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Whether you are passing through Williams on your way to the Grand Canyon or just looking for a temporary escape from the Southern Arizona heat, this small historic Route 66 town offers plenty to see and do, plus a slew of notable dining destinations. Here are three popular restaurants enjoyed by visitors and locals alike for their unique food options and welcoming atmospheres.   Photo by Angel Gonzalez   Pine Country Come for the pies...

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  Photo courtesy Buck &Rider   THE SCENE “I don’t eat seafood in landlocked states.” That sentence – along with its cousin, “Seafood in the desert? Pass.” – is up there on the list of trite refrains I regularly field from friends and relatives about dining in the Valley. When I hear someone say it, I have to fight a visceral urge to shake them and bellow, “Do you think we’re still in the 1950s?!” In a time before overnight shipping and advanced packing and cooling techniques, sure, you would have...

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  Photo by Nikki Buchanan   1. Pernil Empanada at Republica Empanada I cannot explain such a lapse, but I shamefully admit to never having visited this small, winsome pan-Latin empanada emporium until this summer. Yes, I know, the place has been open for eight years now. I’m pathetic. My buddy and I tried a half dozen empanadas just to get the lay of the land, and we pretty much loved them all. They’re small...

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  Pigtails Downtown interior | Photo by Nikki Buchanan   Maybe I’ve read The Great Gatsby too many times, but I’m fascinated by the speakeasies of the ’20s and early ’30s — back when bars, liquor and the drinking of liquor were made illegal by the Volstead Act, which, of course, just encouraged people to seek out illegal bars selling illegal liquor, where they could happily drink illegally as long as they did it quietly...

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  Photo courtesy Hotel Valley Ho    All the news that’s fit to nosh. Cerveza vs. Vino: Beer or wine? “Why not both?” to quote my hedonistic partner. ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho continues The Versus Series next week with a Beer vs. Wine dinner. Homegrown Four Peaks Brewing Company will be pitted against California’s The Prisoner Wine Company in head-to-head pairings with four courses. This dinner’s lineup includes a duck and citrus salad, Wagyu beef cheek with purple yam purée and a decadent chocolate mousse bar with whipped ganache pudding, each paired with one...

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Photo by Mirelle Inglefield   If you’ve fallen in love with Chula Seafood and its many-splendored oceanic options — the poke bowls, the confit tuna sandwich, the Hatch chile tuna melt, the CA burrito, the chowder, the oysters, the daily specials — then you’ll be thrilled to know there’s a third location in the works. The new Chula will be in the former Hi-Health space in Hayden Peak Crossing at Hayden and Thompson Peak Parkway....

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Escape the heat and boost your energy with these unique iced coffees from around the Valley. From the classic cold brew to specialty drinks with interesting twists, these five cold cups of joe are sure to get you going. Berdena’s honey lavender iced latte is a refreshing take on the classic iced coffee. The sweet but not too sweet hint of lavender and honey will cool you off during these hot summer days. 7051 E....

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Ryan and Caitlin Jocque are no strangers to the restaurant industry. The duo, who are behind the popular Valley eateries Original Chop Shop, Diego Pops, The Montauk and The Hot Chick, recently opened Eat Up Drive In, a new fast-casual concept in Arcadia that pairs homestyle meals with convenience. When the Jocques first saw the property at 40th Street and Indian School Road, they immediately thought it would be a great location for a drive-in...

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I went to Flagstaff for a few days and, as always, loved everything about it — the weather, the NAU campus, the little shops and most of all, the fantastic restaurants. Here’s what I ate and loved. Tinderbox Kitchen 34 S. San Francisco St., 928-226-8400, tinderboxkitchen.com Owner Kevin Heinonen took advantage of the downtime during the pandemic to kick things up a notch at Tinderbox, refurbishing his cozy space and upgrading the menu. I had...

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As recently as a few years ago, people regarded marijuana as a dangerous “gateway drug.” Today, the stigma has subsided and it is being recognized for its healing properties, and even being implemented in chef-driven, multi-course meals. “Elevations” is an educational culinary experience dreamed up by chefs Derek Upton and Jordan Savell. The intimate cannabis-infused dining experience allows guests to microdose, or ingest small doses at a time, and control their portions. “Cannabis-infused foods are...

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All the news that’s fit to nosh.   Cookies for a Cause: Love chocolate chip cookies? Love giving back? Picazzo’s Healthy Italian Kitchen has the dessert for you. The local gluten-free restaurant chain has partnered with Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) on a tasty fundraising effort. For every GF chocolate chip cookie sold at Picazzo’s five Valley locations (plus one in Sedona), Picazzo’s will donate $1 to support SARRC programs benefiting Arizonans with autism. “At Picazzo’s, we have many regular guests who have family members with autism, so we have been looking...

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Phoenix is known for its vast foodie scene, ranging from a slew of Asian eateries in the East Valley to a cluster of coffee shops Downtown. The Westside of Phoenix is known for its mouth-watering Mexican delights, ranging from street tacos on handmade tortillas to authentic antojitos (Spanish for “snacks”). Check out these four family-owned hot spots in the West Valley.   Photo by Tiffany Acosta    Get Hot Tamales at Tamales Guadalajara Start your...