A trip to the Camelback Inn Marriott Resort is one to make if you want to see where you would stay if money were no object. Arriving for an evening dinner, we were unable to see the resort in all it’s day lit glory but even in the twilight hours, the Camelback Inn cuts an impressive figure in the desert hillside. The resort is expansive and after passing through the main entrance, we drove for another five minutes before we reached the hotel lobby, passing cosy pueblo-style casitas which start at around $349 a night.When we stopped in at the lobby to find out about on site restaurant options, Hoppin’ Jack’s was the only one open during their renovation period. Literally a hop from the lobby, we walked past a couple of inviting outdoor pools and up the stairs to the informal restaurant patio. Hoppin’ Jack’s was very quiet on a Wednesday night so getting a table without a reservation was no problem.
The menu was a crowd-pleasing mix of pizza, pasta, Mexican, steak and seafood. Unfortunately this meant quality was somewhat compromised but once again, quantity wasn’t lacking. I ordered the Chicken Quesadilla Grande, which included a visit to the salsa bar. The indoor salsa bar offered chips, black olives, queso, beef chili and over six different types of salsa, all of which were sadly mediocre. My spirits were lifted a little more by the gazpacho, which looked like it was prepared with yellow tomatoes and was very flavourful.
The chicken quesadilla arrived and was so large that I could only manage to eat about half of it. Another person at our table tried the Napolitano pizza and also struggled to finish it. By the end of our meal we probably had enough leftovers to feed 2-3 more people!
The service was friendly but a bit spotty and awkward. Our waitress didn’t seem very knowledgeable about the wine list and after the trip to the salsa bar, our table was overrun with a million different salsa dishes. The total bill was very reasonable though, averaging around $15-$20 a head for a starter, main course and a drink.
It definitely seemed like a good place for families and large groups but also appeared to be somewhat of an anomaly in the midst of elegant water features and romantic luxury accommodations.
The Camelback Inn Resort is due to complete its "renewal project" in March 2008 so if you’re looking for a more complete experience, delay your visit until then. That said, they’re doing a good job of maintaining the resort’s first-class aesthetics and in the evening at least, the resort looked no less spectacular than I imagine it does on a normal day so if you’re in town in the meantime, it’s worth stopping by for a bite to eat at Hoppin’ Jack’s.
www.camelbackinn.com/scottsdale-restaurants/hoppin-jacks.asp