Favorite Restaurant(s) in Prescott and Vicinity? (Phoenix, Pine: rent, organic)

[motormaker]

^^ Ya, they went out of business. Pretty good food. It was on either W Goodwin or Gurly. Think there was some medical place across the street. Was just wondering why they went belly up.

I have a bumper sticker in the garage that says "I ate in the buff at the Buffalo Nickel".

[wretched wrench]

The Bistro, out at the north end of Prescott Lakes Pkwy is a favorite of ours on a Friday or Saturday night. They have a limited menu and seating times, but the food is superb and the wines are all excellent and reasonably priced. Check their site for menu offerings and seating times.

I believe it is the best restaurant for wine with dinner in Prescott. Your dollar gets you a better wine and Clyde's recommendations are in a league of their own when compared to any other restaurant. Next door is Clyde's wine store, BTW. There is no ridiculous markup on the wines in the restaurant.

However, the service can be slow, as the food is prepared AFTER you order. Nothing is pre-prepared as with so many places. We are OK with that because we are usually with friends, and the place is quiet and relaxed so we can enjoy each others' company and actually hear each other.

I have never had seared Ahi that came even close to the way they do it there.

We also enjoy TRH, and agree on the noise. Earlier is quieter. We haven't noticed the hokey dancing lately.

Actually, too many restaurants are way too noisy.

[Gandalara]

Originally Posted by DellNec

Now I do Cracker Barrel and Texas Roadhouse, with an occassional Olive Garden. The best bang for buck is Texas Roadhouse & then Cracker Barrel.

Originally Posted by Low Roller

Hard to beat "Cracker Barrel" for breakfast!

Did the Cracker Barrel get new management in the last year?

My sister and I drove all over Northern AZ last year for a couple of weeks. Our one rule was if we ate in a restaurant, it had to be a Mom 'n Pop place - no chains. Once a day, brunch or lunch, we had marvelous food

When we hit the Prescott area, my sister convinced me that we had to eat at the Cracker Barrel, since I'd never tried the chain and she loved the place. It was the worst food and the worst service of our whole trip.

El Charro was very good, though

[Low Roller]

Originally Posted by wretched wrench

The Bistro, out at the north end of Prescott Lakes Pkwy is a favorite of ours on a Friday or Saturday night. They have a limited menu and seating times, but the food is superb and the wines are all excellent and reasonably priced. Check their site for menu offerings and seating times.

That sounds really good! If it has reasonable wine prices it's probably the only place in the country that does. I'll definitely try it!

To be honest, I've never eaten at the local "Cracker Barrel." It's always more of a "trip" restaurant for me (I'm not usually a big breakfast person,) so I usually eat at the one next to Cabela's down in Phx.

Sorry you had a bad experience, Gandalara. I've found CB to be an excellent breakfast place, but lacking at lunch and dinner. I had a bad dinner there once also some years back.

I've read elsewhere that "El Charro" used to be THE Mexican place in Prescott - but then it went down hill a few years ago. Maybe it's making a comeback though, and I'll give it a try.

I do like "Casa Bonita" VERY much! Excellent Carnitas and their Combos with the shredded beef burrito are terrific.

One thing: don't order the chile rellano. It used to be excellent, and when you cut into it the cheese oozed out of it and it's flavor was fantastic. But the last couple times I ordered it the cheese was like mucilage - hard and tasteless. So I assume that the depression has caused them to cut back somewhat.

Otherwise, however, everything else is still excellent.

[wretched wrench]

Originally Posted by Low Roller

One thing: don't order the chile rellano. It used to be excellent, and when you cut into it the cheese oozed out of it and it's flavor was fantastic. But the last couple times I ordered it the cheese was like mucilage - hard and tasteless. So I assume that the depression has caused them to cut back somewhat.

A chile relleno is one of the ways I judge a Mexican restaurant. It should be a chile, stuffed with cheese, and a light egg batter. Nothing more. Too many joints place a few strips of chile, and some cheese into a blanket of a Twinkie-like batter substance and pour goop over it.

My fave relleno is at the Skull Valley Diner. Yes, it is Mexican, although their gabacho grub is great, too.

[BevK]

Is the Skull Valley Diner still open?

[wretched wrench]

Originally Posted by BevK

Is the Skull Valley Diner still open?

They've been open for a while now. They close at 4 sun-wed and at 7 thurs- sat. No idea when they open, but probably 7 or 8.

[Low Roller]

Originally Posted by wretched wrench

A chile relleno is one of the ways I judge a Mexican restaurant. It should be a chile, stuffed with cheese, and a light egg batter. Nothing more.

The one at Casa Bonita used to be like you described - and still is except for the inferior cheese they're now using. I hope they change back someday, as everything else there is very good.

I found another good Mexican place recently called, "Casa Sanchez." It's on Gurley, all the way east until it curves to the left and turns into thumb butte road.

Not fancy, but good food.

Good Carnitas.

[smilinpretty]

My husband and I try to go to a restaurant we never been before on a monthly basis. Honestly? I haven't found the altimate restaurant. I love to cook. I just came back from Torrance, CA and bought a ice chest full of all different kinds of sausages, hot dogs, brats, all made at the German Alpine Village..no preservatives, fillers. I can make a better steak than any other place I went to thus far. I can make a better hamburger than any restaurant I have been to. I do like New Frontier Food.

[wretched wrench]

In winter, we get our brats, Italian sausage and link breakfast sausage in Quartzsite. Place called The Jerky Store a coupla blocks north of Main on 95. As good or better than Alpine Village or Eschbach's, and way closer. It is worth the drive, as we take a large cooler and dry ice.