The Bottom Line
Pros
- Appealing Southwest dishes
- Reasonably priced entrées
- Appetizing / pleasing presentation of menu items
Cons
- Comfortable but hotel-ish feel to the restaurant
- Not an extensive menu
Description
- Lariat Grill is located in Carefree, Arizona at the Carefree Resort and Villas. Carefree is north of Scottsdale.
- Casual dress is acceptable. Nice shorts / golf shirt for men, slacks or capris and a top for women are fine, or dress it up.
- Not many upscale restaurants have as nice a children's menu as Lariat Grill. Finally I can say, bring the [well-behaved] kids.
- Try the Prickly Pear Grand Gold Margarita! The margaritas at Lariat Grill are made with all natural ingredients.
- We asked for a green vegetable side dish, and even though it wasn't on the menu we were graciously accommodated.
- Take out-of-town guests to Lariat Grill for an Arizona dining experience.
- Lariat Grill is also appropriate for a special occasion, a date, a business dinner.
- Bottles of wine start at about $30. Wines by the glass range from $7 to $15. Specialty margaritas are $9.
Guide Review - Lariat Grill
True to the spirit of the resort that honors Arizona's cowboy, mining and Native American legacies, Lariat Grill presents contemporary dishes using locally produced ingredients to enhance southwestern flavors. Executive Chef Stephen Strickland has transitioned the menu from ribs, corn on the cob and beans to what he describes as "New West" cuisine. Don't be surprised if you find that your meal has been garnished with cactus relish, or your dessert or drinks have been sweetened with natural agave nectar.
The mild, but unique Grilled Elk Sausage appetizer ($10) was our preference over the Sun-Dried Tomato Flatbread with Goat Cheese ($10), maybe because we didn't need more bread after the delicious southwest muffins that we had already been served. The Roasted Maple Leaf Duck Breast ($21), lean and perfectly prepared, was served over an unusual sweet-potato and corn hash. The 8 oz. Angus Filet ($29) was tender and tasty. Small hot crock pots filled with Poblano Mashed Potatoes and Pecan and Granola Crusted Butternut Squash were welcome accompaniments to the meal.
We were full, but couldn't bear to leave without trying the Dark Columbian Chocolate Creme Brulée ($8) or the Blueberry Cobbler with Gelato ($8). Which one was best? Sometimes you gotta have chocolate, and sometimes you gotta have cobbler! I couldn't choose....
Lariat Grill is a restaurant that I can recommend to people who are looking for a lovely, unique, casual and reasonably priced Southwestern dining experience.
As is common in the industry, the writer was provided with a complimentary meal for the purpose of the review. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy. All prices and offerings mentioned herein are subject to change without notice. 06/08
