Western Addition
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March welcomed some unique offerings to the Valley’s dining scene. A new downtown destination is serving a tasting menu with beef jammed into every single course. In Surprise, a new dessert shop is challenging the laws of ice cream physics. And a longtime Valley pizzaiolo has gone out on his own to open a new restaurant in Mesa.
Here are the most exciting restaurants that opened around Phoenix in March.
Tirion Boan
Din Tai Fung
7014 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale
The internationally acclaimed Taiwanese dumpling house Din Tai Fung began its first opening phase at Scottsdale Fashion Square in March. The company made reservations available online, which quickly became the hottest ticket in town. The new restaurant features a dining room centered around a towering tree, a bar lined with lanterns and a window where customers can watch kitchen staff carefully fold perfect dumplings with precision and speed. The chain offers a long menu with internet-famous must-order dishes, including xiao long bao, snappy green beans and cucumber salad. Fried rice dishes, noodles, fluffy steamed bao and of course, plenty of dumpling options, round out the food offerings. Din Tai Fung’s second opening phase, when the restaurant will begin accepting walk-ins, starts on April 20.
Tirion Boan
Uppercut
455 N. Third St., #190
When Uppercut promised 14 courses with beef in every single one, we thought that sounded like a lot. But upon trying the experience for ourselves, we learned that a couple of additions and intermezzi bring the total to a whopping 17. Hidden inside the downtown Phoenix steakhouse Cleaverman, the exclusive experience is omakase-style, with customers seated in a horseshoe around a central bar outfitted with multiple round grills. There, talented chefs carefully melt bone marrow, slice dry-aged steak, mince laab and toast meringue. To drink, customers can opt for cocktails or either a wine or whiskey pairing, with curated sips presented at the perfect moment to pair with the next couple of courses. A ticket to dinner costs $225 per person, and drinks are extra. So while visiting Uppercut may not be an everyday occurrence, this exclusive experience adds something truly unique to the metro Phoenix dining scene.
Western Addition
Il Bracco
6160 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
Texas-born Italian eatery Il Bracco opened its first out-of-state location in Scottsdale at the end of March. After a long construction process, tantalizing drivers passing by on Scottsdale Road, the newly built restaurant is now serving lunch and dinner daily. The menu includes housemade pastas, sandwiches, burgers and steaks with a few dishes crafted exclusively for the new Scottsdale location. And a taste of Arizona makes it onto the menu, thanks to locally sourced coffee, honey and olive oil. The decor blends mid-mod and classic Italian style, inviting customers to sip an Aperol spritz in a vacation-inspired space.
Il Forno Bello
3121 E. McKellips Road, Mesa
On McKellips Road in Mesa, a true pizza expert is now slinging pies at his own restaurant. Chef Horacio “Lacho” Hernandez spent nearly two decades at Pizzeria Bianco before helping open Craft 64. Now, he’s set up shop in a former Mexican cantina in north central Mesa. When stopping by Il Forno Bello, look for the 1962 Vespa parked out front. The tight menu includes seven pies fired in a sparkling glass-tiled pizza oven topped with fresh basil and creamy burrata, plus a few fresh salads, Italian wine and gelato.
Rainbow Cone
Rainbow Cone
13510 N. Litchfield Road, Surprise
You’ve heard of scooped ice cream. But what about stacked? Chicago-born chain Rainbow Cone has opened its first Arizona location in Surprise. There, staff are slicing and stacking chocolate, strawberry and pistachio almond ice creams to create eye-catching striped treats. The chain got its start in 1926, and 100 years later, is now challenging its staff’s balance skills in Surprise.
