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Bruschetta trio | Photo by Leah LeMoine THE SCENE  North Phoenix’s 32 Shea is both the worst and the best place to drink and dine during a pandemic. Its famously cozy (OK, a bit cramped) interior is anathema for social distancing, so only a handful of people at a time can be seated inside. The petite coffee shop and eatery’s idyllic patio is another story. Outdoor dining is easy, breezy and beautiful (CoverGirl ref intended) in the lush outdoor oasis, which boasts gobs of greenery, a Buddha statue, a constellation of string lights and plentiful umbrellas. It’s dog-friendly, too.  ...

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Beaut Burger exterior | Photo by Nikki Buchanan   Everyone gets a hankering for a burger now and then — even vegetarians and vegans — which is the beauty of Beaut Burger, a Tucson-based vegan burger joint so successful that it’s recently opened a second location here in Phoenix. Housed in a crisp-looking refurbished shipping container on Indian School just east of 32nd Street, BB makes almost all of its fresh, plant-based food in-house —...

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Mark Tarbell by Joanie Simon    When legendary French chef Jacques Pépin – known nearly as much for his kindness as his cuisine – asks you to do something, you say yes. That’s what Valley chef Mark Tarbell, a legend in his own right, has learned over the years.   “My first cookbook, at age 15, was La Technique by Jacques Pépin,” he says. “Many years later in the ’80s, when I was working at the Boulders Resort, we did an event with Jacques which marked the beginning of a long...

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Vegan ramen | Photo by Madison Rutherford   Clever Koi has long been a favorite in the Valley dining scene for its fresh takes on Thai, Korean, Japanese and Chinese cuisine and inventive craft cocktails. In February, the Asian fusion hot spot unveiled four new ramen dishes at its locations in Phoenix and Gilbert, including updated versions of the pork and lemon chicken ramen and two brand new bowls – spicy kimchi and vegan shoyu....

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Photo by Tayden Savage   The Valley is home to many breweries and restaurants with craft alcoholic beverages, but Old Town Scottsdale features the always crowded Blue Clover Distillery (7042 E. Indian School Rd). As the area’s first ever microdistillery, Blue Clover is famous for its small-batch, hand-distilled vodka and gin. With an indoor-outdoor bar and huge dining patio, it’s perfect for laidback dinners and weekend brunches. Because of its growing popularity, Blue Clover has...

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Renowned chefs, carefully curated menus and desert vista views. It’s all on deck this Easter Sunday (April 4) at these Valley resorts. Here’s the 411 on seven of our faves. Photo courtesy J Lauren PR   T. Cook’s What: A three-course brunch menu including turkey Benedict, fried chicken and waffles and more. When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Why: Celebrated Valley chef Lee Hillson in the kitchen, a complimentary glass of the restaurant’s famous Orangechello...

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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...

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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,...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...