15 October 2008
Unique Flagstaff Restaurants
Posted by hottie under: Fine Dining; Mexican; Steaks .
We have a question from a loyal listener who wonders which are the restaurants that are uniquely Flagstaff? These are restaurants where you could take a relative or friend from out of state to give them a taste of the real Flagstaff. The Fatso and I suggest the following:
Horsemen Lodge - located out past the mall, Horsemen Lodge was started as a meeting place for the ranchers of the area - yes, the real cowboys. Good steaks, old fashioned well-stocked salad bar, local taxidermy animals on the walls, and the real cattle brands from northern Arizona ranches. (Trout is the best pick here!)
Black Bart’s - on Butler by Little America Hotel. Singing waiters (usually NAU theater or music majors) in an old timey western setting. Fun for all. Known as a steak place, but get the shrimp scampi - seriously. Best thing on the menu.
Mormon Lake Lodge - again, you’ve got the western cowboy atmosphere, tasty mesquite grilled steaks and such, and frequent sightings of elk. Just plain fun.
Martanne’s - San Francisco Street. For those that like kicked up unique Mexican (really more like New Mexican) food with a hip, urban edge. Local artist showings of Dia de los Muertos style art.
Cafe Ole - Beautiful restaurant whether sitting out on the sublime patio or enjoying the warm indoors with traditional Mexican furniture. Excellent place to go if your guests are not familiar with Mexican style interiors. Your guests can order their food prepared in the normal fashion (nonspicy) or you can ask for it doctored up.
And for the historic home angle, try Josephine’s (Humphreys St.) or Cottage Place (on Cottage, south of the tracks by Beaver St.). Both are lovely and offer exceptional fine dining. I give Josephine’s the slight edge on being traditionally Flagstaff because of the former home’s example of local malpais stone.