in Central Phoenix- Restaurants Guide

Restaurants Guide

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Restaurants Guide (critics' picks are listed first)				Reset Search


Aiello's Fine Italian Dining				4 User Reviews
5202 N. Central Ave.	Italian	$$$, $$$$	Central Phoenix
With crisp white tablecloths and a handsome granite bar, Joe and Myrah Aiello’s namesake restaurant feels like a special occasion place, except that it’s worthy of frequent visits. For one thing, they’ll welcome you like a regular, and the prices are quite accessible. Highlights... More >>

Barrio Cafe				3 User Reviews
2814 N. 16th St.	Contemporary, Mexican	$$, $$$	Central Phoenix
Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza brings magic to this art-filled hole-in-the-wall, with regional specialties of central-southern Mexico. For extra impact, she adds French accents, with marvelous results. Dishes change monthly, but highlights include posole verde, spinach-crab-mushroom-cheese crepes,... More >>

The Breadfruit				3 User Reviews
108 E. Pierce St.	Caribbean	$, $$	Central Phoenix
The Breadfruit, a cheerful, casual Jamaican restaurant, fits right in with other independent eateries that have cropped up on the sleepy periphery of downtown’s bustling core. Owner Dwayne Allen, originally from Jamaica, considers the restaurant an extension of his kitchen at home,... More >>

Carolina's Mexican Food				1 User Reviews
1202 E. Mohave St.	Mexican	$$, $$$	Central Phoenix
A Valley legend since 1968, Carolina's has a cult following for its out-of-this-world homemade tortillas. But folks from all walks of life line up at the bare-bones (no A/C) shop to gorge on green corn tamales, enchiladas, red machaca burros and, on weekends, menudo. Breakfast burros are another... More >>

Cherryblossom Noodle Cafe				2 User Reviews
914 E. Camelback Rd.	Italian, Japanese, Sushi	$$, $$$	Central Phoenix
Homey, unpretentious Japanese noodle shop that never disappoints and is sure to leave you as sated as a sumo wrestler at an all-you-can-eat steak house. Go for the specials, like the Cajun-fried shrimp with the crunchy heads still on the bodies or the small, whole squid in a tomato-anchovy... More >>

Cibo Urban Wine Cafe & Pizzeria				1 User Reviews
603 N. Fifth Ave.	Italian, Pizza	$$, $$$	Central Phoenix
Like pizza but want to take your date to someplace cool so she won’t think you’re a cheapskate with all the class of Tommy Lee in college? Then Cibo may just be for you. Its 12-inch pies are veritable works of art, produced by Italian pizza maestro Guido Saccone, who earned his stripes... More >>

CityBakery				1 User Reviews
600 East Washington St.	American, Bakery, Breakfast	$$	Central Phoenix
Tucked into downtown's Arizona Science Center, City Bakery is a stylish outpost of Scottsdale’s Arcadia Farms, which also does a brisk business in feeding visitors to the Phoenix Art Museum and The Heard Museum. Here, the edible attractions include gourmet salads (we’re hooked on the... More >>

Da Vang				Write a Review
4538 N. 19th Ave.	Vietnamese	$, $$	Central Phoenix
Among people who love real-deal Vietnamese food, Da Vang has quite the following. It’s been around for 18 years and is owned by the Ly family. The vibe is friendly and seat-yourself casual, and service is swift. With 79 items, the menu seems sprawling, but just look at the common... More >>

Durant's				3 User Reviews
2611 N. Central Ave.	American, Seafood, Steak House	$$$, $$$$	Central Phoenix
The first and last word in old-school cool. For more than half a century, the house Jack Durant built has served up class by the barrelful as well as classics like sautéed chicken livers, oysters Rockefeller, lamb chops with mint jelly, and Delmonico steaks, to name a few. Serious... More >>

Fuego Bistro				Write a Review
713 E. Palo Verde Drive	Cuban, South American, Southwestern	$$, $$$$	Central Phoenix
Tucked away in the courtyard of Fountain Court, behind Apollo’s Lounge on Seventh Street, Fuego Bistro is one of the best-hidden spots in central Phoenix. It’s tiny, too (there are only seven tables inside and a handful out on the patio) so it helps to call ahead. Though some of the... More >>

Gallo Blanco Cafe				1 User Reviews
401 W. Clarendon Ave.	Cafe, Contemporary, Mexican	$$, $$$	Central Phoenix
The Mexico City-style food at Gallo Blanco, the Clarendon�s in-house eatery, is casual and unpretentious, with dirt-cheap prices to match. What isn�t obvious until you taste it, though, is the thoughtful preparation and great ingredients that make it so addicting. Chef-owner Doug Robson�s big on... More >>

Hana Japanese Eatery				1 User Reviews
5524 North Seventh Avenue	Japanese, Sushi	$$	Central Phoenix
The sushi at this humble neighborhood eatery is quite impressive -- think oversized slabs of extremely fresh aji, silky sake, and buttery hamachi, elegantly draped over compact rice balls. But the rest of the menu shines as well, from salads with homemade dressings and tender clams steamed in... More >>

Hanny's				Write a Review
40 N. 1st St.	American, Pizza	$$	Central Phoenix
Like its stark International Style building façade, Hanny’s all-day menu is streamlined, featuring just a handful of starters, pizzas, sandwiches, and salads. It’s well-crafted, affordable fare that’s perfect for a light lunch, an informal dinner, a happy hour snack, or a... More >>

La Piccola Cucina				Write a Review
2241 N. 7th St.	Italian	$$	Central Phoenix
Out of all the mom-and-pop spots in town, how often do you literally get to meet mom and pop? At La Piccola Cucina, you’ll likely encounter gregarious owner Andy Pappas, who might belt out a few lines of opera as he makes your espresso, and his wife Debbie, a retired flight... More >>

Lo Lo's Chicken & Waffles				4 User Reviews
10 W. Yuma St.	Breakfast, Soul Food, Southern	$, $$	Central Phoenix
Fried chicken simply doesn't get any better than this, unless it's paired with waffles. Everything on the soul food menu is homemade and completely addictive, with luscious catfish, red snapper, omelets, greens, mac 'n' cheese, and red velvet cake. Leave the diet at the door. More >>

Lola Tapas				Write a Review
800 E. Camelback Rd.	Spanish, Wine Bar	$$$	Central Phoenix
Beautiful little tapas restaurant from Daniel and Felicia Ruiz Wayne, the people who brought us Lux Coffeebar on Central Avenue. Since selling their java joint, they’ve devoted themselves to Spanish cuisine and culture with as much energy as they once put into their espresso. The result is... More >>

Maizie’s Café & Bistro				1 User Reviews
4750 N. Central Ave.	American	$$, $$$	Central Phoenix
Family-owned Maizie’s Café & Bistro is a great example of the new wave of eateries that have opened up along the light-rail path, a stylish, urban neighborhood joint that’s friendly and down to earth. The accessible American menu, available all day, features shareable... More >>

Matt's Big Breakfast				3 User Reviews
801 N. 1st St.	American, Breakfast, Brunch, Diner	$, $$	Central Phoenix
This small, crowded breakfast nook has a big, hungry following. Owner Matt Pool’s usually there, slinging a pitcher of orange juice and greeting people who come through the door. The day’s specials are scribbled on a chalkboard behind the counter, where people sit down to a good cup of... More >>

Mrs. White's Golden Rule Cafe				Write a Review
808 E. Jefferson St.	Soul Food, Southern	$$	Central Phoenix
Mrs. White’s is an institution when it comes to soul food in Phoenix. Décor is minimal, with the menu written on the walls, yet there’s plenty of atmosphere. Just like visiting a small soul food eatery in the Deep South, with excellent catfish, smothered chicken, oxtails,... More >>

Nine 05				Write a Review
905 N. 4th St.	Asian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai	$$$, $$$$	Central Phoenix
There�s a lot to love on the menu at Nine\|05 � flavors of Hong Kong, Tokyo, Thailand, and beyond, served with contemporary sophistication. Chef-owner Matt Carter (of Scottsdale�s Zinc Bistro and The Mission) and chef de cuisine Jay Bogsinske have created a hip, energetic hangout in the... More >>

Pane Bianco				Write a Review
4404 N. Central Ave.	American, Bakery, California, Health, Vegetarian	$, $$	Central Phoenix
Celeb chef Chris Bianco has worked his magic again, this time concentrating on a tiny menu of sandwiches and salads. Fare is takeout only, and it’s expensive, but it’s worth the work for farmers-market-fresh quality. Anything with homemade mozzarella is a marvel. More >>

PastaBAR				Write a Review
705 N 1st St. Suite 110	Italian	$$$	Central Phoenix

Persian Garden Cafe				2 User Reviews
1335 W. Thomas Rd.	Greek, Mediterranean, Persian	$$, $$$	Central Phoenix
This is the place to go for stunning Persian, Mediterranean, vegetarian, and vegan cuisine. Herbs and spices take center stage, adding spark, and sometimes shock, to stir-fries, stews, pastas, and chicken, fish and lamb dishes. Fresh and healthful is king at this low-cost cafe. More >>

Phoenix Ranch Market				1 User Reviews
1602 E. Roosevelt St.	Bakery, Grocery, Market, Mexican	$, $$	Central Phoenix
The biggest Ranch Market to date in Arizona, with about 53,000 square feet of Mexican foodstuffs in one space. This blockbuster supermercado boasts its own food court, a pescadería with a mariscos stand at which to eat ceviche, a tortillería pumping out tortillas nonstop, an agua... More >>

Pizza A Metro				2 User Reviews
2336 W. Thomas Rd.	Italian, Pizza	$$	Central Phoenix
A scrumptious menu, cute atmosphere, and shockingly reasonable prices are what make tiny, 20-seat Pizza A Metro -- practically hidden in plain view, next to a Circle K -- one of the best budget gourmet finds in the Valley. Owner Maurizio Benforte, a native of Sorrento, Italy, serves up... More >>