As we count down the last couple days of December, it’s time to unveil my annual list of the East Valley’s best new restaurants.
Favorites like Spinato’s, Paletas Betty, Oregano’s, U.S. Egg and Rancho de Tia Rosa all opened additional E.V. locations in 2011, but I don’t consider these “new” restaurants. The same goes for places like Amalfi Pizzeria, a spinoff of Miele’s with mostly the same menu.
One other disclaimer: Restaurants less than a year old typically remain works in progress, so in some respects this list is based as much on potential as on current status.
That said, here, in no particular order, are my top 10 restaurants that opened in the East Valley in 2011:
BLD
1920 W. Germann Road, Chandler
480-779-8646
bldchandler.com
This casual neighborhood eatery from Robert and Danielle Morris and chef Brian Peterson – the trio behind Chandler fine-dining gem Cork – offers breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, hence its abbreviated name. Breakfast fare, served until 2 p.m, ranges from the traditional (buttermilk pancakes, biscuits and gravy) to the non-traditional (breakfast meatloaf, chorizo joe sandwich), as do lunch and dinner offerings. In a hurry? There’s a drive-through for coffee drinks, smoothies and protein shakes.
House of Brews
825 S. Cooper Road, Gilbert
480-792-1945
azhouseofbrews.com
Taking over a space previously occupied for years by Uncle Bear’s and then, briefly, Sky Box Sports Grill, Matt Smitherman and Frank Poggi kept the TVs for watching sports but gave the food menu and beer list a major upgrade. Items like made-from-scratch chilis and stews, freshly ground burgers and hand-cut fries are complemented by 24 beers on tap and another 30-plus in bottles. Save room for Javier’s Southwestern Banana Split (sliced bananas and chocolate chips in a deep-fried tortilla).
Herb ‘n Flavors
1845 E. Broadway Road, Tempe
480-967-2789
herbnflavors.net
Tunisia-born Saber Rouin, better known as “Doctor Hummus” for his line of homemade hummus, has put down roots with a Mediterranean-themed restaurant in Tempe. It’s no surprise the longtime fixture at Valley farmers markets uses a lot of locally grown and/or organic ingredients, and offers locally roasted coffee and locally made desserts. The health-conscious menu features salads, “pita-ninis,” wraps, pizzas, pastas and kabobs. Best of all, nearly every item is $12 or less.
Vintage 95
95 W. Boston St., Chandler
480-855-9463
www.vintage95.com
Former House of Tricks manager/bartender Gavin Jacobs has teamed up with Craig and Tricia Hills to open a cozy wine bar in the former Siracha Lounge brick building in downtown Chandler. Sip a nice glass of wine or Arizona craft beer while sitting on a comfy leather sofa in front of a fireplace. Chef Mike Wahlberg, another Tricks vet, has put together a contemporary American menu of classics with a twist. The must-have item is the smoked tomato bisque with grilled cheese croutons.
NCounter
310 S. Mill Ave., Tempe
480-968-9288
www.ncounter.com
Thom and Kathy Coker, who opened Mesa’s popular T.C. Eggington’s in 1985, pass the breakfast/lunch baton to a younger generation with this hip and trendy Mill Avenue spot run by daughters Kyndal and Ashlee and son-in-law Tysen Manuel, all ASU grads. You can get either Bananas Foster French toast or a beef-and-cheddar dip with au jus until the doors close at 3 p.m. Besides coffee drinks and smoothies, the bar serves a tasty Bloody Mary and other breakfast-friendly cocktails.
Urban Picnic
218 W. Main St., Mesa
480-246-8366
www.eaturbanpicnic.com
This breakfast-and-lunch café with a modern decor and hip vibe is the type of place you’d expect to find in north Scottsdale, not downtown Mesa. But father-and-son team Ron and Christopher Ackerlund think gourmet box lunches fill a void in the latter locale. Items like a curry chicken croissant or a turkey-and-stuffing sandwich are always made to order. And how can you not love a restaurant that has a person in a giant ant costume as a mascot?
BoomBozz Pizza & Taphouse
1026 S. Gilbert Road, Gilbert
480-214-3440
boombozztaphouse.com
This Louisville import, which took over an abandoned Boston Gourmet Pizza, has won numerous awards for its traditional and thin-crust pizzas. The honorees include the chicken fajita pie with a chipotle-infused sauce and a chicken, potato and red onion pie that’s been featured on the Food Network. It also takes advantage of the growing popularity of craft beer with 20-plus choices on draft – three brewed especially for the restaurant – and another 20 in bottles and cans.
Wedge & Bottle
4025 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee
480-704-1255
wedgebottle.com
Owners Troy and Krista Daily carry an ever-changing selection of cheeses, ranging from those by nationally acclaimed makers like bark-wrapped Rush Creek Reserve from Wisconsin’s Uplands to under-publicized locals like the artisan goat milk cheeses from Snowflake’s Black Mesa Ranch.
Besides the expected cheese-and-charcuterie plates and bowls of olives, the menu offers a half-dozen melted-cheese sandwiches. Glasses of wine start at $7, and bottles of craft beer at $4.
TopIt Cupcakes
1030 S. Gilbert Road, Gilbert
480-507-2253
www.topitcupcakes.com
The East Valley boasts more than a dozen gourmet cupcake shops, but Rachel Saunders’ pint-sized treats are among the best you’ll find. Would you expect anything less from a woman who studied at Le Cordon Bleu London and served as James Beard Award winner Vincent Guerithault’s pastry chef at Vincent on Camelback? One taste of her salted caramel or triple chocolate cupcakes will reveal why they’re among her bestsellers, along with the ubiquitous red velvet, of course.
Frost, A Gelato Shoppe
2150 E. Williams Field, Gilbert
480-899-2160
www.frostgelato.com
If you’ve just about given up finding a great gelato shop in the Valley, you’re in luck. This micro-chain – other shops are in Tucson (its home base), Albuquerque and Chicago – is overseen by master gelato chef Nazario Melchionda and features more than 50 mouth-wowing flavors of the Italian dessert, all made fresh daily. If you’re watching your waistline, you should know a small serving (3.5 ounces) of gelato only has 130 calories, about half as many as ice cream.
