House Of Tricks

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Jackie Mercandetti

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Situated in a 1920s cottage and 1903 adobe brick house, adjoined by a romantic outdoor bar and fireplace, House of Tricks feels far from the bustle of Mill Avenue and the ASU campus, but is actually just a couple blocks off the beaten path. Here, guests can get cozy while tucking in to chef Kelly Fletcher's scrumptious New American fare. Harissa-spiced mussels, perfectly seared foie gras, juicy coffee-cardamom-crusted duck, and fork-tender braised osso bucco keep us coming back for more, along with inventive yet comforting desserts. Even if you're just here for wine and nibbles on the front patio, this place is perfect for an intimate date or a luxurious, laid-back feast with their nearest and dearest.

Cuisine(s): Eclectic, Fusion, New American

Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-10pm

Price: $$, $$$, $$$$

Payment Types: All Major Credit Cards, Diners Club, cash, check
Attire: casual

Features: Smoking, Patio/Sidewalk Dining, Takeout, Private Party, Banquet Facilities, Wheelchair Accessible, Kid Friendly, Fireplace

Serving: Dinner, Lunch

Alcohol: Full bar
Reservations: Accepted, Recommended

Parking: Lot Available, Meters, Street

2011 | Best Romantic Dinner

News flash: Most restaurants in the Valley are trapped in aesthetically challenged strip malls. Many of these restaurants are very, very good. Still, they are in strip malls, which, by definition, are soul-sucking paeans to crass consumerism and... More >
2010 | Best Place for a Twilight Drink

House of Tricks isn't perched on a hill or tucked up against a mountain. It's pretty much what it sounds like — an old house in downtown Tempe, rehabbed before rehabbing old houses was the thing to do in these parts, and it's so damn charming... More >
2010 | Best Use of Veal

Chef Kelly Fletcher may not be the first to make a VLT, but he'd argue that his is absolutely the best. And we wouldn't disagree. He's no stranger to using controversial ingredients — not that he thinks veal should even be in that category. But... More >
2009 | Best Place to Take Your Parents

Mom and Dad don't come to town often enough, so you've got to choose wisely when it's time for them to treat you dinner. Whether you're 18 and a college freshman or 42 and a shameless middle-aged freeloader, House of Tricks is a good choice. You... More >
2008 | Best Funhouse

You won't find any wacky mirrors in this funhouse, although House of Tricks does have a way of skewing one's perspective — in a good way. Once you set foot into the outdoor patio, sheltered by huge leafy trees and decked out with tiny white... More >

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Phoenix New Times Reviews and News

House of Tricks' Wine Fiesta and Leftover Brownies in Today's Eater's Digest

By Shannon Armour | Tue, November 1, 2011

Hungry for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives?Fundraiser Fiesta! Don't miss House of Tricks' 20th Annual Wine Fiesta this Sunday, November 6th from 2 to More >
Raw Ahi Tuna Starter at House of Tricks

By Laura Hahnefeld | Thu, August 4, 2011

Last year we marked the hundred day countdown to Best of Phoenix by sharing our 100 Favorite Dishes with you. Now we're back - with the 2011 edition. Have a suggestion for a dish you'd like us More >
Where Am I Eating?

By Shannon Armour | Fri, June 17, 2011

? The dining companion and I decided to venture out of our safe zone Sunday morning to grab brunch and bloody marys. Somehow we ended up on the patio of this packed two story eatery in Scottsdale. More >
Tempe's House of Tricks Amazes Audiences with Seared Foie Gras

By Michele Laudig | Thu, January 20, 2011

House of Tricks has everything going for it — excellent food, a great location near ASU that feels serene despite its proximity to the hustle and bustle of Mill Avenue, and a reputation that's been building since 1987. The restaurant is really a r... More >
Chef Talk: Kelly Fletcher of House of Tricks (part two)

By Claire Lawton | Wed, April 7, 2010

Yesterday we heard from Chef Kelly Fletcher of House of Tricks. Today the conversation continues. While House of Tricks' staple dishes are sticking around, Fletcher says he would like to see a fe More >

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User Reviews

3 User reviews

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Heaven0507

| Fri, October 15, 2010

Sultry atmosphere, food to die for, and a very laid back crowd makes a great night out!!

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JessicaHill

| Thu, April 22, 2010

I used to drive past this cute little house with twinkle lights all the time when I was going to ASU. Finally a year after I graduated, I made it to House of Tricks for a nice dinner out with a colleague in town from Denver. The food was cooked to perfection and the sauces were to die for. We all had to try a little off of each others' plates. This would be a great date place.

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phoenixnewtimesbestof

| Wed, May 06, 2009

You won't find any wacky mirrors in this funhouse, although House of Tricks does have a way of skewing one's perspective � in a good way. Once you set foot into the outdoor patio, sheltered by huge leafy trees and decked out with tiny white lights, all feels right with the world. Your mood is bound to improve even more once you find something on the interesting wine list. Inside, the charm of this 1920s cottage starts to work its magic on you, and expert service only heightens the feeling that life is grand, indeed. As for the New American menu � well, that will make you smile, too. Options run the gamut from black tea-spiced ahi tuna to pistachio-crusted rack of lamb to smoked chile-glazed hanger steak. Nope, House of Tricks isn't the typical funhouse. But, hey, it's a restaurant in an old house � and eating here sure is fun.

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Dinner Menu

Starters

$14.00

Artisan Cheese Plate
with seasonal fruits and accompaniments

$12.00

Pecan Smoked Salmon
with lemon crema, red onion, avocado and capers

$10.00

Seared Fromage D’affinois
with strawberry preservers, rosemary syrup and crusty ciabatta

$14.00

Duck And Lamb Pate
with black fig preserves, brown sugar-whole grain mustard, micro parsley, pickled shallots and cornichons

$11.00

Asian Glazed Grilled Octopus
with mung bean-butternut squash succotash and soy-ginger aioli

$16.00

Harissa Spiced Pei Mussels
with charred yellow tomato, chorizo and creamy sweet cilantro vinaigrette pickled shallots and cornichons

$13.00

Quail Confit Stuffed
with bacon-fig stuffing, sweet onion jam, blue cheese-potato fondue and sambucca golden raisins

$15.00

Shiitake Powder Crusted Scallops
on old mill of guilford tartufo grits with orange agrodolce, micro basil and toasted pine nut nage sambucca golden raisins

$19.00

Miso Marinated Foie Gras
on salty caramel poached apples with capricho de cabra goat cheese pancakes and warm grand marnier maple syrup

$14.00

Smoked Korean Style Baby Back Ribs
with spicy red chile paste and barely pickled cucumber salad and warm grand marnier maple syrup

$12.00

Southern Fried Pork Belly
with bruleed duck fat cornbread and gravy, smoked honey and black eyed peas and black eyed peas

Soups/Salads

$6.00

Chef’s Soup Du Jour
chef’s soup du jour

$7.00

Spring Mix Salad
with tomato, cucumber, radish, goat cheese and white balsamic-honey vinaigrette

$8.00

Caesar Salad
with garlicky dressing

$9.00

Frisee, Micro Arugula And Micro Radish
with shaved manchego, anjou pear, cranberry, pepitas and pepper-sherry vinaigrette

$9.00

Belgian Endive
with cinnamon walnuts, shaft blue cheese, shaved prosciutto, shallots and micro chive with warm caramelized apple-sweet onion vinaigrette

$10.00

Arugula And Roasted Squash Salad
with maple-bourbon bacon, black mission fig, red delicious apple, hazelnuts and marshmallow-white miso vinaigrette

Entrees

$32.00

Black Peppercorn Grilled Filet Mignon
with lobster-leek smashed potatoes, bone marrow bordelaise and tarragon-brown sugar glazed baby carrots

$29.00

Ancho Chili Seared Rare Ahi Tuna On A White Bean-guajillo Ragout
with orange-chipotle honey aioli, pepitas and micro cilantro

$22.00

Pumpkin Goat Cheese Ravioli
with pistachio-spinach pesto, sautéed kale, blood orange balsamic, sage crème fraiche and pistachio dust

$27.00

Pan Seared Dover Sole, Sautéed Arugula And Horseradish Cream
with baby fennel, new potatoes and baby candy-cane beets

$28.00

Whole Grain Mustard And Brown Sugar Cured Pork Loin On Bacon-blue Cheese Potato Gratin
with grilled asparagus and red flame grape argrodolce

$27.00

Red Curry Braised Duck Leg, Coconut-almond Basmati Rice, And Fried Kale
with candied fresno chiles, lime syrup, and coconut milk

$28.00

White Miso Glazed Scottish Salmon On Shiitake Mushroom Risotto
with smoked soy broth, carrot juice reduction and sesame broccolini

$25.00

Rosemary Butter Brushed Brick Chicken
with roasted garlic pesto, reggiano-salt red potatoes and sun dried tomato marinated asparagus

$34.00

Prune And Anise Braised Lamb Shank
with slivered almonds, smoked kale, cinnamon-farro risotto and roasted butternut squash-chorizo vinaigrette

Looking for another city?

114 E. 7th St.
Tempe, AZ 85281

480-968-1114 | Website

More Tempe Eclectic Restaurants >

2011 | Best Romantic Dinner

2010 | Best Place for a Twilight Drink

2010 | Best Use of Veal

2009 | Best Place to Take Your Parents