Roaring Fork

 

13

37

Vanessa L.

San Jose, CA

5 stars for the excellent service and delicious food! Everything we had was great but the one thing that stood out for me was the Green Chile Mac 'N Cheese!! Thanks to all previous yelpers for this recommendation! : ) Neither the green chile nor the cheese was overpowering but with each bite, there was definitely a "kick" to it!  YUMMY!!!!  I am now on a mission to get that recipe!!! : )

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Elite '08

52

129

Norma R.

Aspen, CO

I think the Roaring Fork is the best Southwestern restaurant in the Valley. Not only for the outstanding cuisine, but also for the service. I've never spoken to an aloof idiot hostess on the phone, ever, and that's pretty much my job description (to speak with hostesses, not to deal with idiots... I'm a concierge).

It's rich and delicious, and it happens to have the best burger in town. The bar features lots of delish micro-brews, and the service doesn't disappoint in this section, either.

I'd far prefer going here than Richardson's or Rokerij any damn day of the week.

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Elite '08

417

233

Gabi K.

Phoenix, AZ

Wow... I was blown away by my experience at Roaring Fork this evening... From the second I walked in, Melissa (the hostess) was welcoming and friendly.  I didn't have a reservation, but she accommodated my party of 3 no problem. I waited a minute before I was escorted to my table on the back patio. My brother and boyfriend joined me shortly after and we all agreed that this was by far, the best meal we'd had in a long time!

Mike was our server and he was friendly and attentive throughout the evening.  In addition, there were a ton of other employees who came by consistently filling our water glasses, refilling our bread basket, folding our napkins (at least they did that for me when I excused myself for a minute and returned), and more.

I ordered the field green salad to start - it was served with beets, pecans, apple slices, and goat cheese, and I at every morsel! The boys had the famous green chile mac 'n cheese as a starter and licked the bowl clean! We all enjoyed the fresh bread as well, especially the jalapeno corn muffins and scones. For our entrees, I went with the campfire salmon while the guys split a big azz burger and the beef ribs. We also had asparagus for the table. The salmon was tasty, but when I tasted the beef ribs, I was in heaven... they melted in my mouth! Luckily, the serving was huge, so Minnie got a special treat when I returned home.  The topper on the 5 star service was that I requested a box to put the leftovers in and I had the box out on the table ready to go and the bus boy came over and sealed it with a sticker.  It was perfect!

We were all pretty full so we passed on dessert even though there were several that looked really good. Total bill for the 3 of us was $88 and change before gratuity.  Not so bad considering we all ate pretty well and had leftovers too!

I saw that RF has a special happy hour menu with pretty good discounts as well as a special Mother's Day menu.  I will definitely be back soon to try all of the above!

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21

208

Kim J.

Omaha, NE

We got into Phoenix about 815 and by the time we reached our hotel in Scottsdale it was nearly 10.  We were all hungry and would have went about anywhere.  Roaring Fork was across the street so we walked over.

When we came in, it was five after ten and the waitress said no more food--kitchen's closed.  We were disappointed.  Then the manager came over and said they would seat us.  YES!!

We had a lovely waitron, Katherine who took especially good care of us.  We had a nice bottle of wine and began with the field greens salad with goat cheese and pecans.  It was wonderful.  The only part I didn't like was the beets (there weren't many) but I don't like beets.  

I had a swordfish special which was divine.  It was late when we were done so we skipped dessert.  Someone had the pizza, which I didn't care for too much.  

We are only here for a few days but we may come back, this place was great.  Ask for Katherine as your waitron--she rocks!!

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4

78

Ryan W.

Arlington, VA

I'm not sure how to describe Roaring Fork.  It's a little bit frontier Arizona feeling, a little southwestern, but neither of those in an over the top, contrived way.  As you walk in the large stone hearth greets you with the sight of rotisserie chickens roasting away.  It's a signature item on the menu.  The bar seemed lively.  The cuisine is excellent.  Everything on the menu appealed to me, but I chose to start with the tortilla soup and the duck for my entree.  Both were wonderful.  Southwestern flavors were evident, but not overpowering.  I would have proceeded on to dessert but between my appetizer and entre (not to mention the excellent biscuits laced with bits of bacon and the sweet corn muffins) I was stuffed.  I'll definitely be back.

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27

276

jennifer j.

Kansas City, KS

Don't go here if you are trying to eat healthy...too many temptations at every turn. I had amazing scallops for dinner, but only after eating a ridiculous amount of bread.  The hamburgers in the bar looked and smelled incredible.  I like the spicy spin they put on most of the dishes...mac and cheese is KILLER.

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Elite '08

20

146

Julie D.

Cranberry Township, PA

Roaring Fork, oh Roaring Fork.  How do I love thee?  Let me counts the ways....

1.....  Okay, I guess I don't really love you.  But I do like you, okay?

First off, what an interesting location.  I could have been killed getting in the parking lot.  I had a reservation for 8:30.  No, my table wasn't ready at 8:30.  I found that very interesting because there was no one waiting in the lobby.  And wouldn't you know, they seated me by the kitchen.  Okay, folks, I know how long your food was sitting there Friday night and it's not pretty.  Their staff is like a bunch of crazy lunatics, but that's okay.

I opted for the Huckleberry Margarita, nice but nothing to write home about.  Doesn't begin to compare with Roy's signature drink, but that's for another review.

The bread basket was full of unhealthy little taste treats, I especially liked the bacon & cornmeal bombs and the buttermilk, bacon, artery cloggers.  Yum, yum, even better slathered in chipotle honey butter.  My salad was great, I opted for the wild greens disguised as the iceberg wedge.  I'm a red meat girl, so I had the 8 oz. center cut filet mignon.  Eight is too much for any girl, so I was unable to finish.  But I did order it medium and since it was barely medium rare, I did have to send it back.  Luckily, I was close to the kitchen, so the re-cook didn't take long.  The flavor of the meat wasn't really remarkable, but satisfactory.  The green chile Mac 'n' Cheese is a really great idea and something that I will try to duplicate at home.  If any of you yelpers have the recipe, I would be interested in it.  Now, I'm thinking that since I didn't finish my steak, my server deemed me not worthy of a dessert, it wasn't even offered!  But that's okay, I guess I didn't really need it.

All in all, pleasant, but nothing to write home about.

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Elite '08

522

267

Thomas S.

Phoenix, AZ

One of my fave t-shirts reads "Spooning Leads to Forking." That said, all I can say, is that whatever leads me back to the Roaring Fork is OK with me. A sprawling, rustic space with antler chandeliors (pahleeze, I can't spell that) and a roaring fireplace serving up fantastic New American fare. A perfect spot for a post movie double date. Let's start off in reverse by reviewing the desserts....The banana split, with fried bananas would make even a monkey cry with ecstacy. We were fighting for the last bite. Entrees of roasted duck with sour cherry sauce and sauteed cabbages was delectible. I ate, seriously, every bite. Rickie's fried chicken was juicy and crisp. The seared Ahi tuna with fresh avocado was perfectly prepared. Appetizer fish tacos were fresh, clean and light. All pre dinner salads were crisp and tossed in fantastic dressings. My field green salad, however, was short on beets and the fried goat cheese a bit gummy and luke warm. Service was polite, friendly, although I would enjoy a little more spark and verve from the staff. She seemed like she was sleep walking. Wine list was extensive. Crowd was very family like this evening, with lots of holiday revelery and gift exchange. Great spirited vibe all around. Can't wait to go back. Perhaps I'll wear my t-shirt. Perhaps the server will wake up.

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Elite '08

12

94

Hilary P.

Scottsdale, AZ

You have to love Roaring Fork's awesome happy hour.  It runs until 7pm which is great for people like me who work too late!  The food is good and the portions are generous.  Hey, where else can you go in Scottsdale for a good meal and a drink and spend less than $20 per person?  And they also have a great wine selection.  Definitely worth going to and it's a central place to meet people from all over the valley.

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0

26

Liz A.

Chicago, IL

BEST happy hour ever!!  It's sort of hidden but has a great bar area and patio.  I dont know about the regular dinner but it looks formal and the bar is great and relaxing.  It'salways fun to try to watch someone order/eat the "Big A$$ Burger."  I thought the scallops were great.   Expect it to be packed anytime after 4:30.

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16

51

Donald C.

Stittville, NY

The median weight of Roaring Fork customers is 287 lbs.

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Elite '08

20

178

Megan M.

Phoenix, AZ

A group of co-workers and I went to Roaring Fork for their happy hour in the Saloon. As mentioned in a previous review, it's a corporate building and it's almost odd to see this restaurant sticking out on the end.

I love a good margarita, and I'd heard the hype about the huckleberry margarita there. At $5 it seemed a bargain. It was good, but not great. It seemed like it had come out of a margarita machine with some huckleberry juice on the bottom.

Food was great. I had the lamb fondue. Other dishes ordered were the fish tacos, big ass burger, green chili pork and tortilla soup. Everyone loved the food. The only complaint was that the portions seemed small.

Overall, service was great and the food was good. I'll definitely be returning to give it a chance for dinner.

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25

131

Kelly W.

Tempe, AZ

Talk about great date spot! The Roaring Fork screams cute and cozy and is located off the beaten path of the typical array of downtown Scottsdale restaurants.

Be sure to try the scene-stealing green-chili macaroni and cheese. It's out of this world. And wash it down with a fruity Huckleberry Margarita, their signature cocktail.

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28

94

Emily M.

Scottsdale, AZ

I believe I got a very good facial from the misters at Roaring Fork.  My hair also got a little frizzy and my date walked out with literally wet shoulders.  Out of control!!  TURN DOWN YOUR MISTERS!!  

Whew ok.  

My mister rant was the only issue I had with Roaring Fork at all.  Aside from being slightly damp when we left, our overall experience there was great.  We sat outside on the patio which is decorated pretty cool, white lights line the trees, etc.  

My date had the tortilla soup, which he raved about, and a chef's special, lamb.  He loved everything including Moose Drool beer which not a lot of restaurants serve.  I had the salmon with mushrooms which was perfect.  

Great food and service, nice atmosphere.  Reservations recommended, we had them and had absolutely not trouble being seated.  Good date spot.

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3

40

Shane L.

Marina del Rey, CA

The bar is the place to be, even when it's not happy hours.  Their saloon menu is probably better than the dinner menu.  The Green Chile Pork Stew and Roasted Chicken is a better value and taste as good as anything they have on the dinner menu.  Food there is nothing special.

And their $120 gift card costs $100.  Great deal if you're on business and need to expense receipts.  Another way to beat the system!  ;-)

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0

11

A. B.

Scottsdale, AZ

Interesting location - really don't expect that type of decor inside a corporate building. After hearing so many positive reviews, I finally tried it out last week but couldn't say I was overwhelmed by my experience.

The tortilla soup ws okay, nothing special - could have been more spicy. I had the seared tuna as my entree. While the presentation was beautiful, the flavors were a bit too extreme - however, the roasted beets were a nice touch, but the salsa did not fit with the dish.

The bacon biscuits in the bread basket were out of this world.

Service: prompt, very attentive, and unobtrusive.

Conclusion: overrated!

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Elite '08

103

401

sarah k.

Phoenix, AZ

Great happy hour.  The bar is comfortable and serves big portions at a good price during its happy hour.  I haven't had a full dinner here.  Super heavy/rich food. Meat intensive. If you are searching for a meal that involves the adjectives "light" or "healthy" this is not the place for you.

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Elite '08

32

72

Josh D.

Cave Creek, AZ

Happy Hour might be a winner, but the regular dinner is a disappointment.  Our business meal started with the Maitre D' claiming quite arrogantly there was no reservation (it was confirmed the week prior).  After a 20 minute wait our party was disenchanted with spotty service, uninspired food, and ultimately a bill that was well beyond what the meal warranted.  You may not want to diss this place since others speak so highly of Happy Hour.  But when it comes to full priced dinners... go elsewhere.

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0

7

John M.

Scottsdale, AZ

Update: 24 March 2008

Robert McGrath sold his interest in the Roaring Fork. He now owns Pischke's Blue Ribbon on 1st St. in Old Town Scottsdale. He's done a heck of a job with it. Very nice. His new restaurant, REM, will be located in the former Anderson's Other Place on Lincoln, just west of Scottsdale Rd. Although the target opening date is this April, it appears unlikely at this point. Who knows. Robert is also working on a joint venture for a barbecue place. I don't know how much, if any, of the information regarding that venture is public knowledge, so I'll add an update and review when I know it's OK to talk about it.

Re the Roaring Fork. I have not been there in many months now, so I can't vouch for my earlier review's accuracy today. I do know that a number of staff members have followed him to Pischke's.

Original Review:

I've eaten only occasionally in the main dining room, but do manage to make it to the bar on a more or less weekly basis. Their Happy Hour menu offers a number of excellent items at really reasonable prices. For example, the Fish Tacos and the Half a Rotisserie Chicken are both around $7.50. The Fish Tacos are crisp and relatively light. The Half a Rotisserie Chicken, served with a warm flour tortilla and extras from which you can fashion a chicken fajita burro on your own, is a complete meal all by itself.

But be warned. During the season, getting a seat at the bar or at one of the tables in the bar area (the saloon) is difficult. Regulars and people in the know get there right at 4:00pm for the "bell" announcing the opening of the bar. Happy Hour ends at 7:00pm, but the entire bar menu remains available, excepting that each item costs $1 more (still a bargain).

The owner, Robert McGrath, is opening a second location (to be called REM) in the building complex under construction just to the south (and just north of Fashion Square) that will have a more traditional interior and menu. I suspect that it will also have a dose of his sense of humor (reading the bar menu at RF is a gas).

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1

8

Howard L.

Phoenix, AZ

One of my fave spots before or after a movie.

Green Chile stew is wicked and Caesar is goood.

The best is the Vanilla Shake with chocolate sprinkles - best in the southwest.  Get a cookie on your way out.

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121

2112

Gourmet G.

San Francisco, CA

The decor is an odd mix of Arizona ranch and Colorado fishing lodge, with lots of hammered copper, rough-hewn wood shutters, barbwire-etched glass, and antler chandeliers. The cuisine can best be described as Southwestern comfort food with some very gourmet twists. The fondue is a shining example of the kitchen's creativity - a pot of silky-smooth, creamy-rich melted pepperjack cheese is accompanied by rosemary-garlic lamb chops, pistachio bread, and butternut squash for dipping. Other highlights are beef ribs braised in Dr. Pepper, pork shank slow-cooked in beer, and hickory-smoked salmon that tastes like it was grilled on a campfire. Green-chili macaroni and cheese is a house specialty, and deservedly one of the most popular items on the menu, as is the Big-Ass Burger piled high with toppings, but be forewarned - it's served only in the Saloon, which gets very rowdy, especially during happy hour. There's a patio with a fire pit that makes outdoor dining cozy on chilly evenings in the desert. Sadly, this isn't the five-star experience it should be - reservations appear to be meaningless, if the forty-five minute wait we had is any indication, service is abrupt and bordering on rude, and prices are considerably higher than they should be for what you get.

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5

16

Elizabeth C.

New York, NY

this place was so busy we had to sit at the bar table and that was on a Friday night so it was not shocking. the food was great, but not in the least bit healthy. I am sure I could have picked better options but the menu has too many beef or pork based temptations to go another way. I had a shrimp with spicy creamy dipping sauce that was insane and the house specialty the Green Chile Pork Stew was an amazing adventure. This stew was simply pork with hot cheese and strips of green hot peppers all cooked together in a small urn that you might have see hanging over a campfire 100 years ago. The atmosphere was fun and lively and the service was very good. I guess there are some desert specialties but we didn't try any- a bakery at the front of the restaurant makes it easy to take home the delicious-looking desserts as well.

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