Magazine: Julieanna's is among state's best

  Just like the movie critics so many rely upon for the perfect flick, Arizona Highways' best restaurants has shined the spotlight on Julieanna' Patio Cafe as a Yuma culinary treasure.

  The venerable 84-year-old travel magazine for the second year in a row has published its best 25 restaurants in the state. Editor Robert Stieve said when the feature premiered last year, Yumans clamored for their local hero.

  "Last year the '25 Best' article got tremendous feedback and a lot of people in Yuma phoned to say the ones you recommended were great but you got to check out Julieanna's," Stieve said. "We had that response from other communities but the loudest voices was for Julieanna's."

  Arizona Highways' mission is to promote travel throughout the state whether to the Grand Canyon, the White Mountains or Yuma's Territorial Prison, but the focus is to send readers off the beaten path, especially in the smaller communities outside of Phoenix, Stieve said.

  The objective is to give a perspective of all the variety the state has to offer but travel involves far more than just taking in the sights.

  "You're going to get hungry at some point and people won't necessarily know where to get a bite to eat," Stieve said. "So rather than looking in the Yellow Pages, we can help guide them."

  When endorsing the best dining establishments, Arizona Highways looked for three components readers savored most - food, ambience and service - and Julieanna's held high cards in every category.

  The article was exciting and enlivened a lot of interest in the restaurant for first-time patrons, Brant Gordon, Julieanna's manager, said.

  "I've never met the food critic for Arizona Highways but that article has been a boom to our restaurant in difficult economic times," Gordon said. "A lot of our regulars from the last 13 years phoned to congratulate us, which we really appreciate."

  Despite the article's timely appearance, many are cutting back on dining out, and even a success story like Julieanna's is feeling the pinch of the economic downturn, Gordon noted. Although business is off by 15 percent from last year, they have not had to lay off any staff, yet there are no plans for expansion.

  Gordon described the fare as very fresh with everything homemade, a California cuisine/steakhouse. And right now they are offering a half-off special for reservations of large parties if scheduled before May 1, he added.

  Arizona Highways singled out the patio tables whose mosaic tiles were designed by local artist Susan Sullivan, Gordon said. It also mentioned that burbling fountains, swaying palms and live macaws make it a tropical oasis and the choice for romantic dinners or corporate functions. And it praised the dinner options of ahi, avocado and mango as well as the chateaubriand.

  Winter visitors as well appreciate the stellar service and are frequently recognized by the longtime personnel, Gordon said.

  "It's nice to go where you're comfortable and the staff knows your name," he said. "We nurture a relationship with our customers."

  And for those hard to please, Julieanna's knows another way to soothe the plunging market jitters is to bring music to anxious ears.

  The Yuma Jazz Company band performs at Julieanna's every other Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. through April, while The Trucken Miller Brothers guitar and mandolin originals are showcased on alternate Fridays for the same times.

  Gordon described the restaurant's atmosphere as happy, lively and colorful.

  "We cater to folks coming out to celebrate special occasions," he said.

---
William Roller can be reached at
wroller@yumasun.com or 539-6858