We are traveling to Phoenix (Royal Palms) in April. Have not been for a while. Is The Barrio Cafe the mexican place in an out of the way area that is amazing? Kind of a dive on the outside? Any other restaurant rec's would be appreciated.

Ate at the Royal Palms for the fourth year in a row over Thanksgiving; food was good, but not exceptional, as it used to be. (If you really know your food, you will understand.)

There is some good people watching and an excellent steak ($42) - or seafood - at the Ocean Club in that Kierland mall area up Scottsdale Road. The steak was the best I've had in a few years. Service is fun - - - a throwback to the '50s, a bit obsequious and very "Chicago." I expected to see Steak Diane and Cherries Jubilee on the menu.

"Alles Gut!"

I was just at the Royal Palms for a business dinner and it was as always..excellent.
Carolina's is one of my favorite for cheap great Mex.
Teepee on 44th for Mex used to be good, haven't been in awhile.
I like Lon's at the Hermosa.
Durants downtown for old school drink and food
Binkley's in Cave Creek

Not really sure what you're asking about The Barrio Cafe -- it's a very good restaurant, not fancy at all, and it's in, well, "the barrio". I don't think there's any sightseeing in area -- just go there to eat at that restaurant.

Any other restaurant rec's would be appreciated."

If you want a really high end place or are a "foodie" then I would highly recommend Kai, which is at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass resort on the Gila Indian rez just south of Phoenix.

Kai received the Mobil Five Star award this year and last (and about half the previous 10 years), which is pretty exclusive as fewer than 20 restaurants in the US and Canada rated five stars (Kai is the only one in Arizona this year). One reviewer called Kai "one of the ten best restaurants in the USA".

It is fully owned by the two Indian tribes and the menu features several native dishes.

We've eaten there twice recently and it's our favorite restaurant, beating out a famous Michelin Three Star place we dined at in France a few years back.

Prices are pretty high of course (but in line with the $42 steak mentioned in a post above), but it's not overly stuffy or pretentious (don't need to wear a tie, for example). Great view of the mountains at sunset.

My ideal meal at Kai is the winter squash puree to start off, then the lobster appetizer, then either the buffalo tenderloin or the veal ribeye for the entree. We've had four desserts and all were wonderful, but the Mexican chocolate souffle and the "Celebration of Three Winter Brulee’s" were incredible.

http://www.wildhorsepassresort.com/d...orse-pass.html

Should also mention that I wasn't wild about the quail with shrimp entree that I tried once (didn't particularly like the nage sauce) and I thought the duck was very good but not quite as good as the veal or buffalo for our unsophisticated tastes.

Also on our last visit I tried the appetizer that included Toro Tuna (expensive sashimi); Buffalo Tartare with quail egg, anchovy and capers; Wild Salmon Gravlox (cured salmon) and Iberico Bellota Lomo Brushed with Truffle Oil (a rare form of lean acorn-fed Spanish pork -- I had to look it up) and this was totally overwhelming to my coarse taste buds Too many rich tastes at once for moi.

Anyway, highly recommended for a "special" dining experience.

In addition to the Barrio Cafe and Kai (both accurately described above), Binkley's is a high $ and hgh Quality innovative restaurant (by reputation).

We liked Aunt Chilada's near Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort. Their Tripadvisor reviews aren't too bad. http://tinyurl.com/yje5e4d

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Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie