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
$$$$=$26 and over
Citizen Public House
Contemporary American
7111 E. Fifth Ave., Scottsdale, 480-398-4208, citizenpublichouse.com
Chef Bernie Kantak’s creations at this Old Town pub range from seared scallops to amaro meatloaf to crispy sesame pork belly. Belly up to the centerpiece bar and sample from a selection of craft beers, or try one of the modern or classic cocktails. It’s always a good time at CPH. $$-$$$
PHOENIX
Authentic Liberian Cuisine
West African
7017 N. 19th Ave., 602-296-7100, authenticliberiancuisine.com
The kitchen brings the heat at this cozy West African restaurant, where vegetables, cooked to a fare-thee-well in African spices, are wonderful over heaps of perfect rice. Don’t miss the Lib wings (akin to Caribbean chicken wings) or the fried fish with attieke. $-$$
Carolina’s Mexican Food
Mexican
1202 E. Mohave St., 602-252-1503, carolinasmex.com
By 11 a.m., this bare-bones south Phoenix stalwart is knee-deep in customers, lined up for homey, straightforward tacos, tamales, burritos and enchiladas. The smart ones take home a few packages of Carolina’s huge and amazing tortillas, made fresh daily. Other locations: north Phoenix (602-275-8231), Mesa (480-912-3420), Peoria (623-487-1400). $
Glai Baan
Thai street food
2333 E. Osborn Rd., Phoenix, 602-595-5881, glaibaanaz.com
Pornsupak “Cat” Bunnag escapes the Americanized Thai restaurant tropes with her spin on classic Thailand street food and specialties from her home province of Isan. Using locally sourced ingredients where possible, Glai Baan (loosely translated as “far from home”) offers a small menu of small plates meant to be shared, like out-of-this-world steamed pork dumplings and crispy chicken wings with garlic chips, and unusual daily specials like mackerel fried rice. $$
Kembara
Pan-Asian
5350 E. Marriott Dr. (JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa), 480-293-5000, kembaradesertridge.com
This lovely resort restaurant – which turns out elevated interpretations of the street foods of Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Japan – transports you to Asia, first via the décor and then the food. Standouts include the Tuna Thai Jewel, lamb spring rolls, chilli crab and Vietnamese coffee doughnuts. $$-$$$
MOTOMOTO Sushi & Izakaya
Japanese/sushi
15 E. Monroe St. (Hilton Garden Inn), 480-868-7981
Cocktails are a highlight at Eddie Chow and Akira Nakasu’s Downtown izakaya, so the best bet is dropping in for happy hour, when they’re offered at a discount, along with pork belly bao buns and other Japanese snacks. For a $25 splurge, try the shigure-ni, salty-sweet beef, simmered in soy and ginger and served with rice. $-$$
Phoenix City Grille
Contemporary American
5816 N. 16th St., 602-266-3001, phoenixcitygrille.com
A contemporary setting with black-and-white pics of old-time Phoenix make this neighborhood restaurant and bar a cool hangout for the R&R inclined. $$
Qué Sazón Restaurant and Ceviche Bar
Colombian
622 E. Adams St., 602-919-2246
Enjoy succulent, aji-crema-drizzled empanadas and open-face, crispy-chewy tostones served in one of the city’s true historical treasures. Colombian chef Fabian Ocampo’s seasonal, evenings-only menu of ceviche and tiraditos (essentially, Colombian crudo) are bewitching and not quite like anything else we’ve had in the Valley. $$
Santo Arcadia
Mexican Fusion
4418 E. Osborn Rd., 480-272-6799, santoarcadia.com
Expect a little din with dinner at this lively (and lovely) Mexican-fusion restaurant, created by Roberto Centeno (Espiritu) and his partners Armando Hernandez and Nadia Holguin (Tacos Chiwas, Cocina Chiwas). Best bets: anything that’s hit the wood-fired grill, including smoky, charred chicken or the pork rib chop. $$$-$$$$
Pomo Pizzeria Napoletana
Pizza
705 N. First St., Phoenix, 602-795-2555, pomopizzeria.com
This pizza is the real deal. Cooked in a 6,000-pound wood-burning oven imported from Italy, Pomo’s pizzas received a stamp of approval from the Verace Pizza Napoletana, an organization that enforces pizza standards in Naples. The 12-inch pies can be paired with wines from the all-Italian wine list. For dessert, try a creamy panna cotta. $$
SCOTTSDALE
Arcadia Farms Café
Contemporary American
7014 E. First Ave., 480-941-5665, arcadiafarmscafe.com
Cozy and cluttered, this quaint cottage is where everyone goes for the quintessential grazer lunch. Try the strawberry chicken salad or the yummy turkey and Brie sandwich. Great location for private parties in the evening. Reservations recommended. $-$$
DeFalco’s Italian Grocery
Italian
2334 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-990-8660, defalcosdeli.com
A great place to grab a fat Italian sandwich or the fixings to make Italian specialties at home. Sturdy takeout entrées include lasagna and eggplant Parmesan. $
Little Snitch
Brunch
8700 E. Pinnacle Peak Rd., 480-590-2463, littlesnitchscottsdale.com
Wallpapered and shabby-chic, Little Snitch is an ultra-feminine haven specializing in elaborate coffee drinks, pretty cocktails, baked goods and brunch. $$
Prado
Spanish
4949 E. Lincoln Dr. (Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia), 480-627-3004, omnihotels.com
The signature restaurant at the lavish Montelucia in Paradise Valley offers spins on Spanish classics like vegetarian paella, Rioja-braised short ribs and vieria del mar. $$$$
The Salt Cellar Restaurant
Seafood
550 N. Hayden Rd., 480-947-1963, saltcellarrestaurant.com
Nobody’s put off by the dated decor of this perennially popular underground seafood joint. Lots of excellent fresh catches and great happy-hour bargains on seafood appetizers. $$-$$$
Uchi
Japanese
3821 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-916-0916, uchi.uchirestaurants.com
James Beard Award winner Tyson Cole brings his famous Austin-based Japanese restaurant to Old Town Scottsdale, and it’s one of the best restaurants in Metro Phoenix – “chain” or no. The menu is vast, and it’s hard to go wrong here, but consider kabocha tempura and crispy rice cake when you’re on a budget; and gyutoro, Santa Barbara uni and hiramasa sashimi when you’re not. $-$$$
Culinary Dropout
Contemporary American
7135 E. Camelback Rd., Scottsdale, 480-970-1700, culinarydropout.com
You almost feel wrong eating soft pretzels and deviled eggs amid Culinary Dropout’s fetching décor of green chandeliers, plush banquettes and dramatic lounge chairs. Try the honey-drizzled fried chicken or the doughy apple monkey bread. Order a round of paper-bag beers or try a top-notch specialty cocktail. Multiple locations. $$
EAST VALLEY
Avasa
Pan-Asian
6430 S. McClintock Dr., Tempe, 480-272-6380, avasarestaurant.com
The “pan” here presumably refers to the token presence of pad Thai, kung pao chicken and a handful of Chinese-American appetizers, but don’t be fooled – this is an Indian restaurant, and you’d be remiss not to explore chef Sai Jammula’s fresh, fusion-istic take on South Indian cooking. Try Arabic- and Turkic-tinged cuisine, including Apollo fish, mutton rogan josh, tandoori chicken and samosa chaat. $$
Ban Chan
Korean
2909 S. Dobson Rd., Mesa, 480-414-2525
This pleasant little restaurant features excellent dishes such as spicy pan-fried octopus and squid, Korean-style pork belly (sam-gyeopsal) and monkfish stew (agujjim), a favorite with the regulars. $-$$
Claypot Kitchen
Chinese
111 S. Dobson Rd., Mesa, 480-275-5352, claypotkitchenaz.com
Homey and authentic, Claypot Kitchen specializes in two things: the clay pot dishes of Guangdong (the Chinese province formerly known as Canton) and the cooking style of Hong Kong, a melting pot of influences from Britain, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia. $$
Feringhee Modern Indian Cuisine
Modern Indian
3491 W. Frye Rd., Chandler, 480-534-7178, feringhee.com
Get Indian fine dining at upscale Feringhee, which offers wine, cocktails and beautifully plated dishes that express India’s culinary sophistication and diversity. Chef Karan Mittal adds deliciously modern twists to traditional dishes such as chaat, ghee roast goat, Parsi lamb keema and vegetable kofta. $$-$$$
Mambo’s Dominican Kitchen
Dominican
1950 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler, 480-718-9210, mambosdk.com
Lined with a proud gallery of Dominican baseball and pop stars, the dining room at Mambo’s makes an enticing setting in which to enjoy sophisticated, savory fare like mofongo de camarones, carne de res guisado and maybe the best sopa de pollo you’ll ever taste. Try the yuca frita for a starter, and the arroz con leche for dessert. $
Pop Pot & Tea
Taiwanese
2015 N. Dobson Rd., Chandler, 480-219-9466, poppotaz.com
This cute Taiwanese restaurant turns out many of the island’s most famous drinks and dishes, including boba tea and hot pot offered in 20 variations. The snack section of the menu, rife with street foods from Taiwan’s famous night markets, includes crispy, salt-flecked popcorn chicken, crunchy deep-fried century eggs and juicy Taiwanese sausages. $$
Source
Italian
3150 E. Ray Rd., Gilbert, 480-687-7732, eatatsource.com
Chef and co-owner Claudio Urciuoli is quickly becoming a neighborhood fixture at this sleek but unpretentious fast-casual, where the Italian menu has a Mediterranean accent. Eat anything involving bread (bruschetta, flatbread, sandwiches) and don’t miss the extraordinary pizza. $$
WEST VALLEY
Barley & Smoke
New American
10144 W. Lake Pleasant Pkwy., Peoria, 623-572-2816, peoriaartisanbrewing.com
Tucked away in Peoria Artisan Brewery, this cozy, upscale speakeasy offers a limited menu of inventive small and large plates, most cooked in the restaurant’s wood-fired oven. Any dish served with house-made bread is a winner, including the ribeye tartare or simply bread with beef tallow and fleur de sel. $$-$$$
Fabio on Fire
Italian
8275 W. Lake Pleasant Pkwy, Peoria, 623-680-5385, fabioonfire.com
Chef-owner Fabio Ceschetti has reached ignition. As a third generation pizzaiolo, he’s passionate about his excellent pies. This cute, cozy trattoria with patio is also a North Peoria go-to for excellent pasta and daily specials such as roast lamb, veal piccata and cioppino. $$
Pho Avina
Vietnamese
4920 W. Thunderbird Rd., Glendale, 602-439-2547, phoavina.com
Head to this gem for an inexpensive and satisfying meal crafted from creative appetizers: banh xeo, a rice crêpe filled with seasoned bean sprouts, pork and shrimp, and bo tai chanh, a lime-marinated, rare beef salad served with rice crackers. $
CAREFREE/CAVE CREEK
Confluence
Modern American
36899 N. Tom Darlington Dr., Carefree, 480-488-9796, restaurantconfluence.com
Kevin Binkley protégé Brandon Gauthier conjures up a winning debut with his first venture as a chef-owner – a brash New American bistro located in the old Café Bink space. Like a hybrid of Café Bink and Gauthier’s more high-end, experimental work at Binkley’s, the menu offers dishes both delicate and powerful, like a foie gras parfait and butternut squash agnolotti. $$-$$$$
Keeler’s Neighborhood Steakhouse
Steak
7212 Ho Hum Dr., Carefree, 602-374-4784, keelerssteakhouse.com
Red Sox fans might appreciate the names of the brunch menu omelets at this steakhouse in Carefree: The Big Poppy ($13) comes with bacon, sausage, ham, mushrooms and cheddar. $$$
Ofrenda
Mexican fusion
7100 E. Cave Creek Rd., Cave Creek, 480-488-2187, theofrenda.com
Formerly drinking hangout Indigo Crow (same owner, new concept), Ofrenda reads like a more Yucatecan, seafood-focused version of Barrio Café, with Pueblan-inspired fusion entrees such as Pasta en Nogado (tagliatelle with a poblano- and raisin-studded walnut sauce) running point for a well-authored selection of tacos, salads and gourmet hand-food. $$-$$$
