Recent meals, northern Arizona

[Tillman]

Casa Bonita, West Sedona
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We finally got around to trying this one, in my long quest for decent Mexican food in the Verde Valley. Casa Bonita is a small local chain, with other branches in Cottonwood, Prescott Valley, and Flagstaff. We'd tried the PV and Flag branches years ago, and weren't impressed -- the PV one was particularly bad. But we saw a couple of decent reviews, and gave it a shot.

I'm glad we did -- likely the best Mexican food in the Verde Valley. So far, I've tried the "Mexican Trio" (shrimp, pollo asado, steak) -- good to very good; arroz con pollo, excellent chicken, veggies & mushrooms, rather spolied by being served over mediocre Spanish rice; and "ropa vieja" salad, rather like a taco salad but with a vinegarette, very good. Excceptionally good chips and salsa, good service, moderate prices. It's a pretty place, located in the Basha's center, behind the ARCO station (usually the cheapest gas in town).

Gabrielle's Mexican, Camp Verde
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A new find, courtesy of my wife's dental hygienist. A bit funky, in an "Old West" building in the old downtown (567-6300). Good green chile, moderate prices. We'll be back.

Brix, Flagstaff
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A new place at 413 N. San Francisco, N of downtown. Attractive digs, exposed bricks, wood floor, pleasant service. This was a "Nikki's pick" in a recent Phoenix magazine writeup. We tried a couple of her recommendations and were unimpressed, and now I've forgotten what they were. We did like the olive bread, and had a spectacular fruit tart for dessert. Maybe they'll get better.

Cuvee 928, 6 E. Aspen, Flagstaff
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Another "Nikki's Pick", this one on Heritage Square downtown. The place is plain (new building) but has a nice patio overlooking the amphitheathre. I tried the brisket panini (recommended by server) and it was just OK -- good bread, but rather tasteless beef. Wife had fesh asparagus, which she liked. We had a chocolate cocoanut brad pudding for dessert -- pretty good.

Salsa Brava, East Flagstaff
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This used to be our standby Mexican in Flag. It's in new, fancier digs (still on E. Rt 66, near the new 4th St. Overpass), but the food has gone downhill. Group of 3, and none of us thought our meals were better than fair. My Navajo taco verged on inedible. Avoid.

Asylum, Jerome
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A reliable place, though their swamp cooling is a bit uncertain in the 100 deg heat. Garden sandwich was tasty as always, a good choice for warm weather, with fresh fruit on the side. We had the very tasty and HUGE "Big Bad Chocolate Cake" for dessert, excellent choice for chocaholics, though the whipped cream was too sweet and had been sitting too long.

Review tip: the Sedona Excentric's new restaurant reviewer is doing a good job -- led us to both Pinon Bistro and Casa Bonita recently. This is a free local monthly "news"paper, always worth the price.

Happy eating--
Pete Tillman

[GroovinGourmet]

It's a drag reading about Salsa Brava's fall from grace. I'd been a fan for years, but it seems things started going downhill once they opened the second location. Last time in flag I stopped by the Butler St location and it's a different restaurant now, and not as good as SB used to be.

[Tillman]

Ayup. I always preferred the East Flag location, but it's not much better than mediocre now. Sigh.

I'll have to try the Flag Casa Bonita (on Milton) again. Someone else posted about a newish Mexican they liked in Flag. Ring any bells?

Happy eating--
Pete Tillman