That cacophonous din you hear is the screaming of local historic preservationists who’ve recently learned that yet another significant Phoenix building is about to be torn down. Earlier this month, the owners of Macayo’s Mexican Kitchen announced that they’re looking to sell their iconic Central Avenue building to Atlanta-based Wood Partners, which has lately…
You’ve probably tasted beer that’s been brewed to taste like chocolate or coffee. But what about a beer infused with the smoky, sweet flavor of campfire s’mores or the complex profile of your favorite classic cocktail? Well, beer lovers, these aren’t just alcohol-infused pipe dreams, but rather the stuff of…
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…
Twenty-five years ago this week, Romeo’s Euro Café quietly opened its doors in the East Valley. “I discovered I had this knack for putting two or three ingredients together and coming up with something different than you’ve had before,” explains owner Romeo Taus. “My wife said, ‘We should do something with this.’ And…
The Guilty Pleasure: “Dirty” soda pop Where to Get it: Sodalicious Price: $1.25-$2.00 What it Really Costs: The sweet, high-flying rush of fructose-fueled euphoria, followed by the cranky lows of the inevitable sugar crash. When it comes to drinks that are ruled by a slight sense of obsession and complexity,…
If you’ve always wanted to own your own piece of land — and a few furry animals to go along with it — then you may be interested to hear that one of Arizona’s most unique agritourism businesses is on the market. John and Joyce Bittner, owners of The Ranch…
For all those times when you think to yourself, “If only there were a place to get a scoop of curry chicken salad right now,” The Chicken Scoop restaurant is here to save the day. The new casual dining spot is expected to open this July and is being billed…
Federico’s Mexican Food is in the hot seat with the Department of Labor. An investigation found four Federico’s restaurants in metro Phoenix did not follow the Fair Labor Standards Act by failing to pay hourly employees overtime after they worked 40 hours per week, according to a press release from…
Since 2010, chef Josh Hebert has been thrilling the Valley’s ramen enthusiasts with bowls of perfectly-cooked noodles and deep, flavorful broths at his fine dining restaurant, Posh, located in Scottsdale. The only catch? You could only get Hebert’s ramen one night a week, on Tuesday, when the restaurant, best-known as…
The Guilty Pleasure: Roasted garlic plate Where to Get it: Rokerij, Richardson’s, and Dick’s Hideaway Price: $16 (may vary by restaurant) What it Really Costs: A double-pack of extra-strength Altoid mints and possibly the inability to stand within breathing range of your significant other for days. The ancient Romans called…
Things are Snoh-balling for Tony Chanthavong. Chanthavong, who owns Snoh Ice Shavery in Phoenix, has signed the papers for a second spot. By this fall, expect a new location of Snoh Ice Shavery to open in Downtown Phoenix, on the northeast corner of 2nd Street and McKinley, a couple doors…
Many talented chefs call metro Phoenix home, but few can claim as many accolades as Alessandro Stratta. Over his more than 30-year career, he’s won just about every award to which a chef can aspire, including being named one of “America’s Ten Best New Chefs” by Food & Wine in 1992 and earning…
Ghanaian cooking, and the cuisine of west Africa in general, is pretty scarce in metro Phoenix. If you’ve never experienced the pleasures of kenkey, banku, or peanut-butter soup, the place to go is Max’s Mukhaase in Mesa, a casual family-run restaurant that has been open for about a year now…
It’s fitting that Cindy Gentry’s first foray into expanding access to healthy food to the masses started with a trip to fulfill her civic duty. “It was jury duty’s fault,” she says. Venturing to the downtown courts from her suburban North Phoenix home, Gentry saw opportunity in all the shuttered…
We don’t mean to brag or anything — okay, yeah we do — but this event is gonna be good. On Saturday, June 25, at The Vintage 45 in downtown Phoenix, we’re gathering some of our favorite bartenders and dessert-makers for New Times’ first-ever Sips & Sweets event. Attendees can…
Just in time for the triple-digit weather, San Diego’s The Baked Bear will open its first Arizona store. Known for its build-you-own ice cream sandwiches, The Baked Bear will be located just east of Scottsdale Road on Shea Boulevard in the Village at Shea at 7366 East Shea Boulevard. The…
Fans of James Beard award-nominated chef Silvana Salcido Esparza have waited months to find out when she’ll open the doors at her highly anticipated new restaurant, Barrio Cafe Gran Reserva. The restaurant, located at 1301 West Grand Avenue, will seat only about two dozen diners, but will offer an entirely different…
Don’t worry, downtown coffee drinkers. You’ll still be able to get your Cartel Coffee Lab fix, but starting this weekend, you’ll have to head one door over after the company shuts the doors at its 1 North First Street location. On Saturday, May 21, Cartel Coffee Lab will close its…
There are few places in central Phoenix as beloved as Lux, the gourmet coffee bar that has evolved over the past decade into more than just a place to sip espresso. Since owner Jeff Fischer made the decision to expand the coffee bar back in 2011 — relocating it from…
The Guilty Pleasure: The Ruben stuffed hamburger Where to Get it: Stufrageous Stuffed Burgers Price: $8.79 What it Really Costs: Your ability to eat a regular burger. You’ll want every other burger in your life to be as engorged as this one from here on out. The hamburger, as a…
North Phoenix residents looking for a healthy food option will soon have a new place to into the rotation. Later this year, Grabbagreens will open a fourth Valley location in north Phoenix, specifically at 4727 East Bell Road. The restaurant will be located on the southwest corner of Tatum and…
The wait is almost over. Tomorrow, Saturday, May 14, chef Gio Osso’s highly-anticipated Nico restaurant will open its doors to the public at Heritage Marketplace in downtown Gilbert. Earlier this week we chatted with the James Beard award- nominated chef about his hopes and aspirations for his sophomore effort. But…
