Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals: Surprise Stadium
All week long we're sharing suggestions of where to find breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks near each spring training stadium. Have a favorite spot baseball fans should hit? Leave it in the comments.
Go west, baseball fans, waaaay west. The farthest west of the Valley spring training sites (25 miles northwest of Phoenix), fans making the trip will want to do their due diligence to avoid the abundance of chain restaurants in this sprawling suburban city founded in 1938 by Flora Mae Statler, who named it Surprise because she "would be surprised if the town ever amounted to much."
Because of its two major-league tenants, there's a game at Surprise Stadium nearly every day, which means fueling up on local flavor and fun. Don't miss the Surprise BBQ Festival from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 3, at Surprise Recreation Complex.
Read on for the eats.
Breakfast
Hole 'n One Nothing too fancy at this golf-themed breakfast and lunch spot of classic American fare, just a decent meal and service with a smile. Familiar favorites such as corned beef hash and eggs, three-egg omelets, and buttermilk pancakes should do the trick for a pre-game fill-up. And since breakfast is served all day, you can come back for seconds.
Lunch
Lucky's Pizza Family owned since 1994, this New York-style pizza joint serves its pies thick-cut and piled high with premium toppings. A large menu selection also includes dishes such as salads, hot and cold traditional Italian sandwiches, and pasta plates of spaghetti, lasagna, and baked ziti - all are available for take-out or eating indoors. The lunch specials, like two slices of cheese pizza and a medium soda for under five bucks, beat stadium food anyday.
Big Buddha This cute and cozy neighborhood spot serving traditional Chinese dishes calls its spicy and sweet orange peel chicken and Singapore-style fried rice specialties of the house, but its lunch specials, all under $7 and available every day until 3:30 p.m., make stopping in all the easier. Served with fried rice, the soup of the day, an egg roll, and a crab puff, hungry baseball fans can order up wallet-friendly mid-day deals like sesame and Kung Pao chicken and curry tofu with vegetables. Bonus points for the outdoor patio.
Dinner
Amuse Bouche After running a successful catering company for three years, owners Snir and Kiersten Mor opened their small, French-inspired, BYOB bistro in 2008, and the city of Surprise is lucky have it. Tidy, quaint, and set up like an Old World café, a small, seasonal lunch and dinner menu of gourmet fare delights the palate and swoon-worthy desserts are not to be missed. And if you're in the area on Sunday, stop by for one of the best breakfasts in the Valley.
Fresh Wasabi Sushi and Grill Pretty dishes and solid flavors await in this clean, comfortable, and affordable eatery serving Japanese fare. To start, order the tempura mix of shrimp and vegetables, then select from a dizzying selection of traditional and more unique creations of sushi combos and rolls (try the First Love, Coyote, and Sweet Thang signature rolls). For dessert, order the green tea ice cream as-is or tempura-style. Those who wish to imbibe can enjoy Japanese beers and hot and cold sake.
Vogue Bistro Chef and owner Aurore de Beauduy brings contemporary American bistro cuisine with French influences to this small but stylish eatery, which also features a sophisticated wine list, "designer" martinis, and a selection of craft beers. Featuring an all-day menu and daily dinner specials, try the delicate escargot, house-smoked salmon, or the delectable Vogue Salad. Meat lovers will appreciate the Vogue Burger or the Steak Vogue with a brandied peppercorn sauce. Don't skip dessert.
Drinks
Irish Wolfhound Skip the fare and belly up to this busy Irish pub for baseball talk over a pint or two. Featuring nearly fifty bottled, canned, and on tap brews - including an Irish beer flight of six-ounce tastings of Guinness, Smithwicks, and Harp - guests indoors or outside on the patio can also enjoy live music, big-screen TVs, happy hour, and a reverse happy hour.
