Restaurants

You haven’t lived until you’ve eaten a classic Tex-Mex puffy taco.

Did you wait until the last minute to plan something for dear old Dad? Fear not, these three restaurants have been signed-off on by our restaurant critic, thus increasing your odds of having a great meal, whether you take Daddy out for brunch, lunch, or dinner.

The James Beard Foundation is hosting a national contest that invites chefs from around the country to create a more sustainable burger, composed of at least 25 percent chopped mushroom in place of meat. This year there are four Arizona restaurants in the competition: Charro Steak and Lindy’s on 4th from Tuscon, and two Goodyear contestants, Eagle’s Nest and Toscana’s.

State laws indicates that Arthur Bachelier’s felony conviction for having sex with a minor in 2013 would prohibit the restaurant from receiving a liquor license. Last month, police took him back to jail.

This year an all-star lineup of 10 mixologists and nearly two dozen sweets makers will be participating and flexing their creative culinary muscles. Though you probably already known many of  them from their posts at top bars, restaurants, and sweet shops, but we wanted to get to the know these talented dudes a bit better before meeting them face to face at the event on June 17.

A little taqueria nearby the Phoenix Children’s Hospital takes al pastor very seriously.

Either through the food, the atmosphere, or the connection to local culture, these restaurants all say something about the surrounding landscape. Scattered all over the Grand Canyon State, these old school restaurants have become local Arizona icons.

Heng’s Kitchen is a small counter-service Chinese restaurant tucked into a corner of the food court at Mekong Plaza in Mesa. It might be the least flashy restaurant at Mekong, but it offers an extensive menu of traditional Chinese dishes (more than 100 at last count), including a pretty broad repertoire of Shanghainese and Sichuan specialties you’d be hard pressed to find elsewhere in the Valley.

This family-owned taqueria is run by perfectionists. The made-to-order dishes may take a little time, but the results, from killer buche tacos to fresh-made corn tortillas, are totally worth it.

Joe’s Tacos is new to Phoenix, only open since the tail end of 2016, but it’s made a splash with a simple menu featuring a signature taco wrapped in crispy, caramelized cheese.

There are certain foods and drinks that are Phoenician to their cores. Some were born here, some contain unusual desert ingredients only found here, and others simply have some long-standing history with the Valley. All of them make for idyllic weekend meals, whether leisurely sipped at the picturesque Biltmore or eaten out of hand while strolling through Scottsdale.

The flurry of restaurant openings across the Valley continues this week with the launch of Carolina’s Mexican Food in Mesa, Pita Jungle in Queen Creek, When in Rome in Scottsdale, Wine & Design in North Scottsdale, and The Organic Bean Cafe in downtown Mesa.

With only two ingredients, it’s hard to find a simpler cocktail than the Kir, but did you know that there are a host of variations? It’s enough to keep you busy all summer.

Sips & Sweets 2017 is right around the corner. Before the event, get to know a gourmet caramel maker, two doughnut masters, a high-profile Marriott pastry chef, chocolate gurus, and one of Phoenix’s best bartenders, before meeting them in person on June 17.

Pizza People Pub is shuttering on Sunday and The Original Wineburger is moving at the end of the month.

Sips & Sweets 2017 is a mere two weeks away (get your tickets here at a discounted rate of $15 per ticket from now through Saturday, while supplies last), so in case you aren’t excited enough already for June 17, we wanted to introduce you to a few of the badass babes flexing their drink-slinging, pastry-baking, confection-making skills.

Taquería El Chino is a Sonoran-style taquería serving rib-eye carne asada and a dozen barbacoas in Phoenix.

Posh Restaurant in Scottsdale closes after eight years. Joshua Hebert plans to replace it with Chef’s Lounge this summer.

The new El Panzon y Frida brings a refined, playful late night dining option to Old Town Scottsdale

It was not a good month for Filiberto’s. Three locations of the restaurant showed up on May’s D list — earning a multitude of health inspection violations.

Highly refined, modern Sonoran cuisine comes as a welcome surprise at Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen in the Andaz Resort, Scottsdale.