Josephine’s Modern American Bistro This quaint restaurant is in a historic building blocks away from downtown Flagstaff. The house in which Josephine’s operates has been placed in the National Historic Register for its outstanding example of Craftsman Bungalow architecture. Tony Cosentino is the chef at the helm of the kitchen. He frequently updates the menu to showcase the best produce and seafood the season has to offer and pays homage to southwestern cuisine.
On our visit, we started with their Baklava Baked Brie phyllo wrapped in French Brie with pistachios and orange cardamom honey. It was a crunch yet gooey delight. Next, we sampled the southwest Caesar salad built with baby artisan romaine, green chili Caesar dressing, pepita pesto, cotija cheese, heirloom cherry tomatoes, lemon, and ancho chili croutons. It was a unique take on a fan-favorite salad. My favorite dish of the meal was the entrée. We ordered their Achiote Smoked Pork Osso Bucco, where the tender meat was smoked and slow braised in achiote demi-glace and served over creamy mashed potatoes, yellow squash, and zucchini veggie noodles. Hands down, it is one of the most unique dishes I’ve sampled in a while. The smokey, tender meat just melted in the mouth, and it was totally worth the trip.
Tinderbox Kitchen Many online reviewers touted this modern dark dining space as one of Flagstaff's hot spots for dinner. Expectations were high going in. We started with their take on brei. They served it en croute style with the cheese nestled in puff pastry and topped with raisins, poached pears, blackberries, served with the house baguette. Unfortunately, the pastry was overcooked, and the cheese was not the melty delight that we knew Brie would deliver. They sent out a fruity mint sorbet as an incredible palate cleanser. For the main course, we selected the seared duck breast. We were told to order it medium rare on the chef's recommendation. The duck is served with citrus brussels sprouts, roasted marble potatoes, and orange sauce. The edges of the meat were tender and complemented the other components of the dish so well. Unfortunately, when we got to the center of the cut, the duck was just too raw to eat, and we were unable to finish it.
Galaxy Diner Located right off Route 66, this throwback diner delivers comfort food and ice cream delights of all kinds. Silver accents, red checkered tiles, neon accent lights, a jukebox, and celebrity photos adorn the walls. This place serves sundaes, banana splits, and more, and it is also home to 100 different flavors of milkshakes or malts. We decided to go with the classic chocolate malt and the shroom burger. The shroom burger with fresh sautéed fungi, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing is served with fries. Both were flavorful homages to the heritage of Route 66, perfectly executed takes on classic diner fare. I will be back.
Olive the Best Turning his diet around and incorporating exercise into his life helped Scott McPeak not only lose 60 pounds in 3 months but he was also able to stop all medications that he’d been on while overweight. One of the first things he did when beginning this health journey was to incorporate high-quality olive oil into his diet. He discovered many health benefits of using pure olive oil with no additives, which spurred him and his family to open Olive the Best, a company with two storefronts, one in Flagstaff and the other in Williams, Arizona. The veteran-owned company has a tasting room experience that is second to none. They have curated some of the highest quality olive oils and balsamic vinegar sourced from the finest producers in the world. You can sample all 80 varieties at both storefronts, and it’s a fun experience for your tastebuds. There are no additives or preservatives, and the pure, unfiltered oil is linked to many health benefits, such as cancer prevention and heart and joint health. Try the delicious varieties or take advantage of their online store, where they ship domestic orders free when you order $39 or more at www.olivethebest.com.