Phoenix and overnight trip

[BarnNB]

I'll be staying several nights the the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and would really appreciate some recomendations in the area. I will not have a car, so I'll need some really local places (i.e. cab distance). Perhaps this is not feasable - I'm not familiar with the area.

I'll also do an over-night road trip, and would be interested in any suggestion from a Houndish perspective. I'm thinking of heading to the Grand Canyon via Sedona, but am willing to be talked out of it for a better plan.

My preference would be regional (i.e. Mexican or Southwestern) but if something else is really good, I'm game. I enjoy dives as much as high-end, as long as the food is worth it.

Thank you very much!!!!

[BarnNB]

It looks like Binkley's is about 10 kms away. I have heard very good things, so perhaps it would be worthwhile renting a car for the evening? Is this distance about right (i.e. 5 miles or so)?

[achicken]

Mapquest shows the distance between the 2 as 13.44 miles. It may be better to see if the hotel has a shuttle or just take a cab. Espeically if you are going to do wine parings with a multi-course meal there, as AZ has very strict DUI laws.

[azbirdiemaker]

The Marriott sends cars up to that area all the time. Great idea. Binkley's would definitely be my choice out of all that's been suggested.

[crsin]

If travelling through sedona, I'd hit Elote at the King's Ransom hotel. While I've never actually been, the chef is of Los Sombreros in Scottsdale, which is excellent, and a favorite on this board, and Elote's menu is very similar. Higher-end mexican fare.

I've also had some great meals at the Roy's in the JW. However, Roy's is obviouslly a chain, so if you're looking for something unique to Phoenix, this may not be the best option.

[BarnNB]

I've heard people rave about Elote on other threads, but unfortunitely it appears to be closed on Sunday and Monday, which are the very days I will be traveling. Oh well - thanks for the suggestion in any event.

[ipsedixit]

Well, right at the Resort is both Blue Sage, which offers Southwestern cuisine.

[BarnNB]

Is Blue Sage good?

[ipsedixit]

I enjoyed Blue Sage, and though it was good to above average.

Certainly there are better restaurants in the area, but in the immediate vicinity I think Blue Sage is a solid choice.

[Bill Hunt]

Back when it opened, and Mark Miller was the consulting chef, we dined there on several occasions. All were really good. I do not believe that Miller is any longer associated with Blue Sage, but when we last dined there, things were still good, to good +. Service was a tad spotty, but the food did make up for that. It WAS off-season, so maybe they had new staff. The wine list had diminished from before, but maybe that has sorted out.

There is a wealth of chains and mini-chains, just south, but I have not, and will likely not, dined at any. Maybe there is something good there, but I do not know of it.

Now, in house, I have had several great meals at the Roy's in the Marriott. I've dined at most of the Roy's on the Mainland and almost all in Hawai`i. This restaurant is near the very top of the list. I just got some e-mails from them on specials - wine and food. I would do one meal there, and ask for the patio seating. Fairly recent review:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/525393

I hope that others can weigh-in on the dining in the Desert Ridge shopping area. Seems that there are lots of them, but just have not dined at any.

Hunt