Came to Ocotillo for a birthday dinner with my husband and had a great experience. The service,…read morefood, and cocktails were all excellent. The wings were unique, savory, and just a little spicy. We also had the pork chop, which was perfectly charred outside and juicy inside, plus the salmon, which was cooked beautifully. Everything came with delicious sauces that really elevated the dishes. We sat in a comfy booth in the bar area and loved the relaxed atmosphere and privacy. There's also a great outdoor area with misters and a quieter upscale dining room. We would definitely come back!

I've been here several times in many different capacities - with family for dinner and happy hour,…read morea brunch date, corporate happy hours, to the bar to enjoy the happy hour food deals solo. I think I'm to the point where I only feel it's worth coming when you can sit outside - I prefer tables along the entry walkway which are picnic tables, and that level of casual really doesn't match up with the price dinner menu, so by that logic, it's boils down to worth it for happy hour. My main issue with the dining room, ever since my first time there, is the acoustics. There's always one loud table (if not more) and something about the building just amplifies it. I feel exhausted after eating there from having to shout to converse, and thereby also needing to keep topics of conversation pretty shallow. Also, a more recent phenomena is the portion sizes have become enormous. We most recently did the Arizona Restaurant Week menu, I tried to come with a big appetite for multiple courses. I opted for the ahi tuna small plate for the first course (for something more interesting than a salad but less substantial than the very large chicken wings that come with potatoes), the shrimp pesto tagliatelle for the second, and the chocolate cake dessert. The tuna would have been a suitable dinner; knowing there were still 2 courses to come, I had to call it quits before finishing. I managed a few bites of pasta and took the rest home, along with half the cake dessert. It made for a nice dinner the following night, although still went not entirely finished! Secondary to being mind blown by the portion size, yes everything was delicious. The happy hour dishes I've most enjoyed (these rotate a few times a year) include the various flautas, the eggplant meatballs, sun-dried strawberry and ricotta spread on grilled bread (bring this back!). The charred sweet potato, grilled chicken wings (with potatoes), and smoked beets are pretty good as well. I look forward to focusing my return visits on this menu!

First and foremost it bothers me when some people call a "family restaurant" a "hole-in-the-wall"…read moreestablishment. This is a clean and well run family establishment. I just had two great meals there last weekend when we were in town for a Allan Parsons Project concert. The first night (Fri) I looked over what other people were eating and the table next to me had a great looking shrimp and pasta dish that I ordered with the spring mix walnut salad. My wife had the Gnocchi with Vodka sauce and a Caesar salad. We were both very pleased with our selections. Sat. afternoon we came back before the concert. I had a "custom" made pasta dish (chicken, mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes, broccoli, olive oil) and it was great! Had the same salad as Fri. night. My wife had the lasagna and was very happy with the serving size and flavor. We will definitely be back when we are in town. Give this a try and you will be satisfied like we were.

Come for the Lasagna, Not the Candlelight Romance…read more We came here for a birthday dinner because we wanted to try something new, and by the end of the meal I found myself with two very different opinions: The food? Excellent. The ambiance? Let's talk about it. First, the good. The food was genuinely delicious. This feels like the kind of family-owned Italian restaurant where the focus is on what's coming out of the kitchen rather than what's hanging on the walls. Everything tasted like comfort food should; warm, satisfying, and made by people who care about the recipes. The service was also very good. In fact, the cook came out during our meal to ask how everything was. I was happy to tell him the food was fantastic because it absolutely deserved the compliment. Now for the not-so-good. We arrived around 5:30 PM, and the dining room was so quiet I could hear dishes being washed in the back. Not "pleasantly quiet." More "did everyone else know something I didn't?" quiet. For most of the meal there was no music at all. Just silence and the occasional clink of kitchen activity. They eventually turned on some background music shortly before we left, but it was so low that it felt more like a suggestion than actual ambiance. The tables, chairs, and overall décor are perfectly fine, but this isn't the place I'd choose for a romantic date night, anniversary dinner, or a birthday celebration where you're looking for a special atmosphere. What it is, however, is a great place to bring your spouse, kids, parents, in-laws, or anyone who appreciates good Italian comfort food without needing a white tablecloth experience. My advice? Come for the food. The food is worth it. If you're chasing ambiance, maybe lower your expectations or plan for a later dinner. The atmosphere seemed to improve after 6:30 PM as more people arrived. Bottom line: fantastic food, friendly service, family-dinner vibes. Just don't expect Tuscany. Expect comfort, and you'll leave happy.

Decided to try this restaurant during Arizona restaurant week. The inside of the restaurant was…read morevery cozy with cute decor. The hostess was very warm and friendly. My partner and I love mussels so we were excited to give those a try. They were very tasty but we noticed a lot of mussels with only the shells in our bowl. For my main I decided to try the humble lasagna, I was a little confused when asked what protein because typically it's a meat sauce in the lasagna. However here the lasagna does not come with a meat sauce and I was given one meatball on the side. My partner ordered the chicken parmigiana and he enjoyed his food. The pasta was just okay but the chicken was pretty tasty. For drinks I ordered the white while it's lite and really enjoyed the cocktail. My partner enjoyed the Italian Paloma. I would definitely visit again!

never would've found this place--it's tucked into a corner building on 3rd St and Jefferson, in…read morefront of the Adeline apartments. Someone had to point me here, and I'm glad they did. The service made the night. Ella (our server) and Audrey walked us through the menu like they actually eat here on their days off--house-made sourdough, the wine list, the dishes worth building a meal around. We started with the Silk and Spice red blend (smooth, easy recommendation) and an espresso martini with a clean, dessert-like finish. The Caesar came with a jalapeño kick that cut through the Brussels sprout bitterness--unexpected, but it worked. The three-ball meatballs are the appetizer to order: light, well-made, perfect with that sourdough. This turned into a breadier meal than planned, but the Maximus pizza earned it. I'm a Neapolitan snob and the crust here is doughier than I'd usually go for--but the undercarriage held up, and this is now one of my favorite slices in the Valley. Better than Pizzeria Bianco. The dish to remember: cremini sacchetti. Audrey called them "pasta pillows," which undersells it. Ella steered us toward the short rib version, and the short rib, cheese, mushroom, and pasta came together perfectly. This is the dish that'll bring me back. Highly recommend if you're in or visiting downtown Phoenix. Great atmosphere for a date night, meal with friends, and I am very tempted to bring my laptop and work at the bar on my next visit.

Amazing and DELICIOUS GREAT for groups…read more Nice Vibes and service with a smile Parking is difficult Zero handicap

The food is delicous and flavorful. From the moment we sat down, they brought out warm tortillas…read moreand butter! The smell of the fresh torilla brought back childhood memories. The homemade salsa was amazing, and the elote was absolutely delicious. The portion sizes are HUGE, and the pollo asada platter was incredibly generous. Definitely come hungry! Our waiter was attentive, helpful, and made sure we had everything we needed. The atmosphere was fantastic and this place was a whole vibe! Overall, amazing food, great service, and an awesome atmosphere. Can't wait to come back and try Bacanora next! 10/10 -- Highly recommend!

First visit to this great spot. The vibe is something like a speakeasy and old San Francisco …read more We had the seafood tower with 7 guests. It was spectacular!!! The dirty martini was perfect. The scallops were tasty. The service was positive. One mishap on an order and I think the young server, Emma, could have done a bit better with addressing the error and apology. The manager resolved it perfectly - with poise and experience.

WOW !! What a beautiful restaurant !…read moreI love trying new places to eat in the Phoenix/Scottsdale areas and Cleaverman did not disappoint. From the spectacular service (thank you Emma) to the great food and the relaxing "speakeasy " Bar "Filthy" (Garrison Jones - you play like very few can) for an after dinner drink. A little hard to find (on the outside of a shopping center across from the Sheraton Hotel) , parking is in a structure ($22 for 4 hours) or you can look for street parking. Prices are comparable and so worth it ($500) 4 people. The Duck Fries and Steak Tartare were a 10/10 !!

Food is fantastic. Ordered chilaquiles with birria as my protein and the meat is tender and…read moreflavorful. My girlfriend ordered aqua chilies they had a nice kick and good portion. We also ordered two cocktails: mezcalita and st.hibiscus both perfect ratios. You can taste the alcohol and not overpowering with artificial mixers, like most restaurants, cocktails. Worth it. Service very good. With great classic Mexican music not the overplayed playlist you hear at every other spot. I might be proposing to my girlfriend here because we loved it so much.

Presidio Cocina Mexicana is one of those places we've been coming back to for years, and it's easy…read moreto see why. There's something so cozy and welcoming about this spot that makes it feel familiar every time we walk through the door. One of my favorite things to order here is the chilaquiles. I usually switch up the meat depending on what I'm craving, and this visit I went with chorizo. The tortilla chips have that perfect balance of crisp edges and just enough sauce to soften them without turning soggy. The chorizo adds a savory, slightly smoky richness, while the toppings bring everything together with fresh, bright flavors. It's the kind of breakfast where every bite has a little crunch, a little spice, and plenty of flavor. I also love ordering a fresh orange juice alongside my coffee--it's become part of my usual routine here. There's something about fresh OJ with a comforting plate of chilaquiles that just makes breakfast feel extra special. The service has consistently been wonderful, and the atmosphere is warm and comfortable without feeling overly formal. After all these years, Presidio Cocina Mexicana remains one of those spots I genuinely enjoy returning to. Good food, great service, and that cozy neighborhood feel that keeps you coming back.

The food was amazing, fresh and unique. Our waiter was super knowledgeable and friendly when…read moreserving us and with others in general. Really cute restaurant with great vibes! Definitely worth trying.

Finally made it to Restaurant Progress after being on my list for YEARS, so you can imagine that my…read moreexcitement was through the roof! We came in to celebrate a birthday as a group of four, and unfortunately, we all left feeling pretty underwhelmed. As a group, we agreed it's not somewhere we'd return to. Let's start with the positives! The restaurant itself is beautiful, cozy, and warm. It's also very tiny and has an open kitchen, and since we were seated pretty close to it, you definitely feel the heat. A couple of my friends were actually a little too warm throughout dinner. The service was spectacular! Our wine recommendations were stellar I tried three different kinds and all were a 5/5. The ice cream sandwich?! Insanely delicious. If it's on the menu when you go, get it!! We ordered one and immediately had to order another because it was that good. My friends and I practically ordered the entire menu, and unfortunately, the main entrees were where the disappointment came in. We ordered the roasted chicken ($33) and bavette ($55), and neither really stood out to us. The bavette had a chewy texture, while the chicken felt a little too plain. I expected the sauces and toppings to bring more flavor, but they didn't quite come together the way I was hoping. Ironically, we found the vegetable dishes to be much more flavorful and memorable than the proteins. For the price point, I'd expect everything to be at that same level. A couple of other things also left a bad taste. We were accidentally charged for a drink we never ordered, and after calling twice to get it corrected, I still haven't received a response. We also noted that we were celebrating a birthday, and our host mentioned that we'd be "taken care of," which made us think there would be some sort of birthday acknowledgment even something as simple as a complimentary dessert. Unfortunately, there wasn't which is totally fine but it was just brought up multiple times by staff which leaves you with a hope that something special is coming when it isn't lol Overall, I'm really glad I finally got to experience Restaurant Progress and can check it off my list, but I think the anticipation was better than the actual experience. The service, wine, and ice cream sandwich were definitely highlights, but the food and overall experience just didn't live up to the expectations I had going in.

Jackie was the greatest bartender i've had in a while. Always checked on us and offered some great…read morecocktails for our experience. Would definitely recommend to come see her if you go here.

I had sushi in Arizona and it was great! I would order it again too…read more This was one of the best restaurants we ate at while in Phoenix! Everyone in our party enjoyed their meal too. Noodle salad, shrimp tacos and the crispy chicken sandwich. The service was great too. We sat inside but the patio had misters. There were quite a few people sitting outside on their beautiful patio.