Photos by Richard Maack & David Moore Seasons 52 Caramelized sea scallops with asparagus and tomato-mushroom pearl pasta

From a cozy crêperie and quaint coffeehouse to primo pizza joints, hot Mexican restaurants, pretty gathering spots and a handful of amazing Asian places, these 23 new restaurants are dishing up some of the Valley’s best cuisine.
Eat up!


KEY
$=under $10
$$=$11-$15
$$$=$16-$25
$$$$=$26 and over

The dolce arrabiatta white pizza with Italian sausage, caramelized onions and Calabrian red chiles

Amaro Pizzeria and Vino Lounge
28234 N. Tatum Blvd., Cave Creek
480-502-1920, amaroaz.com

Opened: November 2010

Cuisine: Italian

Price: $$-$$$

Atmosphere: Don’t let the formal hostess stand fool you. The vibe is upscale, but the service is downright friendly at this Cave Creek pizza, pasta and wine bar. A row of high-back booths lining the front window is partitioned from the dark, spacious open dining room by a pony wall. Red accent walls, chandeliers and gleaming glass partitions add class, while the massive wood-burning oven adds substance. Grab a seat at the chef’s counter to view the exhibition kitchen, or sink into a comfy couch in the long, sleek bar on the opposite side.

Outdoor seating: No

Key players: Owners Frank Vairo and Tagan Dering, and Chef/co-owner Jon Spahr

Must-try menu items: Neapolitan-style pizzas with crisp, chewy edges and wet centers are a must, and Amaro offers both red and white (no sauce) versions. Try the red diavolo ($13) with a slight kick from spicy soppressata, house-pulled mozzarella and basil. The dolce arrabiatta white pizza ($15) is extra spicy with the addition of Calabrian red chiles, and extra delicious with caramelized onions, Italian sausage and mozzarella and taleggio cheeses, but the garlicky funghi ($14) scented with truffle oil is equally mouthwatering. Man cannot live by pizza alone, so order the bowl of herb- and garlic-flecked meatballs ($10), and ask for a side of their fantastic grilled bread to sop up the thick, sweet marinara sauce.

Drink to die for: Sip an Amaro Old-Fashioned ($8), a short glass of bourbon gussied up with slightly bitter, herbaceous Amaro Italian liqueur and juicy Italian amarena cherries.

Secret of the house: As an Italian cucina, Amaro goes through molti bottles of olive oil. The olive oil producer, La Cucina, bottles a private label just for Amaro, and you can take home a bottle, too ($15 for 12 ounces).

Hours: 4-10 p.m. Su & Tu-Th; 4-11 p.m. F-Sa; closed M

Happy hour: 4-6 p.m. daily; reverse happy hour 9-10 p.m. daily

Takes reservations: Yes

Short rib stew with a jalapeño cornbread muffin

The Arrogant Butcher
2 E. Jefferson St., Ste. 150, Phoenix (CityScape)
602-324-8502, foxrc.com/the_arrogant_butcher.html

Opened: February 2011

Cuisine: American

Price: $$-$$$

Atmosphere: Imagine a 1950s diner dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century, and you’ll probably come up with something much like the Butcher. It’s big and industrial-looking with hard surfaces and neutral colors, except for a flash of red. The bar and lounge nestle up to the exhibition kitchen, and booths line the dining area. The star of the show is the lighting system, both for the dramatic fixtures and the soft, flattering glow they emit.

Outdoor seating: Yes

Key players: Owner of Fox Restaurant Concepts Sam Fox, general manager Peter Hearn, and executive Chef Jeff Clastill

Must-try menu items: The Butcher features plenty of well-thought-out and delicious entrées. Jambalaya ($18) is as good or better than many versions served in New Orleans. Spicy short rib stew ($16) is a modern take on cassoulet. And sweet scallops with astringent spinach, white beans and bacon ($22) is unforgettable. But it’s the snacky stuff that’s the most fun. High-end cheeses and salumi ($5-$11) matched up with cornichons, roasted peppers, olives ($2, $3, $3) and crusty bread is super satisfying. All starters, from potato fritters jazzed up with cheddar and crème fraîche ($8) to crispy rock shrimp with shisito peppers in a tempura batter ($13), are excellent. Save room for dessert, particularly the warm peanut butter cup and the hot chocolate cake (both $6).

Drink to die for: They call them classics for a reason, kids, and Butcher’s thoroughly modern Old-Fashioned ($9) goes down mighty easy. The silken smooth blend of Knob Creek bourbon, Angostura bitters, a sprinkle of sugar and the bite of citrus peel is downright seductive.

Secret of the house: The Butcher has its own in-house gallery – the cozy, private News Room, which showcases a collection of photos that includes bits of Arizona history as well as other thought-provoking art work.

Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. M-Th; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. F; noon-10 p.m. Sa; brunch noon-4 p.m. Sa.; closed Su

Happy hour: 3-6 p.m. M-Sa, featuring $4 well drinks, selected wines and house cocktails; $2, $3 and $4 draft beers; a shot-and-beer special for $6; and discounted appetizers

Takes reservations: Yes

Shepherd’s pie

Beckett’s Table
3717 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix
602-954-1700, beckettstable.com

Opened: November 2010

Cuisine: American

Price: $$-$$$

Atmosphere: The buzzy, open kitchen fronted by a capacious communal table is the heart, soul and mission statement of this restaurant. It’s where Chef Justin Beckett presides over diners gathered in a convivial swirl of conversation, food and drink. Though it’s a big room, vaguely industrial in design with exposed beams and a liberal use of brick and block, it feels warm and intimate, thanks to carefully chosen pieces of furniture and accessories and table lamps that shed a soft glow. While it is comfortably casual, there is still a satisfying sense of occasion.

Outdoor seating: Yes

Key players: Chef/owner Justin Beckett, co-owners and managers Michelle Beckett and Scott and Katie Stephens

Must-try menu items: High-end comfort food seasoned with sass is the name of the game, and Beckett’s is already known for some instant classics. Starters include creamy grits and sausage ($8) and a freshly reworked version of the classic grilled-cheese-and-tomato-soup combo ($9). An order of bacon-cheddar biscuits with apple butter ($5) is a great kick-off as well. Beckett shows off his cooking chops with plenty of pork dishes – try the pork osso buco entrée ($17) – though chicken ’n’ dumplings ($16) and short ribs ($19) rock, too. For dessert, along with a terrific fig and pecan pie ($5), there’s more pork in the guise of chocolate-glazed bacon accompanying do-it-yourself S’mores ($5) – truly inspired.

Drink to die for: The Basin Street Breakfast ($8): Vodka, gin and rum are combined with the spicy, complex house tomato-based mix for a muscular take on a Bloody Mary.

Secret of the house: Although there’s an excellent regular wine list with moderately priced options by the glass, mini-carafe and bottle, insiders looking for that perfect bottle of wine know to ask for the “super sneaky” listing – some 30 carefully selected and well-priced vintages.

Hours: 5-10 p.m. Tu-Sa;
5-9 p.m. Su

Happy hour: While there is no happy hour per se, Beckett’s always features the “Here’s the Deal” – a specially chosen red and white wine as well as sangria for $5 a glass.

Reservations: Yes. Reservations are strongly recommended on Friday nights and weekends.

 

Mama’s pot roast with mashed cauliflower and broccolini

Bliss
901 N. Fourth St., Phoenix
602-795-1792, blissonfourth.com

Opened: August 2010

Cuisine: American

Price: $$

Atmosphere: Inside it’s a cozy, historic, wood-floored bungalow, but most of the year the action is al fresco on the tree-shaded patio. Dance/pop provides a low-decibel soundtrack, and top-of-their-game servers float effortlessly between here and adjacent reBar for drink orders. Friendly, chummy attitudes make you feel like a regular immediately, and we’re not just talking about the employees – don’t be surprised if fellow patrons strike up conversations from nearby tables. This is a hangout for seeing and being seen, not for blending into the background. Groups of well-groomed men in tight T-shirts and lots of hair gel are the predominant demographic, but you’ll also see couples heading to nearby concerts or the theater. FYI, it’s a zoo on First Fridays, with a line out the door and around the block.

Outdoor seating: Yes

Key players: Partners Mark Howard (Fez on Central) and Jackson and Kevin Kelly; executive Chef Eric Gitenstein

Must-try menu items: This is comfort food that won’t put you to sleep. Start with spicy sriracha Caesar salad ($9.50) and move on to ultra-rich mac-and-cheese ($12) loaded with chicken, bacon and onions, or Mama’s pot roast ($15) with a luscious pomegranate-wine sauce and a side of creamy mashed cauliflower and vegetables. We also love the grilled cheese ($7) with pepper jack, provolone, pears and bacon, or any sandwich perched on a soft, buttery pretzel bun, accompanied by crispy parmesan shoestring fries ($4). Save room for dessert; the house-made brownie sundae ($6.50) is scrumptious.

Drink to die for: The Cîroc Red Berry Rapture ($8) – made with Cîroc vodka infused with blueberries, raspberries and blackberries, spritzed with lime juice – packs a fruity punch, plus it’s low-calorie, with no added sugars.

Secret of the house: Chef Gitenstein goes through 50 pounds of white cheddar and pepper jack a week for the mac-and-cheese. Each batch has an “exorbitant amount of cheese in it,” he says. Good thing the signature drink is skinny.

Hours: 11 a.m.-midnight M-F; 10 a.m.-midnight Sa-Su; late-night until 2 a.m. F-Sa

Happy hour: 3-6:30 p.m. daily and 10 p.m.-close Su-Th with two-for-one drinks, $3 beers and house wine, and $5 martinis, plus a $3 all-day special cocktail. Each day features specials, too: A favorite is Sunday, with $10 pitchers of mimosas or $4 Bloody Marys.

Takes reservations: Yes

Surf and turf skewers

Bonfire Grill & Bar
7210 E. Second St., Scottsdale
480-945-6600, thebonfireaz.com

Opened: March 2011

Cuisine: American

Price: $$-$$$

Atmosphere: Jeff Low, who also designed La Bocca, American Junkie, PussyCat Lounge and Revolver, wanted to conjure a campfire setting and sense of nostalgia for old Arizona with rough-hewn wood planks on the walls, a copper bar and a 12-foot video wall of flames. But this is Scottsdale, so it’s more upscale than rustic, with iridescent upholstery on the booths and parsons chairs adding glitz. Early on it’s low-key, with classic rock and country, but things get going with DJs and hip-hop later, as the younger set comes in to fuel up pre-club-hopping. The wisest guests arrive early for one of the best happy hour menus in town.

Outdoor seating: Yes

Key players: Owners Robbie Swann and Cheri Smith; consulting Chef Matt Carter (Zinc Bistro, The Mission); head Chef Eric Guerin

Must-try menu items: A grilled artichoke ($7) with creamy aioli; smoky, tangy chopped salad ($8, $5 happy hour); or punchy Campari tomato salad ($8) with skewered cherry tomatoes and Maytag blue cheese are excellent light starters. Potato pancakes ($8, $5 happy hour) create cravings, thanks to cheddar bacon fondue, charred scallions and house ranch dressing. For the main course, go for the gusto with a filet and shrimp skewer ($25) or bacon-wrapped scallops skewer ($20). Sides (one free with entrée) of cast iron corn bread, creamed spinach, Creole dirty rice with andouille sausage and house-mashed potatoes with truffle and parmesan are best bets. The Sweet Republic ice cream sandwich ($4) with house-made cookies is insane.

Drink to die for: The jalapeño margarita ($10) is sweet going down, thanks to a blend of Ketel One Citroen, orange zest, lemon and cranberry juices, and yes, muddled jalapeños, which give an after-kick like a mean old mule.

Secret of the house: It’s truly a family affair – owners Robbie Swann and Cheri Smith are siblings, and Matt Carter is their cousin. Swann’s son Jimmy is the general manager; his daughter and son, Ashleigh and Cory Swann, are servers; and Smith’s daughter Heather Smith is a server.

Hours: 11 a.m.-2 a.m. W-Su; kitchen open until 10 p.m. W-Th and until midnight F-Su; closed M-Tu

Happy hour: 4-7 p.m. and 10 p.m.-close daily; half-off well drinks, $1 off drafts, $5 house wines and nine “campfire bites” appetizers for $5

Takes reservations: Yes

Yucatan cochinita pibil (slow-roasted pork) with habanero mango salsa

Canteen Modern Tequila
640 S. Mill Ave., Tempe
480-773-7135, canteentequilabar.com

Opened: October 2010

Cuisine: Mexican

Price: $$-$$$

Atmosphere: Lunch attracts working professionals and Arizona State University staff, but as the sun goes down the crowd turns decidedly younger and party-minded. The interior is living-room cozy, illuminated by modern dandelion puffball light fixtures. Crushed-velvet curved booths line wood-planked walls, and in the center, low, cushy chairs cluster around even lower tables. The bar opens to a narrow outdoor sidewalk patio, and there’s a larger patio in the back with another bar manned during busy times.

Outdoor seating: Yes

Key players: Owner Julian Wright, Chef Luis Millan and mixologist Clint Manning

Must-try menu items: Canteen is serious about tequila (they serve more than 100 varieties), but they’re equally serious about their boldly flavored Mexican street food, especially the tacos. Gourmet street tacos ($8-$10) come three to an order, but the best are the Corona-, cilantro- and lime-marinated chicken and the earthy vegetarian portabella with the house-smoked blue cheese. Splurge for the chunky guacamole ($7), and don’t complain about shelling out for the fantastic trio of salsas with chips ($6). The slow-roasted cochinita pibil with habanero mango salsa is portioned for two as an entrée ($22), but it’s the same pork used in the tacos for only $9. Satisfy your sweet tooth with the cinnamon-y, rum-spiked rice pudding ($6) for dessert.

Drink to die for: Organic grapefruit soda, fresh lime juice and 100 percent blue agave blanco tequila make the Paloma ($6.50) both refreshing and potent. Canteen rims half the glass with salt mixed with grapefruit zest. It’s pretty and pink, but it’s no sissy drink.

Secret of the house: There’s a reason the Corona, cilantro and lime chicken is beyond juicy – the marinated chicken is slowly churned on a rotisserie. Starting in October, Canteen will add pineapple-marinated pork al pastor to the rotisserie when they unveil a new menu to celebrate their first anniversary.

Hours: 11 a.m.-midnight Su-W; 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Th-Sa

Happy hour: 4-6:30 p.m. daily

Takes reservations: Yes

Barista Christian Muma (left) and baker Nathalie Lozano

Carmel’s Coffee & Bakery
4233 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix
480-251-8888, carmelscoffee.com

Opened: March 2011

Cuisine: American/Bakery

Price: $

Atmosphere: It’s easy to fly by this tiny 1940s cottage as you zip down Camelback Road west of 44th Street. But then you’d miss out on a cheerful retreat with a simple, comfy ambience that includes two counters lined with leather high-top chairs, brown leather booths, and old schoolhouse-style wood chairs nestled on a stained natural concrete floor. The owner has a design background, and his creative side shines though in the fun, urban-chic décor where vintage, mid-century modern and classic furniture mingles happily with garage sale finds. The changing but always brilliant art will stop you in your tracks; think embroidered dollar bills or a summery piece that resembles a Day of the Dead skull eating watermelon.

Outdoor seating: Yes

Key players: Owner Pat Flanigan and baker Nathalie Lozano

Must-try menu items: Brevity is the soul of this bakery’s menu, with just a handful of breakfast and lunch items, but it’s brimming with homemade goodness. To wit: Daily changing baked goods might feature plump blueberry muffins warm from the oven ($3.50), honey crêpes ($6.75), or a croissant sandwich with boutique bacon and farm eggs ($6.75). At lunch, the retro theme carries through with what Flanigan says were his grandmother’s and mother’s favorite foods: a BLT on homemade buttermilk bread ($6.50), spinach quiche ($4) and a citrus salad tossed with goat cheese, almonds, mixed greens and homemade vinaigrette ($6.50). Customers spill in for the signature puff pastry tarts ($5.50) topped with tomato and goat cheese or potato, gorgonzola and bacon.

Drink to die for: It’s a coffee shop, and the java is dynamite, sourced from Tempe roaster Cartel Coffee Lab and served as double-pull shots of espresso ($2.50), iced toddies ($3) and old-fashioned drip ($2.50).

Secret of the house: Chef groupies, this is where you want to be on Sundays, when many of the Valley’s top toques convene to munch on freshly baked brown butter scones ($3.50).

Hours: 6 a.m.-3 p.m. daily

Happy hour: No

Takes reservations: No

The Damnation2 crêpe filled with chestnut paste and drizzled with dark chocolate

Chez Vous
8787 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
480-443-2575,
chezvous-az.com

Opened: April 2010

Cuisine: French Crêperie

Price: $

Atmosphere: With only 24 or so seats inside, Chez Vous is quaint and cozy, with chocolate-colored walls adorned with dozens of white plates on one side and a windowpane white mirror on the other, creating an illusion that the space is larger than it is. Most of the polished wood tables, with country chairs painted white, are snuggled close together across from the bakery case and counter. An upright piano sits up front, sometimes silent but sometimes played by owner Richard Horvath and others.

Outdoor seating: Yes, limited to a few sidewalk tables in front of the restaurant.

Key players: Owners Richard and Isabelle Horvath and Chef Jeremy Snipes

Must-try menu items: Specializing in Brittany-style crêpes, Snipes uses dark, organic buckwheat for the dozen or so savory crêpes and wheat flour for the 14 sweet crêpes. Some savory crêpes come with the French family’s thick, rich béchamel sauce, such as the lovely forestiere with sautéed mushrooms, shaved ham and melted Swiss cheese ($10.50). Another favorite is the Brittany ($10.50), with roasted chicken, tomatoes and caramelized onions bathed in crème fraîche. All savory crêpes, folded into a rectangle with just a peek of the ingredients showing, are served with a simple mixed green salad drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette. Save room for the delicate dessert crêpes with crisp edges, such as the Damnation2 with chestnut paste and melted dark chocolate ($7.75), or even the Classic, a simple crêpe dusted with powdered sugar and lemon drizzle ($4.80).

Drink to die for: The short wine list features some French gems, such as the Hugel Gentil from Alsace ($8.50), a white blend with an aromatic nose and mouthwatering fruit finish that pairs well with the béchamel-based crêpes or quiche.

Secret of the house: Crêpes are Chez Vous’ claim to fame, but the crêperie also makes baguette sandwiches, quiche (by the slice, $6.50, and whole to-go, $25) and wickedly delicious crème brûlée, including espresso and white chocolate flavors. The quiches are made daily, so call ahead to take a whole one home.

Hours: 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. M-Sa; closed Su (beginning in October, hours will expand to include dinner and Sundays)

Happy hour: No

Takes reservations: No