4. Restaurants

Tinderbox Kitchen

34 S San Francisco, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001
  • (928) 226-8400
  • Store is closed

Tinderbox Kitchen Menu

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.

Visit below restaurant in Flagstaff for healthy meals suggestion.

Denny’s ( 2306 E Lucky Ln )
Chili’s ( 1500 S Milton Rd )

  • Josh M.

    Rock on, Flagstaff continues to impress! This creative surprise was our post-Grand Canyon gift to ourselves. For a chilly evening, it definitely hit the foodie spot. Dishes were a little bit on the heavy side, which is probably appropriate for the climate, but we we therefore over-ordered... which oddly I feel like I write a lot. Hard to learn my lesson when everything looks like so much fun. Definite highlight was the Dr. Pepper Pork Jowels, which seems to be the quiet signature dish thus far. I hesitate at that comment because the menu is clearly a constant experiment (a good one) and a future dish may blow that away. But for now... Also dug the Mushroom Bruschetta and also the Pork Sausage (made by hand in the kitchen I was told). One experiment that missed for me was the cheese & potato soup, which was clearly a test dish that week, but just way too heavy in that go-round. Atmosphere is classy casual and warm, and we were glad for it. Flagstaff in November has a chilly bite to it. Tinderbox and a glass of red wine was pretty perfect.

    (4)

  • Ian T.

    Food was good, but not spectacular. I can't even remember what I got, but liked what the person with me had more. For the price I expect everything to be great. Service was great, pleasant and knowledgable. The place was nice, I liked it despite some folks who sat next to use and were really loud and borderline obnoxious. That said the bench seating in the back room should be avoided if you want a quiet diner, which I did the time I went. I may return, but only after I have tried everywhere else. Still knowing what I do, I suggest you go.

    (3)

  • Jenn Q.

    I have now eaten here for dinner twice. I have to say I am guilty for going to the Annex all of the time and eating the wonderful food off of the board with is the same chef as the Tinderbox. The Annex is right next door. I have had two wonderful experiences at the Tinderbox. It is on a higher scale of Flagstaff restaurants but still feels casual which is nice. I had scallops for dinner once. Delish. But the best of the two dinners was the MEATLOAF believe it or not. The doughnuts are AMAZING for dessert. The sauce is what does it. Service is great. Open kitchen. Yummy local foods.

    (4)

  • Megan B.

    My fiance and I visited Tinderbox for the first time last night. We were more than wowed. We're going to be hosting our wedding reception here and stopped by to check it out. It was better than we had anticipated. I had the charcuterie plate; Craig had a delicious pork belly with blue cheese grits. (Grits! In Arizona!) We were delighted to see they carried our favorite gin, Bluecoat. The drinks were good, the service was great, the atmosphere was low-key and unpretentious. It allowed us to focus on the food and not on decor. Everything is made in house, and everything we tried was delicious. Their buffalo-style chicken livers were incredible with shaved carrots and celery on top. One thing I think is wonderful about Tinderbox is that their menu changes daily, based on what Chef Scott is in the mood for. While this could make it difficult to recommend a specific menu item, it also means you could eat there every day and not get bored! Chicken lovers, beware- Tinderbox does not do chicken. (Except livers!) They did have a jalapeno mac and cheese with pheasant con fit in there that sounded incredible. So they'll do poultry, just not chicken. Another note- they're closed Sundays all day and Mondays for lunch, and the rest of the week they close from 2-5.

    (5)

  • Chantelle P.

    Two words. Velveeta Nachos. Please be advised you will be eating at a pretty pricey establishment which found it appropriate to use Velveeta in their Nachos..... Freely and openly admitted at as an ingredient. Also the meatloaf we had was horrendous and was doused with Franks Red hot sauce. Too bad because they do really have a nice ambiance and very friendly service staff... just disgustingly overpriced pseudogourmet.

    (1)

  • Julie M.

    Was really impressed with Tinderbox. The place is not big and the tables are placed close together. The service is good. I had the pork chop and my dinner companion had the meatloaf. I think the meatloaf was the dish. It was uber flavorful. The pork chop was a little on the done side for Me. We had a side of the fried cauliflower and I was under whelmed with it. Definitely worth checking it out.

    (4)

  • Paul H.

    Consistently great food with twists on American comfort dishes. Terrific house made charcuterie. Seafood and pork dishes are especially good. Blue cheese grits and jalapeno mac and cheese make even this primal diet guy stray on occasion.

    (5)

  • Lara G.

    Really, really good! I love that they print out a different menu every day so that they can use the freshest locally grown ingredients. I had the daily special which was salmon, mashed potatoes, and a shrimp/salmon mixed salad on top. However beware, if you don't eat red or white meat they slip it in where you least expect it... bacon in the sauce for the mussels! Also, we went here for a birthday, I told the waitress, and no complimentary dessert. Lastly, although the waitress didn't do anything specific to be rude, she wasn't trying very hard either. She was very flighty and casual in her waiting style, very Flagstaff but still, if I bring a family of four to spend a good amount on dinner I would like better service than what we got. I always give 20% tip, but I cringed in giving her that much because I did not think she earned it. Oh well, the food was good and if you are willing to spend a decent amount I would recommend it.

    (4)

  • Alison N.

    This place is fabulous. Everything from the atmosphere to the food was perfection. My father and I ate here spur of the moment on a road trip, and I will definitely be bringing friends here. The food, comforting and warm, was perfect for the wintery weather and fresh snow fall we encountered outside. We started off with the meatballs, which were fantastic. My father got the venison, which was yummy (especially because I had never had it before, I would definitely get it myself next time if its available). I got the herbed spaetzle with wilted greens, walnuts, and goat cheese. It was phenomenal. We split an order of creamed bacon brussel sprouts and blue cheese grits, both a must have if you go there (and yes, your kids will want to eat these sprouts!) We followed this amazing dinner with dessert and coffee: the spiced apples and pound cake for Dad, a caramel pudding with fiddle faddle (freshly made) for me, with a nice warm cup of french pressed coffee. If you are in the Flagstaff area and looking for good food, this is the place to go. Though may not be the cheapest, you will not go unsatisfied with your meal. It may be hard to choose what to have, the menu was small yet extremely appealing, but the portions are a great size and, well gosh darn it, just try it for yourself, its that good.......

    (5)

  • Lando T.

    "As good as it gets"..... for Northern AZ and Flagstaff. Seriously - it's soooooooooooooooo good! We've been there three times and each time we've been treated with a phenomenal dish!! Service is friendly and seamless. Drinks, delish. Price.... acceptable. It's yummmmm-furrrr-dayzzzz!!

    (5)

  • Barbara W.

    Wow. We went here a week ago to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We were the first customers there and I'm glad, since many of their two-person tables are crammed together. (Go early!) The food was excellent. We ordered their private label wine, but the kegs (?) weren't working, so they gave us each a glass of wine while we chose another bottle, and then gave us a discount on that bottle. Try the creamed Brussels sprouts, even if you don't like them. You'll like these, I promise.

    (5)

  • Patrick W.

    This restaurant is crazy good. They prepare some outstanding new American comfort food, and they do it really well. My wife and I visited one Saturday night and were floored with the service and style of this place. The menu was eclectic, yet simple. We started with a variety of sauteed mushrooms and a cheese flight, both satisfying. We split a spinach salad that had a good dressing and plenty of goods. For dinner, I had a roasted root vegetable pot pie that was one of the best pot pies I've experienced. I also ordered a side of blue cheese grits which seemed like the staple side at the Tinderbox, and they were really good. In addition, the desserts were quite well prepared and the perfect finish to an amazing meal. The service was top notch, the restaurant comfortable and the atmosphere discreet. If you have anyone to impress, take them to the Tinderbox Kitchen, you can't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Leslie C.

    We're so lucky to have such a great restaurant right here in little old Flag! It really feels like it should be downtown (insert big city here). I always have a hard time picking something, because all of the menu sounds delicious. Went in for lunch yesterday, and I'm not sure how they can make a simple tuna melt so memorable delicious, but they did. Amazing! I highly recommend a visit or six.

    (5)

  • Gregg W.

    Un-b-freaking-lievable!!!! I can't believe I'm in Flagstaff! Service was great and food rivals ANY restaurant in LA. Garlic infused ribeye was amazing and my wife love the turkey cutlet. The chocolate sampler dessert was amazing!!! Don't miss this if u r ever in Flagstaff!!!

    (5)

  • Kala W.

    Amazing food! Great service! I want to eat there every night

    (5)

  • Steph H.

    Great restaurant. Best place we ate at for dinner. The menu was well thought out and beautifully executed. The flavors were great. Service was friendly and on top of it. We may eat here again as the rest of the towns food has not lived up to their reviews. But this place is great!!

    (5)

  • Laura S.

    I recently went to Arizona on vacation with my boyfriend for my birthday and I made sure to do a lot of research for the perfect "nice dinner out" spot. 95 percent of our trip was spent hiking so this trip ultimately was not centered around food. The day we got to Flagstaff we had just finished a two day 26 mile hike and were in need of a great meal. Oh boy, was I a happy girl. I found this place on another site and it was not nearly as highly rated as it deserves. They dont take reservations for small parties so we decided to get there early. The atmosphere is relaxing and modern, I was very comfortable, our waiter Patrick was laid back, with not an air of pretention, and had a way of effortlessly describing the food. I work in a high end restaurant and I know what I like, and I know my food. The menu was awesome and I came ready to eat. We started with the hot and sour meatballs with wonton, and the smoked salmon over potato aioli with a black raddish salad, and foccacia (holy s*&%!) sooooooooooooooo delicious!!!!!!!!!!!! We then each had a salad course which I quickly regretted not sharing a salad because although it was an app, it was gargantuan. For entree we got the duck leg confit over truffle, jalapeno mac n cheese with mustard breadcrumbs and my boyfriend got the venison with red pepper marmalade, over goat cheese mash and some kind of herb salad. Ill be honest, the duck was way to heavy for me, uber rich (a bit oily altogether) with an overwhelming portion of mac and cheese, but whoever complains about portion sizes..... its not really a bad thing, i was just pretty full from the apps I think. Ok, the Venison- PERFECTION. He didnt think we were gonna have dessert.... haha.. I told you I came to eat. He verbally went over the options, he made them all sound awesome but ultimately I had to have the creme brulee which is unusual for me but the flavor combos couldn't be missed, banana and coconut creme brulee (just the flavor of coconut, not shredded) incredibly silky and balanced with a two coconut macaroons on the side, BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dinner was the bomb. One of the best dinners ive ever had. GO HERE!!!!!!!! It is expensive, but worth it.

    (5)

  • Colleen M.

    My husband and I were visiting my sister who lives in Flagstaff. We started in the Annex for drinks and appetizers and then moved over to Tinderbox Kitchen for dinner. From the minute we sat, our server Sarah welcomed us and made us feel at home. She gave us a wine recommendation which did not disappoint. I had the mac and cheese which was spectacular !!! And we finished with the donut holes and fritters for dessert which were the end of a perfect meal. I highly recommend the Tinderbox Kitchen and plan to visit again when we come back to Flagstaff!!!!!

    (5)

  • Sarah M.

    This is one of my favorite restaurants in Flagstaff, if not my favorite. Every time I go here- (6+ times so far) I have ordered something different and it has been amazing every time. I really love their lunch- because it is well priced and tasty- but their dinner is also superb. Save room for dessert too- they never disappoint. My favorite so far was a butterscotch pudding with brittle on top- to die for.

    (5)

  • xx x.

    I. Love. This. Place. Seriously. Please excuse the length of this review because I'm going to gush a bit. This place has a curious casual/elegant juxtaposition going on in both decor and cuisine that is both tasteful and well done and hits me, in particular, in a very good place. Servers wear jeans. Customers dress casual, (I wore jeans and a t-shirt fresh from motorcycling all day). Paper, single sheet menu. Cloth napkins and tablecloth, all pure white, but a white sheet of paper with their logo stamped on one corner over the table cloth and a carpenter's pencil in store logo, (I presumed for doodling and I used it to take notes for this review). The building is decades old with a textured ceiling, but it's all painted black and lit with very modern lights. The music was Cake and similar things which was a very welcoming respite from all the country and western I'd been hearing for a week, (once again, tasteful, with a casual/elegant dichotomy). The framed art on the walls is elegant, as is the matting and the frames, but the frames themselves are matted on knotty plywood that it unapologetically bolted to the walls with very plain bolts. The food is billed as American comfort food - redone and it's fabulous! I had a local beer, (on tap and excellent), the bleu cheese grits, (superb!), the "pork duo", (sublime!), and the lemon creme brulée, (not the best I've ever had, but likely second best). In all cases I was very pleasantly surprised and the grits and pork were awesome. Note that San Francisco street was ripped up with construction when I was there last night so I had to do some clever parking and hunting on foot to find the place. But it was well worth it. If you are anywhere near Flagstaff, make a point of getting to Flagstaff even if it's for no other reason than to eat here.

    (5)

  • Gordon M.

    Outstanding!! Amazing food, very friendly staff. Modern, American food, with a slight southern/Tex-Mex influence, pork, grits. Across the railway tracks in Flagstaff, AZ. I will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Katie B.

    This review is for the annex, a separate establishment next door that operates as a casual bar vs. the Tinderbox restaurant. Happy hour everyday from 5-7 where you can buy $3 microbrews or $4 shandy's. A shandy is a light beer with a shot of vodka and lemon. We split the $15 chartuerie board which was the best we've ever had. Six nice sized portions of meats including three of the chef's hand made sausages plus smoked salmon and duck breast, also with two cheeses, chutney and fig spread. A great value and a great place to chill in Flagstaff. Wish they had more food options on this side!

    (5)

  • Jodi G.

    This outstanding restaurant has an arty vibe and inventive menu. Go early and have appetizers at the Annex, which looks like the lobby of a funky Soho hotel. Then, if the weather permits, dine on the patio at Tinderbox. The chef attends to every ingredient and entree with care, even going so far as to only offer 20 orders of its specialty burgers per night. The duck confit/jalapeno mac n' cheese is one example of the chef's creative acumen, and the appetizers, such as a bruschetta with mashed potato, garlic and aioli, are great. This is a must-try restaurant, which ranks among the best dining experiences ever.

    (5)

  • Pinche R.

    As a fitting compliment to the nudie bar next door, this place is pure Tits! Stopped in here late(ish) on Saturday with the boss and had a great meal. I settled on the mac and cheese, she had the meatloaf. We also ordered a side of blue cheese grits and the mixed greens. The mac and cheese topped the charts for me but seriously, everything was great. Boss loved her meatloaf and rightfully so. it was down right tasty. Grits were also creamy and full of flavor. The blue cheese was a little to subtle but still a fantastic dish. The salad was just a salad but the greens made for a refreshing break from the rich dishes on the table. The friendly attentive service and a fantastic vibe are just the icing on the cake. This place is all about the food. Boss is already planning our next visit.

    (5)

  • Cynthia G.

    The ambience was industrial and clean. Everything was tasty. We especially enjoyed the deep-fried brussel sprouts. The clientele was diverse. We were unfortunate to sit between two, ultra conservative couples. One of which was pretentious and picky about everything on the table--from the wine selection and even the knives. However, even they had no complaints about the food, and it was a relief to that they were able to keep their mouths shut for a moment to enjoy the food that was prepared by the chefs.

    (5)

  • Milt W.

    I am a unique customer because I am allergic to flour and sugar. The waitress was really confusing. We went here because of its high ratings and that it is a unique French restaurant. We have always had French restaurants make us special sauces. When I ordered steak it was served with a sauce that had a little sugar in it and the waitress told me that she thought it would be ok. I asked her for another sauce since I am so allergic to sugar and she brought back mustard and practically threw it on the table. They finally brought me scallops which were good. On the good side they comped my meal and I felt that it was a quality restaurant move. If one has special food allergies I would not recommend this restaurant. The waitress made me feel like the chef did not like my needs and so I was not respected.

    (2)

  • C.M. F.

    I was so excited to try this place out after reading the reviews. I am not sure what they are comparing their experience to but my experience was awful. First I was happy to see that they had Lagunitas Ale but they were out of that so I took the recommendation of my server. It was awful! I do not even remember the name! It took me awhile to decide what I wanted to eat as there were so many unappealling combos that nothing was jumping out and tempting my pallate. I decided on the Scallops with Hushpuppies. Yuck! $25 for 4 chewy scallops with over deep fried hushpuppies in a lackluster sauce that screamed artery clogger. The bread was served in cubes cold; not warm or toasted. What a waste of money!!! I am extrememly disappointed!

    (2)

  • J B.

    I was surprised by the wonderful food next time I drive through flagstaff this will be on my list. I wish they were in LA!

    (5)

  • Ping P.

    Thank you my fellow Yelpers! We spent the last night of our honeymoon in Flagstaff - dusty and tired from hiking in the Grand Canyon we were ready for a little civilization. Having no idea where to dine - the man said "i have the yelp app on my iPhone" magic and genius! Said I. Up popped Tinderbox. We arrived and were told it was about a 45 minute wait. The hostess apologized and suggested that she could take our cell number and call us when a table was ready! Great idea as it allowed us to take a wander up the street and grab a pre-dinner drink. (see other review of the Rendezvous Martini and Coffee Bar) Nearly 40 minutes to the dot Tinderbox called and had a table for us. We had one of the best meals in recent memory here. Do not miss: The Pork Belly Confit . Crazy delicious. We also really enjoyed the arugula, fennel and date salad. I had great lakes perch and the man had a pork chop with diced apples. Our server was excellent and the place had a fun and enjoyable vibe. Absolutely highly recommend and will go back when next in AZ.

    (5)

  • Kyle R.

    I understand that many people would like this restaurant. The food is very heavy. Lots of meat and fat. Which is fine but you should be prepared. My problem is that they serve heavy comfort food no matter what the weather is. This is not a small oversight IMO. A big, deep, pork roast just isn't pleasant on a hot summer evening. I wish they would change their menu to reflect seasonal changes. The food is ok, but probably not worth the high price. I had a rough time because they lost my check which caused me to miss my movie. Mistakes happen and that doesn't impact my review.

    (2)

  • De A.

    Excellent food! Really creative and delicious "comfort food", as promoted. Pricey, but worth it if you are looking for something special. Don't let the appearance of the cruddy neighborhood keep you from walking through the door. It's cozy and trendy inside and the service is great.

    (5)

  • Kirk S.

    Amazing, no complaints! Amazing food, amazing service. I had the steak, tasted the duck confit/mac n' cheese, and the pork jowels, all were delicious!

    (5)

  • Gary S.

    Came across this restaurant on Yelp as I was passing through Flagstaff on personal holiday and I was extremely pleased with the dining experience. The place was fairly crowded but had an electric buzz in the air.. We were also served some very fresh bread (baked cheese bread puffs, and foccacia). I had the smoked salmon bruschetta appetizer (amazing) and the entree of duck confit was the perfect following. Service was quite attentive and this was an experience I never expected on Flagstaff. If you find yourself in need of a wonderful dining experience in Northern AZ, Tinderbox is your place.

    (5)

  • Emily W.

    The food was amazing. You must get the green beans....I was hesitant at first, but they were perfectly cooked and the miso-blue cheese sauce is to dye for. The main reason for not giving 5 stars - was service, we had a new waiter (she told us she was new) There was a lack of attention: We had to ask for silver ware, re-fills and to take our order. Over all the atmosphere is wonderful, the art work is taste-fully done, and the back patio is a hidden gem. Beautiful christmas light sting the back, that I feel like I am sitting in my own home. For apps: we tried the green beans and a spinach salad - both perfect Dinner - mac and cheese with Deck leg - incredible Scallops - one of the best cooked scallops I had Desert - biegnets with a custard dipping sauce excellent choc plate - disappointment - I thought the mini straw was choc to eat after the mini shake - I was surprised when I bit it and it was plastic.

    (4)

  • Nathan T.

    A fantastic restaurant in the heart of Flagstaff. I had the venison medallions and they were fantastic. Everyone was pleased with their dish, portions were large and we easily had food to bring home. We plan to go back often.

    (5)

  • Tim M.

    Very nice menu. So many things looked good. Had a bowl of BBQ sparerib enchilada soup, delicious. Blue cheese grits were great. Steak, pork, seafood entrees were all wonderful. For desert check out the almost baked cake with homemade toasted marshmallow. Service was again outstanding.

    (5)

  • Runar H.

    Excellent service and fabulous food. The barbecued pork-belly melts on the tongue and my second, a duck-plate, was also excellent. Wanted to finish it off with a shot of espresso but for some reason they don't have a machine (there went the fifth star). Settled for the french-press coffee instead and it was strong and good. Definitively my place to return to in Flagstaff.

    (4)

  • Jeff B.

    Yelp reviews were so good I didn't know if I could trust them. Asked the front desk at our hotel (Courtyard Marriott) and they said yes... all the locals are talking about it too. So we gave it a go... WOW!!! Outstanding. We caught the last hour of happy hour (4-7) and it made it totally reasonably for fantastic food. Really like the presentation and taste... give it a go... better than anything we had in Sedona. Even the kids (6 + 8) had the adult food and ate it up!

    (5)

  • Leah F.

    All I can say is yummy :) we frequent flagstaff and are disappointed with the selection of places to dine until now. Tinderbox is great you have to try to Mac and cheese and crispy duck it's delicious. The cheese board was very good too a mix of meats and cheeses. Great staff and cozy atmosphere can't wait to return again.

    (5)

  • Aubergine R.

    Black, white, and golden yellow - the colors and tone inside the restaurant. A pleasant welcome amidst the unlit and curb-less streets. As we walked through the residual snow, I had reservations that this restaurant was worth our time and money, but never judge a book by its cover. Or should I say, never judge a book by the other books that are on the shelf next to it! This restaurant delivered exactly what it said it would - redefined American comfort food. If I could reorder just one thing off the dinner menu, it would be the starter mushrooms. Get the mushrooms! They packed more flavor than I was prepared to handle, and were served a la toast crisps. We enjoyed the trio of pork and three sides - leeks, mashers & grits. A little too much on the smooshy sides. If I were to do it again, I would have gone with another starter and 1 less side. The staff was professional and the chefs had a balanced hand. A gem in Flagstaff.

    (4)

  • Robert D.

    Great service and atmosphere. Stick to appetizers. Main courses leave much to be desired at the prices they charge.

    (3)

  • Judy S.

    Great food, great service and very friendly staff. We just got into town and checked Yelp for a local restaurant. The Tinderbox Kitchen seemed to have the best reviews and was still open. I called to ask a question about the mashed potatoes, as I am not allowed to have potato skins since my stomach surgery. The very friendly gentleman who answered the phone told me they were "skin free" to which I answered, we will be right over. A few minutes later I received a call back from the same gentleman who I had spoken with and he apologized and told me that the mashers tonight did, in deed, have skins. Wow, when does this ever happen... someone caring enough to call back! So because of that we went anyway. The pork T-Bone was the best pork my husband had ever had. I was so glad that the mashers had skins, because I ordered the fried cauliflower instead. What a treat. Our server was a sweetheart. If we ever return to Flagstaff, we will most certainly will dine here again.

    (5)

  • Kathy T.

    I traveled ALL the way from the Central Valley in California to go to the Tinderbox - and it was SO worth it! The Tinderbox has a peaceful ambiance, and can offer a romantic air for couples (I was with my sister!). The food was delicious (I had the fish special), and the service was personal. The new Annex next door looks cosmopolitan; meet your group there after work!

    (5)

  • Kathy K.

    Excellent restaurant in Flaggstaff. Found this restaurant on Yelp and was delighted. It is creative, innovative, and wonderfully delicious. Had the Venison which melted in my mouth. It is pricey, but worth every penny. Waitstaff was efficient, thorough, insightful (when explaining the dishes), and friendly. Not pretentious, just good food painstakingly prepared. The chef is a master at combining sweet, savory, salty and rich flavors. Was like a Disneyland flavor explosion with each and every bite! Left me wanting more. We all shared our dishes, and every dish was enjoyable. The absolute best mac and cheese I've ever tasted (flavored just right with a hint of jalapeno).

    (5)

  • Ry P.

    The first time we dined at the tinderbox kitchen we enjoyed our experience, the duck confit being especially good. After dining there this evening our impression of the establishment has changed significantly. The dry, under-seasoned, flavorless meatloaf was barely complimented by the mediocre mashed potatoes. The pork belly was sub-par at best, and the ravioli that came with them tasted like they came from a frozen package. Don't waste your money at Tinderbox! It is incredibly overpriced!! If you want a good dinner for $20-$30 in Flagstaff, AZ go to the Cottage Place.

    (1)

  • Amy E.

    We enjoyed dinner here for our anniversary/vday celebration. The food is unique and very tastey! The vibe is very classy but not so classy you feel like you can't relax. I would definitely recommend this for a dinner out with friends.

    (4)

  • Kimberli B.

    I can't believe what an amazing experience we had at this restaurant. I can't stop thinking about. I can't stop talking about it. I think I would eat here twice a day if I could. I'm honestly torn between trying to keep Tinderbox a secret and shouting about it from the rooftops. Some of the other reviews here really say it all (my oh my oh my... Un-b-freaking-lievable!!!). I don't even know where to begin. The menu the night we were there bore very little similarity to the one on the Tinderbox website. They're serious when they say they change things up weekly. There were three of us, and we all shared 3 starters, 3 entrees, and 3 desserts (and 3 cocktails and 3 bottles of wine, if you must know!). Honest to god, every single thing was perfect. Fresh, delicious, creative, and perfectly prepared. I won't go into full detail, but some of the highlights were the pork belly, duck bruschetta, ploughman's plate, steak frites, scallops, blue cheese grits, and OH MY GOD the house-made doughnut dessert!!!) Not only am I surprised to find this restaurant in Flagstaff, I'm surprised to find it in Arizona. As good as our food scene has become in Phoenix and Tucson, this place could hold its own in NYC, Chicago or San Francisco. (at about 1/4 or 1/3 the price... we had all that I described above, plus coffees -- and the wines were fairly good ones -- for under $280!!) Service was perfect... friendly, unassuming, and very much on point. Please please please try to find a way to dine at Tinderbox. I really hope we are lucky enough to have this wonderful spot to enjoy for a very long time.

    (5)

  • Mike C.

    Place is great! Service was prompt and friendly. Recommendations were spot on for what I was looking. ( thanks bartender Bill). Food was outstanding.

    (5)

  • John W.

    5.0/5. Really a fantastic restaurant. If you are in flagstaff for some reason, and have more than 1k to your name, and you don't come here, just shoot yourself.

    (5)

  • S H L.

    This place isn't bad, just not OMG delicious. The decor is really modern/chic/urban...The flavors were good and the portion size was fair. The dishes during dinner is a bit pricey but I guess your paying for food aesthetics?!? The apple/beet salad was good and bigger than what I expected (I like the bacon/walnut brittle pieces for crunchiness!), the spicy cheddar broccoli soup was ok (but it's not really spicy), the steak dish was solid (meat was cooked medium rare-surprisingly tender!), and the meatloaf was solid as well.

    (3)

  • Lauren M.

    The food here is always fresh and delicious. The menu changes a lot, which can be awesome, but it can also be really disappointing when something you loved is not longer being served. As far as I can tell, you can't really go wrong, but for less money, you can go just as right more reliably somewhere else.

    (3)

  • Andrew B.

    I love this place! The atmosphere is new, swank, chill, but still warm and comfortable. The bartender was friendly and so were the regulars. The food was outstanding! A bit on the pricey side, but well worth it.

    (5)

  • Don H.

    Excellent venue. We stopped here based on Yelp reviews and were NOT disappointed. The atmosphere is nice and low key with fantastic photography on the walls. The waitress we had was quite attentive, friendly, and most importantly, not overbearing. The food? Wow! We live in Houston, TX and consider ourselves to be foodies and this venue could easily make a killing by expanding there. My Mac/Cheese with duck leg was an experience that will remain on my palate for a very long time as I don't want to forget the tantalizing flavors. My wife's NY Strip was so tender and the glaze for it was a great compliment and I normally despise glazes in steals as I feel it hides a truly good season. The tomato-based charred jalapeño soup was absolutely a great way to set the tone. It's easily a can't miss restaurant for people wanting a unique local venue that will not disappoint. We will come back when we return to Flagstaff in the future for sure!

    (5)

  • Kevin F.

    Spent an evening in Flagstaff on a road trip, and we were fortunate to have Tinderbox be within walking distance of our lodging. Delicious food and drinks, friendly yet unobtrusive service. Highly recommended!

    (5)

  • Bob D.

    This was our best gastronomic surprise this trip. Baked mushrooms with goat cheese and truffle oil - delightful - reminding me why mushrooms are used as an example of bringing out the "essence of taste". Seared scallops, bacon-infused succotash and sweet corn corquettes were wonderful, as was the finfish of the day - Atlantic sea bass - delightfully moist inside and crisp out. The Anne Aime Muller Thurgau was a perfect accompaniment.

    (4)

  • Joe M.

    Went here with five friends. Food is excellent, with lots of flavors working their way through every dish. I had the pork chop with sides (or tops) of applesauce, mashies and red cabbage. Very good. Appetizers were a bit on small side. Didn't like the inability to substitute. I find that rather pretentious. All in, a fine night and I'll be back.

    (4)

  • david A.

    went here after reading and hearing about how great the food was and it lived up to the expectations. Prime grade beef cuts are delicious. I am excited to come and try their food again. had a summer shandy(?) drink while i was waiting for the food to arrive and it was delicious. I don't understand why anyone would give it such a low rating. If you have dietary concerns then comfort food probably isn't the best choice. I received excellent service when I dined there and will return. If you're expecting cheap prices you're better off sticking to low quality foods. I think the price is right for the meal quality.

    (5)

  • Archie S.

    We made our first visit to Tinderbox this week. And now we have a problem. We now have TWO favorite restaurants in the $$$ category (Tinderbox and Cottage Place - haven't yet visited Brix so there may be three from what I hear). Tinderbox was wonderful. Service was perfect -- attentive but not intrusive. Decor suits the location, pleasant and laid back. It was quiet enough for a dinner conversation where we didn't have to text our comments to each other. I would appreciate some attempt to darken the front windows. The sun was really glaring in during the early part of our visit. Luckily we were far away from the windows. The menu choices and food were awesome. My wife had meatloaf. They need a new term for this meal; it's a shame to call something so good "meatloaf" (sorry Mom). On the day of our visit one of their specials was Grouper. I love perfectly prepared fish and this was it. A large beautiful portion with great fresh flavor. I'm not a big kimchi fan but their kimchi topping could change my mind. All served over creamed potatoes with a serious hot sauce. Maybe comparable in hotness to Tabasco(?). I love that but it wasn't overdone so even people who don't normally like hot spices could enjoy it. Finished off with their chocolate cake/ice cream specialty--can't remember the name. My wife was in chocolate heaven. The word "intense" applies here. This goes high on our list of things we love about Flagstaff.

    (5)

  • Jeff M.

    If you're passing through Flag, do yourself a favor and swing by the Tinderbox - it's fantastic, you won't be sorry you did. First of all, the vibe here is super. The staff is very friendly & clearly loves working there. Second, the atmosphere is great. It has a ruggedly stylish interior with an energy fueled by the aforementioned staff, window access to the kitchen, and comfortably close seating. Most importantly, the food is amazing. Everyone around us had smiles and was raving about their meals. We had the buffalo chicken livers, blue cheese grits, mustard greens, duck confit, venison, and flourless chocolate cake, all of which were very, very tasty. Everything about the Tinderbox feels "just right," but you won't appreciate it fully until you've tried it. As for me? I can't wait to return.

    (5)

  • Alan I.

    I had a wonderful experience at bar side of the Tinderbox. Even though it was completely separate from the restaurant side, you were able to order from food from a selected menu. The atmosphere was cozy and the bartender was very friendly. The food was excellent but a little pricy. It was well worth it. I strongly recommend to everyone to stop by this place if they are visiting Flagstaff.

    (5)

  • Matthew B.

    Thank's to Yelp and a little online research, my wife and I decided this would be the place to try on our short trip to Flagstaff, and it was a great choice. Tinderbox fuses American Comfort Food with fine dining in a blend that is just breath taking. My wife had the duck, and it was cooked perfect. I don't use that word 'perfect' very freely either. She had never had a full leg of duck, and she was in heaven with this. I went with my old staple of Scallops and it had a very nice fresh lemon dill sauce that didn't over power the very delicate taste of the scallop. In short, go here. It's a very elegant menu without trying to be pretentious, and there is something for everyone.

    (5)

  • Marie J.

    Was in town for a conference and was responsible for finding a restaurant for some of the key participants, who are also very sophisticated diners. I, of course, hit Yelp for recommendations and my fellow yelpers did not disappoint. The restaurant lives up to is reputation whether it was the Juniper Venison or the braised jowls. I was surprised that a restaurant of this caliber would have trouble preparing a black and blue steak~making it med rare instead of very rare. But on the second go around, they hit the mark. The wine list was impressive, but fell short of quantity. Several times we had to switch wines because they ran out of bottles. Our server, while knowledgeable and friendly, should have made sure quantities were sufficient for our large group. It felt like we were cleaning out their leftover wine stash. Another let down was they only serve french press coffee. Overall, if you are a foodie and enjoy experiencing new tastes and food combinations, then this is the place for you.

    (4)

  • Judith B.

    Ugh. We went on 3/10 for a special evening out, visiting our daughter in Flagstaff. I'd give it zero stars if I could, as it was one of the worst dinners I've we've ever experienced. Perhaps the regular chefs had the night off??? We should have known that it would be awful when we saw the menu advisory that said something like "substitutions politely declined "!!!! To be fair, I will say that the decor and atmosphere were lovely, but that's where it unfortunately ends. My husband and I shared the Buffalo style chicken livers, since we love chicken livers and we're from Buffalo, NY. The livers were deep fried beyond recognition, dry and tasteless, except for the hot sauce - the whole thing was a hot mess! For main courses, my husband ordered the meatloaf, one of his favorite things. It came surrounded by a ?decorative? band of mustard, not mentioned on the menu description. Since my h. hates mustard, he asked for it to be re- plated, and the waitress said "but it's not touching the meatloaf." REALLY????? A good server would have just done it. My h. had to practically beg for a new plate so he could transfer it himself! And then he tasted the dish - it was awful- dried out meatloaf with a dried out topping, tasteless mashed potatoes, and fast food style onion rings. He didn't eat any of it. My daughter had the beet spaetzel with goat cheese, walnuts and greens. She tasted it and said it tasted burnt. Sure enough, half of the spaetzel were flecked with black! My fish was cooked properly, but was tasteless. I added some salt and was able to eat it, but it was NOT befitting such a highly rated restaurant. When the waitress finally came back, she saw the two uneaten meals and asked if everything was ok. We told her the problems, and she said she would see what she could do. After a kitchen conference, the ??chef ??manager decided to removed the costs of the uneaten entrees from the bill - thank goodness!! A terrible disappointment - I hope they get their act together.

    (1)

  • Erin S.

    My fiancee and I stopped in here after being referred by a foodie at a local wine bar. We first stopped into the Annex for a glass of wine. Service was friendly here, ambiance ok. at the main restaurant, We each ordered a glass of wine and the salmon bruschetta to start. wine was not good, but our fault for picking the wrong one. The bruschetta was delish, salmon was good and the dish had a nice flavor. I ordered the scallops and my fiance ordered the the rib eye. The rib eye was cooked to perfection (he ordered it medium rare) and melted in your mouth. The scallops were also cooked to perfection and the accompanying sauce was perfect: did not overwhelm the scallops and had just enough flavor. We shared the chocolate peanut butter mousse for dessert. This was just ok, wouldn't order it again. The service was attentive and polite. The ambiance was romantic and trendy. Prices were on the expensive side but worth it. I would definitely visit Tinderbox Kitchen again.

    (4)

  • Ethan L.

    The reviews speak for themselves, butI just had to weigh in. This place is fantastic. One of those rare restaurants so good that they challenge the diner to try new things, trusting that the kitchen can and will deliver.

    (5)

  • Susan L.

    expensive but they give you a lot of food for the money... i really like my scallops and still think about my soup appetizer... delish!

    (5)

  • Marilyn T.

    We were planning to come to Flagstaff on a girls' trip, so I had the task of finding a nicer dinner place and saw great reviews for Tinderbox online. They offered a chef's 4 course tasting for $50 and wine pairing for $25, so this was the easiest for our group. We started with some house made focaccia. Onto the tasting: 1. Smoked duck "ham": with a balsamic reduction, whipped goat cheese, crostini, and a smoked maple walnut cheddar. This came with a sparkling rose. I don't even like duck, but this was lean and tasted just like ham. The cheddar was so good that we actually asked for another plate of it 2. Seared scallops: 2 per plate, with a beautiful sear outside while still very tender inside. It sat on a cauliflower purée with watermelon radish, a tomatillo sauce, and mustard seeds. The mustard seeds added an interesting pop to the dish, and I've never thought to pair scallops with mustard. This was paired with a lighter white wine 3. New York steak: perfectly medium rare, wonderful flavor throughout, and the runny duck egg on top made it even better. It came with roasted fennel and was paired with the Tinderbox red blend, which I liked much more than the white 4. Blackberry brownie: basically like a warm chocolate cake with maple bourbon ice cream and tres leches custard. It actually wasn't super sweet, and it was a simple but good dessert. We were really happy to find this in Flagstaff. Everyone was really happy with the food (especially after being at the Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon for the last few days). Our server was really friendly, and she put up with us being ridiculously noisy since we were there for a bachelorette party. I would highly recommend this to anyone coming to Flagstaff. Even the next morning, everyone was still talking about how good the food was. It came with a port for the last wine.

    (5)

  • S P.

    We were there on 8/01/15 for dinner. This is very much bistro style setting, meaning you sit very close to other diners -- so just know that everything you say will be heard by your neighbors and vice versa. And if there are some other diners who want the entire restaurant to hear how hilarious they think they are, or who like to laugh (cackle) loudly, you're definitely going feel like your pretty much sitting at their table. Still, we found the interior to be fun, charming and creative and after a half glass or wine or so, oddly the volume was no longer an issue ;) My sea bass was absolutely worth 5 stars. It was off the charts fabulous. I'd go back many times just for that. My wife ordered the New York and it was okay. She ordered it medium and it came out medium rare, which was fine. However, the cut had more fat than I expect for a strip and it was a bit buried in sauce. For us, a good New York should pretty much stand on its own. We also ordered a slaw salad that was exceptional. The creme brulee was nuts delicious. We had a couple glasses of their house red which were good. They need an online reservation system. I called Saturday at about noon and they were closed so in order to make a reservation, I had to leave a voice mail with my request for 2 at 7 PM. Finally at about 5 PM I got a call from them confirming my request. Leaving a guest hanging like that is a bit disconcerting as we didn't know where we were dining until then. Overall, I'd gladly dine here again in a heartbeat.

    (4)

  • Beth K.

    Setting: intimate environment- at times it ALMOST felt too close for comfort but it did help us sneak peak our dinner by checking out all the dishes our neighbors were getting. Food: we opted for the chef's tasting menu which gave us a good chance to sample the freshest and most representative items on the menu. We had a duck breast ham appetizer, a duck and chili risotto, a venison pailette and a dessert trio along with respective wine pairings. Freshness, quality and skill of the chefs were evident and the meal was super tasty. It is a meal I wouldn't have thought to choose myself but thoroughly enjoyed. This place has earned it a stellar reputation.

    (4)

  • Robert Y.

    I came here with friends on a movie night and had a perfect experience here. We were first served a meat and cheese plate which had some interesting choices such as venison meat and some cheeses that I can't write down and couldn't find online. then we had some of the seasonal offerings. Unfortunately I wasn't very adventurous so I opted for a buffalo meatloaf with bleu cheese grits and asparagus. The meatloaf was cooked just the way I like it, the asparagus, was nice and seasoned well, and the grits...well I have never had an affinity for them until I tried these. LOVED them. Additionally, they had a nice selection of wines and alcohol, and they complement the seasonal menu well. As for the decor and service, both were.....ahem....serviceable. Our waiter was professional, he knew the menu items well, and the decor was nice and what I like to call rustic fancy, which definitely fits this town well. Finally I must say that it took a little while for our food to arrive, which was likely due to the fact that it was a bit crowded. We didn't miss our movie because we decided to arrive very early, so that was a plus, but be prepared for a little wait if you go on a Friday night. That being said, I would file this place under "event restaurant". Its pretty high end and pricy, but you get what you paid for, since the food was excellent and the service was good. I would go here again in a heartbeat.

    (5)

  • Jules B.

    We are Flagstaff locals and have been coming here since it opened. When we go, we usually go all out - wine, appetizers, entree's, desserts so we typically only come for a special occasion. There is nothing we have had here that wasn't delicious!!! Just be opened minded and go try something new. If you do not appreciate finer foods then don't bother going here. My ONLY complaint is that when the current chef came he took off some favorites from the menu because we were told he wanted this restuarant to be a more fine dining experience, however the MAIN reason we came here was for the unique menu being what we liked to describe as "upscale comfort food". Our main favorite was the jalepeno mac n cheese with duck confit!!! We would come here all.the.time to get that dish and they haven't served it in over a year. We have friends and family members that agree and we are all very dissapointed that they no longer serve it. We also loved the buffalo meatloaf and miss that dish as well. With owning Tinderbox, Annex and Tourist Home - please can one of these places bring back the jalepeno mac n cheese with duck confit!!! I think it would be perfect at Annex or Tourist Home - since it's not "upscale" enough for Tinderbox.

    (5)

  • Donna B.

    Wow! Just wow! We are going to be doing more day trips to Flagstaff, so we can eat here more often. Up there for the day and looking for a nice dinner place. After reading reviews on Yelp, and seeing that they had lamb sirloin on the menu (my fiance loves lamb) we showed up at 5pm without a reservation. Fortunately they had no problem seating us since it was early. We had actually been next door at the Tinderbox Annex having some amazing beets and goat cheese, but I'll write about that in my Annex review. We were seated and given complimentary Brut rose. Really nice! I ordered "The Board" and my fiance had the charred octopus. Both were perfect. I cannot begin to tell you how much the dijon mustard on the board has changed my life! I want to make dijon mustard from scratch right now. It was incredible. Never cared much about dijon mustard before tasting theirs. The meats on the board were delicious. Great cheeses, olives, and spiced nuts. I would have preferred a fig jam over the chutney, but that's just me. I like a little sweeter option on a board like that. For dinner seared scallops for me and lamb sirloin for my fiance. Again both dishes were amazing. My scallops were perfect, the roasted carrots and brussel sprouts with a parsnip puree were outstanding. Love, love, love. I'm not a big lamb eater, but that lamb was good. My fiance loved the sweet potato hash that came with it as well. He said the lamb was some of the best he's had. He chose the house red wine with the lamb, and again perfect. For dessert we chose the deconstructed apple pie. It was excellent as well. I probably would have gotten the chocolate cake, but my fiance has too many food allergies to even try it, so next time I will have the cake. My fiance had coffee and said it was excellent. I need to go back there ASAP. Very impressed. The service was also on point as well. Our waiter had great timing. We enjoyed the hell out of that meal! Highly recommend!!!

    (5)

  • Jayadevan V.

    We stopped by here on the last day of a short vacation around Flagstaff, and boy were we surprised! This was the most fantastic meal we had in Flagstaff, Grand Canyon and Page. My wife and I have moderate appetites and on the day we stopped by here we were ravenous. So we ordered the venison bratwurst starter, a pork porterhouse entree and a side of roasted cauliflower. These 3 items right there were downright succulent and out of worldly! The creamy polenta in the pork entree was so good that a whole hour after dinner I am still thinking about how good it was!

    (5)

  • Casey J.

    At first glance I was a little concerned because their on-line menu was difficult to really understand but with some good reviews from some Flagstaff locals, we decided to give it a shot. First off, my wife and I had a few of their craft drinks....all excellent. My wife came home and immediately went to work trying to reproduce the "White Linen", highly recommended. We started with a salad and the pork-belly "pot roast". Both excellent. Next up was the main course. I had Juniper cured venison. It was good. Not gamey but milder in flavor. I think I would have liked it more had I not just had the pork-belly, which was super, blow-your-doors-off flavorful. My wife had the "Shrimp and Grits", which I also had to try. It was very good. There was a sauce that had just a hint of BBQ or something. It was hard to explain but easy to love. We finished both entrees and were wanting to go for desert but we decided to pass instead going for another cocktail. All in all, it was great with sharp, well informed wait staff. If you are in Flagstaff I recommend you give it a shot. I've tried all of the higher end restaurants including Pasto, Josephine's, Brix and the Carriage House. This one is now my new fave.

    (5)

  • Megan R.

    Was up in Flagstaff a couple months ago and decided to check this place out for a light dinner. This place is very cute with a great atmosphere. Service is great and they are very helpful. The food was delicious. My friend ordered the Pan Roasted Duck Breast as the server highly recommended it. She said it was one of the best prepared duck breasts she's had outside of France. I ordered the Shrimp & Grits, but substituted the grits for polenta as I am not a huge blue cheese fan. It was a smaller dish, but I wasn't terribly hungry. It was cooked very well, great flavor and the polenta was definitely homemade. For dessert, we ordered the Doughnut holes. They were delicious. I would definitely return and also plan on trying the Annex as they have some delicious menu items as well!

    (4)

  • Marc M.

    Great service, excellent food. The drinks were pricey and the menu a bit limited. Please understand that this is a far cry from what I remember of Flagstaff as a child. Very good risotto!

    (4)

  • Les L.

    My expectations were high because of the 4.5 star rating. Happy to report, they hit it out of the park. If you happen to be a serious foodie, you will be delighted by your experience here.

    (5)

  • Gabi M.

    After talking to both locals, tourists and sunbirds**, we found that Tinderbox Kitchen was a common "favorite restaurant in Flag." Yelp reviews confirmed it and off we went for a date night during our vacation... thank goodness we didn't need a reservation on a Wednesday night just after 8pm. Tinderbox definitely exceeded expectations. The service and cuisine were both top notch. Jeanie and Patrick took amazing care of my husband and I. We liked the casual environment, leisurely meal, and all kinds of options from the menu of the day. We ended up sharing a charcuterie plate (mainly meats with one cheese), a romaine salad (with beets, hearts of palm, feta, walnuts, and the perfect amount of bleu cheese dressing), a skillet baked mushroom bruschetta dish, and the scallop entree (served with goat cheese polenta, warm lobster, mushrooms and pea shoots). We shared a couple of glasses of wine (the Tinderbox Red Blend and a Late Harvest Viognet that paired perfectly with dessert). Next time we'll definitely consider the tasting menu... and there will be a next time. Highly recommend this place. A couple more things worth noting: *If you have any questions about Flagstaff or want any additional recommendations, Patrick is your man. He's a fourth generation Flag guy and true foodie. Super friendly and helpful... even went so far as to draw us a map with all of his suggestions on the white paper tablecloth - how convenient! *The Owner/Chef, Scott Heinonen, has an amazing reputation for preparing unique and beautiful dishes with clean, bold flavors. He has cooked all around the world and his claim to fame is that he was a personal chef for a week for Paul McCartney. (Check out the autographed disc framed on the wall by the restroom). -- **Sunbirds = the name I came up with for those that leave the Phoenix area in the summer to escape the crazy heat... not sure if it's a real word or not?!

    (5)

  • Riza R.

    Excellent food and service in the heart of Flagstaff. The place is cosy with European vibe and menu. Since we could not decide on what to order, we decided to try the Chef's tasting menu which was still a mystery because we were the first guests in the restaurant. We thought that the Chef's tasting menu was the best deal at $50/person and 4 courses. As for the food, it really good. It was fresh and nicely presented and served by our attentive server. We had smoked salmon and duck with cheese as our appetizer. We also had the seared scallops as second course. As for the main course, we were served with delicious and juicy pork belly and roasted brussel sprouts. All courses were so good we got full after our main. However, we made sure to save some stomach for the decadent desert. We had warm apple crumble and another plate of peanut butter cake and expresso meringue! How heavenly it was! I highly recommend paying a visit to this restaurant!

    (5)

  • Amanda L.

    First, they have Laguiole steak knives. Yes. You're doing it right. The venison was insanely tender, and the Gorgonzola grits were the perfect accompaniment. I ordered two desserts - one for now, and one to take home. Since I haven't yet eaten the dessert I'm taking home, I can't speak to whether it's good...BUT I'm guessing, since this coconut creme brûlée is so delicious, my second dessert won't disappoint. By the way, the Deanston washes down the creme brûlée quite nicely. God, I love a good scotch. Strongly recommend.

    (4)

  • Kevin I.

    Given the overall reviews we were very excited to try this apparent jewel of a restaurant. We arrived on a Sunday evening and the restaurant was about half full. We were seated quickly bistro style. Meaning your every word is overheard by the guests next to you. The restaurants decor is charming with what I can only describe as a Rococo style ceiling mixed with photos of brick walls and such on large slabs of knotty wood attached to the walls by large lag bolts The service seemed mildly chaotic and disorganized. While the hostess and the manager/perhaps owner walked around and provided water, the overall tempo was slow. Perhaps they were short handed. The server arrived just shy of ten minutes into our experience. Even though several other servers darted in and out of the tables with their actual behinds shoved into our table. Remember, bistro style. Not one of the servers offered a note that our server was on her way. And this is part of the 3 star rating. The wine list is good and well priced. They offered a 20% discount for full bottles. Nice incentive on an already fairly priced menu. We ordered two starter salads, the mixed greens and the romaine lettuce with bleu cheese. Both were delicious and well portioned. Worth the $11 for one of them. We then ordered the New York steak over mashers and some kind of sweet bbq sauce. ($30). And the lamb shank, ($26) which was what the server said was the best item on the menu in her opinion. For the New York we asked for the sauce on the side as the steak is what we were after. As we are both foodies, and have years of experience in the restaurant industry, we like to enjoy items on their own and not have sauces be the cover up of a bad piece of meat. Which takes me to why we gave this bistro a 3 star rating. The steak had literally no flavor. The meat was cooked med rare though ordered medium. Personally, I prefer med rare but as this was the others steak she was not happy. As for the lamb shank. It was more of a thick cut lamb chop. It too lacked any flavor. As I prefer med rare For lamb But the server said the chef recommends it medium. It was cooked medium well and dry as the bone it rested on. Perhaps we were visiting on an off night. But the results were not what we anticipated given the other reviews. Perhaps our expectations were too high. In any event, the quality of the meat was unforgivable and the attempt to mask it with over rich sauces in my mind is what defined the truth of this restaurant. Charmingly over rated.

    (3)

  • Liz M.

    Excellent food! Gourmet pairings you won't find anywhere else. I ordered the venison. It was atop blue cheese grits. All I can say is YUM. Cooked perfectly, seasoned perfectly. Great balance of texture and flavor. We also shared the grilled octopus. Also cooked to perfection. Not chewy or over seasoned. Obviously an incredible chef and sous chef. The service was fast and the staff was friendly. This is somewhere we will be returning whenever we are in Flagstaff!

    (5)

  • Sharon C.

    Awesome! Excellent food, atmosphere, decor and service. Charcuterie plate was so good - our favorite. Our waiter kept the pace of our meal perfect and didn't rush us. Great wine list and just a cool place to eat. A must try when in Flagstaff, AZ

    (5)

  • Ilya K.

    This restaurant is superb!! The board appetizer was delicious and filled with exciting duck, pork, and cheese options. My favorite was the duck breast entree, which was paired with a delicious sauce. The atmosphere is also very welcoming and pleasant. I would definitely recommend this place if you are in the area!

    (5)

  • Nataline J.

    This place is AMAZING. The food, service, and ambiance pull together to make this a great dinner. Our server was fantastic and recommended a few of his favorites. The menu changes daily so I'm sure whatever you have it will be fresh and delicious. We had the seared scallops, the soup of the day (butternut squash and potato), house mashers, and Creme brûlée. I recommend this place without reservation to anyone visiting or in town for good.

    (5)

  • Lloyd S.

    Ok, so I think this will say it all. First we shared the grilled Octopus. It was the most beautiful and tender octopus I've ever had. The sauces that came with it complimented the octopus perfectly. But here is what I have to tell everybody because this has never happened to me before. I ordered the roasted duck breast. I cut my first piece, put it in my mouth, and I kid you not my eyes rolled back into my head, my toes began to twitch, every part of me went into ecstasy. Bathia was talking to me as I was experiencing this and I had to ask her to please stop talking for a moment while I was in the throws of my culinary orgasm. This is truly a very special place. Their house wine is grown and made on their own vineyard, and much of their produce is grown on their own farm. The staff were very nice, and service was first class. They earned every star. If I could I'd give them 10.

    (5)

  • Frank O.

    I enjoyed the lemon braised lamb ragout this evening. Absolutely rich and wonderful. About once each year I frequent this establishment. I normally have the venison which is also worth tasting. I dined at the bar, and the barmaid gave great service. The only starnge view was one of the boys in the back doing pull-ups on the door jam next to the bar (not classy). F

    (4)

  • Jessica C.

    We walked around downtown Flagstaff looking for a place to eat, when we stumbled upon Tinderbox Kitchen. At first I was hesitant to go in because the food is quite pricy but a friend convinced me to go in anyway. And I did not regret that decision... I ordered the juniper cured venison and it was literally one of the best tasting, most tender meat I've ever had. Being a fancy restaurant though, the portion wasn't too big, but very well worth it!

    (5)

  • Terri G.

    Excellent, very fresh and absolutely delicious food! I had the trout, which was not on the menu. The best trout I have ever enjoyed. Dessert was just as superior. Chocolate lava cake w/ice cream. Service was excellent and the atmosphere was fun! Oh, and delicious local chardonnay.

    (5)

  • Melissa P.

    Christmas gift from my husband was dinner at Tinderbox and a room at Aspen Inn B&B on our way home from Albuquerque. I found this place on Yelp. It sounded intruiging and delicious. I expected to have a wait on a Saturday night, but we accepted the table by the door and were seated right away. First off, crack staff - the hostess subtly chatted, charmed and bussed throughout our meal. Our server brought each course in a well-timed manner. I tried a champagne cocktail with elderflower and lemon rind which was tart and lovely as my husband enjoyed his Anchor Steam. The starters all sounded amazing, so for something different we tried the chilled sirloin of beef with black sesame. This was truly the highpoint of all the food. The beef was sliced thin and melted on the tongue with a warmth from hot & sour spice and infused olive oil. I could have eaten that for dinner. It was pretty rich, so I had to hold off as I was waiting on a smoked lamb entree! The lamb was hiding under a heap of carmelized, slightly pickled onions and on top of some sweet potato mash. I was a bit disappointed that I did not get the blue cheese grits as advertised on the menu, but all the flavors still paired well. Again, very rich meal (it is comfort food, after all) so I left more than half on the plate. We had overheard the dessert list and were itching to try a couple things! The desserts included molten chocolate cake, fresh cinnoman donuts, a butterscotch caramel pudding and an apple tart. We asked for the chocolate cake and then asked our server to surprise us with the second dessert. She brought the pudding, and it was ok. The molten cake was great - moist, dark and covered in homemade honey bourbon icecream. It should be noted that the pastry chef here is excellent! The little biscuits that came to the table were herb-cheese savory and had the consistancy of Yorkshire pudding in the middle. Our compliments to the pastry chef. Highly reccommend this place for an intruiging, creative and delectable dining experience.

    (5)

  • R.C. W.

    Excellent. We live in Flag and go there at least once a quarter. NEVER been disappointed. Great service, unique menu, really enjoyable.

    (4)

  • Bax T.

    I love their location in the funky district on the south side of the railroad tracks. It's pretty unassuming on the outside and has a clean, modern look within. The server, Andie, was friendly and efficient and helpful in her suggestions. I started with a side salad which was enjoyable but suffered from a bit too much dressing. For an entree, I went with the juniper cured venison, which came with blue cheese grits and fennel. The meat was remarkably tender and had a nice taste to it. I will join the chorus of other reviewers who have praised the grits (jeez, when was the last time I had grits?) Overall, the quality of the food was high, but as with many establishments in the fine dining category, I could have used a little more quantity. I came to regret my decision to let Andie take my salad plate away with a few leaves left on it. Fortunately, there was enough bread to make up the difference. I've been watching the cholesterol numbers lately so I had to back away from the desert list although it was extensive and contained some creative items. My conclusion is that Tinderbox Kitchen is a very good restaurant and they obviously take food preparation seriously. It may lack the fun factor of some of the more boisterous Flagstaff eateries but I would definitely check it out.

    (4)

  • Holly C.

    Friendly staff, fast service, delicious food with great presentation. We had the the pork belly appetizer - blue cheese grits are amazing! I had the steak tip (not NY sirloin - they didn't have that on the menu that day). which was okay. The sauce was good but the meat was ehh. My sister in law got the venison which was delicious! The atmosphere was more upscale but also relaxed. Definitely worth trying if you're in the area!

    (4)

  • Deb C.

    Ordered: charcuterie board - really enjoyed it but would've liked more cheeses; venison over roasted corn and blue cheese grits - awesome!; pork porterhouse with butterbeans topped with breadcrumbs - good but kinda too bbq'y and sweet; tinderbox special red blend - very nice, not too sour or bitter, slightly peppery with a clean finish. I was skeptical bc it's a blend but it was quite good! Service was superb! Overall: 4.5/5

    (4)

  • Denise M.

    I can't believe I made reservations for this place! We arrived, the hostess brings us to a table and leaves us and the table is set but no one cleaned it beforehand and out of 5 of us only 2 could sit down the chairs were so dirty one had thick goo stuck all over the seat! My husband wiped it with a white napkin from the table and the napkin had black streaks on it. Several staff passed us and looked at us standing and wiping the seats and table and didn't even stop to ask what was wrong, they just kept going and so did we, right out the door! BTW - One from our group checked the menu and said there were no prices listed, very strange.

    (1)

  • Bobby W.

    Phenomenal! The menu changes daily, I had the great fortune of catching the Juniper Rubbed Venison. So incredibly tender and juicy. They specialize in wines as well, and the server was very knowledgeable when it came to suggested pairings. If you're in Flagstaff for dinner, don't pass this place up!

    (5)

  • Wendy J.

    First, your gonna spend money here. But, its likely worth it. My honey and I had the soup special, a strawberry gazpacho. It was good. The kale salad, a regular menu item, was quite good. Then for dinner we enjoyed the venison which was by far the best thing we ordered. The combining on that plate was fantastic. I recommend you trust them and order yours medium rare. Finally I had the scallops with lobster which was lovely, sweet, interesting. Their portions on wine are not the best. And if you can get an outdoor seat on a nice night you'll be in luck. We didnt and the interior leaves much to be desired. I felt like I was in in a dark punk club or gay bar in New York City, not a fine dining establishment. But the food made up for it leaps and bounds. The bill was reasonable too. Considering we had a beer, a glass of wine, a soup, a salad, and two entrees, we got out for less than $120.00. Who could complain? Lastly, I suspect that whoever is hiring the waiters is gay and has good taste. The waiters working when we at there were hunky and seemed cut from the same Ken doll. They could have been cousins. Our waiter knew the menu well and provided great service.

    (4)

  • Monique B.

    I have been to this restaurant at least 4 times in the last 8 months. This by far was the best experience. The quality and consistency of service was on par with the quality of the food this time. This time I sat on their open air back patio, which is only open during the summer. To start I had their kale salad. I love their salads and this one hit the mark just as the others I've tried have. I loved the poppy seed dressing on the salad. The one critique is they really shouldn't call it a kale salad. It had very little kale in it compared to the other greens. For the entree I had the juniper cured venison over blue corn grits with fennel and berries. It was such an amazing mix of flavors. For dessert the flourless chocolate cake. The center was nice and gooey. My server was excellent. He knew the menu and the answers to my questions. Good job to management for the excellent service.

    (5)

  • Ashley H.

    as a fan of craft cocktails this place was great. Olivia the bartender was extremely helpful and timely with her service. We didn't feel pressured to order a big meal even though we sat at the bar. Great bar with a great look.

    (5)

  • Nicolette G.

    Holy. Geezus. There are no words for how good this place is. I would drive the 10 hours back to Flagstaff, simply to eat here. Try the cheese board. Think you've had good cheese boards in your life? Well, you haven't. Sorry. Two words: homemade mustard. (They also make homemade ketchup.) Pork jowls, venison, fish, scallops - it's all exceptional. THE WINE. Oh gods...the wine. I had the House Cab.. haven't been able to get it off my mind since. At one point the chef came out to say hello to the table next to us and deliver their food, obviously his friends, but it just felt a little weird to us. We had a pretty big party, and the place is small, he could have checked on us too while he was at it. oh well! He knows how good hid food is :)

    (5)

  • Carol O.

    We were the first ones there when the doors opened at 5 pm. By the time we left it was filling up. Service was very good. My hubby ordered a new rye drink - perfect rye Manhattan with orange bitters and lemon zest. He was smiling. I ordered a Dewars Rob Roy and was told they don't do dewars but suggested Pinch Dimple scotch. I smiled too. Very nice! The focaccia cubes with herbed olive oil came next. My dearest ordered lamb sirloin - medium rare with blue cheese grits and a side of beets. I ordered BBQ shrimp with blue cheese grits with a sweet onion relish. We both smiled. And one Isolation Ale and Pinch Dimple Rusty Nail left us really smiling as we left. Highly recommended!

    (4)

  • Amy C.

    Have you seen that movie Pretty Woman? ... I have, and that's how I felt as the server ushered myself and my friends out of the restaurant, as we were not "classy enough" for the "fine dining" of Flagstaff. Any place that needs to assert so strongly that it's "fine dining," clearly is anything but.

    (1)

  • Jim D.

    Came here twice during a week-long stay in Flagstaff. Once for drinks (sitting outside next door), once for dinner... both were excellent experiences. 1) get a cocktail, they are awesome. 2) get some beets if they have them on the menu. This is beats done right 3) the meatloaf was outstanding enjoy!

    (5)

  • Heather B.

    Excellent shared meal: pork belly, venison, donuts. Delicious to the last bite. Great atmosphere and lovely service. A gem of a spot. Arrive at 5 or make reservations!

    (5)

  • C. N.

    Every time I go to a fancy over-priced restaurant, I say to myself "I will enjoy this," and I never do. I don't mind paying $30 for a dish as long as I can't go straight home and make literally the exact same thing with ingredients that I have in the fridge. I had the Porterhouse Steak which came with mashed potatoes and an apple-pear-cilantro salad thing with Apple sauce (yeah, Apple sauce). It wasn't BAD--these fancy rich meals are never BAD. To me, they're just not WORTH it. Anyways, go and try for yourself--they have good reviews and they are a product of the local Flagstaff economy so at least I don't feel too guilty about going.

    (3)

  • Lamont J.

    What can I say, great ambiance, great food, great service. Order a special and expand your culinary horizons. I live so far away, but think of this place often.

    (4)

  • Michael R.

    I am very impressed with this place! If I could underline that, I would. Be it slowly and very few, but finally some decent places are opening up in the States (See my Purple Pig review) The owner and Brother, I believe? Have set a high standard of good food in the mountains. It takes a lot to impress me, but this place did. Fantastic charcuterie, a really fantastic board. Bravo. I will never fully understand why duck isn't on the menu in American eatries. But these guys not only have it, but cook it as well as I've ever had. I congratulated the kitchen on my departure, not something I do unless it deserves. Rose wine was always going to be a part of the meal and when I heard it was Oregon, I must admit I was skeptical. But it was a fair wine, enough so that we ordered another. We'll done to all involved. I'd walk there through sun or snow to eat here. Looking forward to my next vist. Bravo

    (4)

  • Michelle D.

    First time in flagstaff with 3 kids and found this place on Yelp. Amazing and so glad we made it here. Had the tomatoes blue cheese bisque $6, tasted better than some of the Michelin rated restaurants I've been to. A must try.

    (5)

  • Jennifer G.

    One of the best meals I have ever eaten. Yes the prices are on the high end, but the food is so worth it!! My husband and I had the chef's tasting menu and it was so much fun not knowing what they would bring next. Every course was better than the last. We will definately be returning soon!

    (5)

  • Andrew V.

    Ok yes the vegetarian entree was great tasting but $20 for that small ass portion was ridiculous. Thanks for charging my card for my meal and my friends meal then taking forever to realize you did! Tip reflected the level of service

    (1)

  • Tom C.

    Truly an incredible dining experience. A cool, trendy feel and great waitstaff, but the star attraction here is the menu. We shared the fantastic asparagus with duck eggs and a charcuterie board with excellent sausages and mustard (and extra crostini for sharing). I had the tomato bisque and the real delightful pork belly as an entree, with the delicious chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream for desert. I tried the pork jowls as well, which were a little spicier than the pork belly but just as good. Our entire party of six was really very impressed by the food and atmosphere. Prices are high for Flagstaff, but the food is as good as anything we find in Manhattan. The trendy Tinderbox Annex next door looked like a cool younger vibe with lower prices and the same kitchen (though a different menu).

    (5)

  • Lisa G.

    I was pleasantly surprised with Tinderbox. The food and service were both excellent. Our server had a good knowledge of the menu, beer, and wine. It was a little quiet the night that we went in, not a large restaurant. Definitely has that cool, casual chic feel. We order the house charcuterie board, all the items on the board were made in house except for the cheese. The smoked duck and rillette really stood out. We also ordered the salmon tartare. It was served with classic elements of a tartare but with a slight twist by adding spinach salad and horseradish cream. I had a red wine blend from Cortez Colorado, didn't know what to expect but it was great! They clearly care about local product and are doing things right! Can't wait to try the Annex next door.

    (5)

  • Naomi B.

    I'm completely lost as to why this restaurant received 41/2 stars. I was in from out of town and took my boss to this place after checking the Yelp ratings and we were both disappointed. Starting with the wine (they apparently make their own) they only offered their wine by the glass. I had the Cabernet Sauvignon and it was okay. My colleague had a Chardonnay and he wasn't happy with it. The taste had not yet fully developed and was really not quite ready to serve IMO. We started off with the lobster soup but while the texture was good the taste was just okay. However, we were unable to find much in the way of lobster in the soup. For the main course I had the Corn Milk Brined Pork Porterhouse, Creamed Corn with Hog Jowl Ragout. I thought the entire dish lacked taste and the pork was not tender. I liked the cream corn but thought it was a strange presentation lying at the bottom of the plate. But frankly it was the best part of the dish. At the recommendation of the server my colleague had the Seared Scallops and he thought they were just okay; again it lacked any real sophistication in flavor. The best part of the meal was actually dessert. It was a lemon cake, custard creation and I found it not too sweet and delightful paired with their outstanding coffee. The service was also very good with the waiter bring quite knowledgeable and was attentive as needed. Even so, overall I found the restaurant a disappointment and would not return.

    (2)

  • Kat Y.

    Finding parking around the restaurant was a little difficult, so leave time for that. The food is pricey but quite delicious, and the server was very friendly and helpful. As for the atmosphere, the place was cozy and comfortable, but more suited for a fancy night out.

    (4)

  • Mark S.

    I saw Jennifer E.'s review and knew immediately that, since this was in walking distance from our hotel, we just had to try this place. I had a really well made Manhattan for a cocktail while my wife was content to have some wine. We split the house salad, which had goat cheese, dried fruit, candied nuts and came dressed in a citrus vinaigrette. The flavors all balanced out and the salad was not overdressed so, between the cocktails and the salad, we are off to a good start. For entrees my wife orders the NY strip steak ($25) that comes with cottage pie and broccolini. I order the jalapeño mac and cheese with duck confit ($24). Here's where I put my extremely inexperienced and completely non-authoritarian food critic in motion. My wife ordered her steak well done (I know, I know... bear with me here) which is NOT well done. See the juice on the plate... obviously no more than medium to medium well. I had to believe this was done intentionally by the kitchen because an experienced cook knows NY's will dry out when overcooked. Still... give the customer what they ordered. The accompanying cottage pie was piping hot, but just OK. The mac and cheese in my dish still had a floury taste to it. The roux could have possibly spent a few more minutes on the fire? The duck skin IS crispy and, was probably the best part of the dish. I wished for more flavor from the duck leg itself. The wine I had with my meal, recommended by the server, was just OK. Apparently they partner with a local winery to pair with their food. I applaud them for the whole local approach to their food and wine. I was just hoping for more based on the price point.

    (3)

  • Samantha S.

    It's been a while since we've visited Tinderbox but I wanted share my two cents. The experience at Tinderbox is similar to restaurants we enjoy in the California wine country. At half the price. The charcuterie board is delicious - and I believe the cured meats are made in house. They served us Cowgirl Creamery Mt. Tam, a creamy delicious cheese made near our hometown. I recommend visiting for the board alone. We also enjoyed the juniper venison and my favorite was mac and cheese with roasted poblano peppers and duck confit. With a glass of bubbly? Come on!

    (5)

  • Yisi L.

    This is a tiny little gem in the heart of Flagstaff. I was so excited to have some Southern inspired food here. Had pork belly, shrimp & grits and duck confit with mac n cheese. The pork belly was amazing; crispy outside, juicy and tender inside. Love, love the duck confit. Mac n cheese was just okay. They have only one restroom but it is actually cute and there is a letter from Paul McCartney hanging on the hallway. The only complain is that they close at 10pm. Definitely a nice and satisfying dinner after visiting Grand Canyon.

    (4)

  • Amy Y.

    So it was a Friday night...my roommate and my international friend was bored. My friend told me that there's a big jenga here. Oh snap, we..or me!...wanted to see the big jenga blocks. We didn't want to drink or anything there, so we tried to act normal and sneaked in through the bar into the backyard. The bar wasn't as much people..maybe around 8pm then.The jenga was big, no, gigantic compare to the mini ones. Oh, it was fun and interesting to play. They have nice lighting in the backyard. But it was empty. It got boring after a few games. So we left. What an adventure...I guess.

    (3)

  • Brian U.

    The tastiest food on a six day road trip through Arizona. Chef Scott Heinonen created savory dishes that were smart, palate pleasing, and properly executed. The slow cooked pork belly had just the right amount of sweetness from the glaze, apple sage relish, and spiced honey that contrasted the hearty blue cheese grits. Everything in the dish was classically matched, but the blue cheese. Who would have thought blue would match belly? The lovingly tender belly made my belly bigger and softer. The cylindrical potato gnocchi was another dish that made fantastic use of cheese, this time ricotta. It looked oversauced, but the light consistency of the sauce proved otherwise and brought a bright green flavor along with the sugar peas placed on top. It is easy and ordinary to make a heavy and fatty gnocchi dish, but this starter was kept surprisingly light yet luscious. Meatloaf is never going to be that complex - particularly when topping with the traditional bacon and ketchup plus a side of mashed potatoes. Although it was simple, it was also satisfying - the key result of any good meatloaf. The pork tenderloin entrée was the most adventurous plate we tried. Asian elements were used with the sweet and hot marinade plus the sesame oil. Mexican elements were used from real taco ingredients (not Taco Bell sour cream and cheddar) like pickled shallots and queso seco. The pork tenderloin and mashed sweet potatoes were New American cuisine. The ingredients worked individually and all together. Not only did it taste great, it showed fabulous thought process and execution. The desserts were simple compared to the savory dishes. The baked apple with almond crust and maple whipped cream needed another element to add greater dimension. The whipped cream didn't survive long as the hot cast iron dessert quickly melted it back into liquid cream. I probably should have finished with a charcuterie board that had in-house cured meats instead. Because the atmosphere and service screamed gastropub, it was tempting to order one of the many specialty cocktails. But since the menu kept saying fine dining, we went straight to a bottle of wine from Tamarack Cellars. (Co-incidentally, Tamarack e-mailed me today about their spring release.) Because San Francisco St. is one-way plus the railroad tracks block access, getting to Tinderbox became complicated. Stay south of the tracks and Phoenix Ave. is your friend, but Route 66 sucks.

    (4)

  • J L.

    This place is the best restaurant I have ever been to. The food is amazing! I cannot recommend Tinderbox enough! Love this restaurant!

    (5)

  • Amy R.

    2.5 stars! My siblings and I wanted a nice place out to eat in Flagstaff since we were on vacation. We were stuck between Tinderbox and Josephine's. We went with Tinderbox. We left the kiddos at home, made a reservation and were super excited to check this place out. We arrived on time to our reservation and were sat by the friendly hostess. Then along came our waitress. She wasn't friendly at all, just straight to the point. Definitely not someone who I would imagine to be in that sort of position. We decided to order some white wine and some red wines to go along with our meals. Both wines cost us $20-30 each (served in a carafe) and both wines tasted absolutely disgusting. Everyone at the table (including my brother, who has traveled the world and tasted countless numbers of wines) thought it was disgusting. They literally tasted like a box of $8.99 Franzia wine. No good. Hint: order wine out of a bottle so you know exactly what you are getting. We ordered many appetizers so we could try a variety of items off of the menu: -"The Board" was interesting and out of all the appetizers our table's favorite. Had a great variety of different samplings and was yummy all around. -Pork Belly Pot Roast was delicious and another fave. Full of flavor and extremely tasty. -Calamari was good. A bit on the greasy side which put me off, but the sauce it came with was fantastic and completely complimentary to the calamari. -Dumplings were just weird. Completely random in every way and the color (puke green) was definitely not appealing. Least favorite. We tried to order our entrees so that we got one of each meal, that way we could try everything and see what it tasted like. I had the sea scallops and they were extremely delicious. They were cooked perfectly and the vegetables that came along with it were complimentary to the dish. Overall, my entree deserves a five stars. The others in my party ordered; lamb, steak, and meatloaf - everyone was pleased with their main entrees. Now.. let me get to the bad parts of this restaurant: 1.) Throughout our seating, the hostess was quick to refill our carafe of water. The only bad thing about this was the water was lukewarm, not even anywhere close to cold. It was absolutely disgusting and tasted weird. :S 2.) The manager was constantly walking around the restaurant but not doing anything other than cleaning up. He didn't talk to us, ask us how our meal was, or even smile at us. It was really bizarre and completely not how a manager should be in a restaurant. Extremely off-putting. 3.) For the amount you pay for your meal here at this restaurant and that is extremely upscale, I find it strange that they line the white cotton tablecloth with white paper. It may be for quick clean-up and avoiding stains, but like I said - I felt like I was in a BBQ place where your tables are lined with white paper to write on. Not the type of place that should have white paper lining on top of the tablecloth. 4.) We were pretty disappointed that after our appetizers, we weren't supplied new silverware. It's usually pretty routine at upscale restaurants to be served new silverware after using them on the appetizers. We even went as far as putting our dirty silverware on the appetizer plates, so she could get us new ones, but she didn't. 5.) Bathroom is tiny (isn't too big of an issue) unless the restaurant is full and packed. One restroom for all customers. Lastly, after seeing Kevin/Scott's response on yelper Alaskafiregirl F.'s review, I wish I would've seen this prior to visiting Tinderbox because we probably would've gone to Josephine's instead. Nothing makes me more angry then getting a sarcastic response from an owner on a business publicly. If someone has a genuinely bad experience at your restaurant, you shouldn't answer with sarcasm, it definitely doesn't make you look appealing. I don't care if you have a 4.5 stars! Would I return to Tinderbox in the future? Maybe. I would probably go through every "upscale" restaurant in Flagstaff first prior to visiting Tinderbox again though.

    (3)

  • Judy S.

    I couldn't take pictures of the food because I ate it too fast but it was a one way train to flavor town. For our appetizer I got the pork belly with grits, blackberries, honey, and other stuff and it was amazing! So succulent and cooked exactly how pork belly should be: crisp on the outside, buttery on the inside. The flavors from the honey and fresh blackberries paired perfectly and weren't too overpoweringly sweet. Next for the entree I had the bacon wrapped buffalo meatloaf. May have been the most moist meatloaf I've ever experienced. The bed of mashed potatoes it laid on made it to be the best high end comfort food to touch my lips. I was in euphoria the whole time and our waiter was very knowledgeable on every detail of every dish. Love a guy that knows what he's talking about... Wish I lived closer so I could come here every weekend.

    (5)

  • Lindsay S.

    The food was amazing, as was the cocktail list. There was a bit of a wait but that's not a problem with the attached annex for drinks. The service was extremely attentive too, without being overbearing.

    (5)

  • Rita S.

    For a vegetarian, their menu is quite daunting..I think maybe one app, a few sides were vegetarian friendly. So I asked the server for help. Apparently they always have a vegetarian option available (it's not on the menu). All I can say is wow! I believe it was a German spatzle veggie pasta dish. It was unbelievably flavorful, the pasta was lightly crisp and the veggies were perfectly cooked and seasoned. The desserts and service were great too!

    (5)

  • Suzen T.

    My friends and I came here after a long day of snowboarding. This place had good reviews so we decide to try it out. It has a cozy ambiance, calm and dark. The bartender was also our server, he was patient with all of us and gave us helpful recommendations. We all ordered different dishes and shared. Plating very nice but small. Their drinks are good. Nice place to go for a date or a group of friends to just have drinks and a small bite.

    (4)

  • Michael B.

    Great service and great food. I had the venison and it was awesome. Duck was also really great. Would go back for sure.

    (5)

  • Claire T.

    My mom and I came here for my 21st birthday dinner and it was delicious!! First we started off in the Annex (cocktail loungeish room) where I enjoyed a white linen and my mom had a gin and tonic. The white linen was sweet and sour and good for sipping. Definitely recommend. For dinner we were seated at a nice table near the window. It was probably the best table because it was in a corner where we didn't get much noise. The menu changes every night but I assume some things reappear, like the steak and pork belly. I ordered the scallops which came with bacon creamed corn, buttered crab, steamed mushrooms, and watercress (I think). It was delicious!! The bacon creamed corn was salty on its own but paired with everything else it was wonderful! The scallops were cooked to perfection and were high quality for the middle of Arizona. My mom got the skirt steak which came with horseradish mashers, broccolini, and chimichurri. It was all good. We weren't going to get dessert but when she read the options we knew we had to. We got the chai creme brûlée with shortbread...SO GOOD. I want to learn how to make shortbread cookies that tender. Customer service was alright except my mom asked for her horseradish potatoes to be replaced with regular, which they said wouldn't be a problem. However, they still brought it out with horseradish. They were happy to bring my mom a new side however they charged us for it!! What! My mom didn't bother correcting because it was only $5 on a large bill but still...at such a nice restaurant they should be quicker than that. 4.5, would've been a 5 if they didn't mess up our bill.

    (4)

  • Monica F.

    Lucky us! We very randomly and unexpectedly found ourselves in Flagstaff and I pointed this place out as looking nice. The menus have the date on them, so you know everything is fresh! Our timing was great, too, as it was almost empty when we came in and completely packed by the time we left. It was hard to choose because everything looked delicious, so we ended up picking 4 appetizers, which was more than enough food for 2. The bread was fresh but not really great. Could have used some flavored olive oil. It was room temperature and a little bland. The salad was huge! Nicely dressed. We loved the goat cheese, candied nuts, and dried fruit. Good salad. Favorite part of the meal was a dish of hand rolled gnocci in a creamy pesto with roasted cauliflower. Wow! Amazing! Gnocci were perfect: light but still solid. Sauce was delicious. Mushrooms were tasty. Came with toast, but it was slightly burnt :( Calamari was the weakest part of the meal. Too greasy, a little rubbery. Serves me right for ordering calamari in the mountains in a land-locked state. We were thinking about a fruit-based dessert. The waitress listed the day's desserts but none of them were fruit. When we told her what we were thinking, she offered some leftover apples from yesterday, and we decided to try that. Wonderful! They were baked in a cream sauce with cinnamon and were lovely. They came with some homemade doughnut holes that were sort of dull on their own but good in the sauce.

    (4)

  • H. L.

    The food here was a little more ordinary than I expected. We came here by recommendation from a friend. First off, the decor of the restaurant is very nice. It has an industrial feel and the walls are covered with local photos that are very cool. It has a relaxed feel which I like, not pretentious. Staff here are very friendly and service oriented. Our waitress refilled our drinks regularly and answered our questions about the menu happily. My husband and shared the Mac and cheese with duck confit. The duck was tasty, but the Mac and cheese was a little ordinary. The side of broccolini was great. It had a nice char on it. We had the pork spare ribs for an appetizer and it was good. It fell off the bone nicely. Our friends got the calamari, but they didn't really like the breading much. Overall, it was okay. I may try some other places here before heading back to Tenderbox.

    (4)

  • Sarah W.

    Phil and I went to Tinderbox to celebrate Valentine's Day, and what a good choice. We started our evening in the Annex around six and got their board and a couple yummy cocktails. I would highly recommend the board. They had some quality selections on it. After our pre-dinner drinks and board, we then wandered over to the main restaurant for dinner. It was around 6:30 on Saturday (we celebrated a day late), and we didn't have a wait at all for a table. It's a pretty small restaurant, but I like the classy atmosphere. Phil ordered the venison with blue cheese grits, mushrooms, and kale. I'm not usually a fan of blue cheese, but I loved those grits. All the items in the dish went together with each other perfectly. The same for my pan roasted duck with cous cous, greens, and figs. The staff really knows how to pick items that complement each other very well. We loved it. What a great meal! I would recommend it for a date night or a small group of people.

    (4)

  • Naceem P.

    This place is AMAZING. We had the short ribs as appetizer. then Kale salad. My husband had pork & I had the steak. Their food was incredible. The service was fantastic. It's not just incredible food but excellent fine dining experience. They bring each dish out at the most perfect timing and everything was seasoned to perfection. They even have unique fun cocktails. Highly recommend this place and we will absolutely come back when we visit Flagstaff again.

    (5)

  • Robert J.

    We rolled into town and needed to refuel our bodies after a long drive. Our meal was flawless and even ended up ordering an appetizer after our entree. The meal left an indelible experience in our taste buds. Bring your appetite and explore.

    (5)

  • Hayley H.

    I visited Flagstaff with my boyfriend to see his family and we decided we wanted to go out to a nice meal with them so I looked up best places to eat in Flagstaff and this place kept coming up so we decided that's where we would eat and I'm glad we made that decision. We were in town on a busy weekend so we were told our wait would be about 30 minutes for a table so we left our name and number with the host and went to a bar next door to grab a before dinner drink. The host called us in less than 30 minutes and let us know our table was ready so we headed back over and were promptly seated and greeted. Our server gave us beer recommendations and we all ordered what he suggested and we loved it. We ordered the smoked salmon carpaccio to start us off for the night and my only complaint was that I didn't think to order two because it was so good. I ordered the Juniper cured venison with bleu cheese grits and toasted blackberries and I still think about that meal. I could've had the bleu cheese grits by themselves and still called it one of the best meals I have ever had. Since we were celebrating a birthday, we ordered a chocolate molten cake and once again, we were impressed. We were a little too full to finish the dessert but it was worth ordering. Our service was fantastic too. Our server answered all of our questions and never made us feel rushed for taking our time to order and enjoying our food. For what we were given I felt the food was very fairly priced. The portions weren't the biggest but I'll take quality over quantity. We ordered drinks, an appetizer, entrees and a dessert and our bill was still only $180 (not including tip) so I felt like we got quite a bit for our money. I'm not in flagstaff very often but next time I am, I'm making sure to go back to Tinderbox Kitchen.

    (5)

  • Arnie B.

    We have been on the road all day, what a wonderful dinner, service and ambiance! Thank you for a great experience.

    (5)

  • Adam B.

    Enjoyable but if it was in my hometown I wouldnt go back. Had the venison and it was good. The grits were the highlight but the venison was laying in the grits and it overpowered the venison flavor. Separate would have been better. Great service.

    (4)

  • Denise S.

    Exceptional agnolotti with braised beef tongue. Very good salad with dried fruits and goat cheese. Very attentive staff. Nice ambiance.

    (4)

  • Rebecca G.

    OMG! Top awards for the pork belly app, Bleu cheese grits, fried Brussels' sprouts and lamb ragout. Don't miss this treat of a restaurant.

    (5)

  • Amy W.

    Good, great, awesome dinner! Started off with the pork belly appetizer, house merlot and a makers and water. Then for dinner I had the butternut squash risotto, my husband had the bacon wrapped meatloaf... Soooooooo delicious and the service was great, thank you Lisa! Ended the night with an awesome dessert! We highly recommend this eating establishment! And the atmosphere is totally chill and inviting!

    (5)

  • J M.

    Food was excellent great presentation and had a good time with friends. I did not expect this level of cooking in flagstaff. So why only 4 stars well dining room was hot and stuffy and waitress was good but kind forgot us at the end., i truly believe that the full experience matters. So. I would highly recommend the buffalo meatloaf, duck duo, lamb. Get the board appetizer this was exceptional. I would definitely recommend you try this place, their presentation on of the food was first class

    (4)

  • Evelyn P.

    Excellent restaurant. Gourmet American food with a twist. We had the crispy duck, bacon wrapped buffalo meatloaf, pork tenderloin and the lamb sirloin. All were delicious. We also enjoyed the meat and cheese board. Highly highly recommended. A little pricey but worth it.

    (5)

  • Amanda S.

    Dined at Tinderbox last night, worst idea ever. Started with a local Wanderlust stout, perfection, except that our server spilled it all over the table upon delivery. I asked her for some bar napkins as the beer was swimming in a puddle of brown and she walked back with a wet rag and proceeded to wipe the beer off the table directly onto my foot. I was like,"Thanks, now it's all over my foot" and she glared at me, only eye contact all night by the way. We asked her a few questions about the menu and comments ranged from, "I don't know I haven't tried that" to "Um, I'm not sure", she couldn't even recommend a starter! My husband enjoyed his meal so the food has potential, however my shrimp with grits was unfortunate. The shrimp had no flavor, tasted antiseptic. The food is too pricey for the low quality of service. Our server was tatted up with her low class Miss Me faded out jeans, phone in the back pocket, messy ponytail (not in a good way). Train your servers, expect quality, they are half of the dining experience.

    (1)

  • M W.

    I had the Smoked Colorado Lamb Sirloin, Cous Cous, Olive-Cucumber Relish The wife had the pork cheeks with mashed potatoes. Both were amazing! Excellent balance with their flavors and a nice pairing with the house red blend wine. The chocolate cake was doubly amazing!

    (5)

  • Paul A.

    Dinner Thursday 6::30 party of three. Food - Fantastic! Pork porterhouse, New York strip and a cheese plate all awesome. Entrees are 20-30$ and worth every penny. Servicer was very knowledgeable and made excellent recommendations for wine pairings. I will return every time I am in Flagstaff.

    (5)

  • Skg 1.

    Not as good as I expected. The staff was egocentric and the service was average. For the size of the town it's a pretty good menu and I like that it changes.

    (3)

  • Marilyn B.

    I am disappointed...disappointed that this place is in Flagstaff and I live in Los Angeles. The Tinderbox Kitchen is a fantastic find in an unexpected locale. We started with "The Board" which was a great selection as well as a conversation starter. Also, tried the pork belly appetizer - fantastic - served on a bed of blue cheese grits. Each entree in our group was better than the last - Dr. Pepper hog jowls, citrus seared scallops with a corn relish, marlin with corn dusted oysters...AWESOME!

    (5)

  • Joshua S.

    The best meal from start to finish I've had while living in Arizona. Meat is not overpowered by sauces or spices. Great drinks and small, intimate dining space. Perfect for a big date or life's celebrations.

    (5)

  • Kat W.

    My husband and I have been coming to Tinderbox off and on since it opened. Each time, our experience has been superb. The menu is fresh, inspired and ever changing. As someone who usually sticks to the same thing over and over when I find something I enjoy, that's a compliment. Comfort food with a flair. The staff is welcoming and friendly, yet they allow you to enjoy yourself without rushing you through the meal. Tinderbox has become our go to restaurant for a grown up night away from the kids.

    (5)

  • Laura S.

    I often dine at Tinderbox. The hostess went out of her way to accommodate our party as our number had changed. She went out of her way to keep us informed as to our seating and checked on our satisfaction during our fabulous meal. I enjoyed the venison which was perfectly cooked and the envy of my dining friends. The board was delicious as usual and the pork loin was fantastic.It's always a pleasure to spend time in the Tinderbox.

    (5)

  • Eduardo C.

    Tried "The Board" which was well balanced with crispy bread, two cheeses, meats, gourmet mustard and some delicious fresh raisins. The selection of meats, however, could be more balanced and was overpowered by Pâté. The smoked duck ham and goat cheese were the highlight of the plate for me. The seasonal soup in mid October was "Cheesy Enchilada'. This was the only disappointing part of the meal for me, it definitely tasted like they used real enchilada ingredients, but it was far too sweet for my taste. It seems like there were many better menu items for me to try, but for the things I ordered, I'd say it was average bang for my buck, particularly because of that soup.

    (3)

  • David G.

    My all time favorite place to each!!! Five star restaurant food quality at 3 star prices. Great everything, appetizers, meals, dessert, and wine. The multi-course wine pairings are worth every penny and the individual entrees are amazing also. Their menu rotates so you can go back over and over and try new dishes (I know I do). Can't say enough good things about this place, if you don't like the food, there's something wrong with your pallet. Very interesting and surprising food combinations I'd never think to try but am very happy I did!!! Put succinctly in one simple statement, "Tinderbox, will you marry me?".

    (5)

  • Bill W.

    Hands down one of the best eating establishments anywhere! I had the the buffalo meat loaf wrapped in bacon with horseradish mashers and roasted turnips, perfect. Not to mention the delightful attentive and knowledgeable staff. Along with a fantastic artfully classic interior, these two cousins hit it completely out of the ball field, congrats!

    (5)

  • Joseph S.

    Stopped in Flag overnight before heading up to the Grand Canyon. The food and the service was excellent. Amazing wine list and the house red is terrific. The pours could be a bit more generous especially at $12 a glass. Not cheap but worth it. Jeanie our server was great. Nice vibe all around.

    (4)

  • Daniel H.

    I'm glad I went here and how I found this place was through my Yelp app on my phone. I didn't know anywhere good in Flagstaff, AZ since I was passing through on my roadtrip. I came here with my brother to eat and it was a good decision. It was pretty cold outside so when we walked in, we started to warm up quick. The waitresses were all nice and friendly. I ordered the Crispy Turkey Cutlet which came with dirty mashers , pork belly gravy, and sweet cole slaw ($22) and the Turkey Bacon Jalapeno Chowder soup ($10). The soup came out first and it was amazing!!! I haven't tasted soup this good for years! Everything complemented each other in the soup and it was delicious. Before I started to eat, I took pictures with my DSLR camera and I noticed a few people eating there were looking at me. lol I guess not many people take pictures of their food before eating it - especially with a huge camera like mine. Our main course came and I thought the Crispy Turkey Cutlet was a little dry; however, the soup made up for it plus the mashers and cole slaw. After I finished, I was full but not food coma full. The portion might be a little small but it will fill you up decently. We didn't order any dessert but maybe we should have. lol Next to this place is called the Annex which was a bar (I think) and I believe it's part of the Tinderbox Kitchen seeing how their symbol was the same. I noticed this as we were leaving to our car. If I were to come back to Flagstaff, AZ, then I would definitely come here to try something else out. Good stuff!

    (5)

  • Thomas B.

    Visiting the grand canyon, we were looking for a nice place to have dinner. We got sea scallops, smoked lamb sirloin and duck breast. The food was amazing, sea scallops seared perfectly, lamb just juicy and pink and duck flavorful. Interesting sides as well. Service was good. Good experience for a foodie.

    (5)

  • Sopheak S.

    This place is great!! My girlfriend and I always come to this place for special occasion. It is the only pseudo-fancy place in Flagstaff that we like. Always always get some kind of appetizers. They tend to be a bit small, but absolutely delicious. It is a bit of a tease, but it will make you very excited for your entree. I love trying new things and new foods, this place is perfect for that. Their menu is different every time we come here. It is great because it makes you try something new every time, but at the same time, things you really enjoy may not be on the menu again. It is perfectly fine with me because I have loved everything I have ate and drank at this place. The check is a bit scary sometimes, but well worth the great food. OOooo and their dessert... woooooooo

    (5)

  • Stuart H.

    So seriously? Go here. If I had the right kind of magical power, I would lift this entire place up and bring it to RI (I might bring a bunch of the shops on S. San Francisco with it, too!) Honestly, I have eaten all over the world and this place was a reason to go back to Flagstaff...SOON.

    (5)

  • Brittany J.

    I honestly feel like this place is way too overrated and doesn't live up to the hype that so many people give it. This restaurant is definitely on the pricey end (expect to pay about $30+/person), the food is overly exotic most of the time, and the ambiance sometimes appears to be way overdone. There are a couple of other restaurants in this area that are in the same price range as Tinderbox, but are much more pleasant experiences. During my most recent visit, I ordered a medium-well steak and received a well-done, overcooked piece of meat. I don't eat well-done steaks, and I didn't even know how such a reputable and established company like Tinderbox could make such an idiotic mistake. Despite there being absolutely zero pink in my steak, the server told me there was nothing he could do about it. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this place. I've been here on many occasions and the experience has never been static in terms of good food and good service. It's definitely a great place to experience when it's at his prime, however, so if you've got the money to spend then come try it out.

    (3)

  • Kari G.

    This place seemed promising. Their menu options seemed interesting, but they were not stellar and the service left a lot to desire. Our server was rude and unwelcoming, and if that wasn't enough, it appeared as though she needed to take a food safety class. Our server would touch her hair to put it up, pick up her phone and text and then would go back to touching clean utensils and napkins. To make it worse, she left our food waiting for an unreasonable amount of time after the kitchen staff had left it to be delivered.

    (2)

  • T L.

    Started with drinks, live music, and apps next door at their 'sister' restaurant the Annexus. The smoked salmon was the best I have ever had. Moved over here for dinner and had the butternut squash soup and the venison....Outstanding!

    (5)

  • Lauren A.

    The two of us did the New Year's Eve chef's tasting. We've done a lot of chef's tasting at very high end restaurants and had read the other reviews on Yelp so we came in with high expectations. The restaurant is very small and we sat at a high table and I was a bit crunched in the corner so the person behind me and I could not get out of our seat at the same time...Just an FYI if you are willing to overlook that aspect. I definitely was once the food started coming out. The staff was all very attentive, always a plus. I won't go into all the details of each course, but I will tell you that if you appreciate high end food you will not be disappointed. Granted some of the portions are small, but you are not coming here to gorge. The food is rich and satisfying, with some surprising ingredient combos. I had the vegetable risotto, which is very out of my league (usually I enjoy a fine cut of steak) but I couldn't get enough of it. My bf had a cut of loin with a delicious beet topping. Yes, it is pricey, but for a special occasion you should treat yourself to food like this.

    (5)

  • Michelle N.

    I have been here a few times when traveling to Flagstaff. The ambiance is lovely, cute T candles and intimate tables. It's smaller so I like to go early so we don't have to wait too long. The first time I went with 4 girlfriends and we had the Tinderbox wine - pepsi cola and red wine. CRAZY DELICIOUS. We had a few sides like the brussel sprouts and blue cheese grits. I had the duck confit with mac and cheese and so did another friend. Another girlfriend ordered the beet salad and we cleaned out plates. For dessert, we all had the homemade donuts. The food was fantastic and our waitress was fine. Not spectacular, just fine. The 2nd time I went was very recently. He ordered a beer and I ordered the pepsi/wine combo (had a few actually) - he coudln't resist the duck confit and mac and cheese and I ordered the scallops. The sea scallops were divine. It was on top of a dreamy butternut squash sauce with greens and butter beans. The scallops were cooked to perfection - not rubbery at all. He loved his mac and cheese but there was just way too much so we had to take it home. The duck looked really delicate - I couldn't try it because I am trying the be a pescetarian but it looked great! The waitress and service was again, fine nothing too complain or brag about. For dessert, we had the citrus creme brulee with homemade sugar cookies. I enjoyed the meal very much and so did my date. Can't wait to come back.

    (4)

  • Melissa J.

    Oh my gosh, I loved this place the first time I visited in April and this time was no different. Amazing food. I'd had the duck leg with macaroni and cheese last time we came and we got it again, but this time we also got the penne with rabbit which overshadowed the already amazing duck leg. The rabbit was like magic in my mouth. Their menu is always changing but if you go and that is on the menu, just order it. So perfect. And the service was so fantastic. Our waitress was so so nice. Couldn't ask for a better dinner out. Anywhere.

    (5)

  • Eleanor H.

    We've been wandering around Flag looking for the best places to eat and heard Tinderbox was A+. It's comfort food redefined and pretty delicious. Our waitress was timely and sweet, the food was yummy (loved THE BOARD) and the atmosphere was okay. Wine list has interesting and unique wines with a select few from AZ. Overall, a nice experience.

    (3)

  • Christie C.

    Disappointing. Very disjointed. No cohesiveness at all in the food or the restaurant. Went with the simple steak, horseradish mashed potatoes and pickled beets. Meat was poor quality, grainy, bad texture. I ordered med. husband ordered med well, both were rare. And I can eat rare, but this was a mushy pink, not a nice red rare. Blah! Potatoes were overpowering. More like horseradish with potatoes than potatoes with horseradish. Homemade steak sauce...way to sweet, Beets were to sweet. It just didn't seem to belong on the same plate. Had "the board" for a starter. I'm assuming the bread was suppose to be crostini. You missed it. It was a slice of store bought bread dipped in butter and toasted to a golden rock. The meats were gamey and the smoked meats and cheese had subtle undertones of lighter fluid. There was nothing comfortable about this place. For a restaurant that prides itself on comfort food you would think it would have a comfortable atmosphere. Nope. The table was cramped and stiff and every time the waitress helped the table behind us she bumped into my chair. Our waitress was kind but seemed a little put off when my husband returned his excessively SOUR drink for something less puckering. I didn't get a warm fuzzy from anyone there.

    (2)

  • Ryan D.

    The two of us did the chef's tasting for dinner ($50/person). It's been a long time since food has wowed us. I'm not going to brag and likely bore you with the details because I don't want to waste your or my time. Plus, I believe a tasting at Tinderbox will change every time. We got the impression that the chef was creating on the fly. The first course was 3 separate mini-tastings that were simple but very tasty and unique combinations I've never had before. The second was a seafood dish that had smoked mussels (I think smoked) that blew me away. Third was a deer vineson steak with mind-blowing stuffing that was touched with duck fat. Dessert was 3 separate creations that were amazing. We ended up maxing out at dessert eating only half of each of the 3-options. The only odd item was a chorizo & pea side with the 3rd course. It was tasty but didn't match the plate or the rest of the tasting. Other than that, everything was great. We haven't walked away from a restaurant with grins like that in a long time. Thank you! This place would kick butt in a large city. A tasting that ended up being about 9 delicious items for $50 is an amazing value in my opinion. It would be $80-$100 in Phoenix. I just hope that Flag can keep this place going. Tinderbox is my new favorite by far over what are the 2 pricey stand-bys in the town. The restaurant on its own as an attraction and an amusement ride will bring me back to Flag.

    (5)

  • Melissa W.

    My boyfriend and I went there the other night for the first time and were blown away! We sat at the bar and Olivia waited on us. She was fun and gave fantastic service. For dinner I had the pork chop and my boyfriend had the venison, both amazing! And don't forget to try dessert. Olivia recommended the lemon creme brûlée with shortbread cookies. We practically licked the dish. We can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • G B.

    We first called them to see if they offered gluten free items and if they were family friendly. The service over the phone was great and we were told yes on both questions. We arrived right at 4:59 and walked in with 3 kids. Our oldest child is 6 yrs old and has Autism. We enjoy good food and feel like we should not deprive our family of outings even if my son is a bit different or need some special accommodations.. We have felt welcomed and have enjoyed great dinner at many restaurants. There were only one table with 4 or so guests in the entire restaurant. We asked to be as far from people as possible. The restaurant is very small but has two rooms. We were put by the front door. Our waiter was very nice and friendly. He seemed to be knowledgeable on gluten free and the menu, which is always a plus! We ordered drinks but they did not have little kids cups with lead and straw. The waiter explained us the menu and told us it was the best place in flagstaff to trust whatever we would order. I ordered a well done steak with potatoes and broccolini. My steak was hard, dry and super chewy. My potatoes were dry and my broccolini tasted burned. My kids meals were good, nothing to rave about. My husband ordered a slow cooked beef dish that he said it was ok, again nothing to rave about. He did love the bread that came with. I think OVERPRICED describes this place well. My dish was $28 and once I told the waiter the steak was hard, dry, etc. He brought me the steak from my kids which cost $7. So instead I got a cheaper steak but still paid for the dry, hard NOT tasty dish. Our bill was about $75 for two adults and 2 kids, no drinks or desert. The owner or manager was very close to us within a couple steps away but NEVER came to greet or talk to us. Instead I felt that my family being there was a bit of a burden for him. I guess this is a family friendly place for families with older kids and no special needs. Besides the just ok service (our waiter saved a star for this place) and absolutely DO NOT think this is the best place in flagstaff based on our service and food served. I strongly suggest you take your money and business somewhere else were you will fell comfortable and appreciated. Not a nice dinning experience for us. We had an excellent experience at Pizzicletta and Josephine's, we went back several times at these two places on our short stay. Mix is also a very friendly place with fresh great food. We will NOT visit overpriced, not deserving of all the fuss Tinderbox ever again.

    (1)

  • Grant S.

    Every time we visit Flagstaff we dine at Tinderbox. Last night the Meatloaf with homemade catsup, mashers and peas was the perfect combination of comfort food for decompressing from a busy week. In a safe area on the south side of the tracks but it reminds me of Boulder Colorado in the 70'. I eventually grew up but it was great while I was wild and free.

    (4)

  • M.E. H.

    Big fan of Tbox, but had not been to their new addition, The Annex until Saturday evening. Love it! Same outstanding service & attention to detail as Tbox. At the Annex, they have created a warm, welcoming, gathering spot - great place to meet or make friends, have a drink and a light-ish dinner from the bar menu. Tbox/Annex has a knack for taking the mundane (brushetta, ketchup) and reinventing it. Not with some whacky twist, but just using high-quality, fresh ingredients and giving it a slightly new take. My husband and I wanted to take home a gallon of the ketchup. Burger was great, as were the mussels. The Annex . . . our new hangout in downtown Flag.

    (5)

  • Mark U.

    Yelped this place when traveling through Arizona. What a rare find. I'm a foodie but not a snob. I definitely did not expect to find this quality in Flagstaff - nothing against smaller towns but it's been my experience that the best that a very small metro has to offer - no matter how hip the place is - unless it's noted especially for food (IE Nappa) that the very best there can be quite good but not usually world class. Tinderbox was the best prepared new American cuisine I have had in probably a year or maybe more - better than multiple dinners in LA and NYC/Brooklyn at highly reviewed spots and really better than anywhere I have been in San Diego (where I live) for sure. They told me that they change the menu all of the time so it's most likely not important what the specific dishes were but - Meatballs with Burrata - what a great combo! So - just checked to verify at this minute and the menu is entirely different from what it was when I went. I consider that to be a good thing. I can tell you this - I live 8 hours away and I really want to bring my girlfriend back and feel the need to schedule a trip just to do that. If I could give 6 stars I would. BTW - everyone there was really nice - I sat at the bar and talked with the bartender and the waitress the whole time. The owner came and chatted with me as well. Great crew.

    (5)

  • kelly k.

    This place is fantastic! I had the romaine salad with dates, walnuts, apples, blue cheese and a cider vinaigrette. Also, the scallop dish with cauliflower fondue, mushrooms and wilted kale. The scallops were perfectly seared with a wonderful caramelization on the top. My bud had the NY strip with some sort of shepherd's pie and broccolini. He said it was incredible and he is super fussy, so I took that as a bold statement. Wonderful food. Wouldn't have changed a thing. If you are in flagstaff, eat here. You will not be disappointed. I want to go back again tonight!

    (5)

  • Bryan N.

    Went here over New Years and had an awesome time. While we waited for our table, we got drinks in the annex and spent time talking with the owners parents at the bar who were extremely friendly. Then they ended up comping 2 of our drinks due to the table not being ready right on time, which was appreciated. The meal itself was fantastic. Would definitely stop here if you're in flagstaff.

    (5)

  • Joseph H.

    How do you describe excellence? Simple Tinderbox Kitchen. We shared 2 appetizers and a main course as well as a couple cocktails. Everything was excellent. Prices were pretty good too. Two appetizers a main course and 2 cocktails $70. Amazing food has me wanting to go back to Flagstaff.

    (5)

  • Mike L.

    One of the best meals I have eaten in Arizona. A charming outdoor patio, a very cozy, big-city type dining area - the place oozes character. The obvious choice is the tasting menu, which is artfully prepared with seasonal ingredients - and each course I tried was excellent. I am seriously planning a return visit to Flagg just to dine there.

    (5)

  • Arlin B.

    What a little gem of a restaurant ~ Tinderbox Kitchen! I've been here a couple of times now and this place is by far one of the better restaurants in Flagstaff. Restaurant ~ it a quaint little place conveniently located on San Fransisco just south of the train tracks and the historic district. It is nicely decorated with interesting photos from a local photographer. The decor and simple semi modern with a good balance of light woods throughout. Service ~ very good! The servers are very attentive and eager to please. They have an exceptional knowledge of their menu and help make suggestions if asked. Food ~ very good to exceptional with a just a few blimps. We had the meatloaf and the smoked pork loin sandwiches with the black pepper frites. Both sandwiches were very good however the pork loin with it's chutney and dijonaisse was the "rock star" for me!! The frites were very tasty as well left you wanting more. I recommend either sandwich but the pork loin was exceptional. We also had their salad special, spinach with fruit, cheeses, nuts and other veggies all tossed in their house made dressing which was delish but there was a bit too much spinach. Popeye would love it ;-) We also tried their special homemade corn beef tacos with a side salad. This was a blimp for there was not enough corn beef. It was more of a blue cheese coleslaw taco with a little corn beef thrown in. This is a really nice restaurant and we plan to come back again real soon to try the jalapeño mac-n-cheese duck confit or the venison! Hope to see you there.

    (4)

  • Jason M.

    This is definitely one of the best if not the best restaurant in Flagstaff. Great atmosphere, service and the food was absolutely excellent. Wife had the Scallops and I have the NY strip. Perfectly seasoned, horseradish mash was awesome, beets perfect and brocolini perfectly cooked (littler burned flavor but thats ok) and the reduction sauce on my steak was great. Steak came out medium rare and was super flavorful. But I do have to say I think it could have been done 1-2 minutes longer as it was not as buttery as I hoped. That said I know it's a NY strip too and not a filet. Very good though. The scallops....amazing. I will probably hit that up next time or the pork. We also had the romaine salad, really good as well but I may pass on that next time and go for something else. Overall the food was a 5, service was a 5 and atmosphere was a 5. I have always loved the Annex too, damn good service and food. These places are my favorite in town. I hate to put this out there but this blows cottage place out of the water. I know Cottage place is more French Cuisine (they both share the style of course) with a twist here and there but it's very traditional for sure and I was not super impressed with everything there. This place fits my style and my palette! This is what Flagstaff Needs! This is the future of Flagstaff right here. Real culinary excellence, not wannabe stuff!

    (5)

  • Lauren Jeanne G.

    Comfort food with a twist of Yum. Gourmet ingredients added into southern fare. My favorites were the Pork Jowl appetizer and Stilton Grits. My boyfriend knows I am a foodie and thus took me here on a second date. Many more dates followed! The waiter recommended a great bottle of red. We enjoyed our meal so much we took our time and missed our movie! I recommend this place for foodies and romantic dates. The lighting really sets the mood!

    (5)

  • Stephanie H.

    My husband surprised me with a weekend getaway to the Grand Canyon, and on the way he brought me to Tinderbox Kitchen. Since we aren't up in Flagstaff often, we decided to make the most of the evening and opted for the Chef's Tasting Menu ($50 a person for four courses). Best decision ever! The servers were very friendly and started us off with their tasty bread. I ordered a White Linen (sweet and smooth) and my husband got a beer. The appetizers were served in a classic, white, three-section serving dish which offered a lovely presentation of the house-made foccacia with garnish, duck with jalapeño mac 'n' cheese (so good!), and the marinated beet salad (a must-have; earthy, delicious, and I never thought beets could be this good). I could tell that we were in for a night of culinary awesomeness. Being creepers, we peeked at the dishes of other patrons who also ordered the tasting menu. We noticed that they were receiving completely different dishes altogether. This got us excited! It was fun having absolutely no idea what we would receive. The fish/seafood course was probably our favorite. We were thrilled to each receive a seafood assortment with calamari, a large mussel, a large scallop, a couple pieces of sea bass, a couple pieces of swordfish, and potatoes in a tomato-something broth. Well seasoned, balanced, and just the right portion size for us being two courses in. I told my husband I wouldn't judge him for sipping the leftover broth out of the bowl, and so he happily did. For the meat course we were brought lamb with an olive tapenade. I'm not a fan of olives (my husband was in olive heaven) but they were fantastic! The lamb was also cooked perfectly medium rare with just the right amount of pink. Again, the portion size was spot on. Last, it was the dessert course. We were brought three delectable selections. I had a hard time choosing a favorite, but I would say the lemon creme bruleé was my frontrunner; it had a perfectly hard top that I eagerly cracked with my spoon and a great lemon flavor that wasn't overpowering. My husband's favorite was the chocolate mousse with peanut butter brittle topping. The third dessert was a sweet and delicious fritter duo with almond glaze and powdered sugar. The space has lovely contemporary decor with black walls, light wood and chrome chairs, and black and white photos from what I assume is a local artist. The ceiling brings a bit of Hollywood Regency to the space with ornate (possibly tin) tiles painted black. The only aesthetic drawbacks of the place include their POS system setup and the wood laminate flooring. The POS system is a bit haphazardly stacked together in a corner by the food pass with takeout boxes and I'm guessing extras menus and such. I'd recommend having a more elegant solution for that space as it would add a bit more elegance. The flooring is wood laminate, which is meh...I think the space would look great with a polished concrete or real wood floor, just a thought! I'd highly recommend this place for a nice date night or a good time with friends. Though there were kids there when we went, I think it's a bit more of an adult menu and aesthetic. If you're in Flagstaff or heading up there, this is the place to dine!

    (5)

  • C. A.

    One of my new favorite restaurants in Flagstaff! We ate dinner here last night and I can't wait to go back and try a few more entrees. Apex (the bar side of the restaurant) has a bar menu and we were able to see some of the items coming out from the kitchen while having some pre-dinner drinks. Not your typical greasy "bar food" (everything looked delicious!), and with a price range of $10-$14 it's extremely affordable, too!

    (5)

  • Lauren R.

    This place is bomdiculous. I am not kidding...if you've got money burning a hole in your pocket and/or you wanna take your man and/or lady out for the culinary treat of their lifetime, CHECK THIS PLACE OUT! I always get the tasting menu (because the chef knows more than you) and instead of the wine pairing (which is always amazing) I now get cocktails (because the bartender knows more than you). They've got it going on. Don't miss out on this place and if they have the ASIAN SHORT RIBS don't deprive yourself of this experience....I still have dreams of them that haunt me. They are sticky as heck and you'll look ridiculous eating them in this fine place, but I promise you as soon as your lips touch them...tunnel vision. Everything is amazing and you'll see why this place is rated so high. Go have fun, you foodie hipster!

    (5)

  • James K.

    Wow wow wow. Fresh, delicious food. Delightful flavor combinations. Duck and jalapeño Mac and cheese is amazing. Not cheap, but if this was in LA it would be twice the price. Blue cheese grits, PB & Chocolate mousse..... Would be here every week if closer! PS I see some people were upset about the no substitution rule -- I can see that being annoying -- but I wouldn't have changed a thing!

    (5)

  • Henrik C.

    Went to the restaurant for a gathering with 8 other friends. We were celebrating the end of a great conference in Flagstaff. The restaurant was recommended as "the best place to eat in Flagstaff" - quite a label to live up to. We had a variety of different dishes. As starters we had mixed salads, soup, ... the salads are big enough to feed two people. Overall very tasty. For the main dish we had a meat tray, trout, new york strip, ... All of the dishes were very tasty. They had a hard time cooking the steaks as rare. We had to send back one to get it to be rare rather than medium. For a fancy food place you would think that this should be easy to do. You walk by the grill on the way to the table with the meat and you have a rare steak, if you want to make it fancy you sear it 30-45 seconds on each side. How hard can it be? We had a variety of wines. Mainly due to the fact that whenever we ordered a good bottle - such as the Plumbjack Shiraz - they one had a single bottle. I guess they are not that used to having wine lovers visiting. Also they did not have expressos for desert only French filter coffee. Would have been great to finish off the dinner with an expresso, but otherwise a great dinner experience.

    (4)

  • Alicia B.

    Great spot, great vibe, good drinks, friendly helpful staff, but the slightly over spiced food is slightly overpriced

    (3)

  • Paul D.

    I am really surprised by the high rating this restaurant receives. I would describe myself as the target audience for this kind of restaurant. I often travel and make eating high end food a priority. I often use yelp to help me sort through choices. My friends and I had spent the past several days on the road in Northern Arizona. Maybe we looked a bit ragged, but the service was poor from the beginning. It appeared they thought we may not pay the bill. It took 15 minutes to get drinks on a Sunday night! The attitude seemed unfriendly most of the meal. Then there was the food... I have to say it seems like someone knows how to cook, but the food was just weird. Roasted pork with chiles on pasta with pesto? WTF? I ordered it thinking it would be a "pesto." NO, it was normal pesto. Fortunately I was hungry. Oh yeah, finally the bread came while I was eating the app. I got the duck. Decently cooked, but not very flavorful and no sauce. Side of cous cous with duck in it and some crane-raisins. It didn't have anything to add to the plain duck. Dessert was a mostly miss. The chocolate cake with ice cream was pretty good, but who hasn't had one of these before. The donuts were a good idea, but they were raw in the middle. The pound cake with caramel- it was given to us at no charge, maybe they felt bad for treating us like the homeless, but I wish they wouldn't have given me this. Dry as a bone. The wine list was OK, but really marked up. The atmosphere is quite nice, but didn't make up for the rest. My overall impression is these people need to get out of Flagstaff and see what is going on in restaurants elsewhere. They have the bones of something good, but I like more than bones. The next morning my innkeeper asked me where I ate. He said he would not have recommended the place because of the attitude of the chef and front end far exceeds the product. He said in that price point, he would have sent us to Brix.

    (2)

  • NK S.

    I'm proud to have this restaurant in my town - it does Flagstaff credit. But some of the reviews here are a little over the top and may set your expectations too high: Yes: the menu is inventive, the ingredients are excellent, and Chef Scott clearly puts a lot of time and thought into what he is doing here. In fact the first time I dined here I figured it was only a matter of time before he moved on to a bigger playing field. Pretty much every good thing you read here is true. but No: it isn't the best restaurant in Flagstaff, which is what ratings here would have you believe. It may become that, and soon, with the likes of the bruschetta and the grits, but right now it's early days and the Tinderbox still has a couple misses: the meatloaf for example. I'm surprised it's still offered but perhaps it's the standard bearer for the "comfort food" philosophy and therefore too hard to take out behind the woodshed. Another miss is the consistency: if you love a dish, it's a gamble that you'll be able to get it when you return. Case in point - my 'tip' about the venison: best i've ever had. two days later i can't have it. That's not 'seasonal ingredients,' it's a bummer. consistency is one requirement for my "best restaurant in flagstaff" vote and until I can be sure me and my guests will be able to have the venison and not have to settle for the meatloaf, Tinderbox is a 4-star.

    (4)

  • Cassandra A.

    Interesting place with potential; and they did have one of my favorite wines. I did like The Board we ordered, some of the meats were a little too exotic (for me.) I think a board shouldn't have more than one or two pates; and should have at least as many cheeses with an olive or two; however the wine and Board were the highlight of the evening. I ordered a salad and asked to substitute the dressing as I dislike Citrus and the waitress was nearly insolent with her quick comeback "No, no substitutions." And then a slightly more subtle, "The chef does not allows substitutions." That comment and tone immediately 'bristled my feathers' as I'm not asking for some amazing custom dish to be substituted, simply a side salad's dressing. So I said, Can you at least put the dressing on the side? She had to check. I told her if the chef said no, he needed to come to the table and tell me directly. The food took over an hour to be delivered. The tables on either side of us both were seated, ordered, and eaten before we were delivered our dinners. The waitress never did warm up, she was essentially pretentious the entire meal. The ambiance was cozy and intimate and I'm sure there are better experiences than this to be had at this restaurant. I might give the restaurant another try someday when I'm not with clients.

    (2)

  • Alex P.

    Absolutely floored. I did not expect to find food this good in Flagstaff. I had the venison and the lady had the surf and turf. Impressive wine list and menu. The menu changes daily but they keep a lot of the items on there every day (bleu cheese grits). Waitress was super nice and attentive. We went on a Friday night and didn't have to wait for a table. I can imagine the wait would be longer if the weather was nicer. They put pencils on the tables. We went to town with the pencils ha. Playing tic-tac-toe and other childhood games.

    (5)

  • Elise C.

    Came here for Father's Day and it was a real treat! They had a wonderful selection on the menu that was mixed with comfort food, local favorites (venison), and fusion inspired pairings. I had the watermelon gazpacho with duck and pepper jack macaroni and cheese. Other members of my party had the steak, venison, and entree salad, all were pleased with their meals. Service was wonderful, wine was perfect, and servings were a good portion. I am very excited to go back and would recommend it for a special occasion or anniversary for anyone who enjoys good food!

    (4)

  • Tomas G.

    The food was amazing. We got turned away at another place so we tried this place. It made our evening amazing. Great food. Great drinks. Great service. I had the steak and it was one of the best steaks I have had. If your looking for a great place to eat go here. We only came up from Phoenix for the weekend but will be back on out next trip.

    (5)

  • Rebecca N.

    A little jewel in this lovely mountain town. I made a reservation for eight (see photo posted on 12/17/11) to celebrate my son's recent NAU graduation. Staff was friendly and accomodating for this large party. I found out about it because Brix wasn't able to accomodate us so I asked where their staff likes to eat, I was told "when we don't eat here, we're at the Tinderbox". We started with the calamari, generous portions, cooked to perfection and accompanied by a delicious aioli. All eight of us loved our meals: grilled sirloin steak; seared scallops; sage cured venison; surt and turf (steak & swordfish); and, duck breast (there were a few duplicates). The flavors were layered and delicious and presentation was lovely. Our server was excellent -- so nice to have great customer service -- for this large party. Dessert was yum! I shared the chocolate-peanut butter mousse with my friend, we were loathe to share until we bartered for bites of the individual size rich chocolate cake with ice cream. Both fab, but the mousse wins! I am an admitted peanut butter lover. The french press coffee complemented the desserts and was a perfect end to our meal. Would I go back? Absolutely.

    (5)

  • Arthur S.

    from appetizer to dessert this may have been one of the best meals I have ever had. I will definitely be returning here in the future. I don't know didn't give this five stars, but their mouth must be broken. Excelent meal!

    (5)

  • Caitlin B.

    Holy crap. This meal was on par with some of the best I've had. Like, it ranks on my fingers as one of the best meals I've ever had. First, I got a delicious glass of smooth, sweet, pinot noir. We got Roasted Mushroom & Ricotta Dumplings, Mushroom Broth and Truffle Oil as an appetizer. At $12 I thought it was a little pricey, but really good nonetheless. Probably worth more like $9-10, but I would eat them again. I got the Shrimp & Grits, with barbecued shrimp, blue cheese grits, and pickled radishes and sweet peppers (and some other incredible ingredients). I seriously could not stop talking about how good my dish was throughout dinner, which is not normal. My boyfriend got the Hand-Rolled Egg Noodles, Roasted Mushrooms, Crema, and Paprika dish. The egg noodles were very wide, and full of delicious gravy and flavor. Not quite as good as mine, but still very delicious. I am absolutely returning! I can't wait to try more! I almost had them pack up a second order of the Shrimp & Grits... and am now almost regretting my decision not to!

    (5)

  • Jenn P.

    After having dinner elsewhere we had to try Tinderbox if only for dessert! I loved the ambiance - and is it me or is just the entire city full of ridiculously friendly people! Service was great - friendly -. We had a cap and homemade donut holes. It's not dunkin' donuts, so my husband wasn't a fan - he likes the soft mushy donuts.... but I really did like it. Yum. I'd go back. Oh, I also overheard a couple next to us order the Jalapeno Mac and Cheese! WHAT! If I head back - that's what i'm ordering next!

    (4)

  • Chris C.

    Tinderbox had that lovely quality of getting every single thing just right. We made a reservation for 8 just as they opened at 5pm on the same Saturday and they accommodated us with no problems at all. The service was friendly and spot on. But the real star here, as with any restaurant of merit, was the food. There was some great originality and inspiration throughout the menu. I had the "shake n bake" duck leg with duck pastrami mac and cheese, for instance. It was, in a word, epic. Three of our party had the amazing steak served with a twice baked bleu cheese potato and broccolini, all cooked perfectly, with a fantastic house "steak sauce" that didn't disappoint. Dinner was rounded out with the scallops and the juniper venison, both to rave reviews. I also had the amazing pepper frites, served with guajillo ketchup. They were delightful, and a fun compliment to my (admittedly already starchy) mac & cheese & duck meal. The desserts were too hard to choose from, so we had nearly all of them, including the melted-chocolate-cake bit, the apples, the banana pudding, and a few more that escape me right now, one of which included homemade marshmallows. We passed them around, and everyone had their fill. Our total bill per person came to around $45-$50 with tip but no booze (and a bit higher for those in our party with wine/beer) and it was completely worth it. A fun meal, great service, fantastic flavors, and a nice atmosphere to boot. Definitely will try this place again!

    (5)

  • Mike W.

    Coolest place in town for the 26-55 crowd that loves nice things and great food.

    (5)

  • Sean G.

    Food was excellent, but service was so so. Especially for a place that doesn't have a lot of tables. Waited and had to ask for water during the entire meal.

    (4)

  • R B.

    DO NOT PERSEVERATE about other restaurants - go to The Tinderbox Kitchen. If you are a couple, GO EARLY because they don't take for less than six. We were left the first time due to a one hour wait. The following week was a wait that was worth it. I was disinclined as I hold a grudge, but my better reasoned wife prevailed. The meal was A+. Service was excellent, presentation was impeccable, cuisine was unique - executed to perfection - ambiance helped. I had Bleu Cheese Grits (a bit pedestrian) Tenderloin Carpaccio (TDF) Venison (worthy of a second death). My ravishing date had Hanger Steak (Perfecto!) Gin and Vodka Martini libation with a delicate lemon creme brulee' sonata. If your having trouble with any of this - JUST GO!!

    (5)

  • Tim W.

    I feel kind of like I'm cheating here because I've yet to eat at the Tinderbox but LOVE the Tinderbox Annex. The shandys are the best and their happy hour specials are pretty good. If you go here, try some of the exotic drinks on the small chalk board or some of the food on the bigger chalk board. This place has a nice ambiance, probably my favorite in town. Bartenders are also nice and friendly.

    (5)

  • Chen C.

    The only thing I love is they change the menu all the time.

    (4)

  • Matthew C.

    I really liked this place. They are creating high end comfort food, are focused on that and are doing a great job. The service is professional and friendly but not overbearing. Appetizers Crab and grapefruit tart with shaved fennel and spiced pear dressing - very good - dressing was a bit subtle. pork belly confit with blue cheese grits and frisee - very good, especially the grits duck confit on toast with potato/garlic puree and cherry marmelade - also excellent but some thought the garlic was a bit pronounced ploughman's lunch with pheasant pate, cheddar cheese and pickles - pate was superb Mains Duck confit with jalapeno mac n cheese and truffle oil - very tasty - the kids loved this Maple Pork chop with potato hash - very good kurabota pork Pot Roast with goat cheese polenta - didn't love this but I am pretty picky about braised meats given my Eastern European roots - the carrots could have been sweeter - if they can get 1-2 old carrots, they will be better Dessert shortbread chocolate chip cookie with amaretto milk - excellent caramel custard with chocolate bacon chip and shortbread cookie - awesome rum raisin rice pudding - rice was a tad undercooked for our tastes chocolate cake - very, very good

    (5)

  • Patrick H.

    This is my new favorite restaurant in Flagstaff. Friendly, casual service and great comfort food with a contemporary spin. I had the blistered green bean appetizer to start. It's coated with a miso-blue cheese dressing and small fried wonton chips for crunch. I ate the green beans with my fingers and enjoyed every bite. The green beans were cooked perfectly - crisp but not raw. The Tbox mixed grill was outstanding. Lotsa meat here. A pork and shrimp sausage, sirloin steak and smoked pork loin served over blue cheese grits. This dish was fantastic and the sausage and the grits really stood out as the stars of this entree. Olivia the bartender makes a great Old Fashioned. Check out the Annex lounge next door for a relaxing place to have a drink.

    (4)

  • Grace K.

    The food was good. The presentation wasn't that great. Perhaps the chef got mad because I asked for substitutions. I'm from the city so I might be a little spoiled with service and quality of the food. The service was awful. Our waitress was not attentive. We had to practically flag her down each time and it wasn't because the restaurant was busy. There were 3 other tables total in the whole place. The fact that they do not offer substitutions is ridiculous. What restaurant does not do substitutions?!!! Perhaps they can offer exceptions when paying customers want substitutions due to allergies or religion or at least try to be more accommodating. I'm sorry everything on the menu had pork in it. I can not eat pork. I'll probably never go here again unfortunately.

    (2)

  • Tim H.

    Okay, all the reviews on this one are dead on. We were on our last night on our Flagstaff trip and after going to Brix (see my review for that) we decided to go somewhere on San Francisco. I was leaning toward Beaver St. Brewery as I could count on decent food there. Decided to check Yelp and Tinderbox came up with high reviews...how could we not try it! It's a convenient location across from Mad-I (Mad Itialian for those non locals) and nestled in between another bar hangout and souvenir t-shirt shop. The ambiance is great and clean. We were welcomed warmly and kindly and without reservations (it was a Tuesday night though) we were seated immediately. Appetizer: You MUST get the BBQ Pork Belly. Perfectly done, and on a bed of blue cheese grits and what I think was truffle oil. Don't be alarmed by the blue cheese grist...they are not overpowering and very, very good (I wanted a side of them all my own!). The pork belly was the best I've ever had and cooked to perfection. We wanted to lick the plate clean...seriously. Meal 1: I opted for the ancho rubbed meatloaf and was not disapoointed. It's on a traditional mashed potato serving. The meatloaf was perfect and had a good kick to it. I have no complaints. Honestly after the appetizer I wish I would have got more blue cheese grits as I think it would have been a better accompaniment to the meatloaf than the potato mash. Meal 2: Wife had the pot roast dish. It's not what you think (or ours wasn't) as it was mixed with noodles, etc. It was, however, fantastic and some of the best slow cooked meat I've had in a long time. Both meals were perfectly done and adequate portions. We read so much about the doughnut dessert that we tried that. It didn't live up to the hype in my opinion. It was good, but after reading so much about it, I was expecting to cry as I ate it. I did eat it all and was tasty, but no tears of joy :-). The menu does seem to change (it differed for us than what was online). So make sure you don't only base what is online. My recommendations: -you'd be a fool if you passed up Tinderbox -you'd be a fool if you didn't get the pork belly appetizer -you'd be a fool if you didn't order a side of blue cheese grits. If you are in Flagstaff for dinner...GO TO TINDERBOX! I fear how long it can last being in a college town, and being in the 'bar' district there -- I don't recall spending that much on dinner when I was on a college budget :-) -- that said, I hope they survive as they really do have something going there!

    (5)

  • Lou P.

    We had a business lunch here last week with a large party. Not only was the food awesome, our server acted like a party of 10 was the best thing that ever happened to her. My steak sandwich was perfect in every way. During this trip, we ate in a few good restaurants in Flag, this would be my first choice for a return visit. One last thing: do the donut holes. Just shut up and order them.

    (4)

  • Anne K.

    Tinderbox calls their menu "comfort food redefined," and this seems about right. Everything is delicious and well-thought out, but also a bit heavy and lacking in veggies. I ate a beautiful vegetarian meal here: an amazing starter salad with a side of perfectly fired broccolini. There were zero vegetarian entrees, but the soup was delicious and vegetarian. So clearly creative vegetarians will enjoy this place, but vegans sadly will find nothing on the menu that isn't the butter and cheese version of comfort-fooded-up. Waitstaff are attentive and knowledgable.

    (4)

  • Emily G.

    One of the best restaurants I have been to in ARIZONA! Wine- great wine list with food pairings. We were pleasantly surprised to see a Finger Lakes Riesling on the list. Usually can't find those west of Buffalo NY. Apps- The pork belly was amazing. My mouth is watering thinking about it. Perfectly crisp on the outside, tender and moist on the inside. The blue cheese grits were perfect- not too cheesy. Dinner- Meatloaf. Amazing. Dessert- homemade donuts with a caramel dipping sauce. The texture of the donuts was unique- crispy on the outside and rick and dense in the middle. The donuts come out hot and the carmel sauce cools them down enough to eat. Also the fresh, individual french press coffee was the icing on the cake. Planning my next trip just to eat here.

    (5)

  • Kevin H.

    Cool spot with a great vibe. Again, our friendly tender at Beaver Street suggested this spot which has not been open very long. Lots of pork on the menu, and the chef obviously loves blue cheese as it sneaks into many dishes. Being a lover of the cheese, not a concern. They do not take reservations for smaller parties so we walked in on a Saturday night snagged one of the last tables in the bar area. Couple of beers on tap this evening, Oak creek amber ale and Four Peaks Sunbru. Ordered some beers and studied the short menu. It appears they change it monthly. Enjoyed the arugula fennel salad which was tossed with just the right amount of dressing. Also quite tasty was the pork belly confit with bbq sauce over blue cheese grits. Tender, chock full of porky goodness. For entrees we sampled the grilled Berkshire pork chop, served over creamed corn, outstanding. I could have licked the bowl to get the last of the perfectly seasoned fresh creamed corn. Also sampled the meatloaf which was charred nicely, served over Yukon garlic mashers with green beans, really nice. Still seems like some growing pains might be in play here as our order was incorrect at first. Server made immediate amends and offered dessert on the house but alas we had no room and politely declined, so he bought us our beers, a nice gesture. I would return here for sure, but would prefer to see a menu based on the local ingredients change weekly opposed to monthly. All in all a very pleasant place.

    (4)

  • Chris L.

    This is by far our favorite place to eat in Flagstaff. We had another stellar meal tonight at the Tinderbox Kitchen. I don't know if they're really glad inside when they see us coming with the kids in tow but if not, they hid it well. We had an outstanding server and the food was killer from start to finish. We led with a wonderful charcuterie platter which had a great sampling of meats such as duck sausage, the farmer's terrine, house cured pastrami and duck ham. We were fans of all of them as well as the cheese, horseradish mustard, chutney, pickled vegetables and grilled bread. We also had the BBQ pork belly confit, creamy blue cheese grits and mustardy nectarine salad. That was also a big hit with the whole family with the 10 month old particularly liking the blue cheese grits. Then we rounded out the starters with a lovely beet salad with frisee, arugula, pepitas, miso-blue cheese dressing and bacon brittle. Another great dish. We had this dressing with some green beans on our last visit and I think it had been the universal highlight so we had to go back. It worked just as well here. For entrees, we had lamb sausage links with manchego bread salad and cucumber-yogurt dressing. I absolutely loved this dish. The sausages were wonderful with the lamb notes and they paired beautifully with the salad. Inspired work here. We also had steamed Prince Edward Island mussels with house pancetta, garlic, chiles and grilled bruschetta. This was wonderful as well and we did indeed ask for a spoon at the end so as not to waste the broth. I think our biggest surprise though came at the end. We ordered 3 dessert courses. Sorbet for our dairy allergic 7 year old, duo of chocolate and peanut butter mousse and some kind of molten chocolate cake or something. Now I'm sure everybody has had 1001 terrible versions of the molten chocolate cake (and theirs wasn't called this) and it's completely passe. Well this was amazing. Totally unexpected and one of the finest desserts we have had in a long while. Simple but beautifully executed and just yummy. We were also blown away by the Earl Gray/lemon sorbet. The Earl Gray punch to the sorbet was awesome. So another meal at TBOX and another excellent experience.

    (5)

  • Lynda K.

    Absolutely amazing. We did the tasting with wine pairing and were not at all disappointed. One of the top 3 meals ever!!! Highly recommend and very friendly service. Will definitely recommend to anyone coming to Flag!

    (5)

  • Jennifer O.

    I went to Tinderbox with the BF last weekend when we were in Flagstaff for our anniversary. This place really rocked my socks.... the restaurant itself is very cutely decorated. We arrived at about 5:45 and didn't have to wait to be seated. Once we were seated, I noticed they have the heater on and it blows under the tables....genius! My feet were nice and warm. Their menu changes daily, but we shared the butternut squash soup which was rich and creamy with a little bit of crunch from some seasoned croutons....so good. I ordered the lamb with goat cheese mashed potatoes and figs...it was some of the most delicious lamb, perfectly cooked. The mashed potatoes and the goat cheese went perfectly with the lamb and the fig added just enough sweetness. The BF got the venison with the sweet potato hash. I had never had venison, but if this is any indication of what it usually tastes like, I like it. It was sweet and tender. The mashed potato hash was delicious and, again, complemented the meat perfectly. Clearly the chefs here know what they're doing. As we were eating dinner, I realized that they were playing a Paul Simon record all the way through. That made me extremely happy (both because I love Paul Simon and because I think it is cool for a restaurant to just play a record straight through). We finished with the carrot cake as recommended by our fabulous waitress. It was very different , but delicious. The cake was surrounded by a carrot sauce and was topped with a light whipped cream frosting (not the usual cream cheese) and coconut. At first, I was leery about this, but as we ate the cake it got better and better. So why not 5 stars? I need to go again before I can determine that...but that shouldn't be a problem as I want to go back...often.

    (4)

  • Kirstan P.

    This place was amazing!!

    (4)

  • Cameron C.

    When my husband and I have a special occasion, Tinderbox Kitchen is ALWAYS the top of the list. Southern soul food with a twist-- and try the white linen cocktail.

    (5)

  • kara y.

    Ok, its been three years! Hmm, new owner (?) as comfort food has now evolved into upscale dishes, and cost. Guess our server was too polite to suggest the Annex. However, please pour a $11 glass of wine and take a few minutes to pour rank water out of potted plants. Intrigued to return but the shock was ours as this was the same restaurant that originally poured the Black Box red wine!

    (3)

  • Anice S.

    must be the best restaurant in Flagstaff. every bite generates a "yum". Amazing combos of food and everything is delicious. pork belly appetizer is delicious. who would think grits in various combos could be so good. the scallops were cooked perfectly. the venison melted in your mouth. the lemon dessert was light and refreshing. if you are in Flag looking for a nice place to eat, this is the place to go. and look up at the ceiling, it is beautiful.

    (5)

  • Michael O.

    I was driving though Flagstaff, and looked on yelp, lo and behold, I found this great little place called the tinderbox. We went in about 5 minutes before closing, but they were still very accommodating. The food was great, I was with three people, and we all demolished our plates. I would definitely recommend this place.

    (5)

  • Alaskafiregirl F.

    TInderbox Kitchen is like the Furby of Flagstaff dining experiences--in the heat of the moment you may be caught up by boisterous noise of positive reviews on Yelp and run out to try the newest latest thing. But when you've finally experienced what you are after, you're left with an empty wallet and a mystified "huh?" on your face. Remember those maniacal litttle Furby things? Rounded eyes and a face that constantly screams "yoooyoooyooo?" The restaurant itself is decorated in sharp colors and snappy lines, but the decor can't make up where the dishes fall flat. I've tried to enjoy TInderbox, really. You want to support local businesses, so you make excuses for an "off" night or whatever, but after multiple visits it dawned on me that maybe *every* night is an "off" night recently. The food is ho-hum regular fusion fare that you could find anywhere in the Scottsdale Waterfront district (no surprise it's also priced like Scottsdale but without the flavor or ambiance). However, like several other yelpers have mentioned, the service SUCKS. Went there a few weeks ago to grab a bite and study for an exam. There were probably five people in there total, yet it took 20 minutes (well, ok, maybe not that long... but long enough for an entire cheesy rendition of "Maggie May" to filter through my head) for the waitress to acknowledge me. She then spent another few minutes grumbling how one person was taking a four-top with textbooks (again, there were less than five people in the restaurant) and how "they are going to have to start limiting what those students bring in." You're less than a half-mile from campus yet you don't want students to come in? C'mon guys... really? The Tinderbox website says they are owned by NAU grads, so I'm really trying to give them the benefit of the doubt. Um, maybe she was just kidding? Perhaps undercaffeinated? It's not like NAU students can really afford to eat here anyway, so I guess it's a moot point. As for the food itself? Well, meh. The polenta was overcooked, the salmon was undercooked and the spaetzle would've left me crying in my beer if they carried a decent selection. Fennel and orange bruschetta may sound original and bold on paper, but it tasted like what I imagine all the skud at the bottom of Agassiz resembles if you bite it up at Snowbowl. Anyone who has bitten it enough times on the mountain would recognize that gritty taste anywhere. Hmm, maybe that's what they mean by "local fusion"...? My bad. Until they give their waitstaff a few lessons in manners, bring down their prices to somewhere under the national debt and start welcoming students and locals, you'd be better off roasting a Furby with a little peanut sauce and hang on to your money. Might even taste better come to think of it. Follow your taste buds, not the hype. P.S. In response to Kevin and Scott: "Fictional" writing isn't my major (or even proper grammar), but interesting to note you have the same attitude on Yelp that your waitstaff has towards customers. I guess you are consistent with at least some things! Now let's see some improvement with others.

    (2)

  • Christin C.

    Had a very nice dinner here on a recent trip to the Grand Canyon. We did the chef's tasting menu and it was fabulous! I wish I could remember all the dishes that were served but I will say they were all delish! Stand out was a meat dish served over blue cheese grits. My mouth waters just thinking about it! :) Great vibe inside the place and the bartender makes a strong drink! Check it out!!

    (4)

  • Chance H.

    Whenever possible I stick to the 4-5 star rating range when selecting a new restaurant to eat at. This place takes yelp ratings to a 6 like a spinal tap amp goes to 11. This is one of the best meals I have ever had! The cocktails are amazing! Let me give you a basic play by play. Me and my lovely gf got the chef sampler plus the ribs so we got a taste of everything. watermelon edamame salad. Watermelons and edamame...WTF...just eat it, its amazing. Sugar cured venison cherry chunety?!?.....holy shit I could eat this all day. Asian pork spare ribs? F.....ing amazing? you got that right!! No seriously these are the best ribs I've ever had, and I'm not just blowing smoke out of my ass. Man I'm getting full, must press on. Butter fish with pesto on truffle oil potato mashers.....yeah its as good as it sounds. The fish is my least favorite dish, but thats kinda of like Hugh Heffner talking about his least favorite girlfriend, it still pretty damn amazing. I'm not sure I can take another dish. Duck breast on duck leg confit with baby peas........ at this point I was so full it was insane, but this is so good I damn near licked the plate clean. I LOVE DUCK!......but wait.....theres more. Lemon custard Creme brule, black berries in foamed cream stuff, sugar cinnamon friters in chocolate sauce. Blackberries blew away any previous blackberry experiences. Everything else was pretty much on par with the rest of the meal...deliciously scrumptious. Oh yeah...the chef seems a bit hot tempered so don't do anything stupid, like change and order. If you don't want to eat the food the way this guy makes it, go to the local chain, I'm sure they will be happy to ruin your food for you. Seriously do you think you know how to cook better than this guy. The answer is no you don't. Do not miss this place.

    (5)

  • Dean D.

    Let me make this easy for you. If you don't go here, you may be missing something on your bucket list. The food is amazing. The service is great. The ambiance is quiet, cozy, and not pretentious. Great for dates or food snobbery or both. Not so good for large parties or the poor student. But if you can make the effort, I would highly suggest it, nay I demand it. If you live in Flagstaff for any length of time, you must go here. It's just a fact of life, like death and taxes. So if you live in Flagstaff, life goes like this...death, taxes, Tinderbox...its inescapable and so much more preferable than death or taxes.

    (5)

  • Cosmo D.

    I must have hit tinderbox at just the wrong moment. Went for valentines day dinner with my significant other. Waitstaff was rude, cook was unable to cook either of our steaks correctly even after sending them back TWICE. Left unsatisfied and with a bill for a meal we didn't eat. Every other rewiew is so positive, and flagstaff is foodie-hell for good meals I think I'm willing to give it a second chance.

    (1)

  • Erin B.

    This place was awesome! After the disappointing day at the very weird Flagstaff Hullabaloo, the BF and I decided to treat ourselves to a really nice dinner. We checked the internet and found this place. When I called to make a reservation, the guy said they didn't do reservations for couples but we shouldn't have a problem if we got there around 6:30 because that's when it started to get busy...super helpful! After arriving, we were greeted by the hostess and immediately seated. Water was there in a flash as was yummy bread to munch on quickly followed by menus. The waitress was pleasant, no nonsense and friendly. She knew the menu and complimented us on our selections. Attentive but not obtrusive during the meal, we never wanted for water, she was smart about the bill and, on the whole, was quite professional and sweet. Here's what we ordered: Chorizo & Venison Nachos appetizer--phenomenal! I got the "Surf & Turf"--Miso Swordfish w/ Kimchee and NY Strip steak with Sriracha Mashers...AAAAA-MAAAAAZ-IIIIIING! The BF got Jalapeno Mac N' Cheese w/ Duck Confit and Truffle oil...again, AAAAA-MAAAAAZ-IIIIING! We each ate with gusto and didn't even care about the three dollar sign warning we saw on the internet. Highly recommended by me (and the BF) for anyone looking to try something new and fun.

    (4)

  • Noosh R.

    Tinderbox was recommended to my husband and I by our friends so we thought we would try it out. The hostess was pleasant and was able to seat us quickly on the outdoor patio. Our server came over right away to greet us and to inform us about the specials for the night. The menu is hand created everyday with interesting dishes and specials. We started off with an appetizer: the artichoke crab dip, which was amazing! To top it off there was a hint of Truffle oil baked on top. We shared the main course which was venison with blue cheese grits ( I hate blue cheese, but actually could not taste it all). The dish was finished off with sweet cherries and fresh blackberries. A very weird, but delicious combination. The dessert was the best: A half baked chocolate cake with Coffee ice cream. Hands down the most delicious and decedent dessert.

    (5)

  • Cathy D.

    This is a fabulous find in Flagstaff. We pulled in last night at 8:30 pm after a harrowing ride up icy I-17. The staff was welcoming and warm. I had THE BEST Manhattan. Made with real rye, sweet and dry vermouth, orange bitters. My husband had delicious mushroom soup while I had the flash fried Brussel sprouts. My husband had scallops and I had venison. The beets were so well pared with the venison. For desert I had baked apple while my husband had the zablione usually drizzled on top of it. This restaurant is a gem in Flagstaff. Worth the stop if you are driving through.

    (5)

  • Brad G.

    Over the last year, I've stayed overnight in downtown Flagstaff about a dozen times, and this is my favorite middle-to-high-end restaurant, easily. Cottage Place is more gourmet, but it's a whole other level of special/expensive, and really a different kind of food. Tinderbox is a place I could see myself going to once a month, as opposed to once a year. The genre here is "gourmet comfort/soul food." For example, you'll find grits on the menu, but the cheese is Gorgonzola instead of Velveeta. That's the general theme. And it works, I have to say, incredibly well. I'd suggest specific dishes, but they rotate often. The meatloaf has been my favorite. I haven't gone wrong with a soup there yet, either. I think the chef here knows exactly what (s)he is doing, and has never let me down. It gets busy surprisingly fast, and seating is limited, so call ahead.

    (5)

  • Carol K.

    Followed fellow Yelpers advice and was delighted with this gem. Halibut cheek tacos and steak and Bleu sandwich was great. Even the side salad was crisp and special. Will definitely return for dinner someday.

    (5)

  • Susan S.

    My BF and I finally went to the Tinderbox Kitchen after hearing so many great things about it. We might be a little spoiled in the cuisine department being from Boston becasue we didn't feel Tinderbox Kitchen was anything special. I had the pork chop dish which was okay and he had the mussels which were also okay. Many of the mussels still had dirt and rocks in them. They needed to be washed a little better for an upscale restaurant. My plate came with a hair on it. OOPS. Overall we left feeling we wouldn't be back for a while, becasue we were not that impressed and cannot rationalize paying $28.00 for a pork chop. LOL

    (3)

  • Chris T.

    Terrible. Ok, maybe good for a lunch. But dinner at $20-25 dollars a plate? Well, if the food was good I would. I feel this place is over-rated. I just haven't been impressed with the menu (dinner menu). Lunch is ok, sandwiches are descent. Frankly, though, I'd rather spend $15 elsewhere.

    (2)

  • Deb P.

    We had dinner at the Tinderbox with friends and we're coming from Portland and the Bay area so maybe our food senses are a bit spoiled... The Tinderbox was ok. The portions are enormous so if you are looking for something small, just do appetizers. We thought the prices were convoluted for this restaurant. Perhaps they are used the tourists who don't know they can get good food for much less? Maybe it is the best in town as others say... I had the buffalo meatloaf, cheddar mashed potatoes (I didn't eat them) and the grilled broccolini. The broccolini was good and the meatloaf was good but I didn't think it was worth the price per plate. I'd recommend this place if you were going out of your way to impress people just by the prices alone. The service was good and what can I say? We've had much better for a lot less.

    (3)

  • Michelle L.

    This weekend was my second visit to Tinderbox Kitchen. I had to drop my rating, although I was hoping to have a better visit than the first. My husband took me here to celebrate my birthday, and I was really looking forward to their version of "surf and turf". The description for their dish mentioned that it was a peppered steak. I asked if I could get the steak without the pepper and was told that all the cuts for this dish were already peppered ahead of time and since they decline any substitutions, I would have to order a different dish. For the culinary level and price point, I was pretty shocked that I couldn't order a steak that hadn't been peppered. I was disappointed, but ordered the scallops and hush puppies with brussel sprouts dish hoping it had improved since my first visit. I also ordered the marinated beets. Both were excellent, but I still think 3 scallops for $25 is an overpriced as an entree. My husband ordered the meatloaf and mashed pots., and it was great as well. The service was good, but the rigidness of the menu is off-putting. When you are paying $100 for dinner in Flagstaff, you would assume some special requests would be accommodated. The decor is fun and casual, so we may go back for lunch sometime, but the dinner menu is overpriced, so I don't think we will be returning for dinner.

    (3)

  • janet b.

    We'd give this place 10 stars if it were possible. And indeed....Yelpsters guided us to the motherlode of restaurants! We'd been driving east from lalaland and yelped restaurants flagstaff. Up popped Tinderbox- the gift from the culinary gods. We parked many blocks away and are ever so thankful because we consumed enough to warrant a good walk - both directions. We had been driving for hours - it was eight-ish when we arrived and we had some hours to go before our next stop so we thought "Let's just order a couple of appetizers rather than full meals...you know to be able to drive for awhile afterwards without going into food coma." We were served by a personable waiter who deftly agreed with our selections of asparagus with star anise aioli, smoked sturgeon with devilicious eggs, and the utterly devine charcuterie board that could and did make us cry "wowser" as we packed away each morsel - we loved the smoked duck breast. Full? Hell yes and still luscious chocolate molten cake with the creamiest vanilla frozen custard dessert we ate with gusto. Our waiter handed us the check - we paid then waddled back to our car and headed east on the 40 happily sated, our bellies ever so slightly larger than we had intended and looked at each other stating simultaneously - "We'll be back on our next pass through Flagstaff."

    (5)

  • Kenny A.

    This really is one of the best evening experiences in Flagstaff which seems to cater 50/50 to the college crowd, from a bar and dining perspective. The Tinderbox stands out with it's mindful menu of contrasting tastes that work well together and an understated atmosphere. There's really not any parking to speak of but then again, it is on San Fran in Flagstaff, so I really can't complain. The menu changes which is nice and the food is upbeat. By that I mean you won't just find any lame old standards. There seems to be continental influence on most things with a heavy American hand on the dishes. That's NOT to say the dishes are heavy, by any stretch of the imagination, they're pleasing for an American diner, that's all. I'll go back on a weekly basis whenever I'm in Flagstaff.

    (5)

  • Bethie G.

    The Tinderbox has expanded! Now open is the Annex, which is a great place to have a drink after work. They have a large drink menu and wine list and do a wonderful job of stocking regional varietals. They do have a menu, it is different than the restaurant which is actually kind of disappointing yet I understand. They have some fun specials. Tuesday is wine and chocolate pairing tastes for $12; three wines and three chocolates (from Brookside). YUM! And, on Thursdays they offer bruscetta and a bottle for $20. Sweet. Here are my beefs, specifically with wine and chocolate night. Pours are disappointingly light. I do understand that it is a tasting, but really, the pours are too skimpy even for a tasting. Second, ditch the Brookside chocolate girl who comes in hole-y, torn jeans, who hasn't seen a hairbrush in a while and says as she serves you a piece of chocolate, "and your next thingy is...". Seriously, take it back to how it was before, have one TB tender who can tell us about the wine and chocolate without Miss Clueless having to get up from her bar stool to say, "your next thingy".

    (4)

  • Vikki B.

    Wow, the food here was outstanding!! I was looking for a more adventurous meal(other than the standard filet mignon and garlic mashed that you find at most high end restaurants) and this place did not dissapoint. We started with the chorizo venison nachos, they came layered in a bowl so each chip was covered in meaty cheesey deliciousness. My husband had the juniper marinated venison with blue cheese grits and arugula with balsamic blackberries which was amazing. I have never had venison this tender, no gamey flavor here. I've never tasted anything like it. I ordered the jalepeno mac and cheese with duck confit and truffle oil. It was so fabulous that I almost needed a tissue for my tears of joy. They also have a great wait staff, extensive wine list, and great bottled craft beers. I thought the food was really reasonably priced, both entrees were less than $30 (I think my mac and cheese was only $24). Their menu changes weekly and they use only local fresh ingredients. If I lived in Flagstaff I would be eating here regularly.

    (5)

  • tina p.

    We found this little gem on Yelp and we are so happy that we did. We were sat on the lovely back patio and promptly ordered a glass of wine. For lunch I had the mac and cheese special for 10$. My DH had the yummy bean soup $5 and the BBQ baloney sandwich $10. May seem a bit pricy for lunch in Flagstaff but so worth it. Our delightful server explained that virtually everything is made in house - even the ketchup! Service was attentive and friendly never a bother. Menu changes everyday but something tells me that just about everything is terrific.

    (5)

  • Bert S.

    This is a no-brainer- great food, great service, cozy atmosphere and reasonably priced. Love it--I go back whenever I am in town.

    (4)

  • B S.

    I've lived in Flagstaff for many many years and this is the best meal I've ever had in this town. Yes, we have some nice restaurants at different price points, but Tinderbox wins overall on taste alone. It is inventive, casual, colorful and delicious. In order, here are the restaurants to get great food in Flagstaff according to this local who has tried them all many many times. 1. Tinderbox 2. Cottage Place 3. Brix 4. From here is goes down substantially....

    (5)

  • Chiara H.

    I would drive from Phoenix to Flagstaff just to eat at Tinderbox Kitchen. I ate there for the second time on Saturday night, and I was just as happily blown away as I was the first time I tried Tinderbox (thanks to Yelp, btw...). The first time I went I had the pork cheeks in Dr. Pepper (no, I am not kidding) and the bleu cheese grits. The pork melted in my mouth, and the grits were incredible. However, I would state here that they do have a very strong bleu cheese flavor, so if you are only looking for a hint of the bleu cheese taste, these aren't for you. I do have another recommendation that you can TRY: ask for the grits on the side instead of under the pork. Normally, I don't mind the mix of flavors, but it was my first time there, so I wanted to sample as independently as I could. This suggestion does flirt on the edge of their "no substitutions" policy, so it really will depend on the chef's mood whether or not this request would be successful. It was for me. On that day. ;) (Note: I do find the "no substitutions" a little odd for such a food-focused place, but I don't really care, as I have yet to have the need to substitute anything at Tinderbox!) For an appetizer on that first visit, we had the duck confit "nachos," which had duck confit for the "meat" portion, I think gruyere for the cheese, some sort of sour cream, and tortilla chips, of course. In other words, a "high end" version of your basic nachos. They were AWESOME. Another Yelper mentioned that the menu does change every day, so if you happen to run across the nachos, make sure to snag them. The portion isn't very big, so it shouldn't kill your dinner. Finally, for dessert on that first visit, we had to get the doughnut holes. So light and fresh! :) The best thing we had this past weekend was the venison pate/cheese plate, which included: venison pate, chicken liver pate, asiago or parmesan cheese (very strong), pickles, and spicy mustard, all with thin crisp bread. SO AMAZING. The other appetizer that we both ordered was the butternut squash and apple bisque with candied bacon on top. (YES- CARMELIZED BACON. You are not dreaming- it's real. And it is FABULOUS.) For an entree, we chose to share the sirloin steak with bleu cheese creme fraiche and pickled beets on top. It was perfect, and it was served with black peppered fries, which was an excellent complement. We were smart to only order one entree, as the appetizers made us very full. Maybe the choice to only eat one entree helped us with the cost, because I have zero complaints about the price of the food, especially when you consider the OUTSTANDING quality. For all of the food I mentioned above, plus one soft drink and one glass of merlot, our total bill was $66.22. I should also mention here that it was our server's idea to just share the one entree, and we really appreciated her not trying to upsell us. In fact, our service was just great in general. A final note to add is that I brought my young daughter with me to Tinderbox the first time I went, and she was only 6 months old at the time. The staff seated us outside and everyone was VERY tolerant of her noise... and the stroller and diaper bag and the other 46 things you need with a baby! That being said, there isn't a lot of room on the inside, so during the colder months, I probably won't venture to this restaurant with the baby until she big enough for a booster seat. I cannot say enough about this place. Try it just once!!

    (5)

  • Lee K.

    First off.. Their reservation policy kind of sucks... I'm sorry if you have a special occasion and are willing to put a cc down to hold a table they should allow that... Second... Then the hostess tried to stuff us in a corner right by the kitchen when there was no one in the place.. I was like hell no!! We ordered the calamari as an app and it was so salty I took 2 bites n couldn't eat nor could my wife... Our waitress never asked how it was ... But it was obvious that we didnt enjoy it, based off the fact we didn't eat.. When I placed my order for NY steak it comes with a sausage vegetable medley .. I asked if I could substitute it... However on the menu it says " no substitutions ." however I don't eat pork.. When I asked the waitress she insisted that the chef would not change it.. The chef offered me their potatoes, which is what I wanted.. Our main courses were good.. Perhaps a bit too much reduction sauce or whatever it was on the steak.. But the steak itself was good.. My wife ordered the shrimp n scallops n they were cooked perfect.. And tasted as fresh as u can get in flagstaff az.. We ordered the dessert which was great.. Kind of tasted like a banana foster with a twist... In all it wasn't horrible but the service and the reservation issue and the fact they won't substitute and last but not least the fact that there is pork in just about everything makes it difficult to eat here!! This wasn't our first time here but as of now looks like we will be only visiting their bar next store the annex.. Their burger n beer is perfect!! It also didn't help that the staff had no idea it was our anniversary .. Because of their reservation rules.. And of course the hostess on the phone never asked even though I insisted it was an important night for us!!! It just wasn't as special of a night as I wanted ...

    (3)

  • Glen C.

    Stopped in here between the Grand Canyon and ABQ, and was really pleasantly surprised. Another regrettable road food-stop avoided! Design and vibe of the restaurant is great, lots of natural wood. Food was really delicious, good modern western stuff with a bit of an Italian vibe. Portions were probably a bit larger than we needed, but this is Arizona after all. Good vegetarian options which is always a plus. Waitstaff were really nice and obviously took serving really seriously, good knowledge of the menu and ingredients being used.

    (4)

  • Hilary K.

    I'm really a fan of the T-box! I love that their menu changes every day, and the ingredients, preparation, and presentation work together in a way that make each meal unique and really tasty. Plus, they always have a few things that are gluten free on their menu, so i have some options. I went last week for the second time with my boyfriend for a spontaneous date, and we were not disappointed. We started with the meat sampler appetizer and we loved every bite (it has house made pickles on it, a super win in my book!) For the entrees, I got the venison served with balsamic blackberries, blue cheese grits, and some an apple compote. It was fabulous! The ingredients worked really well together, and the portion was the perfect amount so that i cleared my plate, but wasn't left wanting more. The boyfriend got the jalapeño mac n' cheese accompanied by duck two ways. I couldn't try his mac (gluten intolerance can get in the way!) but the duck was excellent. We finished the meal with house made sorbet, which was the perfect end to our meal. my only quip with this place is the service. I hate being nit-picky, but at a place like this, the servers should have a really strong knowledge of everything on the menu. Our waitress had to ask one of her coworkers about what some of the dishes contained, and i heard different ingredients in the specials from her and from the waitress at the table next to us. Really not that big of a deal, but just something that I noticed! I'll definitely be back again, but after I get a few more paychecks... It's a bit on the pricey side!

    (4)

  • Michael C.

    This is an amazing little restaurant... feels more like Scottsdale than Flagstaff. The place just oozes class and style, the service is impeccable, and the menu is truly unique. I love finding little hidden local gems like this. She ordered the Duck Confit with Mac and Cheese, I opted for the New York Strip - both were heavenly! They do not accept reservations for less than 5 people on the weekends, so get here around 8pm (they close at 9). I will definitely return!

    (5)

  • Matt S.

    Good food. Nice atmosphere. American comfort food redefined is their motto. Very good food if you are looking for something a bit different. $20-30 a plate.

    (4)

  • Lauren E.

    Absolutely fabulous!!! We will be recommending Tinderbox to anyone who visits Flagstaff. - Great decor and atmosphere - Very good and friendly service - AMAZING food for a pretty decent price ($100 for two appetizers, two drinks, two entrees, a dessert, tax, and tip) We ordered the tomato soup and mushroom dish for appetizers, and they were to die for! I could not get enough of both dishes. Our entrees were the buffalo meatloaf and the hog jowls. Both were fabulous. . .the hog jowls were especially delicious. For dessert, we had the donuts. . .so good!!! This was a perfect way to end our Valentine's weekend in Flagstaff, and we will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Lisa G.

    I went there for lunch, the food was so-so, nothing special. When the server was rattling off the specials I told her I did no eat pork. I ordered potato salad as a side with my sandwich. The potato salad had bacon in it. She did not tell me. I was not happy, I have never been back.

    (2)

  • jessica r.

    i have not had such a tremendous dining experience since before i can remember. we had the whole nine yards-appetizer, soup, main course and dessert...we were ready when we walked in to spend some dinero for a delicious fine dining experience, and we got EVERYTHING we were looking for. the food was outstanding not to mention the friendly staff and adorable environment. we got a sweet wave from the bartender when we walked in and it was so fun that you could see into the kitchen from our table! our server angela described the specials which sounded phenomenal and brought our wine right over and let my better half taste it. the tomato blue cheese bisque tempted me to break my attempt at not eating cheese and it was so worth it, Angela brought us some yummy little bread cubes which were perfect for dipping. Our entrees tbox steak, which was admittedly perfectly cooked from a picky steak eater and my meatloaf were both succulent and filling. Even though we were out on a "date night" it was fun chatting with our server and even the manager came over to see how everything was tasting. the dessert put me over the edge- it was a triple chocolate delight of sorts. a milkshake with baileys, a brownie and the best of all...dun dun dun a crispy, chocolate crunchy bar that i wish I could buy in the store! Overall this place is worth it. period.

    (5)

  • Steve R.

    The hamburger with the bacon jelly was fantastic! So were the fries! I know this is just burger and fries, but that meal at the Tinderbox annex was better than the two meals I've had at the main Tinderbox.

    (4)

  • Hailey L.

    Wow! Had dinner at the Tinderbox Kitchen tonight and it was one of the most amazing food experiences of my life! Hands down! Me and my friend had dinner on their cute patio. We had the butter lettuce salad with the goat cheese ranch, it was great! Simple with lettuce, red onions, and croutons but the tangy dressing was to die for. We also the Pork Belly Confit with the blue cheese grits, MIND-BLOWING! If I could recommend getting one thing here, this would definitely be it! For entrees we had the chicken fried duck with the dirty mashed potatoes and the jalapeno mac and cheese with the duck. They were both soooo superb. Honesetly. two of the best dishes I have ever eaten. The chefs at Tinderbox Kitchen are truly magical geniuses! For dessert we shared the barely baked chocolate cake with vanilla malt ice cream, this was so freakin' good I almost cried, we were both literally speechless and too consumed with this dessert to even talk, and the donut holes with the tres leches dipping sauce, they were warm with cinnamon and sugar, very delicious. If you are traveling through Flagstaff, you must stop and eat here, it's that good. And if you're a Flag local and never tried this place, you seriously don't know what you're missing out on. I am officially addicted and will be back again, and again, and again. Our waitress was Sarah and she was attentive and very nice. Great service. I had read all the amazing reviews on Yelp, and also heard from a few people at work how good this place was, but it truly blew me away. You must experience it for yourself.

    (5)

  • Ann S.

    I'm a _very_ tough critic. This is the best restaurant we've been to in years! Short story: We stopped in for dessert, everything sounded so great that we had tapas and dessert. The food was so fabulous that we went back the next day to have a full dinner. It was again _fabulous_, so much so that we were going to drive from Sedona to Flagstaff a couple nights later during our roadtrip - except Tinderbox was closed on Sunday (fortunately we checked the website for its hours before we made the drive). Long story: We'd had a late lunch, so we just wanted to get dessert. We received a prompt and friendly greeting from the manager, Kevin, asked him if it were OK just to have dessert. Not a problem, our server (Brette?) promptly brought dessert menus and was as friendly as could be. (We're used to getting an attitude when we go to restaurants just for dessert, but no problem here. We recognize that the server has to work as hard, and thus, we tip as if we'd had a full meal). The tapas was wonderful - every bite! Our dessert was perfect. We were regretting having even had lunch because it kept us from trying the entrees. So, we went back the next night for dinner. Everything we were served was pure perfection. I do not say this lightly. It is rare that I'm unable to find something I'd like done differently. I had the pork porterhouse, and my husband had the meatloaf. The sides were wonderful, the perfect accompaniment to the protein. We were both extremely impressed! We ate only half our entrees (it was a huge struggle to put down our forks) because everything on the dessert menu sounded mouth-watering. It was so hard to choose, but my husband ended up with the apple cake with whiskey maple ice cream, and I had the donuts, which are made to order. I'm not a huge donut fan, but these are not ordinary donuts. The whiskey maple ice cream should be sold by the pint. My husband raved about it! He doesn't get excited about much, but he did not stop talking about the ice cream. Yes, we really were going to drive from Sedona back to Flagstaff to have another dinner at Tinderbox. We'd had two mediocre meals at what were supposedly Sedona's best restaurants. We decided we'd rather drive 40 miles to get what we knew would be a fabulous meal than have another overpriced average meal. Darnit - closed on Sunday. Make it a point to visit the Tinderbox Kitchen. If we lived in Flagstaff, we'd be at this place all the time, until we couldn't fit through the door anymore from eating way too much of its wonderful food! It is that good. We never sat in the dining room, just the bar area. It did get a tiny bit loud in the bar area, every now and then it was a little difficult to carry on a conversation .

    (5)

  • J H.

    Stayed in Flagstaff for two nights to check out Grand Canyon. Came here for dinner. Food was 1) overpriced, 2) mediocre, and 3) restaurant had bad service. I am willing to pay extra for good food and quick service, but we didn't experience either. I actually had to send back pasta (it had a weird smell and taste) to instead get a fish dish that also tasted bad. Don't recommend this place.

    (2)

  • Alyssa D.

    We went to the little annex next door, and loved the vibe. I was wary of the menu but it everything amazing. The bruschetta was the best I've ever had. Definitely worth visiting when in town!

    (5)

  • Beemeth R.

    A definite must go to if you enjoy creative, flavorful, and interesting great food! We had been told by friends that it was worth the drive from Phoenix and we would agree. The portions were healthy but if you are used to eating buckets of food or you frequent buffets, you could be disappointed. We started the meal with the Charcuterie plate and I must admit it was one of the best I have had. As an appetizer, the pork belly was hands down a favorite and in a word it was AWESOME! It was so good my wife had one as her entrèe after we had it as a shared appetizer. The beet salad was really good with the blue cheese crumbles that were very tasty. As far as the entrèes I would have to give the scallops probably the average rating but then again I would not expect Flagstaff to offer great seafood, not even at the Tinderbox. My entree was the Venison and that was excellent. It was prepared two ways, as a sausage and fillet "nuggets". I would definitely have that again. No gaminess and very nice flavors. If I had to express one dissatisfaction it would be that we wanted to sample the Jalapeno Mac n' Cheese as a side but our server Alysia told us that was not possible. We would have been happy to pay for it as a side and we did not attempt to have them as a substitution but our request was simply denied. Never had that happen at a restaurant, even at 5 Star/5Diamond establishments so I was definitely taken aback by that. Still that would not be a reason not to go but with that attitude and customer service, the restaurant could not merit 5 stars. A wonderful bonus from the meal was actually the next day. The serving of pork belly was very generous, so much so that my wife brought half of it home. I had it the next day and it was absolutely incredible. If you love pork belly, you have to have it at the Tinderbox Kitchen. Moist, flavorful and it melts in your mouth! I really wish this restaurant was a BYO so that I could have had an incredible wine with my meal. The list is not meant for wine drinkers as the two selections I had were OK. I would have paid just about any corkage fee to bring in my own wine. To the staff if you read this, I would be happy to pay $25 to $35 to bring in my own bottle of wine. Overall, thanks for a great experience!

    (4)

  • Eric P.

    We searched yelp on our way back to Sedona after visiting the Grand Canyon and stumbled onto this place. FANTASTIC!!!- We called and the y kept the kitchen open for us as we were arriving at closing time- great food, wine and beer- cozy place and warm service.

    (5)

  • Frank O.

    I enjoyed the lemon braised lamb ragout this evening. Absolutely rich and wonderful. About once each year I frequent this establishment. I normally have the venison which is also worth tasting. I dined at the bar, and the barmaid gave great service. The only starnge view was one of the boys in the back doing pull-ups on the door jam next to the bar (not classy). F

    (4)

  • Beth K.

    Setting: intimate environment- at times it ALMOST felt too close for comfort but it did help us sneak peak our dinner by checking out all the dishes our neighbors were getting. Food: we opted for the chef's tasting menu which gave us a good chance to sample the freshest and most representative items on the menu. We had a duck breast ham appetizer, a duck and chili risotto, a venison pailette and a dessert trio along with respective wine pairings. Freshness, quality and skill of the chefs were evident and the meal was super tasty. It is a meal I wouldn't have thought to choose myself but thoroughly enjoyed. This place has earned it a stellar reputation.

    (4)

  • Marilyn T.

    We were planning to come to Flagstaff on a girls' trip, so I had the task of finding a nicer dinner place and saw great reviews for Tinderbox online. They offered a chef's 4 course tasting for $50 and wine pairing for $25, so this was the easiest for our group. We started with some house made focaccia. Onto the tasting: 1. Smoked duck "ham": with a balsamic reduction, whipped goat cheese, crostini, and a smoked maple walnut cheddar. This came with a sparkling rose. I don't even like duck, but this was lean and tasted just like ham. The cheddar was so good that we actually asked for another plate of it 2. Seared scallops: 2 per plate, with a beautiful sear outside while still very tender inside. It sat on a cauliflower purée with watermelon radish, a tomatillo sauce, and mustard seeds. The mustard seeds added an interesting pop to the dish, and I've never thought to pair scallops with mustard. This was paired with a lighter white wine 3. New York steak: perfectly medium rare, wonderful flavor throughout, and the runny duck egg on top made it even better. It came with roasted fennel and was paired with the Tinderbox red blend, which I liked much more than the white 4. Blackberry brownie: basically like a warm chocolate cake with maple bourbon ice cream and tres leches custard. It actually wasn't super sweet, and it was a simple but good dessert. We were really happy to find this in Flagstaff. Everyone was really happy with the food (especially after being at the Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon for the last few days). Our server was really friendly, and she put up with us being ridiculously noisy since we were there for a bachelorette party. I would highly recommend this to anyone coming to Flagstaff. Even the next morning, everyone was still talking about how good the food was. It came with a port for the last wine.

    (5)

  • S P.

    We were there on 8/01/15 for dinner. This is very much bistro style setting, meaning you sit very close to other diners -- so just know that everything you say will be heard by your neighbors and vice versa. And if there are some other diners who want the entire restaurant to hear how hilarious they think they are, or who like to laugh (cackle) loudly, you're definitely going feel like your pretty much sitting at their table. Still, we found the interior to be fun, charming and creative and after a half glass or wine or so, oddly the volume was no longer an issue ;) My sea bass was absolutely worth 5 stars. It was off the charts fabulous. I'd go back many times just for that. My wife ordered the New York and it was okay. She ordered it medium and it came out medium rare, which was fine. However, the cut had more fat than I expect for a strip and it was a bit buried in sauce. For us, a good New York should pretty much stand on its own. We also ordered a slaw salad that was exceptional. The creme brulee was nuts delicious. We had a couple glasses of their house red which were good. They need an online reservation system. I called Saturday at about noon and they were closed so in order to make a reservation, I had to leave a voice mail with my request for 2 at 7 PM. Finally at about 5 PM I got a call from them confirming my request. Leaving a guest hanging like that is a bit disconcerting as we didn't know where we were dining until then. Overall, I'd gladly dine here again in a heartbeat.

    (4)

  • Robert Y.

    I came here with friends on a movie night and had a perfect experience here. We were first served a meat and cheese plate which had some interesting choices such as venison meat and some cheeses that I can't write down and couldn't find online. then we had some of the seasonal offerings. Unfortunately I wasn't very adventurous so I opted for a buffalo meatloaf with bleu cheese grits and asparagus. The meatloaf was cooked just the way I like it, the asparagus, was nice and seasoned well, and the grits...well I have never had an affinity for them until I tried these. LOVED them. Additionally, they had a nice selection of wines and alcohol, and they complement the seasonal menu well. As for the decor and service, both were.....ahem....serviceable. Our waiter was professional, he knew the menu items well, and the decor was nice and what I like to call rustic fancy, which definitely fits this town well. Finally I must say that it took a little while for our food to arrive, which was likely due to the fact that it was a bit crowded. We didn't miss our movie because we decided to arrive very early, so that was a plus, but be prepared for a little wait if you go on a Friday night. That being said, I would file this place under "event restaurant". Its pretty high end and pricy, but you get what you paid for, since the food was excellent and the service was good. I would go here again in a heartbeat.

    (5)

  • Steph H.

    Great restaurant. Best place we ate at for dinner. The menu was well thought out and beautifully executed. The flavors were great. Service was friendly and on top of it. We may eat here again as the rest of the towns food has not lived up to their reviews. But this place is great!!

    (5)

  • Jules B.

    We are Flagstaff locals and have been coming here since it opened. When we go, we usually go all out - wine, appetizers, entree's, desserts so we typically only come for a special occasion. There is nothing we have had here that wasn't delicious!!! Just be opened minded and go try something new. If you do not appreciate finer foods then don't bother going here. My ONLY complaint is that when the current chef came he took off some favorites from the menu because we were told he wanted this restuarant to be a more fine dining experience, however the MAIN reason we came here was for the unique menu being what we liked to describe as "upscale comfort food". Our main favorite was the jalepeno mac n cheese with duck confit!!! We would come here all.the.time to get that dish and they haven't served it in over a year. We have friends and family members that agree and we are all very dissapointed that they no longer serve it. We also loved the buffalo meatloaf and miss that dish as well. With owning Tinderbox, Annex and Tourist Home - please can one of these places bring back the jalepeno mac n cheese with duck confit!!! I think it would be perfect at Annex or Tourist Home - since it's not "upscale" enough for Tinderbox.

    (5)

  • Donna B.

    Wow! Just wow! We are going to be doing more day trips to Flagstaff, so we can eat here more often. Up there for the day and looking for a nice dinner place. After reading reviews on Yelp, and seeing that they had lamb sirloin on the menu (my fiance loves lamb) we showed up at 5pm without a reservation. Fortunately they had no problem seating us since it was early. We had actually been next door at the Tinderbox Annex having some amazing beets and goat cheese, but I'll write about that in my Annex review. We were seated and given complimentary Brut rose. Really nice! I ordered "The Board" and my fiance had the charred octopus. Both were perfect. I cannot begin to tell you how much the dijon mustard on the board has changed my life! I want to make dijon mustard from scratch right now. It was incredible. Never cared much about dijon mustard before tasting theirs. The meats on the board were delicious. Great cheeses, olives, and spiced nuts. I would have preferred a fig jam over the chutney, but that's just me. I like a little sweeter option on a board like that. For dinner seared scallops for me and lamb sirloin for my fiance. Again both dishes were amazing. My scallops were perfect, the roasted carrots and brussel sprouts with a parsnip puree were outstanding. Love, love, love. I'm not a big lamb eater, but that lamb was good. My fiance loved the sweet potato hash that came with it as well. He said the lamb was some of the best he's had. He chose the house red wine with the lamb, and again perfect. For dessert we chose the deconstructed apple pie. It was excellent as well. I probably would have gotten the chocolate cake, but my fiance has too many food allergies to even try it, so next time I will have the cake. My fiance had coffee and said it was excellent. I need to go back there ASAP. Very impressed. The service was also on point as well. Our waiter had great timing. We enjoyed the hell out of that meal! Highly recommend!!!

    (5)

  • Jayadevan V.

    We stopped by here on the last day of a short vacation around Flagstaff, and boy were we surprised! This was the most fantastic meal we had in Flagstaff, Grand Canyon and Page. My wife and I have moderate appetites and on the day we stopped by here we were ravenous. So we ordered the venison bratwurst starter, a pork porterhouse entree and a side of roasted cauliflower. These 3 items right there were downright succulent and out of worldly! The creamy polenta in the pork entree was so good that a whole hour after dinner I am still thinking about how good it was!

    (5)

  • Amanda L.

    First, they have Laguiole steak knives. Yes. You're doing it right. The venison was insanely tender, and the Gorgonzola grits were the perfect accompaniment. I ordered two desserts - one for now, and one to take home. Since I haven't yet eaten the dessert I'm taking home, I can't speak to whether it's good...BUT I'm guessing, since this coconut creme brûlée is so delicious, my second dessert won't disappoint. By the way, the Deanston washes down the creme brûlée quite nicely. God, I love a good scotch. Strongly recommend.

    (4)

  • Marc M.

    Great service, excellent food. The drinks were pricey and the menu a bit limited. Please understand that this is a far cry from what I remember of Flagstaff as a child. Very good risotto!

    (4)

  • Casey J.

    At first glance I was a little concerned because their on-line menu was difficult to really understand but with some good reviews from some Flagstaff locals, we decided to give it a shot. First off, my wife and I had a few of their craft drinks....all excellent. My wife came home and immediately went to work trying to reproduce the "White Linen", highly recommended. We started with a salad and the pork-belly "pot roast". Both excellent. Next up was the main course. I had Juniper cured venison. It was good. Not gamey but milder in flavor. I think I would have liked it more had I not just had the pork-belly, which was super, blow-your-doors-off flavorful. My wife had the "Shrimp and Grits", which I also had to try. It was very good. There was a sauce that had just a hint of BBQ or something. It was hard to explain but easy to love. We finished both entrees and were wanting to go for desert but we decided to pass instead going for another cocktail. All in all, it was great with sharp, well informed wait staff. If you are in Flagstaff I recommend you give it a shot. I've tried all of the higher end restaurants including Pasto, Josephine's, Brix and the Carriage House. This one is now my new fave.

    (5)

  • Megan R.

    Was up in Flagstaff a couple months ago and decided to check this place out for a light dinner. This place is very cute with a great atmosphere. Service is great and they are very helpful. The food was delicious. My friend ordered the Pan Roasted Duck Breast as the server highly recommended it. She said it was one of the best prepared duck breasts she's had outside of France. I ordered the Shrimp & Grits, but substituted the grits for polenta as I am not a huge blue cheese fan. It was a smaller dish, but I wasn't terribly hungry. It was cooked very well, great flavor and the polenta was definitely homemade. For dessert, we ordered the Doughnut holes. They were delicious. I would definitely return and also plan on trying the Annex as they have some delicious menu items as well!

    (4)

  • Nataline J.

    This place is AMAZING. The food, service, and ambiance pull together to make this a great dinner. Our server was fantastic and recommended a few of his favorites. The menu changes daily so I'm sure whatever you have it will be fresh and delicious. We had the seared scallops, the soup of the day (butternut squash and potato), house mashers, and Creme brûlée. I recommend this place without reservation to anyone visiting or in town for good.

    (5)

  • Lloyd S.

    Ok, so I think this will say it all. First we shared the grilled Octopus. It was the most beautiful and tender octopus I've ever had. The sauces that came with it complimented the octopus perfectly. But here is what I have to tell everybody because this has never happened to me before. I ordered the roasted duck breast. I cut my first piece, put it in my mouth, and I kid you not my eyes rolled back into my head, my toes began to twitch, every part of me went into ecstasy. Bathia was talking to me as I was experiencing this and I had to ask her to please stop talking for a moment while I was in the throws of my culinary orgasm. This is truly a very special place. Their house wine is grown and made on their own vineyard, and much of their produce is grown on their own farm. The staff were very nice, and service was first class. They earned every star. If I could I'd give them 10.

    (5)

  • Gabi M.

    After talking to both locals, tourists and sunbirds**, we found that Tinderbox Kitchen was a common "favorite restaurant in Flag." Yelp reviews confirmed it and off we went for a date night during our vacation... thank goodness we didn't need a reservation on a Wednesday night just after 8pm. Tinderbox definitely exceeded expectations. The service and cuisine were both top notch. Jeanie and Patrick took amazing care of my husband and I. We liked the casual environment, leisurely meal, and all kinds of options from the menu of the day. We ended up sharing a charcuterie plate (mainly meats with one cheese), a romaine salad (with beets, hearts of palm, feta, walnuts, and the perfect amount of bleu cheese dressing), a skillet baked mushroom bruschetta dish, and the scallop entree (served with goat cheese polenta, warm lobster, mushrooms and pea shoots). We shared a couple of glasses of wine (the Tinderbox Red Blend and a Late Harvest Viognet that paired perfectly with dessert). Next time we'll definitely consider the tasting menu... and there will be a next time. Highly recommend this place. A couple more things worth noting: *If you have any questions about Flagstaff or want any additional recommendations, Patrick is your man. He's a fourth generation Flag guy and true foodie. Super friendly and helpful... even went so far as to draw us a map with all of his suggestions on the white paper tablecloth - how convenient! *The Owner/Chef, Scott Heinonen, has an amazing reputation for preparing unique and beautiful dishes with clean, bold flavors. He has cooked all around the world and his claim to fame is that he was a personal chef for a week for Paul McCartney. (Check out the autographed disc framed on the wall by the restroom). -- **Sunbirds = the name I came up with for those that leave the Phoenix area in the summer to escape the crazy heat... not sure if it's a real word or not?!

    (5)

  • Riza R.

    Excellent food and service in the heart of Flagstaff. The place is cosy with European vibe and menu. Since we could not decide on what to order, we decided to try the Chef's tasting menu which was still a mystery because we were the first guests in the restaurant. We thought that the Chef's tasting menu was the best deal at $50/person and 4 courses. As for the food, it really good. It was fresh and nicely presented and served by our attentive server. We had smoked salmon and duck with cheese as our appetizer. We also had the seared scallops as second course. As for the main course, we were served with delicious and juicy pork belly and roasted brussel sprouts. All courses were so good we got full after our main. However, we made sure to save some stomach for the decadent desert. We had warm apple crumble and another plate of peanut butter cake and expresso meringue! How heavenly it was! I highly recommend paying a visit to this restaurant!

    (5)

  • Les L.

    My expectations were high because of the 4.5 star rating. Happy to report, they hit it out of the park. If you happen to be a serious foodie, you will be delighted by your experience here.

    (5)

  • Ilya K.

    This restaurant is superb!! The board appetizer was delicious and filled with exciting duck, pork, and cheese options. My favorite was the duck breast entree, which was paired with a delicious sauce. The atmosphere is also very welcoming and pleasant. I would definitely recommend this place if you are in the area!

    (5)

  • Kevin I.

    Given the overall reviews we were very excited to try this apparent jewel of a restaurant. We arrived on a Sunday evening and the restaurant was about half full. We were seated quickly bistro style. Meaning your every word is overheard by the guests next to you. The restaurants decor is charming with what I can only describe as a Rococo style ceiling mixed with photos of brick walls and such on large slabs of knotty wood attached to the walls by large lag bolts The service seemed mildly chaotic and disorganized. While the hostess and the manager/perhaps owner walked around and provided water, the overall tempo was slow. Perhaps they were short handed. The server arrived just shy of ten minutes into our experience. Even though several other servers darted in and out of the tables with their actual behinds shoved into our table. Remember, bistro style. Not one of the servers offered a note that our server was on her way. And this is part of the 3 star rating. The wine list is good and well priced. They offered a 20% discount for full bottles. Nice incentive on an already fairly priced menu. We ordered two starter salads, the mixed greens and the romaine lettuce with bleu cheese. Both were delicious and well portioned. Worth the $11 for one of them. We then ordered the New York steak over mashers and some kind of sweet bbq sauce. ($30). And the lamb shank, ($26) which was what the server said was the best item on the menu in her opinion. For the New York we asked for the sauce on the side as the steak is what we were after. As we are both foodies, and have years of experience in the restaurant industry, we like to enjoy items on their own and not have sauces be the cover up of a bad piece of meat. Which takes me to why we gave this bistro a 3 star rating. The steak had literally no flavor. The meat was cooked med rare though ordered medium. Personally, I prefer med rare but as this was the others steak she was not happy. As for the lamb shank. It was more of a thick cut lamb chop. It too lacked any flavor. As I prefer med rare For lamb But the server said the chef recommends it medium. It was cooked medium well and dry as the bone it rested on. Perhaps we were visiting on an off night. But the results were not what we anticipated given the other reviews. Perhaps our expectations were too high. In any event, the quality of the meat was unforgivable and the attempt to mask it with over rich sauces in my mind is what defined the truth of this restaurant. Charmingly over rated.

    (3)

  • Liz M.

    Excellent food! Gourmet pairings you won't find anywhere else. I ordered the venison. It was atop blue cheese grits. All I can say is YUM. Cooked perfectly, seasoned perfectly. Great balance of texture and flavor. We also shared the grilled octopus. Also cooked to perfection. Not chewy or over seasoned. Obviously an incredible chef and sous chef. The service was fast and the staff was friendly. This is somewhere we will be returning whenever we are in Flagstaff!

    (5)

  • Sharon C.

    Awesome! Excellent food, atmosphere, decor and service. Charcuterie plate was so good - our favorite. Our waiter kept the pace of our meal perfect and didn't rush us. Great wine list and just a cool place to eat. A must try when in Flagstaff, AZ

    (5)

  • Melissa P.

    Christmas gift from my husband was dinner at Tinderbox and a room at Aspen Inn B&B on our way home from Albuquerque. I found this place on Yelp. It sounded intruiging and delicious. I expected to have a wait on a Saturday night, but we accepted the table by the door and were seated right away. First off, crack staff - the hostess subtly chatted, charmed and bussed throughout our meal. Our server brought each course in a well-timed manner. I tried a champagne cocktail with elderflower and lemon rind which was tart and lovely as my husband enjoyed his Anchor Steam. The starters all sounded amazing, so for something different we tried the chilled sirloin of beef with black sesame. This was truly the highpoint of all the food. The beef was sliced thin and melted on the tongue with a warmth from hot & sour spice and infused olive oil. I could have eaten that for dinner. It was pretty rich, so I had to hold off as I was waiting on a smoked lamb entree! The lamb was hiding under a heap of carmelized, slightly pickled onions and on top of some sweet potato mash. I was a bit disappointed that I did not get the blue cheese grits as advertised on the menu, but all the flavors still paired well. Again, very rich meal (it is comfort food, after all) so I left more than half on the plate. We had overheard the dessert list and were itching to try a couple things! The desserts included molten chocolate cake, fresh cinnoman donuts, a butterscotch caramel pudding and an apple tart. We asked for the chocolate cake and then asked our server to surprise us with the second dessert. She brought the pudding, and it was ok. The molten cake was great - moist, dark and covered in homemade honey bourbon icecream. It should be noted that the pastry chef here is excellent! The little biscuits that came to the table were herb-cheese savory and had the consistancy of Yorkshire pudding in the middle. Our compliments to the pastry chef. Highly reccommend this place for an intruiging, creative and delectable dining experience.

    (5)

  • R.C. W.

    Excellent. We live in Flag and go there at least once a quarter. NEVER been disappointed. Great service, unique menu, really enjoyable.

    (4)

  • Bax T.

    I love their location in the funky district on the south side of the railroad tracks. It's pretty unassuming on the outside and has a clean, modern look within. The server, Andie, was friendly and efficient and helpful in her suggestions. I started with a side salad which was enjoyable but suffered from a bit too much dressing. For an entree, I went with the juniper cured venison, which came with blue cheese grits and fennel. The meat was remarkably tender and had a nice taste to it. I will join the chorus of other reviewers who have praised the grits (jeez, when was the last time I had grits?) Overall, the quality of the food was high, but as with many establishments in the fine dining category, I could have used a little more quantity. I came to regret my decision to let Andie take my salad plate away with a few leaves left on it. Fortunately, there was enough bread to make up the difference. I've been watching the cholesterol numbers lately so I had to back away from the desert list although it was extensive and contained some creative items. My conclusion is that Tinderbox Kitchen is a very good restaurant and they obviously take food preparation seriously. It may lack the fun factor of some of the more boisterous Flagstaff eateries but I would definitely check it out.

    (4)

  • Jessica C.

    We walked around downtown Flagstaff looking for a place to eat, when we stumbled upon Tinderbox Kitchen. At first I was hesitant to go in because the food is quite pricy but a friend convinced me to go in anyway. And I did not regret that decision... I ordered the juniper cured venison and it was literally one of the best tasting, most tender meat I've ever had. Being a fancy restaurant though, the portion wasn't too big, but very well worth it!

    (5)

  • Terri G.

    Excellent, very fresh and absolutely delicious food! I had the trout, which was not on the menu. The best trout I have ever enjoyed. Dessert was just as superior. Chocolate lava cake w/ice cream. Service was excellent and the atmosphere was fun! Oh, and delicious local chardonnay.

    (5)

  • Holly C.

    Friendly staff, fast service, delicious food with great presentation. We had the the pork belly appetizer - blue cheese grits are amazing! I had the steak tip (not NY sirloin - they didn't have that on the menu that day). which was okay. The sauce was good but the meat was ehh. My sister in law got the venison which was delicious! The atmosphere was more upscale but also relaxed. Definitely worth trying if you're in the area!

    (4)

  • Deb C.

    Ordered: charcuterie board - really enjoyed it but would've liked more cheeses; venison over roasted corn and blue cheese grits - awesome!; pork porterhouse with butterbeans topped with breadcrumbs - good but kinda too bbq'y and sweet; tinderbox special red blend - very nice, not too sour or bitter, slightly peppery with a clean finish. I was skeptical bc it's a blend but it was quite good! Service was superb! Overall: 4.5/5

    (4)

  • Denise M.

    I can't believe I made reservations for this place! We arrived, the hostess brings us to a table and leaves us and the table is set but no one cleaned it beforehand and out of 5 of us only 2 could sit down the chairs were so dirty one had thick goo stuck all over the seat! My husband wiped it with a white napkin from the table and the napkin had black streaks on it. Several staff passed us and looked at us standing and wiping the seats and table and didn't even stop to ask what was wrong, they just kept going and so did we, right out the door! BTW - One from our group checked the menu and said there were no prices listed, very strange.

    (1)

  • Bobby W.

    Phenomenal! The menu changes daily, I had the great fortune of catching the Juniper Rubbed Venison. So incredibly tender and juicy. They specialize in wines as well, and the server was very knowledgeable when it came to suggested pairings. If you're in Flagstaff for dinner, don't pass this place up!

    (5)

  • Wendy J.

    First, your gonna spend money here. But, its likely worth it. My honey and I had the soup special, a strawberry gazpacho. It was good. The kale salad, a regular menu item, was quite good. Then for dinner we enjoyed the venison which was by far the best thing we ordered. The combining on that plate was fantastic. I recommend you trust them and order yours medium rare. Finally I had the scallops with lobster which was lovely, sweet, interesting. Their portions on wine are not the best. And if you can get an outdoor seat on a nice night you'll be in luck. We didnt and the interior leaves much to be desired. I felt like I was in in a dark punk club or gay bar in New York City, not a fine dining establishment. But the food made up for it leaps and bounds. The bill was reasonable too. Considering we had a beer, a glass of wine, a soup, a salad, and two entrees, we got out for less than $120.00. Who could complain? Lastly, I suspect that whoever is hiring the waiters is gay and has good taste. The waiters working when we at there were hunky and seemed cut from the same Ken doll. They could have been cousins. Our waiter knew the menu well and provided great service.

    (4)

  • Monique B.

    I have been to this restaurant at least 4 times in the last 8 months. This by far was the best experience. The quality and consistency of service was on par with the quality of the food this time. This time I sat on their open air back patio, which is only open during the summer. To start I had their kale salad. I love their salads and this one hit the mark just as the others I've tried have. I loved the poppy seed dressing on the salad. The one critique is they really shouldn't call it a kale salad. It had very little kale in it compared to the other greens. For the entree I had the juniper cured venison over blue corn grits with fennel and berries. It was such an amazing mix of flavors. For dessert the flourless chocolate cake. The center was nice and gooey. My server was excellent. He knew the menu and the answers to my questions. Good job to management for the excellent service.

    (5)

  • Ashley H.

    as a fan of craft cocktails this place was great. Olivia the bartender was extremely helpful and timely with her service. We didn't feel pressured to order a big meal even though we sat at the bar. Great bar with a great look.

    (5)

  • Nicolette G.

    Holy. Geezus. There are no words for how good this place is. I would drive the 10 hours back to Flagstaff, simply to eat here. Try the cheese board. Think you've had good cheese boards in your life? Well, you haven't. Sorry. Two words: homemade mustard. (They also make homemade ketchup.) Pork jowls, venison, fish, scallops - it's all exceptional. THE WINE. Oh gods...the wine. I had the House Cab.. haven't been able to get it off my mind since. At one point the chef came out to say hello to the table next to us and deliver their food, obviously his friends, but it just felt a little weird to us. We had a pretty big party, and the place is small, he could have checked on us too while he was at it. oh well! He knows how good hid food is :)

    (5)

  • Carol O.

    We were the first ones there when the doors opened at 5 pm. By the time we left it was filling up. Service was very good. My hubby ordered a new rye drink - perfect rye Manhattan with orange bitters and lemon zest. He was smiling. I ordered a Dewars Rob Roy and was told they don't do dewars but suggested Pinch Dimple scotch. I smiled too. Very nice! The focaccia cubes with herbed olive oil came next. My dearest ordered lamb sirloin - medium rare with blue cheese grits and a side of beets. I ordered BBQ shrimp with blue cheese grits with a sweet onion relish. We both smiled. And one Isolation Ale and Pinch Dimple Rusty Nail left us really smiling as we left. Highly recommended!

    (4)

  • Amy C.

    Have you seen that movie Pretty Woman? ... I have, and that's how I felt as the server ushered myself and my friends out of the restaurant, as we were not "classy enough" for the "fine dining" of Flagstaff. Any place that needs to assert so strongly that it's "fine dining," clearly is anything but.

    (1)

  • Jim D.

    Came here twice during a week-long stay in Flagstaff. Once for drinks (sitting outside next door), once for dinner... both were excellent experiences. 1) get a cocktail, they are awesome. 2) get some beets if they have them on the menu. This is beats done right 3) the meatloaf was outstanding enjoy!

    (5)

  • Heather B.

    Excellent shared meal: pork belly, venison, donuts. Delicious to the last bite. Great atmosphere and lovely service. A gem of a spot. Arrive at 5 or make reservations!

    (5)

  • C. N.

    Every time I go to a fancy over-priced restaurant, I say to myself "I will enjoy this," and I never do. I don't mind paying $30 for a dish as long as I can't go straight home and make literally the exact same thing with ingredients that I have in the fridge. I had the Porterhouse Steak which came with mashed potatoes and an apple-pear-cilantro salad thing with Apple sauce (yeah, Apple sauce). It wasn't BAD--these fancy rich meals are never BAD. To me, they're just not WORTH it. Anyways, go and try for yourself--they have good reviews and they are a product of the local Flagstaff economy so at least I don't feel too guilty about going.

    (3)

  • Lamont J.

    What can I say, great ambiance, great food, great service. Order a special and expand your culinary horizons. I live so far away, but think of this place often.

    (4)

  • Michael B.

    Great service and great food. I had the venison and it was awesome. Duck was also really great. Would go back for sure.

    (5)

  • Michael R.

    I am very impressed with this place! If I could underline that, I would. Be it slowly and very few, but finally some decent places are opening up in the States (See my Purple Pig review) The owner and Brother, I believe? Have set a high standard of good food in the mountains. It takes a lot to impress me, but this place did. Fantastic charcuterie, a really fantastic board. Bravo. I will never fully understand why duck isn't on the menu in American eatries. But these guys not only have it, but cook it as well as I've ever had. I congratulated the kitchen on my departure, not something I do unless it deserves. Rose wine was always going to be a part of the meal and when I heard it was Oregon, I must admit I was skeptical. But it was a fair wine, enough so that we ordered another. We'll done to all involved. I'd walk there through sun or snow to eat here. Looking forward to my next vist. Bravo

    (4)

  • Michelle D.

    First time in flagstaff with 3 kids and found this place on Yelp. Amazing and so glad we made it here. Had the tomatoes blue cheese bisque $6, tasted better than some of the Michelin rated restaurants I've been to. A must try.

    (5)

  • Jennifer G.

    One of the best meals I have ever eaten. Yes the prices are on the high end, but the food is so worth it!! My husband and I had the chef's tasting menu and it was so much fun not knowing what they would bring next. Every course was better than the last. We will definately be returning soon!

    (5)

  • Tom C.

    Truly an incredible dining experience. A cool, trendy feel and great waitstaff, but the star attraction here is the menu. We shared the fantastic asparagus with duck eggs and a charcuterie board with excellent sausages and mustard (and extra crostini for sharing). I had the tomato bisque and the real delightful pork belly as an entree, with the delicious chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream for desert. I tried the pork jowls as well, which were a little spicier than the pork belly but just as good. Our entire party of six was really very impressed by the food and atmosphere. Prices are high for Flagstaff, but the food is as good as anything we find in Manhattan. The trendy Tinderbox Annex next door looked like a cool younger vibe with lower prices and the same kitchen (though a different menu).

    (5)

  • Lisa G.

    I was pleasantly surprised with Tinderbox. The food and service were both excellent. Our server had a good knowledge of the menu, beer, and wine. It was a little quiet the night that we went in, not a large restaurant. Definitely has that cool, casual chic feel. We order the house charcuterie board, all the items on the board were made in house except for the cheese. The smoked duck and rillette really stood out. We also ordered the salmon tartare. It was served with classic elements of a tartare but with a slight twist by adding spinach salad and horseradish cream. I had a red wine blend from Cortez Colorado, didn't know what to expect but it was great! They clearly care about local product and are doing things right! Can't wait to try the Annex next door.

    (5)

  • Naomi B.

    I'm completely lost as to why this restaurant received 41/2 stars. I was in from out of town and took my boss to this place after checking the Yelp ratings and we were both disappointed. Starting with the wine (they apparently make their own) they only offered their wine by the glass. I had the Cabernet Sauvignon and it was okay. My colleague had a Chardonnay and he wasn't happy with it. The taste had not yet fully developed and was really not quite ready to serve IMO. We started off with the lobster soup but while the texture was good the taste was just okay. However, we were unable to find much in the way of lobster in the soup. For the main course I had the Corn Milk Brined Pork Porterhouse, Creamed Corn with Hog Jowl Ragout. I thought the entire dish lacked taste and the pork was not tender. I liked the cream corn but thought it was a strange presentation lying at the bottom of the plate. But frankly it was the best part of the dish. At the recommendation of the server my colleague had the Seared Scallops and he thought they were just okay; again it lacked any real sophistication in flavor. The best part of the meal was actually dessert. It was a lemon cake, custard creation and I found it not too sweet and delightful paired with their outstanding coffee. The service was also very good with the waiter bring quite knowledgeable and was attentive as needed. Even so, overall I found the restaurant a disappointment and would not return.

    (2)

  • Kat Y.

    Finding parking around the restaurant was a little difficult, so leave time for that. The food is pricey but quite delicious, and the server was very friendly and helpful. As for the atmosphere, the place was cozy and comfortable, but more suited for a fancy night out.

    (4)

  • Andrew V.

    Ok yes the vegetarian entree was great tasting but $20 for that small ass portion was ridiculous. Thanks for charging my card for my meal and my friends meal then taking forever to realize you did! Tip reflected the level of service

    (1)

  • Lindsay S.

    The food was amazing, as was the cocktail list. There was a bit of a wait but that's not a problem with the attached annex for drinks. The service was extremely attentive too, without being overbearing.

    (5)

  • Rita S.

    For a vegetarian, their menu is quite daunting..I think maybe one app, a few sides were vegetarian friendly. So I asked the server for help. Apparently they always have a vegetarian option available (it's not on the menu). All I can say is wow! I believe it was a German spatzle veggie pasta dish. It was unbelievably flavorful, the pasta was lightly crisp and the veggies were perfectly cooked and seasoned. The desserts and service were great too!

    (5)

  • Suzen T.

    My friends and I came here after a long day of snowboarding. This place had good reviews so we decide to try it out. It has a cozy ambiance, calm and dark. The bartender was also our server, he was patient with all of us and gave us helpful recommendations. We all ordered different dishes and shared. Plating very nice but small. Their drinks are good. Nice place to go for a date or a group of friends to just have drinks and a small bite.

    (4)

  • Mark S.

    I saw Jennifer E.'s review and knew immediately that, since this was in walking distance from our hotel, we just had to try this place. I had a really well made Manhattan for a cocktail while my wife was content to have some wine. We split the house salad, which had goat cheese, dried fruit, candied nuts and came dressed in a citrus vinaigrette. The flavors all balanced out and the salad was not overdressed so, between the cocktails and the salad, we are off to a good start. For entrees my wife orders the NY strip steak ($25) that comes with cottage pie and broccolini. I order the jalapeño mac and cheese with duck confit ($24). Here's where I put my extremely inexperienced and completely non-authoritarian food critic in motion. My wife ordered her steak well done (I know, I know... bear with me here) which is NOT well done. See the juice on the plate... obviously no more than medium to medium well. I had to believe this was done intentionally by the kitchen because an experienced cook knows NY's will dry out when overcooked. Still... give the customer what they ordered. The accompanying cottage pie was piping hot, but just OK. The mac and cheese in my dish still had a floury taste to it. The roux could have possibly spent a few more minutes on the fire? The duck skin IS crispy and, was probably the best part of the dish. I wished for more flavor from the duck leg itself. The wine I had with my meal, recommended by the server, was just OK. Apparently they partner with a local winery to pair with their food. I applaud them for the whole local approach to their food and wine. I was just hoping for more based on the price point.

    (3)

  • Samantha S.

    It's been a while since we've visited Tinderbox but I wanted share my two cents. The experience at Tinderbox is similar to restaurants we enjoy in the California wine country. At half the price. The charcuterie board is delicious - and I believe the cured meats are made in house. They served us Cowgirl Creamery Mt. Tam, a creamy delicious cheese made near our hometown. I recommend visiting for the board alone. We also enjoyed the juniper venison and my favorite was mac and cheese with roasted poblano peppers and duck confit. With a glass of bubbly? Come on!

    (5)

  • Yisi L.

    This is a tiny little gem in the heart of Flagstaff. I was so excited to have some Southern inspired food here. Had pork belly, shrimp & grits and duck confit with mac n cheese. The pork belly was amazing; crispy outside, juicy and tender inside. Love, love the duck confit. Mac n cheese was just okay. They have only one restroom but it is actually cute and there is a letter from Paul McCartney hanging on the hallway. The only complain is that they close at 10pm. Definitely a nice and satisfying dinner after visiting Grand Canyon.

    (4)

  • Amy Y.

    So it was a Friday night...my roommate and my international friend was bored. My friend told me that there's a big jenga here. Oh snap, we..or me!...wanted to see the big jenga blocks. We didn't want to drink or anything there, so we tried to act normal and sneaked in through the bar into the backyard. The bar wasn't as much people..maybe around 8pm then.The jenga was big, no, gigantic compare to the mini ones. Oh, it was fun and interesting to play. They have nice lighting in the backyard. But it was empty. It got boring after a few games. So we left. What an adventure...I guess.

    (3)

  • Brian U.

    The tastiest food on a six day road trip through Arizona. Chef Scott Heinonen created savory dishes that were smart, palate pleasing, and properly executed. The slow cooked pork belly had just the right amount of sweetness from the glaze, apple sage relish, and spiced honey that contrasted the hearty blue cheese grits. Everything in the dish was classically matched, but the blue cheese. Who would have thought blue would match belly? The lovingly tender belly made my belly bigger and softer. The cylindrical potato gnocchi was another dish that made fantastic use of cheese, this time ricotta. It looked oversauced, but the light consistency of the sauce proved otherwise and brought a bright green flavor along with the sugar peas placed on top. It is easy and ordinary to make a heavy and fatty gnocchi dish, but this starter was kept surprisingly light yet luscious. Meatloaf is never going to be that complex - particularly when topping with the traditional bacon and ketchup plus a side of mashed potatoes. Although it was simple, it was also satisfying - the key result of any good meatloaf. The pork tenderloin entrée was the most adventurous plate we tried. Asian elements were used with the sweet and hot marinade plus the sesame oil. Mexican elements were used from real taco ingredients (not Taco Bell sour cream and cheddar) like pickled shallots and queso seco. The pork tenderloin and mashed sweet potatoes were New American cuisine. The ingredients worked individually and all together. Not only did it taste great, it showed fabulous thought process and execution. The desserts were simple compared to the savory dishes. The baked apple with almond crust and maple whipped cream needed another element to add greater dimension. The whipped cream didn't survive long as the hot cast iron dessert quickly melted it back into liquid cream. I probably should have finished with a charcuterie board that had in-house cured meats instead. Because the atmosphere and service screamed gastropub, it was tempting to order one of the many specialty cocktails. But since the menu kept saying fine dining, we went straight to a bottle of wine from Tamarack Cellars. (Co-incidentally, Tamarack e-mailed me today about their spring release.) Because San Francisco St. is one-way plus the railroad tracks block access, getting to Tinderbox became complicated. Stay south of the tracks and Phoenix Ave. is your friend, but Route 66 sucks.

    (4)

  • J L.

    This place is the best restaurant I have ever been to. The food is amazing! I cannot recommend Tinderbox enough! Love this restaurant!

    (5)

  • Amy R.

    2.5 stars! My siblings and I wanted a nice place out to eat in Flagstaff since we were on vacation. We were stuck between Tinderbox and Josephine's. We went with Tinderbox. We left the kiddos at home, made a reservation and were super excited to check this place out. We arrived on time to our reservation and were sat by the friendly hostess. Then along came our waitress. She wasn't friendly at all, just straight to the point. Definitely not someone who I would imagine to be in that sort of position. We decided to order some white wine and some red wines to go along with our meals. Both wines cost us $20-30 each (served in a carafe) and both wines tasted absolutely disgusting. Everyone at the table (including my brother, who has traveled the world and tasted countless numbers of wines) thought it was disgusting. They literally tasted like a box of $8.99 Franzia wine. No good. Hint: order wine out of a bottle so you know exactly what you are getting. We ordered many appetizers so we could try a variety of items off of the menu: -"The Board" was interesting and out of all the appetizers our table's favorite. Had a great variety of different samplings and was yummy all around. -Pork Belly Pot Roast was delicious and another fave. Full of flavor and extremely tasty. -Calamari was good. A bit on the greasy side which put me off, but the sauce it came with was fantastic and completely complimentary to the calamari. -Dumplings were just weird. Completely random in every way and the color (puke green) was definitely not appealing. Least favorite. We tried to order our entrees so that we got one of each meal, that way we could try everything and see what it tasted like. I had the sea scallops and they were extremely delicious. They were cooked perfectly and the vegetables that came along with it were complimentary to the dish. Overall, my entree deserves a five stars. The others in my party ordered; lamb, steak, and meatloaf - everyone was pleased with their main entrees. Now.. let me get to the bad parts of this restaurant: 1.) Throughout our seating, the hostess was quick to refill our carafe of water. The only bad thing about this was the water was lukewarm, not even anywhere close to cold. It was absolutely disgusting and tasted weird. :S 2.) The manager was constantly walking around the restaurant but not doing anything other than cleaning up. He didn't talk to us, ask us how our meal was, or even smile at us. It was really bizarre and completely not how a manager should be in a restaurant. Extremely off-putting. 3.) For the amount you pay for your meal here at this restaurant and that is extremely upscale, I find it strange that they line the white cotton tablecloth with white paper. It may be for quick clean-up and avoiding stains, but like I said - I felt like I was in a BBQ place where your tables are lined with white paper to write on. Not the type of place that should have white paper lining on top of the tablecloth. 4.) We were pretty disappointed that after our appetizers, we weren't supplied new silverware. It's usually pretty routine at upscale restaurants to be served new silverware after using them on the appetizers. We even went as far as putting our dirty silverware on the appetizer plates, so she could get us new ones, but she didn't. 5.) Bathroom is tiny (isn't too big of an issue) unless the restaurant is full and packed. One restroom for all customers. Lastly, after seeing Kevin/Scott's response on yelper Alaskafiregirl F.'s review, I wish I would've seen this prior to visiting Tinderbox because we probably would've gone to Josephine's instead. Nothing makes me more angry then getting a sarcastic response from an owner on a business publicly. If someone has a genuinely bad experience at your restaurant, you shouldn't answer with sarcasm, it definitely doesn't make you look appealing. I don't care if you have a 4.5 stars! Would I return to Tinderbox in the future? Maybe. I would probably go through every "upscale" restaurant in Flagstaff first prior to visiting Tinderbox again though.

    (3)

  • Judy S.

    I couldn't take pictures of the food because I ate it too fast but it was a one way train to flavor town. For our appetizer I got the pork belly with grits, blackberries, honey, and other stuff and it was amazing! So succulent and cooked exactly how pork belly should be: crisp on the outside, buttery on the inside. The flavors from the honey and fresh blackberries paired perfectly and weren't too overpoweringly sweet. Next for the entree I had the bacon wrapped buffalo meatloaf. May have been the most moist meatloaf I've ever experienced. The bed of mashed potatoes it laid on made it to be the best high end comfort food to touch my lips. I was in euphoria the whole time and our waiter was very knowledgeable on every detail of every dish. Love a guy that knows what he's talking about... Wish I lived closer so I could come here every weekend.

    (5)

  • Claire T.

    My mom and I came here for my 21st birthday dinner and it was delicious!! First we started off in the Annex (cocktail loungeish room) where I enjoyed a white linen and my mom had a gin and tonic. The white linen was sweet and sour and good for sipping. Definitely recommend. For dinner we were seated at a nice table near the window. It was probably the best table because it was in a corner where we didn't get much noise. The menu changes every night but I assume some things reappear, like the steak and pork belly. I ordered the scallops which came with bacon creamed corn, buttered crab, steamed mushrooms, and watercress (I think). It was delicious!! The bacon creamed corn was salty on its own but paired with everything else it was wonderful! The scallops were cooked to perfection and were high quality for the middle of Arizona. My mom got the skirt steak which came with horseradish mashers, broccolini, and chimichurri. It was all good. We weren't going to get dessert but when she read the options we knew we had to. We got the chai creme brûlée with shortbread...SO GOOD. I want to learn how to make shortbread cookies that tender. Customer service was alright except my mom asked for her horseradish potatoes to be replaced with regular, which they said wouldn't be a problem. However, they still brought it out with horseradish. They were happy to bring my mom a new side however they charged us for it!! What! My mom didn't bother correcting because it was only $5 on a large bill but still...at such a nice restaurant they should be quicker than that. 4.5, would've been a 5 if they didn't mess up our bill.

    (4)

  • Monica F.

    Lucky us! We very randomly and unexpectedly found ourselves in Flagstaff and I pointed this place out as looking nice. The menus have the date on them, so you know everything is fresh! Our timing was great, too, as it was almost empty when we came in and completely packed by the time we left. It was hard to choose because everything looked delicious, so we ended up picking 4 appetizers, which was more than enough food for 2. The bread was fresh but not really great. Could have used some flavored olive oil. It was room temperature and a little bland. The salad was huge! Nicely dressed. We loved the goat cheese, candied nuts, and dried fruit. Good salad. Favorite part of the meal was a dish of hand rolled gnocci in a creamy pesto with roasted cauliflower. Wow! Amazing! Gnocci were perfect: light but still solid. Sauce was delicious. Mushrooms were tasty. Came with toast, but it was slightly burnt :( Calamari was the weakest part of the meal. Too greasy, a little rubbery. Serves me right for ordering calamari in the mountains in a land-locked state. We were thinking about a fruit-based dessert. The waitress listed the day's desserts but none of them were fruit. When we told her what we were thinking, she offered some leftover apples from yesterday, and we decided to try that. Wonderful! They were baked in a cream sauce with cinnamon and were lovely. They came with some homemade doughnut holes that were sort of dull on their own but good in the sauce.

    (4)

  • H. L.

    The food here was a little more ordinary than I expected. We came here by recommendation from a friend. First off, the decor of the restaurant is very nice. It has an industrial feel and the walls are covered with local photos that are very cool. It has a relaxed feel which I like, not pretentious. Staff here are very friendly and service oriented. Our waitress refilled our drinks regularly and answered our questions about the menu happily. My husband and shared the Mac and cheese with duck confit. The duck was tasty, but the Mac and cheese was a little ordinary. The side of broccolini was great. It had a nice char on it. We had the pork spare ribs for an appetizer and it was good. It fell off the bone nicely. Our friends got the calamari, but they didn't really like the breading much. Overall, it was okay. I may try some other places here before heading back to Tenderbox.

    (4)

  • Sarah W.

    Phil and I went to Tinderbox to celebrate Valentine's Day, and what a good choice. We started our evening in the Annex around six and got their board and a couple yummy cocktails. I would highly recommend the board. They had some quality selections on it. After our pre-dinner drinks and board, we then wandered over to the main restaurant for dinner. It was around 6:30 on Saturday (we celebrated a day late), and we didn't have a wait at all for a table. It's a pretty small restaurant, but I like the classy atmosphere. Phil ordered the venison with blue cheese grits, mushrooms, and kale. I'm not usually a fan of blue cheese, but I loved those grits. All the items in the dish went together with each other perfectly. The same for my pan roasted duck with cous cous, greens, and figs. The staff really knows how to pick items that complement each other very well. We loved it. What a great meal! I would recommend it for a date night or a small group of people.

    (4)

  • Naceem P.

    This place is AMAZING. We had the short ribs as appetizer. then Kale salad. My husband had pork & I had the steak. Their food was incredible. The service was fantastic. It's not just incredible food but excellent fine dining experience. They bring each dish out at the most perfect timing and everything was seasoned to perfection. They even have unique fun cocktails. Highly recommend this place and we will absolutely come back when we visit Flagstaff again.

    (5)

  • Robert J.

    We rolled into town and needed to refuel our bodies after a long drive. Our meal was flawless and even ended up ordering an appetizer after our entree. The meal left an indelible experience in our taste buds. Bring your appetite and explore.

    (5)

  • J M.

    Food was excellent great presentation and had a good time with friends. I did not expect this level of cooking in flagstaff. So why only 4 stars well dining room was hot and stuffy and waitress was good but kind forgot us at the end., i truly believe that the full experience matters. So. I would highly recommend the buffalo meatloaf, duck duo, lamb. Get the board appetizer this was exceptional. I would definitely recommend you try this place, their presentation on of the food was first class

    (4)

  • Hayley H.

    I visited Flagstaff with my boyfriend to see his family and we decided we wanted to go out to a nice meal with them so I looked up best places to eat in Flagstaff and this place kept coming up so we decided that's where we would eat and I'm glad we made that decision. We were in town on a busy weekend so we were told our wait would be about 30 minutes for a table so we left our name and number with the host and went to a bar next door to grab a before dinner drink. The host called us in less than 30 minutes and let us know our table was ready so we headed back over and were promptly seated and greeted. Our server gave us beer recommendations and we all ordered what he suggested and we loved it. We ordered the smoked salmon carpaccio to start us off for the night and my only complaint was that I didn't think to order two because it was so good. I ordered the Juniper cured venison with bleu cheese grits and toasted blackberries and I still think about that meal. I could've had the bleu cheese grits by themselves and still called it one of the best meals I have ever had. Since we were celebrating a birthday, we ordered a chocolate molten cake and once again, we were impressed. We were a little too full to finish the dessert but it was worth ordering. Our service was fantastic too. Our server answered all of our questions and never made us feel rushed for taking our time to order and enjoying our food. For what we were given I felt the food was very fairly priced. The portions weren't the biggest but I'll take quality over quantity. We ordered drinks, an appetizer, entrees and a dessert and our bill was still only $180 (not including tip) so I felt like we got quite a bit for our money. I'm not in flagstaff very often but next time I am, I'm making sure to go back to Tinderbox Kitchen.

    (5)

  • Arnie B.

    We have been on the road all day, what a wonderful dinner, service and ambiance! Thank you for a great experience.

    (5)

  • Adam B.

    Enjoyable but if it was in my hometown I wouldnt go back. Had the venison and it was good. The grits were the highlight but the venison was laying in the grits and it overpowered the venison flavor. Separate would have been better. Great service.

    (4)

  • Denise S.

    Exceptional agnolotti with braised beef tongue. Very good salad with dried fruits and goat cheese. Very attentive staff. Nice ambiance.

    (4)

  • Rebecca G.

    OMG! Top awards for the pork belly app, Bleu cheese grits, fried Brussels' sprouts and lamb ragout. Don't miss this treat of a restaurant.

    (5)

  • Amy W.

    Good, great, awesome dinner! Started off with the pork belly appetizer, house merlot and a makers and water. Then for dinner I had the butternut squash risotto, my husband had the bacon wrapped meatloaf... Soooooooo delicious and the service was great, thank you Lisa! Ended the night with an awesome dessert! We highly recommend this eating establishment! And the atmosphere is totally chill and inviting!

    (5)

  • Evelyn P.

    Excellent restaurant. Gourmet American food with a twist. We had the crispy duck, bacon wrapped buffalo meatloaf, pork tenderloin and the lamb sirloin. All were delicious. We also enjoyed the meat and cheese board. Highly highly recommended. A little pricey but worth it.

    (5)

  • Amanda S.

    Dined at Tinderbox last night, worst idea ever. Started with a local Wanderlust stout, perfection, except that our server spilled it all over the table upon delivery. I asked her for some bar napkins as the beer was swimming in a puddle of brown and she walked back with a wet rag and proceeded to wipe the beer off the table directly onto my foot. I was like,"Thanks, now it's all over my foot" and she glared at me, only eye contact all night by the way. We asked her a few questions about the menu and comments ranged from, "I don't know I haven't tried that" to "Um, I'm not sure", she couldn't even recommend a starter! My husband enjoyed his meal so the food has potential, however my shrimp with grits was unfortunate. The shrimp had no flavor, tasted antiseptic. The food is too pricey for the low quality of service. Our server was tatted up with her low class Miss Me faded out jeans, phone in the back pocket, messy ponytail (not in a good way). Train your servers, expect quality, they are half of the dining experience.

    (1)

  • M W.

    I had the Smoked Colorado Lamb Sirloin, Cous Cous, Olive-Cucumber Relish The wife had the pork cheeks with mashed potatoes. Both were amazing! Excellent balance with their flavors and a nice pairing with the house red blend wine. The chocolate cake was doubly amazing!

    (5)

  • Paul A.

    Dinner Thursday 6::30 party of three. Food - Fantastic! Pork porterhouse, New York strip and a cheese plate all awesome. Entrees are 20-30$ and worth every penny. Servicer was very knowledgeable and made excellent recommendations for wine pairings. I will return every time I am in Flagstaff.

    (5)

  • Skg 1.

    Not as good as I expected. The staff was egocentric and the service was average. For the size of the town it's a pretty good menu and I like that it changes.

    (3)

  • Marilyn B.

    I am disappointed...disappointed that this place is in Flagstaff and I live in Los Angeles. The Tinderbox Kitchen is a fantastic find in an unexpected locale. We started with "The Board" which was a great selection as well as a conversation starter. Also, tried the pork belly appetizer - fantastic - served on a bed of blue cheese grits. Each entree in our group was better than the last - Dr. Pepper hog jowls, citrus seared scallops with a corn relish, marlin with corn dusted oysters...AWESOME!

    (5)

  • Joshua S.

    The best meal from start to finish I've had while living in Arizona. Meat is not overpowered by sauces or spices. Great drinks and small, intimate dining space. Perfect for a big date or life's celebrations.

    (5)

  • Kat W.

    My husband and I have been coming to Tinderbox off and on since it opened. Each time, our experience has been superb. The menu is fresh, inspired and ever changing. As someone who usually sticks to the same thing over and over when I find something I enjoy, that's a compliment. Comfort food with a flair. The staff is welcoming and friendly, yet they allow you to enjoy yourself without rushing you through the meal. Tinderbox has become our go to restaurant for a grown up night away from the kids.

    (5)

  • Laura S.

    I often dine at Tinderbox. The hostess went out of her way to accommodate our party as our number had changed. She went out of her way to keep us informed as to our seating and checked on our satisfaction during our fabulous meal. I enjoyed the venison which was perfectly cooked and the envy of my dining friends. The board was delicious as usual and the pork loin was fantastic.It's always a pleasure to spend time in the Tinderbox.

    (5)

  • Eduardo C.

    Tried "The Board" which was well balanced with crispy bread, two cheeses, meats, gourmet mustard and some delicious fresh raisins. The selection of meats, however, could be more balanced and was overpowered by Pâté. The smoked duck ham and goat cheese were the highlight of the plate for me. The seasonal soup in mid October was "Cheesy Enchilada'. This was the only disappointing part of the meal for me, it definitely tasted like they used real enchilada ingredients, but it was far too sweet for my taste. It seems like there were many better menu items for me to try, but for the things I ordered, I'd say it was average bang for my buck, particularly because of that soup.

    (3)

  • David G.

    My all time favorite place to each!!! Five star restaurant food quality at 3 star prices. Great everything, appetizers, meals, dessert, and wine. The multi-course wine pairings are worth every penny and the individual entrees are amazing also. Their menu rotates so you can go back over and over and try new dishes (I know I do). Can't say enough good things about this place, if you don't like the food, there's something wrong with your pallet. Very interesting and surprising food combinations I'd never think to try but am very happy I did!!! Put succinctly in one simple statement, "Tinderbox, will you marry me?".

    (5)

  • Bill W.

    Hands down one of the best eating establishments anywhere! I had the the buffalo meat loaf wrapped in bacon with horseradish mashers and roasted turnips, perfect. Not to mention the delightful attentive and knowledgeable staff. Along with a fantastic artfully classic interior, these two cousins hit it completely out of the ball field, congrats!

    (5)

  • Joseph S.

    Stopped in Flag overnight before heading up to the Grand Canyon. The food and the service was excellent. Amazing wine list and the house red is terrific. The pours could be a bit more generous especially at $12 a glass. Not cheap but worth it. Jeanie our server was great. Nice vibe all around.

    (4)

  • Daniel H.

    I'm glad I went here and how I found this place was through my Yelp app on my phone. I didn't know anywhere good in Flagstaff, AZ since I was passing through on my roadtrip. I came here with my brother to eat and it was a good decision. It was pretty cold outside so when we walked in, we started to warm up quick. The waitresses were all nice and friendly. I ordered the Crispy Turkey Cutlet which came with dirty mashers , pork belly gravy, and sweet cole slaw ($22) and the Turkey Bacon Jalapeno Chowder soup ($10). The soup came out first and it was amazing!!! I haven't tasted soup this good for years! Everything complemented each other in the soup and it was delicious. Before I started to eat, I took pictures with my DSLR camera and I noticed a few people eating there were looking at me. lol I guess not many people take pictures of their food before eating it - especially with a huge camera like mine. Our main course came and I thought the Crispy Turkey Cutlet was a little dry; however, the soup made up for it plus the mashers and cole slaw. After I finished, I was full but not food coma full. The portion might be a little small but it will fill you up decently. We didn't order any dessert but maybe we should have. lol Next to this place is called the Annex which was a bar (I think) and I believe it's part of the Tinderbox Kitchen seeing how their symbol was the same. I noticed this as we were leaving to our car. If I were to come back to Flagstaff, AZ, then I would definitely come here to try something else out. Good stuff!

    (5)

  • Thomas B.

    Visiting the grand canyon, we were looking for a nice place to have dinner. We got sea scallops, smoked lamb sirloin and duck breast. The food was amazing, sea scallops seared perfectly, lamb just juicy and pink and duck flavorful. Interesting sides as well. Service was good. Good experience for a foodie.

    (5)

  • Sopheak S.

    This place is great!! My girlfriend and I always come to this place for special occasion. It is the only pseudo-fancy place in Flagstaff that we like. Always always get some kind of appetizers. They tend to be a bit small, but absolutely delicious. It is a bit of a tease, but it will make you very excited for your entree. I love trying new things and new foods, this place is perfect for that. Their menu is different every time we come here. It is great because it makes you try something new every time, but at the same time, things you really enjoy may not be on the menu again. It is perfectly fine with me because I have loved everything I have ate and drank at this place. The check is a bit scary sometimes, but well worth the great food. OOooo and their dessert... woooooooo

    (5)

  • Stuart H.

    So seriously? Go here. If I had the right kind of magical power, I would lift this entire place up and bring it to RI (I might bring a bunch of the shops on S. San Francisco with it, too!) Honestly, I have eaten all over the world and this place was a reason to go back to Flagstaff...SOON.

    (5)

  • Brittany J.

    I honestly feel like this place is way too overrated and doesn't live up to the hype that so many people give it. This restaurant is definitely on the pricey end (expect to pay about $30+/person), the food is overly exotic most of the time, and the ambiance sometimes appears to be way overdone. There are a couple of other restaurants in this area that are in the same price range as Tinderbox, but are much more pleasant experiences. During my most recent visit, I ordered a medium-well steak and received a well-done, overcooked piece of meat. I don't eat well-done steaks, and I didn't even know how such a reputable and established company like Tinderbox could make such an idiotic mistake. Despite there being absolutely zero pink in my steak, the server told me there was nothing he could do about it. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this place. I've been here on many occasions and the experience has never been static in terms of good food and good service. It's definitely a great place to experience when it's at his prime, however, so if you've got the money to spend then come try it out.

    (3)

  • Kari G.

    This place seemed promising. Their menu options seemed interesting, but they were not stellar and the service left a lot to desire. Our server was rude and unwelcoming, and if that wasn't enough, it appeared as though she needed to take a food safety class. Our server would touch her hair to put it up, pick up her phone and text and then would go back to touching clean utensils and napkins. To make it worse, she left our food waiting for an unreasonable amount of time after the kitchen staff had left it to be delivered.

    (2)

  • T L.

    Started with drinks, live music, and apps next door at their 'sister' restaurant the Annexus. The smoked salmon was the best I have ever had. Moved over here for dinner and had the butternut squash soup and the venison....Outstanding!

    (5)

  • Lauren A.

    The two of us did the New Year's Eve chef's tasting. We've done a lot of chef's tasting at very high end restaurants and had read the other reviews on Yelp so we came in with high expectations. The restaurant is very small and we sat at a high table and I was a bit crunched in the corner so the person behind me and I could not get out of our seat at the same time...Just an FYI if you are willing to overlook that aspect. I definitely was once the food started coming out. The staff was all very attentive, always a plus. I won't go into all the details of each course, but I will tell you that if you appreciate high end food you will not be disappointed. Granted some of the portions are small, but you are not coming here to gorge. The food is rich and satisfying, with some surprising ingredient combos. I had the vegetable risotto, which is very out of my league (usually I enjoy a fine cut of steak) but I couldn't get enough of it. My bf had a cut of loin with a delicious beet topping. Yes, it is pricey, but for a special occasion you should treat yourself to food like this.

    (5)

  • Michelle N.

    I have been here a few times when traveling to Flagstaff. The ambiance is lovely, cute T candles and intimate tables. It's smaller so I like to go early so we don't have to wait too long. The first time I went with 4 girlfriends and we had the Tinderbox wine - pepsi cola and red wine. CRAZY DELICIOUS. We had a few sides like the brussel sprouts and blue cheese grits. I had the duck confit with mac and cheese and so did another friend. Another girlfriend ordered the beet salad and we cleaned out plates. For dessert, we all had the homemade donuts. The food was fantastic and our waitress was fine. Not spectacular, just fine. The 2nd time I went was very recently. He ordered a beer and I ordered the pepsi/wine combo (had a few actually) - he coudln't resist the duck confit and mac and cheese and I ordered the scallops. The sea scallops were divine. It was on top of a dreamy butternut squash sauce with greens and butter beans. The scallops were cooked to perfection - not rubbery at all. He loved his mac and cheese but there was just way too much so we had to take it home. The duck looked really delicate - I couldn't try it because I am trying the be a pescetarian but it looked great! The waitress and service was again, fine nothing too complain or brag about. For dessert, we had the citrus creme brulee with homemade sugar cookies. I enjoyed the meal very much and so did my date. Can't wait to come back.

    (4)

  • Christie C.

    Disappointing. Very disjointed. No cohesiveness at all in the food or the restaurant. Went with the simple steak, horseradish mashed potatoes and pickled beets. Meat was poor quality, grainy, bad texture. I ordered med. husband ordered med well, both were rare. And I can eat rare, but this was a mushy pink, not a nice red rare. Blah! Potatoes were overpowering. More like horseradish with potatoes than potatoes with horseradish. Homemade steak sauce...way to sweet, Beets were to sweet. It just didn't seem to belong on the same plate. Had "the board" for a starter. I'm assuming the bread was suppose to be crostini. You missed it. It was a slice of store bought bread dipped in butter and toasted to a golden rock. The meats were gamey and the smoked meats and cheese had subtle undertones of lighter fluid. There was nothing comfortable about this place. For a restaurant that prides itself on comfort food you would think it would have a comfortable atmosphere. Nope. The table was cramped and stiff and every time the waitress helped the table behind us she bumped into my chair. Our waitress was kind but seemed a little put off when my husband returned his excessively SOUR drink for something less puckering. I didn't get a warm fuzzy from anyone there.

    (2)

  • Gregg W.

    Un-b-freaking-lievable!!!! I can't believe I'm in Flagstaff! Service was great and food rivals ANY restaurant in LA. Garlic infused ribeye was amazing and my wife love the turkey cutlet. The chocolate sampler dessert was amazing!!! Don't miss this if u r ever in Flagstaff!!!

    (5)

  • Kala W.

    Amazing food! Great service! I want to eat there every night

    (5)

  • G B.

    We first called them to see if they offered gluten free items and if they were family friendly. The service over the phone was great and we were told yes on both questions. We arrived right at 4:59 and walked in with 3 kids. Our oldest child is 6 yrs old and has Autism. We enjoy good food and feel like we should not deprive our family of outings even if my son is a bit different or need some special accommodations.. We have felt welcomed and have enjoyed great dinner at many restaurants. There were only one table with 4 or so guests in the entire restaurant. We asked to be as far from people as possible. The restaurant is very small but has two rooms. We were put by the front door. Our waiter was very nice and friendly. He seemed to be knowledgeable on gluten free and the menu, which is always a plus! We ordered drinks but they did not have little kids cups with lead and straw. The waiter explained us the menu and told us it was the best place in flagstaff to trust whatever we would order. I ordered a well done steak with potatoes and broccolini. My steak was hard, dry and super chewy. My potatoes were dry and my broccolini tasted burned. My kids meals were good, nothing to rave about. My husband ordered a slow cooked beef dish that he said it was ok, again nothing to rave about. He did love the bread that came with. I think OVERPRICED describes this place well. My dish was $28 and once I told the waiter the steak was hard, dry, etc. He brought me the steak from my kids which cost $7. So instead I got a cheaper steak but still paid for the dry, hard NOT tasty dish. Our bill was about $75 for two adults and 2 kids, no drinks or desert. The owner or manager was very close to us within a couple steps away but NEVER came to greet or talk to us. Instead I felt that my family being there was a bit of a burden for him. I guess this is a family friendly place for families with older kids and no special needs. Besides the just ok service (our waiter saved a star for this place) and absolutely DO NOT think this is the best place in flagstaff based on our service and food served. I strongly suggest you take your money and business somewhere else were you will fell comfortable and appreciated. Not a nice dinning experience for us. We had an excellent experience at Pizzicletta and Josephine's, we went back several times at these two places on our short stay. Mix is also a very friendly place with fresh great food. We will NOT visit overpriced, not deserving of all the fuss Tinderbox ever again.

    (1)

  • Bryan N.

    Went here over New Years and had an awesome time. While we waited for our table, we got drinks in the annex and spent time talking with the owners parents at the bar who were extremely friendly. Then they ended up comping 2 of our drinks due to the table not being ready right on time, which was appreciated. The meal itself was fantastic. Would definitely stop here if you're in flagstaff.

    (5)

  • Joseph H.

    How do you describe excellence? Simple Tinderbox Kitchen. We shared 2 appetizers and a main course as well as a couple cocktails. Everything was excellent. Prices were pretty good too. Two appetizers a main course and 2 cocktails $70. Amazing food has me wanting to go back to Flagstaff.

    (5)

  • Ryan D.

    The two of us did the chef's tasting for dinner ($50/person). It's been a long time since food has wowed us. I'm not going to brag and likely bore you with the details because I don't want to waste your or my time. Plus, I believe a tasting at Tinderbox will change every time. We got the impression that the chef was creating on the fly. The first course was 3 separate mini-tastings that were simple but very tasty and unique combinations I've never had before. The second was a seafood dish that had smoked mussels (I think smoked) that blew me away. Third was a deer vineson steak with mind-blowing stuffing that was touched with duck fat. Dessert was 3 separate creations that were amazing. We ended up maxing out at dessert eating only half of each of the 3-options. The only odd item was a chorizo & pea side with the 3rd course. It was tasty but didn't match the plate or the rest of the tasting. Other than that, everything was great. We haven't walked away from a restaurant with grins like that in a long time. Thank you! This place would kick butt in a large city. A tasting that ended up being about 9 delicious items for $50 is an amazing value in my opinion. It would be $80-$100 in Phoenix. I just hope that Flag can keep this place going. Tinderbox is my new favorite by far over what are the 2 pricey stand-bys in the town. The restaurant on its own as an attraction and an amusement ride will bring me back to Flag.

    (5)

  • Mark U.

    Yelped this place when traveling through Arizona. What a rare find. I'm a foodie but not a snob. I definitely did not expect to find this quality in Flagstaff - nothing against smaller towns but it's been my experience that the best that a very small metro has to offer - no matter how hip the place is - unless it's noted especially for food (IE Nappa) that the very best there can be quite good but not usually world class. Tinderbox was the best prepared new American cuisine I have had in probably a year or maybe more - better than multiple dinners in LA and NYC/Brooklyn at highly reviewed spots and really better than anywhere I have been in San Diego (where I live) for sure. They told me that they change the menu all of the time so it's most likely not important what the specific dishes were but - Meatballs with Burrata - what a great combo! So - just checked to verify at this minute and the menu is entirely different from what it was when I went. I consider that to be a good thing. I can tell you this - I live 8 hours away and I really want to bring my girlfriend back and feel the need to schedule a trip just to do that. If I could give 6 stars I would. BTW - everyone there was really nice - I sat at the bar and talked with the bartender and the waitress the whole time. The owner came and chatted with me as well. Great crew.

    (5)

  • kelly k.

    This place is fantastic! I had the romaine salad with dates, walnuts, apples, blue cheese and a cider vinaigrette. Also, the scallop dish with cauliflower fondue, mushrooms and wilted kale. The scallops were perfectly seared with a wonderful caramelization on the top. My bud had the NY strip with some sort of shepherd's pie and broccolini. He said it was incredible and he is super fussy, so I took that as a bold statement. Wonderful food. Wouldn't have changed a thing. If you are in flagstaff, eat here. You will not be disappointed. I want to go back again tonight!

    (5)

  • Arlin B.

    What a little gem of a restaurant ~ Tinderbox Kitchen! I've been here a couple of times now and this place is by far one of the better restaurants in Flagstaff. Restaurant ~ it a quaint little place conveniently located on San Fransisco just south of the train tracks and the historic district. It is nicely decorated with interesting photos from a local photographer. The decor and simple semi modern with a good balance of light woods throughout. Service ~ very good! The servers are very attentive and eager to please. They have an exceptional knowledge of their menu and help make suggestions if asked. Food ~ very good to exceptional with a just a few blimps. We had the meatloaf and the smoked pork loin sandwiches with the black pepper frites. Both sandwiches were very good however the pork loin with it's chutney and dijonaisse was the "rock star" for me!! The frites were very tasty as well left you wanting more. I recommend either sandwich but the pork loin was exceptional. We also had their salad special, spinach with fruit, cheeses, nuts and other veggies all tossed in their house made dressing which was delish but there was a bit too much spinach. Popeye would love it ;-) We also tried their special homemade corn beef tacos with a side salad. This was a blimp for there was not enough corn beef. It was more of a blue cheese coleslaw taco with a little corn beef thrown in. This is a really nice restaurant and we plan to come back again real soon to try the jalapeño mac-n-cheese duck confit or the venison! Hope to see you there.

    (4)

  • Mike L.

    One of the best meals I have eaten in Arizona. A charming outdoor patio, a very cozy, big-city type dining area - the place oozes character. The obvious choice is the tasting menu, which is artfully prepared with seasonal ingredients - and each course I tried was excellent. I am seriously planning a return visit to Flagg just to dine there.

    (5)

  • Melissa W.

    My boyfriend and I went there the other night for the first time and were blown away! We sat at the bar and Olivia waited on us. She was fun and gave fantastic service. For dinner I had the pork chop and my boyfriend had the venison, both amazing! And don't forget to try dessert. Olivia recommended the lemon creme brûlée with shortbread cookies. We practically licked the dish. We can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Colleen M.

    My husband and I were visiting my sister who lives in Flagstaff. We started in the Annex for drinks and appetizers and then moved over to Tinderbox Kitchen for dinner. From the minute we sat, our server Sarah welcomed us and made us feel at home. She gave us a wine recommendation which did not disappoint. I had the mac and cheese which was spectacular !!! And we finished with the donut holes and fritters for dessert which were the end of a perfect meal. I highly recommend the Tinderbox Kitchen and plan to visit again when we come back to Flagstaff!!!!!

    (5)

  • Sarah M.

    This is one of my favorite restaurants in Flagstaff, if not my favorite. Every time I go here- (6+ times so far) I have ordered something different and it has been amazing every time. I really love their lunch- because it is well priced and tasty- but their dinner is also superb. Save room for dessert too- they never disappoint. My favorite so far was a butterscotch pudding with brittle on top- to die for.

    (5)

  • Stephanie H.

    My husband surprised me with a weekend getaway to the Grand Canyon, and on the way he brought me to Tinderbox Kitchen. Since we aren't up in Flagstaff often, we decided to make the most of the evening and opted for the Chef's Tasting Menu ($50 a person for four courses). Best decision ever! The servers were very friendly and started us off with their tasty bread. I ordered a White Linen (sweet and smooth) and my husband got a beer. The appetizers were served in a classic, white, three-section serving dish which offered a lovely presentation of the house-made foccacia with garnish, duck with jalapeño mac 'n' cheese (so good!), and the marinated beet salad (a must-have; earthy, delicious, and I never thought beets could be this good). I could tell that we were in for a night of culinary awesomeness. Being creepers, we peeked at the dishes of other patrons who also ordered the tasting menu. We noticed that they were receiving completely different dishes altogether. This got us excited! It was fun having absolutely no idea what we would receive. The fish/seafood course was probably our favorite. We were thrilled to each receive a seafood assortment with calamari, a large mussel, a large scallop, a couple pieces of sea bass, a couple pieces of swordfish, and potatoes in a tomato-something broth. Well seasoned, balanced, and just the right portion size for us being two courses in. I told my husband I wouldn't judge him for sipping the leftover broth out of the bowl, and so he happily did. For the meat course we were brought lamb with an olive tapenade. I'm not a fan of olives (my husband was in olive heaven) but they were fantastic! The lamb was also cooked perfectly medium rare with just the right amount of pink. Again, the portion size was spot on. Last, it was the dessert course. We were brought three delectable selections. I had a hard time choosing a favorite, but I would say the lemon creme bruleé was my frontrunner; it had a perfectly hard top that I eagerly cracked with my spoon and a great lemon flavor that wasn't overpowering. My husband's favorite was the chocolate mousse with peanut butter brittle topping. The third dessert was a sweet and delicious fritter duo with almond glaze and powdered sugar. The space has lovely contemporary decor with black walls, light wood and chrome chairs, and black and white photos from what I assume is a local artist. The ceiling brings a bit of Hollywood Regency to the space with ornate (possibly tin) tiles painted black. The only aesthetic drawbacks of the place include their POS system setup and the wood laminate flooring. The POS system is a bit haphazardly stacked together in a corner by the food pass with takeout boxes and I'm guessing extras menus and such. I'd recommend having a more elegant solution for that space as it would add a bit more elegance. The flooring is wood laminate, which is meh...I think the space would look great with a polished concrete or real wood floor, just a thought! I'd highly recommend this place for a nice date night or a good time with friends. Though there were kids there when we went, I think it's a bit more of an adult menu and aesthetic. If you're in Flagstaff or heading up there, this is the place to dine!

    (5)

  • C. A.

    One of my new favorite restaurants in Flagstaff! We ate dinner here last night and I can't wait to go back and try a few more entrees. Apex (the bar side of the restaurant) has a bar menu and we were able to see some of the items coming out from the kitchen while having some pre-dinner drinks. Not your typical greasy "bar food" (everything looked delicious!), and with a price range of $10-$14 it's extremely affordable, too!

    (5)

  • Jason M.

    This is definitely one of the best if not the best restaurant in Flagstaff. Great atmosphere, service and the food was absolutely excellent. Wife had the Scallops and I have the NY strip. Perfectly seasoned, horseradish mash was awesome, beets perfect and brocolini perfectly cooked (littler burned flavor but thats ok) and the reduction sauce on my steak was great. Steak came out medium rare and was super flavorful. But I do have to say I think it could have been done 1-2 minutes longer as it was not as buttery as I hoped. That said I know it's a NY strip too and not a filet. Very good though. The scallops....amazing. I will probably hit that up next time or the pork. We also had the romaine salad, really good as well but I may pass on that next time and go for something else. Overall the food was a 5, service was a 5 and atmosphere was a 5. I have always loved the Annex too, damn good service and food. These places are my favorite in town. I hate to put this out there but this blows cottage place out of the water. I know Cottage place is more French Cuisine (they both share the style of course) with a twist here and there but it's very traditional for sure and I was not super impressed with everything there. This place fits my style and my palette! This is what Flagstaff Needs! This is the future of Flagstaff right here. Real culinary excellence, not wannabe stuff!

    (5)

  • Lauren Jeanne G.

    Comfort food with a twist of Yum. Gourmet ingredients added into southern fare. My favorites were the Pork Jowl appetizer and Stilton Grits. My boyfriend knows I am a foodie and thus took me here on a second date. Many more dates followed! The waiter recommended a great bottle of red. We enjoyed our meal so much we took our time and missed our movie! I recommend this place for foodies and romantic dates. The lighting really sets the mood!

    (5)

  • Lauren R.

    This place is bomdiculous. I am not kidding...if you've got money burning a hole in your pocket and/or you wanna take your man and/or lady out for the culinary treat of their lifetime, CHECK THIS PLACE OUT! I always get the tasting menu (because the chef knows more than you) and instead of the wine pairing (which is always amazing) I now get cocktails (because the bartender knows more than you). They've got it going on. Don't miss out on this place and if they have the ASIAN SHORT RIBS don't deprive yourself of this experience....I still have dreams of them that haunt me. They are sticky as heck and you'll look ridiculous eating them in this fine place, but I promise you as soon as your lips touch them...tunnel vision. Everything is amazing and you'll see why this place is rated so high. Go have fun, you foodie hipster!

    (5)

  • James K.

    Wow wow wow. Fresh, delicious food. Delightful flavor combinations. Duck and jalapeño Mac and cheese is amazing. Not cheap, but if this was in LA it would be twice the price. Blue cheese grits, PB & Chocolate mousse..... Would be here every week if closer! PS I see some people were upset about the no substitution rule -- I can see that being annoying -- but I wouldn't have changed a thing!

    (5)

  • Henrik C.

    Went to the restaurant for a gathering with 8 other friends. We were celebrating the end of a great conference in Flagstaff. The restaurant was recommended as "the best place to eat in Flagstaff" - quite a label to live up to. We had a variety of different dishes. As starters we had mixed salads, soup, ... the salads are big enough to feed two people. Overall very tasty. For the main dish we had a meat tray, trout, new york strip, ... All of the dishes were very tasty. They had a hard time cooking the steaks as rare. We had to send back one to get it to be rare rather than medium. For a fancy food place you would think that this should be easy to do. You walk by the grill on the way to the table with the meat and you have a rare steak, if you want to make it fancy you sear it 30-45 seconds on each side. How hard can it be? We had a variety of wines. Mainly due to the fact that whenever we ordered a good bottle - such as the Plumbjack Shiraz - they one had a single bottle. I guess they are not that used to having wine lovers visiting. Also they did not have expressos for desert only French filter coffee. Would have been great to finish off the dinner with an expresso, but otherwise a great dinner experience.

    (4)

  • Alicia B.

    Great spot, great vibe, good drinks, friendly helpful staff, but the slightly over spiced food is slightly overpriced

    (3)

  • Paul D.

    I am really surprised by the high rating this restaurant receives. I would describe myself as the target audience for this kind of restaurant. I often travel and make eating high end food a priority. I often use yelp to help me sort through choices. My friends and I had spent the past several days on the road in Northern Arizona. Maybe we looked a bit ragged, but the service was poor from the beginning. It appeared they thought we may not pay the bill. It took 15 minutes to get drinks on a Sunday night! The attitude seemed unfriendly most of the meal. Then there was the food... I have to say it seems like someone knows how to cook, but the food was just weird. Roasted pork with chiles on pasta with pesto? WTF? I ordered it thinking it would be a "pesto." NO, it was normal pesto. Fortunately I was hungry. Oh yeah, finally the bread came while I was eating the app. I got the duck. Decently cooked, but not very flavorful and no sauce. Side of cous cous with duck in it and some crane-raisins. It didn't have anything to add to the plain duck. Dessert was a mostly miss. The chocolate cake with ice cream was pretty good, but who hasn't had one of these before. The donuts were a good idea, but they were raw in the middle. The pound cake with caramel- it was given to us at no charge, maybe they felt bad for treating us like the homeless, but I wish they wouldn't have given me this. Dry as a bone. The wine list was OK, but really marked up. The atmosphere is quite nice, but didn't make up for the rest. My overall impression is these people need to get out of Flagstaff and see what is going on in restaurants elsewhere. They have the bones of something good, but I like more than bones. The next morning my innkeeper asked me where I ate. He said he would not have recommended the place because of the attitude of the chef and front end far exceeds the product. He said in that price point, he would have sent us to Brix.

    (2)

  • NK S.

    I'm proud to have this restaurant in my town - it does Flagstaff credit. But some of the reviews here are a little over the top and may set your expectations too high: Yes: the menu is inventive, the ingredients are excellent, and Chef Scott clearly puts a lot of time and thought into what he is doing here. In fact the first time I dined here I figured it was only a matter of time before he moved on to a bigger playing field. Pretty much every good thing you read here is true. but No: it isn't the best restaurant in Flagstaff, which is what ratings here would have you believe. It may become that, and soon, with the likes of the bruschetta and the grits, but right now it's early days and the Tinderbox still has a couple misses: the meatloaf for example. I'm surprised it's still offered but perhaps it's the standard bearer for the "comfort food" philosophy and therefore too hard to take out behind the woodshed. Another miss is the consistency: if you love a dish, it's a gamble that you'll be able to get it when you return. Case in point - my 'tip' about the venison: best i've ever had. two days later i can't have it. That's not 'seasonal ingredients,' it's a bummer. consistency is one requirement for my "best restaurant in flagstaff" vote and until I can be sure me and my guests will be able to have the venison and not have to settle for the meatloaf, Tinderbox is a 4-star.

    (4)

  • Melissa J.

    Oh my gosh, I loved this place the first time I visited in April and this time was no different. Amazing food. I'd had the duck leg with macaroni and cheese last time we came and we got it again, but this time we also got the penne with rabbit which overshadowed the already amazing duck leg. The rabbit was like magic in my mouth. Their menu is always changing but if you go and that is on the menu, just order it. So perfect. And the service was so fantastic. Our waitress was so so nice. Couldn't ask for a better dinner out. Anywhere.

    (5)

  • Eleanor H.

    We've been wandering around Flag looking for the best places to eat and heard Tinderbox was A+. It's comfort food redefined and pretty delicious. Our waitress was timely and sweet, the food was yummy (loved THE BOARD) and the atmosphere was okay. Wine list has interesting and unique wines with a select few from AZ. Overall, a nice experience.

    (3)

  • Grant S.

    Every time we visit Flagstaff we dine at Tinderbox. Last night the Meatloaf with homemade catsup, mashers and peas was the perfect combination of comfort food for decompressing from a busy week. In a safe area on the south side of the tracks but it reminds me of Boulder Colorado in the 70'. I eventually grew up but it was great while I was wild and free.

    (4)

  • Leslie C.

    We're so lucky to have such a great restaurant right here in little old Flag! It really feels like it should be downtown (insert big city here). I always have a hard time picking something, because all of the menu sounds delicious. Went in for lunch yesterday, and I'm not sure how they can make a simple tuna melt so memorable delicious, but they did. Amazing! I highly recommend a visit or six.

    (5)

  • Cassandra A.

    Interesting place with potential; and they did have one of my favorite wines. I did like The Board we ordered, some of the meats were a little too exotic (for me.) I think a board shouldn't have more than one or two pates; and should have at least as many cheeses with an olive or two; however the wine and Board were the highlight of the evening. I ordered a salad and asked to substitute the dressing as I dislike Citrus and the waitress was nearly insolent with her quick comeback "No, no substitutions." And then a slightly more subtle, "The chef does not allows substitutions." That comment and tone immediately 'bristled my feathers' as I'm not asking for some amazing custom dish to be substituted, simply a side salad's dressing. So I said, Can you at least put the dressing on the side? She had to check. I told her if the chef said no, he needed to come to the table and tell me directly. The food took over an hour to be delivered. The tables on either side of us both were seated, ordered, and eaten before we were delivered our dinners. The waitress never did warm up, she was essentially pretentious the entire meal. The ambiance was cozy and intimate and I'm sure there are better experiences than this to be had at this restaurant. I might give the restaurant another try someday when I'm not with clients.

    (2)

  • Laura S.

    I recently went to Arizona on vacation with my boyfriend for my birthday and I made sure to do a lot of research for the perfect "nice dinner out" spot. 95 percent of our trip was spent hiking so this trip ultimately was not centered around food. The day we got to Flagstaff we had just finished a two day 26 mile hike and were in need of a great meal. Oh boy, was I a happy girl. I found this place on another site and it was not nearly as highly rated as it deserves. They dont take reservations for small parties so we decided to get there early. The atmosphere is relaxing and modern, I was very comfortable, our waiter Patrick was laid back, with not an air of pretention, and had a way of effortlessly describing the food. I work in a high end restaurant and I know what I like, and I know my food. The menu was awesome and I came ready to eat. We started with the hot and sour meatballs with wonton, and the smoked salmon over potato aioli with a black raddish salad, and foccacia (holy s*&%!) sooooooooooooooo delicious!!!!!!!!!!!! We then each had a salad course which I quickly regretted not sharing a salad because although it was an app, it was gargantuan. For entree we got the duck leg confit over truffle, jalapeno mac n cheese with mustard breadcrumbs and my boyfriend got the venison with red pepper marmalade, over goat cheese mash and some kind of herb salad. Ill be honest, the duck was way to heavy for me, uber rich (a bit oily altogether) with an overwhelming portion of mac and cheese, but whoever complains about portion sizes..... its not really a bad thing, i was just pretty full from the apps I think. Ok, the Venison- PERFECTION. He didnt think we were gonna have dessert.... haha.. I told you I came to eat. He verbally went over the options, he made them all sound awesome but ultimately I had to have the creme brulee which is unusual for me but the flavor combos couldn't be missed, banana and coconut creme brulee (just the flavor of coconut, not shredded) incredibly silky and balanced with a two coconut macaroons on the side, BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dinner was the bomb. One of the best dinners ive ever had. GO HERE!!!!!!!! It is expensive, but worth it.

    (5)

  • xx x.

    I. Love. This. Place. Seriously. Please excuse the length of this review because I'm going to gush a bit. This place has a curious casual/elegant juxtaposition going on in both decor and cuisine that is both tasteful and well done and hits me, in particular, in a very good place. Servers wear jeans. Customers dress casual, (I wore jeans and a t-shirt fresh from motorcycling all day). Paper, single sheet menu. Cloth napkins and tablecloth, all pure white, but a white sheet of paper with their logo stamped on one corner over the table cloth and a carpenter's pencil in store logo, (I presumed for doodling and I used it to take notes for this review). The building is decades old with a textured ceiling, but it's all painted black and lit with very modern lights. The music was Cake and similar things which was a very welcoming respite from all the country and western I'd been hearing for a week, (once again, tasteful, with a casual/elegant dichotomy). The framed art on the walls is elegant, as is the matting and the frames, but the frames themselves are matted on knotty plywood that it unapologetically bolted to the walls with very plain bolts. The food is billed as American comfort food - redone and it's fabulous! I had a local beer, (on tap and excellent), the bleu cheese grits, (superb!), the "pork duo", (sublime!), and the lemon creme brulée, (not the best I've ever had, but likely second best). In all cases I was very pleasantly surprised and the grits and pork were awesome. Note that San Francisco street was ripped up with construction when I was there last night so I had to do some clever parking and hunting on foot to find the place. But it was well worth it. If you are anywhere near Flagstaff, make a point of getting to Flagstaff even if it's for no other reason than to eat here.

    (5)

  • Gordon M.

    Outstanding!! Amazing food, very friendly staff. Modern, American food, with a slight southern/Tex-Mex influence, pork, grits. Across the railway tracks in Flagstaff, AZ. I will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Katie B.

    This review is for the annex, a separate establishment next door that operates as a casual bar vs. the Tinderbox restaurant. Happy hour everyday from 5-7 where you can buy $3 microbrews or $4 shandy's. A shandy is a light beer with a shot of vodka and lemon. We split the $15 chartuerie board which was the best we've ever had. Six nice sized portions of meats including three of the chef's hand made sausages plus smoked salmon and duck breast, also with two cheeses, chutney and fig spread. A great value and a great place to chill in Flagstaff. Wish they had more food options on this side!

    (5)

  • Jodi G.

    This outstanding restaurant has an arty vibe and inventive menu. Go early and have appetizers at the Annex, which looks like the lobby of a funky Soho hotel. Then, if the weather permits, dine on the patio at Tinderbox. The chef attends to every ingredient and entree with care, even going so far as to only offer 20 orders of its specialty burgers per night. The duck confit/jalapeno mac n' cheese is one example of the chef's creative acumen, and the appetizers, such as a bruschetta with mashed potato, garlic and aioli, are great. This is a must-try restaurant, which ranks among the best dining experiences ever.

    (5)

  • Pinche R.

    As a fitting compliment to the nudie bar next door, this place is pure Tits! Stopped in here late(ish) on Saturday with the boss and had a great meal. I settled on the mac and cheese, she had the meatloaf. We also ordered a side of blue cheese grits and the mixed greens. The mac and cheese topped the charts for me but seriously, everything was great. Boss loved her meatloaf and rightfully so. it was down right tasty. Grits were also creamy and full of flavor. The blue cheese was a little to subtle but still a fantastic dish. The salad was just a salad but the greens made for a refreshing break from the rich dishes on the table. The friendly attentive service and a fantastic vibe are just the icing on the cake. This place is all about the food. Boss is already planning our next visit.

    (5)

  • Cynthia G.

    The ambience was industrial and clean. Everything was tasty. We especially enjoyed the deep-fried brussel sprouts. The clientele was diverse. We were unfortunate to sit between two, ultra conservative couples. One of which was pretentious and picky about everything on the table--from the wine selection and even the knives. However, even they had no complaints about the food, and it was a relief to that they were able to keep their mouths shut for a moment to enjoy the food that was prepared by the chefs.

    (5)

  • Milt W.

    I am a unique customer because I am allergic to flour and sugar. The waitress was really confusing. We went here because of its high ratings and that it is a unique French restaurant. We have always had French restaurants make us special sauces. When I ordered steak it was served with a sauce that had a little sugar in it and the waitress told me that she thought it would be ok. I asked her for another sauce since I am so allergic to sugar and she brought back mustard and practically threw it on the table. They finally brought me scallops which were good. On the good side they comped my meal and I felt that it was a quality restaurant move. If one has special food allergies I would not recommend this restaurant. The waitress made me feel like the chef did not like my needs and so I was not respected.

    (2)

  • C.M. F.

    I was so excited to try this place out after reading the reviews. I am not sure what they are comparing their experience to but my experience was awful. First I was happy to see that they had Lagunitas Ale but they were out of that so I took the recommendation of my server. It was awful! I do not even remember the name! It took me awhile to decide what I wanted to eat as there were so many unappealling combos that nothing was jumping out and tempting my pallate. I decided on the Scallops with Hushpuppies. Yuck! $25 for 4 chewy scallops with over deep fried hushpuppies in a lackluster sauce that screamed artery clogger. The bread was served in cubes cold; not warm or toasted. What a waste of money!!! I am extrememly disappointed!

    (2)

  • J B.

    I was surprised by the wonderful food next time I drive through flagstaff this will be on my list. I wish they were in LA!

    (5)

  • Ping P.

    Thank you my fellow Yelpers! We spent the last night of our honeymoon in Flagstaff - dusty and tired from hiking in the Grand Canyon we were ready for a little civilization. Having no idea where to dine - the man said "i have the yelp app on my iPhone" magic and genius! Said I. Up popped Tinderbox. We arrived and were told it was about a 45 minute wait. The hostess apologized and suggested that she could take our cell number and call us when a table was ready! Great idea as it allowed us to take a wander up the street and grab a pre-dinner drink. (see other review of the Rendezvous Martini and Coffee Bar) Nearly 40 minutes to the dot Tinderbox called and had a table for us. We had one of the best meals in recent memory here. Do not miss: The Pork Belly Confit . Crazy delicious. We also really enjoyed the arugula, fennel and date salad. I had great lakes perch and the man had a pork chop with diced apples. Our server was excellent and the place had a fun and enjoyable vibe. Absolutely highly recommend and will go back when next in AZ.

    (5)

  • Kyle R.

    I understand that many people would like this restaurant. The food is very heavy. Lots of meat and fat. Which is fine but you should be prepared. My problem is that they serve heavy comfort food no matter what the weather is. This is not a small oversight IMO. A big, deep, pork roast just isn't pleasant on a hot summer evening. I wish they would change their menu to reflect seasonal changes. The food is ok, but probably not worth the high price. I had a rough time because they lost my check which caused me to miss my movie. Mistakes happen and that doesn't impact my review.

    (2)

  • De A.

    Excellent food! Really creative and delicious "comfort food", as promoted. Pricey, but worth it if you are looking for something special. Don't let the appearance of the cruddy neighborhood keep you from walking through the door. It's cozy and trendy inside and the service is great.

    (5)

  • Kirk S.

    Amazing, no complaints! Amazing food, amazing service. I had the steak, tasted the duck confit/mac n' cheese, and the pork jowels, all were delicious!

    (5)

  • Gary S.

    Came across this restaurant on Yelp as I was passing through Flagstaff on personal holiday and I was extremely pleased with the dining experience. The place was fairly crowded but had an electric buzz in the air.. We were also served some very fresh bread (baked cheese bread puffs, and foccacia). I had the smoked salmon bruschetta appetizer (amazing) and the entree of duck confit was the perfect following. Service was quite attentive and this was an experience I never expected on Flagstaff. If you find yourself in need of a wonderful dining experience in Northern AZ, Tinderbox is your place.

    (5)

  • Emily W.

    The food was amazing. You must get the green beans....I was hesitant at first, but they were perfectly cooked and the miso-blue cheese sauce is to dye for. The main reason for not giving 5 stars - was service, we had a new waiter (she told us she was new) There was a lack of attention: We had to ask for silver ware, re-fills and to take our order. Over all the atmosphere is wonderful, the art work is taste-fully done, and the back patio is a hidden gem. Beautiful christmas light sting the back, that I feel like I am sitting in my own home. For apps: we tried the green beans and a spinach salad - both perfect Dinner - mac and cheese with Deck leg - incredible Scallops - one of the best cooked scallops I had Desert - biegnets with a custard dipping sauce excellent choc plate - disappointment - I thought the mini straw was choc to eat after the mini shake - I was surprised when I bit it and it was plastic.

    (4)

  • Nathan T.

    A fantastic restaurant in the heart of Flagstaff. I had the venison medallions and they were fantastic. Everyone was pleased with their dish, portions were large and we easily had food to bring home. We plan to go back often.

    (5)

  • Tim M.

    Very nice menu. So many things looked good. Had a bowl of BBQ sparerib enchilada soup, delicious. Blue cheese grits were great. Steak, pork, seafood entrees were all wonderful. For desert check out the almost baked cake with homemade toasted marshmallow. Service was again outstanding.

    (5)

  • Leah F.

    All I can say is yummy :) we frequent flagstaff and are disappointed with the selection of places to dine until now. Tinderbox is great you have to try to Mac and cheese and crispy duck it's delicious. The cheese board was very good too a mix of meats and cheeses. Great staff and cozy atmosphere can't wait to return again.

    (5)

  • Aubergine R.

    Black, white, and golden yellow - the colors and tone inside the restaurant. A pleasant welcome amidst the unlit and curb-less streets. As we walked through the residual snow, I had reservations that this restaurant was worth our time and money, but never judge a book by its cover. Or should I say, never judge a book by the other books that are on the shelf next to it! This restaurant delivered exactly what it said it would - redefined American comfort food. If I could reorder just one thing off the dinner menu, it would be the starter mushrooms. Get the mushrooms! They packed more flavor than I was prepared to handle, and were served a la toast crisps. We enjoyed the trio of pork and three sides - leeks, mashers & grits. A little too much on the smooshy sides. If I were to do it again, I would have gone with another starter and 1 less side. The staff was professional and the chefs had a balanced hand. A gem in Flagstaff.

    (4)

  • Robert D.

    Great service and atmosphere. Stick to appetizers. Main courses leave much to be desired at the prices they charge.

    (3)

  • Judy S.

    Great food, great service and very friendly staff. We just got into town and checked Yelp for a local restaurant. The Tinderbox Kitchen seemed to have the best reviews and was still open. I called to ask a question about the mashed potatoes, as I am not allowed to have potato skins since my stomach surgery. The very friendly gentleman who answered the phone told me they were "skin free" to which I answered, we will be right over. A few minutes later I received a call back from the same gentleman who I had spoken with and he apologized and told me that the mashers tonight did, in deed, have skins. Wow, when does this ever happen... someone caring enough to call back! So because of that we went anyway. The pork T-Bone was the best pork my husband had ever had. I was so glad that the mashers had skins, because I ordered the fried cauliflower instead. What a treat. Our server was a sweetheart. If we ever return to Flagstaff, we will most certainly will dine here again.

    (5)

  • Kathy T.

    I traveled ALL the way from the Central Valley in California to go to the Tinderbox - and it was SO worth it! The Tinderbox has a peaceful ambiance, and can offer a romantic air for couples (I was with my sister!). The food was delicious (I had the fish special), and the service was personal. The new Annex next door looks cosmopolitan; meet your group there after work!

    (5)

  • Kathy K.

    Excellent restaurant in Flaggstaff. Found this restaurant on Yelp and was delighted. It is creative, innovative, and wonderfully delicious. Had the Venison which melted in my mouth. It is pricey, but worth every penny. Waitstaff was efficient, thorough, insightful (when explaining the dishes), and friendly. Not pretentious, just good food painstakingly prepared. The chef is a master at combining sweet, savory, salty and rich flavors. Was like a Disneyland flavor explosion with each and every bite! Left me wanting more. We all shared our dishes, and every dish was enjoyable. The absolute best mac and cheese I've ever tasted (flavored just right with a hint of jalapeno).

    (5)

  • Ry P.

    The first time we dined at the tinderbox kitchen we enjoyed our experience, the duck confit being especially good. After dining there this evening our impression of the establishment has changed significantly. The dry, under-seasoned, flavorless meatloaf was barely complimented by the mediocre mashed potatoes. The pork belly was sub-par at best, and the ravioli that came with them tasted like they came from a frozen package. Don't waste your money at Tinderbox! It is incredibly overpriced!! If you want a good dinner for $20-$30 in Flagstaff, AZ go to the Cottage Place.

    (1)

  • Amy E.

    We enjoyed dinner here for our anniversary/vday celebration. The food is unique and very tastey! The vibe is very classy but not so classy you feel like you can't relax. I would definitely recommend this for a dinner out with friends.

    (4)

  • Kimberli B.

    I can't believe what an amazing experience we had at this restaurant. I can't stop thinking about. I can't stop talking about it. I think I would eat here twice a day if I could. I'm honestly torn between trying to keep Tinderbox a secret and shouting about it from the rooftops. Some of the other reviews here really say it all (my oh my oh my... Un-b-freaking-lievable!!!). I don't even know where to begin. The menu the night we were there bore very little similarity to the one on the Tinderbox website. They're serious when they say they change things up weekly. There were three of us, and we all shared 3 starters, 3 entrees, and 3 desserts (and 3 cocktails and 3 bottles of wine, if you must know!). Honest to god, every single thing was perfect. Fresh, delicious, creative, and perfectly prepared. I won't go into full detail, but some of the highlights were the pork belly, duck bruschetta, ploughman's plate, steak frites, scallops, blue cheese grits, and OH MY GOD the house-made doughnut dessert!!!) Not only am I surprised to find this restaurant in Flagstaff, I'm surprised to find it in Arizona. As good as our food scene has become in Phoenix and Tucson, this place could hold its own in NYC, Chicago or San Francisco. (at about 1/4 or 1/3 the price... we had all that I described above, plus coffees -- and the wines were fairly good ones -- for under $280!!) Service was perfect... friendly, unassuming, and very much on point. Please please please try to find a way to dine at Tinderbox. I really hope we are lucky enough to have this wonderful spot to enjoy for a very long time.

    (5)

  • Mike C.

    Place is great! Service was prompt and friendly. Recommendations were spot on for what I was looking. ( thanks bartender Bill). Food was outstanding.

    (5)

  • John W.

    5.0/5. Really a fantastic restaurant. If you are in flagstaff for some reason, and have more than 1k to your name, and you don't come here, just shoot yourself.

    (5)

  • S H L.

    This place isn't bad, just not OMG delicious. The decor is really modern/chic/urban...The flavors were good and the portion size was fair. The dishes during dinner is a bit pricey but I guess your paying for food aesthetics?!? The apple/beet salad was good and bigger than what I expected (I like the bacon/walnut brittle pieces for crunchiness!), the spicy cheddar broccoli soup was ok (but it's not really spicy), the steak dish was solid (meat was cooked medium rare-surprisingly tender!), and the meatloaf was solid as well.

    (3)

  • Lauren M.

    The food here is always fresh and delicious. The menu changes a lot, which can be awesome, but it can also be really disappointing when something you loved is not longer being served. As far as I can tell, you can't really go wrong, but for less money, you can go just as right more reliably somewhere else.

    (3)

  • Andrew B.

    I love this place! The atmosphere is new, swank, chill, but still warm and comfortable. The bartender was friendly and so were the regulars. The food was outstanding! A bit on the pricey side, but well worth it.

    (5)

  • Don H.

    Excellent venue. We stopped here based on Yelp reviews and were NOT disappointed. The atmosphere is nice and low key with fantastic photography on the walls. The waitress we had was quite attentive, friendly, and most importantly, not overbearing. The food? Wow! We live in Houston, TX and consider ourselves to be foodies and this venue could easily make a killing by expanding there. My Mac/Cheese with duck leg was an experience that will remain on my palate for a very long time as I don't want to forget the tantalizing flavors. My wife's NY Strip was so tender and the glaze for it was a great compliment and I normally despise glazes in steals as I feel it hides a truly good season. The tomato-based charred jalapeño soup was absolutely a great way to set the tone. It's easily a can't miss restaurant for people wanting a unique local venue that will not disappoint. We will come back when we return to Flagstaff in the future for sure!

    (5)

  • Kevin F.

    Spent an evening in Flagstaff on a road trip, and we were fortunate to have Tinderbox be within walking distance of our lodging. Delicious food and drinks, friendly yet unobtrusive service. Highly recommended!

    (5)

  • Bob D.

    This was our best gastronomic surprise this trip. Baked mushrooms with goat cheese and truffle oil - delightful - reminding me why mushrooms are used as an example of bringing out the "essence of taste". Seared scallops, bacon-infused succotash and sweet corn corquettes were wonderful, as was the finfish of the day - Atlantic sea bass - delightfully moist inside and crisp out. The Anne Aime Muller Thurgau was a perfect accompaniment.

    (4)

  • Joe M.

    Went here with five friends. Food is excellent, with lots of flavors working their way through every dish. I had the pork chop with sides (or tops) of applesauce, mashies and red cabbage. Very good. Appetizers were a bit on small side. Didn't like the inability to substitute. I find that rather pretentious. All in, a fine night and I'll be back.

    (4)

  • david A.

    went here after reading and hearing about how great the food was and it lived up to the expectations. Prime grade beef cuts are delicious. I am excited to come and try their food again. had a summer shandy(?) drink while i was waiting for the food to arrive and it was delicious. I don't understand why anyone would give it such a low rating. If you have dietary concerns then comfort food probably isn't the best choice. I received excellent service when I dined there and will return. If you're expecting cheap prices you're better off sticking to low quality foods. I think the price is right for the meal quality.

    (5)

  • Archie S.

    We made our first visit to Tinderbox this week. And now we have a problem. We now have TWO favorite restaurants in the $$$ category (Tinderbox and Cottage Place - haven't yet visited Brix so there may be three from what I hear). Tinderbox was wonderful. Service was perfect -- attentive but not intrusive. Decor suits the location, pleasant and laid back. It was quiet enough for a dinner conversation where we didn't have to text our comments to each other. I would appreciate some attempt to darken the front windows. The sun was really glaring in during the early part of our visit. Luckily we were far away from the windows. The menu choices and food were awesome. My wife had meatloaf. They need a new term for this meal; it's a shame to call something so good "meatloaf" (sorry Mom). On the day of our visit one of their specials was Grouper. I love perfectly prepared fish and this was it. A large beautiful portion with great fresh flavor. I'm not a big kimchi fan but their kimchi topping could change my mind. All served over creamed potatoes with a serious hot sauce. Maybe comparable in hotness to Tabasco(?). I love that but it wasn't overdone so even people who don't normally like hot spices could enjoy it. Finished off with their chocolate cake/ice cream specialty--can't remember the name. My wife was in chocolate heaven. The word "intense" applies here. This goes high on our list of things we love about Flagstaff.

    (5)

  • Jeff M.

    If you're passing through Flag, do yourself a favor and swing by the Tinderbox - it's fantastic, you won't be sorry you did. First of all, the vibe here is super. The staff is very friendly & clearly loves working there. Second, the atmosphere is great. It has a ruggedly stylish interior with an energy fueled by the aforementioned staff, window access to the kitchen, and comfortably close seating. Most importantly, the food is amazing. Everyone around us had smiles and was raving about their meals. We had the buffalo chicken livers, blue cheese grits, mustard greens, duck confit, venison, and flourless chocolate cake, all of which were very, very tasty. Everything about the Tinderbox feels "just right," but you won't appreciate it fully until you've tried it. As for me? I can't wait to return.

    (5)

  • Alan I.

    I had a wonderful experience at bar side of the Tinderbox. Even though it was completely separate from the restaurant side, you were able to order from food from a selected menu. The atmosphere was cozy and the bartender was very friendly. The food was excellent but a little pricy. It was well worth it. I strongly recommend to everyone to stop by this place if they are visiting Flagstaff.

    (5)

  • Matthew B.

    Thank's to Yelp and a little online research, my wife and I decided this would be the place to try on our short trip to Flagstaff, and it was a great choice. Tinderbox fuses American Comfort Food with fine dining in a blend that is just breath taking. My wife had the duck, and it was cooked perfect. I don't use that word 'perfect' very freely either. She had never had a full leg of duck, and she was in heaven with this. I went with my old staple of Scallops and it had a very nice fresh lemon dill sauce that didn't over power the very delicate taste of the scallop. In short, go here. It's a very elegant menu without trying to be pretentious, and there is something for everyone.

    (5)

  • Marie J.

    Was in town for a conference and was responsible for finding a restaurant for some of the key participants, who are also very sophisticated diners. I, of course, hit Yelp for recommendations and my fellow yelpers did not disappoint. The restaurant lives up to is reputation whether it was the Juniper Venison or the braised jowls. I was surprised that a restaurant of this caliber would have trouble preparing a black and blue steak~making it med rare instead of very rare. But on the second go around, they hit the mark. The wine list was impressive, but fell short of quantity. Several times we had to switch wines because they ran out of bottles. Our server, while knowledgeable and friendly, should have made sure quantities were sufficient for our large group. It felt like we were cleaning out their leftover wine stash. Another let down was they only serve french press coffee. Overall, if you are a foodie and enjoy experiencing new tastes and food combinations, then this is the place for you.

    (4)

  • Judith B.

    Ugh. We went on 3/10 for a special evening out, visiting our daughter in Flagstaff. I'd give it zero stars if I could, as it was one of the worst dinners I've we've ever experienced. Perhaps the regular chefs had the night off??? We should have known that it would be awful when we saw the menu advisory that said something like "substitutions politely declined "!!!! To be fair, I will say that the decor and atmosphere were lovely, but that's where it unfortunately ends. My husband and I shared the Buffalo style chicken livers, since we love chicken livers and we're from Buffalo, NY. The livers were deep fried beyond recognition, dry and tasteless, except for the hot sauce - the whole thing was a hot mess! For main courses, my husband ordered the meatloaf, one of his favorite things. It came surrounded by a ?decorative? band of mustard, not mentioned on the menu description. Since my h. hates mustard, he asked for it to be re- plated, and the waitress said "but it's not touching the meatloaf." REALLY????? A good server would have just done it. My h. had to practically beg for a new plate so he could transfer it himself! And then he tasted the dish - it was awful- dried out meatloaf with a dried out topping, tasteless mashed potatoes, and fast food style onion rings. He didn't eat any of it. My daughter had the beet spaetzel with goat cheese, walnuts and greens. She tasted it and said it tasted burnt. Sure enough, half of the spaetzel were flecked with black! My fish was cooked properly, but was tasteless. I added some salt and was able to eat it, but it was NOT befitting such a highly rated restaurant. When the waitress finally came back, she saw the two uneaten meals and asked if everything was ok. We told her the problems, and she said she would see what she could do. After a kitchen conference, the ??chef ??manager decided to removed the costs of the uneaten entrees from the bill - thank goodness!! A terrible disappointment - I hope they get their act together.

    (1)

  • Erin S.

    My fiancee and I stopped in here after being referred by a foodie at a local wine bar. We first stopped into the Annex for a glass of wine. Service was friendly here, ambiance ok. at the main restaurant, We each ordered a glass of wine and the salmon bruschetta to start. wine was not good, but our fault for picking the wrong one. The bruschetta was delish, salmon was good and the dish had a nice flavor. I ordered the scallops and my fiance ordered the the rib eye. The rib eye was cooked to perfection (he ordered it medium rare) and melted in your mouth. The scallops were also cooked to perfection and the accompanying sauce was perfect: did not overwhelm the scallops and had just enough flavor. We shared the chocolate peanut butter mousse for dessert. This was just ok, wouldn't order it again. The service was attentive and polite. The ambiance was romantic and trendy. Prices were on the expensive side but worth it. I would definitely visit Tinderbox Kitchen again.

    (4)

  • Ethan L.

    The reviews speak for themselves, butI just had to weigh in. This place is fantastic. One of those rare restaurants so good that they challenge the diner to try new things, trusting that the kitchen can and will deliver.

    (5)

  • Susan L.

    expensive but they give you a lot of food for the money... i really like my scallops and still think about my soup appetizer... delish!

    (5)

  • Lisa G.

    I went there for lunch, the food was so-so, nothing special. When the server was rattling off the specials I told her I did no eat pork. I ordered potato salad as a side with my sandwich. The potato salad had bacon in it. She did not tell me. I was not happy, I have never been back.

    (2)

  • Cosmo D.

    I must have hit tinderbox at just the wrong moment. Went for valentines day dinner with my significant other. Waitstaff was rude, cook was unable to cook either of our steaks correctly even after sending them back TWICE. Left unsatisfied and with a bill for a meal we didn't eat. Every other rewiew is so positive, and flagstaff is foodie-hell for good meals I think I'm willing to give it a second chance.

    (1)

  • Steve R.

    The hamburger with the bacon jelly was fantastic! So were the fries! I know this is just burger and fries, but that meal at the Tinderbox annex was better than the two meals I've had at the main Tinderbox.

    (4)

  • M.E. H.

    Big fan of Tbox, but had not been to their new addition, The Annex until Saturday evening. Love it! Same outstanding service & attention to detail as Tbox. At the Annex, they have created a warm, welcoming, gathering spot - great place to meet or make friends, have a drink and a light-ish dinner from the bar menu. Tbox/Annex has a knack for taking the mundane (brushetta, ketchup) and reinventing it. Not with some whacky twist, but just using high-quality, fresh ingredients and giving it a slightly new take. My husband and I wanted to take home a gallon of the ketchup. Burger was great, as were the mussels. The Annex . . . our new hangout in downtown Flag.

    (5)

  • jessica r.

    i have not had such a tremendous dining experience since before i can remember. we had the whole nine yards-appetizer, soup, main course and dessert...we were ready when we walked in to spend some dinero for a delicious fine dining experience, and we got EVERYTHING we were looking for. the food was outstanding not to mention the friendly staff and adorable environment. we got a sweet wave from the bartender when we walked in and it was so fun that you could see into the kitchen from our table! our server angela described the specials which sounded phenomenal and brought our wine right over and let my better half taste it. the tomato blue cheese bisque tempted me to break my attempt at not eating cheese and it was so worth it, Angela brought us some yummy little bread cubes which were perfect for dipping. Our entrees tbox steak, which was admittedly perfectly cooked from a picky steak eater and my meatloaf were both succulent and filling. Even though we were out on a "date night" it was fun chatting with our server and even the manager came over to see how everything was tasting. the dessert put me over the edge- it was a triple chocolate delight of sorts. a milkshake with baileys, a brownie and the best of all...dun dun dun a crispy, chocolate crunchy bar that i wish I could buy in the store! Overall this place is worth it. period.

    (5)

  • Hailey L.

    Wow! Had dinner at the Tinderbox Kitchen tonight and it was one of the most amazing food experiences of my life! Hands down! Me and my friend had dinner on their cute patio. We had the butter lettuce salad with the goat cheese ranch, it was great! Simple with lettuce, red onions, and croutons but the tangy dressing was to die for. We also the Pork Belly Confit with the blue cheese grits, MIND-BLOWING! If I could recommend getting one thing here, this would definitely be it! For entrees we had the chicken fried duck with the dirty mashed potatoes and the jalapeno mac and cheese with the duck. They were both soooo superb. Honesetly. two of the best dishes I have ever eaten. The chefs at Tinderbox Kitchen are truly magical geniuses! For dessert we shared the barely baked chocolate cake with vanilla malt ice cream, this was so freakin' good I almost cried, we were both literally speechless and too consumed with this dessert to even talk, and the donut holes with the tres leches dipping sauce, they were warm with cinnamon and sugar, very delicious. If you are traveling through Flagstaff, you must stop and eat here, it's that good. And if you're a Flag local and never tried this place, you seriously don't know what you're missing out on. I am officially addicted and will be back again, and again, and again. Our waitress was Sarah and she was attentive and very nice. Great service. I had read all the amazing reviews on Yelp, and also heard from a few people at work how good this place was, but it truly blew me away. You must experience it for yourself.

    (5)

  • Jeff B.

    Yelp reviews were so good I didn't know if I could trust them. Asked the front desk at our hotel (Courtyard Marriott) and they said yes... all the locals are talking about it too. So we gave it a go... WOW!!! Outstanding. We caught the last hour of happy hour (4-7) and it made it totally reasonably for fantastic food. Really like the presentation and taste... give it a go... better than anything we had in Sedona. Even the kids (6 + 8) had the adult food and ate it up!

    (5)

  • Ann S.

    I'm a _very_ tough critic. This is the best restaurant we've been to in years! Short story: We stopped in for dessert, everything sounded so great that we had tapas and dessert. The food was so fabulous that we went back the next day to have a full dinner. It was again _fabulous_, so much so that we were going to drive from Sedona to Flagstaff a couple nights later during our roadtrip - except Tinderbox was closed on Sunday (fortunately we checked the website for its hours before we made the drive). Long story: We'd had a late lunch, so we just wanted to get dessert. We received a prompt and friendly greeting from the manager, Kevin, asked him if it were OK just to have dessert. Not a problem, our server (Brette?) promptly brought dessert menus and was as friendly as could be. (We're used to getting an attitude when we go to restaurants just for dessert, but no problem here. We recognize that the server has to work as hard, and thus, we tip as if we'd had a full meal). The tapas was wonderful - every bite! Our dessert was perfect. We were regretting having even had lunch because it kept us from trying the entrees. So, we went back the next night for dinner. Everything we were served was pure perfection. I do not say this lightly. It is rare that I'm unable to find something I'd like done differently. I had the pork porterhouse, and my husband had the meatloaf. The sides were wonderful, the perfect accompaniment to the protein. We were both extremely impressed! We ate only half our entrees (it was a huge struggle to put down our forks) because everything on the dessert menu sounded mouth-watering. It was so hard to choose, but my husband ended up with the apple cake with whiskey maple ice cream, and I had the donuts, which are made to order. I'm not a huge donut fan, but these are not ordinary donuts. The whiskey maple ice cream should be sold by the pint. My husband raved about it! He doesn't get excited about much, but he did not stop talking about the ice cream. Yes, we really were going to drive from Sedona back to Flagstaff to have another dinner at Tinderbox. We'd had two mediocre meals at what were supposedly Sedona's best restaurants. We decided we'd rather drive 40 miles to get what we knew would be a fabulous meal than have another overpriced average meal. Darnit - closed on Sunday. Make it a point to visit the Tinderbox Kitchen. If we lived in Flagstaff, we'd be at this place all the time, until we couldn't fit through the door anymore from eating way too much of its wonderful food! It is that good. We never sat in the dining room, just the bar area. It did get a tiny bit loud in the bar area, every now and then it was a little difficult to carry on a conversation .

    (5)

  • J H.

    Stayed in Flagstaff for two nights to check out Grand Canyon. Came here for dinner. Food was 1) overpriced, 2) mediocre, and 3) restaurant had bad service. I am willing to pay extra for good food and quick service, but we didn't experience either. I actually had to send back pasta (it had a weird smell and taste) to instead get a fish dish that also tasted bad. Don't recommend this place.

    (2)

  • Alyssa D.

    We went to the little annex next door, and loved the vibe. I was wary of the menu but it everything amazing. The bruschetta was the best I've ever had. Definitely worth visiting when in town!

    (5)

  • Beemeth R.

    A definite must go to if you enjoy creative, flavorful, and interesting great food! We had been told by friends that it was worth the drive from Phoenix and we would agree. The portions were healthy but if you are used to eating buckets of food or you frequent buffets, you could be disappointed. We started the meal with the Charcuterie plate and I must admit it was one of the best I have had. As an appetizer, the pork belly was hands down a favorite and in a word it was AWESOME! It was so good my wife had one as her entrèe after we had it as a shared appetizer. The beet salad was really good with the blue cheese crumbles that were very tasty. As far as the entrèes I would have to give the scallops probably the average rating but then again I would not expect Flagstaff to offer great seafood, not even at the Tinderbox. My entree was the Venison and that was excellent. It was prepared two ways, as a sausage and fillet "nuggets". I would definitely have that again. No gaminess and very nice flavors. If I had to express one dissatisfaction it would be that we wanted to sample the Jalapeno Mac n' Cheese as a side but our server Alysia told us that was not possible. We would have been happy to pay for it as a side and we did not attempt to have them as a substitution but our request was simply denied. Never had that happen at a restaurant, even at 5 Star/5Diamond establishments so I was definitely taken aback by that. Still that would not be a reason not to go but with that attitude and customer service, the restaurant could not merit 5 stars. A wonderful bonus from the meal was actually the next day. The serving of pork belly was very generous, so much so that my wife brought half of it home. I had it the next day and it was absolutely incredible. If you love pork belly, you have to have it at the Tinderbox Kitchen. Moist, flavorful and it melts in your mouth! I really wish this restaurant was a BYO so that I could have had an incredible wine with my meal. The list is not meant for wine drinkers as the two selections I had were OK. I would have paid just about any corkage fee to bring in my own wine. To the staff if you read this, I would be happy to pay $25 to $35 to bring in my own bottle of wine. Overall, thanks for a great experience!

    (4)

  • Eric P.

    We searched yelp on our way back to Sedona after visiting the Grand Canyon and stumbled onto this place. FANTASTIC!!!- We called and the y kept the kitchen open for us as we were arriving at closing time- great food, wine and beer- cozy place and warm service.

    (5)

  • Alex P.

    Absolutely floored. I did not expect to find food this good in Flagstaff. I had the venison and the lady had the surf and turf. Impressive wine list and menu. The menu changes daily but they keep a lot of the items on there every day (bleu cheese grits). Waitress was super nice and attentive. We went on a Friday night and didn't have to wait for a table. I can imagine the wait would be longer if the weather was nicer. They put pencils on the tables. We went to town with the pencils ha. Playing tic-tac-toe and other childhood games.

    (5)

  • Elise C.

    Came here for Father's Day and it was a real treat! They had a wonderful selection on the menu that was mixed with comfort food, local favorites (venison), and fusion inspired pairings. I had the watermelon gazpacho with duck and pepper jack macaroni and cheese. Other members of my party had the steak, venison, and entree salad, all were pleased with their meals. Service was wonderful, wine was perfect, and servings were a good portion. I am very excited to go back and would recommend it for a special occasion or anniversary for anyone who enjoys good food!

    (4)

  • Tomas G.

    The food was amazing. We got turned away at another place so we tried this place. It made our evening amazing. Great food. Great drinks. Great service. I had the steak and it was one of the best steaks I have had. If your looking for a great place to eat go here. We only came up from Phoenix for the weekend but will be back on out next trip.

    (5)

  • Rebecca N.

    A little jewel in this lovely mountain town. I made a reservation for eight (see photo posted on 12/17/11) to celebrate my son's recent NAU graduation. Staff was friendly and accomodating for this large party. I found out about it because Brix wasn't able to accomodate us so I asked where their staff likes to eat, I was told "when we don't eat here, we're at the Tinderbox". We started with the calamari, generous portions, cooked to perfection and accompanied by a delicious aioli. All eight of us loved our meals: grilled sirloin steak; seared scallops; sage cured venison; surt and turf (steak & swordfish); and, duck breast (there were a few duplicates). The flavors were layered and delicious and presentation was lovely. Our server was excellent -- so nice to have great customer service -- for this large party. Dessert was yum! I shared the chocolate-peanut butter mousse with my friend, we were loathe to share until we bartered for bites of the individual size rich chocolate cake with ice cream. Both fab, but the mousse wins! I am an admitted peanut butter lover. The french press coffee complemented the desserts and was a perfect end to our meal. Would I go back? Absolutely.

    (5)

  • Arthur S.

    from appetizer to dessert this may have been one of the best meals I have ever had. I will definitely be returning here in the future. I don't know didn't give this five stars, but their mouth must be broken. Excelent meal!

    (5)

  • Caitlin B.

    Holy crap. This meal was on par with some of the best I've had. Like, it ranks on my fingers as one of the best meals I've ever had. First, I got a delicious glass of smooth, sweet, pinot noir. We got Roasted Mushroom & Ricotta Dumplings, Mushroom Broth and Truffle Oil as an appetizer. At $12 I thought it was a little pricey, but really good nonetheless. Probably worth more like $9-10, but I would eat them again. I got the Shrimp & Grits, with barbecued shrimp, blue cheese grits, and pickled radishes and sweet peppers (and some other incredible ingredients). I seriously could not stop talking about how good my dish was throughout dinner, which is not normal. My boyfriend got the Hand-Rolled Egg Noodles, Roasted Mushrooms, Crema, and Paprika dish. The egg noodles were very wide, and full of delicious gravy and flavor. Not quite as good as mine, but still very delicious. I am absolutely returning! I can't wait to try more! I almost had them pack up a second order of the Shrimp & Grits... and am now almost regretting my decision not to!

    (5)

  • Jenn P.

    After having dinner elsewhere we had to try Tinderbox if only for dessert! I loved the ambiance - and is it me or is just the entire city full of ridiculously friendly people! Service was great - friendly -. We had a cap and homemade donut holes. It's not dunkin' donuts, so my husband wasn't a fan - he likes the soft mushy donuts.... but I really did like it. Yum. I'd go back. Oh, I also overheard a couple next to us order the Jalapeno Mac and Cheese! WHAT! If I head back - that's what i'm ordering next!

    (4)

  • Chris C.

    Tinderbox had that lovely quality of getting every single thing just right. We made a reservation for 8 just as they opened at 5pm on the same Saturday and they accommodated us with no problems at all. The service was friendly and spot on. But the real star here, as with any restaurant of merit, was the food. There was some great originality and inspiration throughout the menu. I had the "shake n bake" duck leg with duck pastrami mac and cheese, for instance. It was, in a word, epic. Three of our party had the amazing steak served with a twice baked bleu cheese potato and broccolini, all cooked perfectly, with a fantastic house "steak sauce" that didn't disappoint. Dinner was rounded out with the scallops and the juniper venison, both to rave reviews. I also had the amazing pepper frites, served with guajillo ketchup. They were delightful, and a fun compliment to my (admittedly already starchy) mac & cheese & duck meal. The desserts were too hard to choose from, so we had nearly all of them, including the melted-chocolate-cake bit, the apples, the banana pudding, and a few more that escape me right now, one of which included homemade marshmallows. We passed them around, and everyone had their fill. Our total bill per person came to around $45-$50 with tip but no booze (and a bit higher for those in our party with wine/beer) and it was completely worth it. A fun meal, great service, fantastic flavors, and a nice atmosphere to boot. Definitely will try this place again!

    (5)

  • Mike W.

    Coolest place in town for the 26-55 crowd that loves nice things and great food.

    (5)

  • Sean G.

    Food was excellent, but service was so so. Especially for a place that doesn't have a lot of tables. Waited and had to ask for water during the entire meal.

    (4)

  • R B.

    DO NOT PERSEVERATE about other restaurants - go to The Tinderbox Kitchen. If you are a couple, GO EARLY because they don't take for less than six. We were left the first time due to a one hour wait. The following week was a wait that was worth it. I was disinclined as I hold a grudge, but my better reasoned wife prevailed. The meal was A+. Service was excellent, presentation was impeccable, cuisine was unique - executed to perfection - ambiance helped. I had Bleu Cheese Grits (a bit pedestrian) Tenderloin Carpaccio (TDF) Venison (worthy of a second death). My ravishing date had Hanger Steak (Perfecto!) Gin and Vodka Martini libation with a delicate lemon creme brulee' sonata. If your having trouble with any of this - JUST GO!!

    (5)

  • Matthew C.

    I really liked this place. They are creating high end comfort food, are focused on that and are doing a great job. The service is professional and friendly but not overbearing. Appetizers Crab and grapefruit tart with shaved fennel and spiced pear dressing - very good - dressing was a bit subtle. pork belly confit with blue cheese grits and frisee - very good, especially the grits duck confit on toast with potato/garlic puree and cherry marmelade - also excellent but some thought the garlic was a bit pronounced ploughman's lunch with pheasant pate, cheddar cheese and pickles - pate was superb Mains Duck confit with jalapeno mac n cheese and truffle oil - very tasty - the kids loved this Maple Pork chop with potato hash - very good kurabota pork Pot Roast with goat cheese polenta - didn't love this but I am pretty picky about braised meats given my Eastern European roots - the carrots could have been sweeter - if they can get 1-2 old carrots, they will be better Dessert shortbread chocolate chip cookie with amaretto milk - excellent caramel custard with chocolate bacon chip and shortbread cookie - awesome rum raisin rice pudding - rice was a tad undercooked for our tastes chocolate cake - very, very good

    (5)

  • Patrick H.

    This is my new favorite restaurant in Flagstaff. Friendly, casual service and great comfort food with a contemporary spin. I had the blistered green bean appetizer to start. It's coated with a miso-blue cheese dressing and small fried wonton chips for crunch. I ate the green beans with my fingers and enjoyed every bite. The green beans were cooked perfectly - crisp but not raw. The Tbox mixed grill was outstanding. Lotsa meat here. A pork and shrimp sausage, sirloin steak and smoked pork loin served over blue cheese grits. This dish was fantastic and the sausage and the grits really stood out as the stars of this entree. Olivia the bartender makes a great Old Fashioned. Check out the Annex lounge next door for a relaxing place to have a drink.

    (4)

  • Grace K.

    The food was good. The presentation wasn't that great. Perhaps the chef got mad because I asked for substitutions. I'm from the city so I might be a little spoiled with service and quality of the food. The service was awful. Our waitress was not attentive. We had to practically flag her down each time and it wasn't because the restaurant was busy. There were 3 other tables total in the whole place. The fact that they do not offer substitutions is ridiculous. What restaurant does not do substitutions?!!! Perhaps they can offer exceptions when paying customers want substitutions due to allergies or religion or at least try to be more accommodating. I'm sorry everything on the menu had pork in it. I can not eat pork. I'll probably never go here again unfortunately.

    (2)

  • Tim H.

    Okay, all the reviews on this one are dead on. We were on our last night on our Flagstaff trip and after going to Brix (see my review for that) we decided to go somewhere on San Francisco. I was leaning toward Beaver St. Brewery as I could count on decent food there. Decided to check Yelp and Tinderbox came up with high reviews...how could we not try it! It's a convenient location across from Mad-I (Mad Itialian for those non locals) and nestled in between another bar hangout and souvenir t-shirt shop. The ambiance is great and clean. We were welcomed warmly and kindly and without reservations (it was a Tuesday night though) we were seated immediately. Appetizer: You MUST get the BBQ Pork Belly. Perfectly done, and on a bed of blue cheese grits and what I think was truffle oil. Don't be alarmed by the blue cheese grist...they are not overpowering and very, very good (I wanted a side of them all my own!). The pork belly was the best I've ever had and cooked to perfection. We wanted to lick the plate clean...seriously. Meal 1: I opted for the ancho rubbed meatloaf and was not disapoointed. It's on a traditional mashed potato serving. The meatloaf was perfect and had a good kick to it. I have no complaints. Honestly after the appetizer I wish I would have got more blue cheese grits as I think it would have been a better accompaniment to the meatloaf than the potato mash. Meal 2: Wife had the pot roast dish. It's not what you think (or ours wasn't) as it was mixed with noodles, etc. It was, however, fantastic and some of the best slow cooked meat I've had in a long time. Both meals were perfectly done and adequate portions. We read so much about the doughnut dessert that we tried that. It didn't live up to the hype in my opinion. It was good, but after reading so much about it, I was expecting to cry as I ate it. I did eat it all and was tasty, but no tears of joy :-). The menu does seem to change (it differed for us than what was online). So make sure you don't only base what is online. My recommendations: -you'd be a fool if you passed up Tinderbox -you'd be a fool if you didn't get the pork belly appetizer -you'd be a fool if you didn't order a side of blue cheese grits. If you are in Flagstaff for dinner...GO TO TINDERBOX! I fear how long it can last being in a college town, and being in the 'bar' district there -- I don't recall spending that much on dinner when I was on a college budget :-) -- that said, I hope they survive as they really do have something going there!

    (5)

  • Lou P.

    We had a business lunch here last week with a large party. Not only was the food awesome, our server acted like a party of 10 was the best thing that ever happened to her. My steak sandwich was perfect in every way. During this trip, we ate in a few good restaurants in Flag, this would be my first choice for a return visit. One last thing: do the donut holes. Just shut up and order them.

    (4)

  • Anne K.

    Tinderbox calls their menu "comfort food redefined," and this seems about right. Everything is delicious and well-thought out, but also a bit heavy and lacking in veggies. I ate a beautiful vegetarian meal here: an amazing starter salad with a side of perfectly fired broccolini. There were zero vegetarian entrees, but the soup was delicious and vegetarian. So clearly creative vegetarians will enjoy this place, but vegans sadly will find nothing on the menu that isn't the butter and cheese version of comfort-fooded-up. Waitstaff are attentive and knowledgable.

    (4)

  • Emily G.

    One of the best restaurants I have been to in ARIZONA! Wine- great wine list with food pairings. We were pleasantly surprised to see a Finger Lakes Riesling on the list. Usually can't find those west of Buffalo NY. Apps- The pork belly was amazing. My mouth is watering thinking about it. Perfectly crisp on the outside, tender and moist on the inside. The blue cheese grits were perfect- not too cheesy. Dinner- Meatloaf. Amazing. Dessert- homemade donuts with a caramel dipping sauce. The texture of the donuts was unique- crispy on the outside and rick and dense in the middle. The donuts come out hot and the carmel sauce cools them down enough to eat. Also the fresh, individual french press coffee was the icing on the cake. Planning my next trip just to eat here.

    (5)

  • Kevin H.

    Cool spot with a great vibe. Again, our friendly tender at Beaver Street suggested this spot which has not been open very long. Lots of pork on the menu, and the chef obviously loves blue cheese as it sneaks into many dishes. Being a lover of the cheese, not a concern. They do not take reservations for smaller parties so we walked in on a Saturday night snagged one of the last tables in the bar area. Couple of beers on tap this evening, Oak creek amber ale and Four Peaks Sunbru. Ordered some beers and studied the short menu. It appears they change it monthly. Enjoyed the arugula fennel salad which was tossed with just the right amount of dressing. Also quite tasty was the pork belly confit with bbq sauce over blue cheese grits. Tender, chock full of porky goodness. For entrees we sampled the grilled Berkshire pork chop, served over creamed corn, outstanding. I could have licked the bowl to get the last of the perfectly seasoned fresh creamed corn. Also sampled the meatloaf which was charred nicely, served over Yukon garlic mashers with green beans, really nice. Still seems like some growing pains might be in play here as our order was incorrect at first. Server made immediate amends and offered dessert on the house but alas we had no room and politely declined, so he bought us our beers, a nice gesture. I would return here for sure, but would prefer to see a menu based on the local ingredients change weekly opposed to monthly. All in all a very pleasant place.

    (4)

  • Tim W.

    I feel kind of like I'm cheating here because I've yet to eat at the Tinderbox but LOVE the Tinderbox Annex. The shandys are the best and their happy hour specials are pretty good. If you go here, try some of the exotic drinks on the small chalk board or some of the food on the bigger chalk board. This place has a nice ambiance, probably my favorite in town. Bartenders are also nice and friendly.

    (5)

  • Chen C.

    The only thing I love is they change the menu all the time.

    (4)

  • Chris L.

    This is by far our favorite place to eat in Flagstaff. We had another stellar meal tonight at the Tinderbox Kitchen. I don't know if they're really glad inside when they see us coming with the kids in tow but if not, they hid it well. We had an outstanding server and the food was killer from start to finish. We led with a wonderful charcuterie platter which had a great sampling of meats such as duck sausage, the farmer's terrine, house cured pastrami and duck ham. We were fans of all of them as well as the cheese, horseradish mustard, chutney, pickled vegetables and grilled bread. We also had the BBQ pork belly confit, creamy blue cheese grits and mustardy nectarine salad. That was also a big hit with the whole family with the 10 month old particularly liking the blue cheese grits. Then we rounded out the starters with a lovely beet salad with frisee, arugula, pepitas, miso-blue cheese dressing and bacon brittle. Another great dish. We had this dressing with some green beans on our last visit and I think it had been the universal highlight so we had to go back. It worked just as well here. For entrees, we had lamb sausage links with manchego bread salad and cucumber-yogurt dressing. I absolutely loved this dish. The sausages were wonderful with the lamb notes and they paired beautifully with the salad. Inspired work here. We also had steamed Prince Edward Island mussels with house pancetta, garlic, chiles and grilled bruschetta. This was wonderful as well and we did indeed ask for a spoon at the end so as not to waste the broth. I think our biggest surprise though came at the end. We ordered 3 dessert courses. Sorbet for our dairy allergic 7 year old, duo of chocolate and peanut butter mousse and some kind of molten chocolate cake or something. Now I'm sure everybody has had 1001 terrible versions of the molten chocolate cake (and theirs wasn't called this) and it's completely passe. Well this was amazing. Totally unexpected and one of the finest desserts we have had in a long while. Simple but beautifully executed and just yummy. We were also blown away by the Earl Gray/lemon sorbet. The Earl Gray punch to the sorbet was awesome. So another meal at TBOX and another excellent experience.

    (5)

  • Lynda K.

    Absolutely amazing. We did the tasting with wine pairing and were not at all disappointed. One of the top 3 meals ever!!! Highly recommend and very friendly service. Will definitely recommend to anyone coming to Flag!

    (5)

  • Jennifer O.

    I went to Tinderbox with the BF last weekend when we were in Flagstaff for our anniversary. This place really rocked my socks.... the restaurant itself is very cutely decorated. We arrived at about 5:45 and didn't have to wait to be seated. Once we were seated, I noticed they have the heater on and it blows under the tables....genius! My feet were nice and warm. Their menu changes daily, but we shared the butternut squash soup which was rich and creamy with a little bit of crunch from some seasoned croutons....so good. I ordered the lamb with goat cheese mashed potatoes and figs...it was some of the most delicious lamb, perfectly cooked. The mashed potatoes and the goat cheese went perfectly with the lamb and the fig added just enough sweetness. The BF got the venison with the sweet potato hash. I had never had venison, but if this is any indication of what it usually tastes like, I like it. It was sweet and tender. The mashed potato hash was delicious and, again, complemented the meat perfectly. Clearly the chefs here know what they're doing. As we were eating dinner, I realized that they were playing a Paul Simon record all the way through. That made me extremely happy (both because I love Paul Simon and because I think it is cool for a restaurant to just play a record straight through). We finished with the carrot cake as recommended by our fabulous waitress. It was very different , but delicious. The cake was surrounded by a carrot sauce and was topped with a light whipped cream frosting (not the usual cream cheese) and coconut. At first, I was leery about this, but as we ate the cake it got better and better. So why not 5 stars? I need to go again before I can determine that...but that shouldn't be a problem as I want to go back...often.

    (4)

  • Kirstan P.

    This place was amazing!!

    (4)

  • Cameron C.

    When my husband and I have a special occasion, Tinderbox Kitchen is ALWAYS the top of the list. Southern soul food with a twist-- and try the white linen cocktail.

    (5)

  • kara y.

    Ok, its been three years! Hmm, new owner (?) as comfort food has now evolved into upscale dishes, and cost. Guess our server was too polite to suggest the Annex. However, please pour a $11 glass of wine and take a few minutes to pour rank water out of potted plants. Intrigued to return but the shock was ours as this was the same restaurant that originally poured the Black Box red wine!

    (3)

  • Anice S.

    must be the best restaurant in Flagstaff. every bite generates a "yum". Amazing combos of food and everything is delicious. pork belly appetizer is delicious. who would think grits in various combos could be so good. the scallops were cooked perfectly. the venison melted in your mouth. the lemon dessert was light and refreshing. if you are in Flag looking for a nice place to eat, this is the place to go. and look up at the ceiling, it is beautiful.

    (5)

  • Michael O.

    I was driving though Flagstaff, and looked on yelp, lo and behold, I found this great little place called the tinderbox. We went in about 5 minutes before closing, but they were still very accommodating. The food was great, I was with three people, and we all demolished our plates. I would definitely recommend this place.

    (5)

  • Alaskafiregirl F.

    TInderbox Kitchen is like the Furby of Flagstaff dining experiences--in the heat of the moment you may be caught up by boisterous noise of positive reviews on Yelp and run out to try the newest latest thing. But when you've finally experienced what you are after, you're left with an empty wallet and a mystified "huh?" on your face. Remember those maniacal litttle Furby things? Rounded eyes and a face that constantly screams "yoooyoooyooo?" The restaurant itself is decorated in sharp colors and snappy lines, but the decor can't make up where the dishes fall flat. I've tried to enjoy TInderbox, really. You want to support local businesses, so you make excuses for an "off" night or whatever, but after multiple visits it dawned on me that maybe *every* night is an "off" night recently. The food is ho-hum regular fusion fare that you could find anywhere in the Scottsdale Waterfront district (no surprise it's also priced like Scottsdale but without the flavor or ambiance). However, like several other yelpers have mentioned, the service SUCKS. Went there a few weeks ago to grab a bite and study for an exam. There were probably five people in there total, yet it took 20 minutes (well, ok, maybe not that long... but long enough for an entire cheesy rendition of "Maggie May" to filter through my head) for the waitress to acknowledge me. She then spent another few minutes grumbling how one person was taking a four-top with textbooks (again, there were less than five people in the restaurant) and how "they are going to have to start limiting what those students bring in." You're less than a half-mile from campus yet you don't want students to come in? C'mon guys... really? The Tinderbox website says they are owned by NAU grads, so I'm really trying to give them the benefit of the doubt. Um, maybe she was just kidding? Perhaps undercaffeinated? It's not like NAU students can really afford to eat here anyway, so I guess it's a moot point. As for the food itself? Well, meh. The polenta was overcooked, the salmon was undercooked and the spaetzle would've left me crying in my beer if they carried a decent selection. Fennel and orange bruschetta may sound original and bold on paper, but it tasted like what I imagine all the skud at the bottom of Agassiz resembles if you bite it up at Snowbowl. Anyone who has bitten it enough times on the mountain would recognize that gritty taste anywhere. Hmm, maybe that's what they mean by "local fusion"...? My bad. Until they give their waitstaff a few lessons in manners, bring down their prices to somewhere under the national debt and start welcoming students and locals, you'd be better off roasting a Furby with a little peanut sauce and hang on to your money. Might even taste better come to think of it. Follow your taste buds, not the hype. P.S. In response to Kevin and Scott: "Fictional" writing isn't my major (or even proper grammar), but interesting to note you have the same attitude on Yelp that your waitstaff has towards customers. I guess you are consistent with at least some things! Now let's see some improvement with others.

    (2)

  • Christin C.

    Had a very nice dinner here on a recent trip to the Grand Canyon. We did the chef's tasting menu and it was fabulous! I wish I could remember all the dishes that were served but I will say they were all delish! Stand out was a meat dish served over blue cheese grits. My mouth waters just thinking about it! :) Great vibe inside the place and the bartender makes a strong drink! Check it out!!

    (4)

  • Chance H.

    Whenever possible I stick to the 4-5 star rating range when selecting a new restaurant to eat at. This place takes yelp ratings to a 6 like a spinal tap amp goes to 11. This is one of the best meals I have ever had! The cocktails are amazing! Let me give you a basic play by play. Me and my lovely gf got the chef sampler plus the ribs so we got a taste of everything. watermelon edamame salad. Watermelons and edamame...WTF...just eat it, its amazing. Sugar cured venison cherry chunety?!?.....holy shit I could eat this all day. Asian pork spare ribs? F.....ing amazing? you got that right!! No seriously these are the best ribs I've ever had, and I'm not just blowing smoke out of my ass. Man I'm getting full, must press on. Butter fish with pesto on truffle oil potato mashers.....yeah its as good as it sounds. The fish is my least favorite dish, but thats kinda of like Hugh Heffner talking about his least favorite girlfriend, it still pretty damn amazing. I'm not sure I can take another dish. Duck breast on duck leg confit with baby peas........ at this point I was so full it was insane, but this is so good I damn near licked the plate clean. I LOVE DUCK!......but wait.....theres more. Lemon custard Creme brule, black berries in foamed cream stuff, sugar cinnamon friters in chocolate sauce. Blackberries blew away any previous blackberry experiences. Everything else was pretty much on par with the rest of the meal...deliciously scrumptious. Oh yeah...the chef seems a bit hot tempered so don't do anything stupid, like change and order. If you don't want to eat the food the way this guy makes it, go to the local chain, I'm sure they will be happy to ruin your food for you. Seriously do you think you know how to cook better than this guy. The answer is no you don't. Do not miss this place.

    (5)

  • Dean D.

    Let me make this easy for you. If you don't go here, you may be missing something on your bucket list. The food is amazing. The service is great. The ambiance is quiet, cozy, and not pretentious. Great for dates or food snobbery or both. Not so good for large parties or the poor student. But if you can make the effort, I would highly suggest it, nay I demand it. If you live in Flagstaff for any length of time, you must go here. It's just a fact of life, like death and taxes. So if you live in Flagstaff, life goes like this...death, taxes, Tinderbox...its inescapable and so much more preferable than death or taxes.

    (5)

  • Paul H.

    Consistently great food with twists on American comfort dishes. Terrific house made charcuterie. Seafood and pork dishes are especially good. Blue cheese grits and jalapeno mac and cheese make even this primal diet guy stray on occasion.

    (5)

  • Erin B.

    This place was awesome! After the disappointing day at the very weird Flagstaff Hullabaloo, the BF and I decided to treat ourselves to a really nice dinner. We checked the internet and found this place. When I called to make a reservation, the guy said they didn't do reservations for couples but we shouldn't have a problem if we got there around 6:30 because that's when it started to get busy...super helpful! After arriving, we were greeted by the hostess and immediately seated. Water was there in a flash as was yummy bread to munch on quickly followed by menus. The waitress was pleasant, no nonsense and friendly. She knew the menu and complimented us on our selections. Attentive but not obtrusive during the meal, we never wanted for water, she was smart about the bill and, on the whole, was quite professional and sweet. Here's what we ordered: Chorizo & Venison Nachos appetizer--phenomenal! I got the "Surf & Turf"--Miso Swordfish w/ Kimchee and NY Strip steak with Sriracha Mashers...AAAAA-MAAAAAZ-IIIIIING! The BF got Jalapeno Mac N' Cheese w/ Duck Confit and Truffle oil...again, AAAAA-MAAAAAZ-IIIIING! We each ate with gusto and didn't even care about the three dollar sign warning we saw on the internet. Highly recommended by me (and the BF) for anyone looking to try something new and fun.

    (4)

  • Noosh R.

    Tinderbox was recommended to my husband and I by our friends so we thought we would try it out. The hostess was pleasant and was able to seat us quickly on the outdoor patio. Our server came over right away to greet us and to inform us about the specials for the night. The menu is hand created everyday with interesting dishes and specials. We started off with an appetizer: the artichoke crab dip, which was amazing! To top it off there was a hint of Truffle oil baked on top. We shared the main course which was venison with blue cheese grits ( I hate blue cheese, but actually could not taste it all). The dish was finished off with sweet cherries and fresh blackberries. A very weird, but delicious combination. The dessert was the best: A half baked chocolate cake with Coffee ice cream. Hands down the most delicious and decedent dessert.

    (5)

  • Cathy D.

    This is a fabulous find in Flagstaff. We pulled in last night at 8:30 pm after a harrowing ride up icy I-17. The staff was welcoming and warm. I had THE BEST Manhattan. Made with real rye, sweet and dry vermouth, orange bitters. My husband had delicious mushroom soup while I had the flash fried Brussel sprouts. My husband had scallops and I had venison. The beets were so well pared with the venison. For desert I had baked apple while my husband had the zablione usually drizzled on top of it. This restaurant is a gem in Flagstaff. Worth the stop if you are driving through.

    (5)

  • Runar H.

    Excellent service and fabulous food. The barbecued pork-belly melts on the tongue and my second, a duck-plate, was also excellent. Wanted to finish it off with a shot of espresso but for some reason they don't have a machine (there went the fifth star). Settled for the french-press coffee instead and it was strong and good. Definitively my place to return to in Flagstaff.

    (4)

  • Brad G.

    Over the last year, I've stayed overnight in downtown Flagstaff about a dozen times, and this is my favorite middle-to-high-end restaurant, easily. Cottage Place is more gourmet, but it's a whole other level of special/expensive, and really a different kind of food. Tinderbox is a place I could see myself going to once a month, as opposed to once a year. The genre here is "gourmet comfort/soul food." For example, you'll find grits on the menu, but the cheese is Gorgonzola instead of Velveeta. That's the general theme. And it works, I have to say, incredibly well. I'd suggest specific dishes, but they rotate often. The meatloaf has been my favorite. I haven't gone wrong with a soup there yet, either. I think the chef here knows exactly what (s)he is doing, and has never let me down. It gets busy surprisingly fast, and seating is limited, so call ahead.

    (5)

  • Carol K.

    Followed fellow Yelpers advice and was delighted with this gem. Halibut cheek tacos and steak and Bleu sandwich was great. Even the side salad was crisp and special. Will definitely return for dinner someday.

    (5)

  • Susan S.

    My BF and I finally went to the Tinderbox Kitchen after hearing so many great things about it. We might be a little spoiled in the cuisine department being from Boston becasue we didn't feel Tinderbox Kitchen was anything special. I had the pork chop dish which was okay and he had the mussels which were also okay. Many of the mussels still had dirt and rocks in them. They needed to be washed a little better for an upscale restaurant. My plate came with a hair on it. OOPS. Overall we left feeling we wouldn't be back for a while, becasue we were not that impressed and cannot rationalize paying $28.00 for a pork chop. LOL

    (3)

  • Chris T.

    Terrible. Ok, maybe good for a lunch. But dinner at $20-25 dollars a plate? Well, if the food was good I would. I feel this place is over-rated. I just haven't been impressed with the menu (dinner menu). Lunch is ok, sandwiches are descent. Frankly, though, I'd rather spend $15 elsewhere.

    (2)

  • Deb P.

    We had dinner at the Tinderbox with friends and we're coming from Portland and the Bay area so maybe our food senses are a bit spoiled... The Tinderbox was ok. The portions are enormous so if you are looking for something small, just do appetizers. We thought the prices were convoluted for this restaurant. Perhaps they are used the tourists who don't know they can get good food for much less? Maybe it is the best in town as others say... I had the buffalo meatloaf, cheddar mashed potatoes (I didn't eat them) and the grilled broccolini. The broccolini was good and the meatloaf was good but I didn't think it was worth the price per plate. I'd recommend this place if you were going out of your way to impress people just by the prices alone. The service was good and what can I say? We've had much better for a lot less.

    (3)

  • Michelle L.

    This weekend was my second visit to Tinderbox Kitchen. I had to drop my rating, although I was hoping to have a better visit than the first. My husband took me here to celebrate my birthday, and I was really looking forward to their version of "surf and turf". The description for their dish mentioned that it was a peppered steak. I asked if I could get the steak without the pepper and was told that all the cuts for this dish were already peppered ahead of time and since they decline any substitutions, I would have to order a different dish. For the culinary level and price point, I was pretty shocked that I couldn't order a steak that hadn't been peppered. I was disappointed, but ordered the scallops and hush puppies with brussel sprouts dish hoping it had improved since my first visit. I also ordered the marinated beets. Both were excellent, but I still think 3 scallops for $25 is an overpriced as an entree. My husband ordered the meatloaf and mashed pots., and it was great as well. The service was good, but the rigidness of the menu is off-putting. When you are paying $100 for dinner in Flagstaff, you would assume some special requests would be accommodated. The decor is fun and casual, so we may go back for lunch sometime, but the dinner menu is overpriced, so I don't think we will be returning for dinner.

    (3)

  • janet b.

    We'd give this place 10 stars if it were possible. And indeed....Yelpsters guided us to the motherlode of restaurants! We'd been driving east from lalaland and yelped restaurants flagstaff. Up popped Tinderbox- the gift from the culinary gods. We parked many blocks away and are ever so thankful because we consumed enough to warrant a good walk - both directions. We had been driving for hours - it was eight-ish when we arrived and we had some hours to go before our next stop so we thought "Let's just order a couple of appetizers rather than full meals...you know to be able to drive for awhile afterwards without going into food coma." We were served by a personable waiter who deftly agreed with our selections of asparagus with star anise aioli, smoked sturgeon with devilicious eggs, and the utterly devine charcuterie board that could and did make us cry "wowser" as we packed away each morsel - we loved the smoked duck breast. Full? Hell yes and still luscious chocolate molten cake with the creamiest vanilla frozen custard dessert we ate with gusto. Our waiter handed us the check - we paid then waddled back to our car and headed east on the 40 happily sated, our bellies ever so slightly larger than we had intended and looked at each other stating simultaneously - "We'll be back on our next pass through Flagstaff."

    (5)

  • Kenny A.

    This really is one of the best evening experiences in Flagstaff which seems to cater 50/50 to the college crowd, from a bar and dining perspective. The Tinderbox stands out with it's mindful menu of contrasting tastes that work well together and an understated atmosphere. There's really not any parking to speak of but then again, it is on San Fran in Flagstaff, so I really can't complain. The menu changes which is nice and the food is upbeat. By that I mean you won't just find any lame old standards. There seems to be continental influence on most things with a heavy American hand on the dishes. That's NOT to say the dishes are heavy, by any stretch of the imagination, they're pleasing for an American diner, that's all. I'll go back on a weekly basis whenever I'm in Flagstaff.

    (5)

  • Bethie G.

    The Tinderbox has expanded! Now open is the Annex, which is a great place to have a drink after work. They have a large drink menu and wine list and do a wonderful job of stocking regional varietals. They do have a menu, it is different than the restaurant which is actually kind of disappointing yet I understand. They have some fun specials. Tuesday is wine and chocolate pairing tastes for $12; three wines and three chocolates (from Brookside). YUM! And, on Thursdays they offer bruscetta and a bottle for $20. Sweet. Here are my beefs, specifically with wine and chocolate night. Pours are disappointingly light. I do understand that it is a tasting, but really, the pours are too skimpy even for a tasting. Second, ditch the Brookside chocolate girl who comes in hole-y, torn jeans, who hasn't seen a hairbrush in a while and says as she serves you a piece of chocolate, "and your next thingy is...". Seriously, take it back to how it was before, have one TB tender who can tell us about the wine and chocolate without Miss Clueless having to get up from her bar stool to say, "your next thingy".

    (4)

  • Vikki B.

    Wow, the food here was outstanding!! I was looking for a more adventurous meal(other than the standard filet mignon and garlic mashed that you find at most high end restaurants) and this place did not dissapoint. We started with the chorizo venison nachos, they came layered in a bowl so each chip was covered in meaty cheesey deliciousness. My husband had the juniper marinated venison with blue cheese grits and arugula with balsamic blackberries which was amazing. I have never had venison this tender, no gamey flavor here. I've never tasted anything like it. I ordered the jalepeno mac and cheese with duck confit and truffle oil. It was so fabulous that I almost needed a tissue for my tears of joy. They also have a great wait staff, extensive wine list, and great bottled craft beers. I thought the food was really reasonably priced, both entrees were less than $30 (I think my mac and cheese was only $24). Their menu changes weekly and they use only local fresh ingredients. If I lived in Flagstaff I would be eating here regularly.

    (5)

  • tina p.

    We found this little gem on Yelp and we are so happy that we did. We were sat on the lovely back patio and promptly ordered a glass of wine. For lunch I had the mac and cheese special for 10$. My DH had the yummy bean soup $5 and the BBQ baloney sandwich $10. May seem a bit pricy for lunch in Flagstaff but so worth it. Our delightful server explained that virtually everything is made in house - even the ketchup! Service was attentive and friendly never a bother. Menu changes everyday but something tells me that just about everything is terrific.

    (5)

  • Bert S.

    This is a no-brainer- great food, great service, cozy atmosphere and reasonably priced. Love it--I go back whenever I am in town.

    (4)

  • B S.

    I've lived in Flagstaff for many many years and this is the best meal I've ever had in this town. Yes, we have some nice restaurants at different price points, but Tinderbox wins overall on taste alone. It is inventive, casual, colorful and delicious. In order, here are the restaurants to get great food in Flagstaff according to this local who has tried them all many many times. 1. Tinderbox 2. Cottage Place 3. Brix 4. From here is goes down substantially....

    (5)

  • Chiara H.

    I would drive from Phoenix to Flagstaff just to eat at Tinderbox Kitchen. I ate there for the second time on Saturday night, and I was just as happily blown away as I was the first time I tried Tinderbox (thanks to Yelp, btw...). The first time I went I had the pork cheeks in Dr. Pepper (no, I am not kidding) and the bleu cheese grits. The pork melted in my mouth, and the grits were incredible. However, I would state here that they do have a very strong bleu cheese flavor, so if you are only looking for a hint of the bleu cheese taste, these aren't for you. I do have another recommendation that you can TRY: ask for the grits on the side instead of under the pork. Normally, I don't mind the mix of flavors, but it was my first time there, so I wanted to sample as independently as I could. This suggestion does flirt on the edge of their "no substitutions" policy, so it really will depend on the chef's mood whether or not this request would be successful. It was for me. On that day. ;) (Note: I do find the "no substitutions" a little odd for such a food-focused place, but I don't really care, as I have yet to have the need to substitute anything at Tinderbox!) For an appetizer on that first visit, we had the duck confit "nachos," which had duck confit for the "meat" portion, I think gruyere for the cheese, some sort of sour cream, and tortilla chips, of course. In other words, a "high end" version of your basic nachos. They were AWESOME. Another Yelper mentioned that the menu does change every day, so if you happen to run across the nachos, make sure to snag them. The portion isn't very big, so it shouldn't kill your dinner. Finally, for dessert on that first visit, we had to get the doughnut holes. So light and fresh! :) The best thing we had this past weekend was the venison pate/cheese plate, which included: venison pate, chicken liver pate, asiago or parmesan cheese (very strong), pickles, and spicy mustard, all with thin crisp bread. SO AMAZING. The other appetizer that we both ordered was the butternut squash and apple bisque with candied bacon on top. (YES- CARMELIZED BACON. You are not dreaming- it's real. And it is FABULOUS.) For an entree, we chose to share the sirloin steak with bleu cheese creme fraiche and pickled beets on top. It was perfect, and it was served with black peppered fries, which was an excellent complement. We were smart to only order one entree, as the appetizers made us very full. Maybe the choice to only eat one entree helped us with the cost, because I have zero complaints about the price of the food, especially when you consider the OUTSTANDING quality. For all of the food I mentioned above, plus one soft drink and one glass of merlot, our total bill was $66.22. I should also mention here that it was our server's idea to just share the one entree, and we really appreciated her not trying to upsell us. In fact, our service was just great in general. A final note to add is that I brought my young daughter with me to Tinderbox the first time I went, and she was only 6 months old at the time. The staff seated us outside and everyone was VERY tolerant of her noise... and the stroller and diaper bag and the other 46 things you need with a baby! That being said, there isn't a lot of room on the inside, so during the colder months, I probably won't venture to this restaurant with the baby until she big enough for a booster seat. I cannot say enough about this place. Try it just once!!

    (5)

  • Lee K.

    First off.. Their reservation policy kind of sucks... I'm sorry if you have a special occasion and are willing to put a cc down to hold a table they should allow that... Second... Then the hostess tried to stuff us in a corner right by the kitchen when there was no one in the place.. I was like hell no!! We ordered the calamari as an app and it was so salty I took 2 bites n couldn't eat nor could my wife... Our waitress never asked how it was ... But it was obvious that we didnt enjoy it, based off the fact we didn't eat.. When I placed my order for NY steak it comes with a sausage vegetable medley .. I asked if I could substitute it... However on the menu it says " no substitutions ." however I don't eat pork.. When I asked the waitress she insisted that the chef would not change it.. The chef offered me their potatoes, which is what I wanted.. Our main courses were good.. Perhaps a bit too much reduction sauce or whatever it was on the steak.. But the steak itself was good.. My wife ordered the shrimp n scallops n they were cooked perfect.. And tasted as fresh as u can get in flagstaff az.. We ordered the dessert which was great.. Kind of tasted like a banana foster with a twist... In all it wasn't horrible but the service and the reservation issue and the fact they won't substitute and last but not least the fact that there is pork in just about everything makes it difficult to eat here!! This wasn't our first time here but as of now looks like we will be only visiting their bar next store the annex.. Their burger n beer is perfect!! It also didn't help that the staff had no idea it was our anniversary .. Because of their reservation rules.. And of course the hostess on the phone never asked even though I insisted it was an important night for us!!! It just wasn't as special of a night as I wanted ...

    (3)

  • Glen C.

    Stopped in here between the Grand Canyon and ABQ, and was really pleasantly surprised. Another regrettable road food-stop avoided! Design and vibe of the restaurant is great, lots of natural wood. Food was really delicious, good modern western stuff with a bit of an Italian vibe. Portions were probably a bit larger than we needed, but this is Arizona after all. Good vegetarian options which is always a plus. Waitstaff were really nice and obviously took serving really seriously, good knowledge of the menu and ingredients being used.

    (4)

  • Chantelle P.

    Two words. Velveeta Nachos. Please be advised you will be eating at a pretty pricey establishment which found it appropriate to use Velveeta in their Nachos..... Freely and openly admitted at as an ingredient. Also the meatloaf we had was horrendous and was doused with Franks Red hot sauce. Too bad because they do really have a nice ambiance and very friendly service staff... just disgustingly overpriced pseudogourmet.

    (1)

  • Julie M.

    Was really impressed with Tinderbox. The place is not big and the tables are placed close together. The service is good. I had the pork chop and my dinner companion had the meatloaf. I think the meatloaf was the dish. It was uber flavorful. The pork chop was a little on the done side for Me. We had a side of the fried cauliflower and I was under whelmed with it. Definitely worth checking it out.

    (4)

  • Hilary K.

    I'm really a fan of the T-box! I love that their menu changes every day, and the ingredients, preparation, and presentation work together in a way that make each meal unique and really tasty. Plus, they always have a few things that are gluten free on their menu, so i have some options. I went last week for the second time with my boyfriend for a spontaneous date, and we were not disappointed. We started with the meat sampler appetizer and we loved every bite (it has house made pickles on it, a super win in my book!) For the entrees, I got the venison served with balsamic blackberries, blue cheese grits, and some an apple compote. It was fabulous! The ingredients worked really well together, and the portion was the perfect amount so that i cleared my plate, but wasn't left wanting more. The boyfriend got the jalapeño mac n' cheese accompanied by duck two ways. I couldn't try his mac (gluten intolerance can get in the way!) but the duck was excellent. We finished the meal with house made sorbet, which was the perfect end to our meal. my only quip with this place is the service. I hate being nit-picky, but at a place like this, the servers should have a really strong knowledge of everything on the menu. Our waitress had to ask one of her coworkers about what some of the dishes contained, and i heard different ingredients in the specials from her and from the waitress at the table next to us. Really not that big of a deal, but just something that I noticed! I'll definitely be back again, but after I get a few more paychecks... It's a bit on the pricey side!

    (4)

  • Michael C.

    This is an amazing little restaurant... feels more like Scottsdale than Flagstaff. The place just oozes class and style, the service is impeccable, and the menu is truly unique. I love finding little hidden local gems like this. She ordered the Duck Confit with Mac and Cheese, I opted for the New York Strip - both were heavenly! They do not accept reservations for less than 5 people on the weekends, so get here around 8pm (they close at 9). I will definitely return!

    (5)

  • Matt S.

    Good food. Nice atmosphere. American comfort food redefined is their motto. Very good food if you are looking for something a bit different. $20-30 a plate.

    (4)

  • Lauren E.

    Absolutely fabulous!!! We will be recommending Tinderbox to anyone who visits Flagstaff. - Great decor and atmosphere - Very good and friendly service - AMAZING food for a pretty decent price ($100 for two appetizers, two drinks, two entrees, a dessert, tax, and tip) We ordered the tomato soup and mushroom dish for appetizers, and they were to die for! I could not get enough of both dishes. Our entrees were the buffalo meatloaf and the hog jowls. Both were fabulous. . .the hog jowls were especially delicious. For dessert, we had the donuts. . .so good!!! This was a perfect way to end our Valentine's weekend in Flagstaff, and we will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Josh M.

    Rock on, Flagstaff continues to impress! This creative surprise was our post-Grand Canyon gift to ourselves. For a chilly evening, it definitely hit the foodie spot. Dishes were a little bit on the heavy side, which is probably appropriate for the climate, but we we therefore over-ordered... which oddly I feel like I write a lot. Hard to learn my lesson when everything looks like so much fun. Definite highlight was the Dr. Pepper Pork Jowels, which seems to be the quiet signature dish thus far. I hesitate at that comment because the menu is clearly a constant experiment (a good one) and a future dish may blow that away. But for now... Also dug the Mushroom Bruschetta and also the Pork Sausage (made by hand in the kitchen I was told). One experiment that missed for me was the cheese & potato soup, which was clearly a test dish that week, but just way too heavy in that go-round. Atmosphere is classy casual and warm, and we were glad for it. Flagstaff in November has a chilly bite to it. Tinderbox and a glass of red wine was pretty perfect.

    (4)

  • Ian T.

    Food was good, but not spectacular. I can't even remember what I got, but liked what the person with me had more. For the price I expect everything to be great. Service was great, pleasant and knowledgable. The place was nice, I liked it despite some folks who sat next to use and were really loud and borderline obnoxious. That said the bench seating in the back room should be avoided if you want a quiet diner, which I did the time I went. I may return, but only after I have tried everywhere else. Still knowing what I do, I suggest you go.

    (3)

  • Jenn Q.

    I have now eaten here for dinner twice. I have to say I am guilty for going to the Annex all of the time and eating the wonderful food off of the board with is the same chef as the Tinderbox. The Annex is right next door. I have had two wonderful experiences at the Tinderbox. It is on a higher scale of Flagstaff restaurants but still feels casual which is nice. I had scallops for dinner once. Delish. But the best of the two dinners was the MEATLOAF believe it or not. The doughnuts are AMAZING for dessert. The sauce is what does it. Service is great. Open kitchen. Yummy local foods.

    (4)

  • Megan B.

    My fiance and I visited Tinderbox for the first time last night. We were more than wowed. We're going to be hosting our wedding reception here and stopped by to check it out. It was better than we had anticipated. I had the charcuterie plate; Craig had a delicious pork belly with blue cheese grits. (Grits! In Arizona!) We were delighted to see they carried our favorite gin, Bluecoat. The drinks were good, the service was great, the atmosphere was low-key and unpretentious. It allowed us to focus on the food and not on decor. Everything is made in house, and everything we tried was delicious. Their buffalo-style chicken livers were incredible with shaved carrots and celery on top. One thing I think is wonderful about Tinderbox is that their menu changes daily, based on what Chef Scott is in the mood for. While this could make it difficult to recommend a specific menu item, it also means you could eat there every day and not get bored! Chicken lovers, beware- Tinderbox does not do chicken. (Except livers!) They did have a jalapeno mac and cheese with pheasant con fit in there that sounded incredible. So they'll do poultry, just not chicken. Another note- they're closed Sundays all day and Mondays for lunch, and the rest of the week they close from 2-5.

    (5)

  • Lara G.

    Really, really good! I love that they print out a different menu every day so that they can use the freshest locally grown ingredients. I had the daily special which was salmon, mashed potatoes, and a shrimp/salmon mixed salad on top. However beware, if you don't eat red or white meat they slip it in where you least expect it... bacon in the sauce for the mussels! Also, we went here for a birthday, I told the waitress, and no complimentary dessert. Lastly, although the waitress didn't do anything specific to be rude, she wasn't trying very hard either. She was very flighty and casual in her waiting style, very Flagstaff but still, if I bring a family of four to spend a good amount on dinner I would like better service than what we got. I always give 20% tip, but I cringed in giving her that much because I did not think she earned it. Oh well, the food was good and if you are willing to spend a decent amount I would recommend it.

    (4)

  • Alison N.

    This place is fabulous. Everything from the atmosphere to the food was perfection. My father and I ate here spur of the moment on a road trip, and I will definitely be bringing friends here. The food, comforting and warm, was perfect for the wintery weather and fresh snow fall we encountered outside. We started off with the meatballs, which were fantastic. My father got the venison, which was yummy (especially because I had never had it before, I would definitely get it myself next time if its available). I got the herbed spaetzle with wilted greens, walnuts, and goat cheese. It was phenomenal. We split an order of creamed bacon brussel sprouts and blue cheese grits, both a must have if you go there (and yes, your kids will want to eat these sprouts!) We followed this amazing dinner with dessert and coffee: the spiced apples and pound cake for Dad, a caramel pudding with fiddle faddle (freshly made) for me, with a nice warm cup of french pressed coffee. If you are in the Flagstaff area and looking for good food, this is the place to go. Though may not be the cheapest, you will not go unsatisfied with your meal. It may be hard to choose what to have, the menu was small yet extremely appealing, but the portions are a great size and, well gosh darn it, just try it for yourself, its that good.......

    (5)

  • Lando T.

    "As good as it gets"..... for Northern AZ and Flagstaff. Seriously - it's soooooooooooooooo good! We've been there three times and each time we've been treated with a phenomenal dish!! Service is friendly and seamless. Drinks, delish. Price.... acceptable. It's yummmmm-furrrr-dayzzzz!!

    (5)

  • Barbara W.

    Wow. We went here a week ago to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We were the first customers there and I'm glad, since many of their two-person tables are crammed together. (Go early!) The food was excellent. We ordered their private label wine, but the kegs (?) weren't working, so they gave us each a glass of wine while we chose another bottle, and then gave us a discount on that bottle. Try the creamed Brussels sprouts, even if you don't like them. You'll like these, I promise.

    (5)

  • Patrick W.

    This restaurant is crazy good. They prepare some outstanding new American comfort food, and they do it really well. My wife and I visited one Saturday night and were floored with the service and style of this place. The menu was eclectic, yet simple. We started with a variety of sauteed mushrooms and a cheese flight, both satisfying. We split a spinach salad that had a good dressing and plenty of goods. For dinner, I had a roasted root vegetable pot pie that was one of the best pot pies I've experienced. I also ordered a side of blue cheese grits which seemed like the staple side at the Tinderbox, and they were really good. In addition, the desserts were quite well prepared and the perfect finish to an amazing meal. The service was top notch, the restaurant comfortable and the atmosphere discreet. If you have anyone to impress, take them to the Tinderbox Kitchen, you can't be disappointed.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :5:00 pm - 9:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Trendy
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Tinderbox Kitchen

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