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| - Arcadia Farms reminds me of Lifetime: TV for Women (and gay men). On any given Saturday afternoon, it's fun to place bets on how many bridal and baby showers will be going on simultaneously. This place puts out a siren song for the ladies who lunch. As a result, the people watching is top-notch. It's often like having an episode of "The Real Housewives of North Scottsdale/Paradise Valley" unfold at the table next to you. Arcadia Farms is like a shrine to estrogen and it's rare for the BF and me to see more than another man or two in the place, but we don't mind. The floor show is free, after all. And if you want the valet to park your car in front of the restaurant, be sure to bring the Bentley.
The decor is one step removed from shabby chic. It's feminine, but they got rid of most of the frills a few years back. If the weather is accommodating, the back patio is the place to be. It's really a lovely setting under the trees. The small building at the back of the restaurant is usually reserved for the aforementioned bridal and baby showers.
The food at Arcadia Farms is very good. Don't go expecting gourmet dishes; it's important to remember that at its heart Arcadia Farms is a catering company. Actually, the BF and I have Arcadia Farms cater our annual holiday party and they do a fantastic job.
For appetizers, the Savory Smoked Salmon Cheesecake is delicious. The portion used to be way too huge, but now it's been scaled back to a very manageable size as a starter for at least two people to share. The Crab and Avocado Tower is also a good option, but the tower invariably collapses before it arrives at the table. The BF and I usually start off by splitting an entree, the Wild Mushroom, Spinach and Goat Cheese Tart. It is packed with cheesy goodness and comes with a side salad that creates nice contrast. It splits into a hearty appetizer. It was a dark day when spinach was pulled from the market and Arcadia Farms couldn't make this tart. Thankfully, all is right with the world again.
For entrees, the Strawberry Chicken Salad is a classic for good reason. Where Arcadia Farms manages to find such ripe strawberries year-round remains a mystery to me. The Oriental Chicken Salad is also delicious. Whenever I order this dish, I go for the gusto and request an extra side of the peanut sauce as the chicken pieces are luscious when dipped directly into the peanut sauce. The California Club is a solid sandwich choice. For me, the focaccia bread is too thick, but you can ask them to substitute another bread. For something more substantial (and sinful), go for the Chicken, Wild Mushroom and Leek Crepes. They're fantastic. This dish also splits well.
Everything on the Arcadia Farms menu is fresh and tasty. The challenge will be deciding what to order on a given day. Ask if they have specials as they can be good. On a recent visit the server went through a very lengthy description of a special salad and then she casually mentioned that they had already run out of it. The BF and I found that rather amusing.
The signature Arcadia Farms beverage is apricot iced tea and it's quite flavorful. The one nit is that they don't serve the tea with a straw or an iced tea spoon. There are no spoons at the table and it's hard to catch your server's attention because they're busy moving from table to table. So you are forced to stir your iced tea with the blade of your table knife. The BF and I have talked about this several times while dining at Arcadia Farms and I think one of the servers overheard us the last time because they finally brought our iced tea with spoons. Perhaps that will be a permanent change as it would certainly be welcome. Beer and wine are also offered, with the expected restaurant markup.
In terms of pricing, you get a good amount of food for the price. For a fancy brunch/lunch spot, the pricing is fair. This place isn't in the cheap eats category, but you could get out of here for $20 per person if you only had a salad or sandwich. But what's the fun in that?
The desserts at Arcadia Farms are pretty good, but the BF and I never have room for them. The carrot "baby cake" is tasty, but it's big enough that you will need to split it with at least one other person.
Arcadia Farms also offers private luncheons and afternoon tea. This is really an ideal spot for a bridal or baby shower.
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