Durant’s
American
2611 N. Central Ave., Phoenix
602-264-5967, durantsaz.com
This midtown institution has been serving beef and booze for the past 50 years. Phoenix’s movers and shakers come for Florida stone crabs, excellent lunchtime sandwiches and classic martinis. $$-$$$
Aftermath
New American
1534 E. Bethany Home Rd.
602-607-5240, aftermathphoenix.com
In a neighborhood bursting with neighborhood restaurants, Aftermath stands out, offering a casual but sophisticated setting for wildly creative eats, including sexy vegetables and big, satisfying entrees. $$
Belly Kitchen + Bar
Southeast Asian
4971 N. Seventh Ave.
602-296-4452, bellyphx.com
Known for slinging adventurous cocktails and turning out edgy riffs on the classics: crispy crab bánh xèo; PEI mussels, afloat in a fragrant broth of coconut milk and lemongrass; salty king mushrooms, zapped with Sichuan peppercorns; and crispy fried chicken shellacked in a funky, fish-sauce-based glaze. And look for this on-again, off-again special: five-spice-flicked lamb shank braised to unctuousness in coconut juice, garlic, shallots and caramel sauce. $$
Chilte
Modern Mexican
765 Grand Ave.
602-807-5226, chiltephx.com
Don’t let the cute, kitschy décor fool you. Chef-owner Lawrence Smith turns out some of the city’s most exciting Mexican food, modern but grounded in tradition. You can’t really go wrong here, but the tacos that made him famous are a good place to start, and don’t miss the cheesecake. $$$
Eden’s Grill Inn
Middle Eastern
13843 N. Tatum Blvd.
602-996-5149, edensgrill.com
Housed in a strip mall, this small Middle Eastern restaurant is far prettier than you’d imagine, and the made-from-scratch food is wonderful. Try dolmeh, baba ghannouj, excellent kebabs, catfish and the best baklava in town. $-$$
The Gladly
New American
2201 E. Camelback Rd.
602-759-8132, thegladly.com
A more global, slightly more urbane answer to sister gastropub Citizen Public House in Scottsdale. The Gladly’s inspired pub fare, crazy-good revivalist cocktails and stylish period digs encourage lingering. Nibble on the burrata caprese, adorned with seasonal fruit, veggies and herbs, or go for the gusto with the octopus salad, Wagyu burger, Pigstrami sandwich and coffee-charred short ribs. $$-$$$$
Honey Bear’s Barbecue
American
5012 E. Van Buren St.
602-273-9148, honeybearsbbq.com
Serving Tennessee-style (read: tangy, sweet and sticky) barbecue, this seminal restaurant has been a fixture in the low-and-slow scene since the early days, beguiling fans with mesquite-smoked ribs, chicken, yummy pulled-pork sandwiches and some of the best catfish in town. Catering available. Other location: Phoenix (602-279-7911). $
Kaizen
Japanese/sushi
515 E. Grant St.
602-432-0752, kaizenphx.com
Chef Gustavo Muñoz brings a Latin vibe to this hip fusion sushi spot in the warehouse district, where you can expect to find ceviche, scallop aguachile and tiradito alongside florid sushi rolls made with striking ingredients (shiso pesto, for example) and Japanese standards gone fancy. $$
Little Miss BBQ
Barbecue
4301 E. University Dr.
602-437-1177, littlemissbbq.com
Little Miss BBQ is one smoking hot mama. Scott and Bekke Holmes’ tiny one-room restaurant regularly draws long lines of locals, their fingers figuratively crossed in hopes of deterring the “sold out” sign. Their secret is mouthwatering meats smoked over white oak for 12-14 hours and served by the pound, on a bun, or plated with two sides. The restaurant’s second location in Sunnyslope offers beer and better parking. $-$$
Century Grand
New American
3626 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix
602-739-1388, centurygrandphx.com
Set in a Prohibition-inspired mock train station, complete with a lifelike Pullman railcar where guests can sip craft cocktails while a wintry landscape whizzes by, this high-concept culinary playground has rightly been described as Disneyland for adults. The cocktails are fabulous. $$-$$$
Mariscos Playa Hermosa
Mexican Seafood
1605 E. Garfield St.
602-462-1563, mariscosplayahermosa.com
Painted blue and decorated with fishy accents, this clean, pleasant restaurant does an amazing job with Mexican seafood. Try anything with shrimp, including botana de camarón, ensalada de camarón and camarones fantasia. $-$$$
Ocean Prime
Seafood/steak
5455 E. High St.
480-347-1313, oceanprimephoenix.com
Start with inventive appetizers like white truffle caviar deviled eggs before moving on to executive chef Jagger Griffin’s superlative surf-and-turf selections. The wine and dessert menus are also outstanding. $$$$
Parlor Pizzeria
Pizza/Italian
1916 E. Camelback Rd.
602-248-2480, theparlor.us
The Salon de Venus beauty parlor has been reincarnated as one of the best pizza places in town. The crispy, chewy crust is wood-fired, the mozzarella homemade and many of the ultra-fresh ingredients are local. Assemble your dream pie from the make-your-own menu, or choose the Yukon gold potato pizza, topped with gorgonzola, pancetta and leeks. $-$$$
Que Sazón Restaurant and Ceviche Bar
Colombian
622 E. Adams St., 602-919-2246
Enjoy succulent, aji-crema-drizzled empanadas and open-face, crispy-chewy tostones served in one of the city’s true historical treasures. Colombian chef Fabian Ocampo’s seasonal, evenings-only menu of ceviche and tiraditos (essentially, Colombian crudo) are bewitching and not quite like anything else we’ve had in the Valley. $$
Renata’s Hearth
Latin
2400 E. Missouri Ave.
602-954-2507, renatashearth.com
The seasonal menu at this Latin-influenced eatery at the Arizona Biltmore zeroes in on seafood-focused small plates (oysters, ceviche, grilled shrimp) and shareable platters for the table – most of them rarified meat cuts, grilled or smoked. Massive slabs of fatty pork belly, roasted to an umber crunch, are supremely satisfying, and even side dishes (say, charred street corn with lime and smoked goat cheese) have sex appeal. $$$
Sottise
French
1025 N. Second St
602-254-6378, sottisephx.com
Sit on the deep porch and sip a carefully curated wine at this charming French bistro and wine bar, baby sis to TJ Culp’s equally charming Restaurant Progress. The grazing menu, which offers a few entrees (don’t miss the pork shank or the pesto pasta) runs to classic French – escargots, baked and melting Camembert, pâté and salmon rillettes, all of it outstanding. $$-$$$
Teddy’s Preserve
Modern American
1001 N. Central Ave.
602-675-0389, teddyspreserve.com
Designed by the Rough Rider culinary crew, this indoor-outdoor gastro-lounge from the Whining Pig hospitality empire features a menu of simple but excellent small plates like I Love Pimento, which combines roasted chile and Manchego cheese into a salsa-like slurry. $$-$$$
Valentine
Global
4130 N. Seventh Ave.
602-612-2961, valentinephx.com
This hip hangout is a brunch/lunch/dinner go-to for grazing on chef-owner Donald Hawk’s wildly creative menu, which draws from his Korean upbringing, his past life as the raw bar chef at The Gladly and his commitment to local ingredients. Imagine churro waffles, molasses-glazed hushpuppies and crispy cauliflower with native seed tahini, laved with tangy raisin escabeche. Hawk also makes arguably the city’s best chicken dishes – a brined and smoked half-bird set on a puddle of creamy yogurt with durum wheatberries. $$-$$$
About this guide
The restaurants listed are noteworthy and randomly selected from our rotating master list. We suggest that you confirm information, and we solicit your help in correcting any errors in the guide. We also ask readers to send us complaints in writing when one of the listed restaurants fails to meet expectations. Please note that, unless otherwise indicated, the listed restaurants offer free parking and recommend reservations for peak hours and large groups. Price categories reflect average dinner entrée prices; drinks, tax and tip are extra.
$=under $10 $$=$11-$15
$$$=$16-$25 $$$$=$26 and over
