Some restaurants aim to ease the burden with cool summer dining and drink deals to reward those who are toughing it out at home. Enticing diners with budget-saving specials also helps establishments ride out the summer lull until peak season starts up again after Labor Day. It’s a win-win.
Spanning extended happy hours, value-priced prix-fixe menus and special pricing on bites and sips, here are the best summer deals to help you beat the heat.
The Vig
Multiple locations Take your pick from a few deals offered through Sept. 1 at The Vig.For a lunch break, head to any of the many Valley locations from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday for one of four dishes, each of which comes with a soft drink, for $14. Options include the Genuine burger and a side, Asian chicken salad, grilled chicken sandwich and a side or pozole.
Or, celebrate surviving the start of the workweek with a Genuine burger and draft beer for $15 after 3 p.m. on Mondays. All day every day, $6 will get you an espresso martini, house margarita or Tito’s Vodka.
Brunch fans can take advantage of bottomless brunch with unlimited Modelo, mimosas and house margaritas for $25. It’s offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. A two-hour time limit applies.
Miracle Mile Deli
4433 N. 16th St. The third-generation-run family Miracle Mile Deli brings back its bevy of cool summer offerings.For “It’s a Wrap Month” throughout June, diners can choose from three wraps, each served with a side and kosher dill pickle, for $15 each. Options include the Honey crispy chicken wrap, chipotle ranch turkey wrap or Athena chicken wrap.
Throughout July, the $8 Hot Dog Special features a Hebrew National hot dog, fries and a drink. Take it over the top with The Straw (melted Swiss and hot sauerkraut), New Yorker (homemade coleslaw and Miracle Mile Deli dressing) or chili toppings for $1 more.
From June 1 to Aug. 31, the popular Summer of Shakes & Floats returns with classic milkshakes or ice cream floats for $6, the perfect partner for either meal deal.
Roaring Fork's signature Big Ass Burger is among the items on its All Night, All Summer Happy Hour special menu.
Roaring Fork
Roaring Fork
4800 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale Through Sept. 30, take advantage of Roaring Fork’s annual All Night, All Summer Happy Hour starting at 4 p.m. daily in the bar and saloon. Seven food items will be available for happy hour pricing including green chile pork with pepper jack cheese and warm flour tortillas ($9), steak sliders ($12) and the signature Big Ass Burger topped with all the fixings and served with fries ($15). Sip on select wines by the glass and frozen margaritas for $8.Pizzeria Virtu
6952 E. Main St., Scottsdale Head to Old Town Scottsdale this summer for a mid-week date-night deal. Through Aug. 27, indulge in Pizzeria Virtu’s hand-crafted classic Margherita Pizza paired with two glasses of wine for $30. Or, dine here for Wine Wednesdays and say cheers with 50% off all bottles of wine.Ko’Sin
5594 W. Wild Horse Pass Boulevard, Chandler Ko’Sin at the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass will offer its “3 for $33” prix-fixe menu, featuring creative and elegant dishes that change weekly. Pair your meal with any of the $33 bottles of wine, also on special for the summer. Both deals are available from June 27 to Sept. 1.
The Gnocchi Sorrentina is among the options on the three-course summer menu at Marcellino Ristorante.
J. Martin Harris
Marcellino Ristorante
7114 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale A couple of specials are on tap through Sept. 4 at this longtime family-run Italian spot. Savor Marcellino Ristorante’s $55 three-course dinner served from 4 p.m. to close Tuesday through Thursday. Starter options include Caprese, Insalata Organiche or Cozze, mussels sautéed with white wine, olive oil and garlic or spicy marinara. For the second course, choose from one of the handcrafted pastas, Gnocchi Sorrentina or Pacchetti, or the Pollo Saporito featuring a chicken breast sautéed with mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes and pine nuts in a light tomato sauce, served with oven-roasted potatoes and vegetables.
Housemade tiramisu is the sweet ending. The deal is limited to four per party and for dine-in orders only. Pair your meal with half-priced bottles of select Italian wine.
At the bar from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday through Thursday, enjoy caprese or crostini for $8 each or salumi and cheese for $10. Pair with a glass of specially priced white, red, or bubbly ranging from $8 to $9.
The charred hanger steak accompanied by wild mushrooms, pickled blueberry and sunflower pesto is on the special summer menu at Mowry & Cotton.
The Phoenician
Mowry & Cotton
6000 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale Through Sept. 2, four of The Phoenician’s eating establishments are offering special value–priced menus as part of its summer Culinary Countdown series. The three-course $45 menu at Mowry & Cotton is particularly appealing.For the first course, choose from pickled deviled eggs with chives and ninja radish; local melon with cucumber, feta, frisée, vanilla lemon vinaigrette and tajin creme fraiche; or roasted tomato flatbread with Oaxaca cheese, tomato jam and arugula.
Main dish options include a charred hanger steak with wild mushrooms, pickled blueberry and sunflower pesto or Scottish salmon served with rainbow chard, cherry agrodolce and preserved lemon labneh. Save room for brown sugar cheesecake or mulled berry chocolate cake for the finale.
Élephante
7014 E Camelback Rd. Scottsdale Élephante's three-course lineup for Arizona Restaurant Week was so popular that guests will have time to try all 18 starter, entree and dessert options throughout the summer. The special lunch menu will be offered from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday until Sept. 1. For $40, choose from openers like mascarpone and prosecco arancini, gulf shrimp or ricotta meatballs. Cacio e pepe pasta, wild mushroom pizza and avocado toast are main dish choices. For dessert, ponder the prickly pear and lychee sorbet or caramel affogato.
The Sicilian Baker
Multiple locations Swing by from 1 to 5 p.m. on Monday to Thursday this summer for a pick-me-up during the Gelato and Cannoli Happy Hour at The Sicilian Baker. Through July 31, take advantage of a scoop from a rotating selection of seasonal gelatos for $2, and $1 mini traditional cannoli. 
The Wigwam
300 E. Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park Several of the restaurants at The Wigwam will offer deals through Sept. 28. Two rise to the top.At the signature restaurant Litchfield’s, kids aged 12 and younger can receive one free meal from the kids' menu with every purchase of a full-sized entree or steak. Kids can choose from chicken tenders and fries, grilled cheese sandwich, rigatoni with red sauce or butter and parmesan or a petite filet and mashed potatoes, all of which come with a jumbo scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert. The special is offered from 5 to 9 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.
Or, head to the Wigwam Bar for Taco & Tequila Tuesdays for $12 taco plates, $10 prickly pear margaritas and $10 margarita flights available from 5 to 7 p.m.
