Monsterland

 Fall is finally upon us where leaves will change colors and temperatures become cooler, except here in Arizona where it is still 105 degrees.  But that doesn't mean you can't get ready for one of my FAVORITE holidays.  This is the time of year where the days get shorter the nights get longer and scary things come out for Halloween.  So in preparation, we headed to Monsterland in Mesa.  As you enter, you walk through a small maze before you are greeted by "Frank".  There are quite a few, large animatronics in this restaurant.  So don't be too surprised if one jumps out at you.  On our way to the table, we noticed iconic horror movie characters throughout the restaurant.  In one corner lurks "Freddy Krueger" while a pack of werewolves watch over you from above the bar.
We sat down next to a creature in a crouching position  which was easily at least 6 feet tall.  Off to the side of the bar was a large silver screen where they playing a classic black and white horror movie.  Every 10 minutes or so, all the animatronics would come alive.  The fellow next to our table, started to growl and thump his fist as he rose to stand at  a towering 15 feet.  This does make for a lot of entertainment while dining but as Halloween approaches, starting Oct 5th, the restaurant will open it's own haunted house in the basement as well.  This sounds like a blast as we were also told that they will set up monitors in the restaurant for diners to watch people being scared as they go through it.  The music playing the background was 1980's punk, so I felt truly at home and I even enjoyed the extra darkness.  How many restaurants can you go in and ask "where's the dank?"  As the night progressed they did turn on additional lights but be prepared to use your cell phone light to help you read the menu.
The menu has a horror theme as an example our appetizer was the "Children of the Corn"  This is an order of about five sweet potato and corn fritters flavored with garlic, cilantro, pepper jack cheese, and then topped a green chili lime aioli.  Served warm and a bit messy, these were some of the most incredible fritters I've had since beginning "Fun Frank Fridays".  These had more flavor than typical fritters.  Although messy from the sauce on top, we could have used a side of extra sauce for dipping.  There were other appetizers on the menu, such as "Bat wings", "Wicker man" and "Casket of Chips".  These are other appetizers to try in the future when I return for the haunted house tour.  On top of each table in place of typical traditional salt and pepper shakers, there were four bottles of a variety of flavored salts.
Each flavor was identified by a symbol with the corresponding symbol on the shaker.  The flavors included: Sour cream and onion, dill pickle, cheddar bacon ranch and cheddar habenero garlic.  Unfortunately for us the cheddar bacon ranch and the cheddar habenero garlic had both lost their identifying symbols and both looked the same color.  So with my adventurous spirit, I shook one of the unmarked bottles into my hand and licked it to determine which was which.  I lucked out and found the cheddar bacon ranch one, which was the one I wanted to try.

My first choice on the menu that caught my eye was the "I killed the monster" challenge.  At first it didn't sound too bad, all I had to do was eat a Triple Monster Burger, double chips, children of the corn, and swamp slaw in 20 minutes and I would get the “I killed the monster” T-shirt, my picture on a headstone, and bragging rights.  I was almost sold until I found out that the single burger was a half pound, so I opted to put that off for another time when I have not eaten for several days.  But I did choose to do a preview and ordered the single Monster Burger.  This burger comes topped with pepper jack cheese, roasted pablano peppers, fried onion strings and chipotle aioli on a toasted bun.  This also comes with a side of homemade potato chips.  These are freshly made and served unseasoned and unsalted.  But this is where your before mentioned containers of salt come in handy.  I doused my chips with the cheddar bacon flavor.

Susette and Kirk split the King Kong burger which is a bacon cheese burger with plenty of bacon, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, and onion on a toasted bun.  Monsterland does modify any burger to your liking as well as cook to your desired wellness.  Kirk was enjoying himself with the iconic horror atmosphere but Susette was completely unnerved by it and even jumped sky-high when the waitress came up from behind to take our drink orders.

Patti spent several minutes using her cell phone to try and read the menu before deciding on her choice of the Dr. Jekyll Chicken Burger.  This is a grilled seasoned chicken breast, served with bacon, pepper jack cheese, avocado, tomato, spinach, and a red pepper aioli on toasted bun.  It was extremely pepper flavored and I was convinced it had been "as-salt-ed" by a pepper gun.  But all in all, it was definitely a mouthful and she ended up taking some of it home.

The next time we go, we definitely also plan to eat some of the "Dragon eggs" and "Gooey Eyeballs" for dessert.

So if you are in the mood for things that go "bump" in the night or if you are feeling like "death warmed over", you'll have to take a trip with me to Monsterland.  Because if you haven't had "Children of the Corn" you should try it now.