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Just as the Valley of the Sun has attracted visitors from around the world, it has also been attracting a record number of worldly residents. Fortunately for everyone, many of those people are skilled chefs and/or restaurateurs who have opted to share their gifts with the public.Phoenix and its surroundings have metamorphosed in
Just as the Valley of the Sun has attracted visitors from around the world, it has also been attracting a record number of worldly residents. Fortunately for everyone, many of those people are skilled chefs and/or restaurateurs who have opted to share their gifts with t
Just as the Valley of the Sun has attracted visitors from around the world, it has also been attracting a record number
Just as the Valley of the Sun has attracted visitors from around the world, it has also been attracting a record number of worldly residents. Fortunately for everyone, many of those people are skilled chefs and/or restaurateurs who have opted to share their gifts with the public.
Phoenix and its surroundings have metamorphosed into a melting pot for every type of cuisine imaginable: northern to Tuscan Italian; mom-and-pop to Mexico City Mexican; low-key Cuban to high-end French- and Greek-inspired Southwestern; Japanese- to Spanish-style tapas; and kosher to American classics with subtle ethnic twists.
Eateries like La Grande Orange grocery are revolutionizing Phoenix's "fast-food" concept with gourmet takeout. Four-star cuisine, some concocted by celebrity chefs, also awaits all over the Valley, from Kai in Chandler to Scottsdale's Bourbon Steak, along with Binkley's and Cafe Blink in nearby Carefree. Dotted with massive strip malls, Phoenix’s outskirts are becoming a haven of corporate eateries, but don't worry, there's plenty of divine, independent dining for all tastes and all trends in between.
Many of the best restaurants in the Valley are in resorts, camouflaged behind courtyard walls, or tucked away in shopping malls. Newer, upscale eateries are clustered along the Camelback Corridor—a veritable restaurant row, running west to east from Phoenix to Scottsdale—and in Scottsdale itself. Great Mexican food can be found throughout the Valley, but the most authentic spots are in North Central and South Phoenix.
Restaurants change hours, locations, chefs, prices, and menus frequently, so it's best to call ahead to confirm. Show up without a reservation during tourist season (October through mid-May), and you may have to head for a fast-food drive-through window to avoid a two-hour wait for a table.
Cave Creek's oldest restaurant is a rustic spot for barbecued pork ribs and steak, but the real star is the fried chicken. The quirky menu features a range of fare from soup "de joor" to Icelandic cod and carne asada.
6738 E. Cave Creek Rd., Cave Creek, Arizona, 85331, USA
This small, hidden establishment is a Valley favorite. It's a fun place to see, be seen, and sample everything. The waitstaff are veteran fine-dining servers, and the chefs manage to turn even cotton candy into a culinary work of art. The menu changes daily—yes, daily—and features items such as Japanese Wagyu cheesesteak with Kobe beef or braised lamb ragout with rosemary bread crumbs. The last Sunday of every month, the menu includes Noca's famous fried chicken. If you're hungry for a gourmet sandwich, stop by Nocawich, the restaurant's lunchtime conversion.
3118 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, Arizona, 85016, USA
Quality and value are a winning combination at this outstanding neighborhood restaurant. The interior is reminiscent of an Italian villa, with antiques, crisp table linens, fresh flowers, and windows dressed in lace curtains. Chef-owner Isabella Bertuccio turns out magnificent food, often using recipes from her Tuscan and Sicilian relatives. The escargots and herb-crusted rack of lamb top the list.
4231 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix, Arizona, 85018, USA
One of the many eateries conceived by the wildly successful team behind La Grande Orange (LGO), Radio Milano is a sleek and casual Italian-inspired experience with simple, but simply fantastic food. Radio serves unusual but tasty fare like Italian fresh-fish sashimi, deviled eggs, and celery Caesar salad for starters, and simple but standout pasta dishes and entrées like handmade pappardelle with goat cheese, corn, asparagus, and tomatoes, and pork roast "prime rib" with baby spinach and potato. Kids eat free noodles, meatballs, and minipizza until 7 pm. Adults will enjoy a small but great selection of wine and beer along with cool, crisp Italian-inspired cocktails like blood-orange champagne or limoncello. Leave room for the olive-oil cake.
3950 E. Campbell Ave., Phoenix, Arizona, 85018, USA
You may be in the middle of the desert, but the sushi here will make you think you're at the ocean's edge. Fresh yellowtail, toro, shrimp, scallops, freshwater eel, and even monkfish liver pâté are among the long list of delights. The best dish? Maybe it's the una-jyu (broiled freshwater eel with a sublime smoky scent) served over sweet rice. The fact that some people believe eel is an aphrodisiac only adds to its charm. The bento box is a good way to sample a variety of menu offerings.
7000 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, Arizona, 85254, USA
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