Talking Dish » Phoenix

Cowboy Ciao

Michael — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:00:02 +0000

Four words can sum up Cowboy Ciao, wine, wine and great food. Notice I used the word wine twice that’s because the restaurant boasts an impressive 10,000 bottle wine list!!! It’s simply massive, but can be overwhelming to the average wine drinker. Don’t hesitate to ask the staff for recommendations as they are full of them. They also offer a variety of red and white wine flights that include three different glasses of wine for an extremely reasonable price. For this avid wine drinker though, the list is sublime. Everything from eastern and western shore Bordeaux’s to blends from Columbia Valley boutique vineyards to Malbecs from Chile. There’s a glass, bottle or magnum for anybody. Enough with the wine onto the food.

Like the wine, the food can also be overwhelming to the average foodie. Don’t get me wrong, this place serves modern American classics like short ribs, filet mignon, salmon, lamb etc etc, but Chef Bernie Kantak and his team have put a Southwestern or Global twist on just about every dish. The filet mignon is espresso rubbed, the salmon is pistachio crusted and the shorts ribs are doused in a cherry BBQ sauce that is simply divine. Okay enough with the over flowery sentences here I am getting carried away. Onto the honest review.

We’ve visited Cowboy Ciao twice and enjoyed (for the most part) the following:

Stetson Chopped Salad…Odd, but tasty take on the classic salad
Testosterone Salad…A meal unto itself loaded with beef tenderloin and Maytag blue cheese
Exotic Mushroom Pan Fry…A mushroom lover’s (i.e. My Mum) dream
Slow-Roasted Short Ribs…Tasty, but a little too much fat on the ribs
“We’re Number One” Ahi Tuna…Not worth it. Tuna was overcooked.
Pistachio Crusted Salmon…Best cooked salmon I have ever tasted.

Now for some things we didn’t enjoy. While the desserts have wordy titles and the wait staff sing their praises, neither myself or my dining partners were impressed. Walk over to Sprinkles or Gellato Spot if you want to enjoy some post dinner indulgence. Reservations are a must and if you don’t have one, don’t expect to get seated before 9 or 10pm on the weekends.

Check Please:

Appetizers: $6-$20
Main Dish: $20-$36
Desserts: $4-$10

Last Thoughts:

It’s all about the wine
Reservations are a must! Utilize OpenTable.com
Friendly, attentive service
Desserts are wordy, but not impressive

www.cowboyciao.com
Click here to for directions to Cowboy Ciao

Barrio Cafe

Scott — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 21:25:07 +0000

Barrio Cafe is in a bit of a rough neighborhood in central Phoenix, hence the name “barrio”. But don’t let the neighborhood fool you, this is part of the charm of the restaurant. Once you’ve parked next to the “barred-up” windows and have found your way into the restaurant, it’s quite awesome. It’s a small place, but very authentic Mexican food. The plates are average size, and the meals are a little on the pricey side, especially for Mexican food. However, past that, the food is amazing, and the atmosphere is great with live music and a small drink bar providing a small, niche and very cool environment. The margaritas are excellent, not quite as stong as a z-tejas margarita, but really quite good. The food is not spicy Mexican, and is a bit unusual sounding with cloves, rosemary and other unique flavors found in really traditional, old school Mexican food, but not often in cookie-cutter Mexican places. Check out the chicken mole, it’s awesome.

Overall Pricing:

Margaritas: $6 – $7
Beer: $4 – $5
Entre’s: $15 – $25

Overall Rating & Recommendations

Great for a unique date
Get the margaritas or a Mexican beer
Thursday nights are often live music nights
Beware the neighborhood, it’s a bit rough looking, but don’t let that scare you
9.0 for authentic and unusual Mexican food

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Oreganos Pizza Bistro

brittney — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:11:20 +0000

Anyone who is familiar with the area knows that Oregano’s is a valley-wide treasure. If you can handle the wait which greatly varies given the day, time and specific location, you’ll definitely love the food.

The atmosphere is one of a small, casual, intimate diner set in the 40s and 50s. Unfortunately the music is from that time period as well and they play it over and over and over. However if you’re not one of the wait staff it probably won’t bother you over the course of your meal.

The menu is extensive with pizza/salad/pasta as their specialties. Every dish is huge and easily split between two or more people. They are also known for their cookie/ice cream dessert Pizza Cookie as well as their Bellinis. Best of all, the price is extremely cheap!

The local chain recently merged with a national resturant company. There is a good possibility you will see Oregano’s Pizza Bistros across the U.S. Hopefully their great price and casual atmosphere stay the same.

Overall Cost Estimate:

Appetizer’s: $4-$7
Entrees: $8-12
Beer: $4 – $5
Wine: $5-7

Overall Thoughts:

Great inexpensive food
Wonderful place to take someone visiting from out of town
Be prepared to search for a parking spot and possibly wait in line

www.oreganos.com
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Fogo e Brasa

MPegan — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:54:13 +0000

Crab legs, stuffed mushrooms, chicken marsala and more round out one of the best salad bars in the valley, and that is just the beginning. Like a meat lovers hallucination, smiling waiters roam the floor of this Brazilian steakhouse, each carrying an enormous cut of meat on a skewer. Simply turn your block of wood green side up, and the meat begins to arrive. Beef filet, sausage, lamb and pork wielding waiters and waitresses continue to fill your plate until you flip your block to red. I’m not kidding, you flip a piece of wood to green side up and meat is delivered. The dinner price is all inclusive, making sampling everything a lot of fun. The constant action of the bustling waiters with their rotation of meats is entertaining, and Fogo e Brasa would make for an excellent first date restaurant. A knowledgeable sommelier is on call for advice on wine selection, and a large dessert cart rounds out the menu.

Overall Pricing:

$31 for dinner, all you can eat
$5-6 for alcohol drinks

Overall Rating & Recommendation:

Go with a big appetite and feast to your hearts content

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