Author: Jess Harter

Pasta78, a new fast-casual build-your-own-pasta concept, has opened on the northeast corner of the 101 and Chandler Boulevard in Chandler. What’s in a name? The name is a reference to the 78 different combinations of pasta, sauce, and protein diners

Monroe’s Hot Chicken, the 21-month-old downtown Phoenix eatery specializing in Nashville-style hot chicken, has opened a second location at The Watermark on the north side of Tempe Town Lake. Where: The $150 million mixed-use development is located near the southwest

Slice Eat, a new ‘‘gourmet Italian’’ drive-through concept from Luca Gagliano, the owner of downtown Phoenix pizzeria Forno 301, has opened in south Scottsdale. It’s located next to Taco Bell on the southwest corner of Scottsdale and Thomas. The menu: Wood-fired

The Hudson Eatery & Bar, a fast-casual hangout in Tempe’s Hudson Manor neighborhood, will hold its soft opening with limited food and drink menus at 11 a.m. today. The space: The heavily renovated building, formerly a real estate office, includes

Belly, the long-awaited first restaurant from the Instrumental Hospitality Group, has opened for takeout only on the southeast corner of Camelback and Seventh Avenue in Phoenix. Who is Instrumental Hospitality: The Southeast Asian kitchen and cocktail bar is led by

Stoop Kid, a New York-style bagel and coffee shop, will open at 7 a.m. Friday in the former Commander Hamburger spot at The Churchill in downtown Phoenix. Commander Hamburger, a sister restaurant of Citizen Public House and The Gladly, closed

Wicked Brews, Bites & Spirits has opened in the former Uncle Bear’s space on the southwest corner of I-10 and Ray in Ahwatukee. However, the venue still is awaiting its liquor license and has only been serving food. The menu

Lure Fish House, a California-based chain of high-end seafood restaurants, has made its Arizona debut at the Shops at Gainey Village on the southeast corner of Doubletree Ranch and Scottsdale in north Scottsdale. It’s taken over the 6,336-square-foot space that

Utah-based bakery Twisted Sugar opens its second Arizona location today at Agritopia on the northwest corner of Higley and Ray in Gilbert. The chain made its Arizona debut in June on the northwest corner of Cooper and Warner in Gilbert. Twisted

Valley-based Press Coffee opens its fourth East Valley location Friday at The Reserve at San Tan complex located behind TJ Maxx and Hobby Lobby on the southeast corner of Gilbert and Germann in Gilbert. As a grand opening special, drip coffee

Adalbertos Mexican Food, a Scottsdale fixture for more than 25 years, has launched a second quick-service restaurant near Chandler Fashion Center. It’s located in the same plaza as Dutch Bros. Coffee on the southwest corner of Chandler Boulevard and Chandler

Prescott-based Superstition Meadery holds the grand opening what it’s calling the ‘‘world’s first mead and food pairing restaurant’’ Saturday in downtown Phoenix. It had a soft opening this week in the 92-year-old Jim Ong’s Market building on the northeast corner

GuacStar Kitchen & Cantina, a plant-based Mexican restaurant whose March opening was delayed by the covid-19 pandemic, finally opens at 5 p.m. today. The 4,650-square-foot restaurant is located on the second floor of the Cornerstone plaza on the northeast corner

The Kolache Cafe, an Ahwatukee bakery specializing in its namesake Czech pastries, has announced its grand opening will take place Nov. 13-15. It’s located on the northeast corner of Ray and Ranch Circle in the same shopping center with The

Duplex, a Hong Kong-style cafe and coffee shop, has opened on the southeast corner of McClintock and Broadway in Tempe. Signature drinks include Hong Kong milk tea and salty lemon tea, as well as a variety of fresh fruit drinks.

SoJo’s Donuts, a bakery specializing in handmade vegan doughnuts and pastries, has opened on the southwest corner of Alma School and Guadalupe in southwest Mesa. It takes over a space that has housed several previous bakeries, including Daylight Donuts, Dori’s

Acai Waffle, an eatery focused on so-called ”superfoods,’’ has taken over the former Doner Dudes Express space on the northeast corner of Mill and Fifth in downtown Tempe. Customers choose a style – waffle, waffle bowl, waffle cone, or plastic

The Revelry – an indoor-outdoor ‘‘food and entertainment collective’’ with a sports bar, a virtual shooting lounge and restaurant, high-tech mini golf course, and a retro-inspired arcade bar – has opened at Mesa Riverview. The first phase of the 64,000-square-foot

Fried Spudz, a new eatery specializing in loaded fries and chicken wings, has opened on the northeast corner of Lindsay and Warner in Gilbert. It takes over the former Shorty & Wags, which closed last month. The menu features fries

Messana’s Chicago Hot Dogs, an eatery offering only Chicago-style dogs and hand-cut fries, has opened on the northwest corner of Kyrene and Elliot in south Tempe. It takes over the strip-mall space that formerly was home to Gandolfo’s New York

Tacos Tijuana, which started in 2016 as a family-run food truck in the West Valley, has opened its second East Valley bricks-and-mortar restaurant on the southeast corner of McQueen and Elliot in Gilbert. It takes over a standalone building formerly

Salad and Go, the Gilbert-born drive-through concept that launched in 2013, opens its 24th location today on the northeast corner of McClintock and Elliot in south Tempe. It’s the third location to open in Tempe in the past four months,

CoreLife Eatery, a fast-casual concept specializing in healthy food, makes its Arizona debut this week on the northeast corner of McClintock and Warner in south Tempe. CoreLife uses only grass-fed beef, antibiotic-free chicken and pork, and cage-free eggs. All ingredients

Chantico, a Mexican restaurant from the owners of Ocotillo, has opened on the southwest corner of 11th Street and Camelback in Phoenix. The diverse menu draws inspiration from all parts of Mexico, featuring such items as birria (goat) tacos, braised

The Craftsman Cocktails & Kitchen – a self-described ‘‘neighborhood restaurant offering hand-crafted cocktails, scratch kitchen, and a welcoming ‘come as you are’ atmosphere’’ – opens at 5 p.m. today in north Scottsdale. It’s taken over the former Tavern Americana space

The Pizza Experience, a chef-driven concept that promises “no more boring pizza,’’ has opened on the southeast corner of Lindsay and Warner in Gilbert. It takes over a standalone building that formerly was home to Michael’s Pizza and, before that,

Michigan-based Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea has opened its first Arizona location on the northwest corner of the 101 and Raintree in north Scottsdale. In addition to a large menu of globally influenced coffees and teas, Sweetwaters offers Ice Dragons (frozen

Sweet Republic, the award-winning artisan ice cream shop, opens its third location at noon today at The Watermark on the north side of Tempe Town Lake. The $150 million mixed-use development is located near the southwest corner of Scottsdale and

Eatalio Pasta & Wine, a new fast-casual Italian concept, has opened in the former Local Eats strip-mall space on the northwest corner of Higley and Chandler Heights in southeast Gilbert. The concept is a pared-down version of the owners’ Napoli

Endgame, a gamer-centric restaurant and bar in downtown Tempe that closed in 2016, has reopened near the southeast corner of Alma School and Southern in Mesa. The 15,000-square-foot space, most recently America’s Cheesecake Cafe, features 40 new gaming stations and

The Stillery, a Nashville-based restaurant and bar concept featuring Southern comfort food and live country music, holds its grand opening today in downtown Chandler. The 5,800-square-foot venue is in the New Square development in the former gravel parking lot behind

Little O’s, a mini version of popular OHSO Brewery dubbed ‘‘Your OHSO Brewery Joint,’’ has made its debut in downtown Phoenix. The restaurant, bar, and dog-friendly patio took over the former Zoe’s Kitchen near the southeast corner of Seventh Avenue and

Kimbob Sushi, a to-go specializing in Korean-style makizushi, has opened inside the Asiana Market on the northeast corner of Dobson and Southern in Mesa. It’s located in a stand-alone stall – not in the market’s food court. Kimbob, more commonly

Ghett Yo Pizza, Sliders & More, a sibling concept to downtown Chandler’s Ghett Yo Tacos, Burritos & Sliders, opens today in Ahwatukee. It takes over the former Jimmy & Joe’s Pizzeria in the Safeway center on the southwest corner of

The former Cuisine & Wine Bistro on the northeast corner of McQueen and Warner in Gilbert makes its debut as B Gastrobar, an American-style gastropub, at 3 p.m. today. The rebranded concept, still under the same ownership, features a full

Nurdberger, a Globe eatery known for its delicious burgers and over-the-top desserts, has opened a second location near the southeast corner of Gilbert and Warner in Gilbert. It takes over the space formerly home to Aldu Dominican Cuisine, which closed

East Valley-based Thai Chili 2 Go, a chain of to-go Thai eateries, opens its 10th location today on the southwest corner of I-10 and Chandler in Ahwatukee. To celebrate, all diners will receive 50% off their orders today. Use the code

Backyard Taco, an award-winning chain of local taco shops born in a Mesa backyard, has opened its fourth location on Gilbert Road about a quarter-mile south of Germann in southeast Chandler. Its fast-casual menu offers tacos, burritos, quesadillas, tostadas, gorditas,

Federico Venturini and Viola Tagliaferri, the husband-and-wife team behind year-old Carefree pizzeria Pizzicata, are opening an upscale restaurant, Pomodoro Italian Grill & Seafood. They’re partnering with Cave Creek resident Philip Igneri on the concept, which is taking over the former

GoGo Greens, a virtual restaurant featuring salads, has opened in Tempe. It offers five salads available only via delivery by DoorDash, Grubhub, or Postmates. The menu features a garden salad, Caesar salad, chopped veggie salad, Cobb salad, and Sedona salad.