Restaurant Week: Z'Tejas

Sad news met us when we got to Phoenix last week:  we were a week too early for Restaurant Week.  As some of you may know, we travel for the express purpose of filling our bellies with good food.  Often we are restaurant-starved in the desert and so each new city brings on new culinary adventures.   Phoenix is no exception.  Everywhere we went while we were in Phoenix, we met someone who suggested the place we had to go to get...Mexican food, breakfast food, pasta ("better than in Italy," one man added), etc.  It seems there is no shortage of beloved eateries in the greater Phoenix area.   Although we were there too early this year, you still have time to book a flight because all this week I am going to be reviewing the places we enjoyed.   I am not a travel agent, but I can plan an amazing vacation for your tastebuds!

First stop is Z'Tejas.  This is a must stop location for us when passing through Phoenix.  It is a restaurant with locations in Texas, Arizona, and California, but the Scottsdale location wins hands down on the quality of food and the friendliness of the servers.  The food is always exceptional and the margaritas were voted by the locals the best in the valley.  

We started with a Trio of Salsas (house, spicy, and green) and some guacamole; a great way to start the meal.  Also included with all orders is a skillet of cornbread that does the Texas tradition proud (with a hint of sweet).   Drew also started off with the 6th Street Margarita (their house) because he says it is one of the best restaurant margaritas out there (more on the liquor part of our Phoenix trip here). 

Our meals were the Smoked Chicken Enchiladas and the Seafood Enchiladas.  As always the Smoked Chicken Enchiladas were great!  I call them Texas on a plate.  The seafood enchiladas, while good, just don't do it for me, but Drew liked them.  I would recommend the Barbacoa Enchiladas, but I hear the Chile Relleno is amazing.  It is so hard to try something new at a restaurant when you only get to eat there once a year! (Sorry for the blurry pictures, they were taken on Drew's cell phone and I spared you from the truly horribly blurry ones!)

Don't forget to save a little room for dessert because the cobbler with seasonal fruit is amazing!  Also on the list of must-haves is the brownie - it is sublime (for a brownie).

If you are heading out to Phoenix for restaurant week, you won't find Z'Tejas listed among the participants.  This is likely because they have great food at affordable prices everyday and they have one of the best happy hours in the valley.  Even if you stop in for appetizers, drinks, and dessert, you won't be disappointed.