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| - I had high expectations for the Parlor, and I've been told to go here for the two years I've lived in Phoenix, but the stars didn't align until tonight, when my wife and I were able to sneak away for their happy hour.
First, the decor is comfortable and modern, just like any number of restaurants in Phoenix--think Postino's, the Vig, Windsor, etc. We asked to be seated in the courtyard, as the weather was close to perfect. Hostess was friendly. So far, so good.
A waiter arrived at the table that was seated a couple minutes after us and he enthusiastically told them about a fresh salad that had just been picked from the owner's garden, and it piqued our interest. Our waiter arrived a couple minutes later and offered drinks, but nothing about specials. I would describe our waiter as cautiously friendly. I waited tables in college, and I remember waiters seeing certain patrons come in and wanting to shuffle them off of someone else...I felt like that patron. I had a nearly identical experience at FEZ a couple years back, and I've only returned once. There are too many restaurants in Phoenix to bother with mediocre service.
So service was a little chilly. How was the food and drink?
The freshly-picked salad was excellent. Bitter greens with fresh-made croutons and a beet vinaigrette with beets picked out of the same garden. Simple, fresh, wonderful.
Ordered two of the happy-hour pizzas: the Margherita pizza and a pesto pizza. They were both decent, with the pesto being a bit better, but neither were spectacular. I still prefer Pizzeria Bianco for this kind of pie, and no one in town, maybe even the state, can match Pino's Margherita. It just felt average. I've also eaten a lot of pesto on trips through Liguria, so I know what I want.
Had the cherry zeppole for dessert. Good, but not inspired, and probably wouldn't spend the money again. Tiramisu is probably a safer choice.
I really wanted it to be better, but we were turned off by the service, and the food wasn't spectacular enough to overcome that obstacle. Plus, I can go across the street and have better pizza with Bianco, and no parking headaches.
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