Restaurant Reviews

Pyro is sometimes very good. Is that good enough?

Pyro is sometimes very good. Is that good enough?

A first taste of Mon Cheri in Scottsdale

A first taste of Mon Cheri in Scottsdale

El Horseshoe brings understated grace to Arizona Sonoran cuisine

By Dominic Armato
Mar 22, 2024

For nearly three decades, the Avitia family's tiny Sonoran diner has quietly served excellent homestyle Mexican food.
Raices Restaurant keeps Puerto Rican flavors flowing in Mesa

By Dominic Armato
Feb 28, 2024

When a beloved source of Puerto Rican cuisine in Mesa shut down, Benjamin Diaz stepped in to pick up the torch and keep the mofongo flowing.
At Ban Chan Korean Cuisine, an old favorite finds new life on social media

By Dominic Armato
Jan 25, 2024

Irene Woo has run restaurants for 50 years. But a flurry of influencer posts have brought fresh attention to her "country homestyle" Korean food.
Critic's Picks: Dominic Armato's 10 favorite dishes of 2023

By Dominic Armato
Dec 28, 2023

In a year of eating at restaurants all around the Valley, these dishes stood out the most.
‘Food for the soul’: Feel the love at CC's on Central

By Dominic Armato
Dec 14, 2023

A California restaurant family with Southern roots is serving stellar soul food in central Phoenix.
Pickup and pop-ups: Wanwaan's unconventional approach to sharing Thai cuisine

By Dominic Armato
Nov 30, 2023

A quartet of high school buddies from Chiang Mai reunited in Phoenix to serve takeout. Wanwaan sizzles and speaks volumes.
Pa'La shifts focus to fine dining, but value remains at the core

By Dominic Armato
Oct 25, 2023

Rising prices forced chef Jason Alford to rethink Pa'La's original approach to casual fine dining. The result, while different, is another success.
No pho? No problem. Vietnamese restaurant Com Tam Thuan Kieu offers so much more

By Dominic Armato
Sep 26, 2023

Though it's nearly 15 years old, this Vietnamese restaurant is routinely overlooked by Phoenix diners because it doesn't serve pho. That's a mistake.
Cool Vybz, hot dishes from a Jamaican kitchen that can cook

By Dominic Armato
Aug 29, 2023

An island chef brings the flavors of home to a low-key Jamaican restaurant that's bursting with flavor.
Durant's sells first-rate nostalgia and mediocre food. Is that enough?

By Dominic Armato
Jul 27, 2023

At 73 years old, the legendary Phoenix steakhouse is smooth and charming as ever. The food, unfortunately, can't live up to its promise.
Artist Bill Dambrova's latest exhibition mesmerizes viewers in Mesa

By Amy Young
Jul 19, 2023

See his large, colorful, abstract paintings at Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum for free through August 6.
True Mexican food? Tempe's Cocina Chiwas is true to itself

By Dominic Armato
Jun 22, 2023

The food Armando Hernandez and Nadia Holguin serve at Cocina Chiwas doesn't belong to Chihuahua or Arizona. It belongs to them.
City of Spice brings vibrant Indian cuisine to north Phoenix

By Dominic Armato
May 24, 2023

A family from India thought they had left the restaurant business behind. But after moving to Phoenix, they couldn't help but show just how delicious and exciting Indian cuisine can be.
Phoenix Is Full of Korean Barbecue, but Smoking Tiger Proves There's Room for More

By Dominic Armato
Apr 27, 2023

Korean barbecue restaurants are common in Phoenix. But a new spot has entered the mix, bringing with it sizzling meat and proof that there's room for one more.
This Phoenix Vegan Restaurant Serves Classic Comfort Food Minus the Meat

By Rudri Patel
Feb 20, 2023

At Green New American Vegetarian, find satisfying substitutes for classic comfort meals.
‘For Love of the Food.’ Why Pop-Up Deli Little Pickle is a Big Deal

By Dominic Armato
Feb 16, 2023

This new pop-up deli serves bagels and pastrami unlike anything else in Phoenix.
The Jimmy Eat World Concert in Phoenix Was a Big Local Lovefest

By Jennifer Goldberg
Nov 3, 2022

Arizona Financial Theatre was filled with good vibes — and great music.
Best Bites: Detroit Coney Grill Brings A Taste of The Motor City To The Valley

By Natasha Yee
Nov 2, 2022

Detroit Coney Grill in Tempe serves the closest you can get to the classic without leaving the Valley.
First Taste: Highly Anticipated Little Anita's Doesn't Live Up to the Hype

By Geri Koeppel
Oct 14, 2022

Little Anita's is now open in Chandler. But it's not the taste of New Mexico fans were waiting for.
Best Bites: This Tiny Sunnyslope Restaurant Serves Perfect Poke

By Tirion Boan
Sep 26, 2022

Sushi Friend is a hidden gem serving sushi, sashimi, and Hawaiian poke bowls that make the perfect lunch.

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