text: I went to NOCA about a month after is opened and was wowed I told all my fellow foodies about my wonderful experience the innovative menu and all the little extras that made the meal a really special dining experience in Phoenix nI went back with friends twice after in the coming months and was pleased each time nI just went back this past Saturday though and would have to say I would no longer suggest it for a special night out It was as if the magic was gone and that the place was showing its age and loosing its specialness It was really just ok The chefs talent shows but too many other let downs nWhen we arrived for our reservation the place was crowded The host was friendly and told us that our table would be ready soon and it was We sat down at our table and that is when things started turning out not as well as expected Seated in a back cornerwhich I did not mindI noticed the walls were filthyscratched and beat up and dirty That was my view so of course its all I could focus on The waiter did not show up for min to take our drink order and when he did it took min to get them to us He apologized but at on a Saturday night that waiting for a first drink is not fun nWhen then settled down with our menus and picked our choices It was then we were told that they were out of the veal which of course of us had chosen by then and that there was only one Skate dishwhich of course the other of us had decided on They were also out of other items I felt I was back in the old Eleve located in this same spotthe food was great there as wellwhen they did not run out of many items on the menu They may be ok when you have a larger menu but with a small menu to begin with this is a real disappointment nGone were the pop rocks that I thought was so fun as an intermezzo instead a spoon of something that was not described was set down in front of us A simple saladgoodwas and most starters are at least that much Good but not worth the price Otherwise entrees were goodnot special but tasty and served with good presentation The cotton candy is still thereand still an attention getter And I still love the desert selectionsespecially the malt that I had with mini doughnuts in with dipping sauces nI think I am able to overlook the fact that its really not an attractive roomthe energy from the kitchen and the close tables add noise and excitement to the room but the art and lighting is ugly and now that its starting to look run down as wellthere are too many new beautiful places in the city with equally good food and equally as pricey that are not in strip mall And they usually still have most menu selections on a Saturday night