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| - I pine for the glory days of Kitchen 56 - the happy hours that were the stuff of legend, when a fiver would buy you a dozen of the best wings in the Valley, a Martini that was really just a cup of ice-cold vodka with some stuffed olives, or a heaping plate of fish tacos. The late afternoons when I'd walk over with some coworkers, eat like a king, and gaze at Camelback Mountain looming a stone's throw away (well, a few throws at any rate), and wonder whether all things this good must sooner or later come to an end.
The beginning of the end was the new menu, a little slimmed down and marked by the only price increase that even I found as cute and endearing as it was necessary and irksome: 56 cents. $5.00 became $5.56, $10.00 became - you guessed it - $10.56. I admired their ingenious way of keeping up with inflation, but since then, the menu's undergone a few more drafts, the dozen wings became eight (I think?), a couple of my favorite waiters have moved on, and Kitchen 56 has slipped a little. I still whole-heartedly recommend it for the great patio, spectacular view, casual American fare, fun cocktails, and a few good beer choices. But I hope they find a way to become, once again, what they were for a brief Golden Age: hands-down, the best happy-hour joint in town.
In the meantime, though, go for their pizzas, wings (still absolutely delicious, even if not an incredible value anymore), Kitchen Sink Burger, and anything with Ahi. I'd definitely recommend their lunch and dinner over their brunch (not bad, but there are a half-dozen better brunches in the area). As for cocktails, the Moscow Mule, 56 Martini, Backporch Lemonade, and Elderflower Champagne... heck, they're all delicious!
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