Steve E.'s Profile

My girlfriend has been craving a mushroom steak and cheese sub for the past couple of weeks, and while that's easy to find in New England where we're both from, it's not so easy to find in the Phoenix area.

But, now we know where to look.

Great sandwiches and a great looking menu that we'll be exploring for quite a while. And they also stock a variety of Wise potato chips products which aren't widely available here.

For a taste of home, we know where to go, and we'll be back.

I don't usually rave about food as I'm eating dinner. Heck, I don't usually stop to actually taste the food. I usually just scarf it down and go. Tonight was an exception.

Starting with the steamed clams for an appetizer and on to the salad greens with pecans topped by balsamic dressing, the start of this dinner went very well.

Then Chef Sanchez' main courses came out. My companion had the Maine lobster and I had the halibut. The lobster was done to tender perfection and the halibut was flavorful, moist, and flaky. I found myself taking time to savor the taste of the halibut along with the grilled portabello mushroom cap, deep fried tomato, and asparagus.

Even the presentations were amazing and the service from our waiter, David, was exemplary.

The ambience, the service, the food... all top of the line. I don't expect any of that from a restaurant chain which made the experience that much better.

Just had the cold ham and cheese sub special (with sandwich, Poore Brothers chips, and a fountain drink for $7.53 tax included) and it was quite good. They appeared to be using good quality meat, cheese, and produce. The bread was not a traditional sub roll, but chiabatta style.

Quick, friendly service and decent food. Haven't tried their pizza to compare it with the previous reviews, but I'll be back to do just that.

Apparently I went to a different Pick Up Stix than Richard and Chris.

*checks receipt*

Nope. Same one.

Anyway, I didn't have any trouble with the doors, I don't really care too much about the color of sweet and sour sauce so long as it tastes good, and I wasn't expecting anything above and beyond Panda Express. It's Asian fast food. I had moderate expectations.

I got better than moderate results.

The food was quite good. My girlfriend who is incredibly picky about chicken wings had tried the house special wings just hours before at the Camelback location while out and about and wanted more. This location was closer to home, so I went there and picked up stuff aside from the wings.

We got egg rolls, sweet and sour chicken, and wonton soup, all of which were very good. Nothing gourmet about it, mind you, but very good.

Teresa, the woman taking orders at the front counter, was friendly and helpful. Not overly so, but I didn't feel like she was completely bored with the world, either. The guys in the kitchen worked fast and got the food to me within a very few minutes (about 5 is what it felt like, but I wasn't counting). I picked it up at the counter and went on my way home for some delicious food that stood up to microwave reheating the next day for lunch.

Not a huge variety of food, but what they serve seems to turn out quite well. I've been to the Camelback location a couple of times. This is my first at the Chandler location. I've yet to be disappointed.

**Added August 4, 2009: Went back to the same location a couple nights later to try their beef teriyaki bowl and chicken fried rice. Again, both quite good, though there was too much sauce on the teriyaki.

Great food, especially their footlong chili dogs which are among the best I've ever had.

Good to see Saint's has grown over the years. As a kid, I ate there when it was just a walk-up shack. Now you've got the option to sit in a reasonably comfortable casual restaurant.

While the food is great and the prices are reasonable, the wait staff is pretty lousy. They're inattentive, slow, and quite often can't quite get the orders right. However, if you're going there for the food, especially for takeout, you'll have a good experience.

This decades old traditional diner has been brought back to life by new ownership!

While the kitchen is no longer directly behind the counter, the place still has the old ambience patrons have known for many years. The coffee is hot, the food, while still being typical diner fare in most cases, is delicious, and the wait staff are friendly and an absolute kick to eavesdrop upon.

The diner itself is a traditional roadside rail car design and was moved to the town several decades ago. From the neon signs atop the building to the stainless steel paneling inside and out, it's a classic.

I grew up with this diner just down the street from my house. While I don't live there anymore, the Main Street Diner will always be among my fondest memories of small town Connecticut life.

I don't go to this place nearly enough, but then I don't get to downtown Glendale as much as I used to, either.

I've done takeout from here and sit down service. The takeout was quite good (even impressed a couple of visitors from the Northeast) and the sit down service was even better.

The selection of menu items is relatively sparse, but that leads to a variety of cuisines from Asia. The quality of the food is excellent and the wait staff appear to know what they're talking about when questioned about ingredients, preparation, etc.

Very reasonably priced appetizers and meals with large portions.  Nice ambience for such a small, out of the way place, and some of the most interesting restrooms you'll ever "go" in.

This is an incredible annual event held by the Volunteer Nonprofit Service Association that attracts bibliophiles from across the nation. WIth over half a million donated books, audio/video tapes, CDs, DVDs, computer software and game console discs, and other little gifts, this two-day sale will not bust your piggy bank.

You'll find paperbacks and hardcovers, old and new, singles and sets, and even rare and unusual items. Go with a list or browse to your heart's content.

Whatever you do, bring something big to carry your books in. A large canvas bag, rolling luggage, shopping cart... whatever you've got handy, you'll probably need it. They do supply large plastic bags at the door and full-sized shopping carts are occasionally available.

While there is no admission cost, there is a parking fee imposed by the Arizona State Fairgrounds. You can park off site at a couple of lots for less or you can take the bus (McDowell - Route 17 or 19th Ave - Route 19).

EXPECT LONG LINES! This event runs on a Saturday and Sunday in February. People camp out the night before the Saturday opening and you'll usually have to wait an hour or so to get into the sale due to fire safety regulations. Go later in the day for easier access unless you're looking for something relatively new or popular. Then you might want to be one of the overnight campers.

Sundays are usually a little less crowded and feature 50% off most of what's left in stock which is generally quite a lot. However, there's a little less variety available on Sundays.

They accept cash, personal checks (with proper ID), and credit and debit cards.

Not quick, but freshly cooked food. Great fish and chips and fried sides like the deep fried mushrooms and zucchini.

There's a little bit of outdoor seating available and no indoor seating. This is a mostly "to go" kind of place, and with gas prices as they are, you probably won't want to sit around in the drive thru waiting for your food with the car running.

Friendly employees, good food, and decent prices. It's no wonder this is a Phoenix area institution.

Be sure to bring cash. They don't accept credit cards and they don't accept checks.

Great portions of incredibly flavorful food. The burritos are jam packed with meat. The tacos are flavored just right and topped with colorful pico.

The relatively new location in the shopping center on the northeast corner of 48th St and Baseline may look like just another fast food Mexican storefront, but the food is well worth checking out.