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The Aztecs believed our ability to love was a gift from the wind god Ehecatl, who fell for a human girl. Bar Louie returns the favor with a sexy mocha martini inspired by Aztec leader Montezuma’s favorite chocolate drink.

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Disguised as a ho-hum corporate eatery, this independent West Valley resto is flush with Southwestern flair.

With its huge, faux-rock porte-cochère entry and comfort-minded American-Southwestern menu, Caballero Grill could inhabit any big-box outdoor retail colony in the country. Suggesting a cross between a Macaroni Grill and an industrial brewpub, it’s the kind of place you’ll usually find lurking near Kohl’s, or in the parking lot of a Residence Inn.

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With the Valley’s food scene in full-bloom, it’s easy to overlook the evergreen eateries that have been feeding Phoenicians for decades. We take a fresh look at some fine-dining mainstays. Do they still have what it takes to impress today’s foodies?