Restaurants

A classic spot in central Phoenix could be torn down if a rezoning application is approved.  Documents on the city of Phoenix’s website show a new apartment complex planned on the site of Macayo’s in Phoenix on Central Avenue just south of Indian School Road.  The complex, called Alta Central…

Get those index fingers ready, Phoenix. You’re going to have to click fast if you want a seat at Barrio Cafe Gran Reserva. The highly-anticipated restaurant from James Beard award-nominated chef Silvana Salcido Esparza offers only about two dozen seats, and if you want to nab one of them, then…

Is culinary school overrated? That’s one of the biggest debates within the restaurant industry these days. On one hand, students get a solid culinary foundation before jumping into the kitchen. On the other, culinary school is expensive, and some argue it doesn’t necessarily produce top chefs. Here’s what nine metro…

If you’ve lived in the Valley for a substantial amount of time, then you may be familiar with the Mancuso’s family name. Since the late 60s, the Mancuso’s have owned and operated several restaurants around the Valley including at The Borgata in Scottsdale and in central Phoenix. In late April,…

If you’ve driven down Grand Avenue during the last few months, then chances are good you’ve noticed a change or two. In January, Barrio Cafe Gran Reserva took over the space most recently occupied by Bragg’s Factory Diner, and a clean white building now rests at the intersection of McKinley…

If you’ve driven down Indian School Road toward 22nd Street, then you’ve probably noticed the recent installment of a large, black sign with a yellow “H” on it. Well, wonder no more: the sign represents Phoenix’s newest brewery, Helton Brewing Company. “Doors are officially opening Tuesday,” says Brian Helton, the…

It’s been almost two years since chef Gio Osso opened his first restaurant, Vitru Honest Craft, on the first floor of a quaint bed and breakfast in downtown Scottsdale. The restaurant seats just 25 diners, but its small stature didn’t hold it back from achieving almost immediate success. In its…

Another month of county health inspections are in the books, and we have just one question for restaurant employees across metro Phoenix: Why aren’t you washing your hands? Okay, so not all restaurants are violating the cardinal rule of keeping hands clean while preparing food. But we have to admit,…

The Guilty Pleasure: The Hair of the Polish Dog Where to Get It: Bacus Bros Hot Dogs & Beer Price: $8.50 What it Really Costs: Your ability to consume anything but light beer for a few days. This baby is loaded with so many calories, you’ll want to cut corners…

Heads up, T.J.’s lovers. Your freezers might not be safe — from recalled food.  If you’re a big fan of Trader Joe’s, you might have some recalled food in your fridge and freezer.  Earlier this week the FDA issued a recall for a whole assortment of Trader Joe’s and other…

Diners looking for a place for beer and beer-filled food will find just that at The Phoenix Ale Brewery Central Kitchen, set to open in uptown Phoenix next week. Located at 5813 North Seventh Street, near Seventh Street and Bethany Home Road, the restaurant comes from The Phoenix Ale Brewery and Rich…

When it comes to barbecue in metro Phoenix, there’s one little spot that most aficionados can agree reigns supreme. But the general consensus around that joint doesn’t mean we should give up the search for perfectly-smoked brisket and juicy sliced turkey around the Valley.  After all, if we did that…

Mark your calendars, candy lovers, because this summer New Times is launching a brand-new event that combines two of our favorite things: desserts (everything from candy and chocolate to pastries galore) and craft cocktails.  Sounds good, right? Yeah, we know.  The Sips and Sweets event will be held on Saturday,…

Is it possible to be seduced by, of all things, a half of a roasted chicken? Because at Ocotillo, the stylish new food and drink compound on the corner of Third and Flower streets in Phoenix, it might only take a bite or two of the restaurant’s namesake chicken dish…

Since its opening in 2011, Crescent Ballroom has proved itself to be much more than a downtown Phoenix concert venue. It’s a lounge, a great happy-hour hangout, and a go-to destination for solid food and drink, in particular for simple but well-executed burritos and tacos. Oh right, and the award-winning…

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…

By now you’ve probably heard of Arizona-made wine, beer, and even spirits. But did you know there’s mead being made here in the Grand Canyon state, and that it can be found as far away as Thailand? You can try the golden liquid for yourself at the award-winning Superstition Meadery…

Fans of the Ritz Carlton’s tony Bistro 24 are perhaps still sniffling over the loss of that landmark lunch and dinner spot. But The Camby, the new resident of the still-upscale hotel purchased last December by Marriott International, hopes the culinary talents of chef Dushyant Singh will help us forget…

With more than 20 new restaurants open in metro Phoenix, it’s been a great April for the local food scene. Phoenix has a ton of new options for dining, including a second location of Nook and a third location of The Herb Box, while Chandler now has even more options…

Downtown Phoenix has no shortage of coffee options, but tough competition for caffeine dollars didn’t stop James Bryan from opening yet another spot for coffee, espresso, and lunch fare.  A month ago, Bryan opened Oliver’s Sophisticated Bean — the name refers to James Oliver Bryan, who goes by his middle…

Good on you, Garfield. You’re about to get a serious boost of cool. Sure, the Central Phoenix historic neighborhood has always had plenty to offer by way of adorable bungalows and pyramid cottages, but in the upcoming months, the four corners of the Garfield district will gain not one, but two…