The Best of Central & Western Arizona - American Southwest - page 498

498

129 1 / 2 NEW AMERICAN Prescott, a classic small-town-America sort of place,
may seem an odd location for a classic New York-style jazz club, but this restaurant has
it down. It may not be in a basement and it isn't smoky, but everything else has just the
right feel. Best of all, the restaurant has great food. Steaks are the specialty and can be
had with an assortment of delicious sauces, such as rosemary cream, mushroom ragout,
and pinot and green peppercorn.
129 1 / 2 N. Cortez St. & 928/443-9292. www.fourcornersrestaurants.com. Reservations recommended.
Main courses $15-$26. DISC, MC, V. Tues-Thurs 4-9pm; Fri-Sat 4-10pm.

Inexpensive
Dinner Bell Café Finds Kids AMERICAN This casual little breakfast-and-lunch
place is a big hit with local students and other people in the know who come to order
either the waffles (served with a variety of toppings) or the thick, juicy burgers. The
waffles are available at lunch, but people don't usually order burgers at breakfast. The
Dinner Bell has a split personality. Up front, there's a classic old diner that's been in busi-
ness since 1939; in back, there's a colorful modern space with walls that roll up. The
setting, a block off Whiskey Row, makes this a great little hideaway for a quick, casual
meal, and kids will want to wander along the creekside path nearby.
321 W. Gurley St. & 928/445-9888. Main courses $5.50-$9. No credit cards. Mon-Fri 6:30am-2pm; Sat-
Sun 7am-2pm.

Sweet Tart Finds BAKERY/LIGHT FARE/NEW AMERICAN This restaurant/
patisserie makes some of the best pastries in Arizona, so before you walk through the
door, make sure you're hungry enough for dessert—the pastry case here is absolutely
irresistible. At breakfast, they have, among other treats, a variety of brioches, including
blueberry and mixed-fruit, and fabulous almond croissants. On Saturday nights, there
are four-course dinners that include the likes of French onion soup, sea bass in a jacket
of thinly sliced potatoes, and wine-poached pears with mascarpone mousse; call for res-
ervations.
125 N. Cortez St. & 928/443-8587. Reservations required for dinner. Main courses $7-$9; prix-fixe din-
ners $35. MC, V. Tues-Sat 7am-4pm; Sun 8am-3pm.

15

PRESCOTT AFTER DARK
Back in the days when Prescott was the territorial capital and a booming mining town,
it supported dozens of rowdy saloons, most of which were concentrated along Monte-
zuma Street on the west side of Courthouse Plaza. This section of town was known as
Whiskey Row, and legend has it there was a tunnel from the courthouse to one of the
saloons so lawmakers wouldn't have to be seen ducking into the saloons during regular
business hours. On July 14, 1900, a fire consumed most of Whiskey Row. However,
concerned cowboys and miners managed to drag the tremendously heavy bar of The
Palace saloon across the street before it was damaged.
Today, Whiskey Row still has a few noisy saloons with genuine Wild West flavor.
However, within a few blocks of Whiskey Row, you can hear country, folk, jazz, and rock
at a surprisingly diverse assortment of bars, restaurants, and clubs.
If you want to see what this street's saloons looked like back in the old days, drop by
The Palace, 120 S. Montezuma St. ( & 928/541-1996; www.historicpalace.com), which
still has a classic bar up front.
If you want to drink where the ranchers drink and not where the hired hands carouse,
head upstairs to the Jersey Lilly Saloon, 116 S. Montezuma St. ( & 928/541-7854 ),