God help me but I was trapped at this resort and had to eat lunch here. Yes, I only ate here once, but I got the idea that the circle of cilinary hell I was in was typical.
- 1 Star - Wierdly dark. Came in at 2pm on a weekday and what lights were on (most those over the bar were OFF), were dimmed down to the strip-club level. To encourage more drinking? To save electricity? Just flat out weird.
- 1 Star - Horrible, dreadful food. A quesadilla should not be served cut up in to slices and stacked on top of each other if the slices are so watery with oil, so underdone, so glutinously sticky that each slice cannot be pulled away from that below it. And what's with the bizarre "chipolte" sauce poured over my stacked mass? It was like watery mayo with orange coloring. Foul beyond words. The pico de gallo was okay, though! But then there was the side salad. Old tasting lettuce, chunks of flat-fridge-tasting tomato and croutons that came out of a stale bag left open since... not sure when. I don't think I have left a salad untouched in years, until today. How was the dressing for the salad? Oh, hi, nice to see you Mister Plastic Bottled blue cheese.
- 1 Star/ + 1 Star - Server. I sat at the bar, and with about 12 stools available, there was only one other taken, so it was not busy. The bartender was attentive, not neglectful. But there could have been some warmth, some pleasantry? Right? I mean, take a few moments to ask... something beside the basics - whatcha want? No?
+ 1 Star/-1 Star - The music. It's like the 80's are alive, and kicking here at the ole Sangria. Sort of cool but not as this is just not *that* sort of place.
- 1 Star - The Price. Once again, as with the other eaterie on property, it's like they know they have you by the short-hairs. A quesadilla and small salad for about $20, without any drink (water! free!)? Ridic.
There isn't much more to say about this place other than it is the 2nd restaurant on the premises of the Scottsdale Resort and Conference Center. I understand that the pool bar (which was not open the few days I was here) serves food from Sangria's, so SSDD is the vibe. What Sangria's and it's snazzier (but still crappy) sister joint, the Palm Court, need is a food facelift. They could get away with being mediocre in so many other ways (decor, out-dated vibe in general) if the food was good. But it's not even fresh!
This resort needs to step up their food game. Maybe they can get away with serving slop to the conventioneers, but the fact that they had rooms available at last minute notice when the rest of Scottsdale was booked up speaks mightily to the poverty of their food quality. Again, a sad "avoid" vote. read more