KATHY K’S RESTAURANT RECOMMENDATIONS:
Spiga Cucina Italiana — KK says: “Consistently the best Italian food. Indoors and patio both good. They look at res date and earliest request for patio gets it.” We have reservations for 6:30 p.m Tuesday, March 7, and Thursday, March 9. 7500 E. Pinnacle Peak Rd., Scottsdale. 480-513-9000.
Bacanora — 1301 NW Grand Ave., Unit 1, Phoenix. 602-612-4018. Open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m Sunday and 5 to 10 p.m Wednesday – Saturday. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Difficult to get reservations after high praise by Conde Nast Traveler and Esquire.
Andreoli Italian Market – KK says: “Best Italian in area. Near Salt River so you could go there after your game with family. You order at deli counter, waiter service from there, beer and wine bottles for purchase. The food is consistently outstanding. Tables on patio but no view—on parking lot. We go for the food but it’s cute inside. No reservations so we try to go a few minutes before 5:00pm” 8880 E. Via Linda, Scottsdale. 480-614-1980.
Nick’s – Three locations: 13910 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd.; at Pinnacle Peak, Desert Village Shopping Center, 23417 N. Pima Road; and at Tatum and Shea, 10810 N. Tatum Blvd.
Mora Italian — 5651 N. 7th St., Phoenix. 602-795-9943. Open 5 to 9 p.m. Monday-Sunday. Can reserve indoor and outdoor.
Valentine – 4130 N. 7th Ave., Phoenix. 602-612-2961. Closed Monday and Tuesday. KK has not tried but reports it is on many “best” lists.
Modern Oysterbar Chophouse — KK says: “One of our favorite places. Fabulous outdoor dining area. A bit pricey so you have to order carefully as menu has good choices.” 17001 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale. 480-531-1400. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Tratto – KK says: “was just named one of the 50 best restaurants in the US by the NYTimes. Only one in PHX area.” 1505 E. Van Buren, Phoenix. 602-296-7761. Closed Sunday NY Times said this about Tratto: “Chris Bianco is one of America’s most respected pizzaiolos, thanks to his pioneering flagship restaurant, Pizzeria Bianco. Less known, at least outside Phoenix, is this five-year-old trattoria. The restaurant moved from a strip mall to a larger, stand-alone building mid-pandemic. Its kitchen still proves that Arizona wheat makes pasta as exemplary as it does crust and bread, and that an Italian menu can be guided by seasonal regional ingredients, even in a desert city where walking to your car often feels like passing through a pizza oven. — BRETT ANDERSON” More in NY Times. More in NY Times If we want to eat at Tratto, we probably should make reservations long before we arrive in Phoenix.
Buck & Rider – KK says: “one of our favorite restaurants here is Buck & Rider, a seafood restaurant that is consistently excellent. Don’t know if fish and seafood qualifies as a choice for your group but to Midwesterners in the middle of winter, it could appeal. Great patio seating too.” 7015 E Mayo Blvd Phoenix. Located in what looks like a somewhat upscale outdoor shopping mall at the southwest corner of Scottsdale Road and Mayo Boulevard. Also a restaurant at 4225 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, and one in Gilbert. Open every day.
ALSO WORTH CONSIDERING:
Kabob Grill N’ Go — 3050 N. 16th St., Phoenix. 602-707-5272. Closed Sunday and Monday. Praised by NY Times in “50 places in America we’re most excited about right now.”
MONIKA’S RECOMMENDATIONS:
Bourbon & Bones Chophouse
4200 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
Steak 44
5101 N. 44th St. , Phoenix
“Take It Outside: Patio Dining in Phoenix,” Phoenix Magazine, 10/22/20
“The 15 Best Restaurant Patios for Outdoor Dining in Metro Phoenix,” Phoenix New Times, 11/21/20
Diego Pops – Mexican Mexican Restaurant in Old Town Scottsdale
The 2017 edition of New Times’ Best of Phoenix includes 63 best restaurants, markets and dishes.
“Chris Bianco, Tacos Chiwas team up for restaurant in century-old Phoenix building,” Arizona Republic, 8/21/17
“Best breakfast in Phoenix: 15 critic’s picks for morning (and midday) meals,” Arizona Republic, 7/26/17
“Where to eat, drink in Phoenix,” Sports Illustrated, 6/30/17
“10 Iconic Arizona Restaurants Worth Traveling For,” Phoenix New Times, 6/14/17
BEER!
“The ultimate beer-lover’s guide to bars, breweries and taprooms in Tempe and Scottsdale,” Arizona Republic, 2/29/20
“The ultimate beer-lover’s guide to bars, breweries and taprooms in Phoenix,” Arizona Republic, 2/18/20
Saddle Mountain Brewing Company
SanTan Brewery & Distillery Tours
“Sample some craft beer with your baseball at spring training in Arizona,” Los Angeles Times, 2/23/19
“Phoenix brewery guide: Standout local beer makers, our favorite places, what’s coming soon,” Phoenix Republic, 11/28/17
“10 Best Sports Bars For Food and Drink in Metro Phoenix,” Phoenix New Times, 1/24/18
“Celebrate National Drink Beer Day at these Arizona breweries,” Arizona Republic, 9/27/17 List of Arizona brewpubs north and south of Phoenix.
“11 Best Craft Beer Bars in Metro Phoenix,” Phoenix New Times, 1/24/17
Scottsdale Ale Trail, map and addresse.
Arizona Craft Brewers Guild, includes Arizona Beer Trail Road Map
PIZZA, PIZZA, PIZZA
CRAFT 64
http://www.craft64.com
Best Pizza – Phoenix Magazine
OPEN DAILY 11AM TO 11PM
(KITCHEN CLOSES AT 9PM)
6922 EAST MAIN STREET
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA 85251
(480) 946-0542
“Phoenix is one of the nation’s premier pizza towns: 12 great spots for pizza in Arizona,” Arizona Republic, 10/22/17
- Base Pizzeria
3115 E. Lincoln Drive., Phoenix. 602-535-8914, basepizzeria.com. - Cibo
603 N. Fifth Ave., Phoenix. 602-441-2697, cibophoenix.com. - Craft 64
6922 E. Main St., Scottsdale. 480-956-0542, craft64.com. - Il Bosco
7120 E. Becker Lane, Scottsdale. 480-335-8680, ilboscopizza.com. - La Piazza al Forno
5803 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale. 623-847-3301, lapiazzaalforno.com. Also, 1 N. First St., Phoenix. 602-795-7116, lapiazzaphx.com. - La Grande Orange Pizzeria
4410 N. 40th St., Phoenix. 602-840-7777, lagrandeorangegrocery.com. - Lamp Wood Oven Pizzeria
La Mirada Center, 8900 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale. 480-292-8773, lamppizza.com. - Nook Kitchen
3623 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, 602-651-1390. Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Downtown, 15 E. Monroe St. 602-258-1037, nookkitchen.com. - The Parlor
1916 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602-248-2480, theparlor.us. - Pizzeria Bianco
Heritage Square, 623 E. Adams St., Phoenix. 602-258-8300. Town & Country, 4743 N. 20th St., Phoenix. 602-368-3273, pizzeriabianco.com. - Pomo Pizzeria Napoletana
8977 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-998-1366. Downtown Phoenix and Gilbert locations at pomopizzeria.com. - Pizzicletta
203 W. Phoenix Ave., Flagstaff. 928-774-3242, pizzicletta.com.
DINING IN SEDONA
“Sedona, Ariz., surprises with destination dining,” USA Today
DINING IN MESA
Osteria, 5609 E. McKellips Road, Mesa
Pacino’s, 2831 N. Power Road, Suite 104, Mesa
DINING IN TEMPE
Tempe Tourism blog lists more than two dozen “Restaurants in Tempe with great patios”
DOUGHNUTS
Donut Worry Coffee & Smoothies, 9115 Baseline Road, Mesa
“The 10 Best Doughnuts in Metro Phoenix,” Phoenix New Times, 2/7/19
BAGELS
New Wave Market
https://www.newwavemarket.com
7120 E. 6th Ave. #20
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Monday & Tuesday 11:00 – 3:00
Wednesday – Friday 11:00 – 8:00
Saturday 9:00 – 8:00
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT
Mora Italian, 5651 N. 7th St., Phoenix
Etta, 15301 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
Tacos Chiwas, 127 W. Main, Mesa
Cuff Bistro, 7021 N. 58th Ave., Glendale
Wilderness Brewing, 201 E Roosevelt St, Phoenix
Wally’s American Gastropub, 7704 E Doubletree Ranch Rd, Scottsdale
Mochilero Kitchen, 6791 West Happy Valley Road, Suite 100, Peoria
Jade Bar at the Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa
Local Bistro, 20581 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale
Pizzeria Bianco, Town & Country Shopping Center, 4743 N 20th St, Phoenix. Original is located at 623 E. Adams, Phoenix
Barrio Café, 2814 N. 16th St., Phoenix
Durant’s, 2611 N. Central Ave., Phoenix
Matt’s Big Breakfast, 825 N. 1st, Phoenix
Red, White & Brew, 6740 E. McDowell Road, #102, Mesa
D-vine Wine Bar and Bistro, 2837 N. Power Road and McDowell Road, Mesa
Fate Brewing Company, 1312 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
Paul Martin’s American Grill, 6186 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
ARIZONA 