Pasta is a perennial favorite in many forms. Here are three local restaurants to enjoy its menu versatility. Aiello’s Northern Italian cuisine in white tablecloth elegance. 777 E. Thunderbird Rd., Phoenix (602) 547-3354 Marcellino Ristorante More than 200 house-made pasta specialties, with infused fresh pasta. 7114 E. Stetson Dr., Scottsdale (480) 990-9500 Va … [More]
Chelsea’s Kitchen: Roadhouse on the Canal
The sense of “come on in and visit” starts with the short walkway meandering through the grassy front yard past shallow ponds to the expansive front porch. Part of the LGO Hospitality family of restaurants, Chelsea’s Kitchen exudes a roadhouse ambience despite not technically meeting the definition of being beyond city limits. Dine in homey comfort inside or choose the patio … [More]
It’s Patio Time Again
We’re getting into the balmy weather so appreciated by outdoor enthusiasts — including those who enjoy dining al fresco. Here is a sampling of restaurants whose patios are as great as their menues. Zinc Bistro In addition to its secluded patio, this French bistro also offers sidewalk seating for some great people-watching in the heart of Kierland Commons. 15034 N. … [More]
The Crêpe Club: Fare with Flair
If a visit to Paris seems out of reach for a weekday lunch, it’s time to expand lunch options to a small salon at Biltmore Fashion Park. Open there a little more than a year after expanding from its origins as a popular food cart on the ASU Tempe campus, the crêperie keeps that casual vibe with its walk-up-to-order counter. Crêpes are the family pride for the restaurant’s … [More]
A Taste of …
With a slight alteration to the adage: Diversity is the spice of life. And spices are a cornerstone of culinary diversity among cultures. Here are some of our favorite ethnic eateries. Barrio Café Since 2002, Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza has been celebrating regional Mexican favorites with such flair that she’s put Barrio Café in the Zagat Guide. Closed Mondays. 2814 N. … [More]
Dust Cutter: Cutting-Edge ‘Not Just Bar’ Food
Breaking the ice over a few shared dishes makes a great start to a productive power lunch. Dust Cutter offers an array of interesting palate pleasers from the creative mind of Executive Chef Joshua Murray, a Phoenix transplant whose immersion in the Valley of the Sun’s edible bounty and culinary influences yields Avocado Fries, firm wedges coated with Sonoran spices and served … [More]
A Straw Meal
It’s quick; it’s easy; it can be nutritious; and it goes down smooth … ie. This is a perfect lunch for these 115-degree days. Jamba Juice Real fruit, real juice and other fresh ingredients come together for a variety of fresh flavors, with a few solid foods that include oatmeal and flatbreads on the menu as well. Multiple locations Valley-wide Nékter In its … [More]
Kona Grill – Island Delectables
Kona Grill has added a new Valley location, opening in the urban streetscape of Scottsdale Quarter. The vibe inside is perfectly suited to its environment: It’s very much a lounge feel throughout under the high ceiling with its contemporary design of exposed duct work. The restaurant concept’s signature water feature in this case is a floor-to-ceiling “aquarium” of bubbles that … [More]
Valley Standards: They Are All Ours
And they defy categorizing. These Valley lunch standards stand out because of their history, great food and service during that mid-day meal. Cowboy Ciao At this Old Town Scottsdale favorite, lunch will likely lead to dinner there the same night. Cowboy Ciao’s incredible creations include the famed Stetson Chopped salad. 7133 E. Stetson Dr., Scottsdale (480) … [More]
Doughbird Takes Flight
Fast, simple and comfortable. In a nutshell, Doughbird — the newest concept in our midst from restaurateur Sam Fox — delivers a quality option for businesspeople fitting lunch into a busy day. The large dining room welcomes with an atmosphere that is an unusual amalgam of the contemporary warehouse vogue with cafeteria-style tables and chairs below exposed ceiling beams and … [More]
The Coffee Perk
Coffee bars retain their allure for casual meetings and a quick time out. Adding to the corporate mix are several local stand-outs. These are some of our favorites. Cartel Coffee Lab Cartel has built up its profile by partnering with numerous retail purveyors around the Valley as well as its wholesale distribution. But it also invites coffee lovers to its own cafés for a … [More]
A 50% Power Lunch
Take high-powered down a notch to “impress” that more casual client. FEZ on Central With its contemporary atmosphere, FEZ is great for a quick, casual luncheon. It will be bustling, but that fits the urban experience for that metropolitan client. 3815 N. Central Ave., Phoenix (602) 297-8700 5th and Wine Simple and tasteful is the order of the day at this … [More]
Tommy Bahama – Menu as Lifestyle
Department stores include a café where customers can rest in-between purchases, and highway tourist stops include a sometimes-extensive gift store where travel-weary customers can be tempted with impulse shopping, but higher-end restaurants are usually stand-alone operations. Tommy Bahama is unique in that regard, offering dining alongside retail of its signature line of … [More]
The Elevated Burger
Time and time again, the classic hamburger beats out over many other choices on a menu. So much so that the gourmet burger joint has become its own genre for diners. Here are our current tops: Hopdoddy Burger Bar This interesting concept is all about custom orders. Customers pick the type of burger they want and take a seat — and before you know it, it’s on the table and … [More]
Cornish Pasty Co.: Main Course Pastry
Growing up in Saltash, Cornwall, the westernmost county in England, Dean Thomas, founder of Cornish Pasty Company, was introduced to this famed food — the pasty. Thomas’ first restaurant in Tempe was a local favorite, and he has expanded now to other parts of the Valley, including a bungalow-style location in Old Town Scottsdale. The scrumptious dish is a virtual “pastry … [More]
Cheers for St. Paddy’s Day
March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day and includes some very serious lore — although most Americans know St. Patrick’s Day as the day of the year to drink at an Irish Pub. Here are our picks for eats, drinks and a St. Paddy’s Day celebration. Rosie McCaffrey’s Irish Pub & Restaurant The local classic, hands down. Rosie’s is the place to go for anything authentically Irish in … [More]
Flower Child – A Natural Choice
Expanded from its debut location at the corner of 44th Street and Camelback Road, Flower Child validates the theory that happy food and healthy food can come together in harmony — which they do at this peaceful, casual kitchen. Serving locally sourced foods, all natural and mostly gluten free, this hot spot is a lunch destination to reckon with. On the menu is The Rebel, a … [More]
Mangia Mia
“Mangia” is Italian for “eat.” Here is a list of some of the Valley’s best Italian restaurants for lunch, where it is not all about pasta and heavy meals. Brio Tuscan Grille — Scottsdale and Gilbert Hard to go wrong here. Brio is a traditional modern Italian hot spot in the heart of urban Scottsdale, at Scottsdale Quarter, and in Gilbert, at SanTan Village. The lunch menu … [More]
