For all of the eating that we did during our Arizona sojourn, few places provided as much satisfying satiation as Scottsdale's sticky-sweet Sugar Bowl (est. 1958). Sticking out of Old Town's western facade like a sore, pink thumb, Sugar Bowl is the revisionist masterpiece of a late-Victorian/Edwardian ice cream parlor.
Look out Sugar Bowl, here comes Mr. Tiny! |
Living in the very shadow of the Magic Kingdom (seriously, we can hear Disneyland's nightly firework spectacular), we smugly thought that we had the market cornered on 1950's-does-1900's Main Street charm. In one fell, Pepto-Bismol-colored swoop, Sugar Bowl proved us decidedly wrong. I try not to get too snobby about these things, but I have had more than my fill of 80's/90's does 50's diners. In fact, if I never see one more sun faded, life-size cut out of James Dean or Marilyn Monroe, it would all be too soon. Offering its own spin on sugar-coated history, Sugar Bowl's romantic landscape of neapolitan linoleum and tufted pink booths is like spending an afternoon inside a fluffy meringue....or Sugar Town.
"Sugar Town" - Nancy Sinatra
Change "town" to "bowl" and
they've got a solid new theme song!
"Welcome to the Sugar Bowl!" I don't think it's lazy poetry...find me another word that rhymes more perfectly with Sunday other than Sunday. "Sundae" would just be too on the nose. |
Interior stained-glass windows featuring the Sugar Bowl's sugar bowl logo
reminded me of equal parts Disneyland, the Candy Kitchen in The Music Man,
and Pollyanna - a winning combination!!!
|
The heart-shaped porthole windows on the swinging, kitchen doors remind servers and staff to treat each patron with love. |
The stunning wall mural...honestly we were stunned. This little piece of artistry in acrylics is like a Sunday Afternoon on the Island of Grand Frappe. |
The pink, black, and white linoleum floor How many banana split splats has this thing seen? |
The menu!!! The menu is filled with delightful illustrations that speak to the frivolity of a novelty ice cream parlor in the sun-baked Arizona desert. Speaking of illustrations, the Sugar Bowl plays a supporting role in many of the famed Family Circus comic strips. |
Decisions, decisions... |
Homemade meatloaf sandwich with a healthy scoop of the house potato salad. Old-timey!!! |
A BLT with kettle chips and the obligatory pickle spear. |
Even the printed napkins are amazing. We managed to steal a few extras as thrift-conscious souvenirs. |
These were our desserts - a fresh, sparkling limeade and the "Top Hat," a giant, ice
cream-filled profiterole drenched in hot fudge. Can you guess who ordered which dessert?
Surprise!!! |
I kept asking Mary to pose with her gargantuan treat, but she couldn't stop from attacking that thing like it was the fudge-covered enemy! |
It's that kind of place...you can't help yourself but just dive right in! |
If I lived in Scottsdale, I have the terrible feeling that I would spend an inordinate amount of time getting a sugar-high at the Sugar Bowl. It is practically perfect in every way, at least in our wacky tacky eyes. I've been accused of looking at the world through rose-colored glasses, but at Sugar Bowl, it simply cannot be helped. It's the pink of perfection!
"The Pink of Perfection" from Walt Disney's Summer Magic
Sugar Bowl
4005 N Scottsdale Rd
Scottsdale, AZ
(480)946-0051
Mr. Tiny
What a great place to visit! It looks so cute and all the food looks delicious.
ReplyDeleteIt was surprisingly good. Honestly, I didn't even know that they served "real" food. I thought it would all be ice cream and was quite pleased with my meatloaf sandwich!
DeleteThat place looks so awesome! So awesome in fact that I want to work there - and trust me....I hardly ever want to work *anywhere*. Your trip to Arizona looked pretty fruitful.
ReplyDeleteIt was so good. It was definitely my kind of place; I could easily see myself working there, wearing sleeve garters, and growing a handlebar mustache. We still have more from our trip - stay tuned!!!
DeleteYou find the best places in whatever town you are in.
ReplyDeleteWe got some awesome recommendations and I did some research too! I'm always on the hunt for wacky tacky and happy to cast a wider net to do it. I love a good road trip!
DeleteThis place looks soooooo fun! I love the pink booths! I want to goooooo!
ReplyDeleteNext time you guys are in town, we'll have to plan a mini road trip! Sugar Bowl is definitely worth a return visit!
Delete:) Love the sugar bowl. I went to middle school with the son of the woman who painted all the murals inside. I know I keep saying that your Phoenix trip posts make me smile, but they really do!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you are enjoying them; they make me smile too! We had such a great time in Phoenix and I could see myself spending more time there. We still have a few more posts from Phoenix that I hope will keep you smiling.
Deletethat place is amazing! i can't believe they still use those napkins! i would have snatched some too! that window painting is so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me happy that I can still get excited over napkins!!! Just when I think I am totally jaded, I get a thrill over napkins!
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