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Best Rise from the Ashes

Ranch House Grille

Ranch House Grille
Jackie Mercandetti

After a fire closed down this popular, small-town-feel chow house in East Phoenix in 2010, we had to wait nearly a year and a half before the rebuilt restaurant opened its doors again in April. Thankfully, our favorite all-day breakfast grub is just as tasty as ever. Like heapin' helpin's of Southwestern country fried steak smothered in a dreamy spicy pork chili verde, huevos rancheros, and giant biscuits with sausage gravy. Plus, along with the restaurant's more spacious interior, the menu now includes chicken and waffles — which makes its transformation all the more sugary-sweet.

Best Restaurant for Kids

China Magic Noodle House

China Magic Noodle House
Lauren Saria

If you're looking for dinner and a show — both fit for the tiniest king — look no further than China Magic Noodle House. From the name (magic!) to the menu (a pile of plain noodles for Junior, something hot and spicy for you) to the price (very affordable) to the ambiance (not much — it's noisy and the furnishings are spare), this is the perfect place for your pint-size foodie. The dishes are delicious; and where else in town can you watch your noodles being made on the spot? The kids will crowd around a tiny window to watch an expert turn a pile of dough into the tastiest noodles they've ever slurped. And no one will mind if you do a little slurping (and gawking) yourself. Like we said, magic.

Best Romantic Dinner

Quiessence Restaurant & Wine Bar

Quiessence Restaurant
Jackie Mercandetti Photo

Sure, it was named one of OpenTable.com's Most Romantic Restaurants in the United States this year, and in 2011, it got a nod for the same thing by Travel + Leisure magazine, but that recent scuttle isn't news to us — for years, we've known this farmhouse turned eatery, nestled in the historic Farm at South Mountain, is a love fest both in setting and cuisine. In a charming backdrop of pecan trees, organic gardens, and rural tranquility, chef Greg LaPrad embraces the idea of local, seasonal food with a constantly evolving menu — and many of the ingredients are harvested at Maya's Farm next door. Whether you're whispering sweet nothings to a new lover between sips of a Peach Old Fashioned or glass of Arizona wine under the stars, or holding hands with your soulmate over a dish of dreamy homemade pasta in front of a crackling fire, this restaurant and wine bar's got amore written all over it.

Best View

Different Pointe of View

Different Pointe of View
Patricia Escarcega

Drive up the winding road to the top of Tapatio Cliffs Resort and prepare to be wowed by the 180-degree views from the window-wrapped restaurant and expansive Cliffside patio. Cruise up just before dusk to catch an amazing sunset view or go for a nightcap and get lost staring at the city lights below. The food and service are top-notch — they wouldn't have been given the AAA Four Star Diamond Award for the past 21 consecutive years if they weren't serving up some of the best food with the best views in Phoenix. Make sure you try the lobster bisque — it's one of the best soups in town.

Best Patio Dining

Lon's at the Hermosa

Lon's at the Hermosa
Jackie Mercandetti

One eyeful of the surroundings of this fine-dining establishment at The Hermosa Inn, the luxury boutique hotel in Paradise Valley known for its rich history and 1930s-era architecture, and it's a no-brainer as to what may once have inspired the restaurant's namesake, legendary artist Lon Megargee. Lon's enchanting, lushly planted patio sits under blue skies by day and flickers with the flames of its adobe fireplace come starry nightfall. And where better than this outdoor desert hideaway to enjoy chef Jeremy Pacheco's artful American cuisine, a glass of wine, or better yet, a cutting-edge cocktail or two created by famed mixologist Travis Nass. Another Smoked Tea Shandy? Why, of course.

Best Patio Dining in the Summer

Hillstone

Hillstone
Jackie Mercandetti

Not news: Al fresco dining in the Valley October through May is sublime; al fresco dining in the Valley June through September is hell. Until now, thanks to this Camelback Corridor restaurant (formerly Houston's in the Esplanade complex until it moved down the street and changed its name in 2011). Grab a cushy seat on the spacious patio (no misters, thank goodness), a cold libation, and let the cooling begin with air-conditioners built into the tables. Give it a couple of minutes, but you'll be chilling soon enough. The system uses no CFC refrigerants, adds no moisture to air, and uses 90 percent less energy than standard air conditioners. So how does it work? Beats us, but it certainly makes patio dining a viable option during a season when most of us can't stand to be outdoors for any more time than is absolutely necessary.

Best Summer Dish

The Caribbean Salad at Pita Jungle

Pita Jungle
Timur Guseynov

When it's 116 degrees out, we barely can muster up the strength to eat, let alone find the courage to venture out of our air-conditioned homes to find food. But one mention of Pita Jungle's Caribbean Salad and we're out the door in a heartbeat. This super-chill salad is made of big chunks of pineapple, watermelon, strawberries, bananas, grapes, and whatever else may be in season at that moment. The giant mix of fruit is tossed in a light and tangy strawberry vinaigrette and finished off with a generous dusting of shredded coconut. It's about the only thing we want to eat when the temperatures soar, and it's big enough to share, so we can bring a chatty friend and work our way out of our summertime funk.

Best Outdoor Dining

House of Tricks

House of Tricks
Timur Guseynov

Bob and Robin Trick opened their charming restaurant in 1987. The restored 1920s cottage that houses about a dozen tables is adorable, but the real draw to this Tempe oasis is the brick patio shaded by a thick canopy of mature trees and dotted with pots of overflowing ferns and flowers. If the outdoor dining area doesn't win your heart, executive chef Kelley Fletcher's signature dishes and the eatery's award-winning wine list will. Be sure to try the mussels on a cool fall night under the stars or stop by for a relaxing lunch with an unforgettable Asian barbecue pork tenderloin banh mi.

Best Restaurant with a Drive-Thru

D'Lish Drive-Thru Tempe

Normally, when we think "drive-thru," we're not thinking healthy, but D'Lish has fixed this by serving healthy sandwiches, salads, wraps, and soups out of their convenient drive-up window. Swing by and grab a speedy breakfast sandwich, one of their insanely popular morning buzz smoothies with peanut butter, chocolate and espresso, the sought-after turkey club with fresh avocado, or a tasty bowl of their homemade baja chicken soup. Be prepared for a little longer wait when ASU's in session — it's one of the few spots near campus with healthy eats.

Best Neighborhood Breakfast, Downtown Phoenix

Astor House

Astor House: Coronado 'Cue & Southern Speakeasy

We love the Coronado District's Tuck Shop. And now, when it comes to tasty a.m. eats, we love its new sister restaurant and next-door neighbor, Astor House, just as much. The little counter-service eatery in a renovated home is just as laid-back and approachably cool as the Tuck, making it perfect for enjoying a tidy selection of sweet and savory breakfast offerings including Biscuits & Grillades (Southern beef gravy over two buttermilk biscuits), Red Flannel Hash (beet, potato, and root vegetables with egg), and Apple Boxty (grated apple and potato pancakes with a healthy dollop of mascarpone). Plus, there's fresh-squeezed OJ, coffee, café and chicory au lait, and Japanese cold-brewed coffee from a machine described as "the science project-looking thing." Oh, Astor, you're adorable.

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Phoenix New Times 10.21.21

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