Off the Wagon Again

If you're going to fall off the wagon, I guess Whiskey Row in Prescott, AZ, is a logical place to do it. No, I'm not talking about booze, though the historic saloons have plenty of it; I'm talking about eating out - again. It all started when our son decided to spend a few days with his grandparents. The thought of having three days to ourselves turned us into giddy teenagers hankering for a road trip. So, this morning we headed to Prescott, a town full of quaint antique shops, historic buildings, and great eateries in a climate that is a good 20 degrees cooler than the valley of the sun.

Although we ate breakfast at home, by the time we arrived in town we were a might peckish and began our walk around courthouse square surveying the restaurants. We finally decided on the Palace Saloon, one of the oldest continually operating eating establishments in the country. As we walked in the main entrance, we were greeted by large wooden swinging doors straight out of a John Wayne movie. The cool, dark interior sported a massive wooden bar, ornately carved and well stocked with premium liquors flanked by a dining room with recessed skylights (covered in Arizona flags to keep out the noonday heat) and old west memorabilia.

Upon entry we were greeted with a friendly "howdy" from the barkeep, who sported leather suspenders over a pale cotton pioneer-style shirt. Above his head hung a sign with the words "We don't call 911" emblazoned above a Colt 45. We knew in an instant that we were going to like this place. Another friendly young man seated us and suggested we try the sarsaparilla, at which point we asked for an explanation of the difference between that and root beer. We were informed (with precision and grace as if he had answered the question about a million times) that sarsaparilla tastes like root beer mixed with cream soda, and it is actually brewed from the sassafras tree. (Who knew?) We also ordered the soup/sandwich/salad combo, which was plenty of food. Jeff had a cup of corn chowder (with potatoes, bits of ham, celery, pepper) and half a roast beef and cheddar sandwich. I opted for the salad (spring greens, fresh tomatoes, and walnuts with a dijon vinaigrette) and half a reuben on dark, chewy 9-grain bread. Both of these were lovely, hot, and filling preparing us for an afternoon filled with antique stores and Western themed shops. What a great way to kill some time with the one you love!