Tia Carmen is a high quality contemporary sort of Southwest type of restaurant located in the JW Marriott in Desert Ridge that is in North Phoenix Arizona. The Kitchen is led by Michelin Star Chef, restauranteur, and Bravo Top Chef Master Angelo Sosa.
Chef Sosa on Patio
It’s airy and modern inside.
Not all but many of the dishes we tried at Tia Carmen are pictured below. Some dishes are seasonal and are not currently on the menu and a few were from a special event.
But really everything is amazing. This restaurant offers many FANTABULOUS dishes with bold layers of flavors. Some dishes are spicy but not burn your mouth out spicy. Tia Carmen offers something for every taste. The tuna crudo below is what I would call the best dish I tasted anywhere for 2022 and in 2023 it is just as amazing.
tuna crudo – corn coconut broth, smoked Chile oil dillwagyu kababs *(past menu was 2 kababs…It is three now)
tri tip kababs – sesame leaf, pickled onion, serrano chile, Thai basil
Tomato Salad – corn puree, burnt corn dust, basil, pickled onions, fancy greenery – This is a must get when it returns.Avocado Aquachile – date sesame crumble, persian cucumbers, serrano chile – less spicy than the tuna crudoroasted beet salad – aged tepary bean mole negro, pepita crumble, beet molasses, goat cheeseMon-Fri LUNCH fish torta – crispy white fish, sweet onion jam, spicy mayo, dill, cilantro, turmeric, hay fries – BEST lunch sandwich I’ve tried all year!“Taco Night” Beef and bone marrow toastada – beef and bone marrow, guacamole, yuzu, pickled onions, tomato, cilantro…maybe the tastiest toastada anywhere.Trout – parsley, oregano sauce – really great!12 oz New York Strip – southwest spice blend, bone marrow butter, tepary bean mole negro – really REALLY Great!
Yucca Brûlée – yucca, cream garlic, manchego cheese – YUM!Mushroom menudo – cordycep and cauliflower mushrooms, Chile de arbol, chimayo chile, epazote – Really Great!Ember roasted purple yams – queso sauce, aged tepany bean mole negro (This is listed as a dinner but I feel it’s more of a sharing dish) – Really Great and YUM!Native Grain Fried Rice – lingica sausage, bacon, serrano Chile, ginger, turmeric, garlic oil, sunny egg, soy sauce – Very good but maybe a tad soy forward.Special event – Squash – kabacha squash and shiitake mushroom custard, squash caramel, shaved black truffle – Amazing!Baja Striped Bass -Thai basil, mole verde, dried shrimp, almond, pistachio, hoja santa, tomatillo – I had the opening version that might not be made with shrimp….The one I had was amazing!Tia Carmen’s Chicken Guisado – chicken thigh, castalvetrani olive, chimayo Chile, garlic, turmeric rice – A very good chicken stew.Special event – Denver Steak – tepary bean aged mole negra, bone marrow croquettes, manchego cheese, shaved black truffle – WOW! FANTABULOUSBlood Orange Sorbet – PERFECT YUM!Coriander tart – A very well made tart. VERY GOODSpecial event Dessert – beet macarons FORKING FANTABULOUS!
