Who says you can’t have fun and games with your meal? No, we’re not suggesting a food fight à la the famous scene from Animal House; rather, to take advantage of amenities some restaurateurs are incorporating into the ambience of their establishments. Culinary Dropout Debuted at its location at The Yard, a standard offering at this restaurant now are backyard-style games such … [More]
Tomaso’s – for the Love of Italian
Tomaso’s on Camelback’s longevity in a prominent Phoenix corridor is well-deserved. Chef restaurateur Tomaso Maggiore imbues the experience — from entering the warm timelessness of the upscale establishment to the final forkful of dessert — with an obvious love for what he creates. This is not a place for a hurried lunch; rather, it is a perfect choice to savor conversation and … [More]
A Broad Spectrum of Flavors Abroad
The Valley is blessed with a plethora of great restaurants, including an international smorgasbord of choices. Here are a few of the standouts around the Valley that offer a change of pace, place and palate. Caribbean Queen Not strictly Caribbean, the menu also draws on European and American influences, with a significant portion being jerk dishes and vegan dishes. Opens at … [More]
Ghost Ranch: Spirited Southwest Fare
A Southwest menu may conjure up images of tacos and enchiladas, and, in that regard, Ghost Ranch doesn’t disappoint. But there are unique surprises as well. The grilled trout is a standout, the spice notes of its preparation more than honoring its Southwest setting. Served liberally covered with a salad of fresh greens and root veggies (with colorful varieties that add to the … [More]
Mad for March
Offices that expect March Madness to be disruptive may as well bite the bullet and do lunch where the games can be watched. Here are some favorites with a nice sports-bar menu and a great assortment of TV screens. All open at 11 a.m. during the week. Arcadia Tavern Arcadia Tavern takes viewing seriously. It’s not just that there are 34 TVs; eight are jumbo screens. Although … [More]
LemonShark Poké: Bowled and Bold
Colors. Flavors. Textures. Poké offers an amazing variety in all these aspects. And LemonShark Poké offers that amazing variety in its fresh, build-to-suit selection. Ahi tuna, spicy salmon, shrimp, tofu, ginger, edamame, red cabbage, corn, mango: These are just a few of the array of ingredients patrons can mix in their poké bowl atop a base that does not need to be the … [More]
That’s Some Crust
Sauce. Cheeses. Toppings. Pizzerias can put their stamp on their pie in many different ways. In Business Magazine wanted to shine a spotlight on the foundational element: the crust. California Pizza Kitchen One of the pioneers that took pizza beyond cheese-and-pepperoni-and-sometimes-anchovies to a whole new world of flavors, CPK added a whole wheat option for crust a few … [More]
French Transplants on Scottsdale Soil: Voilà
Mix intimate and cozy with the high style of white cloth tablecloths, and … Voilà. Helping set the ambience as quintessentially French, a large rendering of “Luncheon of the Boating Party” by renowned French Impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir dominates one wall while an adjoining wall presents various views of Paris icon the Eiffel Tower in artsy black-and-white photography. … [More]
Liquid Refreshment for Lunch: Soup
Soups are as perfectly suited for winter meals as smoothies are for summer. Wafting aromas warm the olfactory senses while spoonfuls warm the body. Several fast-casual Valley restaurants make soups a hot choice on their menus. Café Zupas Soups (and salads and sandwiches) are house-made daily. Dishes are globally inspired, and recipes feature spices and flavors from around … [More]
The Sicilian Butcher: Build-Your-Own Meatballs and More
Think: elegant casual. Black-and-white checkered cloth tablecloths on the center rows of tables make lively the simple décor that’s otherwise set off by a rear wall of weathered brick. A smartly designed divider “wall” separates the large dining room into two cozier halves while keeping a sense of spaciousness. On prominent display just inside the front door is a prized claim … [More]
Our Menu Has Changed
This phrase may be annoying in a recorded phone message, but it’s exciting when applied to our local restaurants. Here are two that favor their diners with new flavors. Giordano’s Special for this final quarter of the year, and offered only at this national chain’s Arizona and Nevada restaurants, is the Street Taco Pizza, built on a light, crispy, extra- thin hand-crafted … [More]
Giordano’s – It’s All about the Pizza
At Giordano’s, pizza is the main event. Yes, the menu includes other offerings, but, as Giordano CEO Yorgo Koutsogiorgas explains, they support the main course. “Giordano’s is narrowly focused. Our business is pizza.” Serving the Chicago-style deep-dish dish pizza, Giordano’s has its own distinctive style: stuffed. In its version, “stuffed” does not mean an overly bready … [More]
It’s Patio Season
Our weather makes patios di rigueur for restaurants here, but some are reason unto themselves for choosing where to breakfast, lunch or dine. Chelsea’s Kitchen Shaded by an enormous canopy from the venerable mesquite trees and dominated by a grand brick fireplace, this patio feels far removed from the bustle of traffic on nearby Camelback Road. 5040 N. 40th St., … [More]
Café Allegro: Culinary Notes Enhance Musical Experience
Café Allegro offers a sensory experience that starts at the entrance to Phoenix treasure, the Musical Instrument Museum. Diners can bypass the museum registration but still enjoy the lobby displays on the short stroll to the restaurant doorway. Managed by Bon Appetit, Café Allegro syncs its menu to its distinctive location, celebrating a global menu with Bon Appetit’s … [More]
Getaway Lunching
Lunch can be a stay-cation unto itself with a repast at one the Valley’s distinctive resorts. T. Cook’s at the Royal Palms Built in 1929 as the winter home of industrialist and financier Delos Willard Cooke and his wife, the Royal Palms is a Mediterranean oasis in architecture and landscape. 5200 E. Camelback Rd.,Phoenix (602) 283-1234 Tonto Bar & Grill at … [More]
Babbo Italian Eatery: Innovating Traditions
Babbo Italian Eatery’s is a comfortable atmosphere in mellow browns and soothing designs. Size variation among the many locations lends a different ambience from restaurant to restaurant — for instance, Arrowhead feels more intimate; Cave Creek, more open and informal; Scottsdale, the most spacious. Décor is understated, with framed old-timey-style photographs creating a sense … [More]
Sandwich Flair
Sandwiches are designed for convenience, but that’s no reason to neglect culinary flair and flavor (The origin of the sandwich is generally credited to the 4th Earl of Sandwich, John Montagu by name, who did not want to interrupt the hunt by having to sit down to a repast). Providing that in abundance, these are our favorites for virtually any time of day (hours of operation … [More]
Hash Kitchen: Hash Tagged ‘Good’
Very open and friendly, Hash Kitchen goes in for simplicity in its décor. Simplicity and comfort. Tables are widely spaced and booths allow leg room. Patios vary in size with location, but the outdoor seating option is available at all the restaurants. The new design puts more emphasis on the restaurant’s Bloody Mary offerings. Its newest location, opened last month in … [More]
