Heart and Soul Café

It would be impossible for me to count the number of times people have told me that there are not enough good non-chain restaurants available. I nod my head and smile, and then launch into a list of places that are available, that are not only what they are looking for but also closer than they are aware. Heart and Soul to me, is such a place. Open seven days a week, breakfast and lunch on Sunday and Monday only, it is serving up good quality meals to all that come through the door. We visited on two occasions in order to sample both the Breakfast menu as well as the dinner menu.

The first visit was breakfast, and we ordered the Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs ($13.49). This is a large piece of steak that has been battered and fried and then topped with creamy, sausage gravy. It has tri colored roasted potatoes and two eggs any style. We chose to order the eggs as egg white with cheese for a small additional charge ($2.50). The steak is crispy and delicious on its own but when paired with the country gravy, it is taken up a notch. The eggs were cooked as requested and when included with potatoes makes this a large meal.

The other breakfast item we ordered was the Bacon Blue Pancakes ($12.99). The meal consists of two very large pancakes that overtake the plate upon serving. Inside the pancake batter, you will find fresh blueberries and bits of bacon. The combination of these ingredients with the pancake batter, allows for some sweet, salty, and tart bites all wrapped into one vessel. It also comes with two eggs cooked in any style; we went with egg whites with cheese again for the same additional charge. The syrup and butter come in individual closed containers. We liked this due to the fact that we could determine how much of either we wanted to use and when. I do have to say, one pancake is a good amount, but two of the same size is a lot. You certainly get your moneys worth with this dish. The pancake batter was light and fluffy as you would expect, and there was no shortage of blueberries or bacon.

We then returned on a separate date for dinner. The menu has a few items on the dinner menu carried over from the lunch menu, but there are also a whole new group of selections as well. We decided to start with the Soft Pretzel Bites ($8.50). The pretzels are presented as little nuggets on a large plate with Southwestern Cream Cheese and Spicy Mustard. The pretzel bites are hot and soft upon arrival, and have a nice salty taste without being overwhelming. We also asked for a side of ranch dressing ($.50) to use as a dipping sauce as well. It was a generous amount of bites for two, but may be stretching it if you wanted to share with a bigger group. The Cream Cheese had a jalapeño kick and the mustard was pleasant.

The first entrée we ordered was the Balsamic Glazed Pork Chops ($14.99).   It was a thin cut piece of pork that had been marinated and then grilled. It was served with a Balsamic vinegar glaze to finish it off. It was served on top of a mound of mixed grilled vegetables and with a choice of mashed potatoes or a baked potato. We opted for the baked potato on this entrée and it was served with butter, sour cream, and bacon bits. The pork chop may have dried out a bit on the grill or had been parcooked. Parcooking is the process of cooking it previously and then finishing it later. The baked potato on the other hand, could have stood for another minute or so roasting before serving. But the vegetables were a plenty and consisted of zucchini and red peppers as the prominent components. The flavor on the pork chop was very good and I feel the dish could have been remarkable with a few twists and changes in preparation for my taste.

The next entrée we ordered was the Homemade Chicken Pot Pie ($15.49). This is a large dish from appearance but is actually not too difficult for one person to eat on their own. The plate is large but not deep, which gives it a misleading presentation. But the crust is light and flaky and when mixed with the other ingredients will make you eager to dig in for a second fork full. A mixture of roasted, shredded chicken mixed with a creamy chicken gravy mixture with celery and carrots. It is all served on top of creamy and buttery mashed potatoes. The flavors all worked in concert when taken in one bite. The crust was definitely the star, but there could have been a few more bites of chicken. While there was two large chunks, I personally would have preferred the pieces be shredded more or to have more chicken. This did not stop us from finishing the entire bowl though. It was a very tasty meal.

This is a place that I encourage everyone to try for at least one meal. The interior is fun and eclectic with a replica of a 1950’s car used as a booth in the center. It is first come first serve for any table including the car, usually. While there is always room for individual personal taste and thoughts, overall this was a delightful two meals. The service is quick, but if you have special requests, I urge you to make sure they understand what you are asking of them or the kitchen. Another tip, if you visit the website, be prepared that the prices on the website and the actual menu may differ. It is nice to have a place that embraces the thought of kitchen cooking favorites of your youth while still allowing you to not have to help your sibling with the dishes after.

Location and Website – 4705 E Carefree Hwy # 117, Cave Creek, AZ 85331 http://heartandsoulcafeaz.com