Andrew’s New American Opens in Chandler

Citrus Cafe, the long-running French bistro in Chandler (2330 N. Alma School), just reopened two weeks ago after a brief hiatus. Now it’s called Andrew’s New American at Citrus Cafe, and as the name suggests, chef-owner Andrew Paparella is ushering in some changes. Paparella, who purchased the restaurant in May 2007,…

Saturday: Pizza Fusion in Mesa Celebrates Grand Opening

Eat pizza, save the planet. That’s the thinking behind Pizza Fusion, an Earth-friendly pizzeria with franchises across the country. The restaurant serves certified organic food, operates out of LEED-certified buildings, and even uses hybrid cars for pizza deliveries. The newest Pizza Fusion, at 5735 E. McKellips in Mesa, is hosting…

Bombay Spice Makes Way for San Gabriel Mexican Cafe

JNK Concepts, the company behind Bombay Spice, is replacing the 16th Street and Glendale Ave location of the healthful Indian restaurant with another one of its concepts, San Gabriel Mexican Cafe, opening Monday. Currently, Illinois has the only other branch of the eatery. Meanwhile, Bombay Spice will continue to operate at…

Phoenix Phoodies: Takamatsu brings Korean BBQ to AZ

Takamatsu has been dishing out Korean barbecue, sushi, and noodle dishes to Arizonans for more than a decade, with restaurants in Phoenix, Tucson, Chandler and Litchfield Park. Their delicious barbecue has garnered the respect of sports stars, too, like Chan Ho Park, the pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, whose signed…

Pholicious is delicious for West Valley Vietnamese cuisine

Pholicious (7582 W Cactus Rd. Ste. B5, Peoria, 623-773-2020) serves up a lunch special combo that includes the soup of the day, a crispy wonton, all you can drink iced tea, steamed white or fried rice and the main meal of your choice from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for only $6.95.     …

Tomorrow: One Dollar Subs at Glendale Cheba Hut

In the name of welcoming back the students at Glendale Community College, as well as celebrating their first anniversary, the folks at Cheba Hut in Glendale (5925 Olive Ave., Ste. #2, at the southwest corner of 59th Ave. and Olive) are offering a sweet deal on Friday, January 23: four-inch…

Budget Beat: Indulge Burgers & More

It’d been a while since I’d written about a Scottsdale in Budget Beat, so I was due. An acquaintance who lives in S-Dale suggested I hit up an upscale-esque hamburger joint on the southwest corner of Shea Boulevard and Scottsdale Road. When I found out this place had a weekday…

Next Week: Chef Michael DeMaria Opens Heirloom

Chef Michael DeMaria’s Tempe restaurants, Trattoria M and Aroma Market, might be facing delayed openings, but Heirloom, his new spot at North Scottsdale’s DC Ranch, is coming together really quickly. Opening night is next Tuesday, January 27. “We took over the Flo’s space and demoed it a month ago, over…

New in Mesa: Cornish Pasty Co.

Here at New Times, we’ve long been vocal about our love for the Cornish Pasty Co., and how we wished the popular Tempe eatery would serve its savory, flaky English pies all across the Valley. And guess what? They just opened a second location in Mesa last Saturday. The place looks great — bright…

Pullano’s Pizza & Wings Serves Up Happy Hour Pizza For Free

Who says there’s no such thing as a free meal? We found one. On certain days at certain times, Pullano’s Pizza and Wings will give you free pizza with the purchase of any beverage.  This includes alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages — and domestic drafts are only $1.50. Not bad. …

Los Sombreros Revamps Menu

Unforgettable mole poblano, mouthwatering carnitas, and naughty flan drenched in Almendrado tequila were already reason enough to head to Los Sombreros in south Scottsdale, but now the charming Mexican restaurant has a revamped menu with some new additions (old faves remain, of course): Los Sombreros Jan Menu.doc Look for the fig…

Mmm: Mini-Pies at Lisa G

Move over, cupcakes. I’ve found a new tiny dessert to obsess over. Lisa G Cafe & Wine Bar just started serving miniature pies every Friday and Saturday night, available individually or as a “pie flight.” The flavors change frequently, but I recently got a taste of the most recent ones: Nutella with vanilla…

Won Tons at China Chili Make a Cheap, Tasty Lunch

  Sometimes you find an appetizer so good it passes for the main event — and these days (time-crunched, wallet-crashed) that can be a very good thing. Such are the Boiled Won Tons at China Chili near downtown Phoenix. Served in a big bowl, the soup features ten pork dumplings swimming in a…

Pop Culture: Coke, Pepsi and RC Face Off in Cherry Form

It’s easy to forget now, when there are over a dozen flavors of Coca-Cola available, but a bottled cherry cola — as opposed to the sort of cherry colas mixed up traditionally at drugstores and diners — was once a revolution. Like you’d probably expect, Coke came up with it,…

New in Scottsdale: Avalon

After months of delays, including a publicized December opening that just didn’t work out (ah, the restaurant biz), Avalon finally opened its doors for dinner last night. Located in south Scottsdale, adjacent to the 3 Palms Oasis Resort, Avalon serves “contemporary American coastal cuisine.” Executive chef Travis Watson, a Scottsdale…

Who is Eater AZ?

Inquiring minds want to know. I’m one of those people who pays attention to bylines and actually reads those goofy contributor bio pages in the front of magazines. So when I came across a local food blog called Eater AZ — where there are no bylines — the first thing I…

Juju Berri’s Frozen Yogurt is a Tasty Bargain in Glendale

The concept is simple. Pick up a pink or green tub at the door and serve yourself. Mix and match from 10 flavors of soft-serve frozen yogurt, including New York Cheesecake, Blueberry Pomegranate, Green Tea and Kiwi. Next there are more than 30 toppings to choose from including granola, cheesecake bites, gummy bears…

Veggie Boy: The Breadfruit

The Breadfruit’s “Vegan Special” will be Jamaican your mouth water.The Valley isn’t exactly known for its Jamaican culture.Truth be told, there’s a grand total of two restaurants around these parts that serve up cuisine straight from the tiny Caribbean isle that birthed Bob Marley and the Rastafari religion. It’s quite…

Fate No More?

No, the house that Johnny Chu built is not closing, as far as I know. But Fate is definitely in the midst of a name change, now that Chu’s effectively out of the picture. The signs out front have been taken down, and although employees still say “Thank you for…

Waiter Confidential: President Bush at Dick’s Hideaway

Today, the torch passes to a new generation. But some will never forget certain meals enjoyed during the Bush Administration. On October 13, 2004, in an act some might consider tantamount to cannibalism (shame on you), President George Walker Bush dined on turkey-stuffed enchiladas at Dick’s Hideaway in Phoenix. (Dick’s…

Tomorrow: Free Fish Tacos at Rubio’s

So, the Cardinals beat the Eagles, and now Arizona residents get an unexpected perk for seeing their football team head to the Super Bowl: free fish tacos. Tomorrow, January 21, Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill will give you a free taco anytime from 2:30 p.m. to close. Either plan on a…