5January2010
Posted by hottie under: Uncategorized.
As you may have noticed, Hottie & the Fatso have been on an extended hiatus. This does not mean we have been out of the food scene in Flagstaff. In fact, we still have been visiting restaurants and will have new reviews coming soon – including Criollo Latin Kitchen, the new restaurant from the owners of Brix. Look very soon for new videos of Hottie & the Fatso posted right here and our response to the Arizona Daily Sun’s Best of Flagstaff.
4November2009
Posted by hottie under: American; Kids.
The Crown Railroad Cafe 3 1/2 peaks out of 5
East Side: 3300 E. Route 66, 522-9237
West Side: 2700 S. Woodlands Blvd. (Walmart shopping plaza), 774-6775
The Crown Railroad restaurants are family favorites here in Flagstaff. There is something for everyone and kids (and those young at heart) love the model train that circles each location. If you are a train fanatic, you will especially want to visit the Eastside location where you can watch the actual trains go by. Both locations are good and comfortable. The Eastside is diner style. In the past the Westside location was not quite as good as the East for some reason, but a recent visit confirmed that both locations are on equal footing now.
Crown Railroad is famous for their 66 varieties of 3-egg omelets. (66 because naturally the flagship location is located on Route 66.) With your just-right omelet you get diner potatoes or hash browns, toast or buttermilk biscuit with gravy. The biscuit with gravy is huge and delectable. Even those who aren’t southern food fans will like this one. The hash browns are the best in Flagstaff with a crispy top, not greasy, and a soft middle – perfectly cooked. Omelets are served all day. The pancakes are as large as the plate and are moist and filling.
We believe breakfast is the Crown’s forte, but many of their daily specials are good and their dinners are fine. A frequent special that the Fatso is fond of is the green chili pork. The cuisine is standard, American diner-fare, but well done. We have never had a dish at the Crown that we were disappointed in. That being said, we have not been able to sample everything on the menu, but know that the quality is there. A plus is that they are able to accommodate larger groups, something that is rare for most Flagstaff restaurants that are not chains (especially for breakfast, and it’s a better breakfast than The Place).
The Crown Railroad Cafe is one that should be in your standard line up about town.
14October2009
Posted by hottie under: American; Beer.
Flagstaff Brewing Company 3 peaks out of 5 (4 out of 5 if you like beer)
16 East Route 66 (downtown)
773-1442
flagbrew.com
Flagstaff Brewing Company or “Flag Brew” as locals like to call it, is a downtown institution. A prime location downtown with a can’t miss patio for visitors and locals who want to hang out and relax. We have voted Flag Brew’s patio as one of the best in the city for good reason. In temperate weather the patio is full and makes for a great afternoon or evening. There are often live bands playing and you’ve got to secure your seat early if you have big plans to camp out for awhile. The house made beer (changes seasonally and often) and the incredible whiskey selection are reasons enough to visit. There are even several things on the menu that we like quite a lot. But Flag Brew has a dual personality of sorts: there is the patio Flag Brew and the inside Flag Brew and they are different animals.
30September2009
Posted by hottie under: Kids; Mexican.
Las Gorditas 3 peaks out of 5
2900 N. West Street (off of Cedar Ave. near Safeway)
774-2763
Open Mon. – Sun. 8 am – 9 pm
Las Gorditas came highly recommended to us from a listener who swears the restaurant has the best Mexican food in town. While we love that Las Gorditas is a local family-owned restaurant, we can’t back up the claim that it’s the best Mexican in town. Here’s why: it largely depends on what you order. As we are in the southwest, there is never a shortage of Mexican restaurants around and likely each one can claim a certain specialty as being great. Las Gorditas has some great dishes but is not amazing across the board. Therefore, we can heartily recommend Las Gorditas as a good, comfortable place to go – but not the best. The best is difficult to choose because of the large selection in town, but coming soon you will see our top 25 restaurants in Flagstaff. So on to Las Gorditas’ strengths.
There is a wide variety of food to choose from – gorditas of course (pocket bread stuffed with fillings like carnitas (pork) or beans), tacos, burritos, tortas and the like. Note that some Mexican restaurants specialize in seafood and Las Gorditas does not. Depends on the area of Mexico you are from, naturally. We are big fans of anything carnitas here. It’s cooked well and flavorful here. There is a salsa bar with standard toppings, but the one that really sets Las Gorditas apart is their unique avocado salsa. It’s the full flavor of guacamole in sauce form. Not chunky at all but very smooth and a wonderful accompaniment to any of the menu items. The only thing we came across and did not care for were the tamales. I’m pretty particular about tamales and this version had a strange taste from either the marinade for the pork or perhaps something added to the masa. It just didn’t work.
Las Gorditas does offer a nice kids menu and their personal touch and friendliness is what sets them apart.
26August2009
Posted by hottie under: American; Cocktails; Kids; mediterranean.
Taverna 4 peaks out of 5
2420 S. Woodlands Village Blvd.
213-9994
Open daily: 11 am – last call
Taverna has a big city atmosphere for our little town. It is polished and comfortable, the staff is well-trained, they have a great bar and TV set-up for watching games, good food, and a lively dinner show. What’s not to like?
While Taverna’s Mediterranean food isn’t “authentic” to certain countries, it’s not aiming to be. Taverna offers Mediterranean inspired food and your American favorites as well. In fact, one of the best things on the dinner menu isn’t ethnic at all. While some of the more ethnic offerings are good or even great, many of the very best things are classic American style.
The bone-in ribeye was the Fatso’s favorite. It is also the chef’s favorite on the menu, always a good way to go. The steak meal comes with a side of lemon roasted potatoes (divine!) and fasolakia green beans (steamed green beans in a Greek tomato sauce). Taverna also has a way with lamb, as they should with their cultural leanings. Other highlights include the halibut dinner and the keftedes (Greek meatballs). This appetizer could make a delicious light meal as well as the dolmades (ground beef and rice stuffed grape leaves). The dolmades are huge and tasty and meaty.
The one disappointment to me was the avgolemono soup (Greek chicken stock, lemon, egg, and rice soup). It was too much like a regular chicken and rice soup with some lemon tang added. Not quite the same as the wonderful and complex tasting creation I have sampled and loved at other restaurants (although none in Flagstaff – yet).
One of the most popular items at dinner is the saganaki (a baked cheese flambee). This appetizer does indeed arrive to your table in a great, flaming show and is pretty fun. But it is so tasty, even if you think it is too gimicky to order, you will love this. We could have eaten several of these.
That’s another thing about Taverna – the dinner atmosphere is lively and fun and you will leave wanting to return. Occasionally the Greek music starts and the waitresses folk dance around the room. Guests are encouraged to join in. A flame breather show goes off in the bar area. Plates are broken with “opa’s” all around. It’s an entertaining time to go with friends or family and kids will love all of the fire action.
For the service, atmosphere and the food in general, we are happy Taverna is here.
12August2009
Posted by hottie under: mediterranean.
Greek Islands 3 1/2 out of 5 peaks
109 E. Phoenix St., south of the tracks off of San Francisco St.
779-0106
Open
M – W: 11:30 am – 10 PM
Th – Sat.: 11:30 am – 3 AM
Closed Sunday
The Greek Islands restaurant occupies the space recently vacated by the Peruvian restaurant, Cuzco. While we are sad to see Cuzco gone, the space has found a worthy new inhabitant. If you ever visited Cuzco before, you will know the space is a hole-in-the-wall. It had a rustic feel which was appropriate for the Peruvian cuisine. Greek Islands hasn’t done much to change the look of the place, save repaint over the Peruvian mural for a Greek islands scene, so just know that you’re not stepping into somewhere luxurious. That being said, your visit will be well worth it. It’s a great place to get a casual bite to eat. And the food is the most authentic Mediterranean we have in Flagstaff.
Hottie is a huge fan of Greek food and knows her stuff. We can say with certainty that the gyro is truly one of the best we have had anywhere. The feta cheese is authentic and has that great tang. The tzatziki sauce (Greek yogurt and cucumber sauce) is the most marvelous ever. The pitas are fine; they are the best in town so far, but there is room for improvement. The spanakopita (spinach pie) is made in a rustic or maybe just quick style, but is good. The falafel is bit on the crumbly side (could be an altitude effect though, so we’ll forgive it) but fantastically spiced. The dolmades are vegetarian and good, but a little on the soft side. Obviously it’s a bit tough to get fresh grape leaves to make them everyday, so while these must be the jarred kind, it’s still ok.
While the Greek food is wonderful, Greek Islands does offer something for the less adventurous (or those just not into Mediterranean). Wisely, Greek Islands offers dishes such as a chicken or shrimp platter, burgers, salads and a taco salad (this we have to try). They even have good fries. So there is something for everyone in your group to enjoy.
Greek Islands does serve beer and wine. And we like their decision to cater to the late-night crowd. A gyro after-hours sounds great.
12August2009
Posted by hottie under: Uncategorized.
This is our list of the best restaurant patios in Flagstaff. Visit one soon before summer is over! (These are in no particular order.)
Jackson’s Grill – weekend live bands, a beautiful view and setting, dog and kid friendly
Flagstaff Brewing Co. – weekend live bands, a fun vibe, great people watching, great brew
Brix - lovely patio tucked in back with twinkling lights and amazing food
Josephine’s – a highlight of a great summer day (or evening) is to enjoy a meal on their sprawling front patio watching the world pass you by
Cuvee 928 – a spot right on Heritage Square with a nice wine and beer selection and tasty cuisine. Maybe the best patio spot in Flagstaff.
Pesto Bros. and Diablo Burger – for the same reasons as Cuvee 928 above, but not quite as good of a view.
Cafe Ole - a gorgeous hideaway patio tucked in back that will make you feel like you might be at a Mexican resort
Pita Jungle and Picazzo’s – both have small side patios that front parking lots, but there’s still good food and you’re still getting to sit outside in comfort
Tinderbox – the most wee patio of the bunch, but private and enjoyable. You’ll feel like you have a personal caterer.
3July2009
Posted by hottie under: American; Cocktails; Continental; Kids.
The “New” Jackson’s Grill at the Springs 3 peaks out of 5
South 89A (south of the fairgrouds/Ft. Tuthill)
213-9332
Jackson’s Grill used to be quite the Flagstaff institution for country club types and Phoenix seasonal visitors. It could be counted on at times for a fabulous meal, always fabulous wine list, and at other times the kitchen wasn’t quite up to par, making your expensive and nice dinner a bit of a Russian-roulette. For perhaps this and other reasons, Jackson’s closed for several months and was recreated into the new vision by the Jackson’s son-in-law and his partners.
The “new” Jackson’s retains its great wine list and much of the feel inside of the previous incarnation, but is much more relaxed and family-friendly. Some details of the interior have been altered to add to the family-friendly feel, such as an accessible bar and tv’s in the dining area. But if you were a fan of the old Jackson’s, you will still feel at home. You can still have a leisurely classic American meal with a great wine in quiet comfort. If you are a family with kids, you won’t feel out of place though. And if you want to get jiggy with a live band, you have that option too.
Yes, Jackson’s is band friendly too and they often have a local group playing out on their patio most weekends and some weekday evenings. Jackson’s patio is one of the best restaurant patios in town. With a lovely view of meadows and Ponderosa pines, the patio is relaxing and a place you’ll want to hang out on for a large chunk of your day. Enjoy the band, have some drinks and lunch or dinner and you won’t be disappointed. Bonus: dogs are welcome on the patio, something that has gone by the wayside in town. Since Flagstaff is such a dog-lover town, it’s nice to have somewhere to go to hang out and enjoy the day with your best buddy.
As for the food, Jackson’s has something for everyone. Sometimes we feel that they have gone a little too far down that road – of being something to everyone – but if it works and people are happy with it, so be it. Therefore you can get your grilled salmon or petite fillet dinner, but you could order pizza, a soft taco combo, or sliders. A little bit of everything. While the food is perfectly pleasing, it’s nothing you haven’t eaten before. There is no special magic to the cuisine, but you won’t be hugely disappointed either. Jackson’s says that they try to source their ingredients locally and as freshly as possible, (always a great policy), but some dishes do taste like they are from mixes or prepackaged (mainly some of the appetizers). This may not be accurate as I have not personally visited the kitchen and I am always open to retracting an inaccurate statement, but this is my take as of this date.
3June2009
Posted by hottie under: American; breakfast; sandwiches.
Malone’s Bakery & Deli 3 1/2 out of 5 peaks
1490 Riordan Ranch Rd. (next to Michael’s, near Target)
913-0133
Open for breakfast and lunch
Malone’s was recently named by the NAU Lumberjack as having the best breakfast burritos in town. We took the Lumberjack up on this claim and agree. The students know what they are talking about. The one catch is that even if you are hungover, you’ve got to get in by 11 am Monday – Saturday or by noon on Sunday to partake. There are many burritos to choose from, they are tasty and relatively cheap (around $5).
Another draw for breakfast is their breakfast sandwiches and house-made donuts. I’m not big on the donuts here and don’t like their specialty, the orange spice, but the Fatso thinks they are fantastic. But I’m kind of a sweets purist. They seem to be plenty popular so you can decide for yourself. You can get various coffee drinks, but the coffee is kind of standard.
Lunch is a good draw and Malone’s is known for their sandwiches. We rank them up there with the Del Rio Cafe as some of our favorites in town. (Crystal Creek too, but we haven’t done an official review yet. We’ll get around to that one soon.) The pastrami & swiss is billed as the best in town and we can agree with that. Lunch isn’t a crazy bargain at around $7 for your sandwich and a bag of chips, but the sandwiches are a good size and the pricing is comparable to most in town. We never made it to try one of the hamburgers, but will update this post when we do. For you vegetarians, there are salads but that’s not so much their thing here.
It is deli style, so the to-go option is likely your best bet. It’s counter service and a few tables, but there’s not too much in way of atmosphere. But it is delish.
28May2009
Posted by hottie under: Contemporary; Kids; mediterranean.
Pita Jungle 3 out of 5 peaks
320 S. Regent St. (next to New Frontiers on Butler Ave.)
774-0086
Open 10:30 am – 10 pm every day
Pita Jungle is a good place to get tangled up in for a casual but nice lunch or dinner. Pita Jungle is a Phoenix chain that has made its way up the hill to Flagstaff. Their goal fits nicely with the Flagstaff profile: fresh, healthy food that is creative with a Mediterranean slant. However, keep in mind that it isn’t a true Mediterranean restaurant and is a chain at heart and you’ll be doing fine.
The food is decently good. There are several dishes we like and actually, after many visits (including in the Valley) we have never experienced anything bad or disappointing. But it’s not authentic Mediterranean and the biggest fault to me at the Flagstaff location is that the pitas are grocery-store quality. In fairness, we are told there has been some problem in their distribution chain so that they can’t get the same pitas offered in Phoenix trucked up here. Hopefully this can be solved in the future.
Pita Jungle has done a nice job with the space. It is attractively decorated and comfortable and they offer two patios for summer dining. It can get noisy in the restaurant though as they use polished concrete for the floors; but some may feel that’s a bit of a plus as it gives a more urbane style and buzz to the atmosphere. Cocktails are available at this location. It is kid-friendly too.