Copper & Sage Goodyear — Restaurant in Goodyear

Maybe it's the Michter's Rye Old Fashioned that I asked the Mixologist to make, or maybe this place is as good as it presents itself to be but, either way, I cannot deny the feeling of satisfaction I am enjoying after my evening meal at the small but appropriately arranged bar at Copper & Sage.

I am not a salad guy by any means. I tend to order Bourbon and Burgers at most establishments since those delicacies of the average American fare most soothe my troubled soul and offer comfort in a harsh world I never asked to be in. However, it was upon this particularly unremarkable day that I found myself (or rather my internal organs) longing for something my people call "algo leve". Instead of the Stillery, something compelled me to go into Copper & Sage and it was at this point I was captivated by the well apportioned bar that stocked some rather well known and otherwise hidden gems peaking out from behind the bottles of whiskey and rye. Naturally, I ordered my usual Old Fashioned but substituted Michter's Rye as the main ingredient for my poison. Against my instincts I ordered a romaine salad and I was rather surprised that I did not request any additional protein. Little did I know I was to be whisked away (or should I say whiskied away) when the salad arrived.

Now, I've been places and I would like to say that I've seen a thing or two. In my line of employment I am placed around the most unscrupulous of uncouth individuals and otherwise ne'er-do-wells whose mere presence induce the immediate need for abolutions and ritual cleansing. That being said, when my salad was placed before me by the blessed hands of the local valkyrie I felt somehow forgiven of the necessities of my employment. The presentation was pleasing to the eye of mortals and I was elated to see the salad had been properly tossed without bruising the delicate romaine leaves. At first bite, the salad (and my organs) rejoiced together and the well seasoned dressing mixed nicely with the lingering spice of rye from the Old Fashioned upon my tongue. I soon realized the key ingredient to the delicious appetizer of this particular batch of Lactuca sativa was the blackened anchovies. These were expertly prepared and provided the fulcrum upon which my evening meal pivoted towards a new direction.

After finishing my salad I felt somehow cleansed and absolved of the day's misadventures. "The night must go on!" I exclaimed to myself, index finger pointed the the wood paneled ceiling in a brash and unbridled gesture of poised resolve. Noting the menu advertised Blacked Fish Tacos I laid my request at the capable hands of the Mixologist on deck after experiencing the salad outstandingly showcase the chef's talents at the art of blackening meat.

A subtle nod and tap of the glass and another Old Fashioned was spun out before me, ready to imbibe beneath the glow of warm LEDs. A few sips later and a long plate of three well cooked and appointed fish tacos were laid before me by a siren of these savory arts that mortals rich or poor partake in. My first mouthful was heralded by what seemed to be the Holy Synths of the Greater Phoenix Heavens, but that could have just been the speakers blasting Poolside above me. I found myself lost in the aioli sauce and before I knew it, the tacos were gone. I struggled to resist the urge to lick my fingers but Copper & Sage is not a low brow finger lickin' joint. After cleaning my hands on the fine cloth napkin and regaining my composure, I settled back in the luxuriously upholstered bar stool and contemplated deep things, my senses having come back to the physical realm.

My meal finished, my last glass nigh empty... I sit and consider my life's course: mistakes I've made, people I've hurt, dreams I've realized, and the irrecoverable youth I've squandered. I can't help but associate those feelings with my all too brief experience at Copper & Sage. As I sign the check and leave this place, likely never able to return again, I reflect on it all and I think to myself- I am not sad that it is over but I am so happy that...

So let's start with drinks- they were fast but my highball tasted like lemonade. Appetizers took 30 minutes? Huh, for fried green beans and collard greens that should have been cooking all day? Green beans were the best thing we had honestly, we took the extra home. Fries were also damn good but no one needs those stupid little cylinders. I get the aesthetic but we still have to tip it over and pour them out... 🤣 Are we kids no, put it on my plate. Also mom said her crispy chicken sammich was dry, asked for mayo.. But they didn't have any. 🤣 Wait, did you run outta eggs, were you making it fresh?? 😩 I have so many questions.. The tzatiki I think was homemade and it was great, mom put that on her sammich. Crisis averted. Those greens were tasty but the salt level was insane, bro either pour some more chicken broth in or throw in 3 tablespoons of sugar to even it out

Mom had her e options about the greens.. Christ, so I think she was being extra when it came to her sammich. She whined about the price but I showed her stillery's pricing, even Johnny rocket's... She stil didn't care, she was mad as hell about the pricing..

Now my primento cheese blt was interesting. 1.) had no idea it was gonna beike soft cheese velveta level cheese so it was an experience. But my bacon was crispy, it wasn't dry and I felt full. So too me, I was satisfied.

This was my 1 and only meal of the day so I was hoping it was good. 🙄 Mom will never come back but I might mess with brunch.

Also staff was nice but since it was midshift between brunch and dinner, it was slow so the help was loud enough for us to follow their conversation, they damn near drowned out the music. 🤣 Even if it is a slow time, keep up the professionalism.

I wasn't mad at our service in general I think it was great but for real the appetizers took forever and we were Hella hungry. Then 15 minutes later our food came...? Timing for the kitchen must have been a little off.

But like I said, it was post-brunch, recovery time and also the start of dinner. Frankly if that's the case, put most people toward the front of the restaurant so we don't have to hear all that mess. And whoever back there dropping Hella dishes, stop it. That was honestly Hella loud because the restaurant wasn't even full.

But hey, they just opebed, they got some youngings there. I just kinda expect for an 80.00 meal, we can at least get a moderate sound level.

Also, the vibes were beautiful, it was a beautiful restaurant. You can see they really played up the name into the look. And the avthrroms were really nice. Only 2 stalls for females and 2 for males, nothing binary or anything like that...

Copper and Sage is exactly what we needed for Goodyear's growing GSQ area. I went for a late brunch on Sunday with my wife and 2 children, not sure of what to expect. We were delightfully surprised by the menu. Southern style dishes with a surprising variety for all types of eaters. We all left stuffed. I had the Deep Fried Peanut Butter and Jelly French Toast. It was crisp and sweet on the outside, soft and rich on the inside. The sweetness of the jelly cut through the rich peanut butter. Drizzle a little maple syrup and you've got a great breakfast. My wife had the Crab Cakes Benedict and loved it. The hollandaise, eggs, and crab cakes worked so well together! The dish came with really nicely seasoned crispy potatoes. You can tell the food is made with care as the presentation on all the plates is top notch. The kids got simple breakfasts with eggs, bacon, toast, and crispy potatoes. They ate most of it, which is always a win. All of the food came out at the same time and everything was hot. Such an underrated quality in kitchens is when they can get that part of service right. Prior to the meal getting to the table, I had the Strawberry Hill cocktail. It was refreshing and just a little sour, the way a good strawberry lemonade should be. The cocktail list is diverse. There is truly something for everyone, including non-alcoholic cocktails. The spirits list is huge! I am looking forward to going back to try some of the rarer Whiskeys they have on their list. Service was attentive but not overwhelming, always ready with a refill and checked in on us a few times throughout the course of our meal. The atmosphere was welcoming with a bit of an upscale feel to it. You can tell a lot of thought went into the decor, layout, and feel of the restaurant. After going with the kids, we are looking forward to ditching them and going on a date night here. I hope that this restaurant will be a cornerstone in the GSQ area for...