We drove around on a recent banker’s holiday, looking for a cheese enchilada. What we found was two things: that most of the local Mexican eateries were closed, and that Abuelo’s serves something called the Reynosa Salad. It’s a fresh, green salad layered with seasoned ground beef or shredded chicken, jack and Cheddar cheeses, chile […]
Southwestern in Phoenix
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This, the ultimate Arizona restaurant, offers a masterful m
The cuisine at this casual-upscale Mexican restaurant in Central Phoenix is nearly as gratifying now as it was over 20 years ago, when then-owner and founder Moises Treves first brought his gourmet dishes celebrating the regions of Mexico to the Valley. Given its age, the building may seem a bit frayed, but inside, its softly […]
This historic landmark nestled in the shadows of Squaw Peak Mountain offers signature dishes like spinach and chicken burros and picadillo fajitas (not to mention a chimichanga that puts all others to shame) as well as specialties like the cheesy mushroom-and-chili Hamburguesa. Magnificent chow for reasonable prices.
It’s a creation by nationally renowned chef Mark Miller, but don’t expect to see him – this is a corporate spin-off that simply hints at his famous Coyote Cafe of Santa Fe. Some dishes are first-rate, like soups and steaks. Others are resort fare fancied up with lots of spice.
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New Mexico-style Mexican food served in a cave-like setting, complete with bats and gushing waterfalls. The kitchen sends out nothing but winners, from traditional favorites like carne adovada and blue corn enchiladas to nifty platters like pork osso bucco and chicken breasts stuffed with sun-dried tomato, spinach, pepper and feta. First-rate margaritas, too. Read our […]
Upscale surf ‘n’ turf joint wrapped in a Sonoran ranch house theme. The place does a few things right other than atmosphere: spicy house sausage made from beef, elk and buffalo; ahi nachos with Manchego cheese; and a chocolate cowboy s’more that’ll give diabetics a death wish. Is it worth driving all the way out […]
Good spot to take out-of-towners for a look at what remains of the Wild West. It’s a tourist trap, but at least the tourists are not brought in by the busload. Besides, locals eat here, too. They come for the dandy burgers, ribs, steak, and fried chicken.
This outpost of Craig and Kris DeMarco and Bob Lynn’s ever-expanding culinary kingdom leaves behind the boutique ambiance and eats of Postino and La Grande Orange for something far more sophisticated and satisfying. Built like an airy, one-story Arizona ranch house, with a peaked roof, a big front porch, and a huge patio out back […]
Adero is a luxury hotel in Scottsdale and Cielo is the resort’s onsite restaurant. Menu items are made with regionally sourced ingredients, the craft cocktails are heavily on tequila and mezcal, and much of the beer is from Fountain Hills’ Bone Haus Brewing. Cielo, Spanish for sky, also offers plenty of scenic outdoor seating.
Cobre Kitchen + Cocktails is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. The menu of this “American brasserie inspired by the Southwest” will offer small and shareable dishes. Up top, you can also snag a craft cocktail at the new Outrider Rooftop Lounge.
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You may not know this downtown restaurant by name, but if you’re into music, you’ve likely eaten here. Cocina 10 is the kitchen at Crescent Ballroom, which brings in a power-lunch and music-fan crowd expecting something a notch or two above bar food. Owner Charlie Levy is also behind Valley Bar and The Van Buren, […]
There are lots of homegrown options for Mexican food in Arizona, but we have to hand it to one Utah-based chain restaurant for serving fresh, healthy food: Costa Vida. There are three locations in Arizona: Mesa, Queen Creek, and the newest location in Goodyear, which has online ordering capability. Costa Vida serves standards like burritos, […]
This south Tempe “public house,” a dim but warm space vaguely reminiscent of an old saloon, is surely one of the most Arizonan restaurants in the Valley. Sean Traynor, proprietor and captain of a wide-ranging cocktail program, sources glasses for his measured libations from antique shops upstate. Tamara Stanger, one of the most incandescently creative […]
The goofy moniker might start spaghetti Westerns playing in your head, and the shabby-chic interior may be designed to appeal to yupper-class Scottsdalians with graying temples, money to burn and the fervent need to see themselves as still cool after all these years. But the food is intriguing, inventive and skillfully prepared, and the wine […]
The family of New Mexico-leaning eateries and watering holes along 16th Street is a treasured standby of the Phoenix dining scene. But within the Richardson’s Restaurants family – which also includes Richardson’s itself and The Rokerij – the inconspicuous Dick’s Hideaway is a cut above. It’s the type of place where you’ll need divine intervention […]
Though the boutique Mexican food eatery is known for its quesadillas (hence the “Dilla” in the name), Dilla Libre will wrap a corn tortilla around everything from carnitas to pollo asado, carne asada, and shrimp to offer what may be your next favorite taco.
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The closest thing Phoenix and/or Arizona has to a signature dish — aside from the much-battled-over chimichanga — is the Sonoran hot dog. When we’re called upon to make a case for the importance of this cherished street food, we look to the El Caprichoso Sonoran hot dog cart. Around for more than 20 years, […]
Horseshoe Restaurant is the very definition of a hole-in- the-wall restaurant, in the best sense of the term. The small Mexican restaurant on Buckeye Road is inelegantly sandwiched between a mass of carburetor and machine shops, but don’t be too put off by the location. The restaurant happens to be a fine destination for Mexican […]
Most of the Tex-Mex selections offered by this fun but noisy Houston-based operation are strictly turista. But the fajitas — served sizzling-hot and smoking — are absolutely wonderful.
The Art Deco vibe in the Biltmore’s Frank & Albert’s restaurant might make you feel nostalgic for a bygone era, and indeed it’s a beautiful space. Tourists will be particularly pleased with Southwestern dishes like nachos, queso fundido, and tortilla soup, but we recommend you skip the front of the menu, including offerings like pizza […]