Just got back from Phoenix Diner.... We went in about 11:30 and the place was starting to pickup for lunch. Wait staff was very friendly and the place looks
nice. I had breakfast and my wife had lunch. The food was served fast and service was nice. My meal (creamed chip beef) was very good. It was warm and they
served a nice size portion of both the chipped beef and the home fries. My wife got a turkey club and it was packed with turkey (she had to take some out to
even fit it in her mouth). She said it could have used more mayonnaise though. She got chips but you can get fries too (I heard they are very very good).
When we were leaving around 12:30, the place was packed.
Other notes:
I left a bit upset because this place is supposed to be Val Rio reincarnated (the owner/cook was the owner/cook from Val Rio) or at the very least, a DINER. With that being said, what is a Diner with out a counter and bar stools...? There are none and the worst part about it is there was plenty of room for a counter and bar stools. In fact, there were several people who were individually sitting at a nice booth and as people walked in had to be seated at tables. Wouldn't it make sense and be more feasible to have a counter for single eaters to free up the booths? How do you overlook this? The other non-diner attribute is that when i was asked if i wanted more coffee, the guy grabbed my cup and brought it to the back to fill it up...? A real diner or even restaurant for that matter would walk to the table and fill it up. What is up with that?
I will definitely go back for the food but the atmosphere and "Diner" characteristics are no where to be found. The place should be called, Phoenix Restaurant. If you are looking for a glimmer of Val Rio, forget about it. Nothing on the walls, no mention on the menu, nothing. My hope is that others might say something to the guy and maybe he will put a counter in and a few bar stools. I mean c'mon, how could you leave that out? Oh, and btw, they have two flat screen tv's in the corners showing ads for local businesses and such (Lasik surgery etc...) why? detracts from the diner atmosphere even more.
Bottom line: I am happy it is there as it adds value to the neighborhood and good food but unhappy that it is basically just a restaurant located in a strip mall with no attempt at providing some semblance of Diner character. Shame on them.
Other notes:
I left a bit upset because this place is supposed to be Val Rio reincarnated (the owner/cook was the owner/cook from Val Rio) or at the very least, a DINER. With that being said, what is a Diner with out a counter and bar stools...? There are none and the worst part about it is there was plenty of room for a counter and bar stools. In fact, there were several people who were individually sitting at a nice booth and as people walked in had to be seated at tables. Wouldn't it make sense and be more feasible to have a counter for single eaters to free up the booths? How do you overlook this? The other non-diner attribute is that when i was asked if i wanted more coffee, the guy grabbed my cup and brought it to the back to fill it up...? A real diner or even restaurant for that matter would walk to the table and fill it up. What is up with that?
I will definitely go back for the food but the atmosphere and "Diner" characteristics are no where to be found. The place should be called, Phoenix Restaurant. If you are looking for a glimmer of Val Rio, forget about it. Nothing on the walls, no mention on the menu, nothing. My hope is that others might say something to the guy and maybe he will put a counter in and a few bar stools. I mean c'mon, how could you leave that out? Oh, and btw, they have two flat screen tv's in the corners showing ads for local businesses and such (Lasik surgery etc...) why? detracts from the diner atmosphere even more.
Bottom line: I am happy it is there as it adds value to the neighborhood and good food but unhappy that it is basically just a restaurant located in a strip mall with no attempt at providing some semblance of Diner character. Shame on them.
