Santé

The term “organic” is more than a buzzword at Scottsdale’s Santé. The ethos centers on ethical food sourcing and a keen focus on being green from start to finish. Drinks are the way in with selections such as the Watermelon Mambo, which features elderflower liqueur, basil, and vodka, or the classic prickly pear margarita. Mocktails […]

Sapporo

A place to see and be seen, and suck down some topnotch sushi while doing so. This glitzy palace is packed with fine young professionals crowding a hip watering hole, but the chefs take their mission seriously. The concept is split into three themes: teppanyaki, Pacific Rim and sushi. With a special chef for each […]

Tapas Papa Frita

Tapas, traditional Spanish small plates, are the specialty at Tapas Papa Frita, a casually upscale restaurant and bar with views of the Scottsdale Waterfront. The restaurant offers a menu of about 50 tapas and 20 entrees, including crowd favorites like tortilla española (potato omelet) and paella (which the kitchen can prepare in seven different styles, […]

Touch of Thai

Lovers of authentic and hot, hot, hot Thai food will love this place. The kitchen sends out plenty of good non-scorching dishes, too, but live it up with tongue-singeing gang ga-ree gai (chicken with yellow curry, coconut milk, potatoes, onions, and carrots), gaeng goong (shrimp in red curry with coconut milk, bamboo shoots, and green […]

Udupi

Veg-heads and Indian food lovers, unite! Udupi Cafe covers both of your needs, with a delicious, exotic South Indian smorgasbord that’s nothing like your run-of-the-mill curry shop. Udupi offers such subcontinental delights as fried lentil doughnuts dipped in yogurt (dhai vada), enormous rice crepes filled with potatoes and onions (masala dosai), and steamed rice and […]

Verdura

Verdura is billed as Phoenix’s hot, vaguely vinyl-themed vegan restaurant, and the names of the dishes reflect that: the Supreme, Santana Mac, and so on. But this counter-service, plant-based eatery isn’t messing around with the food. Popular items include the seitan-made carne asada nachos and a seitan chicken sandwich with marinara, cashew ricotta, and chimichurri. […]

Woodlands Vegetarian South Indian Kitchen

Serving an authentic taste of South India in the Valley is Woodlands, an unassuming place tucked into a strip mall in Chandler. Don’t let the Styrofoam plates and plastic utensils fool you into thinking poorly of the restaurant’s offerings. The flavors will knock you on your ass, and the spices will clear out your sinuses […]