restaurant because it is as if they can't make up their mind...pure food...or fast food.

Blue Lemon
4341 E. Baseline Rd
Suite 108
Gilbert, Arizona
(480) 507-2583
Hours:  Monday – Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
                              Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Friday, November 27, 2015

November 27, 2015 - Republica Empanada - Mesa, Arizona - Updated 1-16-2018


I visited on January 16, 2018 with Cathy Lindholm and Marilyn Stavos after bridge at Leisure World.

This was Cathy and Marilyn's first visit. 

We chose to sit on the patio because it was so cold inside…but lovely on the patio..especially when they turned on the heater…yes!  Cathy and I both ordered the Empanada Platter which includes two empanadas, rice, beans, cabbage salad, maduros (ripe sweet plantains) and crema Mexican.  Cathy chose the El Capitan (seasoned beef, potato, boiled egg, green olives and golden raisin – and the Cubana (pernil, ham, mozzarella and dill pickle) as her two empanadas.  I chose the Cheeseburger (seasoned ground beef and cheddar cheese) and also the Cubana.

Marilyn ordered the Vegan Platter – one vegan empanada, rice, beans, cabbage salad, maduro and crema Mexican.

Everyone loved their meal.  The cheeseburger empanada is my favorite.  This was the first time that I tried the Cubana..and I loved it.  Also love that delicious sauce that is served…it does have a big bite at the end of your taste… but it is one of the reasons I also visit.

Cathy and I also had a dessert empanada…I chose the Banana Cream…and Cathy the Dizzy Fig.


The service was very good and efficient.

There is also an hours change...now 10:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.  Closed on Sundays.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After Judson's hockey game early this afternoon, Sandy Wilts and I stopped in downtown Mesa and tried lunch at the Republica Empanada.  I had the Special…pick two empanadas…and I choose the Cheeseburger…seasoned ground beef and cheddar cheese…and then a dessert one…Guava and Cheese….guava preserves and mozzarella cheese…it was served with Black Beans, Rice and  Cabbage Salad…great meal.  I loved the empanadas.  They were served with this green sauce…very tasty…especially on my rice.  They wouldn’t tell me the ingredients..and I respect that.  I thought maybe cucumber…but she said, “no”…but I did guess the onions and the jalapenos…it did a little bite to it.



The Special - with the Cheeseburger Empanada



Sandy had the Republica Chicken Empanada…Chicken, fresh vegetables and seasonings…and a glass of wine.  She also liked hers.



Sandy's Republica Chicken Empanada on the right...my Guava and Cheese Empanada on the left.

This restaurant is a pan-Latin bistro that specializes in Arizona’s largest variety of South American style savory empanadas….all of which represent the different regions and tastes of Latin American food.

Republica Empanada
204 E. 1st Avenue
Mesa, Arizona 85210
(480) 969-1343
Hours:  Monday-Saturday 10:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
             Sunday - Closed

Sunday, November 22, 2015

November 22, 2015 - The Good Egg - Mesa, Arizona

Visited on November 22, 2015 with Sandy Wilts, Carol and Mike Thompson. After Mass Sandy and I met up with the Thompsons at The Good Egg on Val Vista for breakfast…what an experience.    Carol ordered the single buttermilk pancake. 


Carol's Single Buttermilk Pancake

Mike ordered the Country Combo- all-natural ham, sausage, bacon, Monterey Jack and Cheddar topped with sausage gravy, served with a biscuit and honey.




Sandy ordered the Bacado – bacon, avocado and diced tomatoes with Brie and Monterey Jack…served with salsa.




I ordered the Biscuits and Gravy – buttermilk biscuits, sausage gravy, two eggs (scrambled) and seasoned potatoes.





I am not even going to talk about the food which I think would have been quite good…but we all arrived about 9:40 a.m….we weren’t seated until well after 10:15 am.  They did tell us a 25-30 minute wait…and longer for an outside patio table.  We didn’t have much to do during that wait so we counted tables that were vacant…and between the patio seating and the inside seating…there were about 20 tables.  Really!

We ordered…and waited for our food…and it was served.  My first bite of my biscuits and gravy…yikes…cold…I mean felt as if they had just come out of the refrigerator.  Carol asked Mike about his gravy…yup…cold…so Sandy said to send them back…Mike hailed down the waiter and told him.  He exercised enough judgment to take the plates off the table and tell us that we would receive a whole new meal…kudos to him…back it came and it was hot..and everything tasted fine…but of course…nothing could have taken the bad taste out of our mouths after the wait…and watching and seeing that many vacant tables still existed…but the big kicker was when it came time to pay.  We had to go to the front of the restaurant and stand in line to pay because apparently their computer system was down.

It was a long line…and as I stood there I realized that it wasn’t the wait staff holding up the show…it was the kitchen.  Really!  Well…then for heaven’s sake go into customer service mode…seat people…and tell them that the kitchen can’t keep up…and would they like a free cup of coffee while we wait.  I think the people would have understood the problem…better have them happy that they are drinking a free cup of coffee as opposed to standing out in front of the restaurant bitching.  I mean, everyone can all see the vacant tables…or better yet…put up a sign that says the computer system is down…service will be slow this morning.  I like my cup of coffee solution better because everyone is better behaved if they are given something free.

We all started our cars at 11:30 a.m. to head home.  I never intended for this to be a 2-hour visit.


I will most likely never be returning to at the very least this Good Egg site.

The Good Egg
American-Val Vista Gateway
1939 S. Val Vista Drive
Mesa, AZ 85204
(480) 633-3352
Hours:  Open Daily 6:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, November 21, 2015

November 18, 2015 - Rancho de Tia Rosa's - Gilbert, Arizona

I visited on November 18, 2015 with Sandy Wilts. We started with the $3 Happy Hour margaritas…they were good…frozen with salted rims. We were served a huge basket of chips with  small dishes of green sauce and red sauce.  I thought both were tasty.  We then ordered the Bean Dip as an appetizer to go with all of the chips.  We just couldn’t identify the taste.  I felt as if there was a bacon taste in the bean dip…but who knows…the dip did taste very different to us.


Chips and Salsa


Bean Dip


Sandy ordered the Chicken Chimichanga.  I ordered the Two Shredded Beef Enchildadas…both came with lots of refried beans and rice.  We both felt that our meat was too dry.  Everything was very good but not exceptional.  The main dining room was charming, quietly festive ad comfortable.  There was a lot to see…kept me busy. 



Sandy's Chicken Chimichanga


My Two Beef Enchiladas


Our servers were friendly and efficient.  Our meal ended up costing us about $20 each…and we didn’t think that was so bad for a margarita, chips,  starter, meal and tip.


I think I would like to return for Happy Hour…sit in the bar..and try the Happy Hour snacks.


Rancho  De Tia Rosa’s
891 N. Higley Road
Gilbert, Arizona
(480) 396-8787
Hours:  11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. 
              Closed on Sundays

Monday, November 16, 2015

November 16, 2015 - Kona Grill - Gilbert, Arizona

I went to the Kona Grill with Jeanne and Willie Stecher, Karen and Richard Fisher and Sandy Wilts to celebrate Jeanne's 69th birthday.  I usually don't review franchise restaurants but since this was my first ever visit to a Kona Grill I decided to write about it.

Jeanne started her celebration by  ordering a Raspberry Martini which she really liked…and I liked the presentation. 




I ordered the Lobster Mac ‘n Cheese – penne pasta,  cheddar, gouda,   parmesan  - panko and white truffle oil. Lots of huge lobster chunks gives this dish a wonderful taste.






Karen Fisher decided to try the Jambalaya - crawfish, chicken, andouille sausage, jambalaya sauce, white rice  - she thought it tasted good..and it was spicy hot. 







The birthday girl  wanted the Miso-Sake Sea Bass - shrimp  and pork fried rice, pan-asian ratatouille.  I had a bite…it just melted in your mouth…great taste…as was the shrimp and pork fried rice.




Willie tried the Alaskan Snapper Sandwich  He really wanted the Mahi  Mahi but it is not available at this time of the year at this restaurant.







Richard ordered the  Almond-Crusted Pork Tenderloin -  house mashed potatoes, baby bok choy, shiitake mushroom sauce .





Sandy decided  to try the  Sushi Menu.  She ordered the California Roll - crab mix, motoyaki sauce, cucumber, avocado.  Instead we think they brought her  the Philadelphia Roll - smoked salmon, cream cheese, cucumber




We ordered one dessert – Passion Fruit Infused crème brulle…forks around.  At first I wasn’t that happy with the taste but as I continue taking tiny bites I thought it tasted wonderful – creamy, light…and  the sugar was burnt perfectly.




Kona Grill
2224 W. Williams Field Road
Gilbert, Arizona 85295
(480) 289-4500

November 16, 2015 - Queen Creek Olive Oil Company Eatery - - Queen Creek, Arizona

I attended the Thesman Single Group lunch at the Queen Creek Olive Oil Company Eatery... one of my favorite lunching spots in the desert.  This is not my first visit to this eatery...see August 13, 2014...for an earlier post on this restaurant.

I ordered the Belice “Italian BLT” – Balsamic cured pepper bacon, roasted tomatoes, aioli, green leaf served on ciabattini with chips…along with a cup of Whitefish Soup with cod and tilapia flakes…in a tomato based broth with carrots, onions and potatoes with a slice of toasted focaccia Mediterra Bread.







Annette Savory also ordered the  Belice but upgraded it with a salad topped with the Pomegranate Vinaigrette.  Her fried, Mary , visiting from Washington ordered the Soup and Salad.





Lois Wenzell and Avis Rosol shared the Arbequina – all natural roast beef, herbed roasted tomatoes, caramelized onions, Horseradish Mascarpone, au jus served on a ciabattini.

Judy Mounsey chose the three Kabobs of cheese, salami, tomatoes.

Sandy Wilts ordered the Soup and Salad…her soup was also the Whitefish Soup.


It was a yummy lunch…plus I able to get out of the building without ordering several scoops of Gelato.  Lois had a great idea…on our next visit we are going to only order scoops of our favorite Gelato…and eat that for lunch.  Seems like a perfect lunch to me.  And…no jar of my favorite Tapenade…Asiago and Parmesan.




The Queen Creek Olive Mill
25062 S Meridian Rd,
Queen Creek, AZ 85142
(480) 888-9290
Hours
Sunday - Thursday
8:00am-5:00pm
Friday - Saturday

8:00am-9:00pm

Sunday, November 15, 2015

November 15, 2015 - Henhouse Cafe - Gilbert, Arizona

Sandy Wilts and I were back at the Henhouse Cafe for our Sunday morning breakfast.  I hope this becomes a weekly tradition.

Sandy ordered the Crunchy French Toast – Hawaiian Bread dipped in Vanilla Bean Custard Batter…then coated with crunch cereal.  She liked it.  I must return and try one of the French Toasts offered on the menu.



I tried the Pumpkin Cakes (the special) – two huge pancakes with syrup….they filled the plate.  I cut a small triangle out of the pancake…then was able to pour my syrup…Looking at the pancakes at this point looked like looking at a cake.  Those pancakes were huge.  I also ordered scrambled eggs and bacon…coffee…it was good…and substantial.




Look at the thickness of those two pancakes.  It looks like a cake.

Henhouse Café
3244 E. Guadalupe Road
Gilbert, Arizona
(480) 219-7379

Thursday, November 12, 2015

November 11, 2015 - Courtyard Cafe at the Heard Museum - Phoenix, Arizona

I visited the Heard Museum today with Sandy Wilts and Kellie Jo Welk.  We went to see the new exhibit - Frida Kahlo - Her Photos.   October 31, 2015 - February 8, 2016.  It was fantastic!  I learned so much more about Frida...such as I didn't know that she married Diego Rivera...not once but twice.

We had lunch at the Courtyard Cafe at the Heard Museum.  We each ordered a cup of Butternut Squash Tortilla Soup…and then shared the Street Tacos.  The soup was very tasty…great consistency..not spicy…but creamy. 




The Street Tacos were served as a flat tortilla with carne asada…lettuce…tomatoes…   Lots of carne asada …with a full grilled taste.  I thought they were a perfect choice. 





I also had Prickly Pear Lemonade to drink…Sandy ordered coffee..and Kellie Jo was happy with water.  Kellie Jo wanted dessert so we ordered the Caramel Apple Quesadilla  - strips of a light flexible pie crust with apples and sauce into between.  The huge round pie type of dessert was then cut in huge wedges and criss crossed to make start shaped serving that was topped with a scoop of ice cream…caramel sauce and broken pieces of walnuts.Yummy!  This is also what we had for dessert last November 2014 when Jo Martin and Linda Hoover visited me.  I blogged about our visit in November, 2014...so take a look at that one too!



Courtyard Café at the Heard Museum
2301 N. Central Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona 859004
(602) 251- 0204

Hours:  9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.



Wednesday, November 11, 2015

November 10, 2015 - Baboo Italian Eatery - Mesa, Arizona

The Thesman Singles group met at this eatery for Happy Hour and Dinner.  We ordered drinks and enjoyed them with the warm Oil Bread that is served with the Balsamic Vinegar
and Olive Oil dipping oil. Once again I pigged out on the bread.  Don't forget I am Italian.

Everyone ordered the Monday and Tuesday Nights Special - Spaghetti and Meatballs - $5.99.  I love this special…plus I was hungry after only eating breakfast…and expending all of that energy thinking at the bridge table this afternoon.

You are seved a big bowl of pasta with red sauce..and it is good tasting red sauce..just right…not too thin and not too thick…and two huge meatballs.  These meatballs are perfect…and I can taste the Romano cheese in them so I know they are just like Grandma’s…the recipe has to be Calabrian.

This is the third site where I have eaten.  Each of them serve fine tasting food.  I have reviewed the first site which is in Phoenix on 16th...and it was reviewed in November, 2014.  I also ate at the Tempe site..and now the Mesa site.  I can't tell you how much I always enjoy the food.  But then it is comfort food for me.  Mangia!

Oil Bread with Dipping Mixture of Balsamic Vinegar and Olive Oil

Spaghetti and Meatball Special




My Dinner Companions - to the right:  Sandy Wilts, Annette Savory, Lois Wenzell...coming around the backsid of the table across from Lois is Mary, Annette's friend who is visiting from Washington, Pam Waller, Carol Richmond and Pat Stetler.

Fun Evening!


Baboo Italian Eatery
10726 E. Southern Avenue
Mesa, Arizona

Sunday, November 8, 2015

November 8, 2015 - Henhouse Cafe - Gilbert, Arizona

Sandy Wilts and I arrived there about 9:45 a.m. and we had a 15 minute wait..so it wasn’t so bad…but then we were only waiting for a table for 2.  We walked around the shopping center and found two more restaurants the tickled our fancy…Fondue…and Tia Rose…we will have to come back for more.  I am definitely coming back here for breakfast.  It is hard to find a good breakfast spot…but I think we have…there are a couple more breakfast spots though that we want to try.

The atmosphere was:  busy, noisy…but comforting…it’s a family café…you are still able to carry on a conversation with each other.

The décor – old…antiques like a large Radio Flyer wagon…washboards…ironing boards…milk bottles..Mason canning jars and lids..lunch boxes…food product tins – lots of chickens -  Lots of signs, wooden, metal and fabric

Sandy ordered the Biscuits and Gravy with Scrambled Eggs. The biscuit was huge and very soft.  That is what I always want with this breakfast dish…soft and fluffy biscuits.  When I asked Sandy if she liked her fried potatoe, she responded, “great…just like Grandma used to make.”

Slice slightly cooked red potatoes…fried…just like my Mother used to make.  They didn’t taste as if they were fried in lard or bacon grease like these two girls grew up eating..nor could I taste butter…but they were very good…and I would recommend that you taste and then add your salt and pepper.  I am not much of a person for adding salt but I definitely added salt and pepper to my potatoes…and I like this.  I would rather add my own.





I am adding this second picture of Sandy with her Biscuits and Gravy because one is able to see the decor in the background.


 I ordered the Chicken Fried Steak with two eggs (scrambled) – Chicken Fried Steak covered with sausage gravy (of course, white gravy.  I won’t eat it with brown gravy…only white gravy) – Fried Potatoes – Toast (knowing me you just know that I chose the Marble Rey..delicious).






I thought the breakfasts were pretty routine, but I don’t mean to say it was bad.  I just mean it was as I expected and for breakfast (my favorite meal) it was very good…and filling…perfect breakfast for me.

The hours are 6:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.  There are about 30 tables inside…and patio seating.  What I liked was they had 9-10 wait staff and bus staff.  I could see three cooks and there were two expediters.  They don’t skimp on staff…and I like that…staff was more than sufficient to give each patron lots of attention.

All of specials were written on this huge chalk board…and all sounded great to me like Pumpkin Pancakes…but then I am going back to try the huge pancakes, specialty pancakes, waffles and French Toast…sounds as if Sandy and I will be making this a weekly Sunday trek.  I love breakfast after Mass.

I loved the saying on the chalk board – Wicked Chickens Lay Deviled Eggs!  Each employee wore a Henhouse Café t-shirt.  The back read, “ The Rooster May Crow – But the Hen Delivers.”


As you can tell I enjoyed the whole experience.

Henhouse Café
3244 E. Guadalupe Road
Gilbert, Arizona
(480) 219-7379

Saturday, November 7, 2015

November 7, 2015 - Zinburger - Scottsdale Quarter - Scottsdale, Arizona

I visited on November 7, 2015 with Sandy Wilts, Jody Hayes and Jonah Hayes.  Sandy ordered The Plain and Simple Burger…with Lettuce, Tomato and Mayo…and Sandy requested a slice of Avocado….that’s it!  Sandy asked for some Ranch Dressing…it is homemade and when I complimented them on it…the waiter told me there is Tabasco Sauce as well as Horseradish in the Ranch Dressing.



Jody ordered the Bruce Lee Burger.  It was the special…Kobe beef…and I can’t name everything on it but I know there was avocado…jalapenos…four other ingredients.




I ordered the Zinburger with Manchego Cheese, Zinfandel Braised Onions, Lettuce and Mayo.  It was delicious…served on a soft, fresh egg bun.  I thought the Braised Onions tasted just perfect.  The hamburger is Certfied Angus…and ground fresh twice daily.





Jonah ordered the Hambruger and Fries off the Kids’ Menu.




We all shared a basket of Hand Cut Fries…with coarse salt.


Zinburger
15257 N. Scottsdale Road
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale Quarter
 (480) 285-0690
zinburgeraz.com
Hours:  Sunday – Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
             Friday – Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.             

Note:  Other locations in Gilbert, Phoenix