By Jonathan McNamara It was a day of firsts. We won’t lie. There are many perks to working at a newspaper, but few stack up to receiving a beer in the mail for the first time (subtle hint to other brewers). Yet not only was this our first time to…
By Michele Laudig Consider this the yin to my yang post about new restaurants yesterday. One corner of Mill Avenue is a little darker these days, since Dragonfly Vietnamese Kitchen and Coconut Club Bar & Grill both closed their doors two weeks ago. On the upside, Dragonfly’s original location in…
America’s carne asada tacos: Finely chopped everything. By Jay Bennett My new favorite place to get a cheap, quick, but good lunch is America’s Taco Shop, on Seventh Street north of McDowell. The new taquería, which has been open for about a month, joins a pretty amazing stretch along Seventh…
Early-afternoon sun shines intensely on the sleepy vineyard, where row after row of grape-laden vines run down the slope of the valley, like deep emerald waves in a leafy sea. You can’t easily see the fat clusters of ripe grapes, but they’re there, hanging on every rung in the shadows…
The irony isn’t lost on me. I make no secret of my support for downtown Phoenix. I live here because I want to be close to the action — close to nightlife, shopping, art, and, especially, cool restaurants. I want to see the place thrive. So watch me kick myself…
By Martin Cizmar Few sodas divide like Faygo. The Detroit soda is maligned by many because it’s cheap, super sweet and associated with Insane Clown Posse-loving Juggalos. On the other hand it’s beloved because it’s cheap, super sweet, and also associated with happy Midwestern childhoods spent riding bikes to the…
By Michele Laudig Economy be damned, somebody’s still got the confidence to open their doors! Now hopefully customers will keep coming out to spend some dough. (Me? I’d subsist on pretzels if it meant I could still eat foie gras.) Anyway, I just got a call from the ever-charming Maurizio…
Cyclo is so freakin’ cheery — doesn’t this wall just make you grin? By Sarah Fenske I have these fabulously cool neighbors. I know, I know, it’s Phoenix, and no one is supposed to know their neighbors. But Daniel and Bobby both moved here from farflung places (Argentina for Daniel,…
By Benjamin Leatherman The best falafel I’ve ever tasted. No seriously, this time I mean it…really. Last month I sang the praises of Phoenicia Cafe in Tempe, particularly about the joint’s falafel. After supping on its version of the Middle Eastern favorite of gound chickpeas and eggplant fashioned into silver…
By Michele Laudig Here’s a cute New York Times story I couldn’t resist sharing, about a 12-year-old who aspires to be a restaurant critic. This got me thinking about what kinds of random things in our childhoods lead us to where we are as adults. What were you doing at…
By Michele Laudig Here’s a real head-scratcher. The seemingly successful Soma Cafe, at Tatum and Shea, unexpectedly closed its doors over the weekend. According to one of my colleagues (who was a Soma regular to the point that it was like his second office), there was a note on the…
By Michele Laudig Dear Chow Bella readers, I hope you check out this week’s cover story (written by yours truly), where you’ll get to read all about the great wines that Eric Glomski and Maynard James Keenan (yes, the singer from Tool) are making up in Jerome and Cornville with…
By Eddie Matney Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake…
By Sloane Burwell Jeff Fischer isn’t your ordinary barista. After 20 years in the hospitality industry, he and his wife took ownership of Lux Coffee Bar, so that his wife could pursue her life’s dream of owning a coffee shop. Under his watchful eye and warm smile, Lux has emerged…
By Jonathan McNamara They’ll put just about anything in beer these days. We’ve already seen red rice, juniper berries and pumpkin, but I never counted on popping open a cold bottle of chocolate beer. Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock comes in a bottled decorated with an ornate silver label. As I…
South by Southwest: Some good flavors going on in here. By Jay Bennett Looking for a cheap and quick breakfast that’s a couple steps in quality above McDonald’s, Jack in the Box, or Carl’s Jr.? The clean and inviting Acacia Cafe, on Indian School Road and 37th Street, likely will…
There are plenty of places to get a gorgeous piece of USDA Prime meat in this town, but BLT Steak at Camelback Inn satisfies more than just carnivorous cravings. And for that, it really raises the bar. I won’t name names, but at some of Phoenix’s other high-end steakhouses —…
By Benjamin Leatherman The Vegetarian House in east Phoenix: part restaurant, part temple. (Courtesy of VegGuide). Everybody deserves a second chance. Case in point: In 1999, my sister — who was at the time a hardcore vegetarian — treated me to dinner at the Vegetarian House (3239 East Indian School…
By Amy Silverman A bottle of Excedrin was improperly stored at Sluggo’s Sports Grill in Mesa — one of many things the restaurant inspectors noted after a recent visit. I’m guessing Sluggo had some headache when he read the inspection report. The raw eggs were stored above the watermelon. Dishwashing…
By Michele Laudig Admit it, you can’t get enough of Phoenix Ranch Market (you’re hooked on those aguas frescas, right?). Well, the people behind it are on to you. In fact, they’re opening their fifth Phoenix location tomorrow, November 12. The doors will open at 11 a.m. at 3223 W…
By Michele Laudig Yes, it really is a reflection of the tough times. I just got word that after six and a half years in business, Malee’s Thai Bistro offically closed its Desert Ridge location. Last Wednesday was its last day. According to owner Deirdre Pain, the Desert Ridge Malee’s…
By Eddie Matney Chicago Hamburger Co. on Indian School Road. I’m addicted. The upside: this place is delicious. The downside: they’re not cheap, and you might have to park on 38th street. I keep ordering the hot dog and french fries, and this place proves that just because a joint…
