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It’s been a surprisingly active six months in the Valley dining scene. We’ve lost several beloved mainstays but gained a few keepers, as well. Here are five stone-cold specimens you’d be remiss to miss.   Photo by David B. Moore Character Distinctive Dining Opened: January 2021 Admittedly jumping the gun a bit, PHOENIX dining critic Nikki Buchanan deemed this Roosevelt arts district restaurant from Valley dining dean Peter Kasperski (Cowboy Ciao, Sea Saw) her likely Restaurant...

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Peter Kasperski, the crazy-creative Scottsdale restaurateur behind dearly departed Cowboy Ciao, Sea Saw, Digestif, Kazimierz World Wine Bar and Counter Intuitive, partners with longtime friend, former employee and inventive master barman Richie Moe to open Roosevelt Row’s most sophisticated restaurant and bar to date (Speakeasy Alias, which sits behind Character, hasn’t opened yet, but it’s almost ready to rock). I popped in to see how Kasperski, an Old Town Scottsdale boy since his salad days...