Let’s be honest, if the food is great, it doesn’t matter if a restaurant has stand-up-only dining or is appointed luxuriously. We eat because we love, and we love what we eat. However, if you can match great eats with atmosphere, history, music and service, well then you’ve got something special.
Beckett’s Table is all about socializing, community building, Arizona themes and comfort-food dining. From the moment you walk into this friendly place, there is a sense of adventure and experience waiting for you. From the 18-seat community table to the tasteful blues music coming from the rafters, from the giant Arizona flag hanging over the open kitchen to the sparkling design of the space, Beckett’s Table invites you to sit down and enjoy the moment.
The community table features special pricing on drinks and things, but I choose my own table because I’m not there to socialize, I’m there to focus on food. I deal with my inner struggle about bypassing a discount and settle in for the experience.
Over the course of several visits, here’s what I had:
Legend City Cocktail, $8
Woodford bourbon, ricard, lemonade & bitters
I didn’t intend to have a cocktail, but after seeing the Arizona flag and a drink named after Legend City (a Phoenix amusement park that closed 30 years ago), nostalgia took hold and I placed my order. Served in a martini glass, this chilled adult beverage goes down like candy. Well, for me it went down like that, but for my friend it brought on a wrinkled nose and an exclamation of, “Yikes!” It’s a bit like an old-fashioned and you have to be a bourbon lover, licorice lover and enjoy bitters as well. I do, and I did.
Beckett’s Original Grilled Cheese, $9
Four cheeses, roasted red pepper tomato soup
Comfort food is king and this restaurant has created a variety of ways to take it in. The menu combines homemade biscuits in different dishes, and they are the featured vehicle to bring melted cheese dipped in creamy soup to your waiting taste buds. There is fresh, toasty, creamy goodness in every bite. This appetizer was delicious.
Special of the Day, Roasted Asparagus Appetizer, $10
Roasted asparagus, homemade mozzarella cheese, pickled Fresno chilies, homemade petite onion rings, mustard seed, pickled Fresno chilies, micro basil, lemon gastrique.
It was not only a feast for the mouth, but a feast for the eyes as well. I’m a sucker for roasted vegetables, and these were served with perfect crispness. The mozzarella was silky smooth, fresh and warm. Sprinkled with freshly fried bits of onion and accompanied by dollops of mild mustard seed, every forkful was a delight.
Butternut Squash Risotto, $17
Risotto, roasted butternut squash, roasted shitake mushrooms, parmesan cheese, port wine reduction drizzle, fried brussels sprout leaves
A generous bowl of savory smells and enticing colors was placed on the table, and you could already tell that this was going to be a treat. Though each bowl is made to order, it was soft like a stew with welcome flashes of texture from pieces of squash and mushroom. The risotto was creamy, making it a pure comfort food experience.
Chicory Coffee Crème Brulee, $6
This dessert didn’t have a description, but because my friend had just talked about her Oklahoma-born father’s love of chicory coffee before we saw this item on the menu, we took it as a sign. First you must know that every spoonful of this dessert was eaten. Second you must be a coffee lover, because this creamy dessert is chock full of deep, dark coffee goodness. Chicory in coffee has its roots (there’s a pun there) in New Orleans, and Café du Monde patrons have had gallons of it. Espresso lovers will have their eyes roll back in their heads. Trust the French when it comes to desserts.
Toasted Coconut Cake, $8
Brown butter ice cream, coconut pudding, smoked cashews
Pretty as a picture this was, delightfully toasty and light, too. The cashews played off the nuttiness of the coconut. The brown butter ice cream was smooth and delicious. Even non- lovers of coconut would like this. The cake was tall and airy, not rich, which was a pleasant surprise. The ice cream and the cashews added plenty of richness, and you could swirl your bite of cake in the melted parts of the ice cream, adding a cashew or two customizing each bite. This is a must try.
You can’t go wrong at Beckett’s Table. Everything is about making you feel good and eating well. The dishes are innovative, and the ingredients are farm fresh. They take pride in their work and certainly know what they are doing. The owners are planning a second location in the old Beefeaters building on Camelback. Talk about feelings of nostalgia, that place operated for 45 years and is an Arizona landmark. It will be nice to see it open again. They are planning a different concept for it, and I can’t wait to see what happens. Until then, I will be sitting at the community table next time I come. See you there.
