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| - Last night was cold and rainy and my friends and I took rickshaws through the rain from the Dodge Theatre and we pulled up to the Roosevelt looking like drowned rats and laughing so hard we were almost crying.
I was shivering and hoping for a warm something-or-other, maybe with Rum, Brandy, and a cinnamon stick. Not going to happen, they only have beer and wine. Doah! I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed. I was forced into wine - which honestly - I was grateful for in the end, but this might be the one thing stopping me from five stars.
I was nervous because I was expecting to be packed in like sardines and there was till plenty of standing room and people were moving in and out. We sat at the community table within 10 minutes of arriving. We're off to a good start and I think we're going to sit and stay for awhile.
We ordered the pretzel, the tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich and the cheese plate. The pretzel was so hot I could barely touch it - I don't care whether it came from a high-temperature bread warmer or the oven, it made me happy that it was super hot and obviously hadn't been just sitting under a heat lamp. I am a sucker for a grilled cheese and good tomato soup, and again, this is so good that I'm distracted from the conversation as I try to dissect the soup ingredient by ingredient so I can try to make it on Sunday. Then the cheese plate. Good lord. I am pretty sure that I found love in the merriment of flavors that came together between the dried cherries, bite of chocolate and the cabernet I had been 'forced' into.
To start the service was just like the night's air, a little chilly and very damp, almost unapproachable, but quickly she shifted and warmed up and I would like to believe that she ended up having fun with us. Overall, the Roosevelt is a great example of what is possible to create in the restaurant/bar/lounge segment here in the greater Phoenix area and I wish I lived closer - I'd be there all the time - all the same, I'll be there as often as I can.
Keep on keep'n on...Matt!
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