Colorado Rockies: 5 spring training eating destinations for fans

SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 25: Archie Bradley #25 of the Arizona Diamondbacks delivers a pitch during the fourth inning of the spring training game against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 25, 2017 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 25: Archie Bradley #25 of the Arizona Diamondbacks delivers a pitch during the fourth inning of the spring training game against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 25, 2017 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
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SCOTTSDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 25: Gerardo Parra #8 of the Colorado Rockies is by teammate Trevor Story #27 after making a diving catch against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the spring training game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 25, 2017 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
SCOTTSDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 25: Gerardo Parra #8 of the Colorado Rockies is by teammate Trevor Story #27 after making a diving catch against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the spring training game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 25, 2017 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

Now that Colorado Rockies spring training tickets are officially on sale (and I have made my plane and hotel reservations to cover the Rockies in early March), it’s time to start thinking about what to do in the Phoenix area when I am not watching the Rockies play or doing interviews.

This will be my fourth consecutive season of spending at least a week in the Scottsdale area, spending the majority of my day covering the Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick or wherever Colorado might be playing that day. However, a guy has to eat and have a little fun while on the road, right?

Throughout my pilgrimages to Scottsdale, I have jotted down some of the places where I love to grab a bite to eat and I hit them every year when I am in the area. My goal is to find good food that you don’t have to pay a crazy amount for … as well as restaurants that you can’t find in the Denver area.

So let me share with you some of the places I will be visiting in Scottsdale and the surrounding areas when I am there in early March. Who knows? Maybe I will run into you at one of these places or we can meet up for breakfast or dinner and talk Rockies.

SCOTTSDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 25: Archie Bradley #25 of the Arizona Diamondbacks delivers a pitch during the fourth inning of the spring training game against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 25, 2017 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
SCOTTSDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 25: Archie Bradley #25 of the Arizona Diamondbacks delivers a pitch during the fourth inning of the spring training game against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 25, 2017 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

Note: I have linked to the five restaurants at the start of every description and they will open in a separate window if you want to check them out.

DeFalco’s Italian Deli & Grocery – Absolutely one of my favorite places to visit when I am in Arizona. I am a big fan of the chicken pesto sandwich as well as assembling my own calzone. There is nothing fancy about this family-owned restaurant but the prices are good and the food is delicious. It is also less than eight miles from Salt River Fields so you don’t have to go too far to enjoy this place.

Matt’s Big Breakfast – A little more than 10 miles away from Salt River Fields, this is the spot to hit when you want a breakfast that is going to last you all day. There is one location in the Phoenix airport and three others in the Phoenix area (I always hit the one on Camelback as it is the closest to the stadium). This is also a breakfast and lunch spot so it is somewhere to hit before the game, not after.

Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies /

Colorado Rockies

Don’t be surprised if you have to wait a little bit to get a table … but it is absolutely worth the wait. For me, it’s hard to beat the pancakes and coffee here.

Scottsdale Beer Company – We Coloradans can be pretty picky when it comes to our craft beer, but I loved the brews I had here last year. You will have lots of options to please every palate at this restaurant that is less than five miles from Salt River Fields.

Food wise, start with the cool ranch potato chips (trust me on this one) and then dive into the grilled meatloaf. You can thank me later. If that’s not your style, there are plenty of salads and enough awesome appetizers that you could make your own meal out of just those.

In-n-Out – I know plenty of you out there are haters of this franchise. You have your opinion and I have mine. We can’t get In-n-Out in Colorado yet so I stop there at least once while I am in the Valley of the Sun. The one on North 20th in Phoenix is a little less than 12 miles from the stadium and well worth the drive.

By the way, don’t forget the Rockies have had In-n-Out on their flights back from California so if you’re hating on this, you’re hating on the food that native Californian Nolan Arenado eats. Let that sit with you for a bit.

Oink Café – OK, I haven’t been here yet but this is on my must-hit list for 2018. It’s also less than 11 miles from the stadium so there is no excuse in not going and trying the bacon flight that I saw on Twitter. That’s a no-brainer.

Of course, anything centered around bacon gets my attention and this breakfast and lunch place certainly seems to be focused on that. I will definitely be hitting this one morning before heading to interview Bud Black and the Rockies.

Next: Will David Dahl make Colorado's Opening Day roster?

Do you have any “must-eat” destinations for spring training? Share your thoughts below!

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