On the northwest corner of Roosevelt and Second streets stands Carly’s Bistro, an Arts District landmark since 2005. Whether you’re grabbing lunch between classes or grabbing drinks after First Friday, Carly’s offers something for everyone.
Decorated inside and outside with local artwork, the restaurant captures the spirit of Roosevelt Row. Outside is a wonderfully bizarre mural by respected street artist Lalo Cota. Covering the eastern side of the building, it features his signature Dia de los Muertos-style skeletons and a disembodied arm clutching a flaming human heart.
Inside is another mural by renowned local artist Steven Yazzie. Appropriately placed behind the bar, the painting is of Yazzie himself offering his half-nude wife a corkscrew for her wine bottle.
Carla Logan, owner and the restaurant's namesake, said the bistro and the arts community have long been intertwined.
“For many, many years, most of the residents in our immediate area were working artists and people who had studio space,” Logan said. “They were really some of our first costumers.”
While artists continue to thrive in the area, the character of the neighborhood was markedly different from what it is today. General manager Gabriel Hernandez said there's “a night and day difference, literally” when comparing Roosevelt Row 10 years ago with the present.
“It was a little bit of a darker neighborhood, I guess you could say,” Hernandez said. “The street wasn’t as developed as it is now. There were more transients. It wasn’t an area where people walked around, that’s for sure.”
As the community continues to grow and change, Carly’s Bistro remains an indispensable destination for drinks, food, quirky artwork and live music.
There is a full and well-stocked bar, offering local craft beer, an extensive selection of wine and possibly the best Bloody Mary anywhere. (The Phoenix New Times awarded Carly’s “Best Bloody Mary” in 2010.)
With draft beers and glasses of wine $1 cheaper between 4 p.m and 7 p.m, Carly’s is already a barfly’s paradise. However, its real strength lies in its diverse food menu. The selection is a motley crew of culinary influence, from Mediterranean and Italian, to Hispanic and Vietnamese.
The appetizers, soups and desserts are all excellent, but Carly’s mainstays are its sandwiches and wraps. Hernandez said the most popular was the Southwest Chicken sandwich, made with grilled chicken, cilantro pesto, pepper jack cheese and chipotle mayo on ciabatta bread. He warned me not to order the item “because you’ll never get anything else.”
I had the Vietnamese Chicken wrap. It consisted of sweet-spicy grilled chicken with spicy mayo, carrots and cucumbers served on pita bread with a side of potato chips. All this was washed down with a draft pint of Oak Creek Nut Brown Ale. It was a thoroughly hearty and delicious meal, and at $9 to $10 a plate, it’s perfect for students on a budget.
Logan said she takes pride in the restaurant’s all-inclusive menu, which includes vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.
“We have something for everyone as far as our fare goes,” she said.
With great food and drinks and close proximity to other Roosevelt Row establishments, it’s impossible to pass by Carly’s Bistro, whether you’re a local, or you’re just experiencing Phoenix for the first time.
Carly’s Bistro is open in downtown Phoenix during Monday through Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 1 a.m., Thursday and Friday from 10:30 a.m to 2 a.m, Saturday from 10 a.m to 2 a.m, and Sunday from 10 a.m to 1 a.m.
Reach the reporter at idickins@asu.edu or follow @sailormouthed92 on Twitter.
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