Phoenix Content Drip: 2024
All the food content that’s feeding into Yumscores from roughly 2022 through 2024, including articles from AZ Central, Phoenix New Times, Phoenix Magazine, and more. Yum yum.
May 31, 2024 / Melissa Parker
Phoenix New Times: Where to find the best bruschetta in Phoenix
We've sampled our way across the Valley to find our favorite bruschetta spots for the perfect cool summer snack or starter.
May 31, 2024 / Tirion Boan and Sara Crocker
Phoenix New Times: The 5 best bites and sips we tried in May around metro Phoenix
As we were eating and drinking around the Valley this month, the Phoenix New Times food team happened upon some truly delicious bites and sips. We found a drink to start your day, and the perfect one to end it, plus a few late-night eats to satisfy our cravings on these hot summer nights. Here are the five best things we ate and drank in May.
May 30, 2024 / Omar Mamoon
Esquire: The Best Bars in America 2024
More bars these days seem to be a complete package, like a nightlife one-stop shop. They can be a club if you want—you know, the kind you dance in. They can be the place where you order a bottle of Champagne and endless oysters. They can be a jazz lounge. They can be the place where you think you’ve stumbled on a garage party attended by the city’s coolest people (in a city you didn’t know had cool people). They can be that dimly lit vault where you and everyone else become someone else.
May 29, 2024
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation: 2024 Spirited Awards® Top 10 Nominee
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is honored to announce the Top 10 Nominees for the 18th annual Spirited Awards®. Since its founding in 2007, the Spirited Awards® has become one of the industry’s most sought-after awards, recognizing beverage professionals, products, and establishments across every facet of the spirits and cocktail community on a global scale. In partnership with Forbes–the Spirited Awards® official media partner–TOTCF will honor recipients during the Tales of the Cocktail® (TOTC) conference, which is celebrating its 22nd year in New Orleans, July 21-26, 2024.
May 29, 2024 / Tirion Boan and Sara Crocker
Phoenix New Times: The 10 best sushi restaurants in Phoenix
Phoenix's top sushi restaurants fully dispel the misconception about fish in the desert. These spots show that, yes, you can get fresh fish here, and it can be top-notch. When you get a craving for a classic cold bite, or want to impress with a unique and delicious dinner, the Valley's sushi chefs are ready to roll (sorry, not sorry). Here are the 10 best sushi restaurants in Phoenix.
May 28, 2024 / Bahar Anooshahr
AZ Central: Where to enjoy breakfast Middle Eastern style in metro Phoenix from haleem to ma'noushe
Phoenix is an international metro area, thanks to the diverse population drawn to the desert for work, school and family. That, in turn, has made it a great city for sampling the cuisines of the world. We often think of exploring new foods for dinner, but breakfast might be the most intimate meal of the day, usually enjoyed at home. And several Middle Eastern restaurants around the Valley are offering unique tastes from the region with their morning offerings.
May 15, 2024 / Tirion Boan and Sara Crocker
Phoenix New Times: These are the 10 best barbecue joints in Phoenix
In metro Phoenix, there are a number of spots where you’ll find outstanding ’cue. A heavy influence from Texas, a splash of Carolina-style sauce, a mix of Tennessee and Louisiana flavors and a few twists from Mexican cuisine meld to create something uniquely Arizonan.
May 8, 2024
The Pinnacle Guide: Announcing the First Pinned Bars
THE PINNACLE GUIDE IS A BRAND NEW 1, 2 & 3 PIN RECOGNITION SYSTEM FOR THE WORLD’S BEST COCKTAIL BARS.
May 8, 2024 / Nikki Buchanan
Eater: The 16 Hottest New Restaurants in Phoenix Right Now
Once known for its steakhouses and mainstream Mexican food, the metro Phoenix restaurant scene has positively exploded in the past five years. These days, there are not only more restaurants but better ones, expressing the city’s range and sophistication.
Apr 30, 2024
Phoenix New Times: The 10 best Chinese restaurants in metro Phoenix
While we do have Mesa's dedicated Asian District, sadly we don't have a designated Chinatown in this city. However, that doesn't mean you can't find delicious Chinese food in Phoenix. You just have to know where to look.
Some of the city's best Cantonese restaurants might be hiding right in plain sight, and if you're on the hunt for some harder-to-find cuisines, we have those too. Good fortune is shining. Here are the 10 best Chinese restaurants in Phoenix.
Apr 26, 2024
Foodists Awards: 2024 Finalists
As we gear up for the 10th annual Foodist Awards, there’s an undeniable sense of excitement and anticipation in the air. Over the past decade, the Foodist Awards have become a cornerstone event in Arizona’s culinary and beverage scene, celebrating excellence, innovation, and passion in the industry. Since its inception, the Foodist Awards have evolved into a prestigious platform that honors the very best tastes, faces, and places across the state. It’s a testament to the remarkable growth and diversity of Arizona’s food and beverage landscape, showcasing the talents of chefs, mixologists, restaurateurs, and artisans who continually push the boundaries of creativity and quality.
Apr 18, 2024
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation: Tales of The Cocktail Foundation Announces Spirited Awards® 2024 Regional Top 10 Honorees
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is pleased to announce the Regional Top 10 Honorees for the 18th annual Spirited Awards®. Established in 2007 to honor excellence in the drinks industry, the Spirited Awards® has grown into one of the most internationally prestigious recognitions, celebrating individuals, products, establishments, media, and industry luminaries from across the world who continue to inspire the global cocktail community.
Apr 11, 2024 / Mcconnell Quinn and Nikki Buchanan
Eater: 14 Vital Phoenix Bars to Visit
In recent years, the bar scene in Phoenix has experienced a renaissance. Between gritty dives along six-lane streets to sophisticated cocktail lounges and trendy basement venues offering refuge from the summer heat, Phoenix is an excellent place to enjoy a drink. Whether you’re craving a glass of natural wine in a century-old cottage, a European beer in a vinyl-listening bar, or a meticulously crafted martini in a converted department store, Phoenix offers an eclectic array of options. From kitschy to classy and everything in between, here are some of the Phoenix area’s best places to drink.
Apr 10, 2024 / Lauren Topor
Phoenix New Times: Unwrapping the decades-long legacy of DeFalco’s Deli
DeFalco’s Deli, the Italian eatery and market located on Scottsdale Road, is a celebrated Valley institution with a local history that stretches back to 1972. But its story begins before that — and across an ocean.
Apr 3, 2024
James Beard Foundation: The 2024 Restaurant and Chef Award Nominees
Today we announced the 2024 Restaurant and Chef Award nominees and the honorees of the Leadership Awards, Humanitarian of the Year Award, and Lifetime Achievement Award at a live ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria Washington DC in Washington, D.C. Winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on Monday, June 10, 2024 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Apr 3, 2024 / Sara Crocker
Phoenix New Times: New luxurious restaurant Pretty Penny shines on Roosevelt Row
Now, the venue has entered a shiny new era thanks to some new faces. Pour Bastards owners Sam Olguin and Brenon Stuart have teamed up with chef Marcelino Ramos and hospitality pro Ivan Herrera to present the seafood-forward small plates restaurant Pretty Penny.
Apr 3, 2024 / Endia Fontanez
AZ Central: Readers agree, this old school, no-frills restaurant makes the best burger in metro Phoenix
It was an intense battle, with over 3,000 votes placed in the final round. But the people have spoken, and The Chuckbox restaurant in Tempe is officially your 2024 Burger Bracket champion.
Apr 2, 2024 / Melissa Parker
Phoenix New Times: Toppings galore: Where to find the best loaded fries in Phoenix
Fries are hard to beat as far as side dishes are concerned. Whether fried in duck fat, baked in the oven or coming fresh out of a greasy spoon's kitchen bumpy with that good salt, we have trouble resisting a basketful. Plenty of places have amazing French fries, and some are a cut above. But loaded fries, piled high with carne asada, bulgogi or good old gravy, take the supreme side to new heights. Here are our seven top picks for unique spins on fully loaded fries from all over the Valley.
Apr 1, 2024 / Tirion Boan and Sara Crocker
Phoenix New Times: The 5 best bites we tried in March around metro Phoenix
March was a sweet and savory month for the Phoenix New Times food team as we sampled brunch menus and dug into some newly opened restaurants. Of all the delectable dishes we tried, five stood out above the rest. Here are the best things we ate at Valley restaurants in March.
March 29, 2024 / Asonta Benetti
Phoenix New Times: Ambrogio15 brings Italian flair to Biltmore Fashion Park. Here's what to order
Italian cuisine doesn’t need to be overly complex or complicated. Ambrogio15 shines in letting ingredients talk, accenting where needed and leaving the rest alone. The restaurant offers lunch, happy hour and dinner menus, which is good because any excuse to stop by this new Biltmore dining destination should be taken.
Mar 29, 2024 / Nikki Buchanan
Eater: 12 Top-Notch Rooftop Bars in Phoenix
Summers can be rough, but for most of the year, Phoenix comes pretty close to paradise. Short of a hike, the best way to enjoy Phoenix’s big skies, desert landscapes and legendary sunsets is to sit on a rooftop and drink it all in — preferably with a cocktail. Here are 12 of the Valley’s best rooftop bars and restaurants, some of them relaxed and casual, others more expensive and refined. A handful — Eden and Alibi, for example — even offer rooftop swimming for a fee. There’s one for every inclination, whether it’s a hot, boozy afternoon at Cottontail, a sunset-sparked happy hour at Skysill, or a romantic dinner at Orange Sky.
Mar 28, 2024 / Tirion Boan and Sara Crocker
Phoenix New Times: The 10 best brunch restaurants in Phoenix
And when it comes to the perfect spot for brunch, the Valley has every style and vibe covered. Looking for a peaceful morning on a patio underneath shade trees filled with songbirds? Or is a lively spot with plenty of mimosas more your jam? How about a charming French bistro? You can find it all here. And out of your available options, these are the 10 best brunch restaurants in Phoenix.
March 27, 2024
Phoenix Magazine: Where to Eat, Drink & Play During the Final Four: Downtown Phoenix
Phoenix’s burgeoning Downtown district – which will host Final Four Fan Fest – makes for convenient and rewarding pre-tip-off exploration. Neighborhoods like Roosevelt Row, Grand Avenue and Garfield are making a major comeback, racking up coffee shops, restaurants, music venues and other community spaces like points from the free-throw line.
March 25, 2024
Phoenix Magazine: Where to Eat, Drink & Play During the Final Four: Camelback Corridor & Old Town Scottsdale
Home to some of the Valley’s oldest and most storied resorts, this 6-mile strip stretching from Central Avenue to Scottsdale is a popular landing spot for spring visitors – and your runway for a high-flying day of pre- or post-game fun.
Mar 22, 2024 / Dominic Armato
Phoenix New Times: El Horseshoe brings understated grace to Arizona Sonoran cuisine
If I had to pigeonhole this restaurant, I might call it the Sonoran equivalent of the great American diner. Not one of those kitschy, commercial retro burger joints or the smoky haunts of a Tom Waits song that sling hash and Velveeta for the nighthawks. I’m talking about the kind of diner that’s cozy and comfortable — a folksy joint that prepares simple, honest food from scratch. Except here, instead of meatloaf and roast turkey, the blue-plate specials are chilaquiles and chiles rellenos.
Mar 18, 2024 / Mike Madriaga
Phoenix New Times: With recipes straight from Sonora, Ta'Carbon opens third Valley taco shop
"Vamos al cabron" is a phrase some hungry Phoenicians say, which loosely translates to "let's go to badass." For those in the know, it's a wordplay on a popular local restaurant Ta'Carbon.
Mar 12, 2024 / Lauren Cusimano
Phoenix New Times: 10 metro Phoenix restaurants with the best desert views
Despite the drastic high temperatures of Phoenix summers, it’s always sunset season in the Valley. That means you can enjoy some of the most gorgeous views of our desert oasis from the climate-controlled comfort of a posh dining room. Talk about an elevated dining experience (had to say it once).
That’s not to say springtime isn’t a particularly perfect time of year to dine before the stunning scene of a Sonoran landscape or a sunset. And since it’s about that time, here are 10 restaurants in greater Phoenix with a view to match the menu.
Mar 12, 2024 / Felicia Campbell
AZ Central: Steakhouse to brunch: Here are the best restaurants in metro Phoenix, according to readers
Ever since the essentials list was released, we've been asking readers to tell us about their favorite restaurants and places they feel are vital to the metro Phoenix dining scene.
And you answered with passionate, thoughtful recommendations that ranged from hidden gems to iconic fine dining. In no particular order, we're delighted to share this list of 19 essential metro Phoenix restaurants, according to The Arizona Republic readers.
Mar 8, 2024 / Nikki Buchanan
Eater: 18 Essential Mexican Restaurants in Phoenix
Phoenix has had great Mexican food for decades, generally found in traditional, family-run restaurants turning out Mexican standards adapted to American palates and the American ingredients on hand —in short, a hybrid cuisine best described as AZ-Mex. In recent years, however, that comfortable old M.O. has begun to change, as new restaurants by younger chefs (some with experience in high-end dining) have opened their own places. The result is that Mexican food in Phoenix has become even more diverse and exciting.
Mar 6, 2024 / Endia Fontanez
AZ Central: Kick off March Madness with the Burger Bracket
New and classic, fast food to fancy, there are a lot of burgers to love in metro Phoenix. Which one of these joints serves your favorite?
Mar 5, 2024 / Betty Hurd
Travel Lemming: 30 Best Phoenix Restaurants (Where to Eat in 2024)
I’m an Arizona local and in this guide, I give the low-down on this year’s absolute best Phoenix restaurants and places to eat.
Featured eateries cover a range of international cuisines, and some you’ve likely seen in the press before. But I also share a few personal favorite restaurants that fly under the radar and are so worth visiting.
In the words of Guy Fieri, next stop, Flavor Town!
Mar 4, 2024 / Tirion Boan and Sara Crocker
Phoenix New Times: The 5 best bites and sips we tried in February around metro Phoenix
With event season in full swing, it's a great time to visit the Valley. And with plenty of tourists in town, metro Phoenix restaurants and bars are eager to show off their skills. At the Desert Botanical Garden, chefs and vendors set up their tents for the Devour Culinary Classic. The two-day event showcased some of the best the Valley has to offer. In the cocktail world, one of Phoenix's top bars rolled out a new menu filled with enticing tipples. For the Phoenix New Times food team, it was a very tasty month. Here are five of the best things we ate and drank around the Valley in February.
Mar 4, 2024 / SHANE REISER
Tucson Foodie: 15+ of the Best Restaurants in Phoenix
Phoenix is the fifth largest city in the country, it’s a great foodie town, and it’s a short easy drive from Tucson. There are so many great restaurants in Phoenix that putting together this list of our favorites was rather difficult. Enjoy!
Feb 29, 2024 / Tirion Boan and Sara Crocker
Phoenix New Times: The 10 best Mexican restaurants in metro Phoenix
The scope of Mexican food in Phoenix is vast, with restaurants and chefs showcasing recipes from Sonora to Chihuahua and Michoacán to Oaxaca. Each region is as different and special as the local restaurants serving the food.
Two of the Phoenix restaurants on this list were named in late January as semifinalists for the James Beard Awards, one of the top honors in food.
While the national spotlight shines on the Valley's outstanding Mexican cuisine, we'll take pleasure in being able to hit up any number of lauded local eateries for lunch. From over the top to under the radar, these are the 10 best Mexican restaurants in metro Phoenix right now.
Feb 21, 2024 / Bahar Anooshahr
AZ Central: The 9 best fancy restaurants with tasting menus in metro Phoenix
Phoenix and Scottsdale are home to a number of restaurants with tasting menus, ranging from three to 10 courses. Some menus tell stories from the chef's life or offer a distinctive sense of place. One restaurant uses childhood nostalgia as the inspiration for his six-course brunch.
Whether looking for a place to enjoy a food-centric date or to celebrate a special occasion with friends and family, here's a guide to multicourse tasting menu restaurants in metro Phoenix.
Feb 21, 2024 / Bahar Anooshahr
AZ Central: Chefs absolutely love these 10 metro Phoenix restaurants: 'Dining is an expression of art'
The Arizona Republic published our annual list of the 100 essential restaurants of 2024 in January. It's a collection of the places we keep going back to, curated by not only the dining team, but other editors and reporters who cover the Valley's music, travel, arts and entertainment scenes.
While this list offers plenty for your dining to-do list, we wanted to know which restaurants were essential to local chefs. So we spoke to some well-known metro Phoenix chefs about their favorites, which ran the gamut from historic to new; casual to fine dining; hole-in-the-wall to award-winning.
Here's a look at 10 Phoenix restaurants local chefs have on permanent rotation.
Feb 21, 2024 / Sara Crocker
Phoenix New Times: 10 great spots to sip margaritas in metro Phoenix
Though the margarita may not (yet) be Phoenix’s official drink, the tequila, lime and triple sec tipple is a constant on menus across the Valley. It doesn’t take much to get us to take a sip – whether it be that first warm day of spring, a poolside quencher or just because. In the case of Thursday, in addition to it being Friday eve, it’s National Margarita Day.
Here are 10 metro Phoenix spots to get a great margarita – shaken, spicy or sweet.
Feb 16, 2024 / Bahar Anooshahr
USA Today: Restaurants of the Year 2024
We get the question all the time: What restaurant should I try? It comes from friends looking for the latest and greatest, family visiting from out of state and readers who trust our expertise.
As journalists, it’s a question we love, a point of pride. We know our communities. From the Des Moines Register and the Bergen Record to The Arizona Republic and Florida Today, we’re embedded across the country, always in search of the next best bite.
That's why when we set out to spotlight the USA TODAY Restaurants of the Year, we didn't select the places you would find on your average roundup of best restaurants. We’re not just spending a few days passing through a city in search of what it has to offer. We’re here. We know.
Feb 13, 2024 / Nikki Buchanan and Chris Malloy
Eater: The 38 Essential Restaurants in Phoenix
The city has managed to keep distinguished old-timers such as Durant’s (for steaks), Great Wall (for dim sum), Haji Baba (for Middle Eastern), and Marcellino’s (for pasta), while adding exciting newcomers to our roster. These days, there are destination mom-and-pops (Confluence in Carefree), sophisticated neighborhood joints (Latin-influenced Vecina), regional Mexican (Casa Corazon), sigh-inducing omakase (Hai Noon), and dazzling fine dining restaurants (Christopher’s at Wrigley Mansion). And that’s just a snapshot of what the Valley has to offer. Take a look. There’s a lot to like — and joyously eat.
Feb 9, 2024
Forbes Travel Guide: 2024 Forbes Travel Guide Star Award Winners
Feb 7, 2024 / Endia Fontanez
AZ Central: The 20 best metro Phoenix restaurants where you can get great meals at fast food prices
Everyone's budget is different, but for the sake of this list, we've included restaurants where one person can eat for $20 or less, even after leaving a 20% tip.
Here's your guide to the 20 best budget-friendly dining options in metro Phoenix.
Feb 1, 2024
Phoenix New Times: The Top 100 Restaurants
Drive around and you’ll find mom-and-pop shops sharing recipes from home in tiny strip mall joints. Have a favorite Phoenix restaurant? Well, that chef may have something new in the works. Local restaurateurs have been expanding their offerings and bringing concepts to new neighborhoods around the Valley. For out-of-town visitors, Arizona’s finest resorts continue to welcome tourists and introduce them to Valley dining with high-quality options.
Some classic eateries have been churning out exceptional food for decades, and remain at the top of their game. Other new spots have hit the ground running and are quickly making their mark. So whether you’re in town for a long weekend, or you’ve spent your whole life exploring all the Valley has to offer, there’s an exciting eatery just around the corner ready and willing to take your order.
Feb 1, 2024
Visit Mesa: Guide to the Top Restaurants in Mesa
There’s no shortage of casual eateries and fine dining restaurants in City Limitless®. Whether you’re looking for family-friendly places to eat or seeking a date night spot, Mesa features an endless array of mouthwatering eats. Ranging from tacos and Korean BBQ to pierogies and pasta, our culinary scene offers extraordinary dishes at affordable prices.
Feb 1, 2024 / Rene Andrade
Apple Maps Hyperlocal: Rene Andrade’s Phoenix Spots
Rene Andrade, the chef of the much-acclaimed restaurant Bacanora and the co-owner of the cocktail bar Espiritu, keeps this guide up-to-date with the small businesses—from tea rooms to barber shops—he loves.
Jan 31, 2024
OpenTable: OpenTable’s Top 100 Romantic Restaurants in America for 2024
Food is its own love language, but when it’s served in a cozy room or a candlelit booth? Guaranteed fireworks. OpenTable analyzed over 12 million diner reviews and metrics to find the restaurants that had diners swooning—these are the Top 100 Romantic Restaurants in the US.
Jan 30, 2024 / Asonta Benetti
Eater: Phoenix’s Essential Seafood Restaurants
The desert is probably the last place people might look for good seafood, but the scene in Phoenix is more prolific than might be assumed. Over the last few years, the city has benefited from a push for fresher fish; creative sourcing has made it possible to get seasonal catches sometimes in a matter of hours. From fishmongers with daily specials to upscale seafood dining, here are Phoenix’s best seafood restaurants for a fish fix.
Jan 24, 2024
James Beard Foundation: 2024 James Beard Awards Semifinalist
Today, we are proud to announce the 2024 Restaurant and Chef Awards semifinalists for the James Beard Awards® presented by Capital One. Nominees will be announced on Wednesday, April 3, and winners will be announced at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on Monday, June 10 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Jan 24, 2024 / LAUREN TOPOR
The Infatuation: The Best Restaurants In Phoenix
To the uninitiated, Phoenix may seem like a sun-drenched desert pit-stop between Austin and Los Angeles that’s full of resorts, golf courses, and retirement communities. But we’re here to enlighten you: Phoenix is just as cool as our neighbors, and nothing proves that more than the food scene. There’s a bit of everything: Texas-style barbecue, fried chicken served with Thai red chile sauce, comfy French food, and vegan-friendly spots doing magical things with vegetables. And of course, we’ve got classic taquerias, that one pizza joint everyone’s always talking about, and the house that fry bread built.
Jan 24, 2024 / Mcconnell Quinn and Jamie Killin
Eater: Where to Find Sensational Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in Phoenix
The vegan and vegetarian dining scene in the Phoenix metro area has exploded in a relatively short amount of time: What was virtually nonexistent less than two decades ago is now a thriving community of restaurants, with more being added seemingly every day. The days of simple salads for vegans are in the past, thanks to these creative restaurants serving everything from meat-free versions of the classic Big Mac to decadent dairy-free milkshakes, as well as dishes influenced by all different cultures. Here’s a guide to the best of the best in the Valley’s vegan dining.
Jan 23, 2024
Yelp: Yelp’s Top 100 US Restaurants 2024
Ready for your next dining adventure? Say hello to 2024’s top places to eat! Jackfruit carnitas, sourdough-crust pizzas, elote ice cream, and other creative mashups are on the menu at Yelpers’ top choices, which include both new discoveries and longtime favorites. Have a craving for umami-rich burgers, bulgogi pasta, or a huge snickerdoodle pancake? Or are you simply looking for the best fried chicken, chopped brisket sammies, or creamy hummus in the US?
This year, our huge, food-loving community reviewed and rated their faves from coast to coast, so you can find lots of new restaurants to love, whether you’re at home or on the road. There’s a place for every taste in 2024—and we’ve got 100 to choose from!
JAN 22, 2024 / HUNTER WREN MIELE
Tasting Table: 16 Absolute Best Taco Spots In Phoenix
Located less than 200 miles from the Mexican border, the bustling Arizona city of Phoenix is an obvious choice for authentic Mexican fare in the U.S. In this list, we'll showcase a varied selection of taco-centric eateries adored by both tourists and locals. These restaurants make a flavorful contribution to the community by demonstrating the delights of Mexican cuisine throughout the city, transcending cultural boundaries to unite everyone and celebrate the unquestionably perfect food known as tacos.
Jan 16, 2024 / Felicia Campbell
AZ Central: 100 essential restaurants in metro Phoenix: The best places to dine in 2024
The essential restaurants of 2024 is variety pack of brand new spots and longtime favorites; fine dining places you need to reserve months in advance and casual places to grab lunch. The cuisines run the gamut from French to Korean to Italian to Mexican.
And because "essential" means something different to everyone, this list is a collaboration between Arizona Republic reporters and editors who cover everything from movies to music to dining and nightlife. We asked them to share the restaurants that mean the most to them and the result is a dining to-do list that will last us all year.
Jan 13, 2024 / Lauren Millington
Female Foodie: The 16 Best Phoenix Restaurants
Looking for the best Phoenix restaurants? You’ve come to the right place. Our 2022 update to the best restaurants in Phoenix features our absolute favorite places to eat in the Valley of the Sun. Phoenix is home to a wide variety of some amazing food – from pizza to burgers to Thai, and, of course, Mexican spots. (We can’t help it if Phoenix has such great Mexican food!) Some of the best restaurants in Phoenix have a higher price point, but plenty of options are out there for casual spots that are easier on the wallet as well, so there’s something for everyone here!
Jan 10, 2024 / Bella
Moontower: 9 Best Bars in Downtown Phoenix
Downtown Phoenix has become a hotspot for students and young professionals in recent years – and for good reason. Known for its live music, food, sporting events and Roosevelt Row, downtown Phoenix has something for everyone.
After a long week of work, what better way to relax than to watch the game or grab a cocktail with friends?
Jan 7, 2024 / Serena Ozonur
The Travel: Phoenix Dining: 12 Arizona Restaurants That Foodies Should Have On Their Radars
Being a multi-city metropolitan area, Phoenix, Arizona, is a fantastic destination for all foodies. With its diverse cuisines, there is something for all dietary needs. The delicious tastes of Phoenix are not one to miss and will surely spark those taste buds. However, with all the options, picking which restaurant to try when in the city may take time. Here are some of the many excellent restaurants in Phoenix, Arizona.
Jan 5, 2024 / NIKKI BUCHANAN
Phoenix Magazine: Dining Review: Hai Noon is Spectacular
Last April, Welcome Diner owner Sloane McFarland and legendary chef Nobuo Fukuda opened Hai Noon without fanfare in a refurbished ’60s-era motor lodge called Sonder the Mariposa in South Scottsdale. At first blush, the narrow space, a dimly lit, rock-walled bar, seemed an unlikely venue for Fukuda, a 2007 James Beard Best Chef Southwest award winner revered for his fusion-y take on Japanese cuisine. However, I instantly fell in love with its retro look and relaxed vibe, finding it the perfect hangout for Japanese-inspired cocktails, curated sake and affordable small plates such as Fukuda’s signature pork belly buns, softshell crab sandwich and coconut curried lamb.
Jan 3, 2024 / Lauren Millington
Female Foodie: 12 Best Sandwiches in Phoenix
Is there anything more satisfying than a good sandwich? Nostalgic, comforting, and oh-so versatile. Luckily for us, the chefs in Phoenix take the art of a good sandwich seriously and the variety of sandwiches in Phoenix cover a wide range of appetites.
Take your pick between the classic Italian sub, a gooey Philly cheesesteak, the perfect fried chicken sandwich, and more! Read on to have all your cravings satisfied and discover the best sandwiches in Phoenix.
Dec 28, 2023 / Felicia Campbell and Bahar Anooshahr
AZ Central: The 10 best new restaurants and bars that opened in metro Phoenix in 2023
There were some heavy hitters who opened shop in Phoenix this year. A returning James Beard Award winner teamed up with two other Valley icons to open Hai Noon in a renovated Scottsdale Motel. Rene Andrade, one of Phoenix's most beloved chefs, debuting Huarachis taco shop downtown. And restaurateur Sam Fox finally welcomed guests to The Global Ambassador, his culinary-centric hotel. On the bar front, we welcomed Savauge natural wine bar from the owner of a popular downtown bottle shop, the first U.S. taproom from Hermosillo-based brewers Buqi Bichi and a very cool vinyl-centric cafe called Central Records. There were so many exciting openings, it was hard to narrow it down, but these spots stood out from the rest as some of the very best new additions to the scene.
Dec 28, 2023 / Dominic Armato
Phoenix New Times: Critic's Picks: Dominic Armato's 10 favorite dishes of 2023
I don’t like to think of this as a list of the “best” things I ate this year. I prefer to think of them as the bites that made an indelible mark on my brain for one reason or another. Perhaps they were brilliantly conceived. Perhaps they were stunningly executed. Perhaps they were novel and exciting. Or perhaps they were just stupid good.
For whatever reason, these are the dishes I remember most fondly when I think back on what the Phoenix restaurant scene has shown us in 2023. Here they are, in random order:
Dec 24, 2023
Liquor.com: Liquor.com's ‘Best of 2023’ Honorable Mentions
However, we'd still like to shine a light on all the amazing bars and people who didn't make the final cut, and recognize all the amazing work being done by those in the food and drinks industry across the country. Whether it helps you find a new favorite local bar, non-profit to support, or a travel itinerary for your next getaway, these are the places to know.
DEC 23, 2023 / Crawford Smith
Tasting Table: 15 Best Mexican Restaurants In Phoenix
It's impossible to capture the full breadth of Mexican food in Phoenix in a single article, but we can guarantee that the 15 restaurants on this list won't disappoint. More than that, each one has something about it that differentiates it from every other Mexican joint in the Valley. We scoured professional reviews, customer ratings, and our own memory to compile this list. Whether you want a fine dining experience, a feast lifted straight out of Oaxaca, or simply bottomless chips with guac and strong margaritas, there's something here for you. Just remember to save some room for the sopapillas.
Dec 22, 2023 / LAUREN TOPOR
The Infatuation: The Best Restaurants In Scottsdale
Ah, Scottsdale—Arizona’s cactus-dotted desert escape and bachelorette party capital of the West. Maybe you have this idea that eating here is limited to overpriced tacos catering to group trips and wealthy retirees. But similar to next-door Phoenix, don’t underestimate Scottsdale’s food. Restaurants here are more than just quick stops for a bite before a pickleball match or pedal-powered pub crawl. There’s sauce-drenched Sonoran-style Mexican food, a bar with dessert so good it’s a perfect first course, and flaming cheese at a clubstaurant that packs equal parts flavor and fire into one dish.
Dec 20, 2023 / Ellen
Moontower: 14 Best Restaurants in Downtown Phoenix near Roosevelt Row
Whether you’re a Phoenix local or just stopping in, you’re sure to enjoy some amazing food and drinks during your time here. Between fine dining service to grab-and-go options, downtown Phoenix has something to offer for everyone.
Dec 18, 2023 / Asonta Benetti and Bahar Anooshahr
Eater: 13 Phoenix Bakeries Worth Checking Out
The smell of fresh bread, the gleam of expertly prepared pastries, the abundance of sugar and decadence; everyone needs to have a reliable bakery to depend on. From muffins to go with morning coffee to a spectacular treat to serve after dinner, Phoenix’s best bakeries offer residents every baked good they could imagine. Why settle for the grocery store bakery when you have these places on hand? Whether French-taught or garage-grown, here are the city’s top bakeries.
Dec 12, 2023 / Chris Malloy and Lizbeth Scordo
Condé Nast Traveller: The Best Restaurants in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona
People say deserts are muses for creativity. The Phoenix metro area spreads through a sunny basin of the vibrant, creosote-scented Sonoran Desert, a hotbed of culinary creativity that has flown mostly under the national radar. The top cut of Phoenix and Scottsdale restaurants can hang with just about any American city. Better still, many have the capacity to surprise. With world-class pizza, sure. But also with char-blistered Sonoran meats, Indigenous Thai curries, tasting menus under purple sunset vistas, and cocktails that use ancient desert ingredients in modern ways. Visit these spots to experience what kind of gastronomic heat the Valley’s best culinary talents can bring.
Dec 11, 2023 / Fraser
Inspire • Travel • Eat: 23 Best Restaurants in Phoenix & Scottsdale
If you are looking for the best restaurants in Phoenix and Scottsdale than you came to the right place.
Whether you want dinner with a view, low-key comfort food, fine-dining, farm-to-table, a deli or one of the best meals you have ever had… this is the place to go on a foodie tour of Phoenix
Dec 7, 2023 / Alexis Doctolero, Dylan Garret, Audrey Morgan, Kara Newman, And Prairie Rose
Liquor.com: Liquor Awards: The Best of 2023
We’re thrilled to share our second annual Liquor Awards, showcasing the best of 2023. After calling on the expertise and nominations of nearly 60 trusted hospitality professionals, we’re proud to share these remarkable bars, individuals, organizations, and producers that represent the best of the drinks industry.
Nov 28, 2023 / Kevin Sintumuang, Jeff Gordinier, Joshua David Stein, And Omar Mamoon
Esquire: The Best New Restaurants in America, 2023
Nothing is more real than a whole fish, a dish that makes an appearance, in various forms, on many of the menus featured in the forty-first edition of our Best New Restaurants—reported, as always, by real humans: Jeff Gordinier, Joshua David Stein, Omar Mamoon, and yours truly. Over the past year, we crisscrossed the nation, sampling some two hundred new dining establishments that serve almost every conceivable type of cuisine. After a series of spirited debates, we settled on fifty restaurants that stood out from the rest, below, in alphabetical order by state.
Nov 14, 2023
OpenTable: OpenTable’s Top 100 restaurants in the US for 2023
Introducing the Top 100 restaurants in America for 2023. Culled from over 12 million verified diner reviews and dining metrics including diner ratings, percentage of reservations made in advance, and five-star reviews, the list highlights some of the top spots favored by diners this year.
Nov 9, 2023 / Nikki Buchanan and Jamie Killin
Eater: 15 Fabulous Cocktail Bars to Try in Phoenix
Phoenix’s cocktail scene has grown enormously in the last decade, exponentially in the last five years. The town is full of talented mixologists and great bars, places to grab a crazy-creative cocktail or something elegant and classic. This isn’t hometown hype — Phoenix bars and mixologists have begun to receive national attention in recent years. Here are 15 places to grab a cocktail — some new, some well-established, all excellent.
Nov 1, 2023 / Nikki Buchanan, Marilyn Hawkes, Craig Outhier
Phoenix Magazine: 2023 Best New Restaurants
Relive a red-letter year in Valley dining with our picks for the new restaurants most worthy of your immediate gustatory attention – from the Scottsdale sushi spot led by an old culinary lion to a pair of upstart Downtown diners that started life on four wheels. We have salty, succulent jamón. We have supple, oil-slickened crudo. We have a shocking number of tartare and carpaccio dishes. What we don’t have: any more stomach space.
Oct 31, 2023 / Mark Stock
The Manual: These are the best restaurants in America right now
These are the places that will make you love food even more. It could be the pairing of a dry red wine or the presentation of a remarkable dish. Maybe it’s a classic dish that’s been turned out in a city for generations. Perhaps it’s a Michelin star-winning chef redefining what it means to eat in America. No matter which direction the following establishments go; know that they excel at that very route. Hungry?
Oct 25, 2023 / Dominic Armato
Phoenix New Times: Pa'La shifts focus to fine dining, but value remains at the core
It’s no surprise that Alford, once executive chef of the swanky (and expensive) Roka Akor, has carried through Urciuoli’s commitment to top-notch sourcing. But $20 sandwiches and $60 imported pork steaks, while a good value considering their quality, are hardly the $9 pizzas and sandwiches of Pa’La’s early days.
Oct 18, 2023 / Mcconnell Quinn and Jamie Killin
Eater: 13 Phoenix Brunches Worth Waking Up For
Brunch is the perfect meal — not too early, but early enough in the day that sipping a few mimosas won’t risk a Monday morning hangover. Plus, the best of both worlds come together at the brunch table — whether you’re wanting to bite into a sugary sweet stack of pancakes or a savory breakfast burrito.
Thankfully, Phoenix’s culinary experts have you covered with everything from classic American breakfast dishes to barbacoa and egg combos to Southwest-style scrambles.
Oct 10, 2023
50 Best: North America's 50 Best Bars
Platform 18 boasts one of the most unique concepts on the North America’s 50 Best Bars list. Stepping out of Phoenix’s arid desert heat and into bar within the Century Grand building, guests are transported to a Louisiana train platform.
Oaks draped in Spanish Moss rise up and a station housing an apothecary sits to one side, a train car on the other. The immersive scene was conceptualised by an ex-Disney Imagineer; a breeze blows through the ‘outdoor’ areas, stars are visible in the ‘sky’, the train’s interior is a remarkable simulation of a vintage carriage in motion. But, Platform 18 is more than a theme. Here, Jason Asher and Jax Donahue have also crafted a world-class bar programme.
Oct 2, 2o23 / NILS BERNSTEIN
Wine Enthusiast: The Best Hotel Bars in America for 2023
This is a very subjective list that bypasses formal methodology, but nonetheless seeks to elevate the escapist charm of the hotel bar. It’s a mix of historic places and new classics, which boast draws like elevated design, transportive atmospheres and thoughtfully-curated drinks that both thrill and satiate. They span casual and fancy spots, those that are mixology or wine list-driven and others that sling humble pints of beer.
Sep 27, 2023
Phoenix New Times: These are the 10 best restaurants in Tempe
Tempe is perhaps most widely known as the home of Arizona State University. But the wonderful thing about students winding up here from all over the world is the diversity of the restaurants it inspires. Tempe is home to exceptional Ethiopian food, Punjabi and Sichuan restaurants, Italian joints and more. Of course, you've also got your steakhouses and brewpubs, and Tempe happens to have some of the best versions in the Valley. Here are the top 10 best restaurants in Tempe right now.
Sep 13, 2023 / Elazar Sontag
Bon Appétit: The 24 Best Restaurants of 2022
The restaurant world is packed with creativity right now, and these 24 spots represent the very best of dining. So hop in the car, catch a ferry, or—if you’re lucky—simply walk down the block. Wherever this list takes you, we know that these restaurants will bring you as much joy as they’ve brought us.
Sep 1, 2023 / NIKKI BUCHANAN
Phoenix Magazine: Dining Review: Course
High-end dining and prix fixe menus are the norm for Oppold, a Chopped champion who formerly worked for Kevin Binkley and Mark Tarbell and later operated as executive chef at Atlas Bistro, a South Scottsdale BYOB built on the prix fixe concept. Now he’s partnered with investors and longtime fans Brett and Christian Pezzuto to create his own personal playground for seasonal modernist cuisine in its many splendored forms, including artful presentations, deconstructed dishes, foams and powders.
Sep 1, 2023 / NIKKI BUCHANAN
Phoenix Magazine: Dining Review: Latha
Located in Heritage Square across from Pizzeria Bianco, Latha takes a modern approach to African cuisine, illuminating the historic culinary connections between Africa, Brazil, the Caribbean and the American South in deliciously innovative ways. Essentially, owner Evelia Davis and chef-partner Digby Stridiron are retracing the African diaspora via food, and I’m crazy about the place (its name means “flavor” in Swahili).
Aug 9, 2023 / Nikki Buchanan and Chris Malloy
Eater: 21 Essential Phoenix Pizza Joints
In the past 13 years, Phoenix’s pizza scene has grown exponentially as new pizza-makers, each with their own vision, have broadened our notions of what great pizza looks and tastes like. Nowadays, pizza fans can scratch nearly every itch, finding great pies by the slice or square as well as Neapolitan pizza, Roman pizza, Detroit-style pizza, New York pizza, vegan pizza and pizza topped with unlikely but delicious ingredients.
Aug 7, 2023 / Asonta Benetti
Thrillist: The Scottsdale Restaurants You Should Be Dining at Right Now
Yes, there are restaurants that will cost you a pretty penny (and be worth it) but there are also neighborhood outlets with craveable dishes and a relaxed atmosphere. To try and list all of the best restaurants in Scottsdale is simply impossible; there is an endless and ever changing selection. With some new and old favorites, here is our list of the best restaurants in Scottsdale right now.
Jul 25, 2023 / LAUREN MILLINGTON
Female Foodie: 10 Best Tacos in Phoenix
Looking at a map, it’s pretty obvious that Phoenix is going to be one of the best cities for tacos in the country. But narrowing down the best tacos in Phoenix can be tricky. With a hole-in-the-wall spot on almost every block, there are endless options across the valley. We scoured the city to come up with our top ten guide that showcases the wide variety of tacos Phoenix has to offer. Whether you’re hungry for a gooey quesabirria taco, flavorful al pastor complimented with fresh pineapple, or greasy street tacos, read on to have your taco dreams fulfilled.
Jul 22, 2023
Tales of the Cocktail Foudation: Tales Of The Cocktail Foundation Announces 2023 Spirited Awards® Winners
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is honored to announce the Winners of the 17th annual Spirited Awards®. Since its founding in 2007, the Spirited Awards® have become one of the industry’s most revered awards, recognizing beverage professionals, products, and establishments across every facet of the spirits and cocktail community on a global scale. In partnership with Forbes, the Spirited Awards® official media partner, TOTCF honored recipients during the Spirited Awards Ceremony which took place at the Tales of the Cocktail® (TOTC) conference in New Orleans on July 27, 2023.
Jul 10, 2023
OpenTable: Most Popular Restaurants for Outdoor Dining in America: 2023 Edition
Summer is here and it’s time to dine outdoors. Our list of the Most Popular Restaurants for Outdoor Dining highlights spots offering delicious food, beautiful views, and above all, incredible outdoor dining experiences. The list spans restaurants coast-to-coast and is determined by verified diner reviews.
Jul 6, 2023 / NIKKI BUCHANAN
Phoenix Magazine: Dining Review: Source
Star chef Claudio Urciuoli is in startup mode again – this time conjuring terrific pizzas, flatbreads and bruschetta out of a fancy Swedish oven in Gilbert.
Jul 6, 2023 / NIKKI BUCHANAN
Phoenix Magazine: Dining Review: Cocina Chiwas
Seven years and multiple concepts removed from their humble taco shop beginnings, Armando Hernandez and Nadia Holguin score big-time with an ambitious Modern Mexican restaurant in Tempe.
Jul 1, 2023
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation: Tales of the Cocktail Foundation Announces the Top 10 Nominees for the 2023 Spirited Awards®
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is honored to announce the Top 10 Nominees for the 17th annual Spirited Awards®. Since its founding in 2007, the Spirited Awards® have become one of the industry’s most sought-after awards, recognizing beverage professionals, products, and establishments across every facet of the spirits and cocktail community on a global scale. In partnership with Forbes, the Spirited Awards® official media partner, TOTCF will honor recipients during the Tales of the Cocktail® (TOTC) conference, which is celebrating its 21st-year in New Orleans, July 23-28, 2023.
Jun 22, 2023 / Dominic Armato
Phoenix New Times: True Mexican food? Tempe's Cocina Chiwas is true to itself
Cocina Chiwas sports the kind of modern, clean-cut look that fits right into the young suburban aesthetic of the Valley's premiere college town. But the menu doesn't fit neatly into any of Phoenix’s pre-established pigeonholes, in large part because Hernandez and Holguin don’t either.
Jun 22, 2023 / Lauren Millington
Female Foodie: 10 Best Mexican Restaurants in Phoenix
If you were to ask a group of Phoenix locals about their favorite Mexican restaurant, you would likely get a different answer from each person. With over 300 Mexican restaurants in the valley, there are seemingly endless options and everyone seems to have their own favorite place.
If it sounds intimidating to sift through hundreds of Mexican restaurants in search of the best ones, don’t worry! We’ve done the research (read: taco eating) and created this guide to the very best Mexican restaurants in Phoenix. Happy eating!
Jun 21, 2023 / ALY VELASQUEZ
Tales of the Cocktail: Top 4 Finalists for the 2023 Spirited Awards
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is honored to announce the Top Four Finalists for the 17th annual Spirited Awards® and share the 2023 Digital Playbill. Since its founding in 2007, the Spirited Awards® have become one of the industry’s most revered awards, recognizing beverage professionals, products, and establishments across every facet of the spirits and cocktail community on a global scale. In partnership with Forbes, the Spirited Awards® official media partner, TOTCF will honor recipients during the Tales of the Cocktail® (TOTC) conference, which is celebrating its 21st-year in New Orleans from July 23-28, 2023.
Jun 21, 2023 / Nikki Buchanan
Eater: 15 Top Taco Destinations in Phoenix
In recent years, Phoenix has become a legitimate Mexican food town, full of restaurants owned by families from every Mexican state. Tacos are everywhere — take a drive down 16th Street in Central Phoenix (unofficially Taco Central) to be convinced. Restaurant owners have learned you can put pretty much anything in a taco, and it will be good — mesquite grilled carne asada, pork cooked on a vertical spit, grilled octopus, even Korean fried chicken. Here are Phoenix’s 15 top taco destinations.
Jun 2, 2023
Food & Wine: 28 of the Best Pizza Places in the U.S.
Top chefs and legendary bakers are among the new breed of pizzaiolos who are just as fanatical about the temperature of their ovens as they are about the provenance of their ingredients. Here, F&W names the best places for pizza around the country from these new guard spots — including a Bay Area pizzeria that uses locally milled flour — to century-old East Coast institutions.
JUN 1, 2023 / ALY VELASQUEZ
Tales of the Cocktail: Top 10 Nominees for the 2023 Spirited Awards
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is honored to announce the Top 10 Nominees for the 17th annual Spirited Awards®. Since its founding in 2007, the Spirited Awards® have become one of the industry’s most sought-after awards, recognizing beverage professionals, products, and establishments across every facet of the spirits and cocktail community on a global scale. In partnership with Forbes, the Spirited Awards® official media partner, TOTCF will honor recipients during the Tales of the Cocktail® (TOTC) conference, which is celebrating its 21st-year in New Orleans, July 23-28, 2023.
May 24, 2023 / Nikki Buchanan
Eater: 10 Phoenix Restaurants With Fantastic Burgers
Phoenix may be famous for its Mexican food and its pizza (thank you, Chris Bianco), but we have our fair share of great burgers, too. After all, Arizona is known for the 5 Cs: climate, cotton, copper, citrus, and cattle. Beef figures prominently here. Great burgers abound, and there’s a burger on this list for every kind of burger-lover. Some are classic, some ornate, and some downright messy. All are exceptional in their own way.
May 5, 2023 / Lauren Millington
Female Foodie: 10 Best Downtown Phoenix Restaurants
One thing we love about the Phoenix Metropolitan area is the myriad of “downtowns” it boasts (like Tempe, Gilbert, Mesa, and Scottsdale), but today, we’re here to help you navigate the big one: downtown Phoenix itself. Where exactly are the best downtown Phoenix restaurants?
In such a sprawling metropolis, downtown Phoenix is like the center of the universe. Whether you’re heading downtown to see a show, go to a game, or just enjoy the city, our guide will help you seek out only the best downtown Phoenix restaurants.
May 5, 2023 / Lauren Millington
Female Foodie: The 13 Best Restaurants in Mesa
East Valley foodies, this guide is for you! And if you aren’t in the East Valley, you’ll likely want to make the trip for these Arizona eateries. Mesa’s food scene has been growing over the last few years, and these restaurants are worth the drive. Mesa is one of the more culturally diverse food cities in the Phoenix area, and restaurants here offer authentic, incredibly well-executed cuisines that can be hard to find elsewhere. Read on for some of the best restaurants in Mesa.
May 5, 2023 / Lauren Millington
Female Foodie: The 10 Best Italian Restaurants in Phoenix
Nothing makes us swoon like hand-rolled pasta or wood-fired pizza, and Phoenix has no shortage of chefs who have perfected these crafts. From heavy stacks of lasagna to delicate ravioli, our guide to Italian restaurants in Phoenix will have you in carb heaven.
Get ready for white tablecloths, waiters in ties, and chefs who get the most out of a few ingredients. Whether you’re craving pizza, pasta, or gelato, we’ve got you covered in our guide to the best Italian restaurants in Phoenix.
May 1, 2023 / NIKKI BUCHANAN
Phoenix Magazine: Dining Review: Chilte
Clearly, the high-end chefs Smith trained under post-culinary school (Beau MacMillan at elements, Alex Stratta at Match) left an impression, as did his stint at Tempe Public Market with Rene Andrade of Bacanora fame. And yet, Smith is his own man, culinarily speaking – daringly creative and a touch wild, devising frequently changing menus that pull inspiration from the heart of Mexico. He incorporates delicacies such as roasted grasshoppers, Oaxacan ants and mushroom-like corn smut into seriously spicy yet balanced dishes that curl your toes.
Apr 27, 2023 / Asonta Benetti and Lauren Topor
Thrillist: The Best Restaurants in Phoenix Right Now
If you haven’t made it out to Phoenix in the last five years, things here look very different. Not only has a population surge expanded the borders of the metro Phoenix area, but the growth has helped bring about more defined districts and neighborhoods, each with their own personality. New restaurants are popping up, showcasing bold flavors and creative visions, with menus that change seasonally— sometimes daily—all backed by fresh and local ingredients. A city that once was a culinary desert now overflows with options. From Southeast Asian fusion to regional Mexican cuisine to Caribbean flavors and beyond, it’s an exciting time to dine in The Valley of the Sun. Here are the most exciting restaurants you should eat at in Phoenix right now.
Apr 24, 2023
Foodists Awards: 2023 Foodist Award Winners
The Foodist Awards recognize the most amazing tastes, faces and places in Arizona food and beverage. Awards are given to entries that demonstrate innovation, quality of execution, effectiveness and an influential impact on the culinary and hospitality industry.
Apr 24, 2023
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation: Tales of the Cocktail Foundation announces the Regional Top 10 Honorees for the 2023 Spirited Awards
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is pleased to announce the regional top 10 honorees for the 17th annual Spirited Awards®. Founded in 2007 to celebrate excellence in the global cocktail community, the Spirited Awards® have become one of the most internationally recognized accolades honoring beverage professionals, products, establishments, luminaries, and media across every facet of the drinks industry on a global scale. In partnership with Forbes, the Spirited Awards® official media partner, TOTCF will honor recipients during the Tales of the Cocktail® (TOTC) conference, which is taking place in New Orleans from July 23-28, 2023.
Apr 18, 2023 / Nikki Buchanan, Jamie Killin, and Rudri Patel
Eater: 18 Perfect Phoenix Restaurant Patios for Dining Alfresco
Come spring, alfresco dining in Phoenix is blissful. Everyone heads outdoors to soak up stunning desert scenery and awe-inspiring mountain views beneath the Valley’s nearly perpetual sunny skies. The following 18 places showcase the Valley’s dazzling diversity, offering casual, comfortable patios for sipping wine, guzzling beer, and playing bocce ball as well as good spots for outdoor dining with the family, or going on a romantic date night with the significant other. It’s all here, so slap on some sunscreen and head for the great outdoors.
Mar 6, 2023 / Nikki Buchanan
Eater: 11 Top-Notch Italian Restaurants Around Phoenix
Phoenix has always loved Italian food. In fact, 40 years ago, Italian restaurants — along with steakhouses — dominated the Valley’s food scene. These days, our dining options in every genre are blessedly more varied, and that includes Italian restaurants, where diners may now choose from the genteel, old-school places, humming along for decades; the buzzy new ones offering modern Italian cuisine, fancy cocktails, and a trendy vibe; and restaurants that fall somewhere in between, planting one foot in the modern world while keeping the other rooted in Old World traditions. Here are the 11 most interesting Italian restaurants in town.
Mar 3, 2023 / Nikki Buchanan
Phoenix Magazine: Dining Review: Fire at Will
Everybody puts a burger on the menu, but few of them approach the moist, meaty Hush Burger, mounted on a Noble brioche bun slathered with “fancy sauce” (mustard, ketchup, Worcestershire and the like), given a melting coat of American cheese, then stacked with caramelized onions and pickles. Simple but sublime, it’s a Wednesdays-only item at Hush that Ruggiero reluctantly offered as a concession to customers who begged for one. It will be at FAW forever.
APR 16, 2023 / RYAN UNGER
Mashed: 11 Best New US Restaurants To Try In 2023
When a new restaurant opens up that looks like it has the potential to really knock the socks off of guests, every foodie's stomach starts doing cartwheels like a child the night before Christmas morning. The thought of navigating the terrain of a brand new menu tantalizes their palate in a way that can't be replicated – until, of course, another new restaurant opens up and gives them something to shriek with excitement about yet again. The restaurant industry is one of the hardest landscapes to thrive in; closures and bankruptcies are unfortunately common. When you find a special spot that manages to stick around awhile, it's like finding a diamond in the rough.
Feb 20, 2023 / Rudri Patel
Phoenix New Times: This Phoenix Vegan Restaurant Serves Classic Comfort Food Minus the Meat
As soon as you walk into the Tempe location of Green New American Vegetarian, you're hit with a fun and whimsical vibe. There's a buzz among patrons standing in line surveying the menu and an entire wall filled with colorful car doors, a rainbow menagerie that automatically screams that this restaurant is something different.
And it's different in a good way.
JAN. 30, 2023
Tasting Table: The 50 Absolute Best BBQ Restaurants In The US
There are a ton of barbecue spots in America, and even though many people immediately think of the American South when they hear the word, the truth is there are plenty of great spots all over the country. Sure, the South does have somewhat of a stranglehold on the barbecue game, but that doesn't mean your travel for great barbecue you should solely go through the southernmost part of the United States. Pack your appetites, slap your meat-eating caps on, and take a mouth-watering road trip to the 50 best barbecue joints in America.
Jan 25, 2023
James Beard Foundation: 2023 James Beard Awards Semifinalist
Today, we are announcing our 2023 Restaurant and Chef Awards semifinalists for the James Beard Awards® presented by Capital One. Nominees will be announced on Wednesday, March 29, and winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on Monday, June 5, 2023, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Jan 24, 2023 / Asonta Benetti
Eater: Where to Savor Superb Whiskey in Phoenix
Whiskey may not be the first word that comes to mind when you think about Phoenix, but Valley of the Sun has become a haven for whiskey drinkers and lovers. From cigar bars to libraries and apothecaries (of sorts), the city is full of wonderful places to enjoy and explore the world of whiskey. Here are some of the best that Phoenix has to offer.
Jan 11, 2023 / NIKKI BUCHANAN
Phoenix Magazine: Dining Review: Anhelo
Nothing says fine dining like crisp white tablecloths, but apparently, they’re as quaint as fish forks these days.
Imagine my delight, then, at finding these relics at Anhelo, chef-owner Ivan Jacobo’s reimagined Modern American restaurant housed in an immaculate storefront below the Orpheum Lofts in Downtown Phoenix. Jacobo opened the original Anhelo in Heritage Square in 2019, closed it during the early days of the pandemic and re-opened at this buzzier location in 2021.
Aug 16, 2022 / Priya Krishna
New York Times: The Restaurant List - 2022
We traveled widely and ate avidly as we built the annual list of our favorite restaurants in America. From Oklahoma City to Juncos, Puerto Rico, to Orcas Island off the coast of Washington State, our food reporters, editors and critics found revelatory Ethiopian barbecue, innovative Haitian cooking and possibly the most delicious fried pork sandwich in the United States.
While we love to see a dynamic new dining room open its doors, we’re equally impressed by kitchens that are doing their best work years in. So while some of our picks debuted just this summer, others have been around for decades. The one thing they do have in common: The food is amazing.
These are the 50 restaurants we love most in 2022.
JUN. 21, 2022 / GIA VECCHIO
Tales of the Cocktail: 2022 Spirited Awards Top Four Finalists
In that spirit, the Foundation shares the Top Four Finalists, broken into International, U.S., Media & Writing, and Global categories.
Jun 13, 2022
James Beard Foundation: The 2022 James Beard Award Winners
Here are the winners of the 2022 James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards. Congrats to all!
Jun 2, 2022 / GIA VECCHIO
Tales of the Cocktail: Top 10 Nominees for the 2022 Spirited Awards
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is honored to announce the Top 10 Nominees for the 16th annual Spirited Awards®, as the foundation continues to recognize the depth of talent across our global spirits community. Since its founding in 2007, the Spirited Awards® have become one of the industry’s most sought-after awards, recognizing beverage professionals, products, and establishments across every facet of the spirits and cocktail community on a global scale. In partnership with Forbes, the Spirited Awards® official media partner, TOTCF will honor recipients during the Tales of the Cocktail® (TOTC) conference, which is returning for an in-person celebration in New Orleans from July 25-29, 2022.
May 5, 2022
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation: Tales of the Cocktail Foundation announces the Regional Top 10 Honorees for the 2022 Spirited Awards
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is pleased to announce the regional top 10 honorees for the 16th annual Spirited Awards® in an effort to recognize the depth of talent across our global spirits community. Since its founding in 2007, the Spirited Awards® have become one of the industry’s most sought-after awards, recognizing beverage professionals, products, and establishments across every facet of the spirits and cocktail community on a global scale. In partnership with Forbes, the Spirited Awards® official media partner, TOTCF will honor recipients during the Tales of the Cocktail® (TOTC) conference, which is returning for an in-person celebration in New Orleans from July 25-29, 2022.
Mar 16, 2022
James Beard Foundation: 2022 James Beard Awards Nominee
Today, we are announcing our 2022 Restaurant and Chef Awards nominees in advance of the returning James Beard Awards® presented by Capital One. The nominees were announced today during a live ceremony at Casa Paloma at El Chorro in Paradise Valley, AZ. Winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on Monday, June 13, 2022, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Feb 23, 2022
James Beard Foundation : 2022 James Beard Award Semifinalists
Today, we are announcing our 2022 Restaurant and Chef Awards semifinalists in advance of the returning James Beard Awards® presented by Capital One. Winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on Monday, June 13, 2022, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Restaurant and Chef Awards nominees, in addition to honorees for Leadership, Lifetime Achievement Award, and Humanitarian of the Year Awards will be revealed on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, in Scottsdale, AZ. Nominees for the James Beard Foundation Media Awards will be released on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, in New York City.
Oct 12, 2021
New York Times: The Restaurant List 2021
After a fitful and often grueling 19 months, the nation’s restaurants are slowly coming back. So are the pleasures of eating out.
But where to start? The Food desk dispatched critics, reporters and editors around the country to find the 50 most vibrant and delicious restaurants in 2021. They’re not ranked, but together they reflect the rich mosaic of American dining — from the melding of Thai curry and Texas brisket in the Pacific Northwest, to heritage crab rice on the South Carolina coast, to vegan soul food in the East Village.
Some are classics, still great after decades. Others are in their prime, restaurants at their practiced peaks. And still others are newcomers, intrepidly making their way through the roughest stretch the restaurant business is likely to endure. All of them beckon us back to the table.
Aug 24, 2020
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation: Tales of the Cocktail Foundation Announces Top 4 Finalists for the 2020 Spirited Awards®
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is honored to debut this year’s Top 4 Finalists for the 14th annual Spirited Awards®. Founded in 2007, the Spirited Awards celebrate beverage professionals, products, and establishments across every facet of the global spirits and cocktail community. The award categories spotlight a range of talent from bartenders, journalists, and brand ambassadors, to brands and media, to ensure each aspect of the industry is well represented and recognized for its contributions.
May 4, 2020
James Beard Foundation: The 2020 James Beard Award Nominees
We are proud to announce the nominees for the 2020 James Beard Awards presented by Capital One. This announcement comes on what would have been the 30th Anniversary James Beard Awards in Chicago. Over the past few months COVID-19 has upended the restaurant community in every facet. During this time the Foundation has turned its attention to supporting the relief and rebuild efforts, postponing Awards activities to instead focus on the James Beard Foundation Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund, which to date has disbursed more than $4 million to independent, locally owned restaurants around the country. After consultation with chefs and restaurateurs across the country, the Foundation decided to announce the 2020 nominees and honorees, and set the dates for this year’s remaining Awards events, which recognize work done in 2019.
May 4, 2020 / GIA VECCHIO
Tales of the Cocktail: Top 10 Nominees for the 2020 Spirited Awards
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is honored to announce the Top 10 nominees for this year’s Spirited Awards®. The Foundation remains committed to keeping our industry connected during COVID-19 and will host its annual festival and the 14th annual Spirited Awards® in a primarily digital format this year. The organization is hopeful that come July 21, 2020, the scheduled start of Tales, there will be smaller, in-person events hosted wherever it is safe and advisable to do so in accordance with the CDC and state and local guidance.
Feb 26, 2020
James Beard Foundation: 2020 James Beard Award Semifinalists
Announcing our 2020 Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists! Read on for the semifinalists in all categories, from Outstanding Restaurant to Rising Star Chef.
