Tarbell’s is a New American High Quality Restaurant owned by a very decorated chef Mark Tarbell. Chef Tarbell has been featured in numerous publications and TV shows including The Talk, and Food Network’s Iron Chef. On Iron Chef he chef Mark Tarbell won the cooking battle. Not only is chef Tarbell a famous chef he also is a wine expert, a serious skier, a pilot, a dancer, and a musician. He owns at least three businesses in the central Phoenix Corridor. His casual restaurant called, The Tavern. His wine store called, The Wine Store and of course his namesake restaurant called Tarbell’s.
Recently they added a nice patio inn front of the restaurant.
Inside there is a long bar and traditional tables and booths dressed with crisp linen, and set with heavy silverware.
There are some good deals on the wine list if you know your wine….
They started us off with complimentary hot from the oven bread and herbed oil.
We shared the cotija cheese crusted cauliflower.
You can’t tell by my photo but it seems that the cauliflower was steamed. I wasn’t expecting the cauliflower to be steamed…..It’s very soft and almost collapsing. This plate is also adorned with tomato braised lentils, red bell pepper, radish, beets. The description also reads butternut squash puree and creamed peas but the squash and peas are there to color the plate…you can’t scrap much off the plate to taste. This plate is mostly mildly seasoned and the cauliflower is extra soft. I don’t mean to complain but this cauliflower is so scant with the cotija cheese that it doesn’t seem cotija. crusted.
The dinners were both excellent.
I had the pan seared Argentine Sea bass.
The flaky, moist, mild, seared fish is topped with tasty tomatillo and pumpkin seed relish and sits over curry tomatoes, carrot, spinach, saffron rice, butternut squash puree, and coconut reduction. The flavors all go together well here.
My husband had the Tarbell’s Bolognese.
All I know about this plate is that it was made with a combination of beef and pork and takes four days to prepare…….My husband said that it was the best bolognese he’s ever eaten……..
During our dinner they sat a party next to us.
It might be hard to see in my photo but the party sort of overflowed into our space…..It was impossible for me to exit on my side and we had to be careful not to bump into the woman hanging off the end of her table. I’m surprised at a nice place like Tarbell’s that they would squish that table so close to ours when the table on the other side of the party wasn’t being used.
I was too full to try dessert so we were done.
Suggested tipping at Tarbell’s is 21-29%
They did hand us fresh baked cookies on our way out.
That was dinner from Tarbell’s. I’d recommend the sea bass and Tarbell’s bolognese.
www.Tarbells.com
3213 E Camelback Rd PHX AZ
602-955-8100
