First Taste: De la Cruz Bistro has grape expectations
September 3rd, 2008, 2:25 pm · 6 Comments · posted by Jess Harter
For the first time in my 22 years living in the East Valley, I see people drinking wine in downtown Mesa. Not out of paper bags, I mean.
It’s opening night at De la Cruz Bistro, downtown’s first wine bar. A few people are sitting at the copper-colored concrete bar. About two-thirds of the dining room tables are occupied.
Almost everyone has a glass of wine or bottle of imported beer while munching on everything from chicken wings to filet mignon.
This is exactly what Omar de la Cruz hoped for. Since the $100 million Mesa Arts Center opened in 2005, he’s seen well-dressed people standing in line to order at the counter of his tiny Mangos Mexican Café before shows.
If only there was someplace in downtown Mesa where people could enjoy a nice, sit-down meal, they’d say. Someplace where people could enjoy a glass of wine, either before or after a show.
• Check out De la Cruz Bistro’s menu (pdf)
• View a slideshow of De la Cruz Bistro
• Previous: De la Cruz Bistro opening soon in downtown Mesa (Aug. 12, 2008)
• Previous: Paperwork snafu postpones bistro opening (Aug. 12, 2008)
• Previous: De la Cruz Bistro set to open Friday (Aug. 28, 2008)
Now they have one. Just in time for the MAC’s 2008-09 season performances, which start next week.
De la Cruz Bistro, which still has the former Posh Nosh signage on the outside, exudes a rustic charm with its concrete floor, patches of exposed brick on the walls and open ductwork along the ceiling.
Dark wood furniture, including a century-old bar used for storage in the back of the dining room, and wrought-iron accents create an Old World feel. After dark, dimmed lights and black tablecloths lend a quiet air of intimacy.
A lunch menu of burgers and sandwiches caters to the local business crowd, but dinner entrees are squarely aimed at the arts center clientele. There are just nine entrees for now — look for more to be added in November.
Artichoke dip, rich with sour cream and cream cheese, and heart-shaped lavosh crackers ($8, pictured at right) offer a promising start. At a nearby table, diners are raving about their Mexican shrimp cocktail ($7). At another, a foursome are enjoying a plate of buffalo wings ($7).
As a kid, I liked to smother my mom’s meatloaf in ketchup. So I’m right in my comfort zone with de la Cruz’s bacon-wrapped meatloaf ($12, pictured below), two thick slices covered with a sweet red chili sauce.
A six-ounce filet mignon ($24), ordered medium well, is very tender. It comes with apricot chutney on top — a nice touch but not necessary given the meat’s flavor.
A large plate of shrimp scampi over linguine ($18) is garlicky and buttery.
Seventeen wines are available, including a dozen for $8 to $12 a glass. Bottles sell from $25 to more than $100.
Service is definitely a work in progress, somewhat understandable given it’s opening night. The pacing in the kitchen is off, and the cash register has a software glitch.
But I have to laugh when our server takes our drink order and returns a few minutes later to inform us, “We don’t have any wines called Michelob Ultra.”
When I explain it’s a beer — one of just four on the menu — she apologizes and explains she’s not an alcohol drinker.
It may take some time for this wine bar thing to catch on in downtown Mesa.
De la Cruz Bistro
Where: 11 W. Main St., Mesa (northwest corner of Main and Center streets)
Open: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
Prices: Appetizers $5-$8, salads $9-$10, sandwiches and burgers $6.50-$12, dinner entrees $12-$38
Info: (480) 258-6942
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:32 pm
I ate there on opening night and the food was excellent. This should be a hit with arts center patrons and a boon to downtown.
September 4th, 2008 at 7:52 am
My wife and I dined at Dela Cruz opening night and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food and excellent service.We will definitely be back!!!
September 4th, 2008 at 9:50 am
I ate there last night and it was amazing! We tried a few appetizers, main course and two of their deserts. Everyone should head down and check this place out. Hands down, better or as good as any restaurant in the valley. The filet or pork chops is my recommendation!
September 4th, 2008 at 11:59 am
I came into De La Cruz on labor day and they were open! The food was amazing and the service was even better. You will really feel like you’re a part of something when you come in to this restaurant.
September 24th, 2008 at 11:03 am
I never had a Yellow Pepper Soup before, but it was creamy and delicious. It was a special not on the menu, but it should stay. The Shrimp Cocktail had NINE shrimp and that sauce was tangy/horseradishy. Very nice. I was expecting the meatloaf to be good, but the sweet red chili sauce was the subtle stand out. A little zip that went a long way. Or just long enough, and that’s good. The Malbec wine (I wish I could remember the label) was light and had an easy finish. So, so good. The meal: wonderful.
The venue is perfectly Bistroesque.
Service was plucky, fun and almost fussy, but not intrusive. I hope Omar hires a couple of fine musicians to complete the ambiance. My guest was a Phoenix foodie and we’ve enjoyed some exceptional dining around the Valley, and the Bistro De La Cruz is is certainly among the best. Certainly the best in Mesa.
October 3rd, 2008 at 11:13 pm
I happened to find out about De La Cruz form a friend and went tonight to try some wine. The live music was excellent, not sure if this is a normal Friday night occurrence but I really enjoyed it. I shared a bottle of wine which was good and ended up ordering an appetizer and eventually dessert. The shrimp cocktail was good. I was stunned, however to find out that a slice of chocolate cake was $14. I thought the cake would be amazing for that price but unfortunately it was just an ordinary slice of cake. I would go back if the food was less expensive. It seems to be taking advantage of the fact that there aren’t many restaurants near the arts center and charging way more than it could if it didn’t have this type of monopoly. I might go back and have some wine (the glasses are mostly $11 which still seems somewhat overpriced for the type of wine available by glass) if they continue to have live music but won’t be ordering food again unless the prices become more reasonable. All of the people who came to our table were very nice.