Tia Carmen - Phoenix, Arizona

Ketan P.

Great place for a celebratory lunch. Went for my wife’s birthday and tried every vegetarian option on the menu. Javier was delightful as a server and we enjoyed the weather dining alfresco. Amazing food amazing service and very Vegetarian friendly!

Nicole S.

It’s such a bummer to write this review and I hope our party had an unusual experience. This restaurant was high on our list and seemed like it was going to be so good based on the reviews but our experience was so-so.

The food was overcooked and lacked flavor. Which I’m usually someone who can eat most food and be excited but we ordered the plantain appetizer, pork chop, side of corn and a steak and for the price, it didn’t wow our table. The pork chop was overcooked and lacked any flavor. The plantain appetizer was soggy. The corn didn’t seem like it was cooked at all- more like microwaved and arrived a bit on the cold side. We went for my birthday and they didn’t acknowledge our celebration which was kind of a bummer and we honestly felt overlooked by our server but again, could have been an off night for them.

The atmosphere and decor.. is out of a magazine and seriously incredible. I just cant rave about the food - it wasn’t the best. Big sad for us but could be better for others staying at the resort

Kristie B.

A fantastic deal for a flavorful journey through the sprawling breakfast buffet. From avocado toast, to birria tacos. Husband loved the plantains the most, which came prepared like a breakfast potato. Their house made salsas - whoa! Chefs kiss. The muffin tops, coffee and yogurt were a nice light touch. And the array of agua frescas was a tasty touch. Worth the $45 price for as much as you can handle.

Radiana D.

Had Sunday brunch here! What a wonderful experience & stunning restaurant inside the JW Marriott Desert Ridge! We had the mercado experience. So many options to choose from~ all very fresh and flavorful! From sweet to savory, they had it all! There was an older gentleman there that was so sweet, thank you for making us laugh! Looking forward to next time!

Ara D.

The atmosphere is sheik but comfortable, not pretentious.
The presentation of all food items was done with care, everything looked delicious even before the first bite.
Nothing disappointed. I would order the same dishes again without hesitation. The tomato salad was seasoned perfectly, though the tomatoes could have been more flavorful, with the corn pureè amazing! The Baja striped bass was delicious, the mole verde and the dense nut coating were dreamy.
Finally, what a great way to sample 4 delicious desserts through the 2-3 bite size collection of the omakase.

Harrison K.

Absolutely stunning interior design. Inside the gorgeous oasis of a hotel, JW Marriott Desert Ridge, Tia Carmen is simply spectacular in all aspects. Creative and unique menu well-executed with a Latin bent. Modern and nudging the genre zeitgeist with flourishes of chef's influence in each plate.

Starters: tri-tip perilla wraps. Simply delicious, deep chile spice, perfectly cooked tri-tip balanced out with a hit of acid from pickled red onions, micro cilantro, Thai Basil for bright herbaceous notes. Fantastic.

Tuna Crudo, sushi grade tuna, coconut milk, kaffir lime, Chile oil, micro flowers, and likely a shellfish/fish stock?, fish sauce, and probably a plethora of other aromatics to make the broth. This was so vibrant and refreshing yet deep and complex. We kept the sauce on the table and kept going back to it.

Yucca Brulee, excuse me, what in the amazing was that? Imagine the richest mashed potato without the heaviness, with a delightfully sticky yet fluffy texture and earthy comforting taste of yucca with bruleed cheese. Yes.

Turmeric rice, delicately spiced with turmeric without being overpowering. Seasoned well, light and fluffy.

Purple potatoes on a bed of ancient mole and cheese espuma, braised heirloom carrots. Earthy sweet, salty cheesy fluffy foam, then the mole comes in at the end to hit you with a terra cotta earth finish with a kick of spice and dried chile soul. Divine.

Steaks cooked to perfection with the aforementioned mole as the base sauce, topped with a bone marrow sauce to send it over the edge.

Manchego Flan firm yet silky smooth flan, tequila orange caramel, manchego cheese. Another great balance of complementary flavors and textures hitting all the right notes.

Whew, give me a cigarette, I'm done. Go, eat, now.

Celine

Beautiful restaurant facing courtyard of JW Marriott. Everything we tried was delicious and esthetically pleasing but the service that night was super slow. There was no hostess to say hi bye entering/exiting the restaurant. Rest of crew acted inexperienced throughout the night. Felt like it was run by bunch of high schoolers

Agnes D.

The place is truly beautiful, I just didn’t expect it to be noisy inside. But it was a great gastronomic experience, and the bill came out less than I expected. The service is topnotch! Our server’s recommendations did not disappoint! I love the fact that everything we ordered has a unique delicious taste. When you take out your leftovers, you will be surprised how fancy the paper bags are! Our bride-to-be got a free dessert in the end, too. It was like a leche flan topped with parmesan. Pretty interesting!