5 September 2008
An Ode to Martanne’s
Posted by hottie under: Mexican .
Martanne’s 4 1/2 peaks out of 5
San Francisco Street
(I won’t tell you exactly where)
breakfast and lunch only, 8 am - 1pm
(and sometimes open for First Friday art walks)
Oh, Martanne’s I love you so, how do I count the ways? With chilaquiles, sour cream enchiladas, and green chile pork.
You are a jewel in this little town and I will keep you to myself (a bit - I am writing about you now after deciding to break my code of secrecy about you, aren’t I?!) so as to get a better table faster when I decide to visit!
I have faithfully stood and waited for you through rain, hail, the cruel winds of Spring in Flagstaff and yes, even snow and ice, to dine in your warm abode.
I so long to give you 5 peaks, but because you have to stand outside to wait for a table in the conditions described above, I reluctantly knocked of 1/2 a peak.
So, Martanne’s is fabulous. The Fatso and I love it love it love it. We crave it. We go away on a trip and we have to have it when we get back. It is a local’s place and hopefully it will stay that way. I said I would never review it because I don’t want the masses to know about it, but in fairness to Martanne’s and their business, I feel I must.
Martanne’s is their own special blend of Mexican. You just can’t describe it, you have to just try it. It’s closest to New Mexican Mexican if anything. And it is spicy. If you are not a spice lover, don’t go or order the kids’ Wuzzy Crisp (a plain cheese quesadilla). (Our kids love it when their Uncle Art comes to dine with us here and joyfully wait for the moment the sweat starts to bead on his forehead from the spice!) The salsa is served in big ketchup bottles and is freshly homemade. There are no chips and salsa served here first. You sit down and wait for your meal until it’s good and ready. But trust me, it’s a fine thing. And when your meal comes, it’s plentiful.
Sometimes the wait can be long. As previously mentioned, you must wait outside for a table. This operates on local custom of the honor system. You wait until the group that was there before you is seated. First come, first serve (unless you require a 4 top table and the next in line only needs a 2 top and one comes open first). And you don’t go in to check with the staff. There is no waiting list. You just wait your turn, got it? Once in awhile you get “the Phoenix people” who think they can just waltz in and get instantly seated without regard to the many bodies who are obviously waiting outside (oh so Phoenix-come-LA these days). I should mention the wait can be long, mostly on the weekends, because Martanne’s is so wee.
It’s colorfully decorated and features the art of the amazing Emma Gardner, a sometimes waitress there. Originally Emma was doing a Dia de los Muertos thing with tongue in cheek pin up girl skeletons. Now she is moving on to a bird theme. The art is for sale and has greatly increased in value lately. It is unique and entertaining to view while you are waiting at your table. And we love the old fashioned, wacky salt and pepper shakers at each table.
This food is delectable. The chilaquiles are the best anywhere period. If you chose to find it, it will be well worth your time.