“Mangia” is Italian for “eats.” 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.
Anzio Landing — Mesa
This unique and quaint alternative to the usual big-box Italian has character and dishes that will entice a return visit. Salads, light fare and many of the Roman-inspired dishes make up this vast lunch menu. White tablecloths set the perfect tone for an intimate client meeting and make Anzio Landing an impressive and tasty pick. Catch its last days at historic Falcon Field in early September before it moves to Las Sendas at Power and McDowell roads in late September.
2613 N. Thunderbird Circle, Mesa
(480) 832-1188
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 includes splits of flatbreads and salads and Mediterranean-inspired seafood dishes.
15301 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale • (480) 607-1100
2150 E. Williams Field Road, Gilbert • (480) 917-9177
Cibo — Phoenix
Set in an old Downtown Phoenix home complete with hardwood floors, exposed brick walls and stained glass, this urban pizzeria café uses locally grown and imported ingredients that delight in simple Italian lunch items and is a creative setting for a business lunch.
603 N. 5th Avenue, Phoenix
(602) 441-2697
