Author: Jess Harter

Glendale-based Throne Brewing has taken over the Pizza People Pub on Central Avenue, between Culver and Willetta, in downtown Phoenix and renamed it Throne Brewing & Pizza Kitchen. The food: While the Glendale brewpub’s menu focuses on sandwiches and burgers,

Great news for smokehouse fans: 3-year-old Caldwell County BBQ in southeast Gilbert – considered by many to serve the best barbecue in the East Valley – is opening a second location at the Queen Creek Botanical Gardens near the northwest

Illimitato Pizza, a year-old neighborhood pizzeria on the southeast corner of Ellsworth and Baseline in east Mesa, has launched a second location on the southwest corner of Power and Brown in northeast Mesa. The food: Pizzas, oven-baked subs, wings, salads,

The Paleta Bar, a New Mexico-based chain of Mexican dessert shops, will make its Arizona debut inside the University House apartments across the street from Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe later this month, followed by locations in east Mesa and

Serrano’s Mexican Restaurants will launch a new fast-casual concept called Pronto this fall in the south Tempe space that formerly housed one of its sit-down restaurants. The food: Build-your-own combos featuring Sonoran-style burritos, tacos, nachos, salads, and more. The space:

Taco Boys, the casual Mexican eatery that’s garnered rave reviews since opening in Phoenix less than two years ago, has opened a second location on the southwest corner of Rural and University in Tempe. The food: Tacos, vampiros, burritos, and

Pennsylvania-based Bruster’s Real Ice Cream, which made its Arizona debut in Glendale in 2018, will open a second location on the northeast corner of Arizona and Warner in Chandler this fall. The food: 150 flavors of ice cream, yogurt, Italian

Hope Peshlakai, who’s operated a frybread stand on Power Road in east Mesa for the past decade, is opening a bricks-and-mortar restaurant, Hope’s Frybread, on the northwest corner of Main and Macdonald in downtown Mesa. The food: The menu will

Lone Spur Cafe, a small chain of cowboy-themed breakfast-and-lunch restaurants that began in Prescott in 2005, will open its seventh and eighth locations in Mesa and Queen Creek this fall. The food: Hearty breakfast options include steak and eggs, cowboy

State 48 Brewery announced its seventh Valley concept – State 48 Brewery Roadhouse – will be built on a 4.5-acre parcel of land on the southeast corner of I-10 and Litchfield in Goodyear. The concept: State 48’s largest production brewery

Via Della Slice Shop, a family-run pizzeria, has opened on southwest corner of Van Buren and Fifth Avenue in downtown Phoenix. The food: Extra-large slices start at $3.50. Wings also are available on the soft-opening menu. The decor: A variety

Level 1 Arcade Bar, which opened in downtown Gilbert in 2019, is opening a second location on Main, between MacDonald and Drew, in downtown Mesa. The space: The Mesa location will be two stories for a total of 6,000 square

The owner of Pubblico Italian Eatery in Phoenix and Scottsdale is opening a new concept called Rockefeller on the northwest corner of Hayden and Doubletree Ranch in north Scottsdale. The food & drink: A small menu will focus on seafood

De Babel, a restaurant specializing in Middle East fare, has opened near the northwest corner of the 101 and Raintree in north Scottsdale. The food: Chef Suliman Saleem’s menu features hummus, falafel, gyros, shawarma, chicken tawook, lamb kofta, and more.

The Sheraton Phoenix Downtown announced its ground-floor restaurant space – empty since The District American Kitchen & Wine Bar closed in 2019 – will welcome a new concept this fall. The food: Southwest-inspired Carcara will highlight Native American- and Sonoran-inspired

Tennessee-based Oscar’s Taco Shop has opened its fifth Arizona restaurant on the northeast corner of Scottsdale and Deer Valley in far north Scottsdale. The food: Breakfast burritos ($6.99) served all day, along with a large menu of other burros ($4.49-$9.19),

Famiglia Modern Italian Trattoria has opened in the former Uncorked Wine Lounge & Eatery space near the northeast corner of Scottsdale and Frank Lloyd Wright in north Scottsdale. The food: Besides starters and salads, the streamlined menu features five house-made