Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
425
Cowboy Steakhouses
Kids
Cowboy steakhouses are family restaurants that generally provide big portions
of grilled steaks and barbecued ribs, outdoor and “saloon” dining, live country
music, and various other sorts of entertainment.
At
Rustler's Rooste
you can start your meal by scooting down a big slide
from the bar to the main dining room. While the view north across Phoenix is
entertainment enough for most people, there are also cowboy bands playing
for those who like to kick up their heels. If you've got the appetite of a hard-
working cowpoke, try the enormous cowboy “stuff” platter consisting of,
among other things, steak kebabs, barbecued ribs, cowboy beans, fried shrimp,
barbecued chicken, and skewered swordfish. You'll find Rustler's at the Arizona
Grand Resort, 8383 S. 48th St., in Phoenix (
&
602/431-6474;
www.rustlers
rooste.com). Entrees range from $15 to $30.
Of the many cowboy steakhouses around the valley,
Rawhide Steakhouse,
5700 W. North Loop Rd., Chandler (
&
480/502-5600;
www.rawhide.com), at
the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa, is by far your best bet for a family
dinner. Not only are the steaks some of the best you'll find at a family steak-
house, but there's an entire Western town mock-up surrounding the restaurant,
so there's plenty to keep you and your kids entertained before and after dinner.
If you feel adventurous, start your meal with some pan-fried rattlesnake. Cow-
boy bands keep the crowds entertained during dinner. From February to May
and in October and November, there are also sundown cookouts ($45 adults,
$19 children) that include a hayride, chuck-wagon dinner, live country music,
and lots of other traditional Wild West entertainment.
13
In Hilton Village, 6137 N. Scottsdale Rd.
&
480/948-9928.
www.venetotrattoria.com. Reservations rec-
ommended. Main courses $11-$21 lunch, $15-$26 dinner. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon-Sat 11:30am-
2:30pm and 5-10pm.
Inexpensive
El Molino Mexican Café
Finds
MEXICAN Located a bit out of the Old Town
Scottsdale mainstream, this small Mexican joint is little more than a fast-food place, but
it serves the best chimichangas in town. If you're among the few people still not familiar
with what a chimichanga is, it's a deep-fried burrito. That said, the chimis here have
crispy, light shells and are packed with tasty fillings. Try one with
machaca
(shredded and
spiced beef ) or green-chile beef, and I'm sure you'll become a convert. If fried food just
doesn't do it for you, opt for a couple of green corn tamales, an Arizona specialty.
3554 N. Goldwater Blvd.
&
480/994-3566.
www.elmolinocafe.com. Reservations not accepted. Main
courses $2.25-$14. AE, DISC, MC, V. Mon-Sat 9am-8pm.
Frank & Lupe's
Value
MEXICAN On the same street as some of Scottsdale's top
contemporary art galleries, this casual Mexican restaurant is a welcome throwback to the
days when Scottsdale was still a real cow town. Friends who have been eating here for
years insist the only dish to get is the
carne adobada
burrito plate served enchilada style
