More on Travel to Tempe, Arizona and ASU
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009Even if you are not a student or employed by Arizona State University, ASU has a presence in Tempe, Arizona. Many large buildings in Tempe sport the ASU name, but the campus is accessible to visitors as well.
Shops and the atmosphere cater to students and their families. There is also a community feel that the downtown has cultivated where individual shops, not usually part of national chains, create a fun shopping experience. There are places to eat, like Rula Bula (a pub), Chompie’s Deli, and House of Tricks that offer unique dining experiences from easy on the budget to upscale (definitely House of Cards).
For an evening out, there is Gammage Auditorium, part of ASU’s campus. National tours of shows like Wicked and Jersey Boys give the locals a chance to see great theater. Crowd pleasers like Phantom of the Opera and Legally Blonde, Mary Poppins and Annie join more serious fare like award-winning August: Osage County. Prices are typically more reasonable than a Broadway show and the actors are equally talented. (One note: sound quality may suffer in the upper regions of the theater in the last few rows. We struggled to hear the fabulous solos of “Wicked.”)
Eating in Tempe
We wandered into the second day of a new chain restaurant in Tempe on Mill Avenue, Five Guys Burgers and Fries. While it is a chain, it has a very homemade feel to the food. They do not have freezers and everything is fresh. It also offers more menu choices than the popular In ‘n Out Burger chain. Five Guys promotes their fries’ potato source as being from Shelley, Idaho, so we just had to try them. (I am named Shelley, remember.)
A lot more than five guys were prepping burgers and fries in Tempe
They had quite a crowd on their second day due to the Festival of the Arts, but were moving things along very briskly. The place was mobbed, but the red-shirted staff handled it all with aplomb.
In addition to the aforementioned burgers and fries, their menu also includes grilled cheese, hot dogs and many toppings, like grilled mushrooms, jalapeno peppers, A-1 sauce, all free. The 2-person fries order was GIGANTIC – and that was the small size. My small bacon burger was a large serving. Considering that all of the toppings are free and the food is freshly made (“never frozen”), the price tag is very reasonable when compared with other chains. They also have peanuts available for free that you can scoop out and eat – as much as you like. We spent $16 for our burgers (One large and one small), small fries, one drink and water.
http://www.fiveguys.com/home.aspx
Another chain, but a local one, is Chompie’s Deli, which will fulfill anyone’s craving for deli food. The bagels are good –chewy and flavorful – and the enormous menu offers so many choices that your biggest issue will be making a decision on what to order. Old family favorites like giant deli sandwiches and stuffed cabbage, plus new twists like a brisket served in tortillas make it possible for every family member to find something they’ll enjoy. The quality and quantity definitely go hand in hand at Chompie’s, which has been around for 30 years. You won’t leave hungry!
In the heart of downtown Tempe is House of Tricks, definitely an upscale menu with white tablecloth service. The food service is excellent and the presentations very appealing. Their restaurant has been around for over 20 years and it is apparent why: exotic and unusual twists on culinary efforts that incorporate the best of many cuisines. One entrée was: Lemon Honey Braised Grouper with Sautéed Watercress, Parsnip Pear Puree and Whole Grain Mustard Buerre Blanc. An appetizer, “Miso Marinated Foie Gras with Ginger Snap and Warm Black Mission Fig Chutney,” put a homemade touch on what could be something served anywhere. Their chef is obviously inventive and committed to using fresh, seasonal ingredients, a quality we very much encourage.
So, now you won’t go hungry while in Tempe. We’ve tried other restaurants as well, but these three are worth a trip.
Now that we’ve given you places to eat, sleep and entertain yourself, we’ll continue our “Wacky Wednesday” tomorrow with a visit to a casino. You’ll need some luck to win and a means of transportation to get there.