Opening
A Ma’s Kitchen & Pho
A Ma’s promises authentic Vietnamese comfort food using family recipes for pho, vermicelli bowls, egg rolls and other dishes.
1900 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler, amasphokitchen.com
Backyard
The shuttered Sandbar at Desert Ridge location has been transformed into 8,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor bar and restaurant, featuring a dog-friendly patio, games, TVs and live music. Brought to you by Scottsdale-based Evening Entertainment Group.
21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix, backyardusa.com
Barrio Brewing Co.
This Tucson-based brewery with an outlet at Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport has opened a second Valley location at Deer Valley Airport. In addition to the beer menu, diners can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner with a view of planes taking off and landing.
702 W. Deer Valley Rd., Phoenix, barriobrewingphoenix.com
Bloomy Kitchen
Order a variety of Asian dishes, from crab puffs and squid salad to Mongolian beef and ramen in the former Mimi Kitchen space.
2028 W. Guadalupe Rd., Mesa, bloomykitchenonline.com
The Buzzed Goat
Ahwatukee-based coffee bar and taphouse has opened a second location in Tempe. They also offer a small breakfast menu.
3415 S. McClintock Dr., Tempe, thebuzzedgoat.com
C & C Fresh-N-Tasty Subs
Locally owned sandwich shop offers hot and cold subs, pizza, salads and wings. They also have a choose-your-base option, offering French rolls, several sliced breads or salad.
2706 E. University Dr., Mesa, 480-588-8643
Caesar’s Republic Scottsdale
Caesar’s Republic Hotel, an 11-story hotel adjacent to Scottsdale Fashion Square, has opened to much fanfare, along with three restaurants, two by Food Network Star Giada De Laurentiis: Luna by Giada, a high-end Italian restaurant and bar; Pronto by Giada, a casual Italian spot with breakfast and lunch; and Seven, a rooftop restaurant by Scottsdale-based Riot Hospitality featuring American fine dining, stunning views of Camelback Mountain and plenty of TVs with access to the Caesars Sports Book.
4747 N. Goldwater Blvd., Scottsdale, caesars.com
Cielo Rojo
The former La Santisima Gourmet Taco Shop has been transformed into Cielo Rojo, a Mexican restaurant specializing in the cuisine of Guanajuato.
1919 N. 16th St., Phoenix, cielorojo.restaurant
Corazon de Agave
Family-owned restaurant with a full menu of Mexican favorites from birria tacos to enchiladas verdes to cochinita pibil.
4010 E. Bell Rd., Phoenix, 480-597-7475
Devil’s Hideaway
Julian Wright (Pedal Haus Brewery, Sake Haus) has opened a bar in the shuttered Rula Bula Irish Pub on Mill Avenue with a walk-up food window and live music to come.
401 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, drinkatdevils.com
Echo Coffee at AHS
Scottsdale’s Echo Coffee has opened a branch at the new Arizona Humane Society’s Rob & Melani Walton Papago Park Campus and is donating 1 percent of all sales to the nonprofit.
5501 E. Van Buren St., Phoenix, echocoffee.shop
Empower Coffee Roasters
Denise Gamza (and husband, Zach) recently opened a woman-owned, specialty coffee roastery that supports and empowers women “bean by bean.”
1337 S. Gilbert Rd., Mesa, empowercoffeeroasters.com
Federico’s Mexican Food
Fast Mexican food chain Federico’s has opened a location in Goodyear.
2455 Pebble Creek Parkway, Goodyear, federicosmexicanfood.com
Four 8 Fried Chicken
Merkin Vineyard’s Maynard James Keenan has opened a Southwestern hot chicken restaurant in his former Cottonwood tasting room, which has relocated.
1001 N. Main St., Cottonwood, caduceus.org
Gelato Cimmino
A second location for Scottsdale’s Gelato Cimmino has opened in Gilbert serving made-from-scratch, gluten-free, dairy-free and traditional gelato.
339 N. Gilbert Rd., Gilbert, gelatocimmino.com
JA Ramen
Laveen welcomes Tucson-based JA Ramen, featuring appetizers, ramen, curry and udon dishes with a handful of desserts.
5845 W. Baseline Rd., Laveen, thejaramen.com
Lola’s Liquors
A cocktail bar with a “secret” drink menu and small menu of shareable appetizers from the folks at Liquid Sunshine Projects (Bourbon Jack’s American Tavern, Murphy’s Law).
64 S. San Marcos Place, Chandler, lolasliquors.com
Lush Café & Lounge
Enjoy a “chef-inspired menu, artisan coffee and craft cocktails” with live music. Brunch on the weekends. Check website for dress code.
7470 S. Priest Dr., Tempe, lushcafeandlounge.com
Mama Linda’s Italian Kitchen
You’ll find traditional Italian food here, including antipasti, entrees, flatbread pizzas and Mama’s Family Dinner with all of Mama’s favorite dishes – ravioli, chicken and eggplant parm, meatballs sausages on a bed of pasta and two salads for $40.
4815 E. Main St., Mesa, mamalindasitalian.com
Maple & Rye
Westside Concepts (Haymaker, Copper & Sage) has opened Maple & Rye, an all-day dining restaurant serving a large menu of American favorites, including apple pie pancakes, Southwest eggs Benedict, smash burgers, wedge salad, Cajun mussels and meatloaf.
15955 W. Clearview Blvd., Surprise, mapleandryeaz.com
Mon Cherí
Billed as a girls’ night out spot, this Old Town Scottsdale restaurant features charcuterie boards, salads, shareable and main dishes, champagne and cocktails. In the former Arcadia Farms Café space.
7014 E. First Ave., Scottsdale, moncherirestaurants.com
Number 1 Buffet
A new all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet open for lunch and dinner.
10125 W. McDowell Rd., Avondale, number1buffetaz.com
OHSO Brewery & Distillery and Little O’s
Little O’s offers coffee drinks, cocktails, breakfast, grab-and-go items and a variety of donuts; and OHSO picks up the lunch, dinner and happy hour crowd along with weekend brunch, and of course, beer.
8525 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, ohsobrewery.com
Parlour Doughnuts
This national donut chain has opened an outpost in Tempe with some interesting donuts – peanut butter cup, churro, sandy beach and lemonade, to name a few. They also serve coffee, kombucha, juice and a smattering of breakfast items.
707 S. Farmer Ave., Tempe, parlourdougnuts.com
Pho Ngoc
A family-owned Vietnamese restaurant serving authentic fare has opened in Chandler.
4960 N. Alma School Rd., Chandler, 480-687-4112
Pinche’s Tacos Al Carbon
Fast Mexican food eatery features taco plates, burritos and quesadillas. Counter service only.
520 W. Union Hills Dr., Phoenix, pinchestacosaz.com
Rolled Out Bakery
Located inside Beanchain Coffee, Rolled Out Bakery specializes in rolls of all kinds – cinnamon bacon ranch, orange and raspberry – and muffins, cookies, bread pudding and crustless quiche.
1110 W. Southern Ave., Mesa, rolledoutbakery.com
Shimogamo Grill & Sushi
Grab lunch or dinner at the second location of Shimogamo and enjoy a selection of Japanese cocktails, sake and spirits. The lunch spread includes sushi, rice bowls, ramen and noodle dishes; and for dinner, add cold appetizers, sashimi, yakitori and robata dishes into the mix.
2320 S. Santan Village Parkway, Gilbert, shimogamoaz.com
Silverlake Ramen
A California-based, fast-casual Asian chain recently opened its first Arizona location close to ASU. Look for a slew of appetizers, bowls and ramen.
920 E. University Dr., Tempe, silverlakeramen.com
Taco Night & Tequila
There’s a new Mexican spot in north Phoenix with breakfast dishes that include molcajete with chorizo and queso fresco, burritos and pancakes, along with lunch and dinner tacos aplenty, birria, quesadillas and more.
3121 W. Peoria Ave., Phoenix, taconighttequilaaz.com
Vintage XIV Wine Bar & Sports Lounge
The owners of Draft Sports Grill in Mesa have opened an “upscale wine bar and elevated sports lounge” in the former Uncle Bear’s Grill & Tap space that closed in January.
10625 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix, vintagexiv.toast.site
Zu Izakaya
A second location of this popular Asian fusion restaurant has opened in the shuttered Shogun space adjacent to the now defunct Paradise Valley Mall. The eatery offers lunch specials and a full bar.
12615 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix, zuizakaya.com
Closing
Arizona BBQ Company in Gilbert has closed after six years due to the rising cost of doing business.
Silvana Salcido Esparza, who has been a James Beard Award semi-finalist eight times, has closed her iconic Barrio Café after 22 years due to health issues.
Phoenix institution Karl’s Quality Bakery has called it quits after 30 years. Another bakery will open in its place.
Phoenix drinking, dining and entertainment venue, The Pemberton, has shuttered its current Phoenix location, but stay tuned for The Pemberton 2.0, according to its Instagram page.
After a 73-year-run, Mary Coyle’s Ol’ Fashion Ice Cream has shut its doors.
Taco Culture in Ahwatukee has closed after four years due to family health issues.
Via 313 Pizza in Tempe has shut its doors after only eight months.
