Finding a bar and grill in the Valley of the Sun is not a difficult task. Finding one with great food, excellent prices and a pretty cool history is quite another thing. Those things combined are what makes “The Other Q Bar” located at 20818 North 19th Avenue in Phoenix such a hidden gem.

Owned and operated by Chuck Rohlfing and his eldest daughter, Julie, The Other Q Bar and Grill is a reference to the Original Q Bar, which was opened in the summer of 1986 by Chuck and his wife Lynne. The couple were fresh off their move from Alaska, where Lynne pursued a career in education while Chuck opened two cocktail lounges and two liquor stores. After a brief vacation to Phoenix in 1975, the Rohlfing’s returned to Alaska, sold their business, packed up their family and moved to the Valley.
Upon opening in 1986, with just $500 in borrowed cash and armed with 50 pounds of fresh red snapper on ice, The Q Bar’s humble beginnings grew to include the “The Other Q Bar” in the mid 90s — but they continue to source only the freshest seafood that is flown in weekly. The Other Q Bar is unique in that in addition to lunch and dinner, it serves breakfast to early risers on Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. With choices like the Green Chile Plate, The Magnum breakfast burrito, the Honey Ham and Swiss Breakfast Panini and more, guests can wash down a morning meal with an eye-opener such as a Bloody Mary, Mimosa or a Screwdriver.

Midday munchies and beyond include classic bar favorites such as wings, chicken tenders, a variety of quesadillas (Green Chile, Veggie and even Ribeye), nachos, taquitos and more to start as well as fresh salads such as the Asian Chicken Salad, Fajita Salad or the Club Salad. The vast main meal selection extends from wraps and paninis to burgers, sandwiches, dogs, and of course, that fresh seafood — including Jumbo Shrimp, Fresh Fish Taco, Walleye, Q’s Fresh Fish Sandwich, and the Seafood Sampler Platter which includes fresh fish of the day, shrimp and calamari — and is designed to share! The restaurant also boasts daily specials including Catfish on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, along with roasted half chicken on Monday, tacos on Tuesday (of course!), the Cheeseburger in Paradise on Wednesday (served with a Margarita just as Jimmy Buffet would have it!) as well as Corned Beef and Cabbage, Market Cod and Porkchops on Thursdays, and All You Can Eat Fish Fry on Fridays and Alaskan Pollock on Saturday and Sunday as well as House Recipe Wings.

Q’s is open late — until midnight Monday through Saturday and until 9:00 p.m. on Sundays, so once diners have had a great meal, they can stick around for a few great drinks! For more, visit www.qbarandgrill.org.