IgoUgo

Phoenix Journals

Phoenix Delicioso

Best of IgoUgo

A March 2005 trip to Phoenix by btwood2

·	Circling high above Phoenix at the Compass Photo - Phoenix, Arizona More Photos
Quote: Good eats in the Valley of the Sun is what we experienced when we came out of a 10-week winter hibernation in the Sonoran Desert, hungry as bears.
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Phoenix Delicioso Best of IgoUgo

Overview

·	Circling high above Phoenix at the Compass Photo - Phoenix, Arizona
Quote:
Phoenix is usually the first place my husband and I land after our hermit-like winter stay in our motor home on BLM land in the Sonoran Desert, "somewhere between Yuma and Gila Bend." That means we haven’t eaten out once for more than 2 months. Though I love to cook, we’re usually more than ready to do some eating out. In Phoenix, the problem, as in most big cities, is that there’s such an abundance of choice, it makes it difficult to narrow down. Try as we might not to, we just tend to eat more when we eat out, though we have no compunction about splitting meals, ordering one entrée and one salad or appetizer, or asking for a container for leftovers. Most of the places we’ve bee...Read More

Good Egg Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Start the Day Right at The Good Egg/ Eggery"

·	The Good Egg, Mesa, March 2004 Photo - Good Egg, Phoenix, Arizona
Quote:
Ever since we started traveling to Arizona every Christmas vacation in the late ‘80s, we’ve been eating hearty and delicious breakfasts at The Good Egg/ Eggery restaurants. All our experiences at these restaurants, 10 when we began, now numbering at least 17, have been very good, with the exception of only once, when we came near closing time (2:30pm) and our server’s brain and spirit were already apparently out the door. The Good Egg hatched its first three restaurants in Phoenix in December 1983. Through efficient management that kept food costs at 30% and labor costs at 30%, they raked in the profits and expanded, opening an out-of-state restaurant in San Diego in April 1985. My most recent m...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on April 9, 2005

Good Egg
1665 South Dobson Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85202
(480) 831-9044

Compass Restaurant Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Tapas at the Compass"

·High above Phoenix, Compass Restaurant & Lounge Photo - Compass Restaurant, Phoenix, Arizona
Quote:
Having a bite to eat and a couple of drinks while making one full circle high over the city atop the Hyatt Regency has become a tradition for Bob and I when we find ourselves in Phoenix. We usually come between lunchtime and dinner, before sunset. It’s like watching a show as we slowly revolve, gazing out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the buildings below and around us. Being 24 floors above ground level allows for a bird’s-eye view of downtown and beyond. There’s something soothing about the motion of the circular restaurant and visually stimulating reflections in the highly polished and windowed neighboring skyscrapers. There’s always something new to see. Between 1995 and 1998, we saw Ban...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on April 9, 2005

Compass Restaurant
122 North Second St
Phoenix, Arizona 85004
+1 602 440 3166

El Paso Bar-B-Que Company Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Chili Nachos at El Paso Bar-B-Que Company"

·	El Paso Bar-B-Que Company, Ahwatukee Photo - El Paso Bar-B-Que Company, Phoenix, Arizona
Quote:
Our last day in Phoenix, Bob and I had just run into town to return something when Bob said, "I feel like getting a bite to eat." It was around lunchtime and sounded like a good idea, so we drove around the open malls on East Ray Road in Ahwatukee, and on the corner of one, spied El Paso Bar-B-Que Company. That "B"-word is guaranteed to intensify Bob’s hunger pangs, no matter how long (or recently) it’s been since his last meal. So we parked and walked on over. An L-shaped patio runs around the front and side of the El Paso, with a big fireplace in the corner. Balmy weather and partial clouding persuaded us to sit outside, where dining is sheltered from the street by a waist-high wall, ...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on April 9, 2005

El Paso Bar-B-Que Company
4921 E Ray Rd
Phoenix, Arizona 85044
(480) 705-5050

Macayo's Mexican Kitchen Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Margaritas at Macayo’s Mexican Kitchen"

·Macayo’s on Central, Phoenix Photo - Macayo's Mexican Kitchen, Phoenix, Arizona
Quote:
Bob and I eat here at least once a year, carefully bringing along our giant-sized Señor y Señora painted ceramic margarita mugs (see photo in Overview) that we’ve had for over a decade… Hold out your mug and Macayo’s will "refill" it with excellent margaritas for $3. Where can you beat a deal like that? The first time we drove by Macayo’s on Central, we knew we had to give this restaurant a try, if for nothing else than its intriguing exterior, dramatic in angularity and color, windowless, and resembling a fortress. When we pulled around back to park and were face-to-face with an elaborate mosaic Quetzal serpent stretched out imbedded into the back wall, we couldn’t wait to see what we’d ...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on April 9, 2005

Macayo's Mexican Kitchen
4001 North Central Ave
Phoenix, Arizona 85012
+1 602 264 6141

Los Olivos Mexican Patio Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Dining at Familia Corral’s Los Olivos "

·	Los Olivos Mexican Patio, Scottsdale Photo - Los Olivos Mexican Patio, Phoenix, Arizona
Quote:
Established in 1928, this landmark restaurant is one of Scottsdale’s oldest and one of our favorites. Los Olivos’ striking building sits tucked away in a rather obscure corner of Old Town Scottsdale. We stumbled upon it years ago on a walk and have been returning ever since. The main cave-like entrance is on the east side of the building, shaded by palms, trees, vines, and an elaborate archway. Last time we were there (February 2004), a life-sized smiling gray plaster donkey on wheels stood in front of the double glass doors. He blended in well with the unlikely gotta see-it-to-believe it architectural style of this building. Before going insi...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on April 9, 2005

Los Olivos Mexican Patio
7328 Second Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85251
(480) 946-2256

On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Bordurrito™ On the Border "

·On the Border, Ahwatukee Photo - On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, Phoenix, Arizona
Quote:
It is with some guilt that I include On the Border in this journal. This is a member of the mega-chain corporation Brinker International, Inc., which includes Chili's, Romano's Macaroni Grill, Maggiano's Little Italy, Corner Bakery Cafe, and Rockfish Seafood Grill. During the last 30 years, this self-proclaimed "mutual fund of casual dining" has grown to own 1,400 restaurants worldwide, with sales of more than $3 billion annually. I must admit that they did succeed in their "unwavering commitment" to make sure every guest has an enjoyable dining experience with them. March 2003, we first spotted On the Border when shopping in Ahwatukee, and...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on April 9, 2005

On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina
5005 East Ray Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85044
(480) 705-5454

Keegans Grill & Taproom Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Keegan’s friendly neighborhood Grill &Tap Room"

·	Keegan’s Grill and Taproom, Ahwatukee Photo - Keegans Grill & Taproom, Phoenix, Arizona
Quote:
We found this independent restaurant with only two other locations (Camelback and Queen Creek, both in Phoenix area) when my flight to Phoenix from Albuquerque was delayed, so there was no time to prepare a meal in the motor home. (Besides, I was tired!) This Keegan’s is tucked away in an Ahwatukee shopping center behind a Sweet Tomato sandwich shop. Sidewalk dining on the south and east sides of the restaurant are partially protected from the sun by awnings and umbrellas. But we chose to be seated at a booth inside this cozy place, which has sort of a "Cheers" feel to it. Keegan’s Grill opened in 1989. Photos of their regulars line the walls in the bar s...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on April 9, 2005

Keegans Grill & Taproom
4723 East Ray Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85044
(480) 705-0505

Indian St. Patrick’s Day Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Indian St. Patrick’s at Wind Dance/ Wild Horse"

·Wild Horse Pass Casino Photo - Indian St. Patrick’s Day, Phoenix, Arizona
Quote:
It’s amazing what the Akimel O’odham (Pima) and Pee Posh (Maricopa) have accomplished in the desert just south of Phoenix. The alliance of these two tribes, called Gila River Indian Community, was established in 1939. Their lands cover nearly 600 square miles. Wild Horse Pass Casino is one of three casinos they operate, their biggest and fanciest. Exit 162 off I-10 will take you there. Even if you couldn’t care less about slots and gambling, it’s worth your while to take a look. We occasionally spend a couple of nights (in our motor home) in their big parking lot en route through Phoenix. While here, we explore not only the casino, but be...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on April 9, 2005

Indian St. Patrick’s Day
Wind Dance / Wild Horse
Phoenix, Arizona
(520) 796-7777

·	Z Tejas, Chandler Photo - Phoenix, Arizona
Quote:
What’s with the title? Explanation: Zo means "so" in Dutch (I’m originally from Holland). We first discovered Z-Tejas in March 2004, on a busy Friday evening when we were finding restaurants filled up and with long (45 minutes to 1 hour) waits. From the looks of the full parking lot in front of Z-Tejas, we almost didn’t bother to stop and check it out. But the hostess told us it would only be a 20-minute wait as she handed us a remote that would flash and vibrate when our table was ready. As we were waiting, we took a peek at the food being prepared in the kitchen, visible from the entry. We saw plates of Z-salad, looking fresh and green, and small ...Read More

About the Writer

btwood2

btwood2
Rodeo, New Mexico

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