Orange Table Cafe

I'll be brief. This place is delightful. The only bad things I can say about Orange Table are that we had to wait for 5 minutes for an orange table, and our server forgot to bring my fruit. But by the time we realized it was missing, I was so high on pancakes that I didn't care at all about the fruit, which was probably just melons and grapes anyway. Orange Table has, by far, the best, fluffiest, most beautiful and delicious pancakes I've ever encountered in my 22 years. I wish I could tell you how much they cost, but I forgot to write it down and they don't have a website. They should really get a website. I remember thinking that the prices were very reasonable.

Because Cerrin got a new job, we changed our dinner to brunch, from Monday to Saturday. It worked out quite perfectly because we'd been talking about visiting Orange Table, but it's closed Monday nights. It's a small place, with cozy orange walls and a mini living room waiting area. The art on the wall is colorful and graphic-y and they've got an outdoor patio with several tables and room for dogs as well. It's an absolutely, well, delightful place to spend a Saturday morning with a couple of great friends.

Cerrin ordered some sophistimicated bagel sandwich with brie and fruit, which she seemed to enjoy. Lauren and I split those pancakes I mentioned earlier (Buttermilk with maple syrup) and the Two Egg Meal, which comes complete with two eggs your style, tasty home fries, 4 pieces of really great and hearty toast and (allegedly) a bowl of fresh fruit (or your choice of breakfast meat if you prefer flesh to fruit.) Everything was delicious and just the right size. And by just the right size, I mean we ate everything but couldn't exactly stand up completely afterward.

I highly recommend that you pay a visit, it's a great value, and I'm not even one of those breakfast food people. It's a little hard to find: park in the lot to the west of the Scottsdale Museum for Contemporary Art and wander eastward, it's hiding there somewhere between a wig store and Indian food.



Orange Table Cafe
7373 E. Scottsdale Mall Suite 6
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
(480) 424-6819

The Cornish Pasty Co.

A little bit ago, we decided to revisit the Cornish Pasty Co. a restaurant I am quite familiar with and one that Jocie and Lauren have tried once before. This place is tucked away on the corner of Hardy and University in Tempe serving a unique cuisine to us Arizonians. Pasty, pronounced Pas-tee, is quite difficult to describe without giving the wrong impression. It’s like a calzone, but with a flakey chicken pot pie crust, but with large amounts of filling options. There are the signature pasties that are cheaper in price and more traditional in filling. There are premium pasties that are slightly more expensive. Then there is the entire vegetarian menu taking recipes from both the signature and premium options.

When walking in for the first time, you’ll be surprised at how tiny this place is. The bar area provides a large portion of the seating along with somewhere around ten tables, only of which three that are large enough for more than two people. This is definitely not the place to take a large party. The restaurant is in the shape of a hallway and all the action happens behind the bar. All of it. The cooking, prepping, washing, all the workers do their job in a very tight space, but it certainly makes conversation and entertainment plentiful when sitting at the bar (where we sat due to the lack of tables large enough to seat three).

I decided on the Tikka Masala, a spicy pasty filled with veggie chicken (the most realistic fake chicken I’ve ever had), bell peppers, and potatoes seasoned with Indian spices. The traditional Indian dish wrapped in the flaky crust makes a surprisingly delicious combination. Jocie tried the Veggie Sheppard’s pie (reminiscent of a traditional chicken pot pie) stuffed with veggie ground meat, mashed potatoes, cheddar cheese, carrots, grilled onions, and peas. It is definitely one the of the safer choices on the menu, but delivers a comforting home-style cooking flavor. Lauren went with the Rosemary Chicken which consisted of roasted red potatoes, brie cheese, chicken, roasted red bell pepper, and rosemary spices. This combination of ingredients tends to be for those who enjoy a blend of stronger or more sophisticated flavors.

The food was heavy, filing, and scrumptious. These pasties don’t look large, but from $6-10 can potentially provide a couple meals depending on if you go home with leftovers. We personally could not finish more than half.

Although we couldn’t find room for dessert, they had a menu consisting of two different dessert pasties (a peanut butter and jelly and an apple cinnamon), a banafee pie (a traditional English pie of banana, caramel, and whipped cream), as well as a strawberry meringue.

I will have to say, watch out for the service. This place has a tendency to be packed and it is pretty easy to be forgotten there. Luckily, it is a small space so someone is bound to notice or ask if you need something. In this instance, we were left waiting to pay for quite a while even though it was slow because the server was chatting with the oven cook.

Dining at the Cornish Pasty Co. is truly an interesting experience that you won’t find in any other restaurant. The place is small and very intimate, providing a great hanging out atmosphere for small groups that are in no hurry. The food is large, excellent, and filing. And even though we did not drink, Irish Car Bombs are always $3, there is a selection of beers on tap, many beers in the bottle, along with a few different types of whiskey for cocktails or shots.

Cornish Pasty Co
960 W University Dr
Tempe, AZ, 85281
(480) 894-6261

Mandala Tearoom

The quaint teahouse/restaurant's website starts by saying "Welcome to the mandala tearoom experience," and an experience it definitely was.

Tucked away in the windy side roads of Old Town Scottsdale, the Mandala Tearoom is like that amazing store you window shop at constantly but never buy anything from because even though you love its combination of style and personality, you feel you could never make it work.

Except at the Tearoom, an all vegan, contemporary decorated shop, you can make it work and you should; all you have to do is sit at the fabulously arranged tables, eat the great food, drink tea from its famed selection and absorb the chic scenery.

This week we had a few special guests: Brandon, his visiting friend Vince and Jimmy.

We were all disappointed to hear that they were out of the Creamsicle herbal tea, but I know Cerrin enjoyed her hibiscus tea, and Vince was enlightened by his Zen Awareness Elixir. Teta and Jimmy opted for imported beers.

Cerrin's nacho appetizer-turned-entree, Totopos de casa mandala, looked amazing and tasted pretty darn good as well.

I was left confused with the Creamy Tahini dressing on my side salad which, beware, comes full of beet chunks, but the Ziti al forno Jocie and I split was honestly one of the best ziti dishes I've ever had, full of flavor, spices and not dry at all, which can be common in these baked veggie pasta dishes.

Teta and Jimmy were ordering twins again with the South sandwich, a black bean, corn and rice patty with lettuce and tomato and a side of house slaw (looking like a bread pudding type situation). It was left on touched on both of their plates.

Our skepticism of vegan desserts from past experiences with a rather strange flan deterred us from choosing a dessert, but Cerrin did snatch up a slice of carrot cake to go; the second week in a row she's satisfied her sweet tooth without us.

With an adjacent apothecary, a book shelved wall lined with decorations and teas, walls covered in Indian paintings and a perfect depth of lighting, the restaurant experience was as rich and enjoyable as the food and the service.


Mandala Tearoom
7027 East 5th Avenue
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
480-423-3411

Delux Burger

I'm not going to lie, we've got a real credibility issue on this one-- all reviews by herbivores of restaurants with "burger" in their names should probably be taken with a serious grain of salt. If you want to know more about the burger for which Delux is known, talk to Lauren. All I heard her say about her Classic Burger ($9) was that it was tasty, a little rare and somewhat "soggy." Please follow up with her for details.

So Delux is one of those moderny-hip places with unisex bathrooms and $3 cupcakes. My immediate impression was positive (despite a subtly strange and unidentifiable smell.) The dining room is small and crowded, with a large seating bar dividing the room, 6 4-top tables on one side and the real bar on the other. The lighting is low with neon blue and green accents, mirrors, and candles-- nothing too innovative, but pleasantly cool.

Don't be fooled by the huge bludgeony menus, the food selection is rather small, especially for vegetarian types, and especially in comparison to the menu of drinks. I ordered the Tomato Mozzarella Salad ($9) which entails, quite literally, 5 slices of tomato and 5 slices of fresh mozzarella drizzled with some sort of balsamic vinegar. Unexceptional at best. Neither the tomato nor the cheese had much flavor, and I found myself forcing down the 4th set of slices. Fortunately, it seems that my three comrades had much better meals than I did (Turns out I'm really good at finding and purchasing the weakest entree on any menu.) Lauren, Cerrin and Teta reported good things about their Classic Burger, Grilled Vegetable Panini ($8), and Beet Salad ($9), respectively.

My highlight: the french fries. I'm a real sucker for fries and Delux has a lot to offer here. Patrons can order standard fries, or sweet potato fries, or a mix of both, to be enjoyed with ketchup and aioli sauce. Full orders and half-orders are available, and the best part is that the fries are served in a squirrel-sized shopping cart. Why? Who knows! But its adorable and definitely adds to the overall fry experience.

We didn't stay for dessert, partly because we were full, but mostly because our server clearly wanted to turn our table, understandably. The service was great, but my sweet tooth doesn't appreciate being handed the check without any mention of dessert. If he would have offered the dessert menu, I'm fairly certain that I would have purchased one of those overpriced cupcakes.

Well, anyway. In short, I probably won't return to Delux Burger by my own volition, which, if anything, is an argument for meat eaters to check this place out. And don't forget to order the fries.

Delux Burger
3146 E. Camelback Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85016
602-522-2288
www.deluxburger.com

La Grande Orange is Certianly Grande

On the corner of 40th street and Campbell in Phoenix is the scrumptious La Grande Orange Pizzeria. Tucked away in a neighborhood, away from busy intersections and strip malls, sets the mood for this cozy and welcoming restaurant, that was packed full on a Monday night (always a good sign when customers are abundant on a “dead“ restaurant night).

I do believe Jocie’s first words when walking in was “this place is so cool,” emphasis on the word so. That might not sound like much, but from someone that has a keen sense of design and décor, it certainly is a compliment. The actual size of the restaurant is rather small, but does offer table, booth, or bar seating. One large table in the center of the restaurant holds all the serving utensils and dishware, complete with a decorative vase. Yellows, blues, and greens, fill the space with color. The adorable lamps gave off an amber glow which made everyone’s skin look fantastic. In addition to the look of the restaurant, the soundtrack consisted of fun, laid back tunes that were very enjoyable. All around La Grande Orange creates a warm and inviting atmosphere for their guests.

So how does the food stack up to the look of the place? Right away Lauren commented on the smell of baking pizza, quite a delightful treat for the senses. The menu is small but consists of classic salads and pizzas as well as unique items like the LGO “chop” (lettuce, spinach, bacon, picholine olives, tomatoes, artichokes, herbed goat cheese, pine nuts, raisins, with vinaigrette) and roasted corn pizza (goat cheese, corn, roasted tomatoes, and basil).

There were only three of us at dinner this week, so we decided to share two of the pizzas. The margherita (a classic cheese, tomato and basil) came to our table looking a little shiny from the grease. Because this particular pizza does not have sauce, the extra cheese made it a little on the heavy side, but tasty nonetheless. I was very impressed with our avocado pizza. Although the avocado had similar ingredients, the variation made a huge difference. This pizza had the tomato, basil, and cheese, but also a slice of avocado on each piece, marinara sauce, and sprinkled with lemon juice. It was a wonderful blend of flavors for the tongue to enjoy.

Each pizza at La Grande Orange is 12 inches with eight slices, ranging anywhere from $11-14. Two pizzas between the three of us girls was more than enough, and we ended up taking almost an entire pizza home. Other items on the menu include a couple of appetizers and burgers.

And if nothing on the pizzeria’s menu is what you desire, salads, sushi, sandwiches, wine, baked goods and an assortment of other food items and knick-knacks are available next door at La Grande Orange Grocery. An adorable gelato shop is another dessert option, connected to the pizzeria itself, offering traditional flavors like pistachio and strawberry, or something more daring like catrino (almond and lingberry).

All in all, I do believe this corner of 40th street and Campbell has a superb combination of eating options that deliver atmosphere and taste. I encourage many to come and try the flavors of La Grande Orange. If you do, be aware. Bring $3 for valet parking, carpool, or wait in line for a parking spot. This bustling combination of grocery, pizzeria, and gelato make finding a parking spot complicated. Thankfully there is hired staff to help out the process and point out the options, but this tucked away location with limited parking is just one sacrifice made to complete the impressive package of La Grande Orange.

La Grande Orange
4410 N 40th st.
Phoenix, Az 85018
602-840-7777

My Florist

Let me say this. I was no My Florist virgin; I had stopped in many times for dessert particularly after First Friday evenings, but I had never eaten a full My Florist meal.

I choose it as the site of my birthday dinner celebration with the friends. We were minus one (Laura, she was relaxing for a weekend in Rocky Point) and plus one (Joe as the only boy).

The atmosphere was supreme, as it usually is, and the pianist began to play just as we were brought our drinks. It couldn't have made me happier, as the live piano music and the genuine smile on the pianist's face are the two main reasons I love this restaurant. Our nice-sized round wooden table was accented with the dull and intimate lighting of a small candle, which I used to melt my straw with later, and I was thoroughly engrossed with the seeing eye yellow lab lying obediently on the ground next to his owner at the bar.

We decided against an appetizer, although Jocie ordered one for her meal, the Willo Chips and Salsa with jalepeno jack cheese.

My Chicken Salad Sandwich, with green apple and celery chunks tucked in, was tasty on My Florist's signature sunflower bread and the petite salad was light and simple. Teta also enjoyed the same selection... shocking I know, as she announced that she was no longer a vegetarian, among other things, after she ordered it.

Joe raved about his Cafe Clubhouse sandwich pressed with spinach and provolone, though I did not try it, and Cerrin managed to tackle the Oh My salad with a complex mix of candied walnuts, feta cheese and baja dressing.

There was nothing standout, spectacular about the food; it was good, but not great. The desserts were another story.

Being that it was my birthday and I'm a chocoholic I ordered the amazing Molten Chocolate Cake a la mode and we asked for their signature coffee creme brulee. The mixture of the oozing, steaming hot chocolate with the cool fresh vanilla ice cream was the perfect match and the hint of coffee flavor in the perfected creme brullee recipe was delightful.

The nice blend of piano classics like Phantom of the Opera medleys and Beatles' tunes invigorated by current Alicia Keys and New Republic hits made the evening an all around success.

My Florist
534 W. McDowell Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85003
602-254-0333

Fate

Okay so here's the thing about Fate, it's the kind of place I really want to like. And I do, but not because the food is exceptional. Not to say the food was bad, but as Lauren adeptly observed, it's not something that you're going to crave. We started out the meal with the Vegetarian Thai Spring Rolls ($4) which, however well presented and accompanied with a tasty sauce, were bland. My entree was called Ying Yang Noodles ($12): Wonton noodles and Broccoli, onion, bamboo shoots, mushroom, carrots, bok choy, sweet peas, baby corn w/ a light garlic sauce. It was light and pleasant, but also bordering on bland and certainly not worth the price. I will say this: Fate knows how to prepare tofu, it was absolutely perfect. I split my entree with Lauren (again) under the assumption that there would be dessert. But, to my dismay, and I'm talkin serious dismay, Fate had no desserts to offer. Complimentary rice crackers are cute, but let's face it, they are not dessert.

The draw of Fate is really it's decor, location, and overall "cool" factor. The restaurant is located in an adorable little house-like building, right smack in the middle of the art district, with a lovely view (well, as lovely as Phoenix can be) of our downtown high rises. Why, we were positively smitten. The place has one of those "nice without being too snotty" feels, with exposed brick walls, wood floors, and small pieces of original art. Both the light and music were dim, creating an ideal atmosphere for young lovers exchanging sweet nothings. It worked out well for our conversation too. And we had a blast with the restrooms, which offered unique, extreme lighting, making even the call of nature kinda hip. Overall, a positive experience, it's definitely a place for the 20 something crowd. (I'm trying to picture a granny in the bathroom pulling down her stockings under the black light.)

So anyway, we forgive you Fate, for your mundane cuisine, because you understand that which so many restaurants do not: that dining is so much more than good food. You have to feel good while you're eating, too.

Fate
905 N. 4th St.
Phoenix, AZ 85004
reservations: (602) 254-6424

p.s.
The dessert disappointment led us to Mary Coyle's (7th ave and Bethany Home) where we cuddled up, warm and fuzzy, around a banana split. This place is a real family treat. And it's all dressed up for the holidays, looking silly (read: 4ft dancing santa) and wonderful.

Plaid Eatery

Tucked away in a convenient, close, but hard to notice location right behind ASU dorms on Rural and Terrace is Plaid Eatery, a café style restaurant featuring neighborhood artwork (so neighborhood in fact, that some of the photography was taken in Teta’s house), good lighting, and a “dedication to taste.”

As Teta and I walked in, there was only one person in the restaurant which immediately made me think this place might have been a wrong choice, but my first impression was quickly proven incorrect. The overall decor of the place is very inviting, considering the table we chose to sit at was a traditional dining room table with formal chairs. There are also many booths to choose from with individual lamps for extra lighting for those who are studying while having dinner. Or there is a bar area with barstools and a couch for those who want to enjoy their happy hour deals comfortably.

The menu is not particularly large, but certainly provides a variety of options for various diets and desires. I personally enjoyed my strawberry Italian soda and the Spicy Stir Fry. This dish, with a variety of vegetables and your choice of chicken or tofu served over rice, is designed for those who enjoy spice and those only. Teta order the Plaid Thai, which I secretly envied her for, while Lauren and Jocie split the Teriyaki. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their large “Pladders”($8) which all offer the choice of chicken or tofu. Other items on the menu include $8 salads, $6.50 sandwiches, and some sides and appetizers all under $5.

The dessert ($3) menu boasted a plethora of options, but in reality there was only mango cheesecake and tiramisu. Apparently this is a common problem here, so ask before ordering dessert what the options really are. We ended up with mango cheesecake which was only okay in comparison to the entrees.

So why is this delicious and affordable restaurant a ghost town? Perhaps it’s because no one has realized the light-rail construction in that area is now finished and no longer an inconvenience. Maybe it’s because it’s a Monday and that is never a busy day in the restaurant business. It could have been that Thanksgiving leftovers were still abundant. Whatever the reason, it shouldn’t be there. It is an ideal location for many occasions, such as conversation that is audible between the table, studying away from the noise in the dorms, or a warm meal on a colder night.

Plaid Eatery
1044 S. Terrace Rd.
Tempe, Az 85281
480.394.9424

Rula Bula

I've never been to Ireland, nor do I often frequent Irish pubs, but I happened to visit two last week, one of which was Rula Bula. Wood on the floors, wood on the walls, wood on the tables, wood on the benches... pretty much wood everywhere and I loved it. I assume it's how an authentic Irish pub would feel, except without the presence of loud, sloppy, and intoxicated patrons or the smoky dark atmosphere (however there was a hint of smoke wafting in from the patio, unfortunately).

The server was great, she even affectionately called Cerrin "love," and walked the line perfectly between friendly and effective. With an extensive food, drink and dessert menu Rula Bula had enough choices for my vegetarian friends. And my personal favorite thing about a restaurant, the meals were big enough for us to split with no absurd splitting fee.

Although the side salads were too overflowing for their small plates, I made quite a mess, they were deliciously topped off with homemade dressings and they sparked a conversation about how we all tackle the challenge of eating salads. I spread the dressing and then slice, Cerrin spreads some dressing but leaves some for dipping the big veggies and Laura and Teta just spread and stab.

Laura and I split the homemade macaroni and cheese with thrashers (bacon pieces) which was overflowing with large spiral pasta smothered with a mixture of light and dark chesses. Cerrin and Jocie split the award-winning vegetarian Shepard's Pie and Teta had her own. They enjoyed it, saying its robust spice-filled flavor was surprising, I still like Bev's better.

For some reason we were most excited about the free bread brought with our entrees; two options of a hearty yet soft wheat and a raisin-filled white. Jocie proclaims "I like that you have a raisin option." Breadcitement seems to be a thing with us.

The bathroom was pretty typical, although they did try to satisfy the theme with a built-in fake bar, but nothing special there. The drinks, however, were something special. I took the rare opportunity to have some Strongbow Cider and Cerrin had Hot Apple Cider to soothe her ailing sore throat.

It was cool that we were sitting elevated on the stage, where they're supposed to have fantastic live music performances, but our table setup was a little off kilter. Laura and Teta's chairs were too high for the table and Cerrin and Jocie and my bench was too low, unfortunately there was no Goldilocks, so nothing about the seating was just right.

Sitting at the south end of Mill Ave, Rula Bula is a great fun Tempe eating establishment.

Rula Bula
401 S. Mill Ave.
Tempe AZ, 85281
480-929-9500

Caffe Boa

Let me preface my first ‘We Eat Out’ entry by disclosing the extent to which I am unqualified to review restaurants. First of all, I don’t eat animals, so it is highly unlikely that your meal choices will be reflected in my blogs. Second, I don’t drink alcohol (asian flush) and will thus have no insights to contribute on the subject. I should probably also mention that I am relatively parsimonious (which works out quite will with my aversion to meat and alcohol), and neither sophistication nor objectivity are among my ambitions. However, if apple juice, side salads and grilled cheese are your fare, I’m your girl.

A couple of Mondays ago, we dined at Caffe Boa, a lovely Italian place tucked away on 4^th street off Mill Avenue. It was here where we conceived of a dining review blog, in response to what we perceived to be a grave injustice. (More about that later.) Walking into Caffe Boa, one is greeted with a warm air of self-importance: the place is obviously “nice” and you, therefore, are “nice” for having been there, on dark wood floors, under soft lights, amongst other “nice” people. Any doubts are eliminated immediately by the sprig of rosemary bound by twine to your napkin and cutlery.

We began our meal with a delicious and beautifully complimentary loaf (or two) of fresh bread with a dish of olive oil. The bread is impaled by a large knife and served on a cutting board, leaving you to tear or slice as you wish. For our entrée, Lauren and I decided to share the Tortellini Brigantino (cheese tortellini in a cream sauce with broccoli, peas and mushrooms, $15.95.) It is a colorful pasta dish, and not very large, but quite rich and filling, so if you prefer a light meal, this one is not for you. We chose two desserts, the tiramisu, and Chocolate Hazelnut Royale, a chocolate mousse on a crunchy hazelnut base. Although the tiramisu has apparently won awards, it was clearly upstaged by the Royale on our table. Overall a tasty meal, however rich beyond my taste.

The atmosphere, again, is nice. I’ve heard that when they have live music, conversation can be challenging, but on a slow Monday, the room lent itself to our blog brainstorming and musings over presidential candidates. The décor is subtle, with the exception of a few out of place pieces of art. In an effort to tone down the pretension of a wine-heavy café, it seems the owners opted for colorful, seminonrepresentational, textured, vagina-reminiscent paintings which proved to be both a distraction and an amusement. But I certainly appreciate the effort towards color.

The low point of the meal, by far, came with the bill. Caffe Boa implements what could be called a regressive tax, that is, a tax weighing heavily on those with the least ability to pay. They call it a “splitting fee,” which means that if you’re going to make them put half a dish on another plate, it’s going to cost you an extra $3. It’s meant to discourage the poor and those with moderate appetites from dining at Caffe Boa and we were appalled. (Though we shouldn’t have been, it turns out that the menu includes a splitting fee warning. We didn’t bother to notice it because in our naiveté, we couldn’t imagine such a measure.) It was generally a pleasant evening with an ugly end. Probably best kept for special occasions for someone of my income and appetite, Caffe Boa might have more appeal to a wine connoisseur with more sophisticated tastes and a thicker wallet. As for me, the free bread might have been the highlight of my meal.

oh, and check out the candle. Yeah, that’s not a candle.

www.cafeboa.com
398 S. Mill Ave.
Tempe, AZ 85281
480.968.9112