It was always an ambitious plan. And after less than a year of business, it seems chef and owner Marco DiSanto’s plan to put two restaurants under one roof, one serving pasta and the other specializing in Japanese ramen, wasn’t just ambitious, but overly so. That’s why DiSanto’s taken the dual-concept restaurant, Otakumen and…
Since opening in 2001, Papago Brewing Company has become one of the Valley’s best-known breweries —thanks in no small part to the popularity of its best-selling Papago Orange Blossom mandarin wheat beer. But the brewery’s location in the Papago Plaza Shopping Center has made brewing on-site all but impossible, which is why…
Do you have your tickets yet? Well, if not, you’d better act fast, because New Times’ 17th annual Best of Phoenix A’Fare is just around the corner, and we have a feeling it’s going to be good. This year’s celebration will be held on Friday, October 7, at The Westin Kierland…
Sorry, Starbucks fans, but you’ve been had. At least, you have if you thought America’s most famous coffee company was really planning to open the “world’s biggest Starbucks” in downtown Phoenix. The rumor is the result of a fake AP news story, which first appeared online last week. Phoenix resident and hoax…
The Guilty Pleasure: The Ultimate Sundae Where to Get It: Sweet Republic Price: $12.75 What it Really Costs: Pretty much every last drop of your self-control. The phrase “just one more spoonful” is a lie you will tell yourself, over and over, as you shovel this rich, melty foodstuff into your…
Earlier this year, the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown made quite the splash with Melinda’s Alley, a speakeasy-inspired bar housed in the basement of the hotel. Well, you can still get your red light on at that underground destination, but on Monday the hotel will introduce a new pop-up drinking spot with yet…
When a new spot opens in town, we can’t wait to check it out — and let you know our initial impressions, share a few photos, and dish about some menu items. First Taste, as the name implies, is not a full-blown review, but instead a peek inside restaurants that…
Set on the main drag in Cave Creek, the Buffalo Chip Saloon is a western dance hall, outdoor rodeo arena, music venue, and restaurant — a destination for those seeking a taste of the Old West in metro Phoenix. At least, it was until last fall when the saloon and…
More than 20 new breweries have popped up around metro Phoenix in the past three years, and the local roster of neighborhood tasting rooms and brewpubs only gets longer with each passing season. We are living in what might be the golden age of craft beer in metro Phoenix, and…
It’s been more than two years since local restaurateur Sam Fox brought “the greatest neighborhood restaurant” to south side of Camelback Road just east of 44th Street. When it debuted in early 2012, The Henry (and the coffee shop inside the restaurant) represented the 14th and 15th concepts to come from…
Around these parts, we’re big fans of low-price, high-quality tacos. And while we’ve already shared some of our favorite brick-and-mortar spots for a cheap taco fix, we also know there are great eats to be had at the many food trucks that frequent Central Phoenix at night. These taco trucks…
The Guilty Pleasure: Cold Brew Coffee Milk Where to Get It: Currently available at various grocery stores around metro Phoenix, and the Danzeisen Dairy creamery store in Laveen. Price: $3.99 for a half-gallon, plus $2.00 deposit What it Really Costs: Some serious stomach bloat, if you’re lactose-intolerant. Over the past…
Located on the northeast corner of Union Hills Drive and 19th Avenue in Phoenix, Om Bistro is a casual Indian restaurant with a menu that offers everything from a Bombay sandwich to samosas to bhel puri. As you approach the entrance, the sounds of Bollywood melodies leak through the doors, and whispers of…
It’s hard to get a small business off the ground, but a new program from Arizona State University can help. Called Prepped, the 10-week program targets would-be food business owners — as in, folks looking to start a food truck, sell a product at local farmers markets, or launch a…
Craft beer fan? Tiki bar enthusiast? We have good news for you. August saw the opening of a new brewery in Tempe and a craft beer spot in Chandler. Plus, a tiki-themed bar is now open in the bay of an old auto shop under Sip Coffee & Beer Garage…
Tempe beer lovers have one less place to enjoy a pint. Almost exactly four years after opening its doors at 526 South Mill Avenue in Tempe, World of Beer has shuttered. The bar was known for its extensive selection of brews, including 58 rotating beers on tap and more than 500 beers…
In the words of Julia Child, perhaps the most famous home cook ever, “No one is born a great cook; one learns by doing.” So, who better to ask for cooking tips than people who spend most of their waking hours inside professional kitchens? From buying good knives to prepping…
Utah-based sandwich chain Even Stevens Sandwiches will open three locations around metro Phoenix this fall. The sandwich shop, which currently has locations in Utah and Idaho, is known for its buy-one-donate-one model (think Toms shoes, but with sandwiches), meaning that for every sandwich sold at its Arizona stores, the company…
Later this year, one of the most famous Italian chefs in the country and one of the most famous Italian chefs in the Valley will come together to open Mora Italian, a modern osteria in central Phoenix. The restaurant comes from chef Scott Conant of Impero Caffè in New York and Scarpetta…
The first Halal Guys location in Arizona is scheduled to open in Tempe in January of next year, according to a spokesperson from the chain. The restaurant will be located at 1015 South Rural Road, previously home to The College Store near Arizona State University’s campus. Ahipoki Bowl, a quickly-expanding…
In the year or so since it’s been open, Mucha Lucha Taco Shop has established itself as a favorite of the local taco cognoscenti, the place to go for a lunch plate of street tacos filled with stewy, drippy guisos caseros, the homestyle Mexican braises that take hours to cook…
Old Town Scottsdale diners will gain a new spot for sweets and tea when Ruze Cake House and Teaspressa, located at 7033 East Main Street, opens to the public tomorrow, Tuesday, August 30. The teahouse, bakery, dessert shop, and breakfast shop all rolled into one comes from owners Jessica Boutwell…
