Earlier this year, the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown made quite the splash with Melinda’s Alley, a speakeasy-inspired bar housed in the basement of the hotel. Well, you can still get your red light on at that underground destination, but on Monday the hotel will introduce a new pop-up drinking spot with yet…
When a new spot opens in town, we can’t wait to check it out — and let you know our initial impressions, share a few photos, and dish about some menu items. First Taste, as the name implies, is not a full-blown review, but instead a peek inside restaurants that…
Set on the main drag in Cave Creek, the Buffalo Chip Saloon is a western dance hall, outdoor rodeo arena, music venue, and restaurant — a destination for those seeking a taste of the Old West in metro Phoenix. At least, it was until last fall when the saloon and…
More than 20 new breweries have popped up around metro Phoenix in the past three years, and the local roster of neighborhood tasting rooms and brewpubs only gets longer with each passing season. We are living in what might be the golden age of craft beer in metro Phoenix, and…
It’s been more than two years since local restaurateur Sam Fox brought “the greatest neighborhood restaurant” to south side of Camelback Road just east of 44th Street. When it debuted in early 2012, The Henry (and the coffee shop inside the restaurant) represented the 14th and 15th concepts to come from…
Around these parts, we’re big fans of low-price, high-quality tacos. And while we’ve already shared some of our favorite brick-and-mortar spots for a cheap taco fix, we also know there are great eats to be had at the many food trucks that frequent Central Phoenix at night. These taco trucks…
The Guilty Pleasure: Cold Brew Coffee Milk Where to Get It: Currently available at various grocery stores around metro Phoenix, and the Danzeisen Dairy creamery store in Laveen. Price: $3.99 for a half-gallon, plus $2.00 deposit What it Really Costs: Some serious stomach bloat, if you’re lactose-intolerant. Over the past…
Located on the northeast corner of Union Hills Drive and 19th Avenue in Phoenix, Om Bistro is a casual Indian restaurant with a menu that offers everything from a Bombay sandwich to samosas to bhel puri. As you approach the entrance, the sounds of Bollywood melodies leak through the doors, and whispers of…
It’s hard to get a small business off the ground, but a new program from Arizona State University can help. Called Prepped, the 10-week program targets would-be food business owners — as in, folks looking to start a food truck, sell a product at local farmers markets, or launch a…
Craft beer fan? Tiki bar enthusiast? We have good news for you. August saw the opening of a new brewery in Tempe and a craft beer spot in Chandler. Plus, a tiki-themed bar is now open in the bay of an old auto shop under Sip Coffee & Beer Garage…
Tempe beer lovers have one less place to enjoy a pint. Almost exactly four years after opening its doors at 526 South Mill Avenue in Tempe, World of Beer has shuttered. The bar was known for its extensive selection of brews, including 58 rotating beers on tap and more than 500 beers…
In the words of Julia Child, perhaps the most famous home cook ever, “No one is born a great cook; one learns by doing.” So, who better to ask for cooking tips than people who spend most of their waking hours inside professional kitchens? From buying good knives to prepping…
Utah-based sandwich chain Even Stevens Sandwiches will open three locations around metro Phoenix this fall. The sandwich shop, which currently has locations in Utah and Idaho, is known for its buy-one-donate-one model (think Toms shoes, but with sandwiches), meaning that for every sandwich sold at its Arizona stores, the company…
Later this year, one of the most famous Italian chefs in the country and one of the most famous Italian chefs in the Valley will come together to open Mora Italian, a modern osteria in central Phoenix. The restaurant comes from chef Scott Conant of Impero Caffè in New York and Scarpetta…
The first Halal Guys location in Arizona is scheduled to open in Tempe in January of next year, according to a spokesperson from the chain. The restaurant will be located at 1015 South Rural Road, previously home to The College Store near Arizona State University’s campus. Ahipoki Bowl, a quickly-expanding…
In the year or so since it’s been open, Mucha Lucha Taco Shop has established itself as a favorite of the local taco cognoscenti, the place to go for a lunch plate of street tacos filled with stewy, drippy guisos caseros, the homestyle Mexican braises that take hours to cook…
Old Town Scottsdale diners will gain a new spot for sweets and tea when Ruze Cake House and Teaspressa, located at 7033 East Main Street, opens to the public tomorrow, Tuesday, August 30. The teahouse, bakery, dessert shop, and breakfast shop all rolled into one comes from owners Jessica Boutwell…
Arcadia residents may have noticed some new signage at the Gaslight Square shopping center on the south side of Indian School Road just east of 36th Street. The big, white letters announce the coming of Ocean Poke Company, a fast-casual poke restaurant set to open at 3619 East Indian School Road. …
Scottsdale residents on the hunt for heathy and convenient dining options will be happy to hear D’lite Heathy On The Go will open a third location in their neighborhood next month. The restaurant, which was formerly known as D’Lish Drive Thru, will be located near the intersection of Scottsdale Road…
It’s been months since The Revival closed its doors at 603 West University Drive in Tempe after a dramatic but short-lived stint that involved a whirlwind remodel, a menu overhaul, and eventually, the departure of the restaurant’s chef. The building, which formerly housed the well-loved Mexican restaurant Mucho Gusto, has since…
What do you get when you bring together a Marine, a Muay Thai fighter, and a pharmaceutical scientist? Well, in the case of a new central Phoenix brewery, you get a lineup of six craft beers and a food menu that blends Arizona ingredients and Spanish-style cooking. Located at 3935 East…
It’s official: Ahipoke Bowl is slowing taking over the Valley, bringing build-your-own poke bowls to diners in Scottsdale, Chandler, and by early next year, Tempe. The California-based chain announced plans for a third metro Phoenix location earlier this week, less than a year after opening its first Valley restaurant just…
