Sandwiches | Arizona Reviews

Arcadia Farms Cafe

Arcadia Farms Cafe is located in Old Town Scottsdale and is a fine-dining restaurant with a casual atmosphere. The restaurant is situated in what appears to be an old home, and offers seating on the patio, or indoors.

Arcadia Farms boasts an extensive menu that is created with fresh local ingredients. They even list the local companies they buy their ingredients from. The menu is a mix of sandwiches, salads, and other entrees. We love ordering the sandwiches and salads, but tend to always order a few of the extremely delicious appetizers.

Some of the delicious appetizers include a brie cheese platter that comes with apple slices (it is all baked) glazed with balsamic vinnager. It’s delicious! Another favorite is the bruchetta plate, which includes a couple of different topping varieties.

One of my favorite sandwiches on the menu is a turkey, brie, and green delicious apple sandwich served on a walnut bread. The combination of brie and apple slices can’t be understated — it is fantastic. But, when you bite into the delicious walnut bread (with raisins) you’ll know they haven’t scrimped on the bread. This is such a delicious sandwich, that I’ve ordered it several times.

We also tend to like the sangria, but they don’t sell it by the pitcher any more. I’m not sure why, but sangria is best when you order it by the pitcher. They have a fairly large wine and beer menu. So, you’ll be covered.

Arcadia Farms Cafe is a perfect destination for a family brunch, or a romantic dinner for two. The patio is a favorite in our family, and we’ve made a tradition of eating here on Christmas Eve.

Don’t miss the delicious fruit and ice cream desserts!

Getting there

Located in Old Town Scottsdale on 1st Ave. Parking on the street is always free and easy to find. They accept reservations, but they are rarely so busy that they can’t take walk-ins. Enjoy!

Arcadia Farms Cafe
7014 E. 1st Ave.
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Phone: (480) 941-5665

Croque Famous Sandwiches

A designer I work with suggested we go to lunch and so we met up at a local sandwich shop called Croque Famous Sandwiches.

Croque is conveniently located at the south west corner of Thunderbird Rd. and Scottsdale Rd. in Scottsdale, AZ. It’s super close to my home as well!

I’ve actually reviewed Croque before. About 15 years ago I used to frequent this sandwich shop with my grandfather. We would visit and over time tried all of the sandwiches.

Click here to view my review from 2001.

Today, Croque is still located in the same strip mall location, and they have expanded their food options to include breakfast options, as well as rice bowls and soups. The Asian rice bowls are apparently really popular, but I have not tried them yet.

Back to the sandwich: I ordered my old favorite, the Croque Madame sandwich, pictured in this post. This is by far my favorite sandwich at Croque, because of the great flavors. I only wish they would put more of the garlic sauce on it. I even paid for extra sauce, but it sure didn’t go far.

Also, the bread is a bit on the dry side. I’d much prefer if the bread was fresher and not as dry.

Despite these criticisms, I’ll be back at Croque for a sandwich very soon!

Croque Famous Sandwiches
13610 N. Scottsdale Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Phone: (480) 607-1285

The Sugar Bowl in Scottsdale

The Sugar Bowl in Scottsdale is one of my all time favorite places to take friends and family. For over half a century The Sugar Bowl has been serving delicious ice cream in Old Town Scottsdale.

Now that I think about it, I’ve been a customer for at least half of that time. My parents introduced me to the Sugar Bowl back in the 1980s, and we’ve been introducing friends ever since.

The last time I wrote about this classy dessert place was in 2005!

So, what can you order? Much more than just ice cream, you can enjoy malts, shakes, cones, sorbet, and cookies and cakes.

They also serve a wide selection of food entrees, like tuna fish sandwiches, cheese sandwiches, and other tea-related items. They really have an extensive menu. During the spring and fall they will typically serve a fresh orange shorbet or ice cream that they make. It’s quite a treat.

The interior of The Sugar Bowl is painted pink, with white accent. It’s like stepping into an old fashioned soda bar from the 1950s.

The Sugar Bowl
4005 N Scottsdale Rd
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Phone: (480) 946-0051

Urban Picnic

We stopped in at Urban Picnic for lunch recently, and had their delicious wraps for lunch. Urban Picnic is a small sandwich and soup shop located on Main Street in the heart of downtown Mesa. Within walking distance to coffee shops, antique shops, and salons.

They specialize in amazing salads, wraps, sandwiches, and more! The more includes awesome house-made teas, Izze drinks, and a big kids menu. The vibe is fancy… and, dare I say, urban. We loved the seats against the wall where we could watch people come in, order, and mill about.

On the day we visited, there was a massive rainstorm. The sort where you can only see a few yards in front of you. Here’s a picture.

They have a menu that changes frequently, so I’m not 100% sure whether these items will be available in the future.

Turkey Wrap

Spicy Chicken Wrap

Kids meal with mac and cheese

If you are in Mesa, definitely give Urban Picnic a visit! It’s a great spot for lunch in Mesa!

Urban Picnic
218 W. Main St.
Mesa, AZ 85201
Phone: (480) 246-8366

Bertha’s Cafe

On August 10th, the team went over to look at a possible office space location and decided to treat Peter to lunch.

We had never been to Bertha’s Cafe before, but knew we had to try it.

I had the Chicken Pesto (Sliced chicken, tomatoes, lettuce, roasted red peppers and pesto mayo) and it was very good!

Bertha’s Cafe
3134 E Indian School Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85018
Phone: (602) 955-1022

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