Eating & Drinking Awards 2007

As if the standard-issue beef filet wasn’t tender, juicy and roll-your-eyes heavenly enough, the cleaver-happy sickos at this upscale Scottsdale dining spot have gone and left it on the bone, lending the celebrated (if under-flavored) cut a beefier, more defined taste. You will pay dearly for the bone-on pleasure. Rubbed in secret spices and broiled, the 12-ounce filet runs $39.95, while the 18-ounce portion goes for $44.95.
Address:6991 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 941-4700

When so many restaurants around ASU come and go (especially lately in light of rampant development), the Chuckbox has survived for decades simply by making the best hamburgers in town. Unpretentious to the extreme (burlap sacks hang from the ceiling and you sit on crates), the joint grills up the patties fresh, with ample condiments available to suit your needs. The perfect counter to flashy downtown Tempe dining.
Address:202 E. University Dr., Tempe
Phone:(480) 968-4712
Website:http://www.thechuckbox.com/

Some people might think a hot dog is just a hot dog, but a hot dog at the New York Sausage Company is a dining event. The variety of dogs ? Vienna beef, franks and the imported Snappy's ? start at $2.69, but the Vienna Beef combo (with fries and a drink, $6.75) is the top dog here. Served on a crunchy toasted bun, the Vienna beef dog comes with just the right amount of spicy kick, and you can jazz it up at the condiment bar.
Address:3015 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 970-4774

An East Valley standby, Nello’s (with locations in Tempe, Mesa and Scottsdale) serves up some of the best Chicago-style pizza (a notion hammered home by the Chicago sports memorabilia on the walls) west of the Midway. If you like a thick, cake-y slice of pie, give one of their off-beat choices like the buffalo chicken pizza or enchilada pizza (served with sour cream) a try.
Address:Several East Valley locations
Phone:(480) 897-2060
Website:http://www.nellosscottsdale.com/

If you've lived in Arizona long enough, you probably know about Oregano's, which has eight (and counting) locations across the state. Still, it bears repeating: Aside from their zesty pastas and big-enough-for-two sandwiches, they've also got super thin-crust pizza. Grab one of their huge, cheap slices and add as many of their 40 or so toppings (including fajita chicken and portabellas) ? and don't forget to save room for a pizza cookie.
Address:Several East Valley locations
Phone:
Website:http://www.oreganos.com/

Don't calzones look like pizzas dressed up as Hot Pockets for Halloween? Er, nevermind. When we Get Outers get a hankering for lunchtime Italian, which is mighty often, we head to Floridino's. There, for a Lincoln and change, you get a two-item calzone as big as a child's head ? perhaps not the right comparison ? along with a drink.
Address:590 N. Alma School Road, Chandler
Phone:(480) 812-8433

People who enjoy thick slices of Chicago-style pizza probably already know about Barro's, a fixture in the East Valley for more than two decades, but what they may not know is that this down-home joint has the best lunch-time slice deals in town. One big slice only sets you back $1.75, and the most expensive deal (two slices, salad and a drink) is only $5.50. Mama mia!
Address:Several East Valley locations
Phone:
Website:http://www.barrospizza.com

Walking into Ahwatukee Foothills' Arrivederci Trattoria is like stepping into Sunday dinner in an Italian home. The cozy restaurant is bustling and filled with raucous laughter, and the authentic Italian menu features more than the standard spaghetti and meatballs found at other eateries. We suggest the cannelloni de carne (pasta tubes stuffed with veal and beef and coated in melted cheese and a tomato cream sauce).
Address:4221 E. Chandler Blvd., Phoenix
Phone:(480) 759-9292

With hearty sandwiches, large bread bowls and a variety of salads and wraps ? along with the largest kosher pickles we've ever seen ? there's a little something for everyone at this delicious deli, which boasts four East Valley locations. Dilly's offers creative sandwich combinations like the Smokey Mountain (smoked peppermill turkey, smoked gouda, smoked bacon, red onions and Russian mustard on Italian foccacia bread).
Address:Several East Valley locations
Phone:
Website:http://www.dillysdeli.com

The Texas-based chain (with East Valley locations in Gilbert, Scottsdale and Chandler) specializes in Muffalettas, which are massive, round sandwiches crammed with meat (either ham and salami or turkey breast). How big are they? Think about it this way: They also sell half-muffs and quarter-muffs, formidable in their own right. Another attraction: Free soft-serve ice cream, garlic toast and mini-muffins with all orders.
Address:Several East Valley locations
Phone:(480) 813-1358
Website:http://www.jasonsdeli.com

Quizno's, you may be tasty, but you are expensive (some large-size subs top $10). Cheba Hut, though, a small Arizona and Colorado chain (with East Valley locations in Mesa and Tempe), offers delicious toasted subs that are affordable ? none over $7, several less than $3. They also sport plenty of options ? 20 or so meat sandwiches and six veggie ? salads, and a distinctly laid-back atmosphere.
Address:1710 W. Southern Ave., Mesa, and 960 W. University Drive, Tempe
Phone:(480) 649-7827
Website:http://www.chebahut.com

Sam Fox, who owns this Scottsdale eatery along with fellow E&D Award winner Olive & Ivy, sure knows his swimmy stuff. The delicate Pacific black cod ? exquisite with its sticky-sweet, aged-soy glaze and shiitake mushrooms ? is reason enough to make a reservation at this California Craftsman-style nosh palace, but Maine lobster risotto with white truffle essence and calamari with prosciutto is icing on the fish cake.
Address:15024 N. Scottsdale Road, Phoenix
Phone:(480) 889-9494
Website:http://www.greenehouse.com

Some regions are famous for their barbecue ? Kansas City, Austin, Chicago ? and for nearly 10 years, Joe's Real Barbecue has been putting the East Valley on the barbecue map. Housed in an historic brick building, Joe's serves up huge slabs of ribs ($9.99-$18.99), sandwiches piled up with pecan-smoked meats ($6.49-$7.49) and a Barbecue Sampler Plate ($9.99). Joe's sweet and tangy BBQ sauce comes mild or hot.
Address:301 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert
Phone:(480) 503-3805
Website:http://www.joesrealbbq.com

If Pulitzer Prizes were given for chicken wings, the Native New Yorker would get one. This place has won this category so often we should give them a lifetime achievement award, and until somebody else can beat these crispy, crunchy wings ? available with 13 different sauces (even 'Strawberry Hot') ? this win streak will threaten Joe Dimaggio's 56-game hitting streak.
Address:Several East Valley locations
Phone:
Website:http://www.nativenewyorker.com

This East Valley restaurant serves up the highest-quality cheesesteak ? packed with large chunks of steak and smothered in provolone or Whiz (a Philly cheesesteak staple) ? which is sure to please most Philly palates. We recommend a Tasty Cake (think Hostess but 10 times better) for dessert if you're still yearning for a taste of Philly after your cheesesteak.
Address:411 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, and 15040 N. Northsight Blvd., Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 966-8558
Website:http://www.corleones.net

This onetime Mormon church turned grandma-cozy eatery has a salad bar so big it gets its own room. The leafy stuff and all its veggie accouterments are represented in fine, fresh form ? but, egad!, there's enough meat to make a hearty meal: smoky meatballs, moist chicken tenders slathered in barbecue sauce, shrimp and cocktail sauce; for the adventurous, there's even pickled herring. Feel free to skip that.
Address:809 W. Main St., Mesa
Phone:(480) 962-4652
Website:http://www.landmarkrestaurant.com

Arizona chain Wildflower Bread Company offers about a dozen different soups (up to six each day) with at least one vegetarian option daily. The crème of asparagus and artichoke and chicken Florentine are among the cream of the crop (pun intended), but don't forget the place also serves ornate salads like the salmon Caesar and their 'house' Wildflower. The sandwiches are great, too.
Address:Several East Valley locations
Phone:
Website:http://www.wildflowerbread.com

Much of Indian food is naturally vegetarian, so it's not a huge stretch to try out the fare at Udupi. Even meat-eaters won't regret it, as there's more than 40 entrees, each featuring different ways to serve eggplant, lentils, spinach and the like in spicy, tasty ways. The lunch buffet is a great choice for those looking to sample a smattering of meat-free items, and the food is mostly vegan for those with the strictest diets.
Address:1636 N. Scottsdale Road, Tempe
Phone:(480) 994-8787

While we're not hip to paying the premium prices for Mandala's eye-popping array of teas and elixers, we're wholly enamored of the organic vegan eats this swanky little restaurant offers up. A honkin' plate of vegan nachos (er, totopos de casa mandala) that might even convince the carnivores in your life to eat their veggies, and a ziti al forno with marinara that makes a strong case for what's normally the nastiest food on earth: tofu cheese.
Address:7027 E. Fifth Ave., Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 423-3411
Website:http://www.mandalatearoom.com

Downtown Scottsdale's upscale version of a greasy spoon diner, The Breakfast Club serves up morning staples like bacon and eggs alongside fancier foodstuffs ? the jalapeno biscuits and gravy with fontina cheese are just twisted enough to get a morning mouth watering, and the kitchen's version of hollandaise packs just the right amount of zesty lemon. For a caffeine pick-me-up, meanwhile, the espresso bar makes a mean latte.
Address:4400 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 222-2582
Website:http://www.thebreakfastclub.us/

The Protein Pancakes ($8.50) at U.S. Egg are reputed by the restaurant to be 'so good, so famous, we had to get them patented.' Loaded with blueberries, silvered almonds, cinnamon and granola, this is one stack of pancakes even your doctor will encourage you eat. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and after plowing a plate of these 'cakes you'll be ready to do the work of a lumberjack.
Address:131 E. Baseline Road, Tempe, and 3238 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 831-0070
Website:http://www.useggrestaurant.com

Beware, the coming Scottsdale frozen treat turf war. Last month, this homegrown Valley gelato chain expanded into Old Town Scottsdale ? long the sacred province of the Sugar Bowl Ice Cream Parlor. Sure, we love the latter's hyper-wholesome malt shop ambiance, but in terms of creamy deliciousness, the Spot's fresh-made Italian 'ice creams' lick the competition. Try a double scoop of banana and chocolate ($3.77).
Address:7366 E. Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 367-9900

This 10,000-square-foot Scottsdale restaurant, with its own adjoining marketplace, debuted in late 2006, but it's already earning a reputation as a hip, upscale brunch spot. Skip the same old omelet and bacon; here, California and Mediterranean fusion combined with ultra-fresh ingredients means trying the poached salmon with roasted beets or flatbreads with fennel sausage and caramelized forest mushrooms.
Address:7135 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 751-2200
Website:http://www.foxrestaurantconcepts.com

While most happy hours end at 6 p.m. and are only offered Monday through Friday, downtown Scottsdale's Mickey's Hangover offers theirs from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week and includes all appetizers, beer, well and wine. We recommend the cholesterol-clogging mountain of cheese fries, which are smothered with mozzarella and cheddar cheese and served with ketchup and ranch.
Address:4310 N. Brown Ave., Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 425-0111
Website:http://www.mickeyshangover.com

A Sonoran-style joint has to be pretty good to stay open in the Valley, and La Fonda has sat on the same Tempe corner for more 40 years. The salsas (chunky and hot) spice up the tacos ($2.95-$3.25), burritos ($3.95-$4.25), nachos $3.25-$8.75) and enchiladas ($2.95-$3.95), and the carne asada plate ($9.95) ? a thin, spicy steak served with fresh pico de gallo, rice and beans, is the crown jewel on the expansive menu.
Address:1126 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 966-8001

True to the style of our neighbors to the east, Frank and Lupe's (which originated in the small town of Soccorro, N.M.) delivers the goods, such as the Shredded Beef Burrito Plate ($8), the Carne Adovada Plate ($7) and Lupe's Enchilada Plate ($8), with New Mexican hatch chilis. The best part: Some dishes come with delicious sopapillas.
Address:4121 N. Marshall, Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 990-9844
Website:http://www.frankandlupes.com

This popular Scottsdale restaurant is only open for dinner, and the place is usually packed, and for good reason ? owner and chef Jeff Smedstad ? who studied at the Seasons of My Heart culinary school in Oaxaca ? is nationally renowned for his original Mexican dishes, such as the Pepita Crusted Snapper ($16), Puerco in Mole Verde ($15.50) and Lamb Adobo ($17.50).
Address:2534 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 994-1799
Website:http://www.lossombreros.com

Lunch at Susie's cozy Mexican café won't do a lot of damage on your wallet. Three cheese enchiladas run less than $6, while a large burrito con carne is less than $3, making for one heck of a cheap lunch. And if you want to have a mid-afternoon splurge, the restaurant offers a one-cent beer with lunch specials ? although we certainly wouldn't recommend drinking before you head back to work.
Address:2405 E. University Drive, Tempe
Phone:(480) 966-7091
Website:http://www.susieslounge.com

Want to entertain out-of-towners who think Taco Bell is Mexican food? Look no further than Mesa's Los Dos Molinos, an unassuming joint ? from the outside, anyway ? that boasts the hottest red and green sauce and salsas in the Valley. The menu even offers a disclaimer from the chef for wimps that reads: 'Sorry we do not provide a mild sauce, I do not know how to make mild.' Be sure to order plenty of water.
Address:260 S. Alma School, Mesa
Phone:(480) 969-7475

All of the burritos at Someburros are huge and packed with fixin's, but the crown jewel of the menu is the Pollo Fundido ($6.35, with rice), a huge, deep-fried burrito filled to the hilt with marinated chicken and topped with grated cheese, green onions and spicy cream cheese. A burrito this good makes the standard burrito fare found in most Mexican joints seem run of the mill.
Address:Several East Valley locations
Phone:
Website:http://www.someburros.com

A relatively new addition to the Mesa dining scene, El Taco Tote (loosely translated, 'the huge taco') is a 'fast casual' Mexican restaurant that took over an old Poncho's location. Aside from offering consumers to 'build your own taco' and selling meat by the pound, you can slap something on your chips from their salsa bar of about six different varieties, ranging from the tasty yet mild to (depending on your tolerance) nearly-incapacitating.
Address:1050 S. Country Club Drive, Mesa
Phone:(480) 844-8683
Website:http://www.eltacotote.com

There are only a couple of rules when creating nachos ? make the cheese super gooey, and pile the fixin's up higher than the Superstition Mountains. Teakwoods' nachos deliver on both counts. Justifiably called 'Teakwoods Perfect Nachos' ($9.95, with chicken or beef, $11.95), these massive 'chos, served with chili, jalapenos, diced tomatoes, green onions and a spicy cheese sauce, could be served in a wheel barrow.
Address:Several East Valley locations
Phone:(480) 614-5254
Website:http://www.scottsdaleteakwoods.com

This Tempe eatery is so much more than its potent margaritas, spicy Oaxacan tamales and, strangely, the sexiest bathrooms in the Valley. It's also tops at that most Mexican of toppings, guacamole: Avocado takes a tasty little beating with roasted chiles before getting a drizzle of Grand Marnier basil syrup ? a nice accent flavor for a foodstuff most Mexican joints keep basic and bland.
Address:603 W. University Ave., Tempe
Phone:(480) 921-1850
Website:http://www.muchogustomexicanbistro.com

Short of crossing the border for the genuine article, you won't find a better spot for top-o-the-day Mexican vittles than this homey Old Towne eatery. Try the Rocky Point Benedict ($10), an unforgivably rich stack of sautéed shrimp, red onions, green chiles, cream sauce and eggs over an English muffin. Pischke's also has a muy excelente Gringos Rancheros ($8) and breakfast burrito ($8).
Address:7217 E. First St., Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 481-0067
Website:http://www.pischkes.com

The margaritas are so potent at Z-Tejas that the restaurant won't let you order more than three of these bad boys. Otherwise you'll probably pass out in your booth. The Chambord Margarita, which features Chambord Liqueur Royale floated on top and is served frozen, is the restaurant's most popular cocktail. If Chambord doesn't float your boat, there are a variety of other brain-freezing margarita options like the Paradise or Pomegranate Rita.
Address:Several East Valley locations
Phone:
Website:http://www.ztejas.com

This Mesa Mexican restaurant serves up lip-smacking agua frescas, such as pineapple, cantaloupe, strawberry, watermelon, mango and lime, from large jars filled with ice. Mango's is one of a few restaurants in the E.V. that offers these delectable fruit-flavored drinks, which are sure to have you addicted. If you want to mix it up, try the cantaloupe and strawberry fused together, or the watermelon and lime.
Address:44 W. Main St., Mesa
Phone:(480) 464-5700

Chandler's C-Fu Gourmet is best known for their daily Dim Sum, a kind of Chinese snack lunch full of tasty dumplings and pastries, between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. And with good reason ? it's the best in the East Valley, with the shumai (pork dumplings) and shrimp rice noodle roll particularly good. Their dinner service is also a winner, offering nearly 200 options and 13 regional specialty sauces.
Address:2051 W. Warner Road, Chandler
Phone:(480) 899-3888
Website:http://www.cfugourmet.com

As odd as it sounds, Chinese takeout is as ingrained into our culture as apple pie ? and just because you're getting the food fast doesn't mean every dish has to be greasy and homogenous. ToTT's offers up Far East goodies that put the chains to shame, from the Americanized (orange chicken) to the authentic (Singapore rice noodles). Takeout even comes in lovely plastic containers, perfect for resealing the ample portions.
Address:1817 E. Guadalupe Road, Tempe
Phone:(480) 897-7928

There are good reasons to tread carefully at 'Asian fusion' restaurants, but Oasian Noodle Bar offers a tasty tour of the continent with their punchy Indonesian noodles, tasty teriyaki chicken, several curries, aptly named spicy chicken and too-big-to-finish-in-one-sitting Curry Noodle Soup (seriously, it could feed a family of four). To increase their Asian street cred, they've recently added sushi to their menu.
Address:1935 S. Val Vista Dr., Mesa
Phone:(480) 632-1245
Website:http://www.oasian.com

Talk about hidden treasures. Our favorite sushi joint may not have the eye-candy clientele of Ra or Stingray, nor the swankiest location. Heck, it's next door to an auto parts store. But Sushi Ave. is an oasis for raw fish foodies, thanks to fresh ingredients, beautiful presentation and a simple, low-key decor that offers little distraction from the good stuff. Plus, there's something oddly amusing about directing sushi addicts to Gilbert.
Address:866 N. Higley Road, Gilbert
Phone:(480) 218-5700

If you're craving some pita-packed fun, you might as well go to a place that has it in its name. Pita Jungle offers all sorts of healthy, reasonably priced delicacies, like the pita pizza and the Mediterranean platter with hummus, baba ghanoush, tzatsiki and tabouli. Those looking to ease into the cuisine can try the crowd-pleasing chicken Shawarma sandwich. Tempe, Scottsdale and Chandler locations have ample vegetarian options.
Address:Several East Valley locations
Phone:
Website:http://www.pitajungle.com

For an affordable taste of Middle Eastern dining, Tempe's family-owned Byblos is a first-rate destination, with its friendly service and a slew of flavorful entrees like tender kabobs and some of the best hummus in town. Plus, the homemade lemonade is so tart 'n' sweet, it just might bring a tear to your eye. Or at least a pucker to your lips.
Address:3332 S. Mill Ave., Tempe
Phone:(480) 894-1945
Website:http://www.amdest.com/az/tempe/br/byblos.html

Let's talk tikka masala. The venerable Indian dish ($11.95) ? a creamy mélange of chicken, tomatoes, bell peppers and butter gravy ? achieves taste-bud escape velocity at this unassuming Tempe strip-mall eatery. The rest of the Taj menu is similarly stratospheric, including the hushpuppy-like carrot halwa and a delicious saag paneer (creamed spinach with cheese). The lunch buffet ($7.99) is one of the finest in the Valley.
Address:1845 E. Broadway Road, Tempe
Phone:(480) 967-5234

British cuisine is sort of like distance running ? it's more rewarding if you ease into it. So before pulling your proverbial hammy on such imposing dishes as black pudding and jellied eel, let this clean and stylish Tempe eatery cook you up one of its scrumptious hot-pocket-like pasties. Hungry customers can opt for the simple (Cheese and Onion, $5) or exotic (Chicken Tikka Masala, $6.50) or anything appetizing in between.
Address:960 W. University Drive, Tempe
Phone:(480) 894-6261
Website:http://www.cornishpastyco.com/

No one yet has been able to knock Swaddee from its Thai-high perch as the E.V.'s best (though Mesa's Thai Hut is gaining). Swaddee's homemade coconut ice cream is nothing short of magical, and the tom ka ? a coconut-milk soup ? balances blazing spice with bright lemongrass. Even the pad Thai, as pedestrianly American as California rolls and spaghetti, is elevated by fresh ingredients and an attention to its complex flavors.
Address:5055 W. Ray Road, Chandler, and 8989 E. Via Linda, Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 785-1640 or (480) 391-8900
Website:http://www.swaddeethai.com

It certainly doesn't hurt that this cozy Chandler nosh spot is owned and run by one of the hottest restaurateurs in the Valley, Justina Duong. (Sorry, P.F. Chang's Rick Federico.) But that doesn't matter as much as the delicious, entirely filling eats: traditional bun sai gon, a noodles and pork entree, the shrimp-filled rice crepe banh xeo, and the beef carpaccio ? and the fact that everything's so gosh darn inexpensive.
Address:1919 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler
Phone:(480) 963-4490

Dining at Cafe Lalibela, a modest strip mall gem, can be a feast for the senses: sopping up chunks of spicy doro wat (simmered chicken) with a torn piece of spongy injera (unleavened, crepe-like bread), smelling the pungent berbere on your fingers, washing it down with a cool glass of honey wine ? an experience equally earthy and divine. Plus, Lalibela is wonderfully inexpensive.
Address:849 W. University Dr., Tempe
Phone:(480) 829-1939
Website:http://www.cafelalibela.com

These days, tapas joints ? where appetizer-sized eats paired with wines are like manna for the indecisive ? may have replaced sushi bars on the hipness scale, but north Scottsdale's Sol y Sombra makes good on the hype. Thirty-two items, from pinxos de chorizo (Spanish sausage soaked in hard cider) to grilled Brussels sprouts with lemon and thyme, promise an evening of near-infinite ? and wholly tasty ? possibilities.
Address:20707 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 493-5355
Website:http://www.solysombraaz.com

The hip Scottsdale lounge offers a variety of delicious martinis (you won't want to count the calories in these babies!) from Chocolate-Mint to Cherry to Sour Apple. On Mondays, the bar offers half off well martinis from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. and highlights a new bartender's concoction weekly. And when the bar's slow, the bartenders are known for experimenting with shots and letting their patrons test them.
Address:7330 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 423-9434
Website:http://www.drinxscottsdale.com

Though Yard House in Scottsdale purports to offer the most draft beers in the Valley ? with some 130 taps ? this downtown Mesa booze mecca takes the cake for overall suds selection. Secreted behind a non-descript (if not downright seedy-looking) storefront, more than 900 bottled beer varieties await your perusal. The rustic downstairs wine-tasting room is fantastic, too.
Address:235 N. Country Club Drive, Mesa
Phone:(480) 834-5050

Think Disneyland for adults. Customers zip around aisles of obscure microbrews, boutique bourbons and other top shelf spirits and liqueurs like kids in a candy store. More than 70 different varieties of vodka take up an entire row. Premium flavored this-and-that ? Grey Goose, Hangar One, Van Gogh ? they have them all. The wine and champagne department is equally impressive with the best selection of bubbly in the Valley.
Address:7230 W. Ray Road, Chandler
Phone:(480) 961-9100
Website:http://www.bevmo.com

Named for the owner's full-blooded Polish father, this funky, fashionably underlit Scottsdale speakeasy features a vast and unusual assortment of Old World varietals. Amble up to the bar, order of flight of Austrian whites, crawl into an amnion of vino and live jazz, and know you've found one of the Valley's most eclectic and atmospheric drinking 'scenes' ? part Scottsdale nightclub, part Danube Delta cabaret.
Address:7137 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 946-3004
Website:http://www.kazbar.net

Hard-core oenophiles and casual wine-tipplers alike can expand their palates on a semi-daily basis at this Scottsdale-based wine retailer. Owners Ray and Carol Klemp host sponsored tastings three or four times a week, including recent visits by such celebrity vintners as Tobin James and Kenneth Volk. The store's website makes it easy to keep track of tasting events, or thirsty enthusiasts can simply stroll in for an informal sip.
Address:2515 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 423-9305
Website:http://www.azwineco.com

Tired of drinking Bud Light out of an aluminum can tattooed with a months-ago 'born on date?' Four Peaks is your answer. Featuring several Great American Beer Festival award winners on tap, such as the 8th Street Ale, the Kilt Lifter Scottish-Style Ale and the Hop Knot IPA, this microbrewery also offers seasonal beers throughout the year.
Address:1340 E. 8th Street, Tempe or 15730 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 303-9967
Website:http://www.fourpeaks.com

It's really no surprise the men flock to downtown Scottsdale lounge The Crown Room every Thursday. The bar hosts a ladies night with complimentary champagne for the ladies until midnight, and the ladies come running ? and the men follow. DJ Gable spins a mix of rock and hip-hop as people mingle with bubbly and martinis on the patio or inside the chic lounge during this popular night.
Address:7419 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 423-0117

Scottsdale dance club Myst serves first-class drinks that are worth the hefty price thanks to bartender extraordinaire Terry Keel. Keel crafts colorful bubbly concoctions that feature some kind of flair element, such as smoke from dry ice, glowing ice cubes or funky embellishments like jewelry. His cocktails are worth the wait, and he commands attention when he creates cocktails unlike any other bartender in the E.V.
Address:7340 E. Shoeman Lane, Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 970-5000
Website:http://www.mystaz.com

The 5,000-square-foot patio bar offers the best Bloody Mary in the E.V., and on Sundays offers a make-your-own-Bloody-Mary bar ($4), allowing patrons to decide how spicy they'd like to make their fiery libation. Between the Bloody Mary bar and the all-you-can-eat brunch ($9) ? which is offered from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ? Sugar Daddy's is the place on Sundays.
Address:3102 N.Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 970-6556
Website:http://www.sugardaddysaz.com

Whether it's grabbing a quick jolt of java on the way to a show at Gammage Auditorium or shaking off a Mill Avenue hangover with some vegan goodies and tea in the morning, it's easy to love Three Roots Coffeehouse, just west of campus on Mill. It's a cozy little spot with plenty of art and a hippie-ish vibe, and bands pop in for concerts from time to time. It isn't Starbucks, but isn't that kind of the point?
Address:1020 S. Mill Ave., Tempe
Phone:(480) 966-4949
Website:http://www.myspace.com/threeroots

In addition to serving up delicious hamburgers, Giant also whips up one heck of a mean milkshake. The ice cream is so thick the milkshake is requires a spoon, and it makes a perfect desert to split with a friend or two after a hearty lunch at this Mesa diner. Milkshakes are offered in basic flavors of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry and won't run you more than $3 for this afternoon delight.
Address:2753 E. Broadway Road, Mesa
Phone:(480) 733-6542

A little piece of retro heaven (hilariously neighboring a strip club), Pop the Soda Shop is a time-travel trip to the bubbly exotica of obscure soft drinks. The root beer selection alone rivals most restaurants' wine lists. And then there's Almdudler Krauterlimonade, the citrus soda that's apparently as big in Austria as David Hasselhoff is to its neighbors to the north.
Address:1649 N. 74th St., Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 994-4505
Website:http://www.popsoda.com

Some of the most beautiful people in the E.V. hit this downtown Scottsdale sushi spot ? known for its scrumptious sushi rolls and large cocktail menu ? when the sun sets. You'll find a fashionable flock of people in their 20s to 40s packing the noisy eatery on the weekend nights. In fact, it's so crowded there's often an hour-plus wait to get seated if you don't arrive early enough.
Address:4302 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 941-4460
Website:http://www.stingraysushi.com

Say you're a middle-aged male professional: a dentist, or maybe the CEO of a major airline. The ink on your divorce papers is almost dry, and you feel like waking your long-slumbering inner horn-dog. Where do you go? Statistically speaking, you'll probably end up at this Mediterranean-themed Scottsdale meat-market with the rest of your ilk. While you're there, try the delicious Coconut Crusted Shrimp ($13).
Address:15440 N. Greeenway Hayden Loop, Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 603-0370
Website:http://www.azeats.com/barcelona

Contrary to conventional wisdom, big-game felines do prowl this bustling Scottsdale nightclub ... in the guise of sexually liberated, well-heeled thirty- and forty-something women looking for a little fresh meat. And, yes, they do bite. So sully forth, fearless hunter ? if you're lucky, and you have a nice haircut, she'll buy you breakfast. (Note: the North Scottsdale locale boasts a slightly higher cougar population than its Old Town cousin.)
Address:10825 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 348-1666

Sure, there's always man-on-man favorite B.S. West down the street, but for a truly target-rich, same-sex environment, members of the community say nothing beats this steel-and-glass Scottsdale watering hole on a Friday night. Simply put, it has the best babes in town ('babes,' in this case, being 6-foot-2, muscular and smelling of Drakkar Noir). If the company isn't spicy enough for you, there's always the legendary AZ88 Chicken Salad ($11).
Address:7535 Scottsdale Mall, Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 994-5576
Website:http://www.az88.com

The only thing higher than the hemlines in this hospital-themed south Tempe diner are the cholesterol levels in the tasty Double By-Pass Burger ($6.45). The food is cooked and served by a leggy platoon of burger-babes dressed exactly like real nurses ... that is, if real nurses wore cleft-revealing leatherette and platform boots. None of the girls look qualified to deliver CPR, but it's a nice thought.
Address:440 W. Warner Road, Tempe
Phone:(480) 705-9400
Website:http://www.heartattackgrill.com

The male-staffed servers and bartenders, who are buff and bronzed and look like they could be stripping for Chippendales, are the main attraction at this Scottsdale restaurant. While Pasta Brioni certainly offers tasty Italian food, the ladies who frequent the restaurant are more interested in the staff than the menu. You're sure to find several tables of giggling girls enjoying the eye candy on any given weekend night.
Address:4416 N. Miller Road, Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 994-0028
Website:http://www.pastabrioni.com

Sprawled out over a choice piece of Grayhawk-area real estate, this north Scottsdale dining fiefdom is the Valley's ne plus ultra of open-air cuisine. Yes, the views are pretty ? flats of saguaro and ocotillo, ringed by the McDowell Mountains ? but it's the Old World-influenced restaurant itself that really drops jaws. Seated under the stars on a luxurious Tuscan patio, diners can imagine they're breaking bread with the Borgias themselves.
Address:10455 E. Pinnacle Peak Parkway, Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 502-9095
Website:http://www.sassi.biz

Although patio bars are a dime a dozen in the Valley, there isn't one that stands out quite like Casey Moore's. People come out in droves to this charming century-old-house-turned-neighborhood-bar, which is rumored to be haunted. The patio is a favorite among Valley hipsters, hippies and musicians. Jimmy Eat World frontman Jim Adkins even name-dropped the Ninth and Ash haunt on the track 'If You Don't, Don't.'
Address:850 S. Ash Road, Tempe
Phone:(480) 968-9935

Tucked away just a block north of Scottsdale’s gallery-laden Main Street, cozy Arcadia Farms offers a lunch-only menu of scrumptious appetizers ($10-$13), entree salads ($12-$14) and gourmet sandwiches ($12-$13). If you’re lucky enough to wrangle a table on the hideaway patio, you can relax in the shade of large trees, surrounded by greenery and flowers. Since it’s open just 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, reservations are recommended.
Address:7014 E. First Ave., Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 941-5665
Website:http://www.arcadiafarmscafe.com

With more than 30 TVs, high-definition plasma screens and large 12-and-15-feet projection screens, downtown Scottsdale's Upper Deck is the place to be on game day. The sports bar is usually packed on football Sundays when fans can watch the game from any seat in the house and mingle with athletes like retired hockey player Wayne Gretzky and Suns players Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire.
Address:4224 N. Craftsman Court, Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 941-9333
Website:http://www.upperdecksportsgrill.com

Most of the options at Sky Harbor aren't very attractive: boring fast food at about twice the price it should be. But if you ever find yourself at Chandler Municipal Airport, indulge yourself at the Hangar Café, a cozy diner where you can eat breakfast or lunch (the place closes at 2 p.m. daily) while you watch small planes land. Even if you have no reason to go to the airport, it's a nice change of venue and unique atmosphere.
Address:1725 E. Ryan Road, Chandler
Phone:(480) 899-6965

If you've never experienced the joys of al fresco farm dining, Joe's Farm Grill, converted from a real farmhouse in Gilbert, affords you the opportunity to slap on some overalls and chow down on barbecue, burgers, salads and pizza 'til the cows come home. The picnic tables are cooled off by a misting system in the summer and surrounded by heating system in the winter to provide year-round farmer-in-the-dell dining.
Address:3000 E. Ray Road, Gilbert
Phone:(480) 563-4745
Website:http://www.joesfarmgrill.com

If you're sick of chowing down on burritos of dubious content at seedy drive-thru joints just because they're open late, here is your alternative. Tapino, open until 2 a.m. Thursday through Sunday, offers up such tasty late-night eats as Crispy Fried Shrimp, Orange Marmalade and Fresh Horseradish ($8), Petite Lobster Corndogs ($9) and a selection of high-end cheese plates that will convince you to forget about fast food.
Address:7000 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 991-6887
Website:http://www.tapino.com

There's a line out the door after 2 a.m. to get into this small Scottsdale pizza joint, but the wait is well worth it when you need to soak up the booze with a little grease. And Joe's, which only serves slices after midnight, is the perfect place to do this. The after-hours destination has even attracted Mike Tyson, who we spotted there one night.
Address:7312 E. Shoeman Lane, Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 947-5637

Few dining concepts beat the teppanyaki table for communal birthday fun, and no teppanyaki spot in the Valley can beat this Old Town Scottsdale sushi bar for atmosphere and energy. Birthday revelers can get soused on saki bombs while their steak and lobster dinner ($23) is sliced, diced, juggled and fried by smiling teppanyaki acrobats. Celebrants also receive a free framed group photo.
Address:7170 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 990-9374

On its website, this swanky Old Town Scottsdale resort describes itself as 'sybaritic' ? a word that translates, to the best of our knowledge, as 'ideally appointed to get you laid.' Start with dinner at the east-meets-west fusion restaurant Asia de Cuba, and slip away for drinks at the Skybar or slightly more exclusive Red Bar. If you get lucky or merely pass-out drunk, you can get a room ($385 - $615).
Address:7353 E. Indian School Road, Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 308-1100
Website:http://www.mondrianscottsdale.com

When this Kentucky-based chain came to the East Valley, it created quite a stir among meat lovers around these parts. And rightly so ? from their burgers to their chicken sandwiches, if you want high-quality animal flesh done right for a good price, it's a solid option (the fresh, hot rolls are just icing on the beefy cake). The one snag is that they're only open for dinner ? except for Fridays, making it a great place to end the week.
Address:1605 S. Stapley Drive, Mesa
Phone:(480) 539-0240
Website:http://www.texasroadhouse.com

Queen Creek's loss is Mesa's gain. Mesa's best 'new' restaurant is actually an 18-year-old transplant from Queen Creek that pulled up stakes and relocated to its new digs in 2006. Featuring outstanding pizza (try the thick-crust mini-meatball and onion), subs, wings and salads, Lil' Pizzazz offers up healthy alternatives to fried appetizer favorites (jalapeno fries and poppers, chicken bites) baking everything in their pizza ovens.
Address:8257 E. Guadalupe Road, Mesa
Phone:(480) 357-6355
Website:http://www.lilpizzazz.com

Save for Britney and K-Fed, pairings don't get more unusual than the unholy union of Chinese and Mexican at Chino Bandito ? where it's not uncommon, and not shabby at all, to order up a Chinese barbecue pork quesadilla or machaca (shredded beef) on a bed of jerk-fried rice. The fact that it's cheap ($3.50 to $8) helps that Frankenfood go down smoother, too.
Address:1825 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler
Phone:(480) 899-5990
Website:http://www.chinobandido.com

Good luck finding this cozy Old Town Scottsdale restaurant, which sports such an unassuming storefront you might assume you just passed an accounting office instead of one of the tastiest dining gems in the East Valley. Alongside typical gourmet fare (bleu cheese stuffed filet) are well-executed surprises like shrimp and chorizo and gorgonzola rigatoni with red pepper. Oh, and Fusion makes a pretty mean cocktail, too.
Address:4441 N. Buckboard Trail, Scottsdale
Phone:(480) 423-9043
Website:http://www.azeats.com/fusion

Be prepared to wait about 45 minutes if you hit this breakfast hotspot on the weekend. The small restaurant is usually slammed with people in their 20s and 30s ? some who are still wearing their clothes from the night before. But the food is well worth the wait. Harlow's offers an abundance of greasy items like hash browns, spicy chorizo and burgers that are sure to soak up the booze from the night before.
Address:1021 W. University Drive, Tempe
Phone:(480) 829-9444

Your out-of-town guests probably still have an impression of Arizona as the wild west, so feed their imagination by taking them to San Tan Flat, where you can eat steaks, burgers, lobster, ribs and chicken under the stars and then roast marshmallows over your own personal campfire while listening to live country and western music. Yee-haw, y'all!
Address:6185 W. Hunt Highway, Queen Creek
Phone:(480) 882-2995
Website:http://www.santanflat.com

No, it's not cheap, and the drive to Cave Creek is kind of a pain, but what are piddling concerns such as these to the condemned? For that matter, where else can one find such scrumptious New American comestibles as duck confit pierogi and roasted garlic soup? Tasting menus start at $55, but if this is truly your culinary curtain call, the $72 six-course belt-buster is clearly your best ticket.
Address:6920 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek
Phone:(480) 437-1072
Website:http://www.binkleysrestaurant.com

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