Ms Martha’s Caribbean Restaurant is located in Phoenix Arizona. This is a very casual Caribbean restaurant where you order at the counter yourself on a big computer screen. This is mostly a take out restaurant but they do have a few tables inside and a few outside tables for when the weather is nice.

They offer appetizers like meat hand pies and a variety of wings. You can order your entree as a bowl or a regular entree that includes two sides or your entree as just a side. They also offer family meals and might also offer a special of the day. The menu might be shorter than from some of the otherCaribbean restaurants in Phoenix because they don’t offer the Caribbean fish dishes here.

We started out by trying a chicken curry Jamaican patty. I was very surprised that there was an option to add cheese.

It was different. Less saucy than what I think of for Jamaican chicken curry but the chicken inside was tender.

We shared the brown stew chicken, the jerk chicken, and the special of the day that was a side order of macaroni and cheese.

Both entrees were VERY LARGE and BOTH included very tender falling off the bone chicken that was mildly infused with flavors. The jerk chicken came with a small container of sauce that it needed.

The macaroni and cheese contained soft pasta but was very cheesy and better than a lot of similar dishes out there.

On the night of my visit Ms Martha herself was behind the cooking line and also was helpful serving. She also had a helper that also was helpful and friendly.

That was my trip to Ms Martha’s Caribbean Restaurant.

1820 W Northern Ave PHX AZ 602-675-2212

The website seems to be down but you can find Ms Martha’s on Facebook

Every THING is subject to change.

The Barrio Cafe is not just any Mexican Restaurant in Phoenix Arizona. It’s by James Beard Nominated Chef Silvana Esparza. This restaurant is considered by many to be the crown Jewel for Mexican cuisine in Arizona. The famous dishes here are the award wining twelve hour achiote and sour orange smoked pork called cochinita pibil, the chilies en nogada, and the table-side chunky guacamole that is topped with pomegranate.

Inside is bright, lively and colorful. I wasn’t able to photo walking in on my last visit. Most of my older photos look very different than how it looks now. It’s far more colorful and all painted up now. It’s mostly decorated like this all over the inside.

On my most recent visit the weather was nice and we sat on the back patio behind the restaurant.

When dining on the back patio you might get a visit from Felix.

They start you off with complimentary spiced nuts with chips.

The las tlayudas are Oaxacon style corn tacos but also can served in slices like pizza. They come in several varieties.

It’s a large hand made corn tortilla that was topped with huitacoche (known as Mexico’s truffle), corn, onion, pico de gallo, and avocado. It also was served with verde sauce, fingerling potatoes and house made spicy ketchup.

For my main I had the pollo en pipian mole.

It was an extra generous serving of chicken breast topped with pumpkin seed based mole sauce. The entree also came with slightly sweet baby carrots, smokey mashed sweet potatoes, and hand made grilled tortillas.

My husband had the famous award wining cochinita pibil.

It’s 12 hour achiote and sour orange smoked pork. It was topped with pickled onions and came with hand made grilled tortillas, fingerling potatoes, house made spicy ketchup, and squash on the side.

The service and food exceeded our expectations.

Previously we’ve done mostly take out from the Barrio Cafe but I have also dined in a few times. My last dine in visits were to the chef’s other restaurant Barrio Cafe Gran Reserva that could not survive the pandemic due to it’s vestibule sized space.

Above was most of the dining area of the Barrio Cafe Grand Reserva.

Below are take out photos from The Barrio Cafe. (lower right corner below is the famous chiles en nogada)

Barrio Cafe is Worth a Fork! and is considered to be a Jewel for Mexican Cuisine in Arizona.

Barrio Cafe 2814 N 16TH ST PHX AZ 602-636-0240

www.BarrioCafe.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Federal American Grill is a Texas Based small group of American Restaurants that recently opened in Phoenix Arizona (across the street from Whole Foods on Mayo Blvd). They offer a great big all day menu of all kinds of things.For people that love whiskey they offer 500 labels. They offer a variety of appetizers (all day) like fried oysters, kung pao calamari, crab cakes, and BBQ bone marrow. They offer American entrees like braised short ribs, catch of the day, chicken fried steak, WAGYU meatloaf and pork chops (all day). They also offer small salads, entree salads, burgers, sandwiches, protein bowls, soup, seafood, steaks, entrees and more – ALL DAY! I was told that brunch will soon be added in addition to the all day menu.

The kitchen is visible from the dining room.

They offer a variety of seating.

They have booths, traditional tables, high top tables, bar seating, and a private room.

Whatever you order they start you off with complimentary biscuits with butter and sweet and spicy Fresno pepper jam.

We tried the truffle macaroni and cheese. (menu reads- Resistance is futile.)

It very cheesy. It taste like it was made with lots of real cheese and is laced with truffle essence. A sprinkling of crunchy crumbs were added. The pasta was also prepared perfect and isn’t mushy.

Janice’s Meatloaf is made with RC Ranch Craft WAGYU beef. It comes with mashed potatoes and bordelaise sauce.

Our server recommended the lemon basil salmon protein bowl.

The salmon was grill to request (medium) and was surrounded by deluxe seasonal vegetables (today is was brussels sprouts, multi color cauliflower heirloom tomatoes, zucchini and more) with rice and was laced lightly with lemon basil dressing.

Federal American Grill recently opened in Phoenix AZ and offers a great BIG all day menu.

7000 E Mayo Blvd PHX AZ

602-857-5555

www.TheFederalGrill.com

Every THING is subject to change.