Category Archives: Forking Restaurant Reviews

Honest unbiased reviews based on actual experiences

FORKING BEST BURGERS in Metro Phoenix AZ****WITH UPDATE

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This is a collection of the FORKING BEST BURGERS that I’ve tasted in Metro Phoenix Arizona. I do note that I haven’t been to every restaurant in Metro Phoenix but I have been to many restaurants so chances are that a few other great ones are out there…..The best burger meat is always fresh ground in house. So the one thing that all the burgers have in common is that they all are ground in house. The one below is ground in house at a sister-restaurant across the street so that still counts.

Ingo’s Tasty Food – (I go to the original Phoenix location) Grinds grass fed beef. They also bake their own just right rolls. My first beef burger here was a basic burger with lettuce, tomato, Russian dressing. They do offer a a few varieties of burgers. The menu also does change slightly at times.

Ingo’s Tasty Food – 4502 N 40TH St PHX AZ 602-795-2884

www.IngosTastyFood.com

Zinburger – Bruce Lee Burger

Zinburger fresh grinds TWICE a day certified Angus beef and serves them as six and a half ounce patties. The Bruce Lee Burger (Asian slaw, sriracha mayo, jalapeños, avocado and more) was a past winner of a burger battle held in Phoenix.

The ground in house Prime Beef burger from The Bourbon Cellar in Scottsdale

The Bourbon Cellar Sports Bar and Grill offers a variety of gourmet ground in house burgers. I can’t get past the ground in house PRIME Filet burger that is served on an eggy apple cider bun. It is usually topped with a wasabi deviled egg. (I think they forgot on my last visit?) But it really is an amazing burger.

The Bourbon Cellar – 23623 N Scottsdale Rd Scottsdale AZ 480-595-5868

www.TheBourbonCellar.com

A.G. Burger from Arrowhead Grill

The A.G. Burger from the Arrowhead Grill is an 8oz U.S.D.A. PRIME tenderloin tips ground in house patty topped with a slice of prime rib, crispy onions, creamy horseradish sauce and cheese. It’s the largest of all the burgers. It’s also FORKING AMAZING. I’m NOT a small eater but for me this was MORE than two meals.

The Kenji burger from Then Burger

The burgers from Then Burger are ground in house elevated style burgers. The beef burger patties are a blend of short rib, SIRLOIN, and chuck. This Kenji Burger was OFF THE CHARTS FORKING AMAZING. It was enhanced with teriyaki, OH SO Flavorful caramelized onions, arugula, yuzu aioli and red leicester cheese (on side to my request) It REALLY was so FORKING FANTABULOUS that I don’t know if I can ever go on to try their other burgers.*********UPDATE Then burgers are no longer a blend of short rib, sirloin, and chuck. They are all chuck and do cook up different and taste different. They also discontinued the Kenji Burger. I tried a marrow and mushroom burger.

The burger patty came out dry like a hockey puck. I had to send it back because it a $36. burger. Unfortunately the 2nd one also came out very dry and over cooked.

Then Burger – 9220 W Glendale Ave Glendale AZ – 623-328-9388

www.ThenBurger.com

This was a collection of the FORKING BEST Burgers that I’ve tried in Metro Phoenix Arizona.

The Forking Truth

Block 9 Thai Street Eats Summerlin NV – Mild Thai Food

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Block 9 Thai Street Eats is a Thai Restaurant located in South Summerlin Nevada a short ride away from the Las Vegas Strip. This is a very casual Thai Restaurant.

You order and pay at the counter.

Then they give you a number to place on your table and they run beverages and food to you. They offer mostly soft beverages but canned adult cider is offered and maybe two canned beers.

My husband tried the side order of E-Saan sausages. The food is served on to go cardboard dishes.

They come garnished with lettuce wraps some peanuts, cilantro, and onions. These might be good but maybe are for an inquired taste………….

I ordered the basil eggplant “Hot” with chicken.

This is the first basil eggplant dish that I have tried that has zero heat. It also is very fish sauce forward….It taste like mostly fish sauce. It does have basil in it but for some reason the basil is tasteless and the basil flavor hasn’t been infused into the dish. The chicken is very tender but just taste mostly like fish sauce.

My husband tried the drunken noodles with chicken “Hot.”

Also zero heat and I tasted one bite. It tasted bitter to me me and also too heavy with fish sauce for my taste. My husband thought that the bitter taste was from the Chinese Broccoli in the dish because he said that the vegetable was very bitter.

That was a little taste of Block 9 Thai Street Eats. I do note that I have only been here once and I don’t know if my visit was typical or not. From what we tried the food runs as mild as mild gets.

10595 Discovery Dr Summerlin NV

702-331-1088

www.Block9Thai.com

Everything is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

A Little Taste of Pancho’s Mexican Restaurant DT Summerlin Las Vegas NV – I doubt anyone ever leaves hungry from here.

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Pancho’s Mexican Restaurant is located in the Downtown Summerlin part of Las Vegas Nevada. They also have a California location. They offer most of your usual Mexican Favorites like quesadillas, tacos, burritos, chimichangas, enchiladas, combo plates, beef and chicken entrees, margaritas, desserts and more.

Inside is very rich with decorations and live plants.

This is also a very large two story restaurant with several dining rooms.

Whatever you order they start you out with a big basket of hot corn chips and a spicy herbed salsa.

The entrees come with your choice of a salad……

Or soup of the day (this evening it was albondigas soup ((Mexican Meatball soup)))

I thought the mole en pipian sounded like an interesting dish that I don’t see very often on menus.

It’s an enormous serving of tender white meat chicken chunks in a pumpkin seed, peanut spiced sauce. It’s served with cilantro rice and vegetarian black beans topped with cotija cheese. Oh and your choice of tortillas too! It’s tasty and not too spicy but is also very flavorful. Taste like maybe guadijillo chilies in it?

My husband tried the steak picado.

It’s tender flat iron steak with grilled peppers, onions, tomatoes and melted cheese with Mexican style rice and vegetarian re-fried beans. (They don’t cook with lard and use healthier soybean oil instead) It’s a BIG tasty plate.

The desserts offered did sound delicious but I find that I am never able to fit in dessert at Mexican restaurants.

I doubt anyone ever leaves hungry from Pancho’s in DT Summerlin Las Vegas.

11020 Lavender Hill DR DT Summerlin Las Vegas NV

702-982-0111

www.PanchosRestaurant.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

A Little Taste of Osteria Fiorella at The Red Rock Casino Las Vegas NV

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Osteria Fiorella is an Italian Restaurant by James Beard Award Winning chef Marc Vetri. This restaurant is located in the Red Rock Casino and Resort that is in the Summerlin area in Las Vegas Nevada.

It’s artsy and modern inside. There are several small bars and wine bars inside.

They also have an exhibition kitchen in the middle of the restaurant.

They start you off with a bread basket of freshly made sourdough bread and focaccia with Californian olive oil enhanced with balsamic vinegar.

The breads are very good and are unlike any focaccia or sour dough bread that I ever had before. The focaccia is very light and moist in texture with delicious flakes of salt on the crust. The sour dough bread is like what white bread would taste like if white bread was really good.

We started with the seasonal crudo. It was hamachi with citrus.

It was very good. The fish seemed very fresh and came with citrus that taste better than what us mere mortals can buy from our local supermarkets.

We also shared a pasta dish because you really are suppose to try pasta here.

We shared the ricotta tortellini with preserved tomatoes and Calabrian chili.

These were different too…..The pasta was extra thin and very light. The cheese inside sure doesn’t taste like it was from a tub….It taste milky and fresh made to me.

For my main I tried the branzino.

It’s different…….The fish has a different kind of fired taste. I forgot what kind of oven they used for this fish but it is different. The fish came adorned with baby greens, peperonata, oil, lemon and sweet peppers, It’s a good size portion and is almost big enough to share.

My husband tried the bone-in veal.

It’s also a little different. It’s a pounded breaded veal covered in San Marzano Tomato sauce that is topped with fresh basil and melting high quality bufala cheese.

I managed to save room for dessert and tried what my waiter said was the popular favorite dessert here.

This is called the Orange Bonet.

It’s cream custard topped with poached pear with house made vanilla gelato on the side enhanced with orange sauce, citrus zest, and crushed pistachios.

That was a little taste Osteria Fiorella.

11011 W Charleston Blvd Las Vegas (Red Rock Casino and Resort)

702-797-7777

www.RedRockResort.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

Federal American Grill – Phoenix AZ – All Day Great Big Menu!

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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.

The Forking Truth

Then Burger – Glendale AZ – FANTABULOUS ELEVATED BURGERS! – Worth A Fork!*****WITH UPDATE – NOT THE SAME

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Then Burger is located across from the entrance to Westgate in Glendale Arizona. The restaurant is brought to you by a local resident Mr. Preston who also owns Twist Hot Chicken in Peoria. This is a casual but very nice burger restaurant.

inside

Besides elevated ground in house burgers they offer service, great cocktails, beer, wine and more. Mostly everything is made in-house. Everything is fresh. They only use the freezer for the ice cream for milk shakes. They offer appetizers, a few salads, and around a dozen different modern burger choices. Most of the burgers are beef patties (short rib, SIRLOIN, chuck) that are ground in house. They are recommended to be served medium pictured below.

Some of the other very detailed burgers are short rib (like quesabirra that you dunk), beef like with marrow and mushrooms, salmon, chicken thigh, and beet patty. They are served on Noble Bread Buns and come with hand cut fries that can be upgraded to poutine fries or animal fries (dressing and cheese).

We started out with smooth strong cocktails called wild horse.

Lip Service Rye Whiskey, St George Absinthe, Maraschino Bitters

We also tried the roasted bone marrow appetizer.

This was really great! – It’s so much better than the last bone marrow I tried someplace downtown. It was adorned with wild mushroom ragu and came with Noble Bread Slices.

Then came ——-The Burger.

I picked the Kenji Burger – red Leicester cheese ( my request on the side), teriyaki, caramelized onions, arugula, yuzu aioli on a just right, not too bread-ee Noble Bun………OMG This is just FANTABULOUS! The Flavors are incredible. The Burger is incredible. ********this burger is FORKING INCREDIBLE*******Besides everything that is tasting amazing I’m pointing out the caramelized onions…..not sure if it’s just the onions or a combination of the onions and sauces but the taste is so incredible that it might be impossible for me to try a different beef burger here…..It really was that FORKING GREAT!

Around five minutes latter the cut in house fries arrive.

regular fries
upgraded – poutine fries with cheese curds and gravy

I was surprised that we weren’t offered ketchup for the fries. Instead we got small dishes of sauces. One was house sauce ( a creamy mustardy sauce ((my favorite)), ranch sauce, a creamy lemon-ee sauce, and garlic aioli.

My husband thinks that the burger called drugstore was FANTABULOUS. (It’s the most traditional burger on the menu)

He got his Medium Rare. American Cheese, HOUSE Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Bread and Butter Pickles, and House Sauce. He just kept saying that this is a really good burger…..THIS IS A REALLY GOOD BURGER……..Can we go here tomorrow?

They do offer a few desserts but the food is so darn FANTABULOUS that I doubt most people will ever have room for dessert.

Then Burger (across from entrance to Westgate) Your Welcome.

Worth a Fork! THEN WE RETURNED.

The burgers are no longer a blend of short rib, sirloin, and chuck. Now they are all chuck.

The burgers taste different and cook up different now.

My husband tried the Drugstore burger again (American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, bread and butter pickles, house sauce) and asked for Medium-Rare. It no longer comes with bacon.

Unfortunately it’s well done and dry.

My marrow & mushroom burger (menu reads munster but they gave me truffle pecorino ((on side at my request)), shiitake mushrooms, marrow crisp, marrow bone.

This burger patty is FORKING DRY AS A HOCKY PUCK!

For a $36.00 burger that IS CERTAINLY NOT ACCEPTABLE. It was very hard for me but I had to send it back and my husband also sent his burger back. In acceptable time we had the re-fires.

Second drugstore burger came out well done and dry.

Second marrow and mushroom burger came out dry.

Then Burger

9220 W Glendale Ave Glendale AZ

623-328-9388

www.ThenBurger.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

The Little Pickle Phoenix AZ – PHENOMENAL PASTRAMI & BRISKET – Worth a Fork!

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The Little Pickle is a Jewish Type Deli Located in Phoenix Arizona across from the Biltmore Fashion Mall in the Esplanade (they validate parking). It’s a small casual place with only a few tables and a small counter by the window.

Currently they are open for breakfast and weekday lunch till 2pm (subject to change). We made it there just before they closed.

You order at the counter.

They call your name when your order is ready.

Here’s an everything a bagel with scallion cream cheese.

I thought that this was a West Coast Style Bagel but someone from The Little Pickle contacted me and told me that their bagels are from New York. The bagel I tried is a different style than east coast bagels that I was used to when I lived there. I was used to the ones with a shiny crust that were chewy inside. Anyone remember Abe’s or Miller’s Deli? Also Scotts Generations serves the chewy style bagels that were and also are from New York. The style of these New York bagels are different.They are good…just different.

Sandwiches come wrapped up like this.

Your sandwich comes with a wrapped Little Pickle to the side.

Our first sandwich that we tried was the corned beef.

Corned Beef

The corned beef is a little different than what I’m used to. It’s good but milder with the spices.

We also tried the turkey.

The turkey is nice, tender and moist. It’s good but……………….

Brisket Sandwich

I think that the brisket might be the *****BEST FORKING BRISKET***** that I have ever tried anywhere. The Flavors and texture is BOMB! It has this incredible burnt sweet onion taste and the beef just melts in your mouth……..They melt cheese on the bread so that is great for some people but other people might want to order the brisket without cheese.

The Pastrami is also *******FORKING GREAT**************!

It’s so flavorful and unusually juicy just melts in your mouth. It’s fatty but not too fatty. It just might be the best pastrami sandwich out there!

You’d be nuts not to try the pastrami or the brisket. Your Welcome!

Worth a Fork!

Little Pickle

2501 E Camelback Rd PHX AZ

602-466-7098

www.LittlePickleAZ.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

The Black Sheep Kitchen Wine Cocktails Las Vegas NV – Worth a Fork!

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The Black Sheep Restaurant is located in Las Vegas around fifteen minutes away from the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada. This is a casual, modern, Vietnamese/American restaurant that is ran and owned by seasoned former Top Chef contestant chef Jamie Tran. She also was awarded by Eater as Chef of the year in 2017.

Inside is casual.

You will probably see chef Tran running around the place.

The majority of the menu is interesting and different. Our waiter said that the starters are very small and to try several. We tried the salmon skin tacos.

They are crispy salmon skin stuffed with salmon belly, salmon tartare, tobiko, smoked shishito peppers, micro cilantro, and jalapeño aioli. They are very tasty, not too spicy, and full of flavors.

My husband has a little more room to enjoy more and really enjoyed the bao slider special.

These mini bao sliders were stuffed with house made pork sausage, pork belly, quail egg, crispy shallots, greens, and jalapeño aioli. It also came with shrimp crackers. My husband kept saying that these were VERY GOOD…..over and over.

We also shared the hamachi crudo.

I thought that this was FORKING Amazing. This was an explosion of all kinds of flavors and textures. Sweet, heat, citrus, clean fish, pickle, crunch, This was made with rayu sauce (Japanese citrus sauce), dragon fruit, pickled pearl onions, bubu arare (Asian crackers), and a few other goodies.

For dinner I tried the boneless fried whole trout.

I never had fish like this before…….All the bones were removed before they fried it. You just cut though and enjoy. This came with rainbow Swiss Chard, Chinese Broccoli, sesame seed crumble, in a garlic chili oil sauce with steamed rice. Very Good!

My husband tried the braised pork jowl….(it’s the cheek….tender like beef or halibut cheek)

It came with turmeric flat noodles, Chinese Broccoli and was in a spicy garlic chili oil. This was very good too! Another Hit!

Somehow we managed to squeeze in a dessert to try. We went with the citrus meringue with ube (purple yam) crust.

The crust might be thick for some but the flavors are a nice sweet ending to a FORKING Amazing meal.

Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

The Black Sheep

8680 W Warm Springs Road Las Vegas NV

702-954-3998

www.BlackSheepVegas.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

Lola’s Louisiana Creole Restaurant Las Vegas NV – Worth a Fork!

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Lola’s is a Louisiana Creole Restaurant located in the Summerlin part of Las Vegas Nevada. They offer an all day menu and Sunday Brunch. On the all day menu a few of the offerings are things like Louisiana style crab cakes, cajun hot wings, crawfish puppies, salads, po boys, burgers, and platters like crawfish étouffée, shrimp and grits, and shrimp creole. On the brunch menu Are things like chicken and waffles, andouille sausage benedict, and an egg and bacon grits bowl.

This restaurant was featured on Diners Drive Inns and Dive on Food Network TV.

It’s casual inside. You can sit in the bar area, at the bar, on the patio, or in the main dining area.

main dining area

I went with the signature orange bowl salad with added bronzed salmon. (bronzed is like 1/2 blackened…less seasoning and cooked lighter)

I have to say that this was an unusually good salad…..But it does run very spicy…It’s almost too spicy for me. It’s romaine lettuce, mandarine oranges, cranberry-raisins, scallions, celery, almonds, and this SPICY sweet and spicy vinaigrette. The salmon seems extra fresh and is really prepared to perfection. They didn’t even ask how I wanted it done they just prepared it perfect……medium-ish- medium/rare.

My husband was thrilled with the loaded jambalaya.

He just kept saying that it was really good. (chicken, sausage, rice, bronzed shrimp, kielbasa sausage.

Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

Lola’s

1220 N Town Center Dr Las Vegas NV

702-871-5652

www.LolasLasVegas.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

The Stove NV – Henderson NV – Brunch Style Restaurant

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The Stove is an all day brunch and comfort food sort of restaurant that also offers bottomless drink specials. This restaurant is located in Henderson Nevada a short drive away from “The Strip.” They offer things like burgers, burritos, chicken and waffles, omelettes, other egg dishes, and a few vegan dishes. This restaurant is located on the second floor so you need to walk up and down steps that may be hard to do when partaking in bottomless drink specials. They do have an elevator but there for handicapped only.

It’s energetic and festive inside. The servers seem quick, friendly, and efficient.

I tried the Nashville Spicy Chicken Stack.

It’s a good chicken sandwich but a far cry from a Nashville Style Chicken Sandwich.

It’s not even spicy…..(The FORKING Truth)

Anyways…….It’s made with slaw, house pickles, and really good toasted brioche bun, house fries that are really good and you have an option to add on an egg. I asked for hot sauce so I could add some needed heat to this sandwich. Like I said it was a good chicken sandwich. It just wasn’t anything even close to a Nashville Style.

My husband ordered the juicy Lucy.

It’s flat patties stuffed with some cheese sauce that is topped with a chori-queso bacon wrapped onion ring and sits on house pickles, roasted tomatoes, thousand island dressing (left off on request), toasted brioche bun, and house fries.

I heard that the bacon wrapped onion ring was pretty good. Because it’s not a big burger there wasn’t much room to fill with much cheese. Some people might want more cheese.

This was a little taste of The Stove.

11261 S Eastern Avenue Henderson NV

702-540-5995

www.TheStoveNV.com

Everything is subject to change.

The Forking Truth