Graduation Late Lunch on Mill Ave. Tempe?

[diametricdreams]

Hi all,

I'm a senior at ASU graduating in about a month and I was looking for a good place to get a late lunch to celebrate my graduation. As a college student, I haven't really had much opportunity to hit up the nicer restaurants in the area, but I'm just looking for a place that would be comfortable for fourteen guests, plate price around $20 a person, and walkable from ASU campus, doesn't have to be on Mill Ave. The only place I've heard of really is House of Tricks, which has a lunch menu in my general price range, but the dinner menu is a bit steep for me. Any other suggestions would be great, especially if there's something uniquely Arizonian about the place (whatever that might mean) since all of my guests (and myself) are out-of-staters. Thanks in advance!

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House of Tricks
114 E 7th St, Tempe, AZ 85281

ASU
Tempe, AZ, Tempe, AZ

[nachomother]

I like Mucho Gusto a lot! (I recognize the redundancy in my previous statement). It is on University a few blocks west of Mill. The food there is interesting and delisious. Their tamales with mole are quite tasty. I've asked them to sell them by the dozen during Christmas. They have a very nice patio scene with beautiful ptchers of margarita and sangria. http://www.yelp.com/biz/mucho-gusto-t...

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Mucho Gusto
603 W University Dr, Tempe, AZ 85281

[themis]

Trying to add links for some places. Wish me luck. Four Peaks Brewery and Casey Moore's Oyster House.

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Four Peaks Brewing Co
1340 E 8th St, Tempe, AZ 85281

Casey Moore's Oyster House
850 S Ash Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281

[themis]

For walkable from ASU and for lunch accommodating a group that large, I would think about Casey Moore's or Four Peaks. Neither is fine dining -- although if you are in to oysters, you can rack up quite the tab at Casey Moore's -- but they do food very well. More importantly, maybe, they are used to big groups and the challenges they present. I might trade the cachet of eating at Caffe Boa for the foreknowledge that your bill will be what you expect and that your party will be seated promptly and be well attended to.

You are also right to think of House of Tricks; they can also take a group that large with an advance reservation and will do very well with the service -- you can ask for a limited menu or restrict the wine selection to help keep the host's costs down. You would be outdoor, under the grape arbor, which may be a challenge in May heat. But that's true of almost anyplace that could fit your party unless you take them to Gordon Biersch or someplace in Tempe Marketplace.

edit: I notice the map is showing the unaffiliated outpost of Caffe Boa out in Ahwatukee, which is incorrect. The one we are all speaking of, obviously, is on Hayden Square at the north end of Mill. I would try to correct that but the place links feature on Chowhound hates my guts.

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House of Tricks
114 E 7th St, Tempe, AZ 85281

Caffe Boa
398 S. Mill Avenue, Tempe, AZ 85281

ASU
Tempe, AZ, Tempe, AZ

Gordon Biersch
6915 N 95th Ave, Glendale, AZ 85305

[scaheld]

Caffe Boa link.

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Caffe Boa
398 S. Mill Avenue, Tempe, AZ 85281

[diametricdreams]

I don't think the oyster house is the best idea since all my family lives on the gulf coast, half of them from south Louisiana, but thanks for the recommendations!

[misohungrychewlow]

Restaurant Mexico on Mill is walkable, a local institution with decades of food service in the neighborhood, inexpensive, a little different from most local Mexican restaurants, and very friendly and welcoming. It may be less special than what's in your mind's eye but your group can have a memorable, comfortable meal there, with or without good Mexican beer and margaritas. When do you graduate? Chcken mole is the Thursday special.

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Restaurant Mexico
423 S Mill Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281

[diametricdreams]

I graduate May 15. Is the Mexican food a distinct Arizona style and pretty good? Because I'm from a border city in Texas and my grandmother used to run a Mexican food catering business so if the Mexican food is not up to par, I'll never hear the end of it from my family haha.

[misohungrychewlow]

It is purportedly Jalisco style, well into the interior away from the border. Not hot, edgy, or nuevo, just good comfort food with a different approach than Az-Mex, NM-Mex or Tex-Mex. If you have time slip in for lunch or an early dinner before the semester ends and check it out.

[diametricdreams]

Cool, thanks for the info!

[kmarg]

Steaks and Burgers at Monti's would also be a possibility, and it has old school AZ kitsch. Everything else on Mill is pretty solid sandwich fare ,or a chain. Though Chang's is an option.
Mill is usually swamped after Graduation, other options would be Stockyards down Washington, or maybe the retaraunt at the ASU Golf Course. They have a couple of good torta's on the menu and are usually not that busy.

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ASU
Tempe, AZ, Tempe, AZ

[diametricdreams]

The Stockyards sounds amazing, I never knew that was there! Thanks for the info, I think that's where I may be heading.

[JK Grence the Cosmic Jester]

The definition of "walkable" to a late lunch is going to dramatically diminish in about a month, especially if you're from out of state. You might wish to take advantage of the free Orbit system.

Another upscale place that does well with local ingredients (albeit given an Italian twist) is Caffe Boa, on the north end of Mill. Entrées range from 14 to 29, with most of them in the 16-18 range and then a jump up to a few around 26-29. They do also have a happy hour in their bar with small plates from $4.50-$7.50.

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Caffe Boa
5063 E Elliot Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85044

[diametricdreams]

We have cars, but knowing Mill, it'll be difficult to find parking. Thanks for the info, I'll look into Caffe Boa!

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Caffe Boa
398 S. Mill Avenue, Tempe, AZ 85281