Denyce M.
Yelp
While visiting Phoenix/Scottsdale for The Doctor's IEEE meeting, we decided to come to The Canal Club because it was in walking distance. Full disclosure, I was going to give them five stars because the car out front. It was Kismet. I didn't even know they had one and yet we connected. As you can see from the photos, I was dressed and matching that car, it was my car soulmate. I wanted that car bad and had not even had a morsel of food from The Canal Club. Lucky for them, the food was very good, and the atmosphere was wonderful.
The restaurant is located in The Scott Resort & Spa. Once I was peeled off the car and we walked inside the resort, I felt like I was in another place. I have only been to Cuba once and that was a quick in and out trip through Canada to see Roy Cooder and the Buena Vista Social Club, so have nothing to compare The Canal Club against except for the feel to me. But it reminded me of Cuba and that was enough for me.
We started with the Ceviche (shrimp, lime, cucumber pico de gallo). This was simple and clean but had a nice fresh flavor to it. For entrees (since there were three of us), we decided to each get a different entrée so we can all sample them. We got the Green Chile Chicken pizza (crispy edge flour tortilla, braised chicken, smoked bacon, black bean purée, pico, Oaxaca cheese, micro cilantro), Pollo al Horno (grilled chicken thigh, black beans, rice, petite green salad and the Gaucho Steak (spiced Skirt Steak, poblano chimichurri, masa potato cakes). All three dishes were excellent. The pizza was a little different, but good nonetheless. I love chicken thighs, and these were well done. The steak was nicely done and the poblano chimichurri & masa potato cakes complemented the chicken.
We did not do dessert because we were stuffed, although I wanted to try the donut holes. The service was excellent and our server (don't remember his name, but he is in the photo) was cheerful and helpful and on top of us, but not in a bad way. We had a great time, and I was happy we didn't have far to walk, although I would have preferred to drive back in that amazing car. This was a lovely surprise and The Canal Club did a great job.