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| - From hair parlor to pizza parlor -- I found The Parlor to be a unique, high-quality restaurant, and a welcome addition to my Phoenix neighborhood. Here's my take:
What I liked:
- The food: There are plenty of pre-conceived pies on the menu, but where this place shines is the emphasis on build-your-own. You can choose either a 9" or a 12" pizza, which link to per-item charges for proteins and veggies. I asked for my pizza extra-crispy, and it came out perfect. The salads were also fantastic.
- The drinks: a decent wine selection and a nice variety of signature cocktails. I ordered the Basil Gimlet, which was refreshing and a drink I'd love to replicate at home.
- The service: friendly and attentive enough during this visit. We didn't wait long for anything (except for a table, which was understandable on a Saturday at 7PM). We waited 25 minutes, but those a few minutes behind us were told 45 minutes.
- The ambiance: The Parlor is in a building once occupied by a barber shop, and the proprietors chose to keep the spirit alive vis-a-vis the decor. The artwork, props, and even the bar stools are reminiscent of The Parlor's past days as a salon. I'm just hoping I never find any hairs in my pizza.
What I didn't like:
- While the cocktails tasted nice, the sizes leave much to be desired. My basil gimlet was 11 bucks and looked like about 5 sips. I was disappointed when I watched my bartender discard the remaining beverage left in the cocktail shaker after he filled my glass -- which reveals the problem: the small martini glasses must go. Perhaps the owners can do a benchmarking study at AZ88 for proper martini glass sizes.
- The bar: a bit small for a place this size. The Parlor has true potential for a great bar scene -- they just need to devote more space.
All in all a great place and I'm looking forward to going back.
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