Cibo (food in Italian) serves freshly baked hand-tossed pizzas with toppings of mozzarella, basil, garlic, smoked salmon, zucchini and more. The best in organic produce is imported so that you can taste the authentic Italian flavor. Choose a more complex preparation such as the Bresaola; a type of salad or the Pear Salad for those health conscious moments. Mini crepes with whipped cream topped with berries and Nutella make for a lovely dessert.
Lux is a coffee lovers' ultimate paradise. Unique, exotic, local and international blends are all available at this coffee bar located at the North Central Avenue. Although coffee is the highlight, enjoy fresh baked goods every morning as well as light bites and savory mains for lunch and dinner. On the walls, find works by local artists that change every week giving the place an art-gallery like feel. Free Wi-Fi allows you to catch up on work while on your coffee break and the friendly staff makes every customer feel at home. They also have an outdoor seating area. Open till the late, Lux is one of the best places in Phoenix for your caffeine fix.
If you are a fan of green and red chillies sauces, Mexican-style chorizo sausage, hefty burros and sauce-soaked enchiladas, then find your way here. The Mexican comfort cuisine is inexpensive and the service is fast and friendly. It gets extremely busy here at lunch, so come early or plan to wait. Though the decor is simple, it offers a full range of Sonoran-style Mexican dishes such as burros, enchiladas, tacos, plus hand-made tamales and tortillas.
In-the-know locals frequent this unassuming little wine bar in the Phoenix's Arcadia neighborhood (there are two others as well, one in Gilbert and the other in Downtown Phoenix). In a city buzzing with strip-mall cuisine, Postino is hidden a residential neighborhood, where the kitchen serves wonderful helpings of the Italian countryside, the Napa Valley, the South of France and the Mediterranean coast. The wine selection rotates every few months but Californian and Italian labels are the most common, with a few French wines and a handful of Argentinian ones added for good measure. Beer lovers can appreciate the selection as well, with the stellar Guinness on draft or the Alesmith IPA.
Occupying a historic 1929 building in popular Heritage Square, Pizzeria Bianco is one of the many establishments opened by celebrated chef Chris Bianco. As its name implies, the restaurant's focus is pizza; with pies made from handcrafted mozzarella and topped with the finest produce from local sources. The restaurant has the classic Margherita or the slightly adventurous Rosa, made with onion, parmigiano, rosemary and AZ pistachios. The best time to visit is for lunch, because dinner service is usually crowded. If you are put on a list, head next door to Bar Bianco for a glass of wine and some crostini while you wait for your table.
Established in 1990, Arcadia Farms Cafe is hidden away in downtown Scottsdale, and is a cozy cottage serving gourmet goodies which will tantalize your taste-buds. At lunch, soups, salad and sandwiches make up most of the menu. They are all house-made, healthy, fresh and flavorful. At dinner, the entrees are sophisticated and heartier. Do not forget to try the pork tenderloin with Portobello and artichoke or the roasted halibut with mustard glaze and caramelized cabbage. The menu also features scrumptious desserts made of quality ingredients. Unwind over exquisite drinks with friends and family as you relax in the welcoming space. Arcadia offers catering and event planning services as well.
Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails is a chic and classy cocktail bar and restaurant which is located in downtown Phoenix. The restaurant serves a variety of delicious seasonal dishes such as Pappardelle Veal and Schreiner’s Sausage Ragu, and Trout Golden Raisins, Capers, Green Beans and Brown Butter. The bar is known for its varied cocktail list. These crafted concoctions perfectly complement the dishes served. Sharing plates of food and a cozy yet trendy ambiance makes this a great hangout for friends.
Located at CityScape, downtown Phoenix's entertainment hub, The Arrogant Butcher boasts an ultra-hip vibe and a contemporary American kitchen led by Chef Andrew Ashmore. A popular spot on the social scene, this restaurant is best if looking to catch the day's game, host a private party, celebrate with happy-hour specials, indulge in romantic conversations or rub shoulders with state politicos. There's never a dull moment even when it comes to the menu which covers appetizers of zucchini fritters, mains of jambalaya and sweet potato tortellini and dessert that includes salted caramel pudding and warm peanut butter cup. The minimalistic interiors with plush sofas, portraits on the wall and mood-enhancing lighting adds to the upscale, 1960s feel of the place.
Locally known as the place to get a cup of hipster coffee, Cartel Coffee Lab is focused on making a cup of coffee or other caffeinated concoction in the best way possible. All of their beans are single-origin and the somewhat high prices often reflect their exotic provenance. However, once you taste these beans infused in water or milk, you will know where this extra coin went. With a few other locations around Phoenix and Tucson, Cartel has quickly monopolized the high-end coffee market in AZ.
The Kettle Black Kitchen and Pub is an Irish Gastropub located in Arizona, serving a wide variety of alcohol beverages. They offer handmade cocktails, wine selection such as white and red wines, local and imported draft beers. They serve an all American cuisine in the lunch and dinner menus. Some of the dishes listed are Bavarian Pretzel, Battered Chicken, Curry with Garlic Fries, Crab Cakes, Buffalo Chicken Fries and a variety of salads. They have an exclusive burger menu made from ingredients such as pepper jack, avocado, bacon onion marmalade, honey sriraca glaze, roasted chicken , wasabi mayo and green vegetables. The setup is very casual with seating indoors as well as outdoors.