Phoenix Travel Forum

The success of my VT meeting in Paris on 2/21/09 was due mostly to the good company of the VT members in France but also due to having the best location (restaurant. (The restaurant owner continued to open his restaurant to accommodate us as we waited for one VT member coming from Vienna!)

Now, here's my question. Do you know a good restaurant in Phoenix, Arizona that is really good? Should be good for excited VT members who tend to be loud when they meet other VT members.

I appreciate your help...

These places may work
http://www.kazbar.net/
http://www.saltysenorita.com/

if you don't get the answer you want here, check out www.chowhound.com.

you can also check with member jumpingnorman. He lives in Phoenix and knows a lot of places that would work. You might even try coordinating the meet with him.

A few of my favorite places in Phoenix: Pita Jungle (multiple locations), Steve's Greenhouse Grill in Downtown Phoenix, Oregano's (multiple locations), Digestif in Scottsdale, Native New Yorker (multiple locations), Big City BBQ in Mesa. The main Macayo's on Central Ave also has a nice atmosphere, but I don't particularly like the food there.

Thanks JO for arranging this meeting --- yoohoo! I will finally meet some VT members...and Susan, you have to drive from TEXAS to join us (maybe I should get you a plane ticket myself, hehehe...) Are you free? What is your nearest airport?
As for the restaurant, I have told Joiwatani that I prefer the West Valley Restaurants and Scottsdale, but whichever restaurant we choose, I'll be there...I am turning off all pagers, blackberry and I will also disable my ankle electronic tracking device (hehehe, just kidding...) Jumpingnorman :)

Thank you for all your help...

Jumpingnorman, do we agree to do it at the West Valley Restaurant? You don't mind giving me the address and the telephone number? I will definitely put the link on the Meet Members.

Thanks

Norman: If I didn't have the library grand opening I would be there with bells on!.......but, I'm the one that started all this nonsense, so I have to see it through.
Susan

We'll miss you Susan...but I am heading off to Houston the weekend before the meeting (taking business classes!) - maybe we can have a Houston meeting? But I will be in Houston three more times throughout the year...good luck with your library activities! Tell us about it maybe we can there for the opening...

Hi Jo! LOL, what I meant was West Valley restaurants, hehehe...I think the best place to meet would be at the very new Westgate Center where they held the 2008 Superbowl! The place is booming and the nice restuarants there would be the YARDHOUSE (in the Westgate Center Complex, Glendale, Arizona).

YARDHOUSE
9401 West Westgate Boulevard
Glendale, Arizona 85305
(623) 872-3900
www.yardhouse.com


The nice thing is that it is beside this nice Bellagio like Fountains where we can take pictures as well, and it is nice to walk around the area. But the Yardhouse is very busy place and a cozier place might be the Japanese restaurant on the upper level of the complex - KABUKI

KABUKI
6770 North Sunrise Boulevard #G211
Glendale, Arizona 85305
(623) 772-9832
www.kabukirestaurants.com

And a another nice place to meet at would be at a cozy place there where they just serve chocolate and wine (but not much on dinner food) - called SWEET O WINE AND CHOCOLATE LOUNGE

Sweet O Wine and Chocloate Lounge
9380 West Westgate Boulevard #D101
Glendale, Arizona 85305
(623) 877-3898
www.sweetolounge.com

There is a free-standing new Mexican lace called Garduno's and we have eaten there once, and food was so-so but the restaurant looks really good. It is outside of the main Westgate complex, but still near:

Garduno's of Mexico
6970 North 95th Avenue
Glendale, Arizona 85305
(623) 772-1110
www.gardunosofarizona.com

VT member Boxcima also suggested The New Yorker and there is one across the street from Westgate complex (beside the big store of CABELA's)... Pita Jungle is at Bell Road and near the Arrowhead Mall - very good pita but not sure until what time they are open.

The Westgate complex restaurants are all listed at their website at:

http://www.westgateaz.com/cat_list.php


Hope this helps! I now have to start a C-section (working and doing VT, hehehe...) Norman :)

Is the meeting going to be March 28? maybe 6 PM....If it is Friday the 27th, it might be more traffic and we might have it later (700 PM) and hopefully I am not stuck in operating room on that Friday....but Saturday I am free as a bird...Norman :)

Norman: Houston is doable. it's only 3 hours away and i think I can even get my husband to go if I promise to take him to Nasa.

The library opens on April 18th at 10am. We've got two fundraising events prior to that and five "workdays" scheduled to get everything ready on time. I'm working my rear off trying to get it all done.
Have fun at the Phoenix meet and know that i'll be thinking of you all!
susan

Susan, we will be in New Mexico on April 18, but I have not fixed my driving schedule yet...was thinking of driving up to Colorado, but can also [pass by San Antonio instead...

On March 28, there is unfortunately a huge ball game at the University of Phoenix Stadium at Westgate!
NCAA DIVISION I MEN'S BASKETBALL WEST REGIONAL
Thursday, March 26 10:00am - 10:00pm
Saturday, March 28 10:00am - 10:00pm 2009

So, March 27 might be a better time to meet...Norman :)

Due to the Basketball games at Westgate on March 28, another location just a few blocks away is the very new "Park West", which will probably have easier parking and less traffic then. It has a very nice pizza place called Grimaldi's...

Address:
Grimaldi's Pizza
9788 W Northern Ave
Peoria, AZ 85345
Phone (623) 486-4455
http://grimaldispizzeria.com/

I am worried about the traffic due to the NCAA on that night, March 28 (Saturday). But Park West usually will have much less people and less congestion during such events.