Tomaso Maggiore Owner, Executive chef Tomaso’s www.tomasos.com Vivo Ristorante www.vivoaz.com Tomaso Maggiore opened his 12th Valley restaurant, a shiny new Italian spot, in a trendy Scottsdale strip mall earlier this fall. But while the restaurant, with its more affordable menu and relaxed atmosphere, fits well in current times, its owner…

Rumors about the possible closure of Songbird Coffee & Tea House have been flying around for a while now. The Roosevelt Row coffee shop has been located inside the monOrchid gallery for the past two years. Now, owners Jonathan and Erin Carroll have announced their plans for the future. The…

When a new spot opens in town, we can’t wait to check it out — and let you know our initial impressions, share a few photos, and dish about some menu items. First Taste, as the name implies, is not a full-blown review, but instead a peek inside restaurants that…

After two years of serving craft brews and bites to the north Scottsdale neighborhood, Fate Brewing Company is ready to expand. According to a post on the brewery’s Facebook page, Fate Brewing Company plans to open a an even larger second location in south Scottsdale sometime next year. Owner and…

When a new spot opens in town, we can’t wait to check it out — and let you know our initial impressions, share a few photos, and dish about some menu items. First Taste, as the name implies, is not a full-blown review, but instead a peek inside restaurants that…

Last month, eight of Valley dining spots failed to pass county health inspections, and though some of the violations seem harmless enough, others might have you squirming in your seat. Let’s put it this way, you won’t catch us at the spot where the health inspector spotted several live and…

We’re going to need a moment to get over this one, folks. Because while there are a number of solid options for Chinese cuisine around town, there was only one place where you could pay $8 for an excellent and sizable portion of succulent roasted duck. And unfortunately for us…

Festiv-Ale Saturday, December 6 Beer lovers looking to support a good cause this weekend can head to the Icehouse in downtown Phoenix for Fetiv-Ale, a beer tasting event to raise money for the non-profit Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. General admission to the event costs $75 and includes a 4 oz. souvenir…

If there’s one lesson to be learned from last month’s best bites, it’s that a dish doesn’t have to be big to make a lasting impression. Whether we’re talking about a side plate, an appetizer, or a simple pastry, sometimes it’s the smallest morsels that make the most powerful memories…

Wine lovers looking for interesting buys and a good deal will have a lot to appreciate about a wine membership program launched by a familiar local wine shop. Red Goat Wine, which operates as a division of AZ Wine Merchants, will give members access to a curated list of wines…

Tempe residents with a soft spot for pancakes and coffee will be happy to hear that the wait is almost over for the newest location of Snooze, an A.M. Eatery. The second Valley location of the Denver-based chain will open its doors next week on Wednesday, December 10. Snooze fans…

Last month we welcomed quite a few new dining spots into the local dining scene. The newcomers include a second restaurant from Michael Babcock and Jenn Robinson (Welcome Diner) and a new restaurant concept from chef Silvana Salcido Esparza. In November we also said good-bye to a few of our…