Author: Jess Harter

🍕 Crusty Pizza has opened its doors, bringing hand-tossed pies and a casual neighborhood vibe to the southwest corner of San Tan Boulevard and Grapefruit Drive in Queen Creek. It takes over the space formerly home to Fyre Subs in the

🎣 Scottsdale Fashion Square just hooked a big one: Catch, the buzzed-about seafood and steakhouse concept with outposts in New York, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, has officially dropped anchor in Arizona. Known for its glittering interiors, lively vibe, and

🥢 Pepper Lunch, a Japanese “fast-steak” chain with more than 540 locations in 17 countries, makes its long-awaited Arizona debut Saturday at the brand-new University Gateway Building near the southeast corner of Mill and University in Tempe. Founded in 1994,

🦆 Maggie’s Lounge – a chef-driven New American restaurant, bar, patio, and boutique named after a male duck – has opened in Apache Junction. It’s located just north of where Apache Trail splits (between Ironwood and Idaho). The eclectic menu

🥣 Bowl Lab, an health-focused eatery that describes itself as ‘‘where flavor meets intention,’’ has opened on the southwest corner of Olive and 43rd avenues in Glendale. The menu offers a variety of signature bowls, including the Mexican Sunrise, Southwest

🇮🇳 Arusuvai Kitchen, a small restaurant specializing in South Indian cuisine, has opened on the northeast corner of Dobson and Baseline in Mesa. It takes over the strip-mall space formerly home to Chinese restaurant Lucky Wok. House specialities include Chettinad

🍔 ProteinHouse, a Las Vegas-based fast-casual concept focused on healthy eating, has opened its fourth Valley location on the southeast corner of Mill and University in Tempe. The all-day menu includes breakfast sandwiches, protein pancakes, salads, bowls, wraps, and burgers

🍦 Snowbird Ice Cream Co., Fountain Hills’ only dedicated ice cream shop, has opened on the southwest corner of Avenue of the Fountains and Verde River Drive. Founded by 21-year-old Fountain Hills resident Izaak Wontorski, the 860-square-foot shop features a

🍕 Old Town Pizza, a family-run restaurant specializing in New York-style pizzas, has opened in Old Town Scottsdale. It takes over the space formerly home to Crisp Premium Pizza near the southwest corner of Craftsman and Fifth Avenue. Besides thin-crust

🌮 Chilaquiles Modern Kitchen, a Mexican restaurant with two locations in Mesa, has launched a third on the southwest corner of John Wayne Parkway and Smith Enke in Maricopa. The signature dish, obviously, is chilaquiles, available with red sauce, green