by Kristi Trimmer, Guest Blogger, Foodies Like Us

I stumbled upon Coronado Cafe over 7 years ago when it was a BYOB with old school desks and chairs for furniture and a very comfy cozy atmosphere. The whole ambiance was very eclectic and the food was amazing, which brought me and my friends back time and time again. Through the years, they acquired the much coveted liquor license and more contemporary furniture, but never lost that cozy inviting atmosphere. Although, to be honest, I really miss the uniqueness of the old school desks, I am stoked to try out the comfy patio.

Great outside patio at Coronado Cafe!

One of the best new additions to Coronado Cafe is the new owners from Baltimore, Maryland. My friend Lisa and I were searching frantically for a happy hour spot before the holidays and were dismayed to hear that Lisa G’s had closed their doors. Since it was only 4:00 pm on a weekday, we weren’t certain they were open yet.

Lisa did the “Open, Open, Open” hand signs on the front glass and begged to be let in. We promised them that we would only take up a small amount of space where we could indulge in some great wine and conversation. We were welcomed with open arms!

Unbeknownst to us, the cool and zaney bartender (with some great earrings!) was actually one of the new owners. I didn’t even know they had changed ownership! I was mesmerized learning the background of this hip urban couple from Baltimore ~ Misti Jones and Executive Chef Christian Holt.

Misti runs the front end of the restaurant while Chef Christian creates masterpieces in their really small, but very productive kitchen.

Along with Chef Christian’s parents Diane and Michael Stackwick, this dynamic family-owned restaurant is ready to introduce Foodies to their east coast style of cooking.

Let me just say ~ the Maryland Crab Cakes are a must! I am normally not a fan of crab cakes because they remind me of wet sawdust, but these were absolutely amazing. The crab cakes were very moist and flaky with very little filler paired with grilled corn and tomatoes with a lime-cilantro remoulade for dipping. This appetizer is $14 and can easily be eaten as an entrée.

Next up was the Goat Cheese Bruschetta topped with sweet chile sauce. This creamy cheese is served atop thick bread. There was a little heat on this one but the oh-so-creamy goat cheese offset it.  The Goat Cheese Bruschetta is $9 and three pieces come with each order.

I paired the Crab Cakes and the Goat Cheese Bruschetta with Sonoma Cutrer (Russian River) Chardonnay ($12) that is a good go-to chardonnay. It was not too buttery and had subtle hints of citrus. Lisa started with Huntington’s Petite Syrah ($9) that boasted strong bold finish. This wine is not for beginners!

I don’t typically order the fish when I am at a restaurant, but after trying the Pan Seared Halibut at Coronado Café, I realized seriously need to reconsider that thought process. One taste of halibut, and I was sold!!  I loved the presentation on this one too  ~ very colorful and full of julienne carrots, Shitake mushrooms, Napa cabbage, and red onions. The perfect bite was a chunk of the flaky halibut, plus a Shitake mushroom topped with the jasmine rice which was soaking in the Shitake ginger broth ~ I thought I had gone to Heaven. It was that good. This fish special is $24 and changes nightly.

My life-altering halibut!

At this point I switched my wine to Voignier Fincala Linda (Argentina) ($9) that had a peppery kick, a bronze color, and actually tasted a bit like brandy. I really enjoyed this wine ~ very different with a unique taste that paired quite well with the New York Strip.

Chef Christian topped the perfectly prepared New York strip with a chimichurri style sauce. The underlying notes of the tangy rice vinegar were coupled with white wine and loaded with lots of fresh herbs in olive oil. All of this tasty goodness was grilled on top of the steak and served with fresh garlic whipped potatoes. This dish is a meat lovers must have! The NY Strip is $22.

Meat! Gotta love beef!

The Cornbread Berry Cobbler with vanilla bean ice cream helped finish off a fantastic culinary evening. I absolutely loved loved loved this dessert? The berry compote was a splendid mixture of cherries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries. It was a plate of hot yummy goodness.

Berry Cobbler: the perfect way to cap off a delicious meal.

Previously, the Stackwick’s owned a restaurant on Chesapeake Bay with their son Chef Christian at the helm. I am so grateful that they brought their recipe for their amazing Maryland Crab Cakes and Pan Seared Halibut with them out West!

Let me be the first to welcome to the new owners of Coronado Cafe to Phoenix. They brought a great New England flair to one of my favorite Central Phoenix restaurants.

Coronado Cafe is open for lunch Monday-Friday 11:00-2:30 pm and serves dinner from 5:00-10:00 pm with brunch on the weekends from 10:00-2:30 pm. They are located at 2201 N 7th St – just north of McDowell. 602.258.5149