316 W Goodwin St
Prescott, AZ 86306
*Disclaimer: We were not paid for this review. All opinions are our own and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
El Gato Azul, a Southwestern themed cafe downtown, is one of Prescott's most popular restaurants. Featuring a diverse menu of small plates & a lively creekside patio, El Gato is a popular choice for date night and social gatherings.
The outdoor garden patio is very nice (especially on cool nights) and the food is okay enough for a small town, especially in comparison to some other choices in town. El Gato is the best choice if you are seeking a fun place to enjoy some appetizers amongst friends.
The highlight of choosing El Gato over other restaurants in Prescott's downtown area is the eclectic menu, ability to mix and match small tapas plates, and the lively patio ambiance. Tapas options are so diverse. A sample of the menu includes: Crab Cakes, Santa Fe Shrimp, Ceviche, Parmesan Mussels, Smoked Salmon Pizza, Mediterranean Nachos, Baked Brie Nachos, Tabouli and pita, Chicken Tostada, and Caliente Chicken.
The chips and salsa and spinach artichoke dip were both decent choices, although thin and crispy tortilla chips would have been better. The Black Bean cakes themselves were good, although more sauce and seasoning is recommended to combat the dry nature of the cakes. The Papas con Queso (yukon potatoes, cheese, scallions, and sour cream) good, a bit fried out but tasty.
El Gato offers a great menu of seafood inspired small plates including salmon bruschetta, crab cakes, tequila scallops, and even a smoked salmon pizza. Vegetarians have no reason to feel left out as they offer an entire selection of enticing choices such as fried avocado, baked brie nachos, and Saffron Croquettes.
A decent Happy Hour deal ($2 off Tapas Plates) is offered Monday-Thursday from 3-6pm.
Service was just alright, not at all friendly, although this seems to be the service standard in Prescott. Food took a long time and was a bit too cold as if it had been sitting around for a while.
The setting is fun and lively. It's a fun choice for dinner with a large party as you get to mix and match different appetizers without committing to a whole meal. Although a rather large selection of entrees is also available for those who choose to go that route.
El Gato is far from the best dining choice in Prescott. Downtown Prescott is loaded with all sorts of local dining choices including a few good Italian options. While the service is a bit sub par and pricing is quite high, the apps are fun and the vibe is great for those looking for a lively atmosphere and/or wanting to take advantage of the cool high desert summer nights. You really cannot beat the selection of apps here: seriously, there are more than 30 interesting choices!
