We remember when Hob Nobs, a coffee shop at McDowell Road and 3rd Avenue in Phoenix, used to be Willow House. Not a particularly clean joint. But we hear good things about the new place, which is why we were dismayed to see that Hob Nobs failed its recent county…
Another week has come and gone leaving us to ponder the upcoming events that will shape our lives and, more importantly, our dinners out. But before we move on, let’s have one last look at the blog posts from this week: Postino Central Now Open TequilaAZ Brings Agave Goodness to…
When it opens sometime in the next six months, what might you expect to eat at Tapino chef James Porter’s upcoming bistro, Petite Maison? Roasted heritage chicken from Willcox. Braised shortribs. A nice Nicoise salad with grilled fish. Some cheese, some charcuterie, and maybe a hot little souffle. “Nothing super fancy,” he…
Is Phoenix the last major city to have a sushi restaurant in its downtown? Until now, the sushi boom has happened elsewhere in the Valley, especially in Scottsdale. So tomorrow night is kind of historic, isn’t it? That’s when Moira Sushi (215 E. McKinley) opens its doors at 5 p.m. (Friday, March 27),…
The hot trend of featured chefs at farmers’ markets just keeps gathering momentum. Beginning this Saturday, March 28, Tapino Kitchen & Wine Bar’s award-winning James Porter will appear at the brand-new Seacat Gardens stall at Scottsdale’s Old Town Farmers’ Market, preparing a dish based on seasonal produce for shoppers to…
There are many questions we like to be presented with when entering an eatery. Of these, deciding among coffee, pastry and sandwiches is the question we like best. Why you ask? Because our knee-jerk answer is “all three.” That’s why we’re so excited about the focus of this week’s Cafe…
There’s been talk for quite a long time that chef Matt Carter of Zinc Bistro and The Mission has had his eye on downtown — particularly around Roosevelt Row. Well, he finally made his move. Carter’s in Uruguay right now, says Brian Raab at The Mission, but before he left, he…
Who needs a calendar? These days, I pretty much measure the passage of time by the reoccurrence of NOCA’s fried chicken night. The monthly special always happens on the fourth Sunday, so the place is inevitably packed with people chowing down on some of the tastiest bird ever (not to…
These days, if “real estate” and “restaurants” are in the same sentence, it’s probably not an optimistic one. All around the Valley, the limping economy has amounted to closures, canceled projects, and indefinitely postponed openings. But not all the casualties came about because of the real estate crash. Some of…
The most titillating news I’ve heard in a while is that James Beard Award-winning chef Robert McGrath — formerly of Roaring Fork and Pischke’s Blue Ribbon — is now on the payroll of Entertainment U.S.A., the parent company of upscale strip club Christie’s Cabaret and 15 other venues across the country…
Of the last five restaurant inspections completed at Tomaso’s Italian restaurant on East Camelback Road in Phoenix, five resulted in a failing grade. At the most recent inspection, in early March, the inspector noted dried food debris on the interior of the microwave and surfaces of the slicer. The meat…
Can’t wail ’til dinner to pop the cork? No prob. One of Phoenix’s finest BYOBs, Coup des Tartes, just started a weekday lunch service (11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday). And even if you’re not up for a little day drinking (a girl can dream, can’t she?), this…
We gotta hand it to restaurant inspectors for the first “theme report” we’ve seen since starting Gross Out. A recent inspection, which earned Saddle Ranch Chop House in Glendale a “No Award” from Maricopa County, is all about hands. And fingers. From the report: …
True to its name, the brand-new Corona Cantina on Indian School has a full bar, and slings the drinks ’til 2 a.m. daily. But it’s a restaurant, too. The Mexican-inspired menu features everything from chimichangas, enchiladas, tacos, and tortilla soup, to burgers, bruschetta, wings, and salads. Dinner service runs until…
A restaurant opening early? When does that ever happen? In the wonderful world of Postino, where they’ve got it all figured out, apparently. The brand-new Postino Central, located in the renovated Katz Deli building at Central and Colter (5144 N. Central), just opened its doors a matter of minutes ago…
Wah wah wah… Today’s an anticlimactic day for some of the most talented people in the Arizona restaurant biz, as the James Beard Foundation announced its finalists for the 2009 awards. Nobody from this state was on the list. But the eight semifinalists who’d been in the running for various categories since the…
Hey buddy, can you spare a buck? If so, that dollar will buy you dinner at Bar Louie’s Tuesday night happy hour. The Glendale watering hole serves up one-dollar burgers from 6 p.m. until close on Tuesday nights (while supplies last), with the exception of game/concert/big event nights. The only…
If you want to schmooze with local political types, go to El Portal, County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox’s restaurant just south of downtown Phoenix. But you might not want to order anything to eat. We suppose it’s good to know that the county restaurant inspectors aren’t mincing words with a…
Another week has come and gone leaving us to ponder the upcoming events that will shape our lives and, more importantly, our dinners out. But before we move on, let’s have one last look at the blog posts from this week: Coming Soon: Two Hippies Breakfast Joint So How Was…
Digestif’s chef Payton Curry (left) and GM Pavle Milic hug it out over some fresh mozz at last year’s Eats3 Pavle Milic, general manager at Scottsdale’s groovy Digestif, was a man with a plan. But in the words of John Lennon, “Life is what happens while you’re busy making plans.”…
What’s the best reason to ride the light rail into downtown this weekend (or sweet-talk somebody into being your designated driver)? There are too many to choose from. Don Julio, Patron, Jose Cuervo, Milagro, Campo Azul . . . These brands and dozens more will be showcased at Tequilaaz, a…
I know, I know. A Japanese restaurant doing burgers? How weird is that? But for a dollar during happy hour, I doubt anyone’s complaining about Roka Akor’s newest dish. It’s a three-ounce prime beef “baby” burger, topped with heirloom tomatoes, red onion, avocado, wasabi, and some mystery seasoning that they’re…
