March 30, 2018 - 100 Estrella Restaurant - Ajo, Arizona

My grandson, Judson and I are on a road trip to the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in southern Arizona. Today we drove as far as Ajo where we spent most of the day doing a lot of locat site seeing.  We decided to try this restaurant for lunch.

We both ordered the Bacon Cheeseburger…and it came with fries.  It was very good.  First off I loved it because the bun came buttered and toasted on the grill…you all know me…if they do that they have already scored 80% on the rating.  The owners grows a lot of her ingredients in her garden.  You could tell by the freshness of the tomatoes, etc. that were added to the burger.

They offer lots of different burgers…and a wide selection of beers. I, however, did not order beer.  It was a hot day..and I wanted water.

100 Estrella Restaurant

100 W. Estrella Avenue

Ajo, Arizona 85321

(520) 387-3110

Hours:  Monday – Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

March 9, 2018 - Uncle Bear's Grill & Tap - Mesa, Arizona

I  visited on March 9, 2018 with Mike and Carol Thompson.  I ordered the Herd’s Burger (aka Uncle Bear’s Original)…it was the best burger that I have had in a long time with beer battered fries. A nice thick beef patty on this great bun with onions, pickles, mustard and ketchup.  Mike ordered the pulled pork.  Carol ordered the garlic and cheese pizza.  We all ordered off the lunch menu.

Uncle Bear’s Grill & Tap

9053 E. Baseline Rd. #101A

Mesa, Arizona 85209

(480) 986-2228

Hours: Monday – Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.

            Friday 11:00 a.m.- 2:00 a.m.

            Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.

            Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.

March 8, 2018 - Pomo Pizzeria Gilbert - Gilbert, Arizona

I visited with Janet Hastings.  She was my partner today in the a team event in Sun Lakes.  We won all 4 rounds but placed 3rd out of 18 teams...so we went to dinner to celebrate. 

We ordered the Mango Salad – mango, baby lettuce, gorgonzola, arugla and raspberry vinaigrette…along with the Toto Sappore Pizza – tomato sauce, mozzarella, sausage, prosciutto cotto, salame parma and spicy, basil, extra virgin olive oil.

Dessert – Cannoli Sicilliani – crisp light shells filled with sweetened ricotta cheese dipped in chocolate, pistachios and maraschino cherries.

We shared everything…good thing..the salad was huge but so tasty with the gorgonzola and raspberry vinaigrette taste.  The lettuce and the argula were fresh.  The mango was cut and served in slice atop the lettuce with the vinaigrette drizzled over the top.

I thought the meat on the pizza tasted so Italian.  This pizza was baked in a wood-fired oven…cooked for 60-90 seconds.  The crust is supposed to be doughy in the middle…but I thought it was a little too doughy.  It was very good!

We really wanted the Torte Della Nonna but they were out…darn!  Such is my luck the last few months…but the cannoli were very good with the ricotta creamy filling not too sweet…it was just perfect!

The service was fantastic!  It was a very good dining experience.

Pomo Pizzeria Gilbert

366 North Gilbert Road
Gilbert, Arizona 85234
(480) 878-2222

Hours:

           Sunday - Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

           Friday – Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.    

Named #5 – Phoenix Magazine – July 2017

Chef – Stefano Fabbri

Other Locations:

705 N 1st St Ste 120

Phoenix, Arizona

(602) 795-2555

The Shops Gainey Village

8977 N Scottsdale Rd, 

Scottsdale, Arizona 85253

(480) 998-1366

March 6, 2018 - Jalapeno Buck's - Mesa, Arizona

I visited this eatery after playing bridge at Leisure World with Cathy Lindholm and Marilyn Stavros.

It is a walk-up place right smack in the middle of Buck’s family orange grove…one of the oldest in Arizona…B & B Citrus Farms.  Actually pretty neat…lots of people sitting around on picnic tables.

Cathy and Marilyn the Burro Combo Plate…this huge burrito served with refried beans, rice and macaroni or cole slaw.  They each said that it was very good.  Marilyn liked the cole slaw, the rice and refried beans.

I ordered the 1/ 4 pound Pulled Pork Sandwich topped with cole slaw.  This was served on a huge bun.  I had to get a knife and fork to eat some of the meat before trying to eat it as a sandwich because it was so huge.  I put the Buck’s Sauce on my meat.

What I really liked about this meat was  - it wasn’t greasy –it tasted very good.  It was my type of BBQ…not cooked with the sauce on the meat.  You add your own sauce.  I love it this way because you get the opportunity to taste the meat as it was cooked…and it tasted wonderful.

Burrito Combo Plate

1/4 Pound Pulled Pork Sandwich Topper the Cole Slaw

Jalapeno Buck’s

3434 N. Val Vista Drive

Mesa, Arizona

(480) 459-3060

jalapenobucks.com

Outside of the Eatery

March 4, 2018 - The Thumb - Scottsdale, Arizona

I visited on March 4, 2018 after watching Jonah’s hockey game at the Ice Den with Jonah, Judson, Jody and Joshua Hayes.  Joshua ordered the Cuban Sandwich  (Smoked pulled pork, ham, Swiss, mayo, mustard, pickles on ciabatta roll).…Judson ordered the two-meat platter that was served with Texas toast, pickles, baked beans and cole slaw…Jody and I each ordered the three BBQ tacos…one chicken…one pulled pork…and one beef brisket (served in flour tortillas with cortija cheese and red cabbage)  The tacos were huge .  We should have shared.  Jonah, no problem…he ordered the grilled cheese sandwich.

I really liked my tacos.  The meat tasted marvelous.  I liked the moistness of the meat. The tacos were huge...very filling.

I had also ordered a cup of the Loaded Potato Soup.  The young man had to tell me that there was no more left…so I could have my choice of a side.  I needed time to think…I tasted Judson’s baked beans and they were delicious so I told him that I wanted the baked beans.  He thought I should get one more side since the soup was $5 and the baked beans $2…I chose the cherry pie. (Joshua thought I should have chosen 2 pieces of cherry pie.)

Now another kid came over and brought me the baked beans and told me that they were out of the cherry pie.  Really??  Isn’t that the way my life has been unfolding lately.  Well, the nice young man didn’t think that was fair…so he brought us a plate of five cookies…and they were deliciouls…one snickerdoddle..two toffee chip cookies…and two brownies.  (The baked goods here are delicious.)

I have to say this young man showed managerial talent.  I wish that I would have asked him his name.  His boss needs to know about his decision when the other young man was just…that’s too bad…sorry!

I go there all the time…and young man’s decision to first of all offer me two sides..and when that didn’t work out…brought a plate of cookies.  I walked out of there very happy girl!  A very good meal that could have left a bad taste in my mouth…ended up perfectly.