One of my favorite things to do when checking out a new place with only a short window to visit is to do a little restaurant hopping. A recent road trip to Phoenix, Arizona, gave me the opportunity to check out a couple of eateries in the downtown area. After finishing up the business we had to do in town, we checked in to our hotel. Our animated and very friendly desk attendant recommended a few places to check out within walking distance.
The Kettle Black Kitchen and Pub
The big shiny red doors on this place invite you into a dark and cozy pub that feels straight out of Dublin. The dark interior is warm, and the accents like the dark tin stamped ceilings perfectly complement the wood-paneled walls and the wide plank wooden floors. The bar has a great throwback feel to it. The fully stocked bar uses ornate frames to showcase its spirits selection. It’s an inviting space with a pleasant dark warmth to it.
We ordered a bottle of wine to sip while we perused the menu. It’s an ode to Ireland with offerings like bangers and mash, corned beef and cabbage, fish and chips, burgers, sandwiches, and more. Since we planned on a progressive meal, we decided to try one of their appetizers before heading to the next restaurant. We tried their Crispy Cod Sliders. The three sandwiches are served on tender white buns with a crispy fish center topped with melted American cheese, crisp coleslaw, and their spicy tartar sauce. They deliciously melted in our mouths and were devoured immediately.
We didn’t want to leave, but the quest was to sample one more of the recommendations made by our desk clerk, who happened to be a Chicago native, which made this Midwest girl more likely to trust his opinion.
Cornish Pasty Company
Cornish Pasty Company is a small, independently owned restaurant chain started in January 2005 by Cornwall (Southwest England) native Dean Thomas. The pasty was his favorite treat baked up by his beloved Nans (grandma). The pasty originated in Cornwall as the go-to lunch for tin miners back in the day. The mining industry has since died out in the area, but the love for pasty hasn’t. Dean’s hunch that Americans would embrace his favorite treat paid off with many loyal customers around the southwest.
The interior of the Phoenix location is excellent, with antler chandeliers and booths that look like repurposed church pews. Upstairs features a second bar and pool tables. We settled into a nice booth downstairs and ordered a couple of beers. The menu is filled with a wide variety of pastys, along with other options to satisfy diners. We first ordered their take on a beet salad. The salad features sweet roasted beets diced with fresh mozzarella, spinach, fresh mint, pine nuts and topped with a white balsamic vinaigrette. It was incredible. Next, we had to get a pasty. When in Rome, right? We ordered the Oggie (the original), but unfortunately, they had just sold out of it. So we opted at our server’s suggestion to try the Guinness stew pasty. The flakey pastry arrived stuffed with steak simmered in a Guinness gravy, with red potato, mushrooms, carrots, and celery. All those ingredients are layers with cheddar, sautéed leeks, and cabbage. It is served with a side of sour cream. The meat was amazingly tender, and the cheesy gravy center was a highly delectable experience. I am so happy that Dean decided to have an outpost of this place in Las Vegas and Phoenix and other locations in Arizona. Check it out for yourself when you can.
I have been a fan of Pasties for years. I had initially thought it was a Michigan thing, but as it turns out when the tin mining industry dried up in Cornwall, many of the miners emigrated to the upper peninsula of Michigan to work in the burgeoning copper mining industry. Thank you to Chef Dean for creating and bringing these flavors to all of us.