If the city of Phoenix were to ever put out a book "Downtown for Dummies", Fate would land the cover spread. It is like the Mary Jane of downtown establishments, a gateway drug into our city's inner core.
Leery suburbanites -- and oh are they visible -- lurk into the restored bungalow and mingle with the Scenies. After eating here, they are convinced that they want to come downtown more and urban-out. For this, I am very appreciative of Fate. We need more people downtown after-hours (5PM ... booo!) and Fate is their subpoena.
And this is just what their gentle palates need -- swankish pan-asian pabulum that outshines P.F., but in reality would all make us feel and look a little silly if we boasted it as our premiere Asian restaurant to a New Yorker, Seattlite, or San Franciscan. Fate is a sleek little spot that feels cooler than it is and keeps you coming back based on the atmosphere and above average food.
I have absolutely no problem eating here -- its good for groups now because their outside patio is huge -- but I'm not going here to be wowed by the food. I have my two dishes that I don't vary from now and I suspect that once you become a regular you will have those dishes that you will rely on when the time comes for you to throw your divorce party with all of your other psycho suburbanite girlfriends before hitting up Postino.