Description: The Tequila Grill is a snazzy, upscale, pleasingly designed place and the food is pretty good too. The first time I ate there I couldn’t help but feel like I was part of a sophisticated scene. I had the Phoenix Cheese Steak Sandwich and it was different & delicious. A friend had the Tenderloin and although it was small & over $20 it was absolutely melt in your mouth.
With my next visit, my friend and I had the place to ourselves at 4:30PM. Eventually a few people drifted in to the bar; the start of the after-work crowd. This time I had the Drunken Chicken. It was ‘presented’ beautifully, as they say on the cooking shows. The rolled, stuffed and wine-drenched chicken breasts, mound of spicy rice and grilled vegetables sat on a light green tortilla, which had been cut in a sunburst pattern.
The chefs here appreciate and do right by the vegetables. The carrots, broccoli and miniature squash were crisp-cooked perfectly, and made to feel an important part of the meal, not regulated to a mushy side dish.
There was enough of everything to have another full meal to take home.
The fancy Margaritas were a disappointment; although they are served in a glass the size of a small bucket they didn’t have much punch but did have a hefty price tag. So on the second visit we ordered just water & lemon but our thirst was squelched when we learned that it was tap water! Like Mexico, you don’t drink the tap water in Scottsdale.
Something besides the water left a bad taste in my mouth. We ordered a crème broulee with 2 spoons for dessert. Our waitress brought over a huge plate with 2 dessert dishes of the stuff. When we commented that we had only ordered one dessert she assured us that this was a single dessert. But this was not reflected on the bill unless the going price for dessert is $8.95 these days. And to top it off, the broulee at Tomato’s at Fashion Square Mall was better!
Despite all this I do enjoy the Tequila Grill for a ‘fancy’ night out. Just have a Margarita somewhere else first and make sure to ask for bottled water. Better yet, make a statement and bring your own bottled water. Then check your bill carefully to be sure they don’t charge for a glass of ice. Make a fuss if they do. This young, not-a-chain (yet) restaurant has possibilities but we must do what we can to keep it from becoming overly ostentatious!
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