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| - Yabba, Dabba, Doo! :-)
http://tinyurl.com/45psjk
That's what I thought the first time we strolled into Fred's at Barney's in Scottsdale Fashion Square (BTW, anyone have any idea why they call it "Scottsdale Fashion Square"?...It's not a Square...it may or may not be Fashionable, too close to call...It is in Scottsdale...so, maybe 1 1/2 out of 3? :-)
How wrong I was about the origin of the name, and how very happy I am to have found one of the best little restaurant and bar combo's in all of Scottsdale.
The place is actually named for Barney's son, Fred (also apparently long departed, like Barney, for the great cocktail lounge in the sky:)
But I'm still here and while I am, I will take every opportunity I get to soak up the cocktails, food, ambiance, service and convivial chatter at Fred's:)
Fred's is as pleasant a place to dine as anyplace I've found in Scottsdale...the food and cocktails are excellent, the service is as good as anywhere in town, the room itself is both comfortable and sophisticated (overlooking scenic Scottsdale Rd....although the décor and scenery inside is also delightful...esp. at lunch during the week...if there is a larger gathering of attractive women in a single place at noon, I don't know where it would be:)... and the people...they are all first string...everyone at Fred's is a delight, from the hostesses and wait staff, to Richie the Barman (more about our pal, Richie later), and the managers of Fred's:)
After working all morning and finally finishing things up for 2009, it was time for a cocktail:)
The Beautiful Carin and I dropped by Fred's to ring in the New Year (at least it was midnight in Minsk, Prague and London while we were there:)
That's right, we closed Fred's down, yesterday...at 5:00 pm:)
We sat at the bar and had some delightful afternoon snacks and several cocktails as we chatted and laughed with Richie, the bar manager (and the Best Barman in Arizona:) and several other afternoon revelers (including the guys who put together all of Barney's "look and feel"...incredibly talented guys:)
More about Richie...Richie is simply the best barman I've encountered here in Scottsdale...he's a certified genius at creating cocktails that are both imaginative and tasty...the 007 martini, the Pomegranate Lemon Drop (Richie's Special), his brand new Blueberry...10 oz's. of ice cold, alcoholic pleasure in a glass:)...and Richie is the kind of guy that makes me feel like I'm in Manhattan, sitting in the bar at the Waldorf, helping the barman solve the problems of the world...he can talk about anything and he's got that great NYC personality:-)
Even more than the cocktails, the atmosphere is stylish and sophisticated...something that other bars and restaurants try for, but can't (quite frankly) match...again, Fred's feels more like Manhattan than Scottsdale...and that is the right atmosphere for this marvelous little spot:)
David (the GM) has put together a very talented team of the best and brightest from a number of high end establishments in the Valley of the Sun and essentially given them free reign..."Here's the framework, create what you want and the customers will come".
The result is an interesting menu and top notch execution (where even the Club Sandwich and Pomme Frites both have interesting and subtle notes), where everything is made with fresh local ingredients and obvious care and attention to detail:)
No kidding, even the chicken wing appetizer is spectacular!...(you should see the "ladies who lunch" hoover those little bad boys down...delightful:-)
Fred's just charms me:)
So, I think I can be forgiven for my little bit of whimsy (you know, the Flintstones thing:) because Fred's (and Barney's, by extension) inspire a little bit of whimsy...especially after two or three of Richie's signature martinis:)
Yabba, Dabba, Doo!!
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