El Gato AzulCreekside Patio Dining in Prescott, ArizonaI love dining outside. If the weather is nice and it almost always is in Prescott, eating on the patio is the only way to go! El Gato Azul not only has a patio that is available year round with heat in the winter, it has a creekside patio, the trees, the cool breeze, a beautiful sunny day…Lets go!
It’s painted an odd shade of yellow or orange or something, with maroon trim and a big red awning on one side. Kind of funky would be the best description.We found a parking spot on Goodwin – there are lots available, but if you can’t find one the parking garage is only a short block away on Granite St. The interior of the restaurant is small, with only six tables inside. The rest of the seating is under the aforementioned awning, under umbrellas or on the walk in front of the place. Having requested a table outside, we chose one on the patio. Our server took our drink order and left us to peruse the menu, and an interesting one it is. There are Tapas – small plates like Artichoke, Olives and Pickled Onions served warm with Pita bread or Black Bean Cake with Red Pepper Aioli & Green Chili Salsa. There are numerous interesting and creative salads including Calamari, Carne Azul, C’alad Ceviche and standards with a twist like Pecan Chicken or Cobb salads. If none of the above tickles your palette there’s lot’s more – Wraps, BLT’s with turkey, Crab cakes, Paella and fresh catch of the day. You get the idea, there is a lot to choose from with enough variety to please the pickiest diner. We ordered a Southwest wrap, a Calamari Salad, a Warm Cyprus Chicken Salad and a Buffalo Burger. And it’s all Mine!!! – there were four of us – you knew that didn’t you?
Anyway, she delivered our meal quickly and finished with a flourish – she reached all the way over the table and CLANKED the plate down in front of my wife. Not professional and not cool either. My wife and daughter raved about their salads. They went on and on about the freshness of the ingredients, the flavorful, delicately crispy Calamari and the tender chicken. Both of the salads were a solid hit. I was just a bit disappointed in my buffalo burger. Why? Because I didn’t read the menu properly. This was an open faced burger with chili aioli, swiss cheese and pickled onions. I think it was included on the menu as a lo-cal meat option. It was well prepared, the onions were great. The burger itself was obviously a frozen patty – we don’t have a lot of Buffalo in Prescott – but it was fine. I really should have read beyond Buffalo Burger.
What a great afternoon. The setting was terrific, the food was very good. The service was a little iffy although I must say this is not something we have encountered during previous visits to this restaurant. This was an excellent outing. Bring your wife or girlfriend for a romantic lunch by the creek, bring your client for a relaxed lunch before you close the deal or bring a friend. You will enjoy it!
From El Gato Azul to Lunch in Prescott
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The South West wrap was stuffed with turkey, avocado, bacon and pepper jack cheese wrapped up in a spinach tortilla with chili aioli.It was pronounced Very Good! By my son.
