Restaurants

Flagstaff Arizona is a great place to make “home base” during a vacation to the Grand Canyon, and its

Historic Flagstaff AZ

historic downtown (which abuts historic Route 66) is a blend of charming, hip, and fun. Most travelers don’t cross the train tracks there, though; my favorite new restaurant in Flagstaff, Tinderbox, should be a compelling reason to do so. Right on San Francisco Street and just a few storefronts south of the railroad crossing, Tinderbox Kitchen is like a breath of fresh air.

The Southside of Flagstaff in the historic downtown area is hardly known for fresh, creative fare and modern restaurants with clear, crisp architectural interiors, but Tinderbox changes that. It just opened in May 2009, and is already making a name for itself in the Flagstaff foodie community.  I spoke with Kevin Heinonen, the co-owner and manager of this remarkable little restaurant. He told me that his cousin, chef Scott Heinonen, made something of a name for himself at another Flagstaff restaurant (Cuvee 928) after refining his skills at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley, California. The Tinderbox Kitchen chef’s well-earned reputation for adding unique touches to standard American fare, in other words, precedes him.

Best new restaurant in Flagstaff makes me happy

The menu changes constantly, so it’s hard to know exactly what to recommend – suffice it to say that lunch there was a real highlight of the meals had on my most recent trip to Arizona. For example, at other casual American restaurants, tuna melts are usually pretty benign: You get the chunk of canned tuna, a slice of sad cheddar on top, and toast. Still warm, if you’re lucky. At Tinderbox, the tuna was fresh (really!) , with some really interesting herbs added that gave it a unique flavor. The cheese was extra thick, and the fresh sourdough as good as any I’ve had from San Francisco. I don’t remember the last time I got so excited over a tuna melt! A simple tuna melt sandwich, transformed by the creative chef, into a memorable lunch. The side salad was also made from fresh, locally grown lettuces, with a just-made vinaigrette and crumbled feta.

Historic Route 66 in Flagstaff

Because the menu changes more frequently than the seasons, I don’t know if my favorite tuna melt sandwich will be on the menu the next time I’m back at Tinderbox Kitchen in Flagstaff. What I do know is that I’ll definitely be back.

Tinderbox Kitchen
34 S San Francisco St
Flagstaff AZ
(928) 226-8400