“Check, Please,” Eight’s restaurant-review show that just started its second season, featured a pair of East Valley restaurants last week, and both got rave reviews.
The first was Chandler gourmet hot dog joint Pittsburgh Willy’s:
The other was Tempe’s Essence Bakery Cafe:
New episodes air at 7 p.m. Thursdays on Channel 8.
Tempe has a new late-night pizza option – and it’s cheap! Big Jimmy’s $5 Large Pizza has opened on Apache Boulevard just east of Dorsey (by Food City).
Jimmy’s boasts it makes its crusts and sauce from scratch, and hand-cuts all its toppings.
A 14-inch, one-topping pizza is $5 – which Jimmy’s even will deliver, but you have to order at least two – and specialty pizzas are $10.
Other menu items: Salads ($3-$5), wings (10 for $7) and subs ($6).
Jimmy’s is open (and delivers) until 3 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 4 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
The long-awaited Postino Gilbert Winecafé is scheduled to open March 19, and owner Craig DeMarco already is thinking about additional restaurants in Gilbert.
DeMarco, who has two Postino locations in Phoenix, opened Windsor, an all-day restaurant, and Churn, an ice cream shop, next to his Central Avenue wine bar last year.
He tells the Republic he’s planning to open a restaurant similar to Windsor in a new building near Postino Gilbert.
He also plans to open a Churn in Gilbert.
He’s also considering leasing the space next to Postino Gilbert – the landlord split the former GrainBelt GrillHouse building in two – to try an unidentified concept.
3/19: Postino Gilbert Winecafe opens [Republic]
Four Peaks Brewing Co. will celebrate its 15th anniversary with an all-day festival April 21 at Tempe Beach Park.
The 21-and-over event has been dubbed Randomonium and will include beer, food and music. It will start at 2 p.m. and run until 11 p.m.
The Airborne Toxic Event will be the music headliner, but the lineup also includes locals Tramps & Thieves and Black Carl, as well as Texas acts Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights and Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears.
General admission tickets are $40, but right now there’s a $30 early-bird special.
VIP tickets are $95 and include preferred seating, free food and 10 beers.
Get tickets here.
The Original Flame Burger Factory earns 3 stars in my latest review for AZ Central:
The Original Flame Burger Factory is one of several new burger concepts that opened in the Valley last year, taking over a space formerly occupied by an El Pollo Loco fast-food restaurant on Arizona Avenue just north of Warner Road.
The locally owned independent restaurant targets neighborhood clientele looking for higher-quality ingredients than offered by fast-food burger chains and lower prices than demanded by gourmet burger joints.
Every restaurant in the East Valley seems to be cashing in on Valentine’s Day, and Chick-fil-A is no exception.
The fast-food chain’s Crossroads Towne Center location at Gilbert and Germann in Chandler is advertising “a very special evening with your Valentine’s Date.”
The $10-per-person promotion include table service, meal, dessert and “activities.”
Can’t find a sitter for the kids? No problem. You can add bring them for $7 each.
Reserved seatings are available every 15 minutes from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14. Make your own reservation here.
Who knew Adam Richman is such a wimp?
The host of the Travel Channel’s popular show “Man v. Food” got his butt kicked by Chompies’ Ultimate Slider Challenge in March 2010, but that hasn’t stopped a parade of locals from accomplishing the feat.
Benjamin Magilke (pictured) is the latest. Last week the Scottsdale resident became the eighth such winner in less than two years, according to the restaurant’s online Hall of Fame.
To win the challenge, one must consume 12 “Jewish Sliders” filled with brisket, mini potato pancakes and jack cheese in less than 30 minutes. With a side of brown gravy and homemade onion strings, it all weighs in around 5 pounds.
My question: Why do all eight winners so far look like they tip the scales under 180 pounds?
Maybe the second third fourth time will be the charm?
Devils Den Sports Grill opened yesterday on the northeast corner of Mill and University in downtown Tempe, the fourth restaurant to occupy the space in four years.
Previous occupants were Ruby Tuesday’s, Sucker Punch Sally’s and, most recently, DiVerti Bar and Grill.
ASU games will be shown on the restaurant’s 40-plus TVs, and ASU sports memorabilia is displayed.
The menu features burgers, wings and pizzas.
After the mega-disaster that was last month’s Street Eats Food Truck Festival in Scottsdale, the last place you might want to go is the Food Truck Round Up at Superstition Farm on Saturday, March 17.
But the southeast Mesa dairy farm looks like it’s learned a thing or two from the ill-fated Street Eats fest, which was plagued by long lines, high prices and a shortage of food, among other things.
Superstition Farm is promising to make its event “the most customer friendly rally yet” by:
Tickets are $25 for VIP (which includes early entry, 4 tasting tickets and a drink ticket) and $20 for general admission (which includes 4 tasting tickets).
Admission also includes free hay rides around the 30-acre farm and access to the petting zoo.
The festival, which runs until 5 p.m., also will feature live music, cooking demos, food competitions, a mechanical bull, horse rides and kids activities. Beer and wine will be available.
Vendors scheduled to participate:
Barro’s Pizza is giving away coupons for a free slice to the first 1,000 people that “like” its new Facebook fan page next week.
Starting Monday, you can go to the page, “like” it and enter your information to receive an e-coupon.
The page’s contest tab will disappear when all 1,000 free slices have been claimed.
