BEST PLACE TO TAKE YOUR DAD TO BRUNCH 2006 | Caf� Zuzu at Hotel Valley Ho | Food & Drink | Phoenix
Navigation
Support Us
Search

BEST PLACE TO TAKE YOUR DAD TO BRUNCH

Caf� Zuzu at Hotel Valley Ho

Heather Hoch
There's something inherently difficult about trying to take your dad out for brunch. In a city where there's an IHOP or a Denny's on almost every corner, it's easy to fall back on sub-standard breakfast fare and tell yourself Dad doesn't know any better. Don't fall into the trap. Caf Zuzu at the Valley Ho Hotel offers the same comfort food as the chain slop house, but in a much cleaner, more pleasing environment. We particularly like the Ho's thickly cut Virginia bacon, and the Denver omelet's not bad, either. It's a little more expensive, but don't worry Dad'll probably insist on paying.

BEST VIEW

elements at Sanctuary

If you've only stopped by this scenic Paradise Valley resort for a drink at the Jade Bar, its oh-so-stylish lounge, you've probably raved about the view. But you haven't seen anything until you've stepped into the dining room at its Asian-inflected restaurant, elements. Practically every table in the place has a stunning, panoramic view of Camelback Mountain and its neighboring hills. And, as viewers of Iron Chef America surely know, the food ain't bad, either.

BEST PICNIC LUNCH

The Farm at South Mountain

The fresh air, the smell of green grass, the beauty of nature we love a picnic. But who wants to cook? At The Farm, the picnic is ready and waiting, prepared from ingredients grown on site (even the turkey is as fresh as you can imagine!). We love to order at the counter from a nice variety of sandwiches and salads, top it with chips, cookies and drinks, then head outdoors to find a shady spot to eat. Best of all, there are plenty of picnic tables to sit on, so your butt won't get sore. This kind of picnic, we could eat every day. But The Farm is only open during the cooler months, so call ahead.

BEST PATIO DINING

Chelsea's Kitchen

Courtesy of Chelsea's Kitchen
We remember the old North Bank restaurant fondly, so we were eager to see what Chris DeMarco and company would do with the prime spot along the canal near 40th Street and Camelback Road, just up the street from DeMarco's small empire at Postino. We're very pleased. The patio at Chelsea's is comfortable, with DeMarco's signature aesthetic (read: you wish he'd send his people over to decorate your house) and without the cacophonous clattering that's the only drawback inside the restaurant. If you want to have a pleasant conversation over wine and comfort food (we recommend the warm chicken and spinach salad), head north.

BEST HIGH TEA

The Phoenician

Each year, we don our bonnets and gloves (okay, not really, but we do try to make sure our tee shirt's clean) and head out in search of the finest high tea in the Valley. This year, we award it again to The Phoenician, where the Lobby Tea Court, as it's so graciously referred to, puts this place over the top as our tops for tea. From the beautiful porcelain pots to the Devonshire cream, every detail is exquisite. And while we never imagine we'll leave high tea without room for dinner, we found the selection of finger sandwiches most filling; our party particularly enjoyed the salmon selection. Our favorite, naturally, is the chocolate course. If this is how life is like in England, we're ready to jump the ocean for more!

BEST RESTAURANT FOR KIDS

Houston's

One school of thought says children ought not to be taken to a "real" restaurant until they reach, say, the age of 12. Naturally, the members of that out-of-touch school probably don't have kids. The alternative to eating out just isn't practical in this rush-around-like-crazy world, but here's a little secret if you need to escape the artery-clogging hell of fast food: Get to this ever-popular eating and drinking establishment by 5 p.m. (you might get trampled by the Thirsty Ones after that), and you and the kidlings will have a fine time. The service is uniformly exceptional, and the kitchen churns out the grub faster than you'd expect. It's usually loud, so the occasional shrieks and moans that are part of the program won't bother dining neighbors. The booths are roomy, and the cutlery comes rolled into cloth napkins (fear not the blades!). Oh, and the kids' burger, which we have tasted on occasion, goes for a mere $5, and tastes great.

BEST OLD SCHOOL SODA SHOP

MacAlpine's Soda Fountain and Espresso Bar

Established in 1928, MacAlpine's is the closest Valley residents can get anymore to an old-style soda shop. From the black-and-white-checkered tile and the vintage soda signs to the old jukebox packed full of 45s from artists like Petula Clark and The Platters, everything about the joint harks back to the days when Hula-Hoops and waitresses on roller skates were new fads (but, alas, the servers at MacAlpine's do not wear roller skates). The menu is old-school, too, with sodas available in 30-something flavors, from spearmint to wild cherry (and they'll top any of 'em off with whipped cream, too), and traditional American grub like Coney dogs and BLT sandwiches. The story on the menu mentions a rumor that Wayne Newton got his start at MacAlpine's in the '50s, when Lew King walked in and heard Newton singing along to the jukebox and invited him on his variety show, where Jackie Gleason spotted the youngster and started him on his trajectory to Mr. Las Vegas status. Competitors may try to emulate the '50s, but none of them will ever capture the spirit of those years the way MacAlpine's does.

BEST PLACE TO SATISFY AN OUTDOORSMAN'S APPETITE

Cabela's

Even if you know nothing about hunting, fishing, or camping, Cabela's is a wonder to behold: 160,000 square feet of gear for the great outdoors, from tents, backpacks, and clothing to ammo, fishing poles, and archery targets. You can even buy a boat here. The sheer quantity of merchandise is staggering certainly more than enough fodder for daydreams of outdoor adventures, not to mention pure consumer lust but what really sparks the imagination are the animals. Stand face to face with trout and catfish in Cabela's walk-through aquarium, and admire enormous taxidermied beasts displayed in museum-style exhibits, right in the middle of the store. Before you even have a chance to think about the food chain, your stomach will start rumbling, and that's where Cactus Flat Cafe comes in. At this in-house eatery, skip the pizza and burgers and indulge your inner hunter with venison bratwurst, or perhaps a sandwich piled high with elk, bison, or ostrich. Who knew you could heed the call of the wild at a deli?

BEST NOSH AFTER THE SHOW

AZ 88

Allison Young
Many lament the lack of fine dining or even a snack in the vicinity of any sort of performing arts complex in this city. Downtown Scottsdale is the notable exception, and has been forever. We remember dining at China Lil's or Jed Nolan's, '70s-era restaurants that circled the still-grassy Scottsdale Mall. Today Lil and Jed are long gone, but in their place we're happy to find AZ 88, just a bit younger than the old folks, and still going strong after years in business. After a performance at Scottsdale Center for the Arts, or an art opening at Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, we love to sit on the patio at AZ 88 (or inside, with the beautiful people) and nosh on galettes flatbread trimmed with bacon, caramelized onion, black olive and Parmesan cheese. Really hungry? Try a burger or a chicken sandwich (the China Lil's namesake is our favorite). Skip dessert and sub in an espresso martini our favorite drink in town.

BEST PLACE TO BELLY UP TO THE BAR

The Saloon at Roaring Fork

Courtesy of Roaring Fork
We love good food, but we hate getting gussied up. We know, we know, it's Phoenix. People go to the theater in cutoffs, hang in the lobby of the Arizona Biltmore in swimsuits. But we're more refined if we're dining out, we figure we owe it to the world to at least run a comb through our hair or wear a tee shirt without holes. On evenings when we just can't be bothered, but we want a good meal, we head to the bar at Roaring Fork, where the saloon menu is every bit as good as what you'll find in the formal dining room even better in some cases, particularly if you love roasted chicken as much as we do. There's nothing better than a half rotisserie chicken, perfectly done, alongside a good beer. Doesn't even matter if you spill it down your tee.

Best Of Phoenix®

Best Of

Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our terms of use, our cookies policy, and our privacy policy The Phoenix New Times may earn a portion of sales from products & services purchased through links on our site from our affiliate partners. ©2024 Phoenix New Times, LLC. All rights reserved.
Do Not Sell or Share My Information
Powered By Foundation