663375 Thu Oct 29 15:46:17 -0700 2009 8 6 Southwest 0 5141399 I will be staying in Tempe for a week and need some help in paring down a long list of restaurants that I have gleaned from this and other sites. I am looking for "interesting" foods, decor and ambiance not as important as great food. So far, my list is (in no particulart order) Cyclo, C-Fu, Asia Cafe, Los dos Molinos, Yasu Sushi, House of Tricks, Lychee Inn, Chino Bandido, Rancho Tia Rosa, Boca 7, Los Sombreros, Blue Adobe Grill, Restaurant Mexico, and Stacey's Smokehouse. Any help in whittling down this list, and specific suggestons of your favorite dish at some of these places would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, in advance, Matt Thu Oct 29 15:46:17 -0700 2009 1119450 mattsedona 1 5141458 A couple of the links are obviously wrong. The address for Restaurant Mexico is 423 S Mill Ave, Tempe, AZ. It looks like the "places" feature has gone from bad to worse. I liked to hit Restaurant Mexico for the Bistek Ranchero lunch special on Wed. The food is pretty basic, but, always very fresh and good, IMO. I recently moved out of the neighborhood of Los Sombreros, but, I was somewhat of a regular, there. I favor the slow roasted pork dishes, and avoid the seafood. I think you have a good list. I haven't been *everywhere*, but, most places listed, and haven't had any bad food that I can recall. I prefer Los Dos Molinos to Blue Adobe, but, perhaps, an equal number of CHs would go either way on those two. I'm not a fan of Rancho Tia Rosa, but, many are. Thu Oct 29 16:13:58 -0700 2009 5141399 10852 johnseberg 2 5141561 Of those I would second Cyclo, BoCa 7 (lots to love in the Mekong Plaza there), and House of Tricks. I would add Caffe Boa in Tempe as well -- a very strong and innovative chef has just moved there, and it was high on my list of recommendations before his arrival. Ranking your southwestern or Mexican options, I would place Los Sombreros first, Rancho Tia Rosa next (but I would say hit that on an off hour or just swing by the taco stand out front) Los Dos Molinos next (I feel the Mesa location is stronger than the SoPho), and then Restaurant Mexico, still far above Blue Adobe Grill. I kind of feel like that's a lot in the way of Mexican food, but if you wanted to venture into the central environs, I would put Barrio Cafe (upscale but terrific) and Carolina's (downscale but amazing -- order a burro, foot long, enchilada style, to best showcase their fresh toothsome tortillas and "brown sauce") in the top three of the combined list. Thu Oct 29 16:58:42 -0700 2009 5141458 10846 themis 2 5141779 I was granted special powers and with them edited the Restaurant Mexico entry. Said powers seem to be available for the asking on the Site Talk board. Thu Oct 29 18:48:19 -0700 2009 5141458 86822 hohokam 1 5141750 doing a little place link clean-up Thu Oct 29 18:31:05 -0700 2009 5141399 86822 hohokam 1 5141813 Thanks for all your suggestions. Keep them coming. My list was heavy on Mexican, as we have such poor mexican/southwest here in Sedona, Cafe Elote notwithstanding. Thu Oct 29 18:59:10 -0700 2009 5141399 1119450 mattsedona 2 5141827 ...fixing up Elote Cafe's link Thu Oct 29 19:03:14 -0700 2009 5141813 86822 hohokam 1 5142689 At Blue Adobe I've had the chile relleno with steak, which is probably my favorite dish there, but its not mind blowingly good like a chile relleno could/should be. Blue Adobe is the kind of place I go when they put out coupons, but don't pay full price for usually. Los Dos Molinos mesa location is a place we do go regularly. I go full hog and get the chimichanga, and it is awesome. We also split a pitcher of "kick ass" margaritas, so I'm usually drunk and stuffed by the time we leave, which is our idea of a good night out. :) Rancho Tia Rosa is heavy on atmosphere, and the food is very approachable, so its a fun place to take out of town guests who enjoy the entertainment and decor. The salmon tacos are good, I don't think I've had anything else memorable. Also in Chandler is Lee's sandwiches for a quick bahn mi. Fri Oct 30 07:58:54 -0700 2009 5141399 1098231 contemporaryscarlett 1 5143328 If you go to C-Fu, I'd stick mostly to seafood dishes; they're much more focused on doing those well than on the more common US Chinese restaurant standards, in my opinion. Although I haven't been there in a while. I really like Cyclo too; I think you can get better pho at places specializing in that, but things like ribs, the "salads," and green beans are great. House of Tricks is good, and has a more calm, upscale atmosphere than most places listed here without being too fancy. It's very near Caffe Boa, I guess I'd pick whichever menu appeals to you most that day. I love the cheese chile relleno special on Fridays at Restaurant Mexico, but they're often sold out by dinnertime. For meat chiles rellenos, I like Barrio Cafe when they're in season (which I think they are now). I really like Los Sombreros, but I think I remember reading here that it once shared an owner with Cafe Elote, so if you're looking to winnow down your list you might cross it off? Someone else can probably advise on that. Fri Oct 30 11:14:58 -0700 2009 5141399 174150 bortukan