Jen H.'s Profile

Against my better judgment, I hired a carpet cleaner through a Groupon deal several months ago. Big mistake! When he left, the carpets were worse than they were when he came (he blamed it on the carpet type and griped the whole time about how much money he was losing through the Groupon deal). Before getting new carpet, I decided to give it one more shot so I turned to Yelp.

Thanks to Jon C's review, I gave A Copesetic Carpet Cleaning Company a call. SO glad I did! After he inspected the carpets I thought were ruined, he shrugged and said, "I'll have these looking like new again, no problem." In addition to his truck-mounted equipment, Mr. Copeland uses a special stain remover that's environmentally safe (he even offered to drink it to show me how safe it was; I declined.) He got out all the tricky stains, took extra care to protect our hardwood floors and even left us with shoe protectors to wear until the carpet dried.

Bottom line: My carpets look as good as new, the price was reasonable, and the service was above and beyond. Highly, highly recommend.

Yet another rave review for In-Phase! Our A/C stopped blowing cold air late last Friday night; Kevin was out first thing Saturday morning. He immediately assessed the problem, replaced the parts and had it restored good as new within an hour. He also came out last year with his team to replace a condenser unit in our attic on a sweltering July day. It was a difficult task to maneuver the unit over my unfinished attic floor joists but they did it -- and were thorough, professional and even cheerful! the whole time.

I absolutely trust him to do what I need -- and only what I need -- to get the problem fixed.

After quitting my full-time job, I no longer had dental insurance and put off going to the dentist for a few years. Not a good idea. When a problem tooth forced me to go back, my former dentist was no longer practicing. I did a lot of research and asked friends for recommendations to find just the right new dental practice.

After hearing several positive reviews, I scheduled an appointment with Dr. Gardner at B. Well Dentistry. So glad I did! I've been twice now -- once for an exam and cleaning and once to have a tooth filled. Dr. Gardner is friendly, extremely knowledgeable, caring and efficient, and most important -- gentle! Barb, the dental assistant, was wonderful as well. (Bonus: Great music!)

The practice is busy (which to me is always a good sign), but I've never had to wait more than a few minutes. It's also clean, modern (I was able to view my x-ray on a cool flat-screen monitor right from my chair) and conveniently located -- just off the 202 Freeway. Their pricing is reasonable, and they also work with you on financing -- important for me until I get my new insurance locked down.

Having a pool is pretty much the only good thing about living in Arizona in the summer. But up until three years ago, we never used our pool. We couldn't -- the water was murky, brown and we were constantly losing the battle against mustard algae.  

But the worst thing? We were actually paying a pool service for this privilege.

Luckily we mentioned our problem to a friend, who suggested we call Kyle Pasko at San Tan Pools. Kyle came out the next day, gave an estimate that beat what we were paying the old guy, and within days we had a beautiful, sparkling, usable pool. And it's been that way ever since.

Kyle represents everything a business owner should be -- quick, efficient, knowledgeable, reliable, responsive and an all-around nice person. I cannot recommend him highly enough.

Okay, so at my husband's insistence, I tried Cafe Mix again. And again. And I'm converted. I even tried the Chicken Shawarma Gyro again -- the flavor was amazing and the texture was fine this time around. (Note to the white meat-only folk: be sure to order the Chicken Kabob, instead. Also delish.)

My husband is obsessed with the Italian Chicken Salad. If you can get past the "why would one order an Italian Chicken Salad at a cafe specializing in 'Greek & American food'?" question, you'll be glad you did. The sun-dried tomatoes are key.

You'd think it would be difficult for a local chain to provide a consistently great dining experience across several stores, but I've eaten at four different Pita Jungle locations and every experience has been excellent.

For starters, no visit to Pita Jungle is complete without the roasted bell pepper hummus (they'll even serve it with veggies instead of bread upon request). The four-cheese spinach quesadilla is also delish.

I pretty much always order a pita as my main event (it is, after all, *Pita* Jungle) -- the chicken shawarma and Philly chicken are top picks. The tuna and veggie salads are great choices for the "no bread" crowd, and if you're craving a wrap, the spicy chicken is the way to go.

The only downside? Every location tends to be busy, particularly during lunch. But that's what happens when the food is this good -- other people have an annoying way of discovering it. Service is speedy and friendly, and the prices are really reasonable.

Tried D'Vine for lunch just days after it first opened; loved it then, love it now. It's simply, consistently a great place to eat with a vibe that's refreshingly unexpected in Mesa.

The last time I ate here, it was early evening and my friend and I decided to share salad and tapas instead of a full meal. We started with the black & bleu salad, a savory combination of Cajun-spiced beef tenderloin, bleu cheese crumbles, romaine lettuce, sliced tomato, and bacon served with their house vinaigrette.

We then sampled the to-die-for stuffed mushroom (marinated and grilled portobello stuffed with cheese, roasted garlic, red onions and bacon), the slightly pedestrian but still good sweet potato fries, and the signature salmon cakes, delicious with the lemon aioli.

If you're looking for a full dinner, I highly recommend the grilled salmon, the grilled pork tenderloin and the ahi. Craving comfort food? Pick the mac & cheese -- a little decadent but totally worth the calories!

As other reviewers have suggested, sit outside if it's not too hot.

Whether you need a whole-house remodel or simply want to freshen up tired decor, Design Studio can make it happen. Owners Teri Koss and Catherine Cook have great taste, an eye for detail, impressive efficiency -- and, most importantly, know how to make the most of your budget.

I was recently a guest in a home where they'd completed an addition/remodel that included a new kitchen, family room, mud room and extra bedroom. The materials they selected -- custom cabinetry, granite, hand-hewn floors, etc. look amazing, but it's the extras that really make a difference -- pendant lights from Italy, wall niches that highlight display objects, a clever place for cookbooks, and a window seat that doubles as a library.

And since we'll likely be selling our home soon, I was glad to learn they offer home restaging, as well as phone consultations.

If you're looking for a great hike for the whole gang (including the four-legged members), the 1.6-mile Wind Cave Trail is a keeper. (Keep in mind that this place is REALLY popular -- the "crowded" factor is why I gave it four stars instead of five. If you crave solitude, your best bet is to go early on a week day.)

The lower half is easy enough for just about anyone -- from toddlers to my 70s+ parents. And although the upper half can be a bit more of a challenge as it gets steeper, I've witnessed many munchkins make it to the top. The trail takes you through some incredible Sonoran desert (wildflowers are a must in March).

Destination: The "cave" is really just a hollow spot in the base of a cliff formed by the wind. Although it's only about 12 feet high, it's shady and provides a great place to have lunch with the local chipmunks (but please don't feed them) and take in the fabulous views -- including (if it's clear enough) downtown Phoenix, nearly 30 miles away.

If you're up to it, to the right of the cave is a much more difficult trail that leads nearly 1/2 mile to the summit. Note o' caution -- the trail is narrow and steep, and includes a rock wall about 8 feet high. But the views are spectacular and worth the extra effort.

Timing: The round-trip hike to the cave takes about an hour and a half (for average adult hikers; allow more time for little ones). Add another 45 minutes for the trip to the summit and back.

Directions: From central Phoenix, I-10 east to US 60 east. Exit Ellsworth Road north to the Usery Mountain Regional Park entrance. Trails are open sunrise to sunset. Admission is $6 per carload.

I've been a Rosa's regular for more than a decade (both in its original location at Mesa Drive and University and at the new expanded location since it opened in 2001). In our Rosa's heyday, we ate here at least once a week; now it's more a bimonthly experience.

Overall takeaway - the food is consistently good, the guests we bring here always ask to come back (sometimes during the same visit), and if you can get past the noisy crowds and random mariachi minstrels, it's definitely worth a visit.

Chips and salsa are standouts - thin, crispy, warm chips with the fresh, complex green and red salsas. (Garlic alert: the green salsa stays with you for at least 24 hours - but worth it!) Menu faves include the seafood taco combo (sautéed shrimp taco with pineapple salsa and grilled salmon taco with orange mango salsa), the Flying Saucer (the beef, pork and chicken are all great, served on a crisp tortilla with beans, lettuce, salsa fresca, guacamole, sour cream, and cheese) and the Tia's Plato de Carne Asada (roasted, then chargrilled beef served with Spanish rice, beans, grilled vegetables and flour tortillas).

Note: This place is a cult favorite with lots of local groupies; as a result, there's usually a wait on Thurs, Fri and Saturday nights. Reservations or call-ahead seating are HIGHLY recommended.