So much of what we love about the Valley is what it puts in our bodies, from lavender-infused lattes to Korean corn dogs to pomegranate cosmos. Salut!
- Best Artisanal/”Fancy” Pizza
Pizzeria Bianco
The more things change… the more our undying devotion to this Phoenix institution stays the same. Two locations, pizzeriabianco.com
- Best Everyday Pizza
Spinato’s Pizzeria and Family Kitchen
Also getting votes in our staff-wide office poll: Pino’s, Grimaldi’s, Stumpy’s, Barro’s. Multiple locations, spinatospizzeria.com
- Best Burger Joint
Paradise Valley Burger Co.
“No one [gets my vote] since Delux closed,” groused one contributor, who obviously hasn’t tried PVBC’s fiendishly good crème brûlée burger. 4001 E. Bell Rd, Phoenix, 602-535-4930, pvburgercompany.com
- Best Sushi
Hana Japanese Eatery
Chef-owner Lori Hashimoto’s James Beard Award nomination only reaffirms what her fans have long known: Hana is one of Arizona’s great culinary treasures. 5524 N. Seventh Ave., Phoenix, 602-973-1238, hanajapaneseeatery.com
- Best Tacos
Tacos Chiwas
Foodie passions ran high in the PHOENIX offices over this award – particularly for runner-up CRUjiente Tacos – but couple-owned Chiwas and its Chihuahuan lengua tacos speak our language. Multiple locations, tacoschiwas.com
- Best Upscale/”Fancy” Italian
Andreoli Italian Grocer
Led by lovable old-timer Giovanni Scorzo, this Scottsdale mainstay is so unpretentious and people-pleasing, it probably could win the “Family Italian” category, too. But now Scorzo also has a James Beard nomination, which just seems fancy. 8880 E. Vía Linda, Scottsdale, 480-614-1980, andreoli-grocer.com
- Best Family Italian
Aiello’s Italian Kitchen
Homestyle, East Coast pastas rule at this North Central mom-and-pop. 777 E. Thunderbird Rd., Phoenix, 602-517-0449, aiellositalianrestaurant.com
- Best Ice Cream
Churn
The debate got a little sticky with this one – Sweet Republic, Melt, Papa Ed’s and Novel also received votes from our staff. 5223 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, 602-279-8024, churnaz.com
- Best Steakhouse
Durant’s
A groundswell of red-tufted-leather nostalgia propels this Jersey-toned Downtown classic over perennial winner Steak 44. 2611 N. Central Ave, Phoenix, 602-264-5967, durantsaz.com
- Best Thai
Glai Baan
Cat Bunnag’s transformative street-style restaurant in CenPho executes a near-office-sweep in the critical Thai category. 2333 E. Osborn Rd., Phoenix, 602-595-5881, glaibaanaz.com
- Best Upscale/Fusion Mexican
Barrio Café
PM staffers had little luck arriving at a clear-cut consensus in this hyper-competitive category, casting votes for Centrico, Casa Carazón, The Mission and more. When in doubt, pick Barrio. 2814 N. 16th St., Phoenix, 602-636-0240, barriocafe.com
- Best Everyday Mexican
Someburros
The quiescence of low-hassle, no-frills, predictably pleasurable Sonoran food. Just give us that pollo fundido and let us tune out, man. Multiple locations, someburros.com
- Best Sandwich Shop
Noble Eatery
Besides selling its much-admired loaves to a gazillion Valley restaurants, this Biltmore-area baker makes the city’s most consistently exquisite sandwiches. 4525 N. 24th St., Phoenix, 602-688-2424, noblebread.com
Food-Lover Alert!
After you’re done perusing our learned editorial BOV picks, check out our readers’ vote for more culinary bests.
