Los Angeles Angels: Tempe Diablo Stadium
The name says Tempe, but if you're catching an Angels game at Diablo Stadium (heh heh, we get it) and looking for a good meal, you're much closer to a few excellent drinking and dining options in South Phoenix. We did tuck one Tempe favorite in there for you. You're welcome.
Breakfast
Morning Glory Cafe
Yes, we know: Phoenix technically speaking, is a desert. And, yes, we said "The Farm" and, no, it's not a cactus farm. This is a bona fide farm - with pecan trees, turkeys, and all manner of produce that's sold at farmers markets all over town. If the term "oasis" comes to mind, it should, because The Farm at South Mountain is a true treasure, whether you arrive for breakfast, lunch, or dinner (and many opt for all three). Today, we're here to extol the virtues of the first meal of the day, taken at Morning Glory Cafe. You'll sit outside beneath the aforementioned pecan trees and enjoy atmosphere that is downright DIY; you'll help yourself to coffee and water. But table service is reserved for the food, and everything from the cowboy chili and eggs to the white truffled scramble is as farm-fresh as you'd expect it. Don't skip the buttermilk biscuits.
Lunch
You're not looking for utensils and plates when you go out to eat, are you? If so, we can direct you to several fast food options near Tempe Diablo. But if you are a bit adventurous - and a fan of Texas BBQ - we'll direct you to the culinary home of Mike Pitt and Doug Dieckmann, a couple of Texans who've set up shop in South Phoenix but have kept their roots firmly in place. Dry-rubbed smoked meats take center stage here -- as well they should -- and the food is so tasty, in fact, that sauce is strictly optional. But always available.
Dinner
You might think Marilyn Monroe's the one who popularized the phrase "Some Like It Hot," but our money's on the folks behind Los Dos Molinos. You'll find outposts all over town (and even one in New York City!) but the South Phoenix location, tucked up against the mountain in an old white adobe, is by far our favorite place to get our firey New Mexican chile fix. All your Sonoran Mexican favorites are on the menu, and the adovada ribs are always our first choice. Scared of the heat? Just tell your server. Or simply double up on the margaritas.
Drinks
We're steering you clear of Tempe's main (college town) drag, Mill Avenue (you're welcome). Just off that beaten path is a sweet little old house with a fabulous drinking patio. You might also want to consider grabbing lunch or dinner (make a reservation) at House of Tricks - the go-to for moneyed Arizona State faculty and the place to take your parents when they are in town - but a glass of wine by the fire on a chilly night will also do you right. The wine list is as fine as the New American cuisine.
