Old Town Tortilla Factory

Gorgeous, Southwestern-themed hacienda-like restaurant featuring a tequileria with more than 100 types of distilled agave juice, and a vast, elegant patio with a captivating, flame-spitting waterfall. The food ain’t too shabby, either. The gourmet, house-made tortillas are some of the best in the Valley, and there are various, mouth-watering items on the bill of fare, […]

Ole Brass Rail

This east Phoenix dive, located on Thomas Road across from perhaps the most chaotic Walmart in the Valley, opens at 6 a.m. and possesses many of the qualities one associates with a tavern that caters to morning drinkers. The crowd is casual bordering on haggard. The bar serves what we’ve come to call “personal pitchers” […]

Olive & Ivy Restaurant & Marketplace

Talk about sensory overload. At this Scottsdale Waterfront hot spot, you’ll find a crowded bar and lounge area, an airy main dining room, a lush outdoor patio, and smaller dining rooms as well. At lunch, menu options range from a cool Greek salad to a rich pulled-pork sandwich. For a casual weekend brunch, try the […]

Ollie Vaughn’s

It’s far too easy to get lost in the pastry case at Ollie Vaughn’s. If the sky-high slab of peanut butter cheesecake drizzled in chocolate doesn’t get you, the caramel-drenched pecan sticky bun or powdered sugar-dusted lemon bar on buttery shortbread will. So many choices. But beyond the beckoning display, owner Lindsay Magee has created […]

Onyx Bar & Lounge

The proprietors of the Onyx Bar & Lounge should charge admission, because their lustrous establishment boasts awe-inspiring views of both Troon Mountain and Pinnacle Peak, usually when lit by the amber rays of sunset. The radiantly rustic furnishings and décor of the cozy drinkery, located inside the opulent Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale, is equally splendid, […]

OP-tic

Turning an old chemistry lab into a destination art space isn’t exactly rocket science but did take artist David Therrien quite a bit of work. When he purchased the former home of the Arizona Testing Lab, which used to analyze crime evidence for the Phoenix Police Department, the building needed quite a bit of TLC. […]