December 4, 2014

D'Vine Bistro and Wine Bar

2847 N Power Road

Mesa, AZ

Only 4 of us attended our third outing.  At our age, our parents need our attention from time to time.

Nice location in a shopping center in N. Mesa.  

Outside appearance: Signage is good, easy to find.  Nothing fancy.  Does have outside patio.  

Average rating: Good

Inside Ambience: Small, but cozy, nice open feel. Nicely decorated

Average rating: Excellent

Wait Staff:  Corey was excellent, very attentive and very knowledgeable.  Fun and entertaining.  Expert wine pouring skills.

Average rating: Excellent

Drinks: Nice choice wines and beers.  Happy Hour specials excellent.  House wines very good.

Average rating: Excellent

Food: Excellent small dish menu and wonderful appetizers with Happy Hour prices.  Pig wings were excellent along with the bacon potato salad.  Salmon Po Boys excellent.  One order of fries were cold, but no issue getting a new order.

Burger with portabello, excellent.

Average rating: Excellent

Prices: Some entrees were pricey, but overall, prices were good.

Average rating: Good

Tuesday, Nov. 25th, 2014, our second outing to:


It's in the old Einstein Bagel building on Arizona Ave and Guadalupe.

So let's begin:
Outside Appearance:  Dark, but good signage.  It's a brew pub, not a place of fine dining.  Average rating: Good
Inside Ambience: Plastic utensils, Really!!!  A disappoint. Noisy as a brew pub is, but we could talk to each other without shouting.  Fun, loud, bar scene.  Very neat for a brew pub.  Average rating:  Good
Wait Staff: Our waiter was Matthew he was a kick!  He was the best, great service.  A wonderful, fun loving guy, very knowledgeable.  Average rating: Excellent
Drinks:  Beers are great.  We had a flight and tried 8 of the 10.  Porter was outstanding.  Flight had a good variety.   Average rating: Excellent
Food: Pretzel sticks with beer cheese sauce, a must get!  Flying Pig in Beer Cheese (Poutain), excellent.  Meatloaf sliders are spicey, but just right.  Wings were outstanding.  Brisket beef burgers are delicious and served with rosemary thyme fries. No long wait for food.  Average rating: Excellent
Prices:  all items including beers seemed well priced.  Very fair priced.  The flight of 8 beers was only $10.
We WILL be going back here.

The Plan

Five Female Friends, retired, play tennis, quilt and just enjoy each others company will do our best to meet once a week at a different restaurant, grill, pub, whatever. 
Each of us will complete a critique of the establishment.  Those critiques will be posted on this site.

Our critique is based on 6 factors:
Outside Appearance, Inside Ambiance, Wait Staff, Drinks, Food, Prices.
These will be: Excellent, Good, or Not So Much.  I will "average" our ratings and I will also add notes.

November 18th, 2014, our first outing.  

The Harp Pub, Dana Point Shopping Center 

Mesa AZ.

Outside Appearance: Part of a large shopping center, but on a corner.
Good exposure. Average rating: Good
Inside Ambiance: bar area separate from dining.  Dining area is separated also. Noise level low. Average rating: Good
Wait Staff: Friendly, Attentive for the most part, but did not offer additional drinks after two.  Average rating: Good
Drinks:  Excellent list of draft beers on tap. Average rating: Excellent
Food: Irish Nachos, excellent, made with waffle fries and corned beef.
Potato Leek soup, No So Much.  Not much flavor. Was returned
French Onion soup, excellent
Grilled portabello sandwich on pretzel roll, excellent
Bread Pudding: Excellent
Good french fries. Average rating: a high Good 
Prices: Average rating: Good