|
Welcome to Taste of Sierra Vista!
We're Pikefish and Mohawk, and we'll be your hosts for these Clandestine Culinary Adventures. We've sampled culinary delights in more than fifty countries as well as most of the major U.S. cities: Los Angles, Denver, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, New Orleans and Miami. We've decided that the beautiful metropolitan Sierra Vista area needs dedicated critics with educated palates, not only to let our fellow Sierra Vistans know about our local restaurants, but to serve as a living record of our culinary adventures in the shadow of the Huachuca Mountains. The Spot Bites will give you the short and sweet; for the detailed skinny, click on the Spot Light reviews where you find them. It's often been said that the last thing you want to see is the kitchen of the restaurant that cooks your food. Some of us, however, are braver than that, and we want to know about the standards of those who handle what we put in our mouths. Such information can be found Here, courtesy of the health inspections made by Cochise County.
- Flaming Wok, Jack in the Box, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Mesquite Tree, Papa John's Pizza, Pizza Hut Express, Subway 12/5/08 - Bunbuku, Blue's Café, Filiberto's, Golden Corral, New China Super Buffet, Safeway Deli, The Diner, The Outside Inn, Thunder Mountain Activity Center, Vinny's New York Pizza 05/21/08 - Arby's, Big Mo's Burgers, Buzz Breads & Bagels Cafe, Daisy Mae's Stronghold, Domino's Pizza, Lone Star Cafe, Mesquite Tree, Peacock, Poco Loco Tacos, Texas Roadhouse
2006-2007 Donations received as of April 18, 2008: It's been an interesting ride so far for Taste of Sierra Vista.com. Our hope for advertising revenue didn't go over very well. Are we surprised? Not much-- telling it like it is doesn't exactly make karma points with the restaurants in the area. But web hosting, registration, postage and updating are still expenses that have to be paid. If you'd like to pitch in to help keep us going, we'd much appreciate it. Every dollar or two counts, so toss a few our way if you can! Thanks!
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
| 1 Spoon = Poor | 2 Spoons = Fair | 3 Spoons = Good | 4 Spoons = Excellent | 5 Spoons = Incredible |
|
Prices (per person): |
||||
| $6 and under - $ | $7 - $10 - $$ | $11 - $20 - $$$ | $15 - $30 - $$$$ | Over $30 - $$$$$ |
|
Quick Find: |
|||||||||
American
|
Chinese
|
Fast Food
|
German
|
Italian
|
Japanese
|
Korean
|
Mexican
|
Pizza
|
Vietnamese
|
| Restaurant |
|
Price | |
|
Applebee's 3899 El Mercado Loop |
Current Review: Mohawk Sez: Applebee's is quickly turning into a mess. We try it often because, let's face it, it's convenient and usually faster than the ill-fated Chili's. The service is generally okay, but the food is sliding downhill. Since we go for the food, well... you get the picture. Spinach Dip: bitter. Brick Chicken: pretty good. Mixed Seafood Grill: blah. On one visit we sat at the bar and ate rather than wait; while the bartender was friendly enough, she didn't want to give anyone silverware. Since I'd ordered a sandwich, I gave my fork to the guy next to me, who got his salad but was implement-challenged. Teriyaki Combo: dry, but not bad. Nacho Nuevos: pretty good. Sirloin & Crab Cakes Combo: downright terrible -- The medium rare steak was medium well to well-done, and it had that sandy taste of meat that's been over-marinated (read: cheap cut, so tenderize). It was also dry and horrifically salty from the marinade. The crab cakes were mushy and came with the Applebee's version of remoulade sauce, i.e., Thousand Island salad dressing soured with a shot of lemon. Even the vegetables were screwed up. (They were supposed to be cooked, right? Not raw?) And a Note to servers: Don't take all the plates away at a table of six and leave one person sitting there and still eating. It makes the customer too self-conscious to finish. Note 2: Don't ever tell the customer that "The kitchen is going downhill." It just doesn't give them a tingly feeling. Visited 01/04/07, 02/19/07 and 03/07/07. You can bet it'll be awhile before we go back.
|
$$-$$$ |
|
|
Bisbee Breakfast Club 75A Erie St. Bisbee |
Yes, Bisbee-- that's what we mean by the "beautiful metropolitan Sierra Vista area." All things revolve around us Sierra Vistans, right? Anyway, if you're up for a drive, the BBC is a great place to go for breakfast or lunch. They have daily specials-- try the Steak Hash when it's available-- that ought to please any palette, but some of the regular menu items (like the Wingdiner) are right on the mark. It's crowded and a little on the noisy "bistro effect" side, but we like it a lot. Our only complaint is that they need to notice when the customers are freezing (that would be when they're wearing coats while they eat) and turn up the heat. Visited 12/23/06.
|
$-$$ |
|
|
Blues Café 185 E. Wilcox |
I'm torn on this. It's such an eclectic place that you can't help but go in there, just to see. And yet, after all this time, things still aren't finished, and there comes a point where the rough-hewn look just doesn't quite cut it. Winter in Sierra Vista can be odd-- hot sun, chilly breeze, flies, and you get all that here on the inside at lunch time. The food wasn't bad at all, with great catfish but tartar sauce that was more like diluted Thousand Island salad dressing. Good fries and down-south collard greens. I was really looking forward to the fried okra, which started out good but faded to questionable because of a strange undertaste to the oil that I just couldn't identify. If you're into stopping for sports and a drink, there's a comfortable-looking bar with great television viewing, but Pikefish noted that it smelled "like someone had broken a bottle of gin back there." Yeah, it's a bar, but it shouldn't smell overpowering. Will we try again? Yeah, but we'll give it a little time. They need to work on stuff a little more. Visited December 2008.
|
$$ |
|
|
Brite Spot Steak House 10989 E. Hwy 92 Palominas |
Mohawk Sez: Boy, this was a disappointment. We'd heard for years how good they used to be, and if this is what we were missing, thank goodness we didn't hold our breath. The commercial BBQ sauce wasn't bad, but for these prices and highly touted ribs, I'd expect house-made. The Cactus Cutters were unusual and would've gotten high marks except they were covered in store-bought nacho cheese sauce (a few fingers of fresh shredded jack would have been so much better) and the jalapénos inside were barely big enough for flavor. This is Arizona, remember? We LIKE spicy here. The ribs were pretty good (again, store-bought sauce) and tender, the BBQ chicken was okay. The prime rib? It was tender, but save your money and go to The Mesquite Tree or Outback for FRESH meat. Ours was pink on the inside but freezer brown on the outside. Worse, the edges TASTED like freezer burn. And if you're going to give me a salad with sliced mushrooms, I want them FRESH. Fresh means nice and white, blemish-free, not splotchy brown and on-the-edge-of-turning. Yuck. The beans? Pretty sure they were canned, too. We paid some pretty good coin for this meal, and it's too bad that the best I can say is "Good fries." Visited April 2008.
|
$$-$$$$ |
|
|
Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar 205 South Hwy 92 |
Mohawk Sez: "Here's a chunk of my money and life I wish I could get back." Find out why in her Spot Light. Visited September 2007.
|
$-$$$ |
|
|
Buzz Breads & Bagel Cafe 2151 S. Hwy 92 |
Mohawk Sez: Good, but not as good as it should have been. Great egg on a bagel, and the bagel itself was slightly crispy outside and soft on the inside. It's a good thing I paid extra for cheese, though. The green chili bagel smelled a little like green chiles, but it tasted like a plain one. Visited May 2008.
|
$ |
|
|
Caffe O-Le 400 E. Fry Blvd. |
Current Review: Mohawk Sez: Great food, especially breakfast, but honestly, they just can't get that timing right. When you have three people at a table, don't give one person their salad and serve the other two people their hot food TWENTY MINUTES LATER. The salad could have waited, you know? Try the green chili and sausage omelet. Visited February 2008.
Previous Reviews: Mohawk Sez: Always a great place to eat, especially for breakfast. 99% of the time the eggs are cooked right and the food is served hot (always sometimes you have to wait for it a little too long), and you just can't beat the selection on the menu. Visited January 2008.
|
$-$$ |
|
|
Cafe Roka 35 Main Street Bisbee |
What do you get with a fabulous chef and a heart-shaped holiday? Cafe Roka and 5 spoons. The excellent special was sea bass and lobster ravioli with a vanilla saffron sauce, and if you ask, they'll take that lamb salad dish and make it a full entree for you-- four huge, perfectly cooked and seasoned chops. A lovely four course meal, and visiting on Valentine's night gifted patrons with a courtesy-of-the-house dessert of vanilla mousse in a dark chocolate cup with a berry compote and rich raspberry sauce. We won't take a spoon away for it, but housekeeping needs to be ramped up: the blue lamp shades are downright grimy, the glass tabletops, salt and pepper shakers and sugar dishes are dull and greasy-looking, and the dark paneling and edges of things-- wainscoting, light fixtures, etc.-- need a thorough washing. Visited 2/14/07.
|
$$$$ |
|
|
Canela 3252 Hwy. 82 Sonoita |
We went in expecting a 5 spoon meal. Check out the Spot Light by Mohawk to see what happened. Visited October 2007.
|
$$$-$$$$ |
|
|
Chili's 4001 East Hwy. 90 |
Current Review: Mohawk Sez: Sadly, not much has changed here. You wait forever, even on an evening when the restaurant isn't that crowded. While there's good stuff listed on the menu, the kitchen at Chili's excels at murdering chicken breasts until they're burned, dry, and shrunken. The fiasco with the chicken breast sandwich and the looooong wait overshadowed everything else, and sadly, I can't even remember what else we ordered. I know something was supposed to be Cajun-spiced, but whatever it was had no flavor. Not recommended. Visited January 2008.
Previous Review: Okay, the lunchtime service was decent, but we really hoped for better food. The cajun chicken sandwich was pretty good (we really liked the topping of Awesome Blossom pieces), but the fajita quesadilla (beef) was kind of sad. It was mostly grilled onions and cheese with pieces of dry and processed-tasting beef tossed in. The best part was the slightly spicy beans that came with it. Chili's really needs to revamp their appetizer menu, which hasn't changed in forever. They also need to bring back the excellent catfish basket (served with jalapeño tartar sauce) and spinach salad with warm bacon dressing. Still only two spoons. Visited 2/14/07.
|
$$$ |
|
|
Copper Queen Hotel Saloon (Winchester's) 11 Howell Avenue Bisbee |
Mohawk Sez: Sitting on the balcony and overlooking a busy Bisbee street, surrounded by greenery and history... what more could you ask for? Good food, that's what. We had a Mango Chutney Chicken Salad Sandwich, a Pick-Axe BBQ Pork Sandwich, and cold iced tea. Both were yummy (although the mango fiend in me wanted more mango in the chicken salad, and I wouldn't have objected to some mango slices for garnish), and the BBQ sandwich had just the right zing. A great place to relax and eat after too much shopping. Visited 06/16/2007.
|
$$-$$$ |
|
|
Country House Restaurant 4373 S. Hwy. 92 |
Current Review: Mohawk Sez: Just plain awful. You'd think that with the cigarette breaks gone, service would improve. No such thing-- the food takes forever, and it is NOT worth the wait. Tough pork chops. Chipolte chicken pasta that tasted different (and not in a good way) the second time it came out of the kitchen (because not a single dish was delivered at the same time, despite the fact that we all actually wanted to eat together). A special of tequila lime shrimp with pasta that wasn't even edible because it was so clotted with cheese (an ingredient they neglected to write on the board, by the way) that when the fork was lifted, two-thirds of the food came with it, leaving a runny, gray-looking sauce more befitting second-hand soup. Yes, it really did taste that bad. Absolutely the only good about this meal was the garlic bread. Visited August 2007.
|
$-$$ |
|
|
Daisy Mae's Stronghold 332 N. Garden Ave. |
Current Review: Mohawk Sez: Okay, so I may not like it, but I've gotten used to the fact that fate always seems to make a restaurant overcook my steak while everyone else's is perfect (pinkish-gray on the inside is NOT medium rare). Overcooking notwithstanding, the top sirloin was a good choice for flavor, but this place really needs some help in almost every other area. The meat was good, the potato and salad were good... but anyone can give you a hot baked potato with cups of butter and sour cream and a fresh (if pretty plain) salad. I was hoping for more than barely toasted bread slices slopped with a butter-flavored oil and beans so overcooked they'd turned into slightly jalapéno-spiced soup with a few bean-like shapes. We heard there was a grill/roof fire, but jeez-- that was ages ago. Daisy Mae's used to be the tops in steaks; now it's run down and sad. If they want the customers back, the owners need to stop being so cheap and fix up the place. A little paint and TLC would work wonders here. It opens at 4:00 and Pikefish and I are always amazed that Daisy Mae's keeps ignoring the lunch opportunities being built practically in its back yard. If it would open at 11:00 with a limited lunch menu of steak sandwiches and burgers, they might get much needed revenue. They've dropped a whole Spoon. Visited May 2008.
Previous Reviews: Mohawk Sez: You always get great steaks at Daisy Mae's, although the fat content of those signature ribeyes can sometimes be a little more than reasonable. Still, you can't beat the taste, we love the beans and the salad, and kudos to the relaxed atmosphere. Fish... well, let's just say there are better places to go for seafood than an old Sierra Vista steakhouse. Alas, as does seem to often be the case in our wonderful little town, the place needs a solid cleaning. They've been there a long time and are well-established. The "saloon" look is great, but piles of furniture pushed to the side, ragged restrooms, and grubby floors and baseboards need to be cleaned up. The grunge factor loses them a half spoon. Visited June 2007. We've always liked Daisy Mae's. See why in the Spot Light by Pikefish. It's an up-close look that covers visits on 12/24/06 and 01/09/2007.
|
$$-$$$ |
|
|
Denny's 2397 E. Fry Blvd. |
Current Review: Mohawk Sez: Avoid this place at all costs. The service is bad, the food is worse. Servers will look at anything-- floors, walls, ceiling-- but you, and they'll bring you plates of food that can only be described as greasy and cold. Worse, this restaurant is so dirty it goes beyond disgusting. There isn't a clean spot in the building-- booths and tables are sticky, table objects (salt & pepper shakers, condiment bottles, etc.) are greasy, and I don't even want to imagine the condition of the kitchen and the dishes. I went to the restroom but was afraid to use it, and the walls and doors were so full of crud that I used a tissue so I wouldn't have to touch the door handle. You can get much better quality at Caffe O-Le or Landmark, and at least in those restaurants you aren't afraid to use the silverware. Visited 02/26/07.
|
$-$$ | Zero Spoons! |
|
Thunder Mountain Activity Center Fort Huachuca |
Mohawk Sez: This place is just awful. The day we went, they were serving half chicken breast pieces on half hamburger buns and passing it off as chicken parmigiana sandwiches. There might have been a piece of tasteless cheese on some of them (and the marinara sauce was where???), but these things weren't even as good as an eighty-night cent frozen dinner... and this was the ONLY entree they were offering. An entire section of the buffet bar was just empty, and it stayed that way, as did most of the salad bar and salad dressing containers. The two soups (some kind of southwestern chicken and cauliflower) were actually pretty good, but you don't pay a buffet price for a cup of soup. Even the soda machine wasn't working properly, with part of it completely nonfunctional and the other party over-carbonating everything. It's another example of sad and clueless management apparently incapable of opening their eyes and figuring out why the restaurant has no customers. Visited May 2008.
|
$$ |
|
|
El Paso Bar-B-Que 4177 E. Hwy. 90 |
Current Review: Mohawk Sez: I am not a fan of El Paso's BBQ sauce, which is either blister your mouth hot or too peppery (not the same as "hot"). Because of this, I think the wings are just so-so-- they're skimpy and not worth the trouble, which you can get a plate full of yum at Vinny's. Poppers: nothing special. However, I cannot recommend their Bayou Catfish dinner highly enough. It is, bar none, the absolute BEST in Sierra Vista. Huge portions, great fish and all covered in a perfectly done layer of mouth-watering crunch. Catfish is appearing in a lot of places around town, but none of them even come close to El Paso's take on it. Try it. You won't be sorry. Visited June and September 2008.
Previous Reviews: Mohawk Sez: Unfortunately, this just wasn't that great. Texas Roadhouse is dealing them a big blow, and all we can say is that if El Paso's food was better, they wouldn't have so many empty seats in the dining room. Decent wings as an appetizer, but there wasn't much to them, and our steaks and ribs just didn't taste all that great. El Paso needs to take a hard look at what's coming out of the kitchen, because the folks of Sierra Vista can be veeeery picky about their barbeque. And when you just keep burning the customers? They don't come back. Visited March 2008. Mohawk Sez: Pretty good, but the still-not-perfect quirks are annoying. Forgotten cornbread, and they've seriously down-sized the side of sweet potato fries. We not fond of the Dr. Pepper Steak-- ours was overdone, tough, and the so-called "Dr. Pepper sauce" wasn't that spectacular. The most irritating thing goes back to that cornbread. Yes, it came (at the end of the meal), but El Paso management made a supremely poor decision in going to muffins rather than their previous excellent original pan version. Before they deny it, they should go out and look at the dried-up, dark brown little blots that are being served to the customers. We loved the cornbread when El Paso first opened. Now we'd just as soon have a dinner roll. Visited February 2008.
|
$$-$$$$ |
|
|
Gasden Hotel Restaurant 1046 N. G Avenue Douglas |
Mohawk Sez: Yeah, I know-- this is a bit far to go for breakfast. Still we had a decent one here, so if you're out visiting in the area, hiking, touristing, whatever, this is a dependable place to go. Mostly ordinary, except we ordered a side of beans that came charged up with yummy jalapeños and cheese. Just remembering those makes my mouth water! Visited November 2007.
|
$$ |
|
|
Golden Corral 798 S. Hwy 92 |
Non-stop but rather mediocre food. The grilled steak is sometimes tough and juice, sometimes tough and dry. Not much has changed about their menu over the several years they've been open. They're very proud of their Military Appreciation Day in November where they offer a free meal to anyone who's ever served in the military, and they start advertising about this early. The thing is, they know-- and we all know they know-- that most of the people who hear this ad will assume the free meal is on Veteran's Day. The cashier let me order two free military meals and two regular meals, rang up the order, and THEN told me I was there on the wrong date. Uh... wow. Where I come from that's called Bait & Switch. I really can't help but wonder how many other people they did that to. Visited November 2008.
|
$$ |
|
|
High Desert Organic Growers 203 Tombstone Canyon Bisbee |
Mohawk Sez: Think this is just an organic market? Look again, taking particular note of the remodeling and tables now out front. They have a fabulous dinner menu, with variety-packed, tasty items you can eat there or take home and enjoy in your own space. We had freshly roasted chicken with an incredible vegetable polenta on the side. Their Take-Out Menu changes daily and includes some of the best choices around. If we lived closer, we'd probably stop cooking on our own! Visited 06/16/07.
|
$$ |
|
|
Irish Pub & Steakhouse 4301 S. Hwy. 92 |
Mohawk Sez: Why is this under American Food? Because the only thing Irish about this place is the name (too bad-- I had such high hopes). This is nothing but American bar food, and it's a real potshot as to whether it'll be good or not. The fish and chips can be great... if they aren't cooked to a charred, black death (along with some of those fried appetizers). Not the place for steak-- it's tough and cut thin, which makes it even harder to get it cooked properly (unless you like it well done). The wings and poppers aren't bad, but the salad bar is a shadow of what it should be. Food takes a long time, too. They need another server in the bar area, because the one who's often there alone is overworked and frowning most of the time. Visited several times April through July 2007.
|
$-$$$ |
|
|
Ivey's Home Cooking 1697 E Fry Blvd |
Mohawk Sez: It's a shame that this location seems to be a marker for mediocre (or worse), and clearly my fantasy that this location becomes a Sweet Tomatoes just isn't going to happen. When it was Star Buffet, the food was awful, although they did have a nice salad bar, one of the few in Sierra Vista. Las Naranjas was just kind of blah, and we never went back after our single visit. Ivey's, alas, isn't much better. We had a beef tips and noodle special that wasn't too bad, after all is said and done. The price wasn't bad, and the quantity was good, although the whole thing was drowning in enough sauce to make it not quite a soup. We might go back and try something else, as they do have quite the variety going on the menu. One thing Ivey's management should note: "Home Cooking" does not mean frozen green beans. Visited March 2008.
|
$-$$ |
|
|
Jackson's Deli 217 W. Fry Blvd. |
Mohawk Sez: To me a sub sandwich means a nice, firm Hoagie-type bun, but I guess they meant the word "sandwich" because this one came on a hamburger bun. Pretty good lunchmeat under all the gooey mayonnaise and watery mustard. Pikefish had a Pastrami Cheeseburger, but the pastrami was overshadowed by a hamburger patty that had the flavor of meat gone bad. You never want to end your meal with "God, I hope I don't get sick from this because the last bite tasted like freezer burn." The bathroom is grubby and frigidly cold, and there are areas in there that haven't been washed in who knows how long. Judging from the glimpse of the kitchen you get on the way to the restroom (you'll wish you hadn't looked), the Windex and Pine-Sol fairies-- or just plain old elbow grease-- haven't been able to find Jackson's in quite a few years. The whole place is horribly dirty (even the walls in the dining area are greasy), and it really points out how questionable the Cochise County Health Department is on rating the restaurants in our area. But hey, the fries and sodas were good. We're willing to go back... maybe next year. Really late next year. Visited 12/07.
|
$-$$ |
|
|
Jeannie's Diner Building #52010 Ft. Huachuca |
Current Review: Mohawk Sez: Sorry, but I'm just not fond of this place. Patty melts are okay, and we did have a couple of special burgers that were pretty good, but I really dislike the I-can't-be-bothered attitude of the waitresses. That ticks me off enough to sour the whole meal, no matter how tasty it is. I realize this isn't a big money place, but any of my money is big money. I'll spend it where I feel welcome... and comfortable. This place is frigid, plus the communal bowling alley bathrooms are horridly dirty. Visited August and September 2007.
Previous Review: Mohawk Sez: We had three sandwiches with decent fries, but all the cute names in the world ("Love Me Tender, "Joyce," etc.) won't change the fact that the food was commercial and bland. Stonefaced waitresses don't make this a pleasant dining experience, and having them ignore the teenager in your party when she goes up to ask for BBQ sauce doesn't help-- I hope the truck driver the waitress was fawning over left her a better tip than we did. Visited 07/13/07.
|
$-$$ |
|
|
Landmark Cafe 400 W. Fry Blvd., #1 |
Current Review: Mohawk Sez: Good fish on Fridays, as always, and the chips are back to the nice crispy standard (if a little on quantity). Definitely get that yummy cornbread. Visited February 2008.
Previous Reviews: Mohawk Sez: Yay, the crispy chips are back! The Friday all-you-can-eat fish was fabulous! The service was good! The entertainment was great! How many exclamation points can I use?! In all seriousness, an almost-great meal. The "almost" comes from the cole slaw. Sorry, but I have to question the wisdom of warm, mayonnaise-based slaw. Until they refrigerate it, I'm just to scared to do more than taste it to see if it's cold. Visited August 2007.
|
$$ |
|
|
Lone Star Cafe 7216 South Hwy. 92 Hereford |
Current Review: Mohawk Sez: Still a pretty good breakfast, so I can't give you much enlightenment. If I was to fuss about anything, I'd just remind them that customers who order over medium eggs do not want runny whites. We really like their rye toast. Visited May 2008.
Previous Reviews: Mohawk Sez: Lone Star is a pretty dependable place breakfast or lunch. It'll never be high-end, but as a place for decent eats in an area that doesn't have a lot of choices, it's not bad. We still like the Huevos Rancheros, although depending on the day (or the cook?), they can get darned greasy. Still, the eggs are cooked the way you want them, they have great rye toast, and the food is served hot and quick. BLTs and burgers are good, too. Visited June and September 2007. Pikefish Sez: We love Lone Star. We still don't forgive them for reducing the thickness of their bacon, but we love them just the same. Weekend comfort breakfast food for us is biscuits and gravy and huevos rancheros. Their chorizo is good and spicy but not so greasy. Ask for extra lime for the beans. Visited 3/23/07 and 4/7/07. Mohawk Sez: Ah, breakfast! You just can't beat it... especially at Lone Star. Try the Huevos Rancheros with chorizo, and don't forget to squeeze that lime over the beans. Good rye bread, great bacon, yummy home fries-- we really recommend it. They've cleaned up a little, dusting and adding some new decorations (still need new carpet, though), and to make it even better, they've gone all non-smoking. Now if they would only give some thought to finding a way to keep the breakfast customers from being bathed in frigid air every time the door opens, life would, indeed, be sublime. Visited 02/24/07.
|
$-$$ |
|
|
Longhorn Restaurant 501 E Allen St. Tombstone |
Mohawk Sez: Not bad, although getting what you order can be a challenge. Don't bother with a burger here-- they'll murder it along the lines of Texas Roadhouse's well-done policy. The best surprise is the prime rib, which was tender and flavorful and well worth the money. Worst surprise is them being out of tenderloin well before dinnertime and a server who claimed to be the best in the restaurant but didn't even really listen to what we wanted. Visited April 2008.
|
$-$$$ |
|
|
Mesquite Tree Restaurant S. Hwy. 92 & Carr Canyon Road |
Current Review: Mohawk Sez: This remains one of our favorites. I will say that there must have been a change of chefs, because now and then you'll have to send a steak back because it's over- or underdone. They always accommodate, and eventually the chef will gain the experience needed to get it right the first time. Any time you can get a Cream Brule here, you should-- it's excellent. I'd recommend the steaks over a fish special, just because that's really their specialty, issues with doneness notwithstanding. The Poppers are just ordinary, so we suggest you try the calamari instead. Good stuff. Visited numerous times in 2008.
Previous Reviews: Mohawk Sez: Mohawk Sez: Spectacular as always. The calamari appetizer looks a little bigger lately, always a good thing. Great steaks, cooked perfectly. We wish the scampi came over pasta, but only because it's a little TOO rich on the tummy. Ignorance is no excuse to deprive yourself, so be sure to check if they have one of their fabulous special desserts. Visited May 2008. Mohawk Sez: Maintaining at fabulous (although we do note that a few of the appetizers are not as generous as in previous years). The steaks were worthy enough to drool over and don't discount their chicken pasta dishes as plain. In the words of some old commercial, "Try it-- you'll like it!" Visited February and March 2008. Mohawk Sez: Kudos to the chef and the kitchen, who are back to cooking the steaks perfectly. Excellent service, as always. We had the Stuffed Filet and the Vargas, and both were cooked right on the mark. Fabulous eggplant veggie, too. Highly recommended. Visited January 2008.
|
$$$-$$$$ |
|
|
Outback Steakhouse 89 S. Hwy. 92 |
Current Review: Mohawk Sez: Okay, for various reasons we hadn't been here since July of 2007. I have to say that we had an absolutely fabulous meal here this time. There were no mistakes, the service was spot on, and the new stuff on the menu was a great surprise. Our table had four different steak meals, and every one was cooked perfectly. Our calamari appetizer was excellent (although for eight dollar I think it should've been a little bigger), and we even managed a yummy Thunder from Down Under Dessert. The chopped salad is back where it should be, and my only "so-so" was the new Tilapia topped with Lump Crab Meat. That I thought was a little fishy, but let's be realistic: if you've added this as a regular item in a land-locked state, it has to be fixed from frozen. If you want new, try the Slow-Roasted Sirloin Medley. It's fabulous. Visited April 2008.
Previous Review: Mohawk Sez: Am I picky? Darned right. I want a smiling server who serves the food hot and pays attention to us. I want a restaurant that doesn't have to dig a gluten-free menu out of some dusty, back storeroom. And I want the danged food to be everything it's advertised. Outback needs improvement in all three of those areas. The Seared Ahi Tuna appetizer is darned good, but I am getting really tired of having to send the server back for the missing pecans and blue cheese on the Blue Cheese Pecan Chopped Salad that we used to love so much, before someone told the kitchen to get cheap. The steaks can be good, provided you're lucky enough to get them cooked properly. The sweet potato side is yummy, but so sweet it should be moved to the dessert menu. And finally, a note to the chef: Plan ahead. Don't serve Hearts of Gold Chicken or Tilapia with no artichokes and then remember to tell the customer that you ran out. Did you really think we wouldn't notice??! Visited several times January to July 2007.
|
$$-$$$ |
|
|
The Diner 3500 Canyon de Flores |
Mohawk Sez: Pretty good food, with friendly servers and that great 1950s feel to it. No major complaints-- in fact, the food with this round of owners is much better than the previous incarnation. We've heard (but have not yet personally tried) that they have fabulous breakfasts. Visited October 2008.
|
$-$$ |
|
|
The Outside Inn 4907 S. Hwy. 92 |
Current Review: Mohawk Sez: It had been a loooong time since we went to The Outside Inn. When you get a visit as sour as ours was in January 2007, getting a customer to return can be a feat of magic. But as we so often do, our curiosity gets the best of us and we try again. And I have to say that I'm really glad we did. The dinner (and lunch) menu has been revamped with fabulous new entrees, while keeping some of the better original ones. Mouth-watering steak and seafood (and let's not forget this is a land-locked state), great appetizers, and bright, friendly service. If you haven't considered, give it a try for lunch. Obviously more affordable than dinner, but the quality is still top-notch. Don't miss the incredible Portabello Steak Sandwich, or the Pesto Chicken Sandwich. Definitely back on top, and worth of a rare 5 Spoons! Visited June, July and September 2008.
Previous Review: Check out the Spot Light by Mohawk. Visited 01/08/07.
|
$$$$ - $$$$$ |
|
|
Safeway Deli 2190 E. Fry Blvd. |
Mohawk Sez: Okay, someone bumped their head on the way to work here. Who? The person who thought it was a good idea to nix the Wild Mushroom Soup and put Mushroom-Brie soup in its place. I love mushrooms. I love Brie. But never the twain shall meet, because hot, liquid Brie is disgusting. It overwhelms any chance the mushrooms ever had, and leaves your mouth coated with a layer of something that I won't call slime. No, I really won't. Over five bucks for a medium-sized container of something I can only describe as Yuck. Visited August 2008.
|
$-$$ |
|
|
Texas Roadhouse 2075 El Mercado Loop |
Current Review: Mohawk Sez: At best, this was just okay, and at worst, it was downright irritating. Things I have to ask: First, why is it a ten to twenty minute wait for seating when a third of the tables are empty and no one else is waiting? Second, why does it take a half hour to get burgers when a third of the tables are empty? Even as slow as business was, things in our order were forgotten (the cook clearly didn't read the ticket and the server clearly didn't check) and so we had to wait for those. Just a hint: It is not cool when one person has to wait for the rest of their order while the rest of the party has all their food. As for the Texas Roadhouse chili, maybe a bowl is okay, but a cup just isn't worth the three bucks. While it's tasty and has lots of good meat in it, it's about three spoonfuls while the rest is cheese and onions (and it was lukewarm). The Rattlesnake Bites were my biggest disappointment. Maybe this is my own fault, but the way I read it made me remember with longing the old Firebites from TGIF. The Texas Roadhouse version is nothing but poppers, pure and simple, and they were way light on the diced jalapénos besides. The so-called Cajun Horseradish was so mild I actually thought it was Ranch dressing until I re-read the menu. Our next biggest disappointment were the burgers, which were cooked to the appearance and consistency of dried mud pies. Wake up, folks. If you insist my choices are medium well or well, I'll go somewhere else. Visited April 2008.
Previous Review: Mohawk Sez: Well, this was just a disaster. The ribs were burned (twice), the "loaded" sweet potato (topped with a couple of marshmallows, a VERY faint whiff of Carmel, and cooked to a wilted, sunken-in mass) was a waste of the extra money for it, and we were overcharged twice on our bill (something we didn't discover until we got home). Texas Roadhouse must have some kind of contract with the cardiologists in town, because they are doing their level best to raise the collective blood pressure of Sierra Vistans-- absolutely EVERY type of brown gravy coming out of that kitchen was salty enough to pucker your face like a lemon (and I LIKE salt!). Our server didn't listen and brought the wrong drinks (tally overcharge #1), then didn't count a salad as one of the sides with a meal (overcharge #2). And let's not forget that this unforgettable meal took almost two hours to complete. But hey, the green beans were homemade and pretty darned good. Pikefish Sez: If anyone was wondering where Lot's wife went, we found her. She inhabits the kitchen at Texas Roadhouse. At least that's the only way I can reconcile the amount of salt in their food, especially their brown gravy. It and everything the gravy came into contact with was rendered inedible. My saliva tasted like the Dead Sea. But at least there was free peanuts and line dancing. Visited March 2008.
|
$$-$$$ |
|
|
Schooner's 2047 S. Hwy. 92 |
Mohawk Sez: Years ago, we had an incredible holiday dinner at this restaurant. Sadly, Schooner's isn't even a shadow of its former self. In my opinion, a restaurant that abandons a good menu in favor of a blasé buffet and a single server is just cheap and lazy and unforgiveable. Pay attention now: Trays of baked fish never work on a buffet. The fish gets smelly and dried out and disgusting, and I don't have anything better to say about the canned brown gravy or the limp, overcooked vegetables. The only reason Schooner's is getting 2 Spoons instead of one is that we both liked the meatloaf (yes, meatloaf will work on a buffet), I liked the strawberry mousse, and we had a 2-for-1 coupon to pay for this below-average lunch. Visited 08/28/06.
|
$$-$$$ |
|
|
|||||
| Restaurant |
|
Price | |
|
Flaming Wok 2200 El Mercado Loop (Sierra Vista Mall) |
Current Review: Mohawk Sez: Decent mall food, with good-sized portions. I love the steamed veggies but they really need to cook the broccoli a bit more-- I understand crisp-tender but I don't need a solid jaw workout at lunch just trying to chew. Another thing I'd do, if I were in charge (I say that a lot) is lessen the sugar in their Lemon Chicken recipe, which is edging towards Lemon Chicken Dessert. Visited June, August and December 2008.
Previous Review: Mohawk Sez: No complaints. Good pepper steak, yummy veggies. Still the best fried wontons in town. Visited April 2008. Mohawk Sez: Not much to complain about here except they do they best to find ways to charge you as much as possible, and don't know the difference between chow mein (fried noodles) and lo mein (boiled noodles). Food's pretty good, but watch your receipt. Visited January and March 2008. Mohawk Sez: Still pretty dependable in quality and quantity, although yet again on the pricey side for mall food and considering they will load you up on veggies over meat. The best fried won tons in town, and if I could ask for one small thing, it would be more cabbage (okay, I love the cabbage) and less broccoli in the vegetable sides. Visited several times in December 2007. Mohawk Sez: Still pretty good, and they have the best fried won-tons in Sierra Vista-- crispy and loaded with cream cheese. What I wish for: A little less broccoli and more of the other stuff in the vegetables. Visited 03/25/07 and 07/15/07.
|
$-$$ |
|
|
Golden Dragon 2151 S. Hwy. 92 |
Current Review: Mohawk Sez: We had quite the meal here-- Mongolian Beef, Three Happiness, an appetizer assortment, and a couple of other entrees. It was all pretty good, although I will say that the Three Happiness was a bit too much on the bland side and the Mongolian Beef really needed a lot more green onions. Good plum wine and Chinese beer. You can't ask for too much more, especially when the bill comes and it's pretty affordable given the amount of food. Recommended. Visited 08/21/07.
Previous Review: Pikefish Sez: Mohawk and I have been here several times. It's so nice going to a real Chinese restaurant with real Chinese food. The service is a little on the slow side and the waitresses can't do simple math, but their food is wonderful. Everything I've had here has tasted fresh and been very tender, especially the Mongolian Beef. I was a little disappointed in the curry, though. The taste was bland and there wasn't even a hint of spice. With that said, I still think that this is the best Chinese food in town to date. Try their lunch special. For less than five or six bucks you get a whole meal. Visited several times in September 2007.
|
$-$$ |
|
|
New China Super Buffet 21 Fab Avenue |
Current Review: Mohawk Sez: Well, no big changes here. Some of the stuff is good, some is bad. It's a little disconcerting how many of the plates and bowls by the buffet are dirty-- someone needs to check their dishwasher... and the steam table temperatures. I like the Egg Foo Young but it's never hot. One of the best dishes is the fried squid, but it's hit or miss if they have it. Like so many places in Sierra Vista, a little self-pride would help a lot. Visited regularly May through December 2008.
Previous Reviews: Mohawk Sez: It's not bad, but it'll never be great. It's worth noting that they've vamped up their sushi selection, but some of the old standbys need improvement-- their pot stickers and fried wontons are way too greasy, and a real downer is that someone in the kitchen is just killing their calamari with overcooking (plus the calamari wasn't hot -- tsk!). Go here if you're hungry and in a hurry, but if you have time for solo service, try Golden Dragon instead. Visited January and February 2008. Mohawk Sez: Now and then we get a taste for buffet Chinese. We've been burned a couple of times, but we always go back. At this point, I think Pikefish is afraid to try the kimche. Their sushi seems to have taken a turn for the better and most of what they offer is pretty dependable. Big quantity, decent quality, okay price. I've given up on the restrooms, though-- just don't go in there. Visited numerous times July 2007 through January 2008. Pikefish Sez: For the third time in a row the kimche was rotten. I know it's fermented cabbage, but it shouldn't have a rotting smell-- I've spent enough time in Korea to know that. And when the Korean waitress takes it back to the kitchen with a big old nasty frown, well... 'nuff said. Other than that, the food was adequate. They didn't have the squid this time, but the octopus wasn't overcooked, so I ate some tentacles while Mohawk made faces at me. Mohawk Sez: For God's sake, would you clean the bathroom already? It's downright disgusting. Visited 11/2007. Pikefish Sez: Note to self: Be careful going to restaurants the day after a four hour power outage; especially a buffet restaurant. Normally a place I can count on when I want to eat without much thinking, this time eating there was like walking through a culinary minefield. I think I almost died twice. The kimche had turned (again). The fried squid had a texture like it was reheated from the day before. The stuffing in the mushrooms had a taste like bad meat. The Longevity Buns had been left out too long and the bottoms were rock hard. I feel lucky that I wasn't sick that night. It'll be awhile before I go back. Visited 10/07.
|
$$ |
|
|
Oriental Buffet 465 N. Hwy. 90 Bypass |
The two Chinese buffets in Sierra Vista are generally pretty good, but there's a marked difference if you go in for dinner, at least in the one over by Wal-Mart. We went in around 7:30 p.m. and it was like getting leftovers that had been sitting on the counter all day. Big containers that were mostly empty, and what leavings were available were cold and often dried up. We've been to the one on Fry Blvd. for dinner and that was much better. Both of these places need to clean their grubby restrooms. Visited 07/11/06.
|
$$ |
|
|
|||||
| Restaurant |
|
Price | |
|
A&W All American Food The Mall at Sierra Vista |
Okay hamburgers and fries, yummy root beer. Great for a quick soft serve cone. However, making an A&W Root Beer float with soft serve ice cream is, in my humble opinion, nothing but a travesty-- don't even bother with this. Visited 12/15/07.
|
$-$$ |
|
|
Arby's 2180 E. Fry Blvd. |
Current Review: Mohawk Sez: Okay, I was surprised by how good the Fajita Beef Flatbread Melt was. I expected a wimpy little pita thing, but this was hot, filled with beef, cheese, a few peppers, and some yummy sauce. Try it. This got them back up to 3 Spoons. Visited May 2008.
Previous Review: Mohawk Sez: The best I can say is that... it's all right for what it is, which is mainly pressed and processed roast beef. The sandwiches have a nasty habit of being cold, and their sub sandwiches seem to have given up a good 25% of their size in exchange for the word "toasted." I'm just not high on those Cheesecake Bites-- they're a little too dry and floury-- and unfortunately the Southwestern Eggrolls are just kind of yucky. Visited numerous times September through November 2007.
|
$-$$ |
|
|
Big Mo's Burgers 202 Huachuca Blvd. Huachuca City |
No frills here, just a clean, bright little hamburger joint with checked table coverings and red and yellow curtains. Stick with what you know seems to be the rule, and it works well. Chili burgers and dogs, thick onion rings, and wads and wads of chili cheese fries. I wanted to try the Chicago Hot Dog advertised on the menu, but without the promise of the native spicy pickled peppers, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. BBQ burger is yummy, and you'd better bring your appetite-- they aren't kidding about loading you down with food! Recommended. Visited May 2008.
|
$-$$ |
|
|
Carl's Jr. 2080 E. Fry Blvd. |
Current Review: Mohawk Sez: Yes, I know what I said the last time. But... well, wow, did we have a great meal at Carl's, Jr. this time around. Big ol' western bacon and portabello mushroom cheeseburgers, fabulous fried zucchini, tasty french fries. This was some kind of multiple-thousand-calorie meal, and we rolled out of there on our stomachs and with enormous smiles on our faces. Based on this visit, I say welcome to four-spoon fast food! Visited 12/28/07.
Previous Review: Mohawk Sez: Sorry, but I'm just not as in love with this place as Pikefish. The fried zucchini just drips grease, and I can't say much more for the cheeseburgers. In my opinion, they're just okay, typical greasy fast food. I think the breakfast sandwiches are better at Jack in the Box. My review, so they're down to three spoons (which I think is darned generous of me). Visited April 2007.
|
$ |
|
|
Charley's Grilled Subs Ft. Huachuca |
Not only is this place expensive, it isn't worth it. A veggie sub and a regular lemonade set Mohawk back five and a half bucks, and for what? A watery drink and a soggy sandwich with three, yes, three kinds of grilled vegetables on it. If that's the best they can do, they should just take it off the menu. It's a shame, because they used to have a much better variety and quality. The fact that they're slooooooow just makes it that much worse. Visited 11/01/06.
|
$-$$ |
|
|
Church's 910 Fry Blvd. |
Previous experiences here weren't so hot, but we'd given it a couple of years. Things have changed a little, but sadly, not for the better. Spot Light by Mohawk. Visited 01/22/07.
|
$-$$ |
|
|
Jack in the Box 750 Fry Blvd. |
Current Review: Mohawk Sez: Really the best place in town for breakfast on the go. Their breakfast sandwiches can't be beat by anyone else for soft bread and sausagy goodness. Visited August and November 2008.
Previous Review: Mohawk Sez: Okay, it's kind of greasy food, but if you need a fast, big breakfast sandwich on-the-go, you just can't beat Jack in the Box. Great sausage and egg sandwiches, average hash brown, coffee and OJ. Visited several times since March 2007.
|
$ |
|
|
Jack in the Box 2039 El Mercado Loop (by the Sierra Vista Mall) |
Mohawk Sez: I can describe the Monster Taco in one word: Disgusting. Besides grease and cheese, what IS that stuff, anyway? I've never had it, but the commercial "meat filling" in here is pretty much what I imagine the jail cooks put in the tamales they serve to prisoners. YUCK. Value menu chicken sandwich is barely worthy of note, but I will point out that the jalapeño poppers were just, well, sad. Three of them for $1.79, and they were cooked to the point of dead. To add insult to this, the thin, single layer of jalapeño pepper inside had absolutely no spice at all. Take your money to Sonic. You might spend a little more, but it's worth it. Visited February 2008.
|
$ |
|
|
Kentucky Fried Chicken 1060 E. Fry Blvd. |
Current Review: Mohawk Sez: Pretty reliable. The chicken is good, and you can easily eat yourself into a stupor at that buffet-- something about it mesmerizes you into consuming three times as much as you would normally. A two-piece meal is a more reasonable option. The pot pies are usually pretty good, although occasionally the chicken will taste like it's been sitting in the warmer for awhile. The Snackers are good, especially if you're on a budget. Two of ‘em will set you back only $2.59. Visited numerous times since June 2008.
Previous Reviews: Mohawk Sez: This was a danged good visit. I pigged out and had the buffet, where both the regular and the extra crunchy chicken varieties were hot and fresh. Being a green veggie person, I appreciated the mustard greens and the corn, and since I had a coupon, the whole shebang was only $5.49 plus tax. The cashier was friendly and patient, the best I've seen at a fast food place in a long time. My companion had the toasted wrap, and the only downside was that I thought KFC should have been a little more generous with the chicken in it. Their Twisters are stuffed full of strips, while this toasted version had one lone piece of chicken in it, although I do have to add that it was served with an absolutely enormous plate of potato wedges. Visited April 2008. Mohawk Sez: No complaints about their pot pies, which are always steaming hot, loaded with big ol' chunks of white meat, and topped by a nicely baked crust. You can't go wrong with the meals, either-- KFC has perfected their chicken over the years (get the extra crispy). The cole slaw is good, and so are the potato wedges. If you're really hungry and ready to pack it away, go for the buffet. Just be sure to have someone with you who can roll you out the door! Visited January and February 2008. Mohawk Sez: Good chicken, good pot pies, a good deal on that Triple Chicken Strip with three sauces thing. Love the Snackers (but please, if I order a plain one, don't automatically drown it in cheese sauce). Really, there's not much to complain about. Visited numerous times August through December 2007. Mohawk Sez: Yeah, I like the Twisters. Yeah, I like the buffet. And the Snackers (the Buffalo one will set your mouth on fire!). I just have two words for management here: Hair Nets. I don't need that strand of brown in my sandwich, okay? That's yucky. I also don't need to give up part of my change to the KFC Overage Fund because the gal at the register just can't figure out the math. Visited several times June through August 2007. Mohawk Sez: This time around, we were up for comfort food in the form of pot pies. Still good, and a heck of a lot better than Hungry Man. Visited 06/08/07.
|
$-$$ |
|
|
Kentucky Fried Chicken 650 S. Hwy. 90 Benson |
Current Review: Mohawk Sez: Predictable food (the KFC part is definitely better than the Taco Bell), but will someone explain why these people are so doggone slow? There was one, count 'em, ONE person in front of us, yet it took fifteen minutes to get a couple of Snackers, a couple of tacos, and a chicken dinner. Don't forget that the chicken dinner part could have come directly off the buffet. Who would've thought it was that difficult to fill taco shells and slap a little piece of chicken on a bun? And yeah, it STILL drives me crazy that this nationally-known restaurant has misspellings in menu above the counter. Visited February 2008.
Previous Reviews: Mohawk Sez: Not much change in the food here, except they are slooooooow and very disorganized enough so that they've lost half a spoon. Plus, we noticed there are two (not one) typos in the signage: In addition to the "Sandwiche's" they also offer "Twister's" (Just what, we wonder, belongs to those Twisters?). Someone really needs to learn basic punctuation. Visited several times August through January 2008. Mohawk Sez: It's KFC, it's pretty good. Spicy as heck Snackers and generously-sized Twisters make for a great lunch. But I just have to say it: For heaven's sake-- fix the typo on your inside menu! We're talking professional signage, and what does it say? "Sandwiche's" It's just embarrassing. Visited 06/05/07.
|
$-$$ |
|
|
Long John Silver's 1287 E. Fry Blvd. |
Current Review: Mohawk Sez: Pretty steady stuff and no complaints. A newspaper coupon makes a couple of Fish & More lunches quite affordable, and it's always fresh and hot. They have tasty fries and always-fabulous hush puppies, although I have to wonder what they did to the cole slaw-- it's not quite as good as it used to be. Visited January 2008.
Preview Reviews: Mohawk Sez: I have this kind of reluctant love for Long John Silver's. I know fried food isn't good for you (and let's face it-- this is almost a fried restaurant, for crying out loud), but I also love love love fried fish. As a fast lunch place, well, LJS is it to answer that craving. Most of the time the fish and the fries are right on the mark, there's always coupons to be had, and now and then they come up with some special tidbit like Lobster Bites to get me back in there if I've managed to have pity on my body's fat level. Cleanliness is an up and down thing but I guess for a place practically dunked in grease, they try. Employee ability to run the cash register varies, but again, they try. But in that area, here's a note to the Manager: Yelling at the employee in front of the customers Does Not Help. Visited numerous times between July and September 2007. This is good fast food fish, always hot and fresh. LJS can be pricey for fast food for anything other than small fish meals, but there are always coupons in the paper. They offer military and senior discounts, but you have to ask for them, even if you're in uniform or clearly a senior. This is just tacky-- put up a sign that lets these folks know about the discounts. Mohawk longs for the bygone days when LJS's fish sandwich was something special, with lettuce, cheese, and those spicy yellow pepper rings. Now, sadly, it's just a piece of fish on bread brushed with the vaguest notion of tartar sauce. Visited 12/11/06, 09/21/06.
|
$-$$ |
|
|
Popeye's Chicken Ft. Huachuca |
Current Review: Mohawk Sez: No misses here, although I have to keep reminding myself that it's 2007, not sometime in the 1980s when I used to get that two-piece dinner for around three bucks. Good chicken, good biscuits, good sides, nice and smokey rice and beans. Yummy. Visited several times in October 2007.
Previous Reviews: Pikefish Sez: Pikefish and Mohawk on the go! We only had a few minutes to eat, so we rushed in to the Minimall on Fort Huachuca for some spicy Southern chicken. We never plan on eating as much as we do when we go to Popeye's, but the smell of the chicken and the lure of the biscuits, Cajun rice and red beans is always too much. Between the two of us we had five pieces of spicy chicken, two luscious biscuits, an order of Cajun rice and an order of fries, all for just a bit over eleven bucks. Great food at a decent price. Visited 11/2007. Mohawk Sez: Still good after all this time. Be warned that this place gets crowded at lunchtime-- our soldiers know good fried chicken! The sandwiches are soooo tempting, but plan in advance if you want one, because they cook those to order and it takes awhile. My only complaint is that the spice in the spicy isn't always consistent. I like a bite to my fried chicken, and on my last visit, the spice just wasn't. Visited 03/08/07, 07/12/07, 07/16/07, 09/18/07.
|
$-$$ |
|
|
Sonic Drive-In 3640 E. Fry Blvd. |
Current Review: Mohawk Sez: Yeah, we've been to Sonic a bunch of times since last year. I gotta have my green chili cheeseburgers, although we have tried some other stuff. Most notable was a spicy breakfast burrito awhile back that had those fried jalapeño strips rolled into it. I have to say they were a lot better this time, but alas, they seem to have disappeared. When we asked for spicy recently, we got a huge heaping of sliced jalapeños, and yeah, they were wet and dribbled all over the eggs and has brown potatoes (ewww) inside the burrito. Not good. A note to the car hops: If you smiled once in awhile, it might help your tips. And don't tell the customer that the manager "sent you out to look at this stupid thing." Coupons are good. They bring in customers. Visited numerous times April to August 2007.
|
$ |
|
|
Subway Sandwiches Mall at Sierra Vista |
Current Review: Mohawk Sez: Yes, we've been hanging out at the Mall-- ‘tis the season and all that. I have to say that the sandwiches here are a bit better, although I'll caveat that with the statement that it might just be our choice of bread. Still, five bucks for a footlong Subway sandwich will feed two people. You just have to fight it out as to who gets to pick what. We really like the spicy Italian with Parmesan bread. Visited October 2008.
Previous Review: Mohawk Sez: You know those 2 for 1 coupons that are always in the mailers? Look out, because the employees act like they've never seen one. Cashier: "What are you having?" Us: "A BMT and a Club." (Hands cashier the coupon. He appears to study it closely.) Cashier: "You need two sandwiches for this." Us: "We have two sandwiches." Cashier: "What are you having?" ::sigh:: The sandwiches were gooey and tasteless-- that famous Subway bread turns to wet mush in your mouth. The tomatoes are cold and also tasteless, courtesy of being refrigerated (tomatoes aren't meant to be kept cold-- witness the UNrefrigerated versions in the grocery stores). The sandwiches were blah, the employees clearly didn't want to be there, and not even the coupon made the visit worthwhile. You want a good sub sandwich? Go to Vinny's. Visited 1/30/07.
|
$ |
|
|
Taco Bell 3920 E. Fry Blvd. |
Current Review: Mohawk Sez: Man, this place is just a Disaster with a capital D. The only reason we keep trying is that there are kids in various branches of our family who insist. No one else would keep trying. Forty minutes, yes, you read that correctly: FORTY MINUTES to get $10.19 worth of "fast" food. We saw one guy go up and demand a refund as he told them "I'm not going to wait here all day." Another woman told a member of the "Job Fair Team" that she'd been waiting nearly an hour. Unfortunately, that was NOT an exaggeration. They passed out free coupons, but who wants to wait three-quarters of an hour for a free taco? Visited April 2008.
Previous Reviews: Mohawk Sez: Honestly, you'd think a franchise making as much money as this one seems to be (it's almost always packed) would try to make the food quality a little better. Maybe they think they don't have to. Keep thinking that. We've been going to Filiberto's. Visited January 2008. Mohawk Sez: Gosh, could this place get any worse? We keep trying because we have friends who like it, but everything is cold and sloppily put together, and I can't help but wonder from the wait time if this is where ex-employees of Chili's migrate! Visited February 2008. Mohawk Sez: Pretty good Gorditas, okay tacos and nachos. But what the heck was this thing they claimed was a tostada? Nary a tomato in sight, and no meat-- one Army-style glop of runny beans and not particularly fresh shredded lettuce. To make matters worse, the tostada itself was broken... as were all three of the crunchy tacos. Hey, if I wanted chips and glop, I would have ordered it. Visited several times November through January 2008. Pikefish Sez: Where do you take a family to fill up on decent food before a movie? It seems that Taco Bell is one of those places. Twice we went there on the way to the cinema. The first time we ordered a 3 taco combo, 2 spicy chicken burritos, 1 chicken gordita, 1 Mexican pizza, and a soft drink, all for under $12.00. The second time we ordered a 3 taco combo, 2 spicy chicken burritos, 1 chicken gordita and a soft drink all for under $9. The price was right and the food was as good as could be expected. My only complaint is with the service. The first time we waited about 15 minutes-- these people move like tree sap in zero degrees. The second time we went through the drive in and it took about 4 minutes. Mrs. Pikefish didn't raise an idiot. We're going through the drive-thru from now on. Visited twice 11/2007. Mohawk Sez: Decent food... IF you have time to wait for it. Lynn asked in the Comment Section if anyone knew what was up with Taco Bell. We sure don't. Service is abyssmal-- I've been to Taco Bell restaurants all over the country, and this one is stellar in slow motion. I don't know about the closing, but wake up: If management can't keep employees, it means they aren't happy. And frankly, I haven't seen a happy face at the Sierra Vista Taco Bell in years. There's plenty of business and the food's okay-- they just need to get it to the customers faster. How many people walk in, then walk out? Visited numerous times.
|
$ |
|
|
Wendy's 1100 E. Fry Blvd. |
Mohawk Sez: One of the better fast food places. I think the burgers are better than most, and I love the spicy chicken sandwiches. The chili's good (and a bargain besides), the salads and baked potatoes are great, and oh yeah... Frostys! If you're looking for something other than the usual Wendy's, try the Homestyle Chicken Club. It would be nice if the people behind the counters were actually friendly, though. The ongoing I-hate-my-job attitude grinds on the nerves after awhile.
|
$ |
|
|
|||||
| Restaurant |
|
Price | |
|
Bobke's Bread Basket 355 W. Wilcox Dr. |
Current Review: Mohawk Sez: Best place for soup in Sierra Vista. Today's lucky call was cream cheese. If you're saying "Ewwwww," you are sooooo far off the mark. This was one of the best soups I've ever had. The cream cheese base was just-right rich, with shaved carrots and an occasional slice of jalapéno pepper floating in it. I'd have liked to see more of that spice, but that's just my southwestern itch. I could've easily eaten a vat of this stuff, it was that good. Visited April 2008.
Previous Review: Mohawk Sez: This is a really good place for lunch. They're fast and the food is downright excellent, with the best homemade soup in town and great daily specials. Chicken salad in an avocado or mango, Weiner Schnitzel... you name it, everything's good. The only thing that didn't hit me was a pear salad awhile back, but maybe that was just me. I love the fresh broetchen, and there's the added advantage of being able to see all the yummy bakery goods from your seat, so you can choose your dessert well ahead of time. I only have two gripes. First, depending on what you order, this can be a pricey place for lunch. I don't mind paying it for the above-average food, but they need to be a little more generous with the meat on the sandwiches. Secondly, the price went up when they decided to serve bottled Dasani instead of regular water. Don't get me wrong-- I like Dasani. Yeah, I know this means more profit for the restaurant, but I still want the choice to be mine. What we wish for: real German potato salad. Visited numerous times.
|
$-$$ |
|
|
|||||
| Restaurant |
|
Price | |
|
Delio's Italian 3637 S. Highway 92 |
Mohawk Sez: Yes, we know it's well past time we left our previous visits behind and tried Delio's again. I'm not too proud to admit I was pleasantly surprised, although the fact that they still serve veal "patties" and claim it's Veal Marsala disturbs me more than a bit. Wisely, I stayed away from that, and instead we ordered Spaghetti Florentine, Venetian Linguini, Crostino, and Angel Hair Marinara. I wish I could say everything was perfect but... not. Something was, well... off about the pancetta in the Spaghetti Florentine, enough to where we returned the dish. The Venetian Linguini had a wonderful flavor, even if it was a little light on the actual seafood. The Crostini was excellent, and the Angel Hair Marinara was also pretty darned good (although it didn't quite live up to the Florentine for which it was substituted). Good service, okay prices, and the menu had enough good stuff on it to where we will try again. Visited January 2008.
|
$$-$$$ |
|
|
Rosa's Little Italy #7 Bisbee Road, Suite B Warren |