Dean B.
Yelp
Amidst the pizza joints and brew pubs that dot the landscape of the Northern Arizona University area, one occasionally finds an adult venue (not that kind...get your mind out of the gutter). Tinderbox Kitchen is one of those places.
It's intimate, darkly lit, quiet and comfortable - just like my bedroom. Unlike my bedroom, they have a well stocked bar and a full team of people anxious to serve you.
The menu was small but fascinating. They have a handful of entrees (mains for you snooty foodies) and I'd like to come back and try them all. I ended up ordering the elk tenderloin, which was absolutely fabulous. Not gamey at all and but not precisely beef tasting either. Unlike my paycheck, it was ample.
The sticky wicket was the accompaniment. Serving it on a bed of quinoa with a jalapeño chimichurri was too clever by half (you know, people used to say stuff like that all the time back in my day). The quinoa was bland and if that texture and different mouth feel were what they wanted to have, then wild rice would have been a more complementary flavor. Otherwise, a purred root vegetable would have been a nice combination. And if they wanted a home run instead of a triple (that's a baseball metaphor, because I'm American and have no idea how scoring works in cricket even though I alluded to it earlier), they would have plated it on a bed of aligot. Also, the jalapeño chimichurri just didn't go well with the delicious steak. Too spicy and not enough flavor. As a matter of fact, it unfortunately obscured the dark cherry glaze, which really did pair nicely with the elk.
The appetizer (starter for you snooty foodies) was a simple but delightful focaccia with balsamic and roasted garlic.
A delicious surprise was the arugula salad. A hint of mint, high quality produce, and perfectly dressed like Wifey on date night. I wasn't sure what to expect, but having said that, my experience was that it was unexpectedly complex but definitely yummy, also like Wifey on date night.
Another nice surprise was a very respectable wine list. I twisted my own arm and ordered a bottle against my better judgement, which I conveniently left at home (my better judgement, not the bottle).
Dessert was good not great and that really is the one miss. My dessert tasted fine but it was apparently either that or pour a sugar packet down my gullet. A restaurant with that vibe and that quality really warrants a proper dessert menu. I'm not talking about Cheesecake Factory here, but give me something to work with for a grand finale!
In spite of wanting some more dessert options, it was a great experience. The food was great, ambiance great, and the service was exceptional which is really rare in a college town (no offense kids, but you know it and I know it and I know you know it and I'm pretty sure that you know that I know it as much as you know it, you know?)
Highly recommended. Will go back.