Matt’s Big Breakfast is an all day high quality breakfast restaurant with around a half a dozen locations in Metro Phoenix Arizona. One location of Matt’s Big Breakfast has been featured on Diners Drive ins and Dives on Food Network TV. I went to the Glendale-Arrowhead location.
This restaurant serves higher quality foods than your average breakfast restaurant. They use local Hickman’s eggs. You will also see things like line caught tuna, Red Bird Farms chicken, Niman Ranch ground chuck, locally roasted coffee, craft soda, fresh squeezed juices. They do also have a cocktail menu.
It’s casual. You seat yourself at any table that is covered with menus. They offer patio dining for when the weather is nice. You can sit at the counter or at traditional tables.
I’m not a breakfast person and tried the classic reuben.
To my surprise this is a really GREAT Reuben. The corned beef was roasted in house , nicely spiced, and is very good. The rye bread is nicely toasted and also is very good rye bread. It even comes with a very good dill pickle spear. This sandwich comes with potato chips but you can add on either macaroni salad or cole slaw. I added on cole slaw and it was fresh made, crispy, and not drippy at all. I thought that it was very above average for cole slaw.
My husband went with the Big Butter Burger and upped the side to the hash browns.
This came with an enormous slice of tomato with lots of lettuce and a really good deli-type pickle. The hand pressed Niman Ranch ground chuck burger was prepared to request of medium-rare. It was grilled in butter. and was topped with American cheese. I heard that the hash browns were great too.
Service was friendly and efficient.
Matt’s Big Breakfast is Worth a Fork!
Worth a Fork!
Matt’s Big Breakfast 7507 W Rose Garden Ln Glendale AZ 623-259-9836
Sushi Little is a small sushi restaurant that recently opened in the Arrowhead area of Glendale Arizona. They are in the spot where Ginger Bistro used to be.
Ordering is difficult. They do not have wait service so you have the menu, a menu of sushi to read, a specials menu, and around twenty-five rolls to read about at the counter. Then you pay and seat yourself. They do offer soft and some hard beverages. We asked about soju but they only have peach flavored soju. I went with iced tea and my husband asked for a cup of water. We were charged $3.00 for my iced tea…That’s fine…but we weren’t expecting to be charged $3.25 for the cup of water that we served ourselves.
We ordered a variety of things.
One of the better things of the visit was the gyoza.
They were a little on the plain basic side but really seemed ok.
Then came the mackerel.
Slightly off…..but often the mackerel is slightly off. Some people decide on sushi restaurants by the mackerel. Personally I think that it is more fair to judge sushi restaurants on their tuna. You know right away if tuna is good or not.
Next we got smoked salmon nigiri, ahi tuna nigiri, and a Red Sea roll (spicy tuna, cucumber, ahi tuna, Japanese style chimichurri).
The BEST of what we tried here was the smoked salmon sushi in the left upper corner of the dish. It did taste good but was cut very strange…..You can’t see in the photo but the fish was almost triangle shaped. Still the smoked salmon made me crave a bagel and cream cheese…..After that we go down hill.
The rest isn’t spoiled and is passable but not good so I didn’t enjoy.
We end by sharing the salmon kama (fish collar). Before it came by husband could see it going in the microwave with the open kitchen.
I could hear the microwave door shut. Then he pulls it out and microwaves it again. (This restaurant shouldn’t have an open kitchen when they cook like that!)
Soon someone runs it out but doesn’t even think about clearing our dirty plates on the left side of photo below.
The collar was over cooked from the microwave. The fatty ends of the fish are actually boiling. The fish also isn’t the freshest and is over cooked and dry. This is the WORST collar that I have tried anywhere…..I used to think that fish collars were good everywhere. They are the most flavorful fattiest parts of the fish…..I usually only had very good ones.
The girl who ran it out did ask how it was……I said that it was over cooked and she had no response.
Based on only one visit I can’t recommend Sushi Little in Glendale AZ.
Sushi Little was only a Little Good.
I haven’t found a website for them but they are on Facebook.
Haldi Indian Cuisine recently opened a second location in north Glendale Arizona in Arrowhead. The original Surprise Location was awarded by Phoenix Magazine for BEST IN THE VALLEY for Indian Food. Haldi Indian Cuisine offers North and South Indian dishes. They also offer beer, wine, sodas, tea, coffee, mango lassi, basic cocktails and more.
Today we tried vegetable samosas.
They came with tamarind and cilantro sauce. Very tasty. Anyone would like them.
We also shared spicy chicken curry and vindaloo chicken (also spicy). They came with a bowl of fluffy basmati rice studded with cumin seed.
We ordered #4 out of 5 for heat spiciness. It was hot but not as hot as #4 from other places that we have been. ……We had lots of rice and tasty sauces left over so we took them home. .(OMGosh..the next day these not so hot with heat #4’s turned into #5’s and grew with lots of heat almost too much heat…WOW)……….The sauces both were very fragrant, delicious and were made with lots of exotic spices. The white meat chicken in both could have been more moist.
Haldi Indian Cuisine has recently opened in North Glendale AZ
Leo’s Island BBQ is a Hawaiian Plate Lunch (including dinner) casual restaurant located near Arrowhead Town Center (mall) in Peoria Arizona. Leo’s Island BBQ is one of the few independently owned restaurants in this area. They offer around THIRTY varieties of the Hawaiian Plate Lunch. The Hawaiian Plate Lunch is a large styrofoam container filled with around eight ounces of one or two proteins, a bed of steamed cabbage, maybe some other steamed vegetables, a double scoop of white rice (or up-charge to brown rice) and a big scoop of Hawaiian style macaroni salad. They also offer appetizers, soups. salads, mini meals, burgers, Hawaiian bowls, family meal deals and catering. The food is never from frozen and is fresh made and even the sauces are made in house. Not all but many of the Hawaiian Plates are priced under $10.00 before tax. It’s not fancy food but it is superior to anything fast food and isn’t priced much different than fast food.
Inside is casual and you order and pay at the counter.
During normal times you. can seat yourself in the dining room (currently closed during covid.) Or you can seat yourself at one of the few tables on the patio or just do take out.
Today I got the maui maui grilled fish.
It’s a lot of food…I get 2-3 servings out of this. The fish is always prepared to perfection with a nice slightly crisp exterior and is always moist inside. I get LOTS of steamed cabbage and a few pieces of broccoli that seem healthy….There is a very generous serving of rice that can feed a small family and a good sized scoop of creamy macaroni salad that always get tastier if you hit it with a little sriracha.
My husband got the chicken kalua pork combo.
It’s a good amount of grilled marinated chicken thigh with grilled smoked pulled pork and a lot of rice, cabbage vegetables and macaroni salad.
Below are some of the other. plates we tried.
combo with bbq chicken and crispy shrimp (shrimps are shaped like onion rings)
island curry chicken (white meat)
lemon pepper chicken
garlic shrimp
loco moco (burger patty, fried egg, gravy.( added Spam)
curry bbq chicken MINI MEAL (………not so mini)
bbq chicken salad
chicken and rib combo
That was a taste of Leo’s Island BBQ in Peoria AZ.
The Fantabulous Dish means – Top of the line, marvelously good, peachy keen and dynamite.
Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante is an Italian Restaurant that also specializes in serving Neapolitan pizzas, They serve other pizzas. They also offer hand made pastas, seasonal specials, a Sunday Brunch and more.
Barrio Queen is an Arizona Chain of around a half dozen Southern Mexican Restaurants. The website list only Gilbert, Scottsdale and Phoenix but I also noticed locations in Queen Creek, Tempe, Glendale and possibly one coming soon to Avondale? James Beard Nominated Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza is no longer working for this group of restaurants but she did work for them until some time in 2014 and added her famous guacamole, cohinita pibil, chile en nogada and possibly other items to the menu. She also started up Barrio Queen with some of her closest employees.
I went to the Glendale location that is located in Arrowhead Town Center around 75th Avenue and Bell Road. This location is very busy. I arrived around four o’clock and was hoping to beat the crowd but didn’t. The whole front patio at the moment is being used for a waiting area for waiting for your table. At 4 o’clock they were on a twenty five minute wait so we grabbed some margaritas to pass the time.
front bar (currently the seating here is closed due to covid)
I have to say that the El Don Margarita with Don Julio Anejo Tequila, lime, agave and Grand Mariner is really great and very strong….I tried my husbands house margarita and it seems very flat after the El Don I’m enjoying.
Twenty five minutes goes by and we walk threw the restaurant on the way to get seated on the patio.
We walk by a gift shop.
Here’s part of one of the dining rooms.
Here’s another dining room.
Here is a second bar that is also an indoor/outdoor bar.
Here is half of the patio.
I noticed someone nearby getting the table side guacamole.
The first thing they do is start you off with complimentary chips and salsa.
Our chips arrived fresh and hot. We also got fresh lime and a crock of extra mild but flavorful salsa.
I order the pescado del Barrio (Mexican sea bass)
One side of my fish is over cooked and dry but the other side is good. My fish was topped with chopped onions some garlic and cilantro….It all kind of dry and I squirt it with lemon. The grilled zucchini is good. The Mexican style rice is very plain.. I notice that I didn’t get my hand made corn tortillas that I was looking forward to trying. Someone walks by who might be a manager and ask how things are? My husband quickly tells him that I didn’t get my tortillas. I guess before the man can say anything I say that I have enough food and don’t need the tortillas and then he leaves. It isn’t until I start getting into the plate that the dryness of the fish bothers me. I’m half crocked from the strong margarita and I forgot that the fish is suppose to be in a garlic cilantro white wine butter sauce. That means my server didn’t know (or maybe care?) that she served me a plate missing the tortillas and my fish missing the sauce. I guess that it isn’t her fault if she wasn’t trained to learn the menu on the food that she serves.
My husband was much luckier than me and got the Sonoran Style Carne Asada Entree.
His plate was much better. He got medium rare, tender and tasty arrachera (marinated and grilled skirt steak) onions, Oaxaca cheese stuffed Anaheim chile, a chorizo quesadilla, chorizo refried beans, Mexican style rice and flour tortillas.
And I got a dry fish.
That was my trip to Barrio Queen at Glendale AZ.
As a slight update someone from Barrio Queen contacted me and said that this isn’t how Barrio Queen does things…They also apologized for…(their words) “Dropping the ball a few times on my visit and not taking my concerns seriously when I was there when my concerns could have been fixed immediately. The General Manager said that he would like to email me a gift card so I would come back. He said that he was emailing me the gift card March 8th 2021 and wanted me to let him know when I was coming. As of yet I haven’t received the gift card.
He sounded very sincere…? Did he forget? Or was this just talk?
Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante is an Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria located in North Glendale Arizona (Arrowhead/#UpperWestSide). This spot has been homes to Italian restaurants for over a decade. Over ten years back this spot was home to Tutti Santi. Around spring of 2015 this was Pomo Pizzeria and Toscana Osterio. Then around spring of 2017 it became the Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante that it is today. They offer Neapolitan Pizzas, Hand made pastas, Italian Foods, Brunch Foods, Seasonal Specials and MORE!
The patio is in a park-like setting and is equipped with shades, misters and heaters. Recently the patio has been extended.
Dining out with dogs in metro Phoenix is just a “FLUFF” story about taking my dogs out to eat. It sort of started when my dog Louie was diagnosed with aggressive cancer. We were told that he probably only had 3 months or up to 6 month to live. He already was elderly and couldn’t do a lot but he always enjoyed eating and also going out to eat. I took Louie out to eat as often as I could and Louie made it another SEVENTEEN months. Today I take my current dogs out to eat when I can.
There are many things you need to know about taking dogs out to eat.
Not all restaurants with patios are dog friendly. They are either certified dog friendly or they are not. Regardless it is always best to call a restaurant and ask if it is ok to bring your furry friend. You never know if the patio is booked for a party.
It is always BEST to dine out with dogs at off times to avoid other people and other dogs. Not all people like dogs and some are allergic to dogs. Other dogs enjoy barking at each other and you could be asked to leave. Avoid problems and dine at off times.
Do you know that most food and drink that you consume could be harmful and even toxic to your dog? Educate yourself and get a list of foods to avoid from your veterinarian. Usually a small piece of lean sauce free meat can be a safe bet. Bring a water bowl for your furry friend.
Here in Arizona we have to be aware that our dogs are not as heat tolerant as us. They can’t sweat and are always wearing a fur coat. They also absorb heat up their paws…. Just like people all dogs do have different levels of tolerance for heat. Not always but usually 90 degrees F and up is too hot to dine out with dogs. Keep it 90 or below in shade. When there is any doubt leave your best friend home.
There are some rules for dining out with dogs. Dogs must be by your side at all times. Dogs are NOT to sit on restaurant furniture. Dog are not to eat off restaurant plates.
Our first stop was Phila-Deli in Glendale/Arrowhead/#UpperWestSide. They are a casual sandwich shop that offers cheesesteaks, hoagies, salads and more. The nice people there offered my dogs water and some meat scraps. I said we didn’t need them today but they were extra nice and set a BIG bowl of water down for my dogs.
My husband got a large cheesesteak today with extra cheese and tomato sauce on the side.
I got a salad and already removed a lot of chicken for my dogs.
Chicken makes dogs happy. I think it’s a pretty nice salad for only $7.50 (+.75cents for avocado)
www.PhilaDeliAZ.com
We regularly go to Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery in North Phoenix. They are a Pho -Free Vietnamese Restaurant that offers most of your Vietnamese favorites except for pho. They are called Banh Mi Bistro V. E. because they offer around a dozen different Banh Mi baguette sandwiches. All the food is always delicious. They also give out very large portions and everything is $10 and mostly LESS! They used to offer out door tables but were told to remove the tables because they are not zoned for outdoor dining. We use a folding table here.
Today my husband got the grilled pork rice plate.
You can also see how it taste.
I got the curry chicken with rice today.
We always enjoy going to Banh Mi Bistro in North Phoenix.
www.BanhMiBistroAZ.com
The Bourbon Cellar is located in North Scottsdale. They are a small steak and seafood house but also offer some of the most amazing ground in house burgers ever! They offer seating indoors but have a unique lush water feature lined dog friendly patio.
Our server was very nice to our dogs and brought each dog a bowl of water.
We decided to start out by sharing the macaroni and cheese appetizer.
It’s very cheesy with lots of sauce. It took a little while but it was worth waiting for. My dogs also enjoyed some.
We took most of it home so we’d have room for the amazing burgers.
Here’s my husband’s fresh ground filet mignon burger with bacon, cheese and onions and a side of onion rings.
I got mine with a side of fresh made to order crunchy cole slaw and my burger was topped with onion rings and bourbon pickles.
It’s a really delicious burger. I think it’s the best one that I have tasted anywhere. It’s also very large so I cut mine in half and my dogs ate the other half.
The Bourbon Cellar was a really great choice today.
www.TheBourbonCellar.com
Next we were off to Cucina Tagliani in Glendale/Arrowhead/#UpperWestSide.
Cucina Tagliani is an American-Italian Restaurant that is also offering some steak and rib specials lately.
Today I got my usual strawberry chicken salad. The strawberries are always extra good and the dressing is delicious.
My husband got a Stromboli.
My dogs always enjoy all the visits to Cucina Tagliani.
www.CucinaTagliani.com
That was dining out with dogs in metro Phoenix. We hope that you’ve enjoyed and we hope to see you next month.
The Forking TruthIn Memory of Louie 5-5-2001 – 3-3-2017
The weather is finally nice and comfortable in Phoenix Arizona for outdoor dining. I wanted to dine out at a restaurant with a big open patio where I thought I could dine safely and not worry about being too close to people. I guessed that Cucina Tagliani (an American Italian Restaurant……similar to Olive Garden….(but better and with more vegetable choices) would be the perfect choice today and it was. Cucina Tagliani is an American Italian restaurant that has been in business for close to thirty years in North Glendale. They are a little different than other American Italian Restaurants because besides the typical American Italian favorites they also offer healthier choices like grilled chicken parmesan (instead of breaded and fried), spaghetti squash lasagna, spiral cut squash and spaghetti squash as pasta substitutes and around a DOZEN different vegetable choices. I was even able to take my dogs with me on their officially certified nice dog friendly patio.
As soon as we pulled up I could see from a distance that they were sanitizing the tables and they were even wearing masks outside.
We picked a comfortable table on the patio. It was a nice comfortable temperature so we didn’t need the misters for cooling or the portable heaters.
The nice friendly staff treated my dogs like royalty and brought my dogs water right away.
They started us out with a basket of fresh toasted seasoned bread.
They changed the bread again. This bread is soft chewy and sort of Italian seasoned. I give just a little to my dogs.
“I always love to dine at Cucina Tagliani” “I have had many good memories here”“Ummmm food” “I love most food”
Our meals arrive. I got the strawberry goat cheese salad. It’s topped with grilled chicken and is dressed with house made white wine dressing.
This is how things actually looked.
My husband got the chicken parmesan.
The dogs just live for some hand outs!
“All was good and we all were happy!
That was Dining Out With Dogs at Cucina Tagliani in Glendale AZ.
Everything is subject to change and your experience there could indeed differ.
www.CucinaTagliani.com
The Forking TruthIn Memory of Louie 5-5-2001 – 3-3-2017
Cucina Tagliani was Louie’s favorite restaurant to dine at. We had many good memories there.
Here are the most delicious $5. or less foods from restaurants around north Phoenix that I have tasted in no particular order.
Pictured above is the $3.00 delicious Beetroot Salad from a little casual restaurant called Skewers Mediterranean Grill in Glendale/Arrowhead/#UpperWestSide . Next is their fresh herby delicious $3.00 tabouli.
My next favorite is the $3.00 Eggplant salad pictured below on the right. But everything is tasty. They also offer hummus and eggplant dip at similar prices.
All these reasonably priced goodies come from the small casual Skewers Mediterranean Grill in Glendale/Arrowhead/#upperWestSide.
Also in Glendale is Taco Fusion. They offer very good tacos on hand made tortillas. The tacos are smaller sized but are bigger than street tacos and are stuffed generously. They make a variety of house made sauces. If you can do spicy ask for the interesting flavorful but very (FORKING) hot black salsa. Get the regular salsa, the pico and the pineapple salsa if they have them. Our favorite tacos here are the mild chicken habanero (with pineapple salsa), carne asada, jaas, Lorenzo, fish (ask for corn tortilla here) and my husband likes the shrimp and barbacoa. We also like both beans they offer. Depending on what tacos you pick you might be able to get two tacos for around $5.00.
Below are 7 mostly different tacos and a container of black beans.
Wraps ‘N’ Curry is located in North Phoenix. They offer a $2.99 Naan Menu.
I’ve had their naan on a wrap sandwich but more recently I did try the stuffed chicken naan ($2.99 on the appetizer part of the menu). It was stuffed with boneless chicken breast, cilantro and Indian spices. It was different and also very tasty.
On my last visit we tried the Onion Kulcha $2.99.
This was very tasty!
I’ll try another one next time.
Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery in North Phoenix really kills it with the $5.00 or less food and offers 9 tasty options. My favorite $5 meal is the chicken and cabbage salad.
It’s a good size for me and has a good amount of deliciously seasoned chicken in it. I also like the tasty $4 chicken potstickers.
Here is a better picture of the potstickers.
My other favorite salad is the $5. lotus root salad. (lower right)
I love the refreshing flavors in it. It comes with shrimp but I gave up shrimp a long time back and I don’t eat shrimp. I already gave the shrimp to either my husband or dogs. Their papaya salad is also good. I added that picture because I didn’t remove the shrimp yet.
This is a collection of the most delicious $5. or less food that I have tasted in North Phoenix AZ.
