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The third location of My Big Fat Greek Restaurant is in Chandler, and we visited on a Saturday evening. Not being fond of crowds, we got there at about 5:30 p.m. The place was packed by 6.
This...
The third location of My Big Fat Greek Restaurant is in Chandler, and we visited on a Saturday evening. Not being fond of crowds, we got there at about 5:30 p.m. The place was packed by 6.
This location of My Big Fat Greek Restaurant is the smallest and that makes it noisy, too. But Greek restaurants should be noisy, so that's OK. For three people the tables were quite small; we had to constantly pick up our dishes so our servers could put things on the table. Flaming appetizers are very popular, and every time a first course is lit, the servers all yell "Opa!" (I will loosely translate this as "Yee Hah!!"), and they will also so exclaim when any dishes are broken--this happens only accidentally at My Big Fat Greek Restaurant.
We are big Tzatziki (cucumber/yogurt dip) lovers, and their's was excellent. The Spanakopita (spinach and feta cheese pie) was different than what I'm used to, but very good. We also had a Flaming Saganaki (cheese in brandy).
For the entrees at My Big Fat Greek Restaurant we enjoyed the Lamb Souvlaki, Pastitsio, and the Gyro Dinner. All came with both potatoes and rice--if you are low carb, stay away!
The portions at My Big Fat Greek Restaurant are very large. Appetizers are easily shared by two people, and we took some of our entrees home with us for lunch the next day.
We ordered baklava and rice pudding for dessert. The rice pudding was OK, but not extraordinary. The baklava's pastry was thick and chewy, instead of crisp and flaky.
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Our visit to Tomaso's was a pleasant one. We had visited Tomaso's original location in Phoenix years ago, but this was our first chance to visit the Chandler location.
My friends both liked the...
Our visit to Tomaso's was a pleasant one. We had visited Tomaso's original location in Phoenix years ago, but this was our first chance to visit the Chandler location.
My friends both liked the Fried Calamari appetizer better than I did. I found it a little over breaded, but at least it was tender and not chewy. Definitely a portion large enough for two to share. I enjoyed the Mediterranean Platter -- real anchovies! -- I enjoy the variety and the choices were light and very tasty. Again, large enough to share.
The entrees at Tomaso's were the highlight of the meal. The Lobster and Seafood Cioppino was wonderful, too huge to finish. The Scampi with Lobster Ravioli was different than typical scampi; it was more like a garlicky marsala sauce, and had mushrooms. Although I love traditional scampi, I'd go back for this entree again. The Osso Buco was also a hit, although my eating companion snagged some of my vegetables to go with it.
Here's a warning about Tomaso's web site: as of this writing it is incomplete (where's the dinner menu? where are the desserts?) and the prices are out of date. They are all higher now.
Tomaso's gets high ratings for their tiramisu--we tried a sample and it was excellent. We were just too full to order dessert!
If you check around (see link below for "Coupons and Discounts") you can sometimes find discounted certificates for Tomaso's.
We'll be going back to Tomaso's again, and we're looking forward to it
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Paradise Bakery and Cafรฉ makes a nifty break from some serious shopping or a day at the office--or even a day out with the little ones. Many of the Paradise Bakery and Cafรฉ locations are located in...
Paradise Bakery and Cafรฉ makes a nifty break from some serious shopping or a day at the office--or even a day out with the little ones. Many of the Paradise Bakery and Cafรฉ locations are located in area malls, but there are some free-standing ones, too. The one we visited was one of those free standing ones.
Paradise Bakery and Cafรฉ is one of those self-serve places, so you grab a tray, peruse the menu boards and order items as you slowly move along toward the cash registers. At a place like this, if I haven't been before, I always take a few minutes to step back from the line and survey the situation, taking my cues from the other customers in line who seem to be veterans of the place and know what to order.
Today we ordered two soup and sandwich combos, and a large Southwest Roasted Chicken Caesar Salad. There was a choice of three soups (two cream, one not). The soup was OK, but not great. The sandwich combos--at Paradise Bakery and Cafรฉ you can have a fruit salad or a small green salad instead of soup--come with only half a sandwich, but the half is plenty for a 'normal' person, and the sandwiches, available on several fresh bread varieties, are very good.
The Southwest Roasted Chicken Caesar Salad really isn't a Caesar Salad (there's a clue around here if you see the word Southwest included!). Still, it was very tasty and the large was very large! Two people can easily share it.
Paradise Bakery and Cafรฉ was a welcome change from fast food, pizza or a Mexican lunch.
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The menu at Los Dos Molinas informs you that this is New Mexican cuisine. The original restaurant was started in Springerville, Arizona and several locations arose from there, including one at Union...
The menu at Los Dos Molinas informs you that this is New Mexican cuisine. The original restaurant was started in Springerville, Arizona and several locations arose from there, including one at Union Square in Manhattan.
Los Dos Molinas is known for being best for those who like their food hot. Actually, I have found that the salsas are hot, but the entrees really are not. We've had various entrees there, including chicken chimichangas, chili burritos, garlic shrimp. I have found that the amount of meat or fillings in the burritos varies. One day the burrito will be chock full, and another day it will be pretty skimpy. As far as appetizers are concerned, my favorite, when they offer it, is the chorizo/bean dip with hot crispy tortillas. Yummmm.
Los Dos Molinas makes the food fresh, and asks that you be patient after ordering. No problem--order a margarita. I thought it was one of the better ones in town. Tortillas are made fresh each day. The salsa is wonderful, but you must like it hot to enjoy it! The menu at Los Dos Molinos warns, "Sorry we do not provide a mild sauce, I do not know how to make 'mild'...."
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Abuelo's is a welcome change from your typical Mexican food place. Yes, you can get a taco or a burrito, but mostly you can get real meals, with meat or seafood and real vegetables. Our three...
Abuelo's is a welcome change from your typical Mexican food place. Yes, you can get a taco or a burrito, but mostly you can get real meals, with meat or seafood and real vegetables. Our three entrees on this trip were: Grande Platter, Salmon San Carlos, and the Chile Manzanillo. All were very good. The Grande Platter certainly is Grande, and consists of what one might think of as more traditional Mexican fare. Both the salmon and the seafood stuffed chile were a success, with the salmon being the larger portion of the two. We also ordered a Chorizo con Queso dip for an appetizer. I asked for tortillas instead of chips and the server was eager to please. The dip itself wasn't special, and had little chorizo in it. Since I'm the only one who seemed at all interested, I decided to take it home. Not only did the server put it in a container for us, but she gave us an extra bad of chips to take home with it. Very nice. On past trips we've also enjoyed our food, including their famous flan, pictured above. There are always lots of kids at Abuelo's, which makes it a little louder. They have a nice children's menu, and serve their drinks in small cups with lids. Smart. Usually, when I want Mexican food, I want the typical stuff from my neighborhood burrito place, but once in a while, Abuelo's is a nice change for something special, and a nice place to bring guests.
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The Phoenix area has loads of Chinese places, and quite a few all-you-can-eat buffets. But there are few places I'd recommend. I just don't know why I'm not that fond of most of the Chinese places...
The Phoenix area has loads of Chinese places, and quite a few all-you-can-eat buffets. But there are few places I'd recommend. I just don't know why I'm not that fond of most of the Chinese places around here. I guess because I have images of them opening cans of pre-made soup and entrees and microwaving them.
The Hong Kong Gourmet Buffet is a welcome exception. There are two locations, and they are different in their offerings. In Mesa, the Hong Kong Gourmet Buffet offers a nice selection of entrees, including beef and pork and even a few sushi selections. They also have several seafood items, including shrimp, oysters, and salmon filets. At the salad bar there's calamari salad and another mixed seafood salad. At a visit at 4 p.m. The place was busy and the food was fresh-it hadn't been sitting there since lunchtime as you might find at other buffets.
The Hong Kong Gourmet Buffet in Ahwatukee is a bit more upscale. There, in addition to the items they have at Mesa, you will find a sushi bar, crab legs, lobster, a prime rib carving station, and a bar.
Clearly, the The Hong Kong Gourmet Buffet in Mesa is more 'down-to-earth' than the one in Ahwatukee, where the staff wears black and white formal attire. The food at both is good, and I recommend them.
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Barcelona in Chandler was a nice choice for a romantic dinner for just the two of us. The Crab, Spinach and Artichoke Dip was enough for two people to share, but we also tried the Peppers Stuffed...
Barcelona in Chandler was a nice choice for a romantic dinner for just the two of us. The Crab, Spinach and Artichoke Dip was enough for two people to share, but we also tried the Peppers Stuffed with Shrimp and Chorizo which were very good, but not large enough a portion for two. For entrees we enjoyed the Petite Filet with Shrimp, and the Paella Pescador (seafood paella), which is one of their specialties. We topped of the delicious meal at Barcelona with two desserts a warm chocolate tart (like a small souffle) with chocolate ice cream, and a seasonal berry cobbler with vanilla ice cream. We shouldn't have, but both desserts were excellent!
For some reason Barcelona doesn't serve bread with the meal (even if you ask). We had been to Barcelona before, and, although the food was consistently good, we were very unhappy with our service the first time. This visit was much better. We will definitely try Barcelona in Chandler again.
After dinner, Barcelona turns into one of the hottest spots for entertainment in the East Valley. Fine nights per week (not on Mondays or Sundays) they move out the tables in front of the stage, and you can enjoy live music and dancing to various styles--guitar, jazz, 70s and 80s music, R&B, and more.
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Suffice to say when you order carnitas (braised, seasond pork) you will recieve beef. beef!? and if you want an expediant experiance (your done and need the check) be prepaired to relax and digest...
Suffice to say when you order carnitas (braised, seasond pork) you will recieve beef. beef!? and if you want an expediant experiance (your done and need the check) be prepaired to relax and digest your meal in there wonderfull atmosphere before you are asked if you are done. I have to say that 3 margaritas is what you have to have in order to belive this is a great resteraunt to return to. we weren't exactly overwhelmingly successful in our quest for the best margarita at this first stop--we definitely feel a need to continue our search. Three Margaritass margarita offerings were overpriced and undersized and not terribly satisfying taste-wise. BUT, we did have an a very pleasant overall dining experience.
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You may think Arizona has plenty of good Mexican restaurants but finding one like this is a real pleasure. It serves food from family receipes that are excellent. Even the salsa and chips stand...
You may think Arizona has plenty of good Mexican restaurants but finding one like this is a real pleasure. It serves food from family receipes that are excellent. Even the salsa and chips stand alone - in addition to a very good red salsa they offer a chopped cabbage salsa that had us fighting over it. If you like authentic Mexican, don't miss the carnitas, chile verde or the shrimp cocktail. Others in our party enjoyed the standard border region combination dishes - enchiladas, tamales and burritos. Full bar is available. The restaurant is located 12 miles south of Sedona on Hwy 89A.
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