Thai Basil

The folks at Thai Basil dressed up a former sub shop with dark wood tables and chairs, muted gold walls, charming vintage portraits, and Thai woodcarvings to make the simple space welcoming to solo diners and small groups alike. The prices are alluring, too. Hardly anything’s over $10, and at lunch, all but two dishes […]

Thai Basil

The folks at Thai Basil dressed up a former sub shop with dark wood tables and chairs, muted gold walls, charming vintage portraits, and Thai woodcarvings to make the simple space welcoming to solo diners and small groups alike. The prices are alluring, too. Hardly anything?s over $10, and at lunch, all but two dishes […]

Thai E-San

While there is an abundance of Thai spots in Central Phoenix, Thai E-San distinguishes itself with bold, pungent flavors and some unusual items that you don’t find just anywhere, like tangy sausages filled with pork and pork skin. The service is low-key but gracious; they’ve even made the inside of a mundane building feel exotic. […]

Thai Rama Restaurant

Reliable, inexpensive Thai cuisine in a modest, pleasant environment. A statue of a praying Thai lady greets you upon entry, and there are the usual Thai knickknacks on the walls, along with portraits of the Thai king and queen. The menu offers a wide selection of Thai eats, including standards such as laab, Panang curry, […]

The Beach House

Two Hippies Beach House is the sister restaurant to Two Hippies Magic Mushroom Burgers, a psychedelic burger shack on Indian School, but the food here has a lighter spin – nothing’s fried, and the meats and vegetables are organic. The menu’s streamlined, but everything on it is cheap and filling, from fat fish tacos to […]

The Breadfruit & Rum Bar

If environmentally sustainable practices enter into your calculus for choosing where to dine in Phoenix, The Breadfruit should be mighty high on your list. Chef Danielle Leoni has been through so many environmentally focused programs, from those at the James Beard Foundation to others at ASU, that her resume surely spans many pages at this […]

The Larder & The Delta

The reincarnation of The Larder & The Delta was one of the most anticipated openings in 2024. Chef and owner Stephen Jones took a gamble in evolving his Southern restaurant into a fine-dining destination serving a 12-course tasting menu in the former Binkley’s Restaurant. Jones’ risk is being rewarded. He was named a James Beard […]

The Starving Artist

When O.S.H.O. Brewing + Distillery took over the former location and brewing operations of Helton Brewing Co., the team opted to reimagine the space and create a neighborhood tavern that specializes in cocktails and globally inspired bites. The bar is vibrant and eclectic, with red lampshades, toile wallpaper, loungey leather couches and classic paintings refreshed […]

The Stockyards Steakhouse

When you’re carrying a heavy title like “Arizona’s Original Steakhouse” on your hip, you better be ready to fire it off. And that’s exactly what’s done daily at The Stockyards Restaurant and 1889 Saloon. Cattle baron Edward A. Tovrea established a packing house west of 48th Street and Van Buren in 1919, long before The […]

The Wandering Tortoise

A casual craft beer lover’s paradise, The Wandering Tortoise is a great spot to throw back some brews with friends. For those who love the experience of standing before a huge board of draft options to choose from, this proper taproom will not disappoint. But there’s more to the menu, which includes ciders, wines and […]

The Theodore

The rising downtown Phoenix craft beer scene got a major boost with the opening of The Theodore in 2019. Justin Evans, best known for The Wandering Tortoise, and Tony Fatica (a former Tortoise bartender), offer a tightly curated selection of craft brews from Arizona and the American West. The Theodore stocks hazy IPAs and pastry […]

Thunderbird Lounge

Located in the westernmost suite of the historic Wagon Wheel Building in Phoenix’s Melrose District, Thunderbird Lounge was an immediate hit upon debuting in the spring of 2019. The bar’s owners – former Crescent Ballroom bar manager Brett Boyles, Jake Wiedmann of Hot Guy Band, and Jeremiah Gratza, director of operations for the promotion company […]