The Best Cafe Review Photos of 2019

Friday, July 12, 2019 at 1:45 p.m.

Jackie Mercandetti Butternut squash-filled Agnolotti, arancini, truffled panzanella, and the Italian Bird cocktail at Parma Italian Roots. 1/42

Jackie Mercandetti Pappardelle Bolognese, with grilled octopus, at Parma Italian Roots. 2/42

Jackie Mercandetti The Wood Oven Carrots from Parma Italian Roots. 3/42

Jackie Mercandetti The scorching hot mentaiko pasta at Katsu. 4/42

Jackie Mercandetti The kimchi pasta, bulgogi burrito, and katsu at Katsu. 5/42

J. Mercandetti Photo Chicken soup and other dishes at La Hacienda. 6/42

J. Mercandetti Photo The $49 beef short rib that we argue is, against all odds, worth the price at La Hacienda. 7/42

J. Mercandetti Photo The Barbary Fig and Serrano margaritas at La Hacienda. 8/42

Jackie Mercandetti A meat platter is anchored with brisket and lightened with pickles and onions at Little Miss BBQ. 9/42

Jackie Mercandetti Little Miss BBQ is serving two new sides — Brussels sprouts (top middle) and mac and cheese (bottom middle). 10/42

Jackie Mercandetti The swordfish crudo at Bar Pesce. 11/42

Jackie Mercandetti The Parsley My Fault cocktail — a grassy concoction of gin and parsley at Bar Pesce. 12/42

Jackie Mercandetti For dessert? The biscuit doughnut at Bar Pesce. 13/42

Jackie Mercandetti Bun bo Hue with a helping of Vietnamese coffee at 3 Regions Vietnamese Kitchen. 14/42

Jackie Mercandetti The prepared Vietnamese coffee at 3 Regions Vietnamese Kitchen can get you through just about anything. 15/42

Jackie Mercandetti Dao opts to use coconut in her banh xeo, or savory crepes, at 3 Regions Vietnamese Kitchen. 16/42

Jackie Mercandetti The showstopping seafood paella at Talavera. 17/42

Jackie Mercandetti Kona kampachi crudo with kumquats at Talavera. 18/42

Jackie Mercandetti Vanilla catalyzes a beet salad at Talavera. 19/42

Jackie Mercandetti A close up of the Swiss chard ravioli at Fellow. 20/42

Jackie Mercandetti The irresistible fried calamari at Fellow Osteria. 21/42

Jackie Mercandetti Buffalo mozzarella, have mercy. 22/42

Jackie Mercandetti The Zenzero cocktail packs a garden rosemary punch. 23/42

Jackie Mercandetti Mexican wild shrimp at the new Chula. 24/42

J. Mercandetti Photo Smoked trout and salmon at Chula Seafood Uptown. 25/42

J. Mercandetti Photo The selection of responsible seafood at Chula Seafood Uptown. 26/42

J. Mercandetti Photo Fresh fish at the new Chula counter. 27/42

Jackie Mercandetti Snap peas channel spring. 28/42

Jackie Mercandetti A cortex of fried cauliflower. 29/42

Jackie Mercandetti Bartender making a Boulevardier cocktail. 30/42

Jackie Mercandetti Dishes change rapidly with the produce seasons. 31/42

Jackie Mercandetti A fried chicken sandwich at Singh Meadows. 32/42

Jackie Mercandetti This simplified Napoleon is better. 33/42

Jackie Mercandetti The seasonal vegetables at Singh Farmers Market. 34/42

JM Photo A few offerings at Anhelo. 35/42

JM Photo Ivan Jacobo's extremely good scallops. 36/42

JM Photo The watermelon salad at Anhelo. 37/42

JM Photo The Big Daddy platter at The Root and Soul. 38/42

JM Photo Get loud about the hush puppies at the Root and Soul. 39/42

Jackie Mercandetti Phoenix's most interesting daiquiri may be at Little Rituals. 40/42

Jackie Mercandetti Claypot wings with Noble bread at Little Rituals. 41/42

Jackie Mercandetti A Vengeance and Fashion cocktail, bacon board, and a tome-like cocktail menu can all be yours at Little Rituals. 42/42

The Best Cafe Review Photos of 2019

So far in 2019 we've visited nine restaurants for Cafe Reviews — everything from pasta at a busy Asian supermarket to the follow-up locations of Little Miss BBQ and Chula Seafood. Plus some showstopping paella at Talavera. In addition to the spot-on descriptions and depictions from our food critic Chris Malloy, we've also seen some stunning food and restaurant photography from Jackie Mercandetti.

These are our favorites.

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