dick's hideaway

my only complaint is that this place is hard to find and i am pretty sure that's by design.  the place is also a tad cramped but that i also by design as it prevents the kitchen from getting overwhelmed and helps provide to the ambiance. we were greeted by the staff and taken to an open table and had a seat and got service fairly quickly.  the appetizer was chip con queso that was made with local chips, peppers, and cheese that was second to none. the main course for me was theenchiladasthat consisted of 1 chicken, 1 roasted shrimp, and smoked pork that was to die for. my wife had a special of pork tamales  that was beyond flavorful. 
   be careful with the margaritas as they are potent and served in 12 oz glasses...

this place looked trendy so i was worried it was going to be one of those pretentious restaurants dripping with cliches and more concerned with being original than being good. my fears were entirely unfounded. this is just danged good food and a good atmosphere.

from the bar, you can watch everything cooked in small batches. meat on a spit. a firebox in plain view. dozens of frying pans for made-to-order entrees.

i got theenchiladaswith green chiles—the spicy ones. fantastic. my brother who works in a high-end meat shop was blown away by the quality of his steak. using the mexican coke and sprite with real sugar was a nice touch. a perfect “exhibit a” in the case against chain restaurants.

also, the place was filled with humorous signage—but not everywhere. just enough to add a dash of character.

one of the best meals i’ve ever had in phoenix/scottsdale area. i came for happy hour, tried the chile relleno, chipotle ribs, skewers (beef, chicken, shrimp, and sausage plus 4 dipping sauces),enchiladas(pork, smoked, turkey, and shrimp), and a side cup of the carne adovada (their signature dish). all were amazingly delicious!! and quite distinct from one another. i’m all for unique or intelligent combinations of flavors, and these dishes all delivered. ... got the key lime “pie” which had great flavor but an odd consistency (not at all “set,” was more like a cold soup or runny pudding).

will definitely come again.

18 months later: second time here, and just as good as i remembered it. i got threeenchiladas(pork, beef, and shrimp), a chile relleno a la carte, chipotle ribs, queso+chorizo dip, and green chile burger. all were exceptional, and different from one another. would re-do the exact same thing again (and may very well do that next time i’m in town).