Author: Jess Harter

🥩 J. Alexander’s is back in the Valley after more than a decade away. The Tennessee-based chain of polished American grills – known for wood-fired steaks, hearty comfort classics, and a buttoned-up-but-welcoming vibe – officially opens at 4 p.m. Monday

🇯🇵 Akamaru , a family-run modern Japanese restaurant offering ‘‘Tokyo-meets-New York’’ fare, has opened in north Scottsdale. It takes over the former Duck Donuts space in the Sonora Village shopping center on the southwest corner of Pima and Frank Lloyd Wright. Akamaru’s menu

☕️ Villa Meola Coffee – a casual hangout for entire families, including young children – has partnered with the Gelato Cimmino shops in downtown Gilbert and Old Town Scottsdale. Specialty drinks include spumoni and cannoli iced lattes, bicerins (a hot

🥚 Effin Egg, a Florida-based chain of fast-casual breakfast eateries, has made its Arizona debut next to Trevor’s Liquor near the southeast corner of Indian School and 36th Street in Phoenix. It takes over the space formerly home to Freshly

🍸 Il Asilo, a four-year-old restaurant and bar on the northwest corner of Thunderbird and Seventh Street in Phoenix, has been sold and renamed The Corner Bar. The new owners are Lindsey Walsh and Sandi Zerlaut, who also own The Playa

🍔 Bad Jimmy’s, a former burger pop-up concept, has opened its fourth brick-and-mortar restaurant in the past two years. This time, it’s taken over the former Gadzooks Enchiladas & Soup space on the southwest corner of University and Wilson, just west

🇮🇳 Spicy Hut, a casual yet vibrant eatery that blends classic North and South Indian dishes with a few creative twists, has opened near the northeast corner of University and McClintock in Tempe. It takes over the University strip-mall space

🏀 There’s been a lineup change for sports fans in southeast Mesa: Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux has been replaced by a new concept called Tasteful Tailgates. Walk-On’s, a Louisiana-based chain of sports bars co-owned by former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew