Month: March 2005

Croque Famous Sandwiches

If you’re looking for the very best sandwich you can experience, you need to try Croque (it’s pronounced “crock” as in crocodile). This small sandwich shop makes some of the tastiest, fresh-from-the-oven baguette sandwiches you’ll ever find and I’m not being paid to say that.

croque famous sandwiches

The menu is separated by country of origin, and you can choose between French, German, Italian, and traditional American sandwiches. Croque also offers a variety of soups, salads, and breakfast selections.

The food takes about 15 minutes to prepare and when they bring it out it is served hot on a sandwich board. The sandwich is literally dripping with sauces. You can choose between white garlic and dill sauces and we found the lettuce and all ingredients to be fresh.

We suggest the Paris, or the Croque Special sandwiches and combined with any soup it’s a great deal.

How much? About $5 for a six inch (that’s plenty) or if you are really hungry, a twelve inch is only about $8.

Where? Southwest corner of Scottsdale Rd. and Thunderbird Rd. and also at Camelback Rd. and 40th St. (at the base of an office complex). If you want more info, head over to www.croques.com where you can see the menu.

Atmosphere? Sidewalk sandwich shop.

When? Open for breakfast and lunch, although known for its lunch menu.

Reviewer: Chris Tingom

The Other Place

Note: The Other Place on Lincoln, just west of Scottsdale Road was converted to REM, owned by Robert McGrath, but it never opened. So this review is out dated, but preserved for future reference.

If you have your eye out for a great tasting steak we suggest The Other Place. This restaurant known to Paradise Valley residents for almost 30 years cooks up some delightful evenings.

This restaurant got its name after Dale Anderson opened his second restaurant, and before a name could be chosen everybody kept referring to it as “the other place” and that’s how it got its name.

Start your evening with the famous Gazpacho soup (tomato and vegetable soup served cold) which is better than anywhere else. All courses come with the Gazpacho soup or Clam Chowder and a fantastic house salad.

While you’re eating, your main entrée is cooking. We tried the Teriyaki Steak and the Three Medallions plate. Both had excellent flavor and come with potatoes or rice.

Afterwards try the Kiwi Pie or the Pecan Pie with ice cream.

How much? Entrees start at $17 and as high as $25.

Where? 7101 East Lincoln Drive. You’ll find it

Atmosphere? Quiet evening dinner in an old converted home with a fireplace and tile floors.

When? Open for lunch and dinner (known for dinner)

Reviewer: Chris Tingom

Tee Pee Tap Room

Having been around for almost 40 years, this Mexican restaurant brings local flavor to the table. If it’s your first time be sure to try the football sized Chili Relleno’s, which take about 20 minutes to bake, and contains enough eggs, chili’s, and cheese for two people.

PhotoTeePee1

The building is old, the orange booths are retro, and the food is great. It’s not a quiet restaurant, so if you’re looking for a nice quiet corner this isn’t the place. You’ll find some of the best Mexican food you’ve experienced at the Tee Pee.

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It’s a perfect place to take friends from out of town or just about anyone who loves Mexican food. Don’t miss this one!

How much? $5-10

Where? Indian School and 40th Street on North Side of Indian School.

Atmosphere? Pack ‘em in and serve great food. Your typical 40 year old restaurant with orange booths and chips and salsa.

When? 11:00am- 9:00pm. This restaurant gets really busy on weekends and it could take you an hour to get a seat.

Reviewer: Chris Tingom

LEO The Delicatessen

Note: Since publication, LEO The Delicatessen has closed its doors.

LEO’s is your place to get a good sandwich or bowl of soup. Named after ‘lox, eggs and onions,’ this place serves up a good New York City Jewish Deli feast.

With spacious old wood floors, roomy leather booths, and neat black and white pictures this place is a delightful find.

We suggest the Pastrami On Rye and the Hot Corned Beef with a bowl of their fine Chili.

Quiet and relaxed, this place is perfect for lunch although a little bit pricey at $9 if you choose to order a whole sandwich (which is normally huge by the way). If you want to spend about $5-6 ask for a half-sandwich and soup which is plenty by most standards.

They’ve got a great assortment of pickled vegetables they place in the center of your table while you wait for your food, they’re delicious!

How much? Moderate. Two people with drinks for lunch you can expect to get out the door for around $30.

Where? Located just north of Chaparral Rd on Scottsdale Rd. 5101 North Scottsdale Road

Atmosphere? New York Deli (we’re talking fine deli)

When? Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Reviewer: Chris Tingom

La Madeleine

Note: La Madeleine has closed it’s locations in Phoenix since we published this review.

This French deli and restaurant cooks a delightful experience for any meal. If you go for breakfast we suggest just about anything! They cook up a good meal of eggs, toast, and bacon, plus hash browns and the usual fare you’d expect in a good breakfast.

La Madeleine’s is an excellent choice for a conservative breakfast meeting or to catch up with friends over lunch. Sporting a delightful open atmosphere with plenty of tables, it almost feels like a converted home with multiple outside facing windows.

The difference here is that you order your meal deli style and they bring it to your table once it is prepared. You can also pick from a variety of baked goodies and sweets at the counter.

What to try? We love the Tomato Basil Soup which is absolutely splendid and they can serve up some sumptuous treats like their cakes and pies.

How much? Expect to pay $10+ per person including drinks.

Where? It’s a chain and they’ve got over 60 locations nationwide. We’ve eaten at the ones at Camelback Rd. & 32nd St., Shea Blvd. and Tatum, and inside Fashion Square Mall. Visit www.lamadeleine.com for more locations.

Atmosphere? It feels like a specious home with wood floors and decorative wall hangings.

When? Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Reviewer: Chris Tingom

The Sugar Bowl

The Sugar Bowl brings back many memories for Scottsdale old-timers as it’s been in the same spot for at least a half-century.

You’ll remember seeing the Sugar Bowl featured in the popular comic strip ‘Family Circus.’ In fact, the menu has Bill Keens own personal touch.

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The Sugar Bowl is the best place to get a malt in Scottsdale!

This place is covered in the color pink! The outside is pink, the chairs are pink, and the walls even have pink and white stripes! But it only adds to the atmosphere which brings to mind soda fountains of the 50s.

Try it for a light lunch of bite sized sandwiches or soups. Then always top it off by ordering one or two of the fantastic ice creams and malts! We suggest the Camelback Soda, or even one of the brownies.

Even if you’re a long-time resident, or simply visiting town, you’ve got to stop in and visit the folks at the Sugar Bowl.

How much? $2.00 – 10.00

Where? East side of Scottsdale Road (south of Indian School road by one block) in old town Scottsdale.

Atmosphere? Sidewalk sandwich shop.

When? Open for lunch and dinner and dessert! Mon-Thu 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-12am, Sun 11am-10pm

Reviewer: Chris Tingom

Cave Creek Coffee Company

Cave Creek Coffee Company is remarkable. It has large spacious rooms and comfortable ottoman chairs that make this coffee house especially comfy. Nowhere else can you get a leather chair, free wireless internet, and to boot it’s in Cave Creek, away from the beaten path which makes it special.

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Let’s start with the coffee. First of all, they roast their own coffee beans and so you know the coffee will be fresh (you can even buy it around town and at several up-scale restaurants). The cappuccinos are delicious with just the right foam and nice tiny bubbles that have the appearance of soft cream. Just right. Next we tried some of the specialty drinks like the Mexican Spiced Mocha. The taste was intense and sophisticated and the cinnamon wasn’t crying for attention like so many others I’ve tasted. That’s important because I could taste the flavor.

We also tried some of the mocha’s and plain coffees and found a unique flavor. I frequently make the drive from Scottsdale simply for the good experience and coffee.

David and Anita Anderson are the owners of Cave Creek Coffee Company and they’ve recently installed free wireless internet in their entire coffee shop. Kudos’ to them for realizing the potential. As the only coffee shop in Cave Creek that we know of with free wireless, they’ll become the repeat destination for geeks and workaholics alike.

CaveCreekCoffeeCoPhoto

Cave Creek Coffee Company: Free wireless internet and superb cappuccinos

Cave Creek Coffee Company recently expanded its outdoor seating area and now it’s a huge spacious place with trees and lighting for night-time music events. Highly recommended.

Where: It’s on the south side of Cave Creek Rd. in Cave Creek. If you’re taking Scottsdale Rd. north, take a left (going west) when the road ends in Cave Creek and it’s another 2-3 miles ahead on your left (you’ll pass the Satisfied Frog restaurant). The address is 6033 E. Cave Creek Rd, or phone them at 480.488.0603 or cavecreekcoffee.com.

Hours: They open at 6:30 am and close at 8:00 on weekends. During the week they close at 6:30 pm (although the wine bar is open until 10 pm).

Reviewer: Chris Tingom

Date reviewed: 2/27/2004

Jolta Java

Quiet and peaceful, this coffee shop with wood and earth toned circle shaped walls and coffee-brown varnished concrete is a nice place to meet a friend or just take it easy.

This isn’t just a coffee shop – they have breakfasts and sandwiches for anytime in addition to a daily soup.

jolta java
Jolta Java: A plentiful menu, good coffees, and shiney floors.

I was pleasantly surprised by their rewards program: every 10th beverage is free and they even remember my favorite drink. Plus no silly punch cards; it’s all automated with computers.

If you’ve found other coffee houses to be noisy, you’ll notice that Jolta Java doesn’t attract a huge crowd yet serves up some delicious drinks. Most notable is the Mexican Spiced Mocha. Absolutely wonderful hot or iced (they didn’t put too much ice in it) and the Cappuccino is excellent.

They even have a smaller room with couches and easy chairs which reminds me of the Cave Creek Coffee Company. You can read books or just sit back and enjoy the quiet.

How much? Prices for beverages are about what you’d expect at any coffee shop around town. A cup of soup is only $2.75 and sandwiches are about $7.00.

Where? SW Corner of Scottsdale Rd. and Acoma (just north of Thunderbird). 14418 N. Scottsdale Rd. – Suite 185, Scottsdale, Arizona 85254. If you want more info, head over to www.joltajava.com where you can see the menu.

Atmosphere? Quiet coffee shop with high ceilings and varnished floors

When? Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, coffee. Seven days a week.

Reviewer: Chris Tingom

DJ’s Bagel Cafe

That small bagel shop atmosphere and espresso combination you’ve grown to like. This Fountain Hills café is on Fountain Hills Blvd. They have the usual mix and match of bagel varieties for a good price. Mix and match to get the sandwich you like best made fresh for you in minutes.

Skip the tap water which wasn’t too good and enjoy a cappuccino or a old fashioned root beer.

It’s a deal for bagels if you just want that, you can get a baker’s dozen for only $6.00.

How much? Expect to pay between $4-6 for a bagel sandwich at lunch, less for breakfast sandwiches.

Where? It’s in Fountain Hills and it is on Fountain Hills Blvd. Easy to find. 13693 N Fountain Hills Blvd, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268-3761, Phone: (480) 816-4155

Atmosphere? Sidewalk bagel shop with espresso and mocha drinks.

When? Breakfast, lunch and dinner every day except Sunday when they close at 3 pm.

Reviewer: Chris Tingom

Village Coffee Roastery

The Village Coffee Roastery has been around for about eight years sells great coffee drinks and provides a rich atmosphere, but they even roast their own coffee beans, seriously. You can also try a delicious assortment of sandwiches and salads (Monday through Friday).

The coffee house takes advantage of the natural light from outdoors which creates a nice warm effect inside. Central in the shop is a nice round bar tiled with square blue tiles. You can sit and watch the barista make drinks while you wait and if you’re interested, watch, learn, and ask questions about the coffee business. They’re pretty nice.

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The Village Coffee RoasteryOne of my favorite drinks isn’t actually a coffee. It’s their Chai Tea Latte. They make it with all of the normal spices you’d find in a normal coffee house, except this one has a milk base rather than water. So it makes a world of difference. The drink is creamy and the spices just blend together with the milk to create this incredible blend of spices. We vote it BEST CHAI LATTE OF PHOENIX 2004.

Don’t worry, we tried their traditional coffee drinks and found everything to be flavorful and delicious. Especially considering the freshness of their coffee. In fact, if you are looking for fresh coffee for home use, we suggest you ask the barista when the next batch of coffee beans will be roasted.

Unlike most coffee houses that make coffee drinks the American way, Coffee Roastery makes coffees the Italian way which is a creamier and smoother taste (almost a velvety layer). When you’re sitting around the “Bar” ask them to tell you why this is important.

They’ve recently added free wireless internet, so you’ll always be able to connect. They don’t have too many power outlets though, so be sure to bring a charged battery!

Where: On the North-West corner of Hayden and Via De Ventura (DoubleTree Rd) inside the Village at Hayden complex… 8120 N Hayden Rd # E104, Scottsdale, AZ 85258.

Hours: Weekdays they open at 6:30 am and close at 6:30 pm and on weekends 7:30 – 4:00 pm

Reviewer: Chris Tingom

Date reviewed: 2/23/2004