Phoenix

Went about 6:30 Saturday night. Not crowded but even at that service seemed spotty. Salads were good, burgers advertised at 8oz but just seemed smaller. Stuffed chicken breast was dry from being overcooked buf prepared correctly had promise. Menu seemed short on choices, for example no pork dishes. Had trouble making a choice from a limited menu so I had the burger.
Probably not on my top 20 list in Fort Wayne. Did not stay for the music and that might have made it special and worthwhile.

Best Sunday brunch in Fort Wayne hands down! The high end buffet has something for everyone. From excellent clam chowder (better than Paula’s or oyster bar) to the best biscuits and gravy. It’s a little pricey but absolute worth it. Oh and coffee is included which is again excellent and better than any other breakfast place in town. Notice the theme. Oh and live music during brunch that entertained my family. A definite hidden gem in Fort Wayne!

Went here for the first time for the Easter brunch. They need to re-​think the reservation system for a popular event like this. Food was just mediocre in taste, tepid in temperature. Never have I been told by a waitress that our 11:30 reservation table, for which we were seated at about 11:45, was needed at 1:00 for the next seating. Basically, hurry up, and get the hell out since another party is coming. Music was way too loud for a brunch. Meal was very rushed. Nothing relaxing about this meal.

My parents love this place so when we were in town for the weekend they wanted to take us there.
The Good News:
— Lots of menu options from burgers to pizzas to steak.
— Great service. Our waitress didn’t miss a beat.
— Live music. Look up their schedule ahead of time to see who will be playing and if there’s a cover charge at all.
The not-​so-​good News:
— The food was pretty average. Nothing great and a bit expensive for being average.
— It was very cold in there due to them opening the door and setting up the band.
Be prepared for it to be louder — they are playing live music! We went to have dinner before the band started so we could talk during dinner then enjoy the music. I’ve also heard they have a great bunch buffet on the weekends. I’d be up for trying that some time.

Brunch is amazing!!! Just saw a kitchen guy smoking dope next to the dumpster out back. That’s a bit off putting. The food and music on Sunday’s is 5 stars. Guy out back 0.

this place is wayyy cool

If I could take away a half star I would, but 4 will have to do. I was disappointed when we walked by the patio and saw plenty of seating yet was told there was no room. We figured it was due to reservations but the whole time we sat there we could see several tables open. They didn’t even give us the option if waiting for a table. Huge disappointment. They could definitely put more tables out there as well. The inside environment is horrible for a restaurant. It’s so dark and felt like a club. I’m sure later in the evening for drinks and music it’s great but not for a meal.
Michelle was our server and she was great. So friendly and on top of everything. We had the potato skins for an appetizer. Skip these! They were huge and lukewarm with very little flavor. The house salad was delicious and all the dressings are made in house. The French was great. Finally, the burgers. I love a good burger and I was impressed. I had the basic burger and added bacon, medium well. Perfection. So much flavor. My husband had the El fuego, medium rare. He said it was super delicious, lots of heat with great aioli. He basically licked his plate.

We love this place! Great food and atmosphere the only thing is expect slow service they are always busy but it’s worth the wait.

I have been to there Sunday buffet twice now and here are my thoughts. The live music was great but the limited buffet selections were disappointing for the price of $ 14.00 I would have liked to been able to order an egg dish from a cook on the buffet line, or someone carving meat, I would have liked the option of a smaller plate for my fruit or bread selection, it felt strange returning to my table with a 10 inch plate with only a few strawberries on it. I think I would rather have a salad or veggie dish instead of pizza. I was watching person after person walking from selection to selection without filling there plate with much and looking dis appointed. I would pay more for a better experience. They have outside seating that would be nice in the summer. Both times I went the service was great. With a few improvements in the food selections I believe there would be a line out the door. The atmosphere is a little dark for breakfast but the exposed brick gives it a warm feeling. I wish them the best in this competitive market.

We went here for the first time last night. I messaged them on Facebook to find out if reservations were recommended and what time the band was going on, as I had heard it can be super loud. Phoenix messaged me back that the band was going on at 9, and I should call for a reservation. I called, made a reservation for 8pm so my boyfriend and I could actually have a conversation before the music… We got there promptly at 8, and the band was playing, at a super loud level. Let me just say — I love listening to bands perform, we had every intention of staying and listening, we just wanted to be able to talk to each other for part of the meal beforehand — I guess it was just a miscommunication on someone’s part, but it was a little annoying.
This however, was the only downside. The place is awesome — the food is delicious and fresh (Greek skins are a must, I just wish they came with more sauce, Tuna Pagoda was awesome, as was the seasonal vegetables and the seasoned fries; the salads are REAL salads — mixed baby greens for lettuce, gorgeous cherry tomatoes, croutons that tasted homemade, dressing served on the side — you HAVE to try the shitake-​ginger dressing!), the wait staff is super friendly, and the drinks are great. The band was amazing. And we loved that you could sit outside, smoke if you wanted to, and gather around those fire-​warmer thingies. There was even a small dance floor in front of the stage. Don’t let what it looks like from the outside fool you — the place is big! Oh — and the restrooms! Girls, you know there’s nothing worse than a bad public restroom — the women’s restrooms are beautiful, clean, big!
For those who are upset about waiting for food and drinks — I think there are two things everyone needs to realize. One, I think this isn’t a wait staff or kitchen issue — this is a management issue. Management NEEDS to hire MORE wait staff and bartenders. We watched our server run around to I don’t know how many different tables, and 90% of the time, there was only one bartender — making drinks for maybe 75 to 100 people — both sitting right in front of him at the bar, and eating at the tables — on a busy Friday night! It’s insane! In addition to them just being understaffed, I think Phoenix guests also need to realize that this place is about the atmosphere, experience AND the food/​drinks — not JUST about the food/​drinks. It’s designed for you to go with a loved one, friends and /​or family, and sit while you enjoy your drinks as well as the conversation and music, casually decide what you want to eat… it’s an experience, you’re meant to be there for two hours. If you want to shovel food in your mouth five minutes after you order, go to McDonalds.
Overall we loved it, and the experience, and can’t wait to go back!

I was excited to go to The Phoenix. I had heard great things. The party started at 7:00pm on a Friday night. I was late and did not make it until 8:00pm. As I entered the establishment, I was greeted nicely by two women. The front was dark and the two women were the only ones in this darkened corridor. Still, it was interesting. I walked through two rooms to get to the dining area. There was small seating along the walls and local art on the walls. Once in the dining area, there was a small bar to my left and my party was on an upper level in the back of the dining area. If you took a couple of steps down, you were surrounded by several tables and a stage for bands. I was surprised when I was seated. My friends, who had been there since 7 to 7:15pm, were just getting appetizers. I figured I had missed most of dinner and would make it for dessert. I ordered corn chowder and a Waldorf salad for dinner. The waitress was frazzled. She seemed upset with the kitchen and barely served our large table. She brought my corn chowder out as an appetizer, even though I told her to bring the salad and soup together. I was the only one eating at the table. After 45 minutes, she brought my salad and a few pizzas. One man next to me did not get his pizza until all of us were finished with dinner. Overall, we were here at 7 and 8pm, but did not get food until 9:30pm. I have had the Waldorf salad many times in my life, but this was no Waldorf salad. A normal Waldorf includes toasted walnuts, celery, red grapes, an apple, mayo, lemon juice and hearty lettuce. This salad, $ 12, was small, did not have celery, mayo, grapes or mayo. The lettuce consisted of field greens, which is the wrong lettuce for a heavy salad. It also had chicken. It was wet, underdressed and wilted. I ate it because I feared waiting another hour for the correct salad. My Long Island Ice Tea tasted odd. I asked my waitress if there was Coke or Pepsi in the drink. The waitress said, «Our GM (general manager) doesn’t like soda in that drink. It’s Crystal Light.» Her second excuse was that they had a small bar. My bill was $ 25 dollars for a crappy drink, ¼ cup of corn chowder and a mushy salad. My friend next to me asked if I had change for a $ 20. He went ahead and gave her a complete $ 20 for a couple of drinks. His reason — «I can’t wait two hours for $ 6.00 in change. One more thing — the bands sucked. This was due to poor sound quality. It was shrill and we all left with headaches.
If The Phoenix wants to make it, they have to fix the kitchen speed and food quality. They also have to spend money on fixing the sound. I won’t return.

Is this place really in Fort Wayne, Indiana? It doesn’t look like much from the outside, or even when you step inside the front door. But wind your way back into the main room, and you may think you’re in New Orleans.
I went for Sunday Brunch with my family and had a great time. They group playing (The Farmland Jazz Band) was awesome! Worth the price of the buffet just for the entertainment. The food wasn’t the best I’ve ever had, but it was solid, especially for a buffet. Buffet selections included breakfast pastries, biscuits & gravy, corned beef hash, Greek frittata, scalloped potatoes, bacon, baked oatmeal, warm cinnamon buns, pizza, fruit, and dessert items. You can also order eggs benedict or an omelet with your choice of fillings, included in the buffet price.
I’m not in Fort Wayne that often, but if I have a chance, I’d love to check out the Phoenix at night!

We were in for the first time on a Saturday night, when you first walk through the door you automatically get a positive vibe from not only the host but also from the décor. The main room has a wonderfully, cool atmosphere to it, with a big stage up front.
He had arrived at 6:30 and the place was definitely hopping with other diners, and got seated right away (with a reservation). Our meals started with «Greek Potato Skins» they had all your traditional Greek ingredients in them, kalamata olives, feta etc and they were delicious! We then each got a salad with our meals, the salads were decent sized and had very fresh veggies on it. My meal was grilled salmon topped with bruschetta, it was out of this world and was served with a very nice vegetable blend on the side. Other people in my party got chicken stuffed with goat cheese and Ahi Tuna. We followed our meal up with the peanut butter cup cheesecake… It was to die for!
My ONLY complaint about The Phoenix is that there is no changing station for babies in the women’s bathroom. I know that this is not a place that you would typically take babies/​children… But I was a little embarrassed when I had to change my baby in a lounge area with small booths due to there being no other option for me.
Overall: Food excellent, Wait staff very friendly, and atmosphere is fun.

Just came from the breakfast brunch and enjoyed a jazz trio. The food was good, some of the hot dishes like the pasta and waffled weren’t adequately heated, but that’s usually the case anywhere. The service was good and never a dirty plate left on the table. Mimosa was only $ 5, and buffet $ 14. Would go again just for the ambiance and the entertainment alone.

I had dinner with a small group at Phoenix on a Wednesday evening. None of our dishes was exceptionally delicious, and they mixed up my order (when it was not busy), but regardless the place is LOVELY. There is live music every night, and the menu has promise. I will give them another try and «am a fan» (as you say in Unilocal) even if my dinner (grilled chicken breast and side salad) was not great. Management, if you are reading this, I encourage you to elicit feedback from customers on the menu items and tighten up the kitchen. Keep up the great work on the music programming. Viva West Central!

The hidden gem of Ft Wayne!!! Located central downtown. Off street parking available. Live music five nights a week. Great bands, good variety, jazz, blues, rock and holiday music. The menu has a great variety, very good price point! Excellent potato corn chowder, huge salad selection. Good appetizer choices. Big chicken wings, unique potato skins too. Awesome hand pattied burgers on a brioche bun. Pizza selection is different and cool. The entrée selection is nice as well. Home made desserts are the bomb! Service was amazing, very attentive and very helpfull as well. Management stopped by to check on us, they really care. A new hidden jem of the town!