My wife and I had a failed outing with a local group for a movie and dinner.  We arrived at the theater too late to get tickets, so rather than wait for 2.5 hours to join them for a late dinner we opted to check out a restaurant featured on Food Network's program, Diner Drive-Ins and Dives.  This was Roberto's Mexican Food Restaurant, 675 W Union Hills Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85027.  We drove up there from Tempe where the movie/dinner was scheduled.  This took us awhile since we were in the east valley and they are in the north valley.  It was worth the trip.

As the program showed it is located inside of a Shell filling station.  Some gas stations have Popeye's Cajun Chicken; some have Blimpie's and some have Subway's.  This one had good Mexican food.  We ordered a cheese quesadilla, #1 (carne asada plate) and #4 (chimichanga plate).  I got some horchata (rice drink).  We got talking to the owner because he saw my shirt for volunteering at Comic Con in San Diego.  It turns out he has inherited some really collectible stuff and was telling us how he protects them, what they're maybe worth, etc.

The clientele was definitely not Waldorf Astoria, the styrofoam containers and plastic ware fit the theme, but the food was great.  The owner offered us some hot sauce which I accepted.  It was hot enough for me :-)  Jean stuck with the salsa and it was spicy enough for her.  She's more in the medium category of taste while I lean towards the hotter.  The carne asada came with rice, beans, salad and pico de gallo along with the meat.  I ate it all.  I got to finish my wife's beans and she brought home half of the chimi.

We heard all about how the restaurant came to be featured on the show.  The owner was contacted, he sent off not only a menu, but samples of the salsa and hot sauce in jars to each VIP in the decision-making process, and a few days later voila!  We even reminisced over where he grew up (just south of me in Scottsdale).  We had a good time.

So, of the ones featured so far on the Food Network, this one and Chino Bandito (19th Ave & Greenway Rd) are worth the trip.  The BBQ place mentioned in another post was ok.  We haven't made the breakfast place yet, but will post about it once we do.  Stay tuned...

<== Mike ==>