Cave Cuisine

If you love good southwestern food, and have always dreamt of eating it not in a restaurant but in a cave, Carlsbad Tavern is the place for to go. Even if you just want good southwestern food but don’t care about the setting, go to Carlsbad Tavern. Make sure you’re VERY hungry when you go there though, trust me. It’s certainly not the place to go for some light fare. It’s kinda off the beaten path, in a not so happening part of Scottsdale, but very worth seeking out. Just look for the big bat logo on Hayden. First thing you’ll be greeted by is a rather large, and rather beautiful, outdoor patio seating area. One the road side there’s a large adobe wall with fireplace blocking all the road noise and unpleasant views. On the other side of the patio is a rock wall with a waterfall that flows down down into a shallow pond that extends the entire length of the patio and under the building a bit, giving the illusion that the restaurant is suspended above the water held up by wooden logs. Outside is light and open and airy, but once you’re inside everything changes. We didn’t get a chance to explore the entire place, but it was as close to being in an actual cave as you can get….well if a restaurant was built in a cave at least. Rock walls and ceilings envelop you, scattered water features and dim lighting (as you can see in the horrible photos) transport you from scottsdale to what feels like another world. It still manages to feel warm and cozy though. No matter where you get though, you’ll be equally as happy once the food arrives.

The menu is heavily southwestern influenced, with many of the dishes based around green chile in some way or form. Julie went with the green chile burrito. Grilled chicken rolled in a flour tortilla with jalapeno jack and topped with green chile sauce with machaca, served with rice and beans. As is usually the case with me, my eyes immediately focused in on the word chorizo. I opted for Ruben’s chicken fried chicken…buttermilk marinated chicken breast on sourdough bread topped with chorizo gravy, served with green chile mashed potatoes and salad. If you’re smart like me, you’ll forego the salad to leave more room for the good stuff. I’m not sure who this Ruben fellow is, but thank you. Juicy tender chicken, with a flaky and crunchy crust. The gravy was thick and very rich, with a smoky chorizo flavor. All of that served over a piece of warm and crusty sourdough bread. I was very happy. Great surroundings. Great southwestern comfort food. Like i said, go this place with an empty stomach, you’ll need the space.

Would i go back? Definitely…we probably should have already.

Green Chile Burrito

Ruben’s Chicken Fried Chicken