Iron Springs Cafe
Reviews
I wanted to like this place. I really did. The owner was very nice and friendly, and beyond that- it was a total disaster. We started with mussels. They were cooked with under-ripe, flavorless diced tomatoes. The lime-half was cooked with the broth. The pith of the lime made the broth taste bitter. The bread that was served came right out of a plastic bag. It wasn't warm. It wasn't toasted. It wasn't even crusty. Just cold and soft and white. I told the waitress I wanted fresh fish. She assured me that they had two types of fresh fish on special that evening: salmon and halibut. Thanks for going to CostCo for me, but when I go out to eat, I'd prefer a fish that isn't currently in my refrigerator. I have a membership there too. Isn't there a fish monger in Prescott? Can't you buy fish from a fish guy? I asked the waitress about the tuna next. On the menu, it is DEEP FRIED and served with gravy. That should have been a warning sign; but I was told this restaurant was excellent, so even though the mussels were horrible, I took a chance with the tuna. I told the server that I only wanted it if I could have it grilled. She says "Sure, no problem!" So I ordered it medium rare. This is where the server dropped the ball. She should have said, "Sir, you were asking about fresh fish, so I should tell you that the tuna is a frozen piece of garbage. Please don't order it." But instead, she smiled and assured me that they would grill it to perfection. I should point out that she never lied to me. I never specifically asked if the tuna was fresh. My bad. What arrived was a medium-well, (previously) FROZEN tuna steak. And the "grill"- you won't believe this, but she actually meant "griddle." Sure, in the restaurant business, "grill" is slang for griddle, but when I order "grilled tuna", I don't expect you to slap a frozen piece of crap on a flat-top, just to ruin it. Then again, you were planning on ruining it in the deep fryer anyway. In a bar, on a sandwich, maybe. But not at those prices. Hell no. It was dry and hard to swallow. It was a 6 oz. pre-cut, individually quick frozen tuna steak. The same kind you've seen on a sandwich. Why put it on the menu? Just leave it off the menu if you can't move fresh fish. Keep your integrity for goodness sakes. I don't eat frozen food in restaurants. I expect restaurants to cook my food properly, to order. I expect that the fish is fresh and cut in-house. Is fresh food really too much to ask? This happened about 3 weeks ago. The owner was so charming and I wanted to like this place so much, that I didn't write this review for 3 weeks. I was really angry about paying for that food and I actually gave myself time to cool down. And three weeks later, I'm still pissed about it.
Since it was Friday I ordered the fish and chips. I am part of a group that goes to the cafe often and I had been told the fish and chips were great. I was disappointed because the fish seemed pre-breaded and frozen, almost like a fish stick. Not something I would expect from a restaurant the advertises everything prepared fresh. I took one small bite and then I could no longer cut the remaining part because it was completely uncooked. It was a beige pink color inside and a totally raw tough breaded piece of meat. The waitress agreed and offered to have it cooked more but I had lost my interest in the fish. She asked if I wanted something else so I ordered the enchilda special. Meanwhile, my friends continued eating their lunch while I sat with nothing. My order finally arrived and then the bill. There was no compensation for the fish disaster and I was charged for the more expensive enchilda special. Clearly, it was not a pleasant lunch experience for me. The cafe has always been one of my favorites but I will not be going back. Not recommended.
Fantastic brunch and service in a small, cozy environment that feels like you're dining in someone's home. Would come back and would highly recommend to others
Very cute restaurant that is bigger than expected. Blackened chicken was wonderful, staff treated us like family. Very good !
My favorite restaurant due to it's consistency of EXCELLENT food! Never had a bad experience dining at this restaurant. I definitely recommend choosing this eating establishment!