02/25/08

Trust the Concierge

by tflucht

Wow! What a great recommendation! A colleague and I visited Roaring Fork on a concierge's recommendation. It was a fantastic meal. We arrived at the time of our reservation, and we were seated promptly. Service was friendly, professional, and efficient.

The food was excellent. We are both food buffs, and good cooks, so we judge restaurants very critically. We started with soups - black bean, and chicken tortilla. Both were presented well, and tasted great. While the black bean could use a bit more heat, that was easily rectified with a bit of Tabasco Chipotle. The chicken tortilla was near perfect.

We then ordered two braises: beef short ribs, and lamb shank. Both of these are difficult to do well, as many restaurants will overcook them, resulting in meat that falls into mush. However, both dishes were cooked to perfection - tender, fall from the bone meat, but still with enough chew to hold together. They were both incredibly flavorful. The sauces were excellent accompaniments, perfectly enhancing the taste of the meats. For sides, we ordered the sauteed spinach, and the green chile macaroni & cheese. The spinach was prepared well, although there was a bit too much liquid in the bottom of the container. The mac & cheese was very good, with a nice bite to it.

Dessert was an apple pie (tart). Wonderful, flaky crust, and the only off note of the evening, apples slightly underdone (a matter of taste, I know, but I prefer my apple pie to have apples that are cooked through).

9 out of 10, from a couple of tough foodies. We'll be back, and thanks for a great meal.

• Pros: Food, service, atmosphere
• Cons: None we saw

11/26/08

Value For Money

by ronbarre

6 of us had dinner there last night and the food and service were terrific as usual. The Lamb Shanks were as good as I have had anywhere and the others were lucky enough to get the last of the Pork Carnitas for that evening. Prices and wine list are reasonable and this is one restaurant that when you leave you feel you have value for your money.

• Pros: Parking, Service, Value, Food Presentation
• Cons: A Little Noisy, 45 minute drive from my home

10/02/07

Great dining spot!

by charaz

This was our 2nd trip to Roaring Fork. The ambiance, the service and food are all wonderful. Our waiter, Dan, was most attentive without being pesty. Two of the diners chose selections from the appetizer menu for their meals, while the other 2 had entrees.

My tortilla soup with roasted chicken was the best I have ever had - a rich, dark broth engulfs the chicken and crispy tortilla strips. My 3 large seared scallops were cooked to perfection, melted in your mouth and were accompanied by creamy, tasty cheesy grits with, topped with an increbile mushroom/bacon ragu. If it'd been proper to drool at the table, I would have. The green pork chile was so tender and flavorful...A++. The diner's only comment was...skip the flour tortillas that are served with it and ask for more of the oh-so-delicious mini corn muffins. (The assorted bread basket has something for everyone from freshly baked yeast rolls, to scones and the aforementioned corn muffins)

The duck breast preparation was beautiful - medium rare duck served over spiced cabbages. The sashimi grade Ahi tuna (typically seared and served rare) was still moist and delicious when cooked to medium-rare.

It sat atop roasted beets and was drizzled with a mouth-watering olive and cilantro vinaigrette.

My lemon drop martini (Absolut Citron)was like sipping a very high quality lemonade. Delicious!

We love the Klinker Brick Zinfandel - it went perfectly with everything we had.

We highly recommend this restaurant for an special occasion or your typical "we want to go out for dinner" spot.

LOVE IT!

05/16/07

No Longer the Place to Go

by jcsmith612

I had heard so many good things about Roaring Fork. Met several business associates for dinner last night. Started with drinks in the "Saloon". Very fitting for Old Town Scottsdale. The atmosphere in the Saloon was appropriate and the drinks were good. Proceeded to our table via the front entrance. Kind of strange, but didn't think much of it at the time.

The dinner menu was better than average, but somewhat limited for a restaurant of this caliber. I ordered the rib eye steak and a side of cheese grits. I am from the south and just love my grits. I felt m dinner selection was a good bet given the name of the restaurant, "the roaring fork". My business associates ordered an assortment of lamb, duck, and steak. Prior to dinner arriving we all had a good selection of wine, and several of us had tortilla soup. Both were good selections.

Dinner arrived and my steak looked apetizing. I took my fork and knife and began an expedition for meat. After several cuts I realized that what was delivered was primarily fat and gristle. For the price we were paying I at least expected something equivalent to Ruth's Chris. When the waiter arrived to check on our level of satisfaction I politely asked him to remove my plate. What little meat I was able to discover was tough as nails. He did offer to get someting else for me, and I simply responded that I would settle for the cheese grits that were delivered with the "fat and gristle". Unfortunately for me he removed my fork from the table and I was left with a spoon. Anyway, the bread and biscuits delivered prior to the entre were excellent. I am thinking they should try to reinvent themselves as a bakery, possibly with a few selections of soups. The tortilla soup was good. Can't say that I will ever go back. There are too many other wonderful restaurants in Scottsdale. This is no longer the place to go....

• Pros: Location, bar
• Cons: food, menu, specials, view of parking lot, mens restroom very far from the restaurant

02/07/07

Over-Rated

by jaysen12345

New ownership took over recently, and sadly food quality suffers.

'Green Chile Pork Stew' is runny and less flavorful then in the past, 'Big ss Burger' was pressed too tight and over-cooked., and domestic beers are served out of the bottle. Customers at the next table said the same thing about their burgers.

I say: Rock Bottom Brewery @ Desert Ridge, has good/better food, lower prices, and beer is on-tap right from the onsite micro-brewery.. . but then again you are not near "Oldtown-Scottsdale'"

• Pros: Location, Ambiance
• Cons: Price, Food Quality

11/04/06

Green Chilie Mac and Cheese and Fluffy Creme Brulee, plus the great bread basket!

by zark

A verery comfortable and expansive setting, (Rocky Mountain Hunting Lodge meets Scottsdale Office Building) melds with the tasty comfort food: scrumptiouis short ribs, exqusite duck and green chilie mac and cheese. Fantastic bread basket. Followed by suprizingly good desserts accented by professional friendly service. Reasonable pricing too, so after several visits, I still want to return for more.

• Pros: comfortable setting and professional service
• Cons: can be a wait for your reservation

10/26/06

fusion

by chauncey80

beautiful restaurant, excellent wood fired pizzas, eclectic menu. lots of fusion dishes. in the middle of some new devolpements around centreal scottsdale area.

Kicked-up comfort food served in a New West setting.

by Contributor

In Short
The Arizona ranch house-meets-Colorado fly-fishing lodge has rugged appeal with a rowdy saloon that hits its stride during happy hour. Comfort foods get a Southwestern spin, shown best by signature appetizers. New Mexico pepperjack cheese fondue comes with rosemary-garlic lamb chops, pistachio bread and butternut squash for dipping, but it's the green-chili macaroni and cheese that really steals the show.

• Pros: warm, authenticdelicious desserts

06/04/06

Great southwestern cuisine and friendly staff.

by stephdemuth

I was in town on business and dining alone in the bar. I was craving southwestern cuisine and was delighted with my choice. I had the ahi tuna which was prepared to perfection. Very large tuna steak and the cut was very lean. The staff was very friendly and helpful, and they had a great wine selection. This restaurant is more rustic, which compliments the cuisine.

01/17/06

LOVED IT!

by jarbatz

I was in town for the Rock n Roll Marathon and picked this place for our celebratory post-race dinner. We could not have been happier with my choice!!! The service was outstanding...our server - Leann - was helpful, articulate, professional and a real pleasure. The food was outstanding as well. Be sure to try a side order of the green chile macaroni and cheese if you meal doesn't come with it. Ambiance was great...very cozy and inviting but still casual and unpretentious.