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House of Tricks
Category: Restaurants Canadian (New) Canadian (New) [Edit]
114 E 7th StTempe, AZ 85281
(480) 968-1114
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
236 reviews for House of Tricks
Review Highlights
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"First quiche was chicken and goat cheese." In 18 reviews -
"We both had the beef tenderloin, Wow." In 14 reviews -
"fortunately, the seared ahi tuna is still amazing." In 17 reviews
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236 reviews in English
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Review from Kelsey F.
Santa Barbara, CA
5/5/2012
I went to the House of Tricks last night and had such a great experience I felt compelled to write my first yelp review. I'm from Santa Barbara, Ca and have worked, dined and drank in some amazing restaurants in my hometown but also throughout the country, as I have worked in the industry for a long time. Our meal last night challenged any past meal I've had, not only because of the playful and delicious menu, but because the ambiance and our service was top notch.
The wine our server paired for us was wonderful. His recommendations and the way he described each varietal were spot on.
The questions about our food choices were answered with knowledge and precision.
The service throughout our meal was very attentive and personalized. The staff was friendly, knowledgable and definitely aimed to please.
The food itself was outstanding. We all ordered different options for each course and swapped bites because we were so excited to try everything. My favorites were the yellowtail/grapefruit starter, the black cod with truffle oil starter, the ahi entree, the short rib entree and my duck breast with an asian slaw was a playful and different way to serve my perfectly cooked duck. This sauces were all very carefully thought out and highlighted the proteins perfectly.
I should add that we were dining on the night of ASU graduation, a challenging night for any restaurant. House of Tricks handled the night in such a calm manor. We were seated immediately upon arrival, given an adorable corner table on the romantic patio and our server, Adam, made us feel as if we were his only table.
Next time I visit my brother in Phoenix I know where we will be having dinner. I can't wait to have another meal here. House of Tricks is by far my favorite restaurant in Phoenix. Y'all should open one in Santa Barbara! -
Review from Stephen P.
Phoenix, AZ
5/16/2012 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
Went for Mother's day, $48 per plate. Extremely limited vegetarian options. The waiter was either baked out of his skull or just didn't care at all. I understand holidays can be stressful on people working in restaurants but if you don't like it; get a more serious job.
The patio was beautiful, the area sucks (ASU area of Tempe, I mean c'mon seriously). The main thing this restaurant has going for it is it's ambience, I would pass on the food and the service. -
Review from David L.
Phoenix, AZ
5/12/2012
I really wanted to give this place five stars due to the great patio seating and the amazing rack of lamb. However, the service was unimpressive and that is really what we took away from this place. As mentioned earlier, the lamb was very good and their sole vegetarian dish of portobello tempura was good. The desserts were hit and miss. The PB lava cake was good but the bread pudding tasted like pancakes. I won't bother with dessert next time.
The quality of their entrees and the atmosphere out on the patio make it a recommended place to go. I just wish the service was on par with their food and atmosphere. -
Review from Krystal B.
Tempe, AZ
5/25/2012
Such a great vibe and intimate feel! Fantastic food and a lovely selection of wines! Definitely a place that I would recommend to others!
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Review from Mary S.
Chandler, AZ
5/24/2012
I have been here a few times and had a great experience every time. The food is wonderful (creative, fancy yet totally edible), the ambiance is cozy, sophisticated and classy, and the service is spot on. The cheese plate is delicious and their happy hour is fantastic. It's pricey, but if you're looking for a classy date night or even a pretty location for lunch off Mill ave, this is your place!
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Review from Denice Z.
4/14/2012
In my opinion House of Tricks ooozes romance and charm and is very hard not to fall in love with the place .It manages to be rustic and trendy all at once ,this is basically 2 cottages that have 2 outdoor patios ,lush with shade trees and plantings ,a clever bar that surrounds a tree ,and of course a very charming indoor dining space .
And i wanted to linger here the vibe was so good ,you actually forget where you are ,it has all the charm of an English cottage .It was very relaxing ,intimate ..lovely.
A few glasses of psychedelic rooster ( Napa Valley red) a lovely fresh fruit and cheese plate and a couple of well designed delicious salads ,while basking in the beauty and charm of the patio on a fine day ,makes House of Tricks one of my new fave places .
Service was friendly and the place can get packed ...however this is a lovely quaint ambient dining experience if you allow yourself to just sit and enjoy .
it may seem A little pricey to some people ,however not over priced at all in my opinion.
Really loved the patio !
Almost 40 minutes to get into Tempe ,and absolutely worth it !
Yes i will be back for sure .Listed in: Date Night Bliss, Tempe Temptations
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Review from Mary D.
Mahwah, NJ
4/6/2012
We had the worse service there this past Tuesday night. Our waitress (can't remember her name but I remember the sour look and nasty attitude). She even changed the amount of the tip on the final receipt! Added $20! I think that is against the law. ;) We are trying to contact the manager but they told my niece he was busy after she sat on hold for almost 10 minutes!
I have to say, I used to go there at least twice a week but moved and hadn't been there in over a year.... THIS place obviously has gone DOWN hill!!!!!!! -
Review from Alyssa K.
4/4/2012
I was in Phoenix last week for a shoot, and my photographer recommended House of Tricks to me, describing it as the only really upscale restaurant in the Tempe Mill Avenue District.
I wanted to order something pretty light because I had what I thought was food poisoning earlier that morning (it was diagnosed the following day as the stomach flu). I ordered one of the few vegetarian options - pumpkin goat cheese ravioli - and I have to say that I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. I usually scoff at pasta entrees that cost more than $15 (this cost $22), but hey, I was on business and not footing the bill. All of the flavors worked together beautifully... the nutty pistachio-spinach pesto, the sweet blood orange balsamic, and the subtle sage creme fraiche. There was some sauteed kale underneath the ravioli; it was the perfect veggie complement to the dish. This was one of the more memorable pasta dishes I've had.
If you sit outside, the candlelight is really, really weak. Be prepared to read your menu with the light from your smartphone screen.
I really liked my ravioli... until my stomach flu reared its ugly head a few hours later, making me run to the closest available toilet for the next 10 hours. The ravioli coming up wasn't as good as it was going down. But if I'm ever in Phoenix again with a stronger stomach, I definitely plan on returning to try some of their meat dishes! -
Review from Hannah G.
Chino, CA
5/8/2012 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
I made a reservation for 9:45 (the latest there is), but because of the boxing fight we (two people) arrived at the restaurant at 10:10, the kitchen closed already... However the manager decided to seat us anywaz n we had two orders of Filet Mignon, best steak ever! Greatttttt service!!! I would leave 10 stars if possible.. Gotta try it!! We sat at the patio on a warm spring/summer night, with their lighting and music, it was sooo romantic!
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Review from Greg G.
Flagstaff, AZ
5/21/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Excellent, excellent, excellent. Consistently wonderful service and food.
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Review from Richard R.
Phoenix, AZ
3/12/2012
For the longest time, I wondered what trick this place must have been using to be so successful in such an odd location. When I was a student at ASU I walked past House of Tricks on my way from Campus to Mill Ave countless times, and I always thought it was out of place. While even as a student I could appreciate the beauty of a house converted into a restaurant with an amazing garden patio as its setting, it just seemed odd that a such a fancy restaurant was hidden on small street, just feet from a college campus, surrounded by parking meters and pay lots. Now that I have eaten at House of Ticks, I understand its charm.
A while back, my girlfriend mentioned that she had a great happy hour at at this place with friends some years ago. She couldn't remember the name, but based on her description I instantly knew she was talking about House of Tricks. So, when we went to see "Wicked" at Gammage (great show, by the way) for her birthday, I decided it would be the perfect place to dine before seeing the show. Turns out that's what a lot of people do. The server even asked if we were heading to the show, so he knew to get us out with time to spear. We also happened to overhear another server mentioned that about 90% of their customers on a given night were heading over to Gammage.
The food is quite pricy, but very tasty. I had the Ancho Chili Seared Ahi. The orange-chipolte honey aioli had a good kick. The white bean chili had a unique taste. The tuna it self was perfectly seared, but no too flavorful. My girlfriend had a salmon dish which was amazing. The salmon was very flavorful and cooked perfectly. For dessert (we were celebrating a birthday, after all) we tried a brioche bread pudding. One word: Wonderful.
If you are looking for a pleasurable meal with a pleasurable ambiance, House of Tricks will do the trick. I highly recommend it before a show at Gammage or if you are just looking a romantic night out. -
Review from Mark W.
Tempe, AZ
4/30/2012
What's not to like about this place? This is the place to bring the one you love and watch the romance sizzle. This is the launching pad to a very special evening. The food changes with the seasons, the service is attentive and their wine pairings are spot on. Sitting in the gazebo under the grape vines cannot be beat.
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Review from Ryan O.
Tempe, AZ
5/19/2012
Went for Mother's Day. Food was awesome and the waiter recommended the perfect wine. Very impressed.
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Review from Stijn d.
Ossining, NY
5/6/2012
Pork belly with nice crust was very good, as was the duck breast in a very tasty sauce that had thai influences, using coconut milk and peppers. It's mouthwatering when i think back of it now even though it has been a few weeks since i was there. One minor point of critisism was the texture of the duck meat, which i found to be too soft. I recommend getting a seat in the yard, i was late and had a less optimal seat inside.
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Review from Emily H.
Phoenix, AZ
4/4/2012
Amazing, friendly, attentive--but not over-bearing--service on all levels.
Food was well-portioned and delicious --everyone raved about the chef's creations and no one took home doggie bags. We had the steak, ravioli, salmon and two salads at our table. Great drink list with specialty beers and wine available.
The atmosphere is a world unto itself - inside the renovated bungalow or outside in the lush patio - you cannot tell you're just steps off of busy Mill Avenue. It feels as though you have your own private party.
I am also a coffee snob and the bartender pulled a delectable, fresh decaf espresso (hard to do!)
Well worth the trip, whether you're celebrating a special occasion or just want to be spoiled by the staff and feel good as you walk away. -
Review from April Q.
2/21/2012
We went to celebrate a special occasion here. My friend from work had highly recommended it for any type of special dinner, so my husband and I thought we'd try it. I had passed this place many, many times while attending ASU and I had never one stepped foot in to it, but had always seen a great outdoor dining area always full of people that seemed to be enjoying what we now know is great cuisine!
We arrived for dinner without any reservations on a weekend and were seated within 5 or so minutes. It was great weather, so we had ideal seating outside on the W side of the seating area.. lots of small faint lighting amongst a dark night, a perfect setting for an intimate dinner (though there were others around us not dining so intimately).
Our server was friendly, prompt, and gave us the full description of menu items, wines, etc. I had an amazing lamb shank and my husband's game-meat was absolutely flavorful! Every ingredient and combination seemed like it was well thought out and then executed by skilled cooks in to beautiful dishes that were both exciting and still recognizable.
There was this adorable (and I am certainly not a cat kinda gal) cat that kept brushing up against our legs.. I rubbed her belly a bit and found out she was the restaurant's pet.. kinda silly.. but sweet at the same time. I recommend this place for great food and a nice, relaxing night atmosphere... I'm sure I will pick this place again for a future romantic affair.Listed in: Places to Celebrate Initmately
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Review from Jeff R.
4/11/2012
I have a love hate relationship with this restaurant. I have always had really delicious food, pretty exceptional service and when we go with my nieces and nephews they actually eat. Which is always a pleasant surprise. My main fault with the restaurant is that they seem to always be booked up when we go. The last four times we have tried to go they were completely booked for private events. As a result I don't try and take people here anymore as we always have to scramble to to pick some other place. I have never had that happen at lunch so I think that is safe, but dinner always seems to be an issue. So if you decide to go make sure to make reservations before you go.
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Review from Allison W.
Tempe, AZ
2/19/2012 Seated via OpenTable
I have been to House of Tricks on a few different occasions, during different times of the year, both for lunch and dinner. All three times I have been impressed with the food. This is a place I feel comfortable being a little more adventurous than usual as everything has been delicious.
The patio is amazing. You completely forget that you are only steps away from drunken college students and the main drag of bars. I swear, this patio somehow transports me to a different place until I walk out of the gate and remember where I am.
The only "eh" part about House of Tricks has been hit or miss service. The very first time I went, our server was absolutely terrible - not even greeting our table for about 15 minutes (and no, this is not an exaggeration). On the visits since then it has been much better (although it was very easy to improve from the low bar set the first time). There have been a few instances in which I wish my server was a little more attentive but overall, not too shabby.
This is definitely a place I will return to again and again. And order whatever catches my eye, because I know it will be delicious! -
Review from Jeanne M.
Fountain Hills, AZ
4/15/2012
Went here for lunch ordered the Pecan Smoked Salmon with Avocado Puree, Red Onion, Lemon-Caper Crema, and Olive Tapenade. It was only $10. I would have paid $20. It was spectacular! I also got the Chili Rubbed Hanger Steak and Asadero Cheese Stuffed Tortillas with Roasted Ancho Guajillo Sauce,
Avocado Puree and Cilantro Rice It was $13. It was tremendous. My friend got Grilled Salmon and Baby Lettuce with Sweet Roasted Peppers, Cherry Tomatoes, Fresh Avocado,
Chive Risotto Cake, Tortilla Strips and Chipotle-Grapefruit Vinaigrette. It was only $12. I think this restaurant is the best in Scottsdale. This comes from a real foodie. The service was 5 star! Off course the outdoor patio was stunning but mesquite leaves kept falling in the food. It was super windy that day. Make sure you are seated under an umbrella! -
Review from Laura F.
Phoenix, AZ
1/17/2012
A friend and I spent a lazy Sunday afternoon at the House of Tricks before heading off to a show at Gammage.
It's right off of Mill Road, so a very quick convenient drive to Gammage. The parking was very adequate for the location-- parked right out front with NO searching.
We were a bit early for our dinner reservations, so we sat at the outdoor bar and had a few glasses of wine and split the Pecan Smoked Salmon appetizer. It was an enormous piece of salmon cooked to perfection with a little side salad, onions, capers, and an olive tepenade. It was served with bruscetta and crackers-- it was a great starter! The outdoor bar seating was wonderful. Vine covered patios and lots of plants and foliage, which I love that garden-y feel.
We were taken to a beautiful garden area for dinner-- really had that English garden appeal.
I had the Arugala & Roasted Squash salad. It was really delicious, but I would have liked a bit more of the squash. It only had a sprinkling of small diced pieces of squash, where I was hoping for good big bites. It was still really good, though.
For dinner I had the Pork Loin with a potato gratin, asparagus, and topped with a "red flame grape agrodolce', which added a nice tangy taste. The gratin, I felt, was a bit dry- as the potatoes were sliced super thin.
For dessert I had the dark chocolate mousse with raspberry preserves-- AMAZING!!
The service was A+, the atmosphere was A+, the wine was A+, and the food was a solid A...
I would absolutely go back and will probably my new 'go to' place before a show at Gammage. -
Review from Noelle K.
Tempe, AZ
2/6/2012
I went here for the first time the other night, and it was fantastic.
The food was awesome. Perfectly cooked and wonderfully seasoned, and with interesting and unique flavor combinations. Our table had a starter of the cheese and fruit plate, which contained a nice variety of items and was big enough for all four of us to have our fill. For my entree I had pan-seared cod with arugula, new potatoes, and beets. It was accompanied with a horseradish cream sauce that was just amazing. I couldn't get over how wonderful each component tasted. I think it was the first time I ever said to myself, "these beets taste great!" My dessert was a peanut-butter filled lava cake with ice cream, and I was so full by that point I could barely finish it.. but believe me, I forced myself to. It was that good.
Additionally, their cocktails are awesome. I had the cherry cherry boom boom, and while a bit silly to say the name, it was worth it. The taste was like cherry ice cream with a kick. It actually gave me a slight buzz, so there was plenty of alcohol in it. Which is good, since the cocktails cost quite a bit each. I had a sip of one of my dinner mate's frisky squirrel cocktail, which was also delicious.
The service was great. Our waiter was friendly and attentive. We ate on the patio area, on a table in the corner, and the atmosphere was very cozy at night. One of the house kitties hung around our table being very personable. I think that cat knows the deal very well, because as soon as our plates were delivered, it came over and immediately began meowing and begging for scraps. Of course we had to oblige, just a little.. ;)
I think the only complaint I have is that the plates they serve the food on are a little big for the tables they have, as all four of our plates, cocktails, glasses of water, and other things, just barely fit on the table with some maneuvering (such as moving the flower vase off our table). But that's pretty nitpicky and didn't take away from my enjoyment.
I'll definitely be back! -
Review from Marie M.
Scottsdale, AZ
4/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is a killer find and I can't wait to go back again to try their new menu that they introduced yesterday. We went on Monday and the place was jumping! A group of friends and I sat at the bar and had good service, great wine (they have a very eclectic wine list) and the food was AMAZING!!! Although the bar is a totally cool place to sit, the next time I want to sit on a patio, I'm heading here! Great job!
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Review from Lili C.
Mesa, AZ
4/27/2012
My husband and I went to the House of Tricks last night for our 37th anniversary. I was really excited. The reviews were impressive. But,alas, I was disappointed. The hostess sat us in a quite room (which was really nice)., gave us the menus and wine list. Our waiter came, he introduced himself, ... didn't ask if this was our first time at House of Tricks, have any questions about the menu, just asked for our drink order and left. When he brought our drinks asked if we were ready to order, when we hesitated he said "I'll give you more time and LEFT'. A basket of cold bread was brought to us. Waiter returns and we ask him some questions about the menu, ordered soup and salad. Soup was lukewarm when it came, Salad was good. Waiter doesn't show up till we are done with this portion. He takes my salad plate, reaches across me takes the spoon that I had placed to my left and realigns the spoon on the left side of the table, takes the other fork and plops it into the plate (like I really committed a faux pas), let him know soup was only luke warm "Hmm.. sorry about that). We had several questions about items on the menu. I don't like spicy/hot food. Those questions were answered with "You don't have to have that but no substitutions were forthcoming."
Finally settled on the filet. Which was very good, the potatoes and spinach was just ok.. nothing special. But the food was lukewarm when it was brought to us. After our meal he asked if there was anything else. We asked to see the dessert menu, I didn't have one in my little burgandy book... but they didn't sound appealing at all. THen as we were leaving I spotted a dessert tray, that actually had some good looking stuff on it.
Over all I would not recommend House of Tricks to anyone. It was mediocre at best.
This will go down in the anniversary dining book as should have gone elsewhere. -
Review from Kali R.
1/13/2012
Tricks has made a name for itself based on quality dishes and prime date-night atmosphere. I came for my first visit during happy hour on a Thursday with a group of coworkers. We sat at a table near the outdoor bar and I positively love the patio. What a gorgeous view. It has a lovely feeling about it, and it's relaxed. For happy hour, they have a drink menu with some exquisite, albeit, pricey choices. I chose a Frisky Squirrel or something of a similar silly name and it definitely boasts a tasty, fresh ginger flavor.
We also ordered some bites from the 4-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday menu: pizza with fennel sausage (for $3 more), chicken wings, bruschetta with goat cheese, and mussels. HOLY MACKEREL, the mussels came in a scrumptious broth that we all fought after-- there was a tomato, fishy, sodium-licious broth that they came in and we dunked our extra pieces of bread in it until the bowl was dry. The bruschetta? Perfectly acceptable. The pizza? I have some qualms. I could have made this pizza myself. There was nothing special about it-- the sausage was baked in the cheese on top of the pizza, which would make Bianco cringe, and drowned the fennel flavor in cheese and tomatoes. Meh. The chicken wings were the perfect mix of baked and flavorful goodness. I highly recommend ordering these.
I would come back for a nice date or a happy hour again and I am really excited to finally enjoy this Tempe gem. -
Review from Judy F.
12/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Our annual Christmas gift ornament was held at the House of Tricks. I loved the outside patio. 6 of us sat near a heat lamp and it was perfect. The service was a little slow and she refilled one of our drinks wrong, but that is OK. She fixed it right away. I ordered the Oven Roasted Turkey Club (Brown Sugar Bacon, Tomato, Avocado, Havarti, and Honey-Dijonaise) on Sourdough served with Tri-Color Pasta Salad. The sandwich was great, especially the crunch of the brown sugar bacon. YUM! The Tri-Color Pasta Salad was ok, because it had onions. Not too fond of onions.
Overall it is 3-1/2 stars, but the patio seating bumped it up to 4 stars. -
Review from Rahul I.
Mesa, AZ
4/8/2012
Went to House of Tricks to celebrate the following, as the following occur on weekdays for us in 2012, and the weekend is the best time for us:
My Birthday on 9 April
Our Marriage Day on 12 April
My wife and I celebrated both, and this was a wonderful place.
My wife got ahi tuna with a Southwest & Asian flare
I ordered lamb shank with a French/Italian flare
Both were very good. We also had a wonderful quail for our starters. This is definitely worth it in the Mill Avenue District -
Review from Ashley M.
Tempe, AZ
2/10/2012
I went to House of Tricks for the first time today, and was SO impressed. For a party of three, the wait was about 30 minutes, even though we were quoted for 10. It wasn't a huge imposition, though, as the weather was great and the setting is gorgeous. We were seated on the patio, and Shannon introduced herself as our server. She was very accommodating, as we were sort of crunched for time. I took ages to finally decide on what I wanted and I decided on the Daily Burger Special, which was a green chile tuna burger with pomegranate guacamole (YES, I KNOW!). It was SO delicious. My friend ordered the chicken taco salad and her mom got the shwarma salad. We ordered the tapas plate as an appetizer, which was also delicious and light. My meal was $13, so very reasonably priced for the quality of food I got.
I'll be back again soon. -
Review from Ling C.
Tempe, AZ
2/5/2012
House of Tricks is one of my favourite restaurants. I've only stopped here for lunch, so I have no idea what dinner's like, but I'm sure it's just as good an experience.
This place always offers fresh options daily, and I never find myself looking at the same menu whenever I come here, which is great! I'm impressed every time I order. I've taken friends and family to this restaurant, and they feel the same about the food here, so that's a plus. The food here is a fusion of many different cultures, and every time, the chefs make it work. I once had a chicken burger with oaxaca cheese and miscellaneous toppings with fried okra, and I've never been able to find a chicken burger that was treated the same way. I also ordered a grilled salmon with a spring salad on top, and despite it being farm-raised salmon, it was still flavourful and complimented the salad very well.
All their food is presented gorgeously, and the service is also some of the best I've experienced. -
Review from Michael B.
Santa Rosa, CA
1/18/2012
Should be called house of deliciousness!
I could go on and on about this item, that item, blah blah blah but I dont really waznt to. This is good food, done creatively, and in my mind presented in a casual yet sophisticated manner without any pretensiousness. The chef here creates inspirational dishes that seem to meld asian and southwestern flavors seemlessly. Ok so now I realize this are not all real words but after eating here and developing a drunken state of mind who really cares anyhow?
The lowdown is the food is good and priced fair for what you get. Our service was great and on top of everything we truly had an amazing time on a rainy Saturday evening. Next time hopefully we can enjoy the killer outdoor bar and patio seating.
I cant wait to go back and eat our way through the new menu.
The custom cocktails were delightful and the wine list is pretty spot on. -
Review from Ella S.
Scottsdale, AZ
1/11/2012
The menu is creative and absolutely delish. I love the service and ambiance as well. I frequent for lunch and dinner and have never had a substandard meal. A bit pricey but that is relative. Both Pres Obama and I love this place but don't let that keep you from dining here. Great for schmoozing clients (...or politicians). ;-D
Just gotta try it. -
Review from Rick S.
3/10/2012 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
Understaffed...but they nailed it! Perfect food and atmosphere right off Mill. I will definitely frequent this place.
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Review from christina p.
Phoenix, AZ
2/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
The setting is quite enjoyable and oozes romance but the food is unremarkable, in my opinion.
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Review from Sofie S.
Tempe, AZ
4/23/2012 Seated via OpenTable
The mussels are a must have! However, every dish I have tried here has completely exceeded my expectations. The location and ambiance is something that is incomparable within the area.
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Review from Shallana E.
Paradise Valley, AZ
3/7/2012
The name is so misleading, because this is the most charming dining spot I've ever eaten!
I dined here for lunch with a friend and was blown away by everything about it. First, it's location is tucked away near ASU campus in a quiet little neighborhood. It appears to be a converted home built in the early 1900's and lots of beautiful mature trees and plants growing in their huge, and I mean huge outdoor patio area. I only dined outside, but honestly with such beautiful weather 9 months out of the year here, why would you dine any other way!
The service was excellent! The staff was extremely attentive and always checked up on me while I drank water and waited a while for my friend. The menu was amazing. I never once read a menu that I wanted to try everything on here. They had a huge variety of dishes at what I can only describe as American/French fusion. It all looked so divine. And from what I've been told, their menu changes frequently to new seasonal dishes. So I can't wait to see what they offer when I return. I went simple with my meal having this delicious quiche, fresh fruit and a cup of their corn chowder soup. The soup was so rich and creamy, I could have ordered and ate a whole trough! It was that good. The fruit was clean, well portioned and fresh. I'm very particular with fruit, and hate when the fruit looks soggy and overly ripened. And the quiche was heavenly as well. Just the right amount of ham and tomatoes with alot of flavor.
Since I was here for lunch only, the prices were reasonable. I've heard at dinner it can get expensive.
This was an unforgettable dining experience and recommend this to everyone to try at least once. -
Review from Evan B.
11/2/2011 5 photos
There are many tricks here, a great garden patio and a fancy mystique. Some how this tricks people to over look the mediocre food and poor service.
I made a online reservation for Sat night, however upon arrival I found that was not necessary as they were not full.
We started with the Ahi watermelon salad $13. It has 3 small slices of sashimi and 8 blocks of watermelon with some greens and a wasabi glaze. It was good but very very small.
For our mains we had a Potato chip wrapped wild sea bass on a plat of beans and sauce $30. The Fish was bit over cooked and too firm, the beans and sauce lacked much flavor. We also had the Goat Cheese veggie Lasagna $20, While it did look nice topped with Julianned squash and a nice swoosh of pesto on the plate, it was nothing special.
The bread comes with a sweet butter which is nice.
We had some wine by the glass that was decently priced for the environment.
Overall it was an impressive place for a date however the food did not impress. -
Review from Pepper T.
Phoenix, AZ
12/4/2011
I like the atmosphere , it seems familiar but it's not .
We tried the lunch special that was an open faced green chili meatloaf sandwich and the grilled salmon salad . Both dishes came out pretty as a picture with the food stacked high .
The meatloaf sandwich had mashed potatoes over the bread and a tasty cole slaw on top of the meatloaf . Unfortunately the potatoes were very over mixed and were extremely gummy .
The salmon salad overall was good and I am not sure if I didn't like the chive risotto cake or maybe the flavor of it clashed with the citrus dressing .
Service was fine .
I would come back again but I am not in a hurry . -
Review from Kelly B.
11/8/2011
The amazing patio and fuzzy ambience of House of Trick is what boosted my rating to 3 full stars. Refreshing, relaxing reprieve. Beautiful space, inside and out. But that's as far as my stars went here.
So far, the food has been ok at best. And I don't want to pay that much for just ok. First experience - the online menu didn't match the actual menu. I placed a to-go order for what the website stated was a Southwest Tapas platter, and the person over the phone did not correct me. I was just handed a box containing falafel, tzatziki and something else mediterranean with very (and I mean VERY) stale pita. I like falafal, but I didn't think I was ordering it. And I didn't like this falafel.
Then I went for lunch. The food was alright, not great. The patio was magnificent, the service was mag...horrible. The server was nice, but he also forgot about us. It was busy and I understand how that goes. I still don't think we should have had to crane our necks around for 45 minutes after finishing our meal to ask for the check. Oh well. I'd come again for the atmosphere alone, but I'll stick to wine and a snack. -
Review from Dana B.
Tempe, AZ
10/30/2011
I did not have a good experience here...
Our waiter dropped a ramekin of balsamic vinegar on the floor by our table, which splashed all over my leather boots, jacket and pants and shirt. Instead of getting something to clean it up, our server was preoccupied with the older ladies behind us- which were not hit but whining about their desserts. Our food got cold while wiping up the mess- because it was everywhere.
I get that this stuff happens, but the lack of care was very surprising. I served tables for 7 years and I would have been fired if I acted like that to a guest. My very expensive jacket was ruined...you cannot get vinegar off fabric and when I told them that, the staff acted like I was crazy. The owner tried to replace my jacket with a cheaper one. I give her credit, she did try to make it right.
Anyways, my cold food was not that great and the experience really sucked. -
Review from Shirley C.
Chandler, AZ
11/23/2011 2 Check-ins Here
House of Tricks is located near ASU, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the college town and the famous Mill Ave. You'd never expect to find a quaint and classy restaurant in the midst of crazy college life. It has a garden-like patio space which also houses a fire place to keep its guests warm during some of the chilly Arizona nights. The restaurant serves a mixture of Euro and Asian cuisine with obvious French preparation techniques. With all the influence, I guess that's why it's labeled "American", because it's a melting pot. The menu changes every season based on availability of fresh ingredients. Supplement your meal with a wide selection of wine.
During our visit in the summer, they had an Ahi-Tuna, its wrapped in bacon and dressed in a miso based glazed. This probability will raise some eyebrows at first, until that first bite. The combination works really well. The tender texture of the Ahi-Tuna complimented the smoky and salty flavor of the bacon. The miso horseradish glazes is just what the dished needed to bring the flavors together. Also on the summer menu was the tenderloin, cooked medium rare with a bacon-fig gastrique. The steak was cooked spot on. The bacon-fig gastrique was just a perfect balance of sweet and sour taste, complementing the meat.
All of the ingredient was fresh; the servers are friendly and for the most part knowledgeable of the food. The price is on the higher side with an average entre costing over $30. However they do serve an amazing lunch menu at a very reasonable price, a perfect spot to enjoy lunch and the AZ sun under the garden patio.
Come out the quaint French influence restaurant and try all their seasonal dishes, you won't be disappointed. I went back a few times afterwards and was able to get great results. -
Review from Tom S.
Maricopa, AZ
7/28/2011
The House of Tricks is aptly named. They have a box full of "tricks" to get you in the door along with many to make sure that you don't return.
Don't be fooled! This clever house of tricks keeps their way over priced, mediocre food and horrible service well hidden until you, and your wallet, have already be taken. Quite the slight of hand!!
I made the mistake of taking my family there for my wife's birthday (6 of us altogether). After sitting for 15 minutes we were greeted by Ben who immediately let us know through his inaction and disinterest that this was going to be a long night of "no service". Ben didn't need to be concerned, though-he was getting his tip no matter what he did, or didn't do for this table. Our choice should have been Burger King for the service, if nothing else. Sorry, no disrespect to those who wear the crown ;-). The bottom line-the House of Tricks has THE WORST SERVICE in Arizona!!!
Their overpriced food features barely palatable dishes and the portions are small. If you eat there don't expect any "wow" from the food. The only "wow" you will get is when you see the bill!!
In this economy Arizona has seen the doors of many restaurants shut. We don't need a magic door at the House of Tricks, but we do need it to close!!!
