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    Venues Cafe

    3.4 (323 reviews)
    ModerateNew American, Cafes
    Closed • 11:30 am - 8:00 pm

    Venues Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    VENUES CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Venues Cafe

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    Seafood enchiladas. Look great but NOT SO GOOD!
    Liz D.

    My husband had wonderful stuffed pork chops this evening and thoroughly enjoyed them. Me? I chose seafood enchiladas! What a disaster!! The menu described them as stuffed with shrimp , crab and mushroom and served with green enchilada sauce. Hmmmmmmm ! I was served something, stuffed with gritty spinach and a few tiny pieces of shrimp with a couple of pieces of mushroom. The entire thing was covered in melted cheese. No green enchilada sauce in sight! Along with it came risotto. Yes RISOTTO. ( usually delicious with their shrimp plate) but tonight crunchy uncooked rice and hardly the thing to serve with enchiladas. Next to that pico de gillo and a slice of avocado. What a strange and unlikely mixture. So hardly any shrimp,no crab, unwashed spinach and no green enchilada sauce. Definitely an extremely poor offering for $26.00 I have no idea what all that spinach was stuffed inside. So sad because we have had some really good food in this restaurant. Their French onion soup is the very best in town and I have enjoyed the bacon wrapped shrimp more than once. So this disappointing meal will have to be written off to a one time bad experience. You might want to avoid ordering the seafood enchiladas though!

    Menu
    HoyMay P.

    We were hangry and needed a late lunch. There was also the Carefree Art and Wine Festival happening so we weren't sure if we would have to wait for a table. Luckily we went to lunch late enough where most diners had left. The guys had cheeseburgers and fries and we gals ordered the turkey panini with green salad. The burgers looked amazingly huge. The guys were happy and ate every last bite. The paninis were grilled, buttery and good. The salad was fresh and crisp. A good meal! Lots of patrons so a bit loud in here. There is also outdoor seating. Free street parking and WiFi.

    Roxanne C.

    I ordered the street tacos and they were delicious. The short rib taco was juicy, tender and personally my favorite. The carne asada was also tasty with its unique salsa. Great location in the middle of downtown. Local flutist was performing in the park across from the restaurant as we sat on the patio. I will go back again.

    Dining area looking to the front door
    Tim S.

    This place is special to us as it is where I proposed to my now wife in 2013. So for Valentine's Day brunch we decided to drive 30 miles to Venues for brunch. Worth the drive up here. If you are staying in the are get over to this place. If you are down in Phoenix, the drive up will take you through some beautiful areas before you arrive here.

    My neighbor and I had a nice time exploring the shops after dinner
    Kristina T.

    We had excellent service and the ambiance was fantastic! We sampled many of the items on the happy hour menu and also some entrees. Everything was delicious! They were very accommodating, and when we had one issue with the freshness of the Brie on the charcuterie.. they promptly & kindly, remedied the problem! Looking forward to my next visit!

    Turkey Panini with sweet potato fries

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    2 years ago

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    7 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    Catherine M.

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    7 months ago

    Great efficient service, delicious burger, crispy, perfect fries. Amazing lunch spot!

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    4 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    8 months ago

    Great food, friendly servers and warm atmosphere!! This is our go to restaurant in Care Free!!!

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Delicious apps, entrees were on point and the service was excellent! It was our first time in so we will surely be back.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    Catherine M.

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    2 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Great service. Shrimp tacos were awesome!! I would recommend Happy hour, as it is a bit cheaper and the food on the menu is great!

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    Catherine M.

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    2 years ago

    Food was tasty and service was reasonable but overall this place is over priced. We would not eat here again.

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Wonderful meal there. Ate outside. Tuna melt and the so cal burrito. Two meals out of the burrito. Attentive staff. Highly recommended

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    It's got a great meatloaf sandwich and the ambience and location is fairly nice. The prices can be outrageous if you're not careful.

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Weird place in a weird town with weird prices at weird times. But weirdness should be expected at weird times in weird situations

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    Page 1 of 9

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    I truly left this spot with mixed feelings…read more On the one hand, our servers were fabulous! They were dealing with a very large party (with a lot of confusion) behind us, so it was clear both the servers and kitchen staff were stretched thin. I'm not sure if it's a newer addition based on the reviews, but the spot is decorated beautifully. With decor, games, a solid color scheme and a variety of menu options, it's truly an inviting standout in Carefree! Our food was just fine (I think they're aiming for elevated bar food), and our drinks were alright. I'm not sure my smoked old fashioned was prepared correctly but it happens. However, for the experience I left feeling I'd severely overpaid. Additionally, the company was questionable. A gentleman walked around the venue with a dog and a frown, a man came in barefoot to pick up an order, and I witnessed a non employee (or off shift employee?) sneak behind the bar several times. There seems to be a speakeasy medspa behind a painting, but we didn't get the details. This spot has the potential to be a total standout! A mixologist with a solid craft cocktail menu and execution, a menu rethink, and maybe some event programming and this spot could certainly be a home run! If I revisit, I'd be beyond delighted to see they've grown into their potential! Best of luck to these folks!

    A Shoutout to Cindy & a New Neighborhood Favorite!…read more We just got back from lunch at Tox Bar/Speedy Burger in Carefree, and what a treat it was! To our delight, Cindy--yes, the Cindy many of us have known and loved for years--was there bartending and serving with the same warm smile and stellar service she's always been known for. This time, though, she's doing it at a place that offers great food, a fun and cozy ambience, and a dog-friendly patio--a rare combo that's hard to beat. Let's face it: dining out isn't as affordable as it once was. But as I told Cindy, I don't mind paying for quality food and excellent service--and that's exactly what you'll get at Tox Bar/Speedy Burger. For years, we were loyal regulars at Brisam's, visiting twice a week. But over time, prices soared, food quality declined, and the atmosphere never improved. The space started to feel tired and neglected. Sadly, the lack of connection from ownership didn't help--unless you were a former mayor or someone "important," you likely didn't get a second glance. Let's be honest: Cindy carried Brisam's for 18 years. Her genuine care for customers was the reason many of us kept going back. Now that she's moved on, it's no surprise to see the shift. So here's my suggestion: support a place that supports its people and customers. Tox Bar/Speedy Burger is that place. Stop by on Sundays or Tuesdays this summer to see Cindy in action. Come fall, I predict it'll be wall-to-wall locals enjoying everything this gem has to offer. Let's spread the word and give our support where it's truly deserved.

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    Heart And Soul

    Heart And Soul

    3.6(525 reviews)
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    The most disappointing experience I have had in Cave Creek by far!! I initially came in by myself…read moreand let them know I was waiting for my family. I stood at the front for about 5 minutes before being acknowledged, and when I was, I was just told to "sit anywhere." After sitting down, I wasn't given menus and ended up having to go get them myself. Another 5 minutes passed before a server came over. When I asked about the specials that were advertised online, I was initially told there were no specials at all. Then she said, "oh, like happy hour?" which just felt dismissive and rude. We came specifically because of the Taco Tuesday and happy hour deals listed online (which even showed a date of April 7), but none of that was honored, she said that those specials were for the RODEO only. By the time my husband and daughter arrived, we realized there weren't even tacos included on the happy hour menu, which made the whole experience feel even more misleading. Between the lack of organization, slow service, and not honoring clearly advertised specials, the experience just didn't match expectations. It's frustrating to choose a place based on what's promoted and then have a completely different experience when you arrive.

    Just ate at Heart & Soul for the first time and the food was FANTASTIC!! 7 women ate and enjoyed…read moreour food so much. Mom and I had the steak fajitas and they were awesome!!!! Linda was our wonderful waitress!!

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    4.2(141 reviews)
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    My husband and I decided to take a chance on a new restaurant while vacationing in Arizona…read more Normally, we stick with restaurants we've visited before or well-known brands, but this time we stumbled upon a charming husband-and-wife-owned restaurant called Confluence, located in the Sundial Plaza in Carefree, Arizona. We're certainly glad we did. Confluence offers a beautiful outdoor patio for dining, while the interior is intimate, with only six to eight tables and a small bar. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with warmth and character--you can definitely tell there's a thoughtful touch behind every detail. We were greeted by our bartender and server, Victoria, who also happens to be the co-owner. She was absolutely wonderful. Even though the restaurant was busy, she made us feel like we were her only guests. As we talked with her, we learned how she and her husband, Chef Brandon, are the entire operation and work seamlessly together to create an exceptional dining experience. The menu is intentionally small, but that's because every dish is prepared fresh to order. Chef Brandon's attention to detail is evident in every plate. The presentation is beautiful, and the complex, well-balanced flavor profiles showcase his culinary talent. We highly recommend the Gazpacho--it was outstanding. As former restaurant owners ourselves, we were especially impressed by how this husband-and-wife team consistently delivers such an exceptional level of food quality, hospitality, atmosphere, and overall uniqueness with such a small operation. Their teamwork and dedication are truly something to admire. If you're visiting the Carefree or Cave Creek area, make it a point to dine at Confluence. We don't think you'll be disappointed. One final tip: To ensure they can maintain the highest standards of food and service, they intentionally limit the number of guests they serve each evening. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially during the busy season.

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    Venues Cafe - newamerican - Updated October 2026

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