Is there one place in Yuma, Az that is a must?

[clamb]

I am tired of all the chain restaurants here im my town. Would love to start making the rounds to restaurants that are highly recommended by other Yumans or anyone for that matter that has stumbled upon little gems. While Yuma is not a culinary Mecca, I personally have eaten at some unlikely places with very good food. My number one pic has to be Juanitas roach coach that has its own lot on 8th street. They have very few things on their menu.......fish and shrimp tacos and The Best Ever Shrimp cocktail and "pulpo" cocktail that I have ever eaten. I am eagerly awaiting a list of gems to pick from............

Thanks in advance

Nan

[AlFerris]

I'm on another one of my regular trips to Yuma. I will put in a plug for Ed's posts--Ed, you have not let me down yet!

This week, I've been to Ciao Bella, which is always a refined, elegant experience. Excellent cocktails, nice appetizers, very fresh seafood. I went to a fundraiser for the Yuma Ballet Theater on Saturday catered by Ciao Bella and the salmon was caught by Chef Nan Bain herself!

I've also been to Brownie's Cafe this week, and the owner, Bobby, makes the experience very welcoming. You feel like you've dropped in on an old family friend. Chicken fried steak is awesome.

Otherwise, Ed's post includes my favorites. Hopefully some other hidden gems will pop up on this posting!

Alice

[Ed Dibble]

Thanks for the kind words. I have had some great meals at Ciao Bella, but it is a bit uneven.

Glad you like Brownie's; it is a Yuma institution. I have friends who love it there, but I seem to always order things that are just OK (or sometimes worse). The roasted chicken is pretty boring, the succulent short ribs were topped with a barbecue sauce (WTF?!?), and the chicken salad sandwich tasted bizarre. Even the biscuits and gravy weren't good enough tasting to make up for the cholesterol. I know I have had some good meals there, but I remember the poor ones more.

For breakfasts (though not for lunch), I prefer Arnie's at the Freeway and 16th (if you can figure out how to get into the parking lot). Your results might differ.

ed

[Ed Dibble]

Welcome to the board. I too love Juanita's and plan to head there as soon as I finish this post and grab lunch.

Yuma has several good non-chains. In particular, you need to go to Los Manjares de Pepe on 8th. Hwy 95 Cafe is also good.

I have posted about Yuma restaurants on this board before, so a Yuma search here at Chowhound will locate some info. There are also some entries (with pics) at Kirk's amazing mmm-yoso!!! blog (which is mostly San Diego oriented).

Here's a link to the posts about Yuma at Kirk's blog:

http://mmm-yoso.typepad.com/mmmyoso/y...

Hope you enjoy. Please post about your experiences.

ed

[clamb]

Thanks for the great replies and for the link to the wonderful blog. I have eaten at many of the places mentioned with the exception of Borders and some of the Taco Trucks ( Juanitas I hit just about every week). I will have to try the others as well.

I was wondering if anyone has tried the little snack shack on 3rd st and 10th ave. I think it is a used tire place that sometimes has a bbq cart and they always have a sign that says Coktel de Elote.........which is I think corn cocktail? I have not stopped here yet but it does intrigue me......anyone have this elote dish?

Someone mentioned Ciao Bella..........The only thing that has been good here has been the gorgonzola and fig pizza........I have yet to have anything else there that pleases my tastebuds. I also was disappointed in Nan Bain's other restaurant River City Grill........ The puff pastry used in my appetizer tasted of old grease.

anywho........I am glad to have lunch destinations now thanks to the fine blogger. Thanks much

[Ed Dibble]

Just a couple of notes. The last cabeza taco at Deliciosos del Mar was actually too fatty. I don't know the status of the other trucks at this time. Some of them are not open until we get more fieldworkers in town.

Borders is good. The stingray soup and fishball soup are different and excellent. I also like the spinach enchiladas (in green sauce) at El Viejo Loco, by Mervin's. For reasons I don't understand, the enchiladas are not on the menu and so not always available. Also interesting are the flat enchiladas (can't remember the name - something like enchiladas del pilo?) which are thick homemade corn tortillas (patties?) covered in sauce and toppings. An old school Sonoran treat - but unique in Yuma currently. Other stuff there is good as well, but maybe a little more expensive than at some other places.

River City was wonderful when it first opened. I believe the head chef from there went to Ciao Bella, and River City has suffered. Some reliable friends of mine reported a terrible dinner experience at Ciao Bella recently, but I hope that was an off night. I think Nan just got stretched too far with 3 restaurants. Nonetheless, Julieanna's may be the best fine dining in town. I just wish its winelist was not such a ripoff - although I will say the winelist has improved its selection (if not its prices) from what it was.

ed

[Yuman]

Nan, there are a lot of small "non-chain" restaurants here. Have you tried Taco Salsa or Mi Rancho on 4th Avenue? And, of course, there's the ever popular La Casa Gutierrez on Orange Ave.