Roberto's Mexican restaurant - Anthem Arizona

March 11, 2013

 

We were headed out of Phoenix and headed back home we thought this was the perfect time to stop at this place that’s just north of Phoenix. This place was featured on diner’s drive-ins and dives years ago. This was the episode when they were in a gas station and guy couldn't handle the Menudo.  They have since moved out of the gas station and moved north of Phoenix to Anthem, AZ

We took a few minutes looking over the menu up on the wall, we were taking a little bit of time so the lady at the counter brought out printed ones if we wanted to look at them, but by that time I had already made my decision.  By the time we did order the owner Roger had come out of the back and was at the counter to take our order.   We remembered him from the food network show. He immediately saw my Rockies hat and shirt and said we must be from Colorado. So he talked to us a little bit about being on the food network and meeting Guy Fieri and said he wanted to make sure to give me a shirt. I decided to get the al pastor tacos which were featured on the show.  Mom ordered the breakfast burrito with ham and added potatoes, dad got one with bacon and also added potatoes.

After we ordered at the counter we went and sat down at a table on the walls there were pictures with the staff with firemen and other people from the community. We also had time to fill our drinks before our food came. Not too long later they brought out our food.

 

My al pastor tacos were great.  It was pork with a very good marinade, I’m not sure of what.  It wasn’t spicy, but had great flavor.   I wasn't sure about the pineapple being in there but when I tasted it I thought was really delicious with the sauce and pork. The tortillas were also pretty good and were topped with fresh Pico de Gallo. My parent’s breakfast burritos both looked very good and they both thought they were really good as well. We also got three little salsa cups which were very good, so much so that we bought a jar to take with us.

 Just as I was finishing up after making a mess, Roger came out to sit down and talk and brought me a shirt. He asked how the food was and he said it must have been good since it was all over my face and he laughed.  

 

He sat down and talked for a while just about the history of the restaurant and the little statue he has in front that he says has been with him since 1991. Roger was very nice and one of the nicest people I've ever met in a restaurant. While he was talking to us you could tell he was watching everything that was going on in the restaurant and making sure everything was going smooth.  This has got to be part of the reason why they've been around for so long and the food being so good doesn't hurt either.

 

When we were done eating and talking with Roger we were on our way.  I was super excited about Robertos, this was one of the best restaurants we stopped at on our trip.  Next time we're back in Phoenix I want to make sure to get back to Roberto's and maybe try something new.

 

 

 

39510 N Daisy Mountain Dr #170, Anthem, AZ 85086

 

 

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Original Garcia’s - Phoenix Arizona

March 9, 2013

After a cool chilly day at a spring training game between the Rockies and the Angels we decided to continue our Mexican food tour of Phoenix. Right away when we arrived we were seated at this point it wasn’t real crowded in the place, but it wasn't completely empty either.

 

Right away they took our drink orders we all three got Cokes for $8.25 total and also they brought a basket of chips and three little salsa bowls for each of us. I figured I better not eat any the salsa in case it was too hot before my drink came, so I waited a bit till they brought our drinks. Then I started, I thought the chips were all right. The salsa was good. I decided to order the number eight combo which was a green enchiladas for $9.25 plus I added a dollar for chicken (the menu said $1.50). Mom got the number seven combo which was the chile rellenos for $8.95.

 

Dad decided to get his chimichanga with the special beef (shredded beef) for $9.25.

All three of these combos came with Rice and beans. While were waited we had time to look around at some of the interesting things hanging on the walls. It seemed like it did take quite a while for our food to come but eventually it did.  When the waiter sat the plates down he told us that the plates were hot. The plates were rather large filled and with food.

 

My green enchiladas didn't seem too green really.  I was expecting a green sauce but it wasn't exactly green. There were some green chilies inside so maybe that's what they meant. It was still okay, but it was sure not the best enchilada I've ever had. The Rice on the side I thought was terrible and the beans I thought were just beans.

Mom ate her food, but didn't really say much about it.  Dad did not think his was all that good. While we were eating I don't think our waiter came back to check on us at all until It was check time. So we paid our bill and were on our way.  On the way out the front, two huge groups were being seated. This place seemed rather popular but my opinion it must not have been for the food.

 

 

 

2212 N 35th Ave Phoenix, AZ 85009



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Times Square Italian restaurant - Phoenix Arizona

March 8, 2013

After we had lunch at Midwestern meats so late we weren't that hungry at dinnertime, so we figured we just go to this place which was not too far from our hotel. When we walked in the place was packed and there wasn't a lot of space to wait just between the bar area and the rest of the restaurant. We had to wait a little longer though because we needed a table, since a booth won’t work for my wheelchair. After we waited and waited they finally had a table for us. After we were seated it really didn't take that long to get our food. Fairly quickly our waiter came and took our drink orders we all three got Cokes for $2.25 and we went ahead and ordered a pizza while we were at it.  

 

we got a 16 inch pepperoni and mushroom pizza for $16.95. So we sat there and talked for a while and in a bit our pizza came out. This pizza was all right but some of the crust was a too burnt and got a little soggy. The part of the crust that wasn't so burnt did taste actually pretty good. The sauce cheese and toppings were also decent. While we were eating our waiter did check on us a time or two. When we were done our waiter brought our ticket and said that another customer in the restaurant paid $20 toward our bill. This was something I definitely do not expect but it was very nice of whoever did it.

 

 

 

2602 W. Deer Valley Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85027



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Midwestern meats - Mesa Arizona

March 8, 2013

We arrived late for lunch so we thought it wouldn’t be too crowded, but when we pulled in there was a parking attendant and the parking lot was full except for one spot I think that we took. Then when we get out of the car people were waiting in front. So we got on the waiting list and went to check out their bakery and their meat market.  By the time we went through both of them they had a table for us. They kept Apologizing for the wait, but it didn't seem like it was that bad of a wait. When we were seated I think they picked one of the biggest tables they could find for just the three of us.  

I read a little bit about this place online and saw they have stuffed cheeseburger and was intrigued.   We waited a little bit until our waitress came; she took our drink orders which were all got Cokes. We also decided to get the onion rings.   

 

Not too long later she brought out a basket of onion rings and asked if we wanted ranch to go with it. We did so she went back and came right back with ranch. These were okay but not really the greatest onion rings just average we did quickly finish the whole basket mostly because we were starving. I decided to get the bacon and cheddar stuffed burger which is what mom got as well. Dad went with the blue cheese bacon burger just the regular version not the stuffed. The burgers also came with French fries and coleslaw.  

Once the burgers came out I knew it was going to make a mess and wasn't sure how to get it in my mouth to begin with.

  

 

So I figured cutting it in half would help out and for a picture. When I took my first bite I thought wow this is one of the best burgers I think I've ever had. The burger was just a really good burger to begin with, which it should be in a meat market then the cheese inside with really good bacon made for an excellent cheeseburger. This was on a very good bun from their bakery I'm not sure that I think it was the right bun for this particular burger, but it was fresh made from their bakery. I thought it tasted kind of more like a dinner roll.  

 There was also lettuce, tomato, pickles and onions topping the Burger. These were okay except for the tomato.  The coleslaw with the burger was just coleslaw which isn't my favorite. The fries I thought were quite good. This burger was really great, but was a little difficult to eat and made a mess but it was sure worth it. 

 

When we were done eating our waitress came back and asked if we wanted any pie, I was stuffed just like my burger was so I didn’t but dad decided to have a slice of chocolate cream pie.  The waitress went into the bakery and walked back through to the kitchen to cut the pie.  This was not that big of a slice, dad thought this was really good as did I from my sample.  By the time we were ready to leave probably around 2 o’clock it was still fairly full.  This was one of the top 2 burgers I’ve ever had (Epic Pizza and Subs in St. Louis is the other)

 

 

4308 E Main St  Mesa, AZ 85205
 

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El Bravo Mexican restaurant - Phoenix Arizona update

March 7, 2013

 

Last year we went to El bravo and thought my meal was good, but when I tried my mom’s green Chile chicken tamale I knew I had to come back for one of my own. This time I wasn't exactly starving when we got there after a spring training game between the Mariners and the Athletics. So I decided to not get a whole combo, I just had a green Chile corn chicken tamale with sauce and a side of rice. Mom had the same tamale in the combo with a sour cream enchilada with Rice and beans.

 

Dad had the shredded beef chimichanga which he says is one of the best he's had. His also came with Rice and beans.

 

 

This tamale was the greatest tamale I think I've ever had and I typically don't like them all that well. But this was no ordinary tamale.  Our waiter said that it was a little spicy and asked if that was okay, I didn’t think it was too spicy though.  The tamale itself was very good, but I really enjoyed the green sauce that came on top. Throughout our meal the service was very good and at the end they brought out three little cinnamon crisp things that were also very good. This was the same as our previous visit. All this we got for $38.47 which we thought was a very good value and it was actually cheaper than breakfast that day at Butterfields.

8338 N 7th St Phoenix, AZ 85020



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Butterfields pancake house - Scottsdale Arizona update

March 7, 2013

We visited this place a year ago and wanted to come back again.

 

This year I got my large orange juice ($5.27) instead of just a small.  I also made sure to get strawberries on my French toast because they were really good on mom's French toast last year. We all three had the French toast ($6.45)

 

 

mom and I both added strawberries for ($1.99). And dad got sausage to go with his $3.45. Everything I ate was just as good as last year the orange juice was fresh squeezed in the French toast is still the best I think I've ever had.

 

 7388 E Shea Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ

 

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Ranch house grille - Phoenix Arizona

March 6, 2013

On this day I woke up thinking that it was a perfect day for breakfast especially since we're planning on going to the Desert Botanical gardens afterwards. But by the time we got there from our hotel that was on the north part of Phoenix, which took a while, I changed my mind about breakfast. This was the perfect place since they have both breakfast and lunch. This was a nice family owned place where many of the customers seemed like regulars. We were on the late side of lunch, so it was not very busy.

When we walked they said to sit wherever we would like and then they quickly brought out menus for us and took our drink orders. Mom and I both got iced tea and dad had a Coke. We then had some time to look over the menu and check out the ads that were all over the table. I cut it down to two choices the club sandwich or the page special which had most of the same things in it, but when it was time to order I decided the page special because of it having the green Chile and it being grilled. Mom decided to get the California chicken sandwich. Dad decided to get the Reuben sandwich. These all came with French fries or you could substitute many of their other items. So we sat a while and just enjoyed our time thinking about the botanical gardens and everything else we wanted to do on the trip.

But pretty quick the food came.

 

My sandwich the page special had roast beef and ham along with a green Chile and Swiss this was all on grilled sourdough. This sandwich was really great and I enjoyed it tremendously the roast beef and ham were both good with Swiss but what I thought made it really good was the green Chile this gave it a little bit of a kick, not real much but some along with just the really good flavor from a roasted Chile. The fries that came with this I thought were average, but there were a ton of them.

Mom thought her California chicken sandwich was really good as well. It was a grilled chicken breast topped with avocado and Swiss. Also the plate had lettuce, tomato and onion to go on top of her sandwich.

 

Dad really enjoyed his Reuben sandwich and said it was very good, which he would know because it's one of his favorite sandwiches. I tested the Thousand Island dressing that came on the side, and you could definitely tell that it was homemade. Our waiter came back to check on us a couple of times. We never did need refills which was mostly because the cups were so big. When we were done he left us our ticket. When we were done we paid at the counter. $39.07 plus tip I thought was a very good value for the amount of food and really good food as well as good service. I was kind of curious about why they called the sandwich, the page special but their cups had a Page, Arizona address and when I looked online I found out that's where their other location is at.

5618 E Thomas Rd Phoenix, AZ 85008

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