27 Places
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Arana’s 5-star review: What a great little treasure! After a great UYE breakfast, Norm R. and I were driving and I remembered seeing something about Singh Farms. I asked Norm if he was interested in checking it out with me - and happily, he was! I had read it was a farmer's market at a farm, and had other vendors and food available. I didn't realize how beautiful, peaceful and charming it would be! Lots of trails around the farm leading to various seating areas wind around various food crops and flowers, mostly shaded by large trees. There were several fire pits and fireplaces set up and burning, each with people sitting and enjoying the morning with coffee, food, and fresh juice. An accordionist was playing, which really added to the ambiance. Such a pleasant place to spend a morning! I left with beets, eggs, yams, and red potatoes. There was also a great selection of herbs, citrus, artisan bread, honey, seeds, greens and more! Also chickens and horses and a peacock - as well as compost (which is what I hear was the original intention of the farm). It's easy to forget you're so close to the city - this place transcends time and place - it's just that lovely. I definitely look forward to coming back on many Saturdays in the future! (Saturday only, 9 to 2.) -
Arana’s 3-star review: I stopped in for a quick bagel to go on my way home from the new Uptown Phoenix farmer's market. I ordered the New Yorker (bagel with cream cheese, lox, tomato, onion and capers) on a pumpernickel bagel, a cappuccino and 1/4 lb of the whitefish salad. I did enjoy the bagel - it's not as good as NY Bagel and Bialy - but better than most of what passes for bagels here. The whitefish was about as boring as it could possibly be. There wasn't anything specifically bad or wrong about it - but it was, well, boring. As for the cappuccino, I was so unimpressed I'll just check out the regular coffee from now on. I will be back - these are the best bagels close to home, and it's very rare I am in the mood to drive 30 minutes each way to get the better version - so, yes. I will be a repeat customer. But I'm thinking I'll just stick with the bagels. -
Arana’s 4-star review: I've been coming to Cherry Blossom since they were the little bakery attached to Tokyo Express - before the Noodle Cafe idea was launched. I've sampled a good deal of the menu, and most of it is quite good. Most recently, we were a party of six for a luncheon of Yelp friends and to celebrate a birthday. I ordered the special lunch box (bento box) and think it was the best choice of the day! (But everyone I was with thinks they got the best item of the day - always a great sign!) Miso soup, 4 or 5 tempura items, half a spicy tuna roll, salad, and the entree of the day - in this case, very well seasoned beef and onions on rice. Everything is consistently fresh and flavorful, and prices are fair. Since I was aware of the "bakery" aspect of the cafe, I went in a few days before the lunch to order a surprise birthday cake. I was told the strawberry shortcake was the most popular, so I went with that. Everyone at the table loved it - and the birthday girl was sufficiently surprised and got to bring half of it home. The cake wasn't cheap - but while I didn't check the dessert prices for individual slices - I am guessing it would have been close to the same to order six separate desserts. So - if you have a decent size group - it's well worth it to buy the cake in advance! -
Arana’s 4-star review: The pizza itself is three star worthy. It wasn't bad, but certainly not my favorite around. The scope of the menu and the options for those with dietary restrictions is awesome! It's a pizza place where you can opt to eat in a somewhat healthy manner! (Or be as cheesy, meaty, carby naughty as you desire!) Two of us went in on a Tuesday night, relatively late for Phoenix dinner (I think we met around 8ish). The place was packed - and we were lucky to get a table in the bar with no wait. There's a drink special each day - Tuesday was cheap premium beer. The service was friendly and on point, food was delivered quickly - fresh and hot for the pizza, fresh and cold for the salad. The visit was definitely worthy of a four star review - and I know lots of people swear by the pizza - but it just wasn't stellar for me. Good, but not amazing. However - based on the comfort and cleanliness of the place, friendliness and competency of all the staff I encountered and overall quality and volume of options - I will definitely be back! -
Arana’s 3-star review: So far, I have mixed feelings on this office. (And my dog, Layla, was not at all impressed.) I had been going to another facility for years, and loved them - but they recently went out of business, and my dog's vet is now here at Bethany. My first impression (telephone) was not fantastic. I understand policies are policies - but some make no sense. My dog has been on an anti fungal for Valley Fever for years. We used to do blood tests every three months, but last year decided to do every six months, due to my dog's slow response time to the meds. She was tested less than three months ago. I have her records from the old clinic. And it's the SAME vet. Even with an offer of me hand delivering her records - to the SAME vet that has been treating her for years, they refused to renew the prescription for meds until she was physically examined at Bethany. No need for a new blood test, it's fine to wait until May for that. Really, just an exam. So I felt it was a "let's get money for doing nothing" policy. There were a couple of non urgent issues I was able to address (I was going to wait 6 weeks - when I have to take the dog in for her vaccinations - you know, a real reason to take her in!) but decided to bring them up at this visit, as we were there, anyway. The office itself gave my dog the creeps - and me, too. Just a really bad vibe from the time we walked in the door. The place is clean, and the staff was friendly, so I can't specify what bothered me about it - but my pooch has never been that unhappy so soon after walking into the vet. On the flip side - Dr. Afek is just plain awesome! I really like her, and trust her to care for Layla. And while I realize there are many great vets in town, it gives me peace of mind that Dr. Afek has known Layla since I got her, almost six years ago. We got the prescription renewed, as well as some other meds. The receptionist has given me follow up calls to ensure Layla got the meds that were ordered, and just make sure all was well. I do like the customer service level of follow up - and have no qualms with the care received. I also like the hours - past 7 most nights - which means I won't have to alter my work schedule for routine visits. That's definitely an added bonus for me! I'm planning to stay with Bethany for at least a few more visits - and see if it was just that original "no meds until physical exam" policy that left a sour taste in my mouth - and truly hope to add more stars to this review. -
Arana’s 4-star review: Decent sushi at fantastic prices! I've been driving to Desert Ridge's Sushi Station location for a few years - and am thrilled to have one so close to home now! They aren't reinventing the sushi wheel, by any means - but it's fresh, close, affordable and convenient. The restaurant is set up with a conveyor belt, and small plates starting at $1.75. With the affordable prices and small portions, it's easy to enjoy a range of rolls, nigiri and salads without breaking the bank. There's also a full menu, in case what you're craving doesn't appear on the conveyor - they will make it for you. I've found the service to be hit or miss - but that's just for drinks, refills, and the initial delivery of wasabi and mixing bowls. The food is constantly circulating - so the service there is unbeatable...you grab what you want when it comes by. So far, I've been averaging a meal each week since they opened this location - and at these prices, I can keep up that pace without destroying my food budget! -
Arana’s 5-star review: I adore Asian bakeries! Asahi is not the next great thing. Not a lot of time, attention or money has been invested in décor or a "wow" showroom. There's a small but decent selection of cookies and some pastry, but this business is all about the cakes. Fresh, not too sweet - and absolutely delicious! I'm partial to the regular white cake with whipped cream frosting and fresh fruit (inside and out.) A coworker opted to order a small chocolate cake and added the fruit - YUM! Instead of cupcakes - they do individual mini cake rolls. For my boss's birthday, we ordered 20 rolls - a bit of rolled sponge cake, fresh whipped cream, and a variety of strawberry, mandarin orange and kiwi fruit topped. Delicious, simple, non-messy dessert for 20 people - DONE! Best of all - the price! Assuming my time is worth *something* - there's no way I could produce cakes like this for as little money as Asahi charges. This isn't the sort of bakery that specializes in cool, funky cakes and I didn't see any fondant (but they may do some...I don't like fondant, so I didn't go out of my way to check.) But for a fresh, delicious cake that will be custom made for you on little short notice for a super low price? Asahi rocks! -
Arana’s 5-star review: Spiders and crickets and ants...oh, my! Last summer, I sadly discovered my home had become a safe haven for all kinds of unwelcome creepy crawlies - and not a single one of them offered to pitch in toward rent or utilities! My dog also doesn't pitch in toward the bills, but she was invited - so I don't mind so much. I wanted the buggies gone and I wanted my pooch to stay safe and healthy. I asked friends, checked Yelp reviews, and called around a bit. I was entirely impressed with InsecTek from the first phone call. Professional, friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to work around my schedule. The first visit didn't happen as scheduled - it was pouring rain - and they can't spray the outdoors when it's raining. They called ahead of time, let me know, and rescheduled for a couple of days later. The morning of first service - and each service since then - InsecTek staff have been on time, presentable, friendly, communicative, and great with my dog! There is no more issue with the creepies and crawlies, my dog is healthy and happy, and I am thrilled I found InsecTek for my pest care needs Seriously - they should give seminars to other companies on providing great customer service. The fact they kill bugs as promised means they are doing their job. The way they have treated me - both on the phone and in person - that's what makes them a stellar company! -
Arana’s 4-star review: Two-for-one Thursday! There may be other specials - but two-for-one Thursday should make anyone on a budget smile! It gets better! I ordered my drink - and got a voucher for the second. The voucher is good for a MONTH! The place is much larger than I expected based on seeing it from the street. Pool tables, games, a very large (and nicely stocked) bar - and an incredible patio! (Bar access from the patio, too - bonus!) Generally, I am not impressed with the bathrooms designated for women in gay bars. It's an afterthought, at best. The ladies' room is clean, well-stocked, and has a phenomenal vessel sink. I was so impressed with the sink, I grabbed my male friend and dragged him in just to share the beauty. I am also not usually impressed with the service I get in gay bars. I get it, I am female - not the target clientele. At Bar 1, I get the impression they are truly open for business to everyone. I was served just as quickly and in the same friendly manner as everyone else. That may seem like a no-brainer to anyone with business sense - but it's not the experience I have had at other establishments. I felt very welcome here - the crowd was laid back and friendly, the mood was good, and I can see Bar1 making into regular rotation quite easily. Did I mention Two-for-one Thursday? :)
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Arana’s 4-star review: A friend wanted to come here for his birthday. I tried to talk him out of it - but it *was* his birthday, and sometimes, it can be fun to be a hokey tourist in your own town. We had no delusions about what we were in for. This is not a great restaurant. This is a cheesy, cowboy themed resort restaurant that caters to tourists and happens to have a great view. To make sure we did it right, we changed clothes prior to going - to ensure we could enjoy the slide down into the dining room. (Without offending parents of innocent children or risking chafing to dangly bits.) We started with a cocktail in the bar while waiting for a table. Did we each order the sickly-sweet tropical nonsense in a glass cowboy boot and served while on fire? You bet your ass we did! (Now, to figure out what to do with my glass cowboy boot souvenir...) There's sawdust on the floor, and the décor screams "Disney Design Company." All the clichés of an old West steakhouse/saloon are represented - down to the raised stage where the live band performs all the safe, upbeat Country standards. When we were seated, a basket of fry bread was delivered with both regular and honey butter. Do you know what's wrong with fried bread and butter? Not a damn thing! This is not a menu for the health conscious. And based on the prices, there's no possible way it's great quality meat. ($24.95 for a bone in rib-eye - with salad, carrots and corn??) The portions are ginormous, there's a decent variety of options, and rotating monthly specials. I had discreetly mentioned it was my friend's birthday (because I put the "B" in subtle!) I wasn't down with spending the extra money for the birthday package...and really, who needs an éclair sundae that must weigh in at five pounds - so we were both pleased when the waiter brought my friend cotton candy with a candle. We went in with expectations of touristy cheesiness and set the bar very, very low for dinner service. And we were both pleasantly surprised. The food was completely satisfactory. The service was completely decent. And when it came down to it - we had an absolute blast. Rustler's Rooste is not a great restaurant by any stretch, and it's not trying to be - but it can be great fun if you let it...and that makes it a great place! -
Arana’s 5-star review: One of my favorite places in town! DBG can be many things to many people - Fun, Entertainment, Relaxation, Education, and Inspiration! While the plants are the point - and they have a HUGE collection of desert plants, cacti and succulents, it's easy to find so much in the garden that the plants are merely a breathtaking backdrop. There are classes available (from gardening to cooking, photography to yoga - a HUGE range of learning courses - camps for children, too!), concert series, cultural celebrations, dinners, festivals and more. Each spring, the butterfly pavilion comes alive with many species of butterflies - on my last visit, our timing was lucky and we got to watch one emerge from her cocoon. The colors of the desert in bloom during the spring are intense and amazing. The desert takes on a completely different feel when the cacti and wildflowers are in bloom...Desert Botanical Garden provides a place to see several regions of plants in one easily accessible place. While conveniently located on the Scottsdale/Tempe/Phoenix border, once inside the property, it's easy to forget you're in the city. It truly is an urban oasis. Well worth the cost of membership if you go more than twice a year, too! -
Arana’s 4-star review: I don't want to write this review, because I always want to be able to get a good spot on the patio for happy hour. The fewer people that know about this place, the better my odds! My first visit here was for a wedding on the patio. There was something so beautiful and magical about the bride and groom arriving to the ceremony by boat, and watching the sunset over the water certainly added to the experience. The food was buffet style Mexican - and quite tasty. I went back for a happy hour with my sister. The margaritas and sangrias were a great compliment to a warm spring day. The weather on the patio was perfect - and having a cocktail while watching another sunset on the water was just as peaceful, beautiful and enchanting as it had been for the wedding. We didn't have much by way of food. A couple of orders of wings, fries, and guacamole. I think they were all good. Honestly, they may have been mediocre, but with fantastic company and this setting, they would have tasted great no matter what. The staff is friendly and laid back, and I am thrilled to have a waterfront happy hour just minutes from my office. Perfect mini-vacation. This will definitely be on my regular rotation! -
Arana’s 4-star review: One of the best ways to see how a business is run is when things go wrong. It's easy to be great when everything is right, but when there's a snag, it's too easy for things to fall apart. The last visit I made to Gertrude's gave me a great picture of the way the staff makes sure things stay right. Three of us went in Easter morning for a snack. None of us were hungry enough for a full meal, but wanted something. We each had the fresh lemonade with herbs and berries (I am not generally a fan of lemonade, but this was fantastic), and decided to share the special of hot cross buns with cinnamon butter and the garden frittata. The room is casual and comfortable, with a fantastic patio. The food was fresh, well prepared and beautifully presented. Our server was attentive and had a great personality. I thought the prices were high for the quantity served, but much like resort dining, you are paying for the location. I wanted to treat the gals to our snack, so I slipped the server my debit card. All was well until he brought the check. It wasn't the card receipt for me to sign, it was the check. I reminded him about my card, he acknowledged and walked away. A few minutes later, the manager came over. It seems my card was misplaced. She gave me her business card, apologized, comped the bill and was taking down my contact information when the server came back - having found my card. Naturally, I was relieved. I was also surprised and impressed that they still insisted on not charging us for the meal. With how promptly and professionally it was handled, and the great customer service that was shown - in addition to the fact I thoroughly enjoyed all I ate and drank while there - I will definitely be back - probably every time I go to the Garden! -
Arana’s 2-star review: The gyros are fine for take-out. I'd been meaning to check this place out since I moved into the neighborhood about two years ago. It didn't happen until a visiting friend had ordered for delivery. We each had a gyro, and split a salad. It wasn't the best gyro I've ever had, but it was perfectly decent and satiated the craving. He apparently ordered from here again the following week while I was at work - and had a less than stellar experience with the woman on the phone. Abusive was the term he kept using. What he described was in line with what many of the other reviewers here have shared. I was recently craving gyro, so I decided to drive there and place a take-out order. The place is small. The two people working were not at all friendly or happy to see me come in. Also, in no big hurry to approach me to take my order. The man who finally took my order seemed positively stressed that I was ordering a gyro AND a salad. The woman was on the phone with a customer - and I wouldn't necessarily assume she was abusive - just very impatient and having issues with the language barrier. Had I not been raised around a bunch of immigrants and New Yorkers, I may call it abusive, but I guess I have a higher tolerance than some. Still - I did not get any warm and fuzzy feelings while in here, and got no sense of being a valued customer at all. The food itself was fine. The tzatziki is a little light on cucumber for my taste, but that's just my preference. The meat was juicy, the pita fresh. The small Greek salad was fine, too. Plenty of olives and feta. I will probably eat here again - as there aren't a whole lot of options for gyros so close to home. I'll just remind myself it's for a decent meal for $10, not for the people or service. -
Arana’s 1-star review: A co-worker mentioned she was craving hot dogs - because I had taken her for really good ones the week before. Unfortunately, we were limited on time, and the really good ones were too far. I pass Jimmy's every day on my way to work and it's close to the office, so we decided to check it out . A few Yelp friends I trust have given great reviews - so why not? Sigh. What a difference a few years can make. I was really hungry, so I did power through my brat. After the first bite, I mentioned that my first impression was not bad, but it's not as good as the other place. It will go in a pinch. By my last bite, I told my coworker if she ever wanted to go back, she could do it without me. The mozzarella sticks were the cheap frozen kind, with the thick crappy breading and the chemical aftertaste. My brat was gray and tasteless. Gray. And served on French bread. Cheap commercial French bread. You know, the kind with no crunch in the crust. Rubbery. My coworker said generic grocery store hot dogs have more flavor than hers did. I can only assume they changed their product line in the last few years. I will take for granted they were good when my friends were there, and attempts at cost cutting have destroyed the product quality. Otherwise, I would have to assume my trusted friends have terrible taste in hot dogs, and reconsider how much I can trust their dining opinions. The safest bet will be to keep the friends, and skip Jimmy's from here on out. -
Arana’s 4-star review: Ted's has been around forever for two reasons. Great quality and fair price. I coworker had posted photos earlier this year, spending hours in line to take her daughter to Pink's Hot Dogs in LA. I asked why wait in an insanely long line for Pink's, when she can get better product at Ted's. She'd never heard of Ted's, so I made it a mission to take her for lunch. It was a super hungry day for me - I had an Italian Sausage with a side of a regular dog. The coworker had a jumbo dog, and we shared onion rings. The onion rings were amazing. All onion rings should be Ted's onion rings! Thin sliced, crispy breading - clearly made fresh to order. My Italian Sausage was perfectly seasoned and had just the right level of spice. Topped with deli mustard and cooked peppers and onions. I could not have asked for a more delicious lunch. In hindsight, I should have eaten the regular dog first. It was tasty. Incredibly enjoyable. But with the flavor of the Italian Sausage still on my tongue, it was a little on the boring side. Truly, nothing wrong with it at all - and had I reversed the order of consumption, I would have loved both equally. My fault, not Ted's! If I had to come up with a con, it would be the location. Nowhere close to my house or stomping grounds, and too far from my office to make it a regular stop. Tempe people are soooo lucky! -
Arana’s 4-star review: Oh, Lucky Boy! You've been doing it since 1951 - and you still do it right! A quarter pound burger with whatever toppings I want AND fries for under $5 - that was definitely not made until I ordered it? Yes, PLEASE! Lots of available shake and malt flavors? Yum! Quick service and a drive through, right around the corner from my house? Lucky Boy, you make me realize I am a very Lucky Girl! -
Arana’s 4-star review: Mmmmm. Donuts. I've stopped by a few times now, usually to treat my team at work. My last visit was on National Donut Day. They had a buy 12, get 6 special. I could treat lots of coworkers! The donuts are consistently fresh and delicious. There's normally a HUGE selection. The staff has always been friendly and helpful. This is a great little shop that seems to fly under the radar a bit - if you're nearby, it's well worth a stop to satiate your sweet tooth. Mmmmm. Donuts. -
Arana’s 2-star review: It was the waiter's last day - which he was quite happy to tell us all about. Because of that - I will not write anything about the service. He definitely had a case of last-day-itis. A friend and I had just created paintings of our pooches at a nearby storefront - and we were ready for a late lunch. First thought was the restaurant next door to BLD - as we've both enjoyed their other location and I am friendly with the GM. It was BUSY in there, and we were told it would be about 45 minutes for a table. We were both quite hungry, and didn't want to wait that long to be able to first order. So - we went to BLD. It was close to empty. That should have been a sign. When one place has a 45 minute wait, and another restaurant that shares the parking lot only has customers at two tables - there's a reason. A reason we should have heeded. We opted to share a couple of dishes. One was the seared peppered tuna salad. (The abbreviation "R.R.P." shows up throughout the menu. I asked so you don't have to - it's Roasted Red Peppers.) The chef wasn't as familiar with the concept of "seared" as I hoped, the tuna was quite well done. A couple of slices had a hint of pink in the center...but just a hint - and definitely not what I know to be seared. We also shared the grilled cheese sandwich. The menu describes it as thick cut sourdough with Havarti, brie, tomato, and bacon. Sounds delicious, right? Too bad the execution was soggy and bland. The fries were okay. I guess that's something. There was also a happy hour menu. One of the appetizers we asked for was house made chips with hot sauce and blue cheese. (The restaurant we first went to, but was too busy, has something like this that we both love - that's one of the reasons we wanted to go there.) Not only was it completely lackluster - but I mention the appetizer after the entrée, as that's when it showed up. I don't see any reason I need to give this place a second shot. I'm rarely in this part of town, and now I know that when I am, I will just go to the other place - and no matter how long the wait is, the food will be good. -
Arana’s 5-star review: I have one word. Freshoutoftheovengreenchilecornbreadwithanchochilehoneybutterholyshit! Maybe I should start over. I was in Tucson, and have heard great things about the Flying V - so I decided to stop in on a Saturday for a cocktail. It's not an easy place to find - and for a woman with an otherwise stellar sense of direction, I was super happy to have GPS to find the place. The room is well appointed and comfortable. Classy Southwest old money vibe - instead of the cheap and tacky look so many confuse with how Southwest is supposed to look. I opted for a seat at the bar, which is comfortable, oversized, and well stocked. The bartender, Garry, was on his A game. He served up a Sazerac as good as any I've had at the classic places in New Orleans. The manager, Rock, stopped by and strong armed me into eating something. (Okay, by "strong armed", I mean he asked if I would be eating anything this evening, or just enjoying a cocktail.) I wasn't super hungry, so I was looking at the appetizer menu. While most of the options looked delicious - the rabbit leg chile relleno was calling out to me - so I ordered it. Rock mentioned it was among his favorites. As Garry was putting in the order, he asked if I'd like some fresh from the oven green chile cornbread. I've heard most of my life there is no such thing as a stupid question - but trust me, THAT was a stupid question! Bring it on!! Now I really have to push my memory. I remember getting the rabbit relleno. I think it was delicious. I ate every last bite, and recall thinking of all the good things I was going to write in describing it. I recall enjoying the Sazerac. And the green chile cornbread, fresh from the oven in a personal sized cast iron pot? Yeah, I think I was impressed. It was served with ancho chile honey butter. I can't get that butter out of my brain! I came home and made two pounds of it. (One for me, one to share with friends.) I put it on everything, it's become an obsession. I talk about it way too much, and think about it even more. WOW! I feel obligated to go back and try more items on the menu. Clearly, I will need to take notes on each dish, or avoid the YUMbutter completely, so I can think like a normal person. Duh - I will totally take notes! If you're staying at the Loewe's resort, and you don't have a dinner here, you've missed quite the experience. If you're not staying at Loewe's, it's absolutely worth the drive - this place is fantastic! -
Arana’s 4-star review: I'm not rich, and I'm not lazy. Sometimes my work schedule gets so hectic for long stretches, something has to give. Usually, that something is housework. In the hustle and bustle of life, there just aren't enough hours in the day or days in the week to take care of everything. Which is why I contacted Maids of Honor. Once a month, Maids of Honor comes in and cleans my house. The first visit was a long one - two ladies doing a full Spring cleaning on everything. Each subsequent visit, there's always a full deep clean on the kitchen and bathroom, a Spring clean on one rotating area (in my case, it's bedroom, office, dining room and living room), and a basic clean on the rest of the house. My house is always clean and fresh when they're done. I have yet to find an area that I want to ask them to re-do, or focus more on the next visit. They're also GREAT with my dog! In addition to being friendly with her - and patient when she gets underfoot - they're very careful when opening the door to go outside, making sure she doesn't run out. Prices are definitely fair - there are companies out there who offer cleaning for less. I tried some of those. Once. There are also plenty of companies who charge notably more - I haven't tried any of those - as Maids of Honor has done such a great job I feel no need to contact anyone else. The customer service from the office has been a little hit and miss. On one occasion, I was given an arrival time for mid-day, when I got the confirmation call 2 days before the visit. The schedule for the day changed, but I wasn't informed. I ended up being closer to the end of the day. That was not a huge issue for me - I was working from home that day, and would have been there anyway. I just felt I should have received a call, instead of me having to call them to make sure everything was ok. On a different occasion, I called the office three days before my scheduled visit to explain I would not be home at the time of service, and where I was leaving the key so they could get in. The next day, when getting the confirmation call, I again mentioned I would not be home, and where the key would be left. On the day of service, the team lead called me, asking if I was home, as my car wasn't there. Luckily, I was between meetings and able to take her call. No one at the office ever relayed my TWO messages of where the key would be. On the flip side - every interaction with Cathy, the owner, has been positive - and she did personally call me to apologize for the first instance above. I've never had any issues with billing, and everyone is friendly. Far and away - the most important part of the experience is the people in my house and the quality of work they do. The fact I was comfortable leaving a key to get in when I wasn't home speaks to the level of trust they've earned. Maids of Honor is definitely a solid company that does a really good job! -
Arana’s 4-star review: For the most part, when I book a hotel, all I really care about are location, hot and cold running water, clean sheets, and a door that locks. By those standards, this place is way above and beyond what I needed. And for the nightly rate, it was perfect! The location was close to where I wanted to be, and the price was great. The rooms are in need of updating (I didn't even know there were still places with the old, clunky TV's!), but everything was clean and in good repair. Staff was friendly, and the grounds were well maintained. The air conditioner under the window was running 24/7 - and granted, it was hotter than normal that weekend, but the only cool place in the room was right next to the A/C unit. I guess I've been spoiled by newer places with central air. If it wasn't over 105, that would have been a non-issue. The free breakfast buffet was worth every penny. It was just this side of awful. I didn't make it for the evening social hour, so no commentary on that. This is not a resort. This is not fancy. But for an inexpensive room, it's not bad at all. It met and exceeded my needs and expectations, and I will definitely book here again for future stays. -
Arana’s 1-star review: No. Just. Plain. No. I had a class downtown that started early, so the lunch break was earlier than most places opened. The sign on the door at Tom Yum claims they open at 10. To me, that means prep work has been done, and the kitchen is ready to take orders by 10. Maybe 10:10, on a bad day. I walked in at 10:20. The young lady behind the counter seemed put off to have me there, and said they weren't able to do everything on the menu, as they just opened. My order was simple. An order of chicken satay, and a bowl of tom ka gai. She took the order, took my money (which I stupidly left a decent tip on), THEN told me it would be 45 minutes to an hour for my to-go order to be ready. I was incredulous. This is downtown Phoenix. Most of the people who would be here for lunch get a total of 30 minutes, *maybe* an hour for lunch...no one can wait 45 minutes to an hour before getting the food! I asked her to refund my card - I would find somewhere else to eat. She didn't know how to do that. I asked her to call over the manager. There was none. Just her, and two men in the kitchen who also claimed to not know what to do. I asked her to call the owner. She went to the kitchen, and when she came back, told me my food would be ready within 10 minutes. WHAT? Somehow, my demanding my card be refunded enabled my food to cook in a fraction of the time? I should remember this magical trick everyplace I go that expects me to wait longer than I deem reasonable! Anyway - I get my food and take it back to the classroom to eat. The chicken satay was painfully dry and bland. No amount of peanut sauce, hot sauce and cucumber could fix it. After two bites, I threw away the remainder. The soup was okay. If someone else bought it and brought it to me, I would be more than willing to eat the soup again. Short of that happening - the next time I will be in this spot is when it's the new restaurant in this space, after Tom Yum is out of business. -
Arana’s 4-star review: The Henry One of my favorite dining buddies and I went for the last night of restaurant week - neither of us had been to the Henry before - and the menu looked fantastic. We have made a habit of dining together at least once each restaurant week - and find a place heavy on veggies or water protein (she doesn't eat anything that walks or flies), so we can share all courses and get a better range of the menu. The Henry had at least two veggie/fish options for each course - so it would work well for us. For drinks, I ordered the Final Word (my current favorite drink, which I make at home quite often), she had the Old Fashioned. Hers was perfect. Mine was a bit heavy on the chartreuse, so I sent it back for a touch more luxardo to balance it out - then it, too, was perfect! For the appetizers, we split the salad (spinach, roasted beet, fennel, stone fruits, puffed grains, goat cheese, and pistachio) and the smoked salmon (potato hash brown, crème fraiche, and arugula). Both were good portions, both fresh and very tasty. The salmon was saltier than it should have been - almost like the chef forgot smoked salmon is already salty, and added a pinch too much as final seasoning. But the flavor was dead on, and the overall construction of the bite was fantastic! Our entrees were the sweet pea tortelli and the salmon, served with quinoa, beets and arugula. The pasta was light and well made, the flavor rich and delicate, and the sauce was creamy without being heavy - the best part was the fresh sweet pea flavor in every bite. I'm not even a fan of peas, and I could have eaten a vat of this! The salmon was a bit of a letdown. There was nothing wrong with it, but it was just really average. The quinoa was stellar (if I could only get my version at home to be so good!), and I love beets in just about any dish - these were incredibly fresh and perfectly roasted. Dessert was bread pudding and the lemon meringue tart. Both were well executed and worth enjoying every last bite of. I can't pick a favorite between the two - they complemented each other perfectly, along with a cup of fresh coffee. I don't think either would have been quite as good without the counterpart. I liked the setup. It feels classic and comfortable; the patio will be fantastic in just a few weeks when the evenings are nice again. The tables and booths are large and spacious - and at a decent distance from each other so you don't feel you have to speak over the neighboring conversations. The regular menu prices are a bit higher than they need to be (keeping format with the other Fox restaurants), but not so high I would decline an invite back. It may not make it to my regular rotation, but I will happily go back for more meals. -
Arana’s 4-star review: I don't want to write this review. I want this place to remain a little known treasure. How do I help make it popular enough to stay open, but obscure enough to be able to get what I want with virtually no one else in the store, so I can peruse at my leisure and not bump into others? I drove by several times over the last few months without stopping, with the signage on Thomas I couldn't tell if the place was going to be amazing - much like some of my favorite ethnic food dives - horrific on the outside, but with amazing food; or awful - like a bunch of meth heads bought the $2 records at Goodwill and are now selling them for $5 to feed the habit. Happily, the former is true! The place is relatively small, but very well laid out. Good mix of new and used records - and a very accommodating owner (Mike) who is willing to order in records on request (as he did for me!), and a decent selection of rock and punk albums. There are few record players available of varying quality and price point. Lots of 45's for $1.00, and some CDs for good measure. Sadly, the days of getting screaming good deals on vinyl are over - it's cool again, so now, it's not just a few of us buying. The upside of that, lots of reissues so I've been able to get some treasured old stuff on brand new vinyl (Iggy and the Stooges!). None of it is cheap anymore - but few things worth collecting are. Mike mentioned he gives the best deals on trades in town - so it's time to go through my collection, determine what I don't want anymore - and trade it in for stuff I do! So happy to have found this gem of a place - and so sad for my budget! -
Arana’s 4-star review: 40's and 50's retro and vintage clothes, accessories, and stuffs (knick knacks, décor, etc.) I am not used to paying much for clothes...and if you see the way I dress and how little I care about fashion, that's quite obvious. Then I walked into The Green Gurl. I went in looking for a dress to wear to a party. I found a great one - but was nervous about the price tag. I asked them to hold it for me, and I would think on it while running other errands. I decided to go for it - and found another, even better dress on my way back in the store. A fantastic dress. An amazing dress! A dress that accentuates all the good stuff and minimizes all the not good stuff and I feel gorgeous in it! (I never knew a single garment could wield so much power!) Turns out, I have a body that just begs for pin-up greatness! Who knew? Well, the staff at The Green Gurl. Who were friendly, and patient, and know their stuff! And it seems ALL women have bodies that beg for pin up greatness! These clothes flatter every body type - short, tall, thin, curvy, and everything between! I won't be able to afford to get much here on a regular basis - but even adding one or two new amazing items to my wardrobe each year would be a big step forward in my fashion world. I'm in! -
Arana’s 4-star review: Remember the old commercials for Mervyn's? The ones with the desperate shopper lady at the window chanting "Open! Open! Open!" That's how I'd been feeling about the Coffee Studio. For MONTHS, there was the teaser that I would have a local coffee place within walking distance of my house. And finally, finally, that day came - THE COFFEE STUDIO IS OPEN!! I'm relatively basic when it comes to coffee. I don't mean the "venti pumpkin spice latte half calf skinny with extra pumps of some sickingly sweet flavor and whip for $7.00" kind of basic - I mean I actually like the taste of good coffee. Add a little half and half, and I am a happy woman. Or a well-balanced cappuccino from time to time. So - I ordered the medium roast plain drip coffee. And it was good. Very good. Good enough, that I skipped the cream entirely. It was smooth, a little chocolately, and so, so good! I haven't tried the breakfast sandwich, which I was told is excellent. I haven't tried the cold brew or any of the espresso options. But based on the quality of just the plain old drip coffee, this place is a winner. So glad they're finally open - and so glad they're close to home! This will be a regular stop for me, given my coffee addiction and preference to avoid the big monopolistic venti-chain whenever I can!
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