Much of what we love about the Valley are those pieces of it we can sip, nibble or otherwise devour, from fusion Indian cuisine to primo falafel to cloudy IPAs. Salut!
The Staples
Artisanal/Fancy Pizza
Pizzeria Bianco
The more things change… the more Chris Bianco’s seminal pizza restaurant roasts the competition in our annual office-wide poll. pizzeriabianco.com
Family/Neighborhood Pizza
Barro’s Pizza
“Sorry, but it’s true,” one voter semi-defensively added. barrospizza.com
Burger Joint
Bad Jimmy’s
A repeat Editor’s Pick for the overnight Downtown sensation. badjimmys.com
Sushi/Japanese
Hana Japanese Eatery
Also receiving votes in a photo-finish race: Yutaka, Harumi, Sushi Friend, Sushiholic, Uchi. hanajapaneseeatery.com
Brewery
Arizona Wilderness
Yes, in fact, we do like elk scat in our beer. Find Readers’ Picks for beer here. azwbeer.com
Italian
Tratto, Fat Ox (tie)
Matt Carter’s Modern Italian restaurant in Scottsdale is doing some mind-bending things with pork. trattophx.com, ilovefatox.com
Ice cream
Sweet Republic
This ice cream juggernaut will not be stopped. sweetrepublic.com
Steakhouse
Steak 44
Still the place we think of first when we’re on somebody else’s expense account. steak44.com
Thai Restaurant
Thai Recipe Bistro, Glai Baan (tie)
Seventh Street sensation TR surprises in dead heat with perennial fave GB.
thairecipebistro.com
glaibaanaz.com
Family/Neighborhood Mexican
Multiple Picks
Like hair salons, everyone has a fave. See the list of winners.
Upscale/Modern Mexican
Casa Corazon
Also receiving votes: Gallo Blanco, Sumo Maya, The Mission. casacorazon-restaurant.com
Sandwich shop
First & Last
Sandwich shop by day, gastropub by night, this RoRo restaurant is becoming a modern classic. firstandlastphx.com
African
Latha
Chef Digby Stridiron and co. are crushing it in Heritage Square. lathaphx.com
