U.S. Egg

For nearly a quarter century, this family-owned breakfast and lunch shop has been serving up the best omelets and hot cakes around. Return customers head for the spacious patio, and are often heard ordering the signature Spinach Florentine, an Italian-inspired three-egg number with fresh spinach, mushrooms and bacon and topped with Monterey jack cheese and […]

Valentine

Its Arizona-centric food and drink creations have brought this cozy and sophisticated Melrose District hot spot recognition from Esquire magazine and The New York Times, the latter of which was enamored with Valentine’s soft pretzel crafted from white Sonoran wheat and served with butter blended with Arizona-grown guinea hen fat and a hunk of local […]

Vovomeena

This breakfast and brunch restaurant is a refreshing change in the sea of ordinary chain restaurants at Seventh Avenue and McDowell Road. Diners walk up to the counter to order dishes such as Pain Perdu, French toast made of banana bread pudding and topped with whisky caramel, and Tortilla Espanola, a traditional thick Spanish egg-and-potato […]

Welcome Chicken + Donuts

Chef Michael Babcock is known for his excellent fried chicken, found every day at his and co-owner Jenn Robinson’s Welcome Diner. Here, the name of the game is that chicken paired with super-crafty artisan donuts. From 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. every day, the menu includes a large selection of doughnuts, as well as both […]

What the Hell Bar & Grill

What the Hell Bar and Grill is not the kind of place found often in the Valley. In the heart of Apache Junction, it’s an establishment that probably hasn’t changed a bit since the day it opened. Patrons can enjoy poker and shoot pool, sing karaoke two nights a week, and rock out to live […]

Yoli’s Cafe

A nice little gem in small house with a courtyard off the beaten path in downtown Chandler. Serving breakfast and lunch only, this bistro mostly hits the mark with omelets, skillets, and homemade biscuits and gravy for breakfast and a tidy selection of hot and cold sandwiches, build-your-own burgers, and salads for lunch. We like […]

Zulu Caffe

Featuring first-rate food in an unlikely setting (the Scottsdale Airport), this casual restaurant is helmed by chef Brian Ford, who made his name working at south Phoenix’s Quiessence for ten years. Ford’s contemporary American menu at Zulu Caffe features breakfast dishes, burgers, salads, sandwiches, and pastas expertly prepared, using fresh, flavorful ingredients, and served at […]

ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho

If Scottsdale had a couple more Hos like this one, it might be on its way to outclassing La-La Land. The hotel is pure George Jetson-Googie-midcentury swank, a cherry spot, with the kind of finger-poppin’ pizzazz that cost $80 million to re-create. Ho’s Cafe ZuZu aims to put you in the way-back machine, with nostalgic […]