Shift Kitchen & Bar is one of the many outstanding destination restaurants that have opened in Flagstaff over the past decade. Located in downtown Flagstaff in a light filled location, the contemporary setting features wood floors, expansive windows, white counters and a royal blue color featured on the doors and on the trim. Pasty chef and owner Dara Wong strives to “challenge locals and travelers alike to look beyond what they might consider typical ‘mountain town’ food,” according to Shift’s website. Her fare is dynamic, locally inspired and beautifully plated. She has earned national recognition for her culinary achievements.
We kicked off our meal with Pickled French Fries, which is part of Shift’s Snacks menu. These savory Frites Street fries are marinated in house pickle brine that gives these potatoes an irresistible mouth-puckering taste. Next up, we sank our forks into the Elote Panzanella Salad. The colorful veggie centric dish was a nice mix of sweet corn, heirloom tomatoes, chopped romaine and cotija that was tossed in a spicy tomatillo vinaigrette and topped with crunchy house croutons. This salad is a great example of Dara’s approach: Southwest flavors used to elevate what otherwise would be a simple dish. For our entrees, we opted for the Petite Bavette Steak. We couldn’t get enough of the tender cut topped with charred spring onion chimichurri for a dash of green and spice, hearty pommes aligot and cheddar jus for a rich sauce.
Desserts at Shift are a must-order item. They’re always so creative and tasty. The Sesame Espresso Pavlova proved to be a dynamic dessert. The sweet and cool pavlova was tempered by the sesame and espresso woven into the classic Italian sweets. The entire dish was topped with chocolate foam, blackberries and chocolate crunch to finish. To get the full Shift experience, order the Chef’s 4 Course Tasting Menu. Anticipate the unexpected as you watch chefs prepare your food at the counter. No matter what you order, prepare to be wowed. − A Flagstaff Foodie
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