On the upside, we welcomed a handful of new dining options to the scene — including a brick-and-mortar location from one of our favorite food trucks and a second location of Sam Fox's health food restaurant Flower Child.
Openings
- The Taco and Dilla Parlor, Phoenix
"Here's some good news for fans of Tim and Kim Cobb's Luncha Libre food truck: They've gone brick-and-mortar. That's right, a place now exists where you can find Luncha Libre tacos and Mexican-fusion quesadillas prepared in a kitchen, served at a counter, and with the option to enjoy them at a table in blissfully cool air conditioning."
- Holy Spirits Tapas Lounge, Scottsdale
This new restaurant and bar to join the Old Town Scottsdale scene serves internationally-inspired small plates and cocktails.
- Press Coffee at SkyWater Apartments, Tempe
"The new shop features clean, modern design by Larry Lake and Associates. Various shades of blue and grey dominate the space. Patchwork slivers of weathered, unfinished wood line the bar. All-in-all, the look of the shop is funky but refined. As an added incentive, Press will be offering room service-style delivery of black coffee to residents of the complex (for a fee)."
- Flower Child, Scottsdale
"The 4,695-square-foot restaurant will be located at Shea Boulevard and 90th Street, in the Scottsdale Fiesta shopping center. Flower Child, the first of which opened last April, has been called a "second cousin" to True Food, Fox's more upscale chain of health restaurants."
- Barrio Queen, Gilbert
After months of waiting, East Valley diners can now check out the second location of Barrio Queen, which opened last month at the Heritage Marketplace in Gilbert.
- Copper Leaf Gastrolounge, Scottsdale
This Scottsdale restaurant, at 4225 North Craftsman Court, serves moonshine, sangria, and a variety of food — in addition to offering live music on Thursday through Saturday night.
- Milagro Grill, Phoenix
In late May, Arcadia's Milargro Grill closed its doors. The restaurant was owned by the Johnson family, the same folks who own Macayo's, a popular local chain of Mexican restaurants.
- Bamboo Club, Scottsdale
Located just off Loop 101 at Shea Boulevard, this pan-Asian restaurant was a popular destination for many years.
- Landmark Restaurant, Mesa
After 34 years in business in a historic home in Mesa, this classic restaurant closed its doors on May 31.
- Frasher's Steakhouse and Lounge, Scottsdale
There's good news and bad news for fans of the 16-year-old Frasher's Steakhouse and Lounge. The bad new is that the restaurant closed its doors last month at the location on Scottsdale Road. The good news is that owner George Frasher has plans to open a new restaurant in Phoenix.
- Bill Johnson's Big Apple, Phoenix
The only remaining location of this longstanding Phoenix restaurant closed its doors for good last month.
- Downtown Deli, Phoenix
After decades of serving sandwiches in downtown Phoenix, this family-owned restaurant closed its doors on May 22. The owners may reopen in a different location.
