You might think that in Phoenix, it would be hard for a new taco truck to get its footing. But the ubiquity of the taco in metro Phoenix has not deterred Modern Tortilla food-truck owner and head chef Tom D’Ambrosio from achieving success. Some may recognize D’Ambrosio as the owner of…
Since opening in 2014, Little Miss BBQ has become known as the Valley’s top spot for barbecue — and long lunchtime lines. Led by chef Scott Holmes and his wife, Bekke, along with Holmes’ father, Denman, and brother-in-law, Quinton, the simple, homey atmosphere perfectly suits the spot’s down-home eats. On any…
The Guilty Pleasure: The Turtle “And The Hare” Showboat Sundae Where To Get It: Mary Coyle Ol’ Fashion Ice Cream Price: $7.95-$8.95 What It Really Costs: The possibility of a well-earned toothache, thanks to the lavish amounts of caramel and melted hot fudge on this baby. If you grew up in central Phoenix, Mary Coyle…
To the untrained eye, Waamo and Al Aruba may seem like Ethiopian restaurants. Both offer Ethiopian cuisine’s trademark flatbread and lots of stewed meats and vegetables, but these two eateries actually specialize in Somali cuisine, which differs from Ethiopian fare in a few subtle but key ways. The two nations, Ethiopia and…
On a Friday afternoon in May 2014, Maricopa County health inspector Jessica Reighard entered the kitchen of Wahsun, a popular Chinese restaurant in Phoenix, and found a man cleaning furiously. Apparently not furiously enough. Health code violations stacked up quickly as Reighard gazed around the room. Food sat out on…
Northwest Valley diners in search of a new spot for modern American food need look no further than The Rogue Tomato. The new restaurant opened at 18561 North 59th Avenue in Glendale earlier this year and comes courtesy of chefs Devin Delnicki and Shane Copeland, who spent months renovating the space…
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…
It’s a sad day for East Valley diners. Over the weekend, owner Danielle Morris announced plans to close her New American comfort food haven, Earnest, in Chandler. “I’ll miss seeing our neighbors, regulars, and friends,” Morris says in a press release. “The entire community has been so wonderful to us over…
The Guilty Pleasure: Poutine Where to Get It: Short Leash Hot Dogs Price: $10 What it Really Costs: The usual pants-tightening effect that occurs after you eat something so delicious. Poutine, the famous Québécois dish that resembles something like a French fry gravy sundae, is so popular in its native land that Canadian locations of…
If you’ve always struggled to choke down broccoli and asparagus, we have some good news. It might not be that you hate vegetables because they’re green and good for you. It might be that you’re a supertaster, or a person who experiences taste more intensely than others. Because as much…
Get ready, seafood lovers. Next week, Crab & Mermaid Fish House will open its doors to the public, bringing oyster shooters, tuna poke, and crab cakes to Old Town Scottsdale. The restaurant, which is located at 4218 North Scottsdale Road, comes from Square One Concepts, the same folks behind Cold Beer…
We’re in the thick of food festival season, Phoenix. And while local diners are busy discovering new restaurants and wines and learning more about the Valley food scene, local chefs and restaurant owners are spending hours prepping special dishes in hopes of attracting new customers. Participating in these large-scale food events…
The Coronado neighborhood in midtown Phoenix is perhaps best known for its collection of well-preserved historic properties — a patchwork of cozy desert bungalows, red-brick English Tudors and Spanish Colonials, many lovingly restored and outfitted with artful yard installations and urban gardens. And while the greater Coronado neighborhood may be a…
It’s been more than a decade since Arizona chef Kevin Binkley of Binkley’s Restaurant in Cave Creek first popped up on the James Beard awards list of semifinalists in the Best Chef Southwest category. And for the last four years, Binkley has also made what’s often called the “short list,”…
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…
Come May, Central Phoenix diners with a new destination for diner and drinks when Stock & Stable and Honor Among Thieves open their doors to the public. The restaurant and speakeasy come from a team of well-known local food and beverage pros — including Clever Koi chef and co-owner Jared…
It’s been about four months since we told you James Beard award-winning pizziaolo Chris Bianco would be opening a second restaurant at Town & Country in Phoenix. At the time, he told us he planned for the new spot to be smaller and more pasta-focused than his other restaurants, but…
We’ve already explored some of North and West Phoenix’s best Eastern European markets and restaurants. Now, we put another neighborhood’s culinary culture under the microscope: the stretch of Ethiopian restaurants, cafes, and markets in Central Phoenix between Indian School and McDowell roads. Here are our three favorites: A T Oasis…
Futuro, a recent addition to Phoenix’s growing coffee scene, is located in downtown Phoenix inside the new location of Palabra Collective at 909 N. 1st Street. The space is open and bright, with crisp white walls, concrete floors, and mid-century furniture in the lounge area. Behind the bar stands barista Bill Kennedy,…
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…
We already declared that 2016 is the year of the burger chain here in metro Phoenix, and it appears we’ve been proven right yet again. National build-your-own burger chain Burger Theory will open a new location tomorrow, Saturday, March 12. This is the chain’s first location in Arizona, and the…
The next time you find yourself in downtown Phoenix with hankering for a hot tamale and a cold cup of horchata, try heading to the southeast corner of 2nd Street and Taylor. That’s where you’ll (probably) find the Viva Tamales food cart serving handmade tamales, chips and salsa, hortchata, and…
