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The Dish with Jess Harter ~ Pursuing food and fun across the East Valley

Archive for the 'Trophy’s Steakhouse' Tag

5 to try: Recently opened E.V. restaurants

July 9th, 2009, 9:01 pm by Jess Harter

The recession has been hard on Valley restaurants, but out of adversity comes opportunity. Amidst all the closures, a number of new eateries have risen from the ashes like Phoenix’s mythical namesake. Here are five that recently have opened:

Fired Up GrillIl Vinaio: Formerly called Valley Eatery, this massive restaurant has been remodeled, including the addition of a wine and microbrew bar. Breakfast and lunch remain basic, but chef Patrick Boll, last seen at Scottsdale fun spots Geisha a Go Go and Drift, has created a Mediterranean-influenced dinner menu. 270 W. Main St., Mesa, (480) 649-6476.

Nunthaporn’s Thai Cuisine: Former Benjarong Thai owner Treekamol Nunthaporn has taken over the Main Street space that housed Christel’s Bavarian Deli for nearly two decades. The lunch/dinner menu includes a wide variety of traditional Thai chicken, beef, pork, duck and seafood dishes, most $9 to $10. 17 W. Main St., Mesa, (480) 649-6140.

Rendezvous Point Restaurant: Longtime French restaurant Citrus Café, which closed after its most recent owner was charged with stealing diners’ credit card numbers, has re-opened under new ownership. The lunch menu features basic salads, sandwiches and burgers; the dinner menu focuses on steaks and pasta dishes. 2330 N. Alma School Road, Chandler, (480) 855-5566.

Fired Up Grill: Former Chandler Buca di Beppo manager Joe Busone takes over the nearby space (pictured above) that housed popular nightlife spot 56 East. Pasta dishes and individual pizzas lend an Italian flair to the menu; entrees range from Southwestern meatloaf ($13.99) to Caribbean grilled ahi tuna ($16.99). 7131 W. Ray Road, Chandler, (480) 940-4040.

Trophy’s Steakhouse: Nearly three dozen big-game mounts are a clue this restaurant focuses on meat, including many kinds of wild game. The eight-ounce filet mignon ($21) is one of the best values in the Valley. Other must-tries are the pork “wings” ($9), buffalo burger ($10) and buffalo and elk meatloaf ($13). 7215 S. Power Road, Queen Creek, (480) 840-3981.

Posted in: Chandler • Mesa • Queen Creek • • • • • • | 4 Comments »

5 to try: Restaurants for dads

June 18th, 2009, 7:10 am by Jess Harter

Dads come in all shapes, sizes and types. While it’s unfair to paint all dads with the same brush — for example, while I’m sure most enjoy a good steak, there undoubtedly are some vegans out there — I think it’s safe to say many dads share certain hobbies and passions.

So at the risk of perpetuating some stereotypes, here are five East Valley restaurants that should appeal to your dad — if he fits into one of these common categories:

Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & GrillCountry music fan: If your dad’s idea of rap music is Cowboy Troy, he’ll fit right in at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill. The famous country singer’s super-sized restaurant and honky tonk at Mesa Riverview offers a trailer load of comfort foods, such as chicken fried steak, fried catfish, fried bologna sandwiches and deep-fried Twinkies. 1065 N. Dobson Road, Mesa, (480) 844-8629.

Trophy's SteakhouseBig-game hunter: All 29 species of big-game animals found in North America — from bison to polar bear to musk ox — are on display in the museum-like dining room of Trophy’s Steakhouse. Besides traditional beef steaks, this recently opened Queen Creek restaurant dishes up such wild game as elk, buffalo and antelope. 7215 S. Power Road, Queen Creek, (480) 840-3981.

SanTan Brewing Co.Beer drinker: If the closest thing to a vegetable your dad regularly eats is hops and barley, he’s sure to find a beer to his liking at SanTan Brewing Company. The downtown Chandler microbrewery makes seven different beers that complement a menu of traditional pub grub, such as burgers, sandwiches, wings and pizzas. 8 S. San Marcos Place, Chandler, (480) 917-8700.

Don & Charlie'sSports fan: Besides great steaks and ribs, Don & Charlie’s has one of the best sports memorabilia collections this side of Cooperstown. The entryway is lined with 800 autographed baseballs, autographed NFL and NBA jerseys hang in the bar and the dining room’s walls are covered with autographed photos and magazine covers. 7501 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale, (480) 990-0900.

Cadillac RanchCar lover: Whether your dad is a weekend mechanic or weekend roadtripper, he’ll feel at home at Cadillac Ranch, a Tempe Marketplace roadhouse where the auto-fixation runs from the Cadillac mounted above its entry to the ceiling covered with license plates. The menu emphasizes burgers, steaks and ribs. 2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, (480) 894-1111.

Posted in: Chandler • Mesa • Queen Creek • Scottsdale • Tempe • • • • • • | Post a Comment »

Trophy’s Steakhouse: Call of the wild

May 26th, 2009, 9:48 pm by Jess Harter

Trophy's Steakhouse

I think it’s safe to say diners have never seen, and probably never will see, another Valley restaurant with the décor of Trophy’s Steakhouse.

Owner Kevin Dettler is an elite big-game hunter — one of fewer than 120 people in the world who’ve bagged the Safari Club International’s “North American 29,” all the big-game species found on the continent.

And all 29 of the part-time Gilbert resident’s trophies — from bison to polar bear to musk ox — are on display at Trophy’s, which opened last month on the northeast corner of Power and Rittenhouse roads in Queen Queek.

Everywhere you look in the elegant restaurant, there are horns, claws and teeth. In the center of the 3,000-square-foot dining room, five huge bears stalk diners. Behind the polished granite bar, four majestic sheep keep watch on a rocky outcropping.

Trophy's SteakhouseWild game is showcased not just on the walls but also on the menu, although about three-fourths of the offerings are traditional steakhouse fare, such as steaks, chicken and seafood.

Given the opulent surroundings, Trophy’s prices are surprisingly affordable. You won’t find any $175 Japanese Kobe steaks here. With the exception of a special 24-ounce bone-in ribeye ($37), all of the 6- to 12-ounce premium steaks are less than $25. And that includes baked potato and vegetable.

“We weren’t sure what we wanted to do with the wild game,” says Dettler’s son Kiel (pictured above on right), who runs Trophy’s with his brother, Brett (pictured on left), while their parents spend summers back on the family farm near Aberdeen, S.D.

“It can get rather expensive doing wild game. When you get into kangaroo and llama, you’re definitely looking at more money per ounce.”

So the wild game is limited to a few regular menu items — such as buffalo and elk meatloaf ($13) and antelope sausage ($13) — and ever-changing weekend specials created by chef Rob Bowser. Last weekend’s special was red deer. This weekend, it’s rabbit.

Trophy's Steakhouse“You gotta be careful with (wild game). You can undercook or overcook it very easily,” Brett Dittler, 25, says, adding that llama steaks are his favorite wild-game dish. For his 27-year-old brother, it’s wild boar sausage.

The brothers are toying with future menu ideas ranging from bear to rattlesnake.

So far, East Valley residents seem up for a taste of adventure. The filet and ribeye are Trophy’s two top sellers, but the buffalo and elk meatloaf is the third-most-popular item on the menu.

Now if the Dettlers could just get curious diners to follow the “No Touching” signs and stop trying to pet the grizzly bear or gray wolf.

“The kids are actually pretty good about it,” Kiel Dettler laughs. “The adults are the ones you have to watch.”

Trophy’s Steakhouse
Where: 7215 S. Power Road, Queen Creek (northeast corner of Power and Rittenhouse roads)
Open: 3:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Prices: Appetizers $7-$9, salads $7-$8, burgers $8-$10, entrees $13-$24, desserts $4-$6
Info: (480) 840-3981 or trophyssteakhouse.com

(Photos by Tim Hacker, East Valley Tribune)

Posted in: Queen Creek • | 21 Comments »
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