The Haymaker Restaurant Co. $$$
4717 E Bell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85032
haymakeraz.com
I’m not an alcoholic, but I’ve never met a liquor I didn’t like. When I saw 100 different whiskeys featured on the menu of The Haymaker, well that was the last straw to send me on my way over. I did a little online research of the menu and thought the food looked good, but it was truly the whiskey offerings that made me go. One hundred whiskeys is a statement. It’s a passion, and I felt the calling.
A friend had noticed this new restaurant out of the corner of her eye, and it dawned on me that I, too, had seen it while driving near Bell and Tatum. It’s sort of unassuming from the outside, and I really didn’t give it a second thought until she brought it up. Neither of us had been there, and she offered to drive. So off we went with visions of whiskey and what I imagined would be so-so bar food dancing in my head.
We unexpectedly encountered friends inside who said they come to The Haymaker twice a week, sometimes for breakfast. This was reassuring; so was the fact that the place was full. The Haymaker, a family-owned establishment, recently opened this third location, and it is easy to see why. Business is good. With whiskey menu in hand, I selected my flights and then focused on food.
Over the course of a couple of visits, here’s what we had:
Create Your Own Whiskey Flight
Like a Chinese menu of Scotch, you can choose from different columns, ranging from $3 to $9 per sample. I’m not exactly sure what I spent on my flight, but I did order four whiskeys, one from the middle and the rest from the top or near it, and I drank them in that order. I did my best to savor and take note, but because this is more of a food article than it is drink, let me just say that what I drank – Crown Royal Black, Eagle Rare, Angel’s Cut, Lock Stock and Barrel – all had their own characteristics of smokiness, sweetness, peat and smoothness. As you may have guessed, the Lock Stock and Barrel at $9 for the taste ($20 for a glass) was the best. This was fun but pricey. I also tried a cocktail at happy hour prices.
Apple Ale $3.75 (happy hour price)
(Midnight Moon Apple Pie Moonshine and ginger ale)
A dangerously delicious concoction of apple pie-flavored whiskey and ginger ale served in a large glass. It tastes like apple pie and goes down quickly. Be careful with these, this is definitely not your mom’s apple pie.
Boneless Wings $9.50
I prefer bone-in wings, which they have on the menu, but my friend does not, and since she picked the place I deferred. I also deferred to her choice of preparation, which was “Rhythm Hot.” It is a blend of their different styles like buffalo, BBQ, sweet chili and others with a kick. Served hot and fried to a golden crunch, these morsels were out of this world and a wonderful prelude to what was about to come. Next time though, and there will be a next time, we get the real wings.
Teriyaki Bistroloin Bowl $14
(Teriyaki-marinated and glazed bistro tenderloin served with grilled veggies on a bed of wild rice)
Honestly, I ordered this because it was about as far from bar food as it could be, and I wanted to put this place through its paces. Surprisingly, this was perfectly prepared beef tenderloin, marinated, grilled and sliced. The meat was tender, the veggies had a sweet char from the grill, and the rice was nutty and flavorful. It was fun to eat the items separately as well as combined for different textures and flavors.
Though the place has a bit of a corporate feel, it seems more likely to become a locals’ hangout. The Haymaker is family friendly with kids’ specials and senior specials. It’s not often you find a bar serving breakfast, which opens up a whole new horizon of mimosas and Bloody Mary’s.
In boxing, a haymaker is a great big punch, often unexpected and one you didn’t see coming. If that’s what the owners were going for, they are right on the money. This place is a knockout.
