It’s deja vu at downtown Chandler’s Siracha Lounge, which has closed its doors for the second time in its brief existence. Last spring, it was shut down just a few months after opening, when its liquor license was yanked after a few underaged partygoers at an ASU fraternity event there failed breathalyzer tests. The license was…

The new year is the perfect occasion for launching a new monthly cocktail party at J&G Steakhouse, where the gorgeous patio on top of The Phoenician is a prime spot to be a moon worshipper. That’s right, you can howl at the full moon in style at the restaurant’s Full Moon…

This is a simple case of before and after. Here’s the signage at Biltmore Fashion Park for the restaurant space that was slated to become Rojo Mexican Grill, the second location of a Mexican joint that opened last August in Minneapolis. Three months ago, it looked like this: It turns…

Matt Diamond, who co-owns the happening CenPho ale house The Main Ingredient with his gracious wife Courtney,  tells me that today marks the restaurant’s first year in business. To celebrate, there’s an all-day, all-night happy hour going on as we speak, and anyone who comes in today will be entered into a…

A little more than a year ago, Dos Diablos took over the space that used to be Mancuso’s at the Summit, but it turns out that upscale Mexican food wasn’t the right fit for that North Scottsdale location, and there was some chef turnover. According to the restaurant’s website, it…

It was under wraps at first, but now the word is official. Petite Maison chef-owner James Porter’s new Old Town Scottsdale barbecue joint — Big Earl’s BBQ, opening later this month — has a deal with Desert Smoke BBQ’s Tony Morales to provide all of the restaurant’s sauces and spice rubs.”Our…

Years ago, web developer Rebecca Golden saw a space at 32nd Street and Shea that she knew would be perfect for the cafe of her dreams.”I know that neighborhood, and there wasn’t a place to go and hang out,” she says.As soon as it was abandoned by its former tenant,…

It was just a month ago that I reported on Pop the Soda Shop’s move out of its longtime retail storefront in Scottsdale — where it stocked all kinds of craft soda and old-timey favorites like Moxie — to a new home base at The Duce, the funky Downtown warehouse at Central and Lincoln that…

It’s fascinating to see how things play out on Twitter, and this past weekend, one restaurant owner’s whim generated a surprising amount of excitement in a very short amount of time.Yesterday afternoon, FnB’s Pavle Milic — who deserves a “Best of Phoenix” award for his innate people skills — noticed he…

Just a month short of its second anniversary, PastaBar closed for business last week.Located next to the ASU Downtown campus, in the same building that houses The Turf Pub and Sens Sake, the restaurant was known for its rustic Italian food (including luscious handmade pastas) and casual urban vibe.Former Sassi…

Capitalizing on the hungry Downtown lunch crowd, Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches franchise just opened its newest Valley at CityScape on Friday.The Illinois-based restaurant is known for its subs and hefty sandwiches, like the Bootlegger Club with roast beef, turkey, mayo, lettuce and tomato, and is the third eatery to open at the…

Last week, I was thrilled to share the tidbit about The Pink Pony reopening soon. Now, proprietor Tom Cook tells me there’s an opening date: February 12, the same day as Parada del Sol. The bar will be open to the public that day, while the restaurant will host invited…

Was there too much coffee competition in uptown Phoenix? Was the strip mall location wrong? Did people just not get the live video DJ concept? Or was that name too much of a mouthful?Whatever the reason, at least we know this much: Dolce Espresso Video Coffee Bar is closed.Brothers Cesar and…

I think I’d like to stop in soon for a glass of wine at TK’s Urban Tavern, which opens to the public tonight at the Scottsdale Quarter (and has really been on a roll this week, with three other openings, and a closing. Whew!). “People are doing backflips when they see our prices”…

​After keeping a low profile since he left his longtime chef position at Cowboy Ciao in 2009 — with the exception of his solo appearance at last spring’s Devoured Culinary Classic — this weekend Bernie Kantak returns to Old Town Scottsdale with the launch of his very own restaurant, Citizen Public…

Java junkies in the Biltmore area now have a stylin’ new spot to get their daily brew. I just got word from the folks at Biltmore Fashion Park that Royal Coffee Bar is now up and running at the shopping center.It’s the second location for architect Hayes McNeil’s coffee business, which…

The other day, I wondered whether Stan’s Metro Deli would really reopen. Unfortunately, this new sign in the window at the Mill Avenue restaurant answers that question…

I just got word that Check, Please! — the new Valley-centric food review show hosted by Renegade Canteen chef and James Beard Award-winner Robert McGrath — will not air at its regularly scheduled time tonight, in order for PBS Channel 8 to cover President Obama’s visit to Tucson.Tonight’s episode, which…

It really is ironic. Just as Scottsdale Quarter is finally ushering in a slew of new restaurants this week (among them, Tanzy, Narcisse, Parc Central, and TK’s Tavern), one of the first places to open at the upscale North Scottsdale shopping complex is about to close its doors. I just got confirmation…

Brandon Crouser has left the restaurant to take the executive chef position at Avalon, in South Scottsdale. He started the new gig a week ago.Before opening Crudo, Crouser (pictured at left) was the chef at creative BYOB Atlas Bistro, and says he’s already changed the menu at Avalon to reflect…