GETTING
AWAY
Dine Out Phoenix
“So, what do you recommend?” I ask the server
and expectantly wait for his expertise on the subject.
“What do I recommend?” he repeats, looking at
me as though it’s the most absurd question that’s
ever been posed to him.
“Well, um… you know, what’s good here?” I try
again.
“Well that depends on what you feel like having,”
he replies still sounding a little incredulous
that I should expect him to know what I feel like
having. “If you want fish,” he continues and proceeds
to reel off the Fresh Ketch portion of the menu.
Wait! I don’t like seafood. I cast around desperately
trying to figure out what I feel like. “Chicken,”
I quickly blurt out scanning the menu. “Is the chicken
entrée good?"
“Yes.”
“Or, the open-faced chicken sandwich,” I point
to the specials.
He nods.
“Umm, what about the Polynesian chicken sandwich,
is that good?”
“Yes, that’s good”
“So ah…. everything’s good?” I finish a little
weakly.
“Yes, everything’s good.”
Other people at the table are becoming a little
fidgety. I quickly order the last. “And, I was
thinking about having soup,” I start, “What do
you think of the ….” I catch his look, “um nevermind,
fries are fine.”
Once our food turns up, I can’t help but notice
the chicken in my sandwich is a little dry and
there isn’t even any sauce or spread on it.
I also can’t help but notice that one of my companions
has ordered the open-faced chicken sandwich and
it has arrived with the cheese bubbling on top;
the veggies look really juicy and, now that I think
of it, didn’t the menu say something about it being
toasted in a wood-burning oven.
Still, a few weeks later I’ve all but forgotten
the lunch altogether when Pamela Swartz’s updated
dining guide comes across my desk. Just out of
curiosity, I innocently thumb through the alphabetical
listing, quickly locating the restaurant in question.
Hmmm, I see that Pamela Swartz isn’t afraid to
voice a few preferences here and there. The Portobello
sandwich with vine-ripened tomatoes sounds pretty
yummy. I hadn’t even noticed that there was a griddle
corn cake starter; and, oh, how in the world did
we walk out of there without trying the croissant
bread pudding with Jack Daniels whiskey lime sauce?
I also note that Swartz squeezes extra tips throughout
the book that cover just about anything. I try
to imagine my reticent server’s face if I had asked
him if he could recommend any good shopping nearby.
Swartz even cross-references the 250 listings according
to special features. I really can’t wait to try
out the categories. I consider setting up a high-octane
business lunch with somebody so I can go to one
of the “Seal-the-Deal” power scenes, or I could
put off dinner ’til midnight and hit one of the
“Late Night Nibblers” spots.
Perhaps, I’ll arrange a sophisticated stage show
followed by one of the “before and after theater”
selections. And then there’s vintage, romantic,
cult classics … the possibilities are endless.
Dine Out Phoenix (including Scottsdale): Where
to Eat from the Chic to Unique ($14.95), 480-609-0426,
dineoutphoenix.com.
-Lindsay DeChacco
Photo: istockphoto.com
