Whether you’re a pinball wizard in Phoenix, a West Valley video game geek or an RPG expert in the East Valley, there are a slew of local spots where you can play your favorite games and get a drink while you’re at it. With the opening of two new game-themed bars in Mesa and Surprise, we put together a roundup of nerdy neighborhood hangouts across the Valley. Game (and drink) on! 8-Bit Aleworks This retro...
The Vig Burger | Photo by Daniel Kim The Vig isn’t new,” you’re probably thinking, and you’d have a point. Fifteen years have passed since owners Tucker Woodbury and Jim Riley unveiled the first location of their eating-and-drinking empire (with an emphasis on “drinking”), which makes it an odd fit for First Dish. So why are we here? To taste the handiwork of celebrated Valley chef Jeremy Pacheco, late of Lon’s at the Hermosa,...
We all love a good boozy brunch. Let’s be real, it’s all about the OJ and Prosecco, which just happens to come with a side of eggs Benedict. That’s why we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite mimosas around the Valley. Bonus: They’re all under $10, so you can get your bougie brunch on – on a budget. The Vig Breakfast and lunch classics get a stylish upgrade at The Vig, where you could...
Macaroni and cheese is the ultimate side dish, but the creamy comfort food classic isn’t an afterthought at these Valley dining establishments – it’s the main event! Make it a meal at these seven local eateries. Pizza People Pub The mac and cheese at this charming gastropub made the cover of our November 2019 issue simply because it looks as good as it tastes! Pizza People offers 10 variations of the baked mac including spicy...
Peanut butter and jelly. Macaroni and cheese. Matcha and vodka?! OK, it may not be an iconic duo… yet. But these local bars and restaurants are mixing green tea into their cocktails in such fun and creative ways that it might just be the next big thing. And because it’s loaded with antioxidants, sipping a green tea cocktail will technically improve brain function and prevent diseases. To your health! Shogun Powder from Highball We got...
THE SCENE Wine country meets North Scottsdale at this bright and sleek wine café. Rhythm + Wine is an airy yet sophisticated bistro – lots of cream– and latte-colored upholstery, bright tiles and light wood with understated pops of red – that also boasts a wine market with an impressive collection of global bottles. A spacious, light-strewn patio allows for distanced outdoor dining in a pretty Pinnacle Peak setting. THE FOOD Rhythm + Wine bills its fare as “traditional comfort meets traditional...
You probably won’t be a bit surprised when I tell you that Alison Anderson, the wife of coffee connoisseur Dave Anderson of the Roastery of Cave Creek (which sells coffee to many of the city’s best restaurants), has coffee in her blood — not to mention her bloodstream. Although she’s always had her own career, Anderson has traipsed around the globe with her bean-obsessed husband for years now, sniffing out the best organic coffees from...
As the coronavirus pandemic passes the one-year mark, many Valley restaurants are still struggling to keep the doors open due to reduced capacity, high rents and beleaguered employees stretched to their limits. According to the Arizona Restaurant Association, 12 percent of Arizona’s restaurants have closed in the past year. To help Arizona’s ailing hospitality industry, Arizona State House Representative Jeff Weninger (R, Dist. 17), recently introduced HB 2773, that if passed, will allow restaurants and...
It’s 2021 and it’s no secret that we get the majority of our inspo online. From TikTok trends to Pinterest décor, social media is a one-stop suggestion hub for what to wear, where to eat and how to DIY. When it comes to dining inspiration, these Valley Instagrammers have their finger on the pulse, whether it’s where to find the best gluten-free grub near Gilbert, vegan goodies in Downtown Phoenix or sweet treats in Glendale....
Mixologist Kim Haasarud from Garden Bar PHX joins us as our special guest this week.
Here’s our top ten selections of the weekend – drink responsibly!
Opening A Su Salud Pita Jungle rolls out a virtual kitchen that features a “healthy-inspired” Mexican menu. Pick up at Pita Jungle’s Tempe location or have it delivered. asusaludaz.com Beard Papa’s The first Arizona location of Japanese cream puff chain Beard Papa’s recently opened at The Quarter. Choose a shell (s’mores, strawberry or crispy almond to name a few) and then select a custard filling (vanilla, green tea or chocolate) to complete your dream cream...
Myth: You’re out of luck if you have a sweet tooth and celiac sensitivity in Phoenix. There are actually a slew of bakeries and cafés around the Valley that offer gluten-free goodies. Here are a handful of our fave sweet treats sans what proteins. Nami This cozy café is a haven for those with dietary restrictions. Everything on the menu is 100 percent plant-based and most items are also gluten-free, including addicting, cake donuts in...
If you didn’t think Pita Jungle could get any better, the Tempe location (4 E. University Drive) now serves healthy and fresh Mexican food through its new ghost kitchen, A Su Salud. Pita Jungle has been a Phoenix area favorite for delicious, guilt-free appetizers, meals and desserts for almost two decades. And now, they’ve created an entirely new takeout menu to try out. A Su Salud, meaning “to your health” in Spanish, is a wood-fired...
Franchesca Gonzales left a successful career in commercial banking after 10 years because she’d lost her passion for the industry. “I took a leap and burned the boats and tried something different,” she says. Growing up in New Mexico, she watched the Food Network and always enjoyed cooking for her friends. So, Gonzales researched new career options and then launched Fuel to Fit, a nutritional packaged meal company that serves individuals and families as well...
