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The Italian Tastes of AWA
By Kayte Christensen,
Phoenix Mercury
Posted: March 9, 2004
During the WNBA season, I am not able to test the food out at America West Arena. So I decided that I would use the Suns' season to take advantage of what AWA has to offer and allow myself to gorge at all the different eateries in arena. Since some of you may not know just what to eat on any given game night, I thought that I would fill you all in on what I liked best.
Italian is one of my favorite kinds of food. With the new renovations being done to AWA, a new Italian restaurant was one of the many great additions. Those of you who have not gotten the chance to eat at il Palazzetto, run don’t walk. Recently I dined there with two friends, which gave me the luxury of testing not one but three different entrees, as well as a variety of appetizers, wines and desserts. There wasn’t one thing that I had that night that I would not recommend to all of you who have a taste for good Italian food.
My favorite appetizer was the Carpaccio. Those of you who don’t know what this fabulous creation is, it is paper thin sirloin with arugula, topped with reggiano, caper berries, red onions and tomatoes. However, keep in mind that the sirloin is not cooked, so if your stomach can’t handle that, try the Bruschetta. This is a tasteful grilled country bread topped with roma tomatoes, roasted peppers and olivetta. The greatest thing about this appetizer is that it gives you the luxury of variety when you are dining with several people. If one of you does not like olives for instance, you have the choice of the roma tomatoes or the roasted peppers. All in all, the most creative and original Bruschetta I’ve ever tasted. Yet still, this may be a bit bold and daring for some of you out there. Don’t worry, you’re in luck. Il Palazzetto also serves a delicious Caesar salad, with or without grilled chicken, which you could never go wrong with.
I thought the appetizers were to die for, but then the main course arrived. Those of you who like veal, the Osso Buco, veal shanks simmered in tomato sauce served over risotto covered in brown gravy, absolutely melts in your mouth. If you’re in the mood for shellfish, I recommend the Lingunie con Vongole; little neck clams served in a white wine sauce over lingunie. This dish is light, not overfilling, or overbearingly clammy. However, in every group there is always someone who just wants a good steak. No problem; the Bistecca di Manzo is 16 ounces of grilled prime sirloin cooked to your liking with a very creative seasoning that makes you wish it were a 32 ouncer!
It doesn’t end there folks! If you’re like me, you have a severe sweet tooth. Il Palazzetto serves up a mean flourless chocolate cake. If you love chocolate, skip the entrée and go straight for desert because this cake is so rich and so gooey that after dinner you’re lucky to get down five whole bites. It’s worth unbuttoning the top button on your pants to finish, though! If you’re not in the mood for chocolate cake, my second favorite was the Panna Cotta which is very close to the traditional crème brulee. This is a light custard dessert topped with in-season fruit and strawberry coulis. Don’t plan on sharing this one, it is not a large desert and it is so tasty you’ll want it all to yourself. That’s not all though; there is something here for everyone. Ice cream lovers have to try the Tartufo. This is a scoop of chocolate ice cream covered in a chocolate shell with some berries for visual appeal.
So if you’re wanting to treat your special someone to a nice sit down dinner in a great atmosphere before taking in a game, Il Palazzetto is just what you’re looking for. However, there will be times that you want some good Italian food that is quick, tasty, and less spendy that you can eat in your seat. You won’t have to go far from Il Palazzetto, because just outside their doors entering the arena is ZZ’s To Go.
ZZ’s To Go offers a variety of items, including my favorite, the Chicken Caesar Wrap. This wrap is extremely large and reminded me of a pizza crust consistency overflowing with delicious Caesar salad and grilled chicken. Since I am not much of a pizza person, this was by far my favorite item on the menu. However, their pizzas are numerous, creative, and also well-sized. The best thing about ZZ’s To Go is their convenience; it is a one and done food stand. You can choose your dinner from a variety of menu items, as well as pick up any beverages you may be looking for and be able to pay for it all with your credit or ATM card. This way, you don’t have to stop at the ATM machine, then get your dinner and lastly your drink all in different locations. They make it as easy as possible without sacrificing taste for convenience.
If you don’t want an $8.50 pizza from ZZ’s To Go, or a sit down dinner at il Palezzetto, you can also stop at Peter Piper’s Pizza and choose from one of three menu items: the eight-inch individual sized cheese or pepperoni pizza, or an order of bread sticks. As I mentioned earlier, I am not much of a pizza person, but that doesn't mean you that you won't love it. And if you're looking for something inexpensive and quick that will stop the hunger pains, this $4 pizza will definitely hit the spot.
So if you are headed to a Suns' game and feel like Italian for dinner, you have several options open to you. The great thing about il Palazzetto, of course, is the fact that you don’t need a Suns' game as an excuse to eat there. They are open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the week, from 5 to 10 p.m. for dinner on Saturdays and from 5 to 10 p.m. on Sundays when there is an event downtown. No matter what the occasion, give it a try, and I guarantee you won’t go away disappointed.
