Restaurant Review: Native New Yorker, Show Low Arizona

As you may know, I started a diet in January. It was my New Year’s resolution to make 2012 the year I would lose weight. After getting off to a slow start (I’ve only lost 5 pounds total so far!) I decided to gradually add back in some foods with a bit more fat and calories. I think one of my mistakes was to almost completely get rid of all the fat in my diet and stick to a low (1,200) calorie diet. My body went into shock and storing up fat because it didn’t know when the next good meal was coming.

Consequently, I’ve gone with my husband to the Native New York in Show Low the past couple weekends. It’s in a convenient location for us and has a nice, well-rounded menu (unless you’re dieting…). We went into the bar and played the trivia game while we enjoyed a beer and a glass of wine and then ate. The service was great (most likely because we were sitting right in front of the bartender) and the ambience typical of a sports bar.

Review of Native New Yorker, Show Low February 4 and February 11, 2012

The first time we went, my husband ordered the fish sliders and I opted for NNY Bruschetta. My husband enjoyed the sliders, which came out hot and moist along with a large helping of French fries. These are nicely seasoned home fries, with a good mix of thick, chewy pieces (my husband's fave) and thinner, crunchier ones (my faves). My bruschetta was quite good, topped with spinach and artichoke chunks and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. The garnish was a mild salsa which was kind of an odd choice, but went pretty well with the bread. My husband and I both finished our plates (and I even sneaked a fry or two off his plate).

The second time we visited Native New Yorker, my husband ordered the boneless Native wings in both medium and hot versions (this is the dish NNY is best known for), which were served with the ubiquitous celery strips garnish and a side of ranch dressing. He liked the hotter wings best and easily finished his plate. I tried the spinach and artichoke dip this time, which is served with tri-color tortilla chips. I’ve had this appetizer at NNY before and I remembered it to be better than it was this time. I don’t know if this was just an “off” day or if the recipe has changed, but the dip was almost tasteless. As for the spinach and artichokes? The spinach was nowhere to be seen and the artichokes were pathetic, which to me means they were either chopped really, really small or perhaps it was just a dehydrated seasoning packet that was added to the cheesy base. Because I was hungry I finished it all, but I had to add salt and pepper to the dip to make it palatable. Even the chips were barely salted and tasted like a lot of nothing.

The lesson here is that if you’re going to a restaurant like Native New Yorker, be prepared to ditch your diet and go with one of the house specialties, such as a sandwich or pizza or wings. Even the salads are full of calories so there’s really no low-fat or low-cal choice on the menu. If you’re looking for a family-friendly, comfortable place to watch the game and have a beer, Native New Yorker fits the bill – but don’t expect fine dining or great food.

The scores for Native New Yorker Show Low are as follows (on a scale from * to *****):

Food: ***

Service: ****

Ambience: ****