Yogurtland

NEW favorite Yogurt place — Yogurtland.  In DC, all the yogurt is “someone does it for you and charges you 6 dollars for plain yogurt with one piece of fruit and a chocolate chip” — I’m looking at you SweetGreen, Mr. Yogato, YogiBerry and Cali Yogurt.  Typically, in Arizona, everything is cheaper — but not necessarily better. However, in the case of frozen yogurt, it is not only cheaper, but much, much, much better.

Yogurtland.com

Yogurtland Yogurt - yogurtland.com

First of all, it’s .30 cents an oz.  Second of all, it’s do it yourself, with at least 10 flavors.  I filled mine up pretty tall and only had to pay 2.30, which is unheard of in DC…and what’s more, I LIKED IT.  I am never tempted to get frozen yogurt by myself in DC because it’s boring and costs more money than I make in an hour.  But, Yogurtland combines the trends that are happening across the country (comeon DC, I hate to keep on ragging you, but why do we not have our own do it yourself place? Or do we? Comment me if we do) and the inexpensiveness of Scottsdale (relatively, of course) in one. Overall, it’s my pick of the summer…kudos to Yogurtland.

Lola’s Tapas

Last week I visited Lola’s Tapas, a small tapas restaurant in Phoenix. Lola’s occupies a relatively small space, and has communal seating. There are only about four different areas in which to sit, so needless to say, it gives off a very vibrant community feel. You notice this atmosphere right away when you walk in — you feel as though you’re joining a restaurant in Spain and are part of the Lola’s community. I had visited once before, and had not had to wait for a table for my party of 3. This time, we arrived on a Wednesday night, around 7:30pm, and had to wait for about 15 minutes for some spots to open up. The waiters were very pleasant about finding us a spot, and it did not feel like a burden to have to wait as it can at other restaurants.

I have visited Spain at length twice, and have eaten my fair share of tapas, so I really wanted to like Lola’s. There were a couple of tapas restaurants in St. Louis (look for a retroactive joint review of Modesto and Barcelona from the Coffee Straws Team, as they were visited by both of us multiple times during our 4 years in St. Louis), so I have visited a varied set of tapas places over the course of four years. I was excited to visit Lola’s because I have been enjoying Phoenix’s expansion of interesting restaurants, such as tapas.

Once we were seated at a table, my party ordered some wine and a sherry. The wine list is small, but the red I tried was very nice and smooth — I believe it was a spanish Rioja, and I had ordered the sangria the other time I had visited. The sangria is not heavy on the alcohol, but it has a nice flavor and was not too sweet. I don’t like it when sangria tastes like juice, and this sangria passed my test.

The menu at Lola’s only has about 8 items on it, including a daily dessert special and savory special. The menu changed a bit since I had visited last, which I liked since it is so small. That’s also why the daily specials are a treat, as if you like tapas and want to frequent the restaurant, you know that there will be at least two new things to try.

We ordered the spinach and garbanzo beans, pork tenderloin, grilled asparagus, tortilla, and an eggplant dish. My favorite was the eggplant dish. Most of the dishes were oily, save the pork, but the eggplant was a wonderful combination of tomato and cheese, with grilled eggplant. I love spinach and garbanzos, and again this dish is doused in oil, yet had a wonderfully salty and earthy taste to it. The grilled asparagus was nice, cooked perfectly and well seasoned, but it could have used some manchego or other sort of cheese with it. The pork was very dry and not the best dish. It had a nice grill taste to it, but there was no sauce on it and it was very simple and just left us all wanting more (or, another dish). There is a wonderful dish of manchego, marcona almonds, and proscutto, which I love and got last time I visited Lola’s, but we decided to try something new. If you do go, make sure to order the manchego, spinach, and eggplant dishes. They are stellar.

All in all, I like Lola’s and really enjoy and appreciate the culinary adventure and community atmosphere, but since the menu is so small, I will only go back once in awhile when I’m craving some tapas.

The Ranking (for explanation, see “Review Key”):

Food: 2.5 Straws

Price: $$traws, Moderately priced (about $8 per tapa, and $8 for a glass of wine).

Atmosphere: A community atmosphere, very welcoming

Overall: 3 Straws (Although favorite tapas are great, some can be a miss — but the atmosphere makes up the difference, making it an enjoyable experience)

The Details:

Website: n/a

Location: 800 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85014

Phone: (602) 265-4519

Reservation: Doesn’t take reservations.

Dress: Casual.

Hours:

Monday/Sunday: CLOSED

Tuesday- Saturday: 5-10 p.m

Tesco in Arizona

***STRAW GOSSIP***

Earlier this year, Tesco (a UK grocery store chain) opened up grocery stores in the US (namely, in the west) called Fresh and Easy. Personally, I would have liked for them to call it TescoUS, which would remind me of living in London, but I suppose Fresh and Easy is nicer for our American ears to hear.

The stores are smaller convenience shops for people on the go — but what do you think their niche will be? I’m not too sure myself what the niche is, but apparently it is one that is lucrative…according to The East Bay Business Times, Safeway is looking to follow in Tesco’s footsteps.

Stingray Sushi

A couple weeks ago I went to Stingray Sushi, a sushi restaurant in Old Town Scottsdale. On the weekends, this place turns into a busy bar with lots of trendy twenty-somethings, and so I decided to visit it around 7pm on a Friday to get a good sense of the dinner crowd, as well as the “going out” crowd.

We were promptly seated at a two-top, with little room for any food or drink. I ordered a Sapporo and water, and with that, our table was completely filled. Additionally, the tables were very close together, so much so that it was hard NOT to people watch; I could hear everything the table next to us was saying, and could see what kind of food everyone else around us got. Now, I like table watching and people watching, but it was a bit much for me.

We ordered a sushi boat (the $25 dollar one, Akagi) and it was full of “typical” sushi and came with miso and rice for two. The boat was an assortment of yellowtail, salmon, and tuna; the tuna was the freshest tasting, but none of it disappointed. It wasn’t the best fish around, but for $25 it was a deal, as it fed both of us. I felt like it was a great deal to find in Scottsdale, though I would have liked some more variety in the fish and a little more room between the tables.

We also sampled the spicy tuna roll, which came out in 6 rolls. It was not the best spicy tuna I have eaten, but it was not too spicy and was not overly mayo-ed. I liked the other fish better, but I might get the spicy tuna again if I return in the future.

Overall, it was a pleasant experience. Our waitress was attentive and overall it had a very trendy atmosphere — it was crowded and loud, but made you feel like part of it. I would not go back just for the sushi, as there is better around, but if you’re looking for a bustling social outing with friends, with exciting drinks and moderately priced food, then Stingray Sushi is a go.

The Ranking (for explanation, see “Review Key”):

Food: 2 Straws (The sushi is satisfactory, but nothing revolutionary)

Price: $$traws, Moderately priced ($15-20 for miso, rice, sushi, and a beer).

Atmosphere: Hip Scottsdale crowd

Overall: 2 Straws (Food wasn’t exceptional and it was a bit crowded, but I would return for the price)

The Details:

Website: http://www.stingraysushi.com

Location: 4302 E. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale AZ

Phone: 480.941.4460

Reservation: Required during peek dining hours.

Dress: Casual.

Hours:

Daily: 11:30am-Midnight

Cowboy Ciao

This past weekend I went to Cowboy Ciao. Now, there is an interesting backstory here. Whenever I travel (out of Arizona), people always mention it as one of their favorite places in Phoenix. I was surprised when this happened over and over again, but it just seems as though anyone who visits Phoenix tries Cowboy Ciao (CC). Yet — and here’s where it gets interesting — no one I talked to in Phoenix really liked it that much or had been there. A couple people mentioned that it was “very creative food” when I told them I was going. Nevertheless, after checking out other restaurants’ menus online, I decided to book a reservation at CC.

The location was incredibly convenient, and the inside of the restaurant looked very much like many other nice little Old Town restaurants. It did seem to have a loyal following of large parties, and I had read a bunch about it online as well before going.  Upon arriving, we were promptly seated at a 4-top on the side of the room. Usually I like to have a little smaller table, but it was actually a nice amount of space. Once seated, we were given a binder of the wine selection and menus. I had looked at the wine list before online, and knew that without someone who really knew wine to a T I would be better off looking at the “top choices” sheet I was also given. I found a wine flight that looked really interesting, and ordered that. It was a selection of red South African wines, and included a pinotage, syrah, bordeaux blend. The Bordeaux blend was my favorite out of the three, but all of them were great. That was probably one of the highlights of the meal. 

I love mushrooms, so I was really excited to order their “signature dish”, the Exotic Mushroom Pan Fry. However, I also wanted to try their Stetson salad, which had rave reviews online, and their bread pudding, which is my favorite dessert item to get at any restaurant. So, I guess you can say I had pretty high expectations for this dinner. Here’s how it all went down…

After choosing my wine, I asked how big the mini mushroom panfry was, because I knew that I wanted the salad AND dessert. The waiter seemed well versed in the menu, and aptly described the dish, though, he recommended getting it as an appetizer, in addition to the salad, and getting another entree. This seemed like a lot of food to me, especially since my dining partner does not like mushrooms, but I decided that the waiter knew best. So, I did what he suggested, though I ordered an additional appetizer for my entree instead of a full entree. 

The mushroom pan fry and the Stetson salad were the first to arrive. The mushroom dish was composed of cremini, button, oyster, cepe, lobster, black trumpet, shiitake, morel, yellow foot, all of which was doused in ancho cream and served with polenta, grilled portabellini, avocado, tomato, and cotija cheese. It was very creamy and was a little heavy, but it had a good flavor. All of the mushrooms were perfectly cooked, and the polenta was a nice addition to the soft mushrooms. It was a lot of the same flavor, however, so after awhile it lost some of its excitement. The Stetson salad was absolutely fantastic — it was a mixture of tomatoes, trail mix (pumpkin seeds, etc.), cheese, Israeli couscous, corn, and smoked salmon. It was a great combination of salty and sweet, with crunchy and smooth. The dressing also nicely mixed, and I enjoyed the presentation. The salad came out with each ingredient separate, and it was mixed on the spot. 

If we could have stopped here and had dessert, it would have been a perfect meal. However, there was more coming, and so for the entrees, my dining partner and I had the ahi tuna dish. The tuna was in a orange/soy/chile glaze and was served with sesame smashed fingerlings, cucumber/jicamint salsa, and mixed vegetables. I didn’t taste any of this one personally, but my dining partner liked it, although they were not able to finish it all. For my entree, I had the seared scallops and beet risotto, which was also incredibly creative and full of bold flavors, though it was just hard to taste all of it because I was so full from finishing the whole mushroom pan fry and stetson salad. After eating all we could, we had to pass on dessert, which was disappointing, but I just couldn’t have eaten any more!

After pondering this dinner and figuring out how I would blog about it, I came to a conclusion that I would have liked this meal a whole lot more if I had not ordered as much. I think that if we had just had the salad as an appetizer, then gotten the tuna and the mini mushroom pan fry for entrees, and then had dessert, I would have left the restaurant full, satisfied, and happy. Instead, I was just amazed with how much food we were told we could eat, even though it wasn’t an exorbitant amount, it was still more than I could eat in one sitting. I would go back to CC to try it again, because I think that this is a place I could really like. Look for an updated review if I do end up back at CC.

The Ranking (for explanation, see “Review Key”):

Food:  3.5 Straws (The food is very creative and fun to eat).

Price: $$$$traws, Expensive (minimum $50-$60 for a two course dinner and a drink — not including dessert).

Atmosphere: Casual, but with a bustling elegance

Overall: 3.5 Straws (Food was very good, though the ambiance was very typical)

The Details:

Website: http://www.cowboyciao.com

Location: 7133 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale AZ

Phone: (480) WINE – 1111

Reservation: Required on weekends, and during peek dining hours.

Dress: Casual/Business Casual.

Hours:

Sunday through Thursday: 11:30am to 2:30pm, 5pm to 10pm

Fridays and Saturdays: 11:30am to 2:30pm, 5pm to 11pm

Udupi Cafe

Indian food can be found all over large metropolitan areas, but finding good Indian food can be a little bit trickier. Udupi Cafe (pronounced Oo-da-pee), located in Tempe off of Scottsdale Road (almost to where it turns into Rural), is a gem in a relatively common and industrial neighborhood. It’s unique because it is all vegetarian (80% is vegan), which is not typical of your usual Indian restaurant. Instead of mourning great dishes like Chicken Tikka Masala, Udupi embraces vegetarianism and creates wildly interesting and unique — and delicious — dishes.

One of my favorite dishes is the Gobi Manchurian, which is a fried cauliflower in a spicy and tangy sweet and sour sauce. There is also a wonderful selection of dosai (crepes); Udupi creates a dosai by using what is a traditional crepe batter, but on the inside, there is mixtures of spicy spinach, or savory potatoes and peas. They also have a great selection of breads. Each bread is different in texture, taste, and size. Our favorite bread is pretty large and has almost a soft pita texture to it. They also have wonderful and tangy curries, my favorite of which is the special vegetarian curry. Another great dish is an eggplant favorite of mine, the Baigan Bartha (also a vegan dish).

Every dish comes with rice, and even though I usually skip rice at restaurants because I’m not a big fan of rice to begin with, I always eat all of the rice at Udupi because the food is very spicy. Spicy in a good way — the spice does keep well in leftovers, as well. In addition to rice, the dishes come with various dipping sauces, such as a spicy plum sauce and a almost coconut concoction — my favorite dipping sauce is a yogurt sauce that contrasts with the spices of the food in a very natural way.

The atmosphere is very casual; they do not have a liquor license but do make an excellent lassi. It’s definitely a family kind of place, whenever I go we are usually one of the only parties of caucasian individuals, which is a good signal to a authentic place. The waitstaff is very nice and come to recognize you if you come a lot. Also, be sure to grab some of the anise rock candy on your way out — it’s a great way to end a spicy dinner. Overall, this place is a family favorite and highly recommended.

The Ranking (for explanation, see “Review Key”):

Food: 3 Straws (Always something new to try, and always good favorites).

Price: $traws (Approximately $15 for appetizer, entree, and soda).

Atmosphere: Casual and welcoming (but very noisy during brunch).

Overall: Three Straws (For its unique approach to food and ability to always get a table and get great service).

The Details:

Website: http://udupicafeaz.com/

Location: 1636 N Scottsdale Rd, Tempe, AZ 85281 (1/2 block South of McKellips and Scottsdale Rd. North of Hancock Ave & Scottsdale Rd.).

Phone: (480) 994-8787

Reservation: No need, accepts walk-ins.

Hours:

Sunday- Thursday (closed Tuesday) : 11:00AM-3:00PM Buffet, 5:00PM-9:30PM Dinner

Friday & Saturday: 11:00AM-3:00PM Buffet, 5:00PM-10:00PM Dinner

Mama Java

Mama Java is a local neighborhood cafe in Phoenix, located at 36th and Indian School. Started in 2004 by Lisa and Patrick McKay, the cafe has quickly become a neighborhood favorite. It offers a combination that attracts artists, musicians, post spin-class athletes, and your average 9-5 business person. Mama Java has a more laid back feeling to it, which I believe contributes to the attractiveness of the cafe. The location is great, there is always ample parking, and there are outdoor tables as well as indoor tables and couches. There is also free WI-FI and electrical plugs along the walls, making it an easy place to work and relax.

On week nights and weekends, there is often music and performers on a stage located the side of the coffee house, set against a background of local artists’ artwork. Mama Java also sells crafts from local artists, making it a complete and necessary stop if you want to know what is happening on the local Phoenix artist scene. There is also a bookshelf full of older and worn books, some are travel books, some are classics, and some are just completely random, but the music, along with the books, makes it a place that can be used from sunrise to sunset.

The food choices at Mama Java aren’t extensive, but there is something for everyone, be it a bagel, cookie, or breakfast egg sandwich. It’s a basic sort of Whispers type meal (for those of you who don’t know Whispers, it is the place where the Coffee Straws team met and fell in love with food, coffee, discussions, and “libing”) but the main event is the coffee. Their coffee runs strong, so when ordering, know that when you get a 16 oz, you will be getting more than your fair share of espresso. The brewed coffee, like the espresso, is strong, and both are great drinks to have in the morning, hot or cold. They also have a wide selection of teas and Italian sodas, one of my favorite drinks.

All in all, the baristas are always ready and willing to talk, and want to get to know you and your order. It’s a place where you can walk in and they’ll know what “the usual” is. Just for that, it’s well worth the 3 dollar coffee.

The Run-Down:

What I usually get:

Drink: Sugar-free vanilla, iced non-fat latte

Eat: Nothing

Stay or To Go: To go, always on the run!

Mood when going: Great to have someone remember who I am, is a lot of chatting with customers, though, so getting a coffee can be an “experience”

The Ranking (for an explanation, see “Ranking Key”):

Food: 2 Straws (your basic breakfast foods — bagels, etc.)

Coffee: 3 Straws (a great dose of ‘go get ‘em caffeine’)

Price: $traw: Average ($3.50 for a Latte).

Atmosphere: Casual and welcoming (we feel as though it maintains a very community oriented environment).

Overall: 2.5 Straws (The coffee is excellent, though the selection of food is simple and mainly breakfast-y, making it more of a morning only place)

The Details:

Website: http://www.mamajavascoffeehouse.com

Location: 3619 East Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85018

Phone: 602.840.JAVA

Reservation: No need.

Dress: Casual.