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Visual Aid: A Dining Guide to the Best Restaurants and Bars in Downtown Tempe

By Lauren Cusimano

Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at 6 a.m.

Jacob Tyler Dunn House of Tricks in Tempe is right off Mill Avenue. 1/50

Jacob Tyler Dunn House of Tricks has giant portions. 2/50

Jackie Mercandetti House of Tricks is a master of beautiful presentation. 3/50

Lauren Cusimano Tempe Farmers Market off University Drive. 4/50

Steven Hsieh Stacey Dutton owns Tempe Farmers Market. 5/50

Lauren Cusimano Otto Pizza and Pastry is your college-town pizza place. 6/50

Jacob Tyler Dunn The interior of The Chuckbox has really cool old-school vibes. 7/50

Jacob Tyler Dunn The charcoal grill really gives The Chuckbox's burgers flavor. 8/50

Jacob Tyler Dunn The Chuckbox is a staple of Tempe. 9/50

Tom Carlson The doro wat at Cafe Lalibela. 10/50

Jacob Tyler Dunn Anibal Abayneh and and Salem Beyene own Cafe Lalibela in Tempe. 11/50

Tom Carlson Casey Moore's Oyster House, where people go and tend to stay. 12/50

Tom Carlson A neighborhood hangout and Valley destination, Casey Moore's Oyster House has the food and the atmosphere. 13/50

Tom Carlson The namesake of Casey Moore's Oyster House. 14/50

Rula Bula Irish Pub Rula Bula's lush garden patio. 15/50

Lauren Cusimano A bloody mary with a splash of Guinness at Rula Bula. 16/50

Lauren Cusimano The cream of tomato soup with croutons and housemade bread at Cornish Pasty Co. 17/50

Lauren Cusimano A tasty take on classic wings: The tandoori wings at Cornish Pasty Co. 18/50

Lauren Cusimano Try the oven chips till late at Cornish Pasty Co. 19/50

Lauren Cusimano Umami can be your go-to ramen spot. 20/50

Lauren Cusimano Ramen from Umami at Shady Park. 21/50

Evie Carpenter The Mr. Robato at Umami in Tempe combo is completed with a beer and house sake. 22/50

Chris Malloy The Shop Beer Co. patio and owners. 23/50

Chris Malloy The Shop Beer Co. in Tempe. 24/50

Lauren Cusimano King Coffee in Tempe. 25/50

Patricia Escarcega Best breakfast goes to Harlow's Cafe in Tempe. 26/50

Patricia Escarcega Breakfast plates are famously huge at Harlow's Cafe. 27/50

Nina Tinsley The creamed chipped beef on toast is a hearty portion at Harlow's. 28/50

Daily Jam Those red velvet waffles at Daily Jam. 29/50

Lauren Cusimano Daily Jam on Mill Avenue. 30/50

Heather Hoch Desert Roots Kitchen, hidden just off Mill Avenue. 31/50

Lauren Cusimano Brunch, lunch, and "$5 till 5" at Postino Annex. 32/50

Lauren Cusimano The Overture at Sacks Overture. 33/50

Lauren Cusimano Head to Pedal Haus for happy hour. 34/50

Ty Dahlstrom Cartel Coffee Lab on Ash Avenue. 35/50

Chris Malloy One of the many brews on tap at Pedal Haus in Tempe. 36/50

Handlebar Find us at Handlebar for happy hour. 37/50

Lauren Cusimano Alter Ego, the hotel restaurant in downtown Tempe, really knows how to put a menu together. 38/50

Canopy by Hilton Tempe Downtown The interior of Alter Ego. 39/50

Lauren Cusimano The three cheese and aged pepperoni flatbread from Alter Ego. 40/50

Jackie Mercandetti Photo Enjoy that patio at Perfect Pear Bistro while you can. 41/50

Jackie Mercandetti Offerings from Perfect Pear Bistro. 42/50

Jackie Mercandetti The interior of Perfect Pear Bistro. 43/50

Jim Louvau Outrageous creations to a simple strawberry cone can be had at Sparky's. 44/50

Jacob Tyler Dunn The wings at Zipp's Sports Grill. 45/50

Lauren Cusimano Zipps Sports Grill off Mill Avenue. 46/50

Jacob Tyler Dunn Tempe's own Arizona Distilling Co. 47/50

Chris Malloy About to gin up a gin drink using this Arizona-made spirit. 48/50

Little Szechuan The lemon chicken dinner combo at Little Szechuan is available to go. 49/50

Timur Guseynov The ordering counter at Thai Basil on University Drive. 50/50

Visual Aid: A Dining Guide to the Best Restaurants and Bars in Downtown Tempe

Tempe is a town of drinking and dining options. Would you like a drink, a meal? Sure. How would you like to get there — walk, bike, scoot, drive, rideshare, bus, Orbit, light rail? Fine. While all this probably adds to the bustling atmosphere (and top-notch people watching) along Mill Avenue and University Drive, it does not take away from the stress of knowing where to go for local food and beverage.

Here's what we recommend ... in photos.

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