First Impressions

While Pizza Fusion is non-descript out front– aside from the obvious fleet of unusual delivery cars– the inside is heavily decorated in both environmentally-friendly fashion, and information explaining how indeed the setup is environmentally friendly.  Plenty of small touches– bookshelves on the walls, chalkboarded special offers– give both an attempt to be a trendy bistro and a neighbourhood drop-in centre.

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Pizza Fusion is located off of Mckellips Rd. between Higley and Recker. Having heard mixed reviews on the place we decided to give it a try.

Tree huggers will love this place was my first reaction.  I’m far from one so all I cared was how the food tasted. Upon entering we were seated almost immediately. Our waitress (Ashley) then welcomed us and explained the restaurant. Everything there has some type of environmental friendly story behind it. The toilets use about half the water as a normal toilet. The menus are made of bamboo, which is easier to recycle. I was just hoping the pizza was not recycled.

The food at pizza fusion is built around health. The soda is made of pure cane sugar which was actually quite good. I would recommend trying the black cherry soda. The pizza is made of all organic ingredients. We decided to get a few pizzas. We ordered the Seattle, the Greek, ham and pineapple, and another with pepperoni and sausage.

Overall the pizza was good and I didn’t feel like you normally do when you finish eating a bunch of greasy pizza. Maybe that’s because everything was so “organic” and “healthy”. I think Pizza Fusion is kind of a cool place that you should go try at least once. It is a bit pricey so don’t expect to pay a few bucks and get full. That may be the only downside to this “tree hugger wonderland”.

Imagine a typical deli setting crammed into a single space in an AZ strip meeting. Hard booth seating down the right side and deli on the left with the walls covered in Chicago paraphernalia. The menu contains several options outside of hot dogs, but why go somewhere with “Hot Dog” in the name and not get a hot dog? Unless, of course, you are getting a side to go along with your dog.

They have any standard topping for the dogs and you can get a regular or jumbo dog. In my opinion, you have to go for the jumbo dog. So, the Jumbo Cheese Dog it is with a side of cheese fries.  The hot dog was pretty tasty and being topped with cheese sauce instead of melted cheese is always a plus to me. The fries were smothered with cheese sauce as well. Although, at first it seemed like there would not quite be enough cheese, it ended up being the perfect amount. The fries themselves were just okay, so the cheese made the difference.

Overall, if you are hungry for hot dogs and want some Chicago reminiscing to go along with the meal, hit this place up.

First Impressions

Thai House is a clean, tidy little restaurant in one of the strip malls opposite Superstition Springs Centre.  There are only enough tables for about 15 people, and the place is regularly packed.  It carries very little in the way of austentation– just a few signs advertising specials, and a visible drinks machine (the kitchen sits behind a curtain).

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The Los Angeles Field Trip Continues…

First Impressions

You honestly would not expect what you’re going to see from outside– it’s surrounded with modern buildings, and primarily signposted by its famous “deliberately failing” neon sign– so you might expect a fairly modern bar or diner.

You get something completely different on the inside.  Cafe Wa s is a labyrinth of tiny details– clearly planned to the thousandth-degree by the owner.  Much of the facility is lit by candles and unexpected light-sources (candeabras in odd locations, small table lamps), and the entire facility was done up with an attention to create a past and history for it– old pictures on the walls, mis-matched wallpaper, signs that there were many different styles applied at different times.  Kane is known for trying to create a mood in his properties, and you could spend your entire meal trying to read the story he’s created for the place.

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A special “Field Trip Report” from Los Angeles.

First Impressions

Cafe Med seems appealing– festive green awnings and a small, “converted older storefront” look allows it to blend in well in the 8000s of Sunset Strip.

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First Impressions

Tortas El Guero is the latest reincarnation of a former Long John Silver’s on Main Street, near Stapley.   Surprisingly, the inside is cozy and homey, augmented with large colour photos of tortas and small children eating.

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