Amici Pizza in Chandler temporarily switches to takeout & delivery only
Jess Harter
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
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Dozens of members of the Valley’s food and drink industry have taken to social media to complain about new inconsistencies in Arizona’s alcohol-consumption regulations. Phoenix (along with Tucson and Flagstaff) has banned the on-premise consumption of alcohol beginning at 8
The East Valley’s last remaining large-scale food and drink festival in March finally has been halted due to the COVID-19 crisis. The KNIX BBQ & Beer Festival, which hoped to draw 50,000 people to Chandler’s Tumbleweed Park on March 28,
Press release: To our knowledge, there have been no cases of anyone infected with the coronavirus having been at Organ Stop Pizza. However, out of an abundance of caution over the current situation and the importance of social distancing in
Press release: In light of the current national healthcare emergency, all five Serrano’s Mexican Restaurants will be moving to takeout only beginning at 3 p.m. today. New hours will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 11
Press release: To support the shopping needs of older adults during this critical time, starting this Wednesday, March 18, all Bashas’, Food City and AJ’s grocery stores in the state of Arizona will open from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m.
Dozens of MXSW readers have asked me why I continue to cover East Valley restaurants and their struggle to survive during the COVID-19 crisis. The common refrain I hear: The sooner everything is shut down, the better for public health.
I’ve long said restaurants are the most generous businesses when it comes to charitable and community causes. This time of great uncertainty, which has many restaurants wondering about their own survival, hasn’t changed that. Sal’s Gilbert Pizza, concerned about children
Daily Dose, a chef-driven breakfast and lunch restaurant, has opened its third Valley location next to Tempe Marketplace. The local concept made its East Valley debut over the weekend next to the new Spinato’s Pizza on the northwest corner of
In a move that surely sent shivers up the spines of restaurant owners and employees nationwide, Ohio and Illinois announced Sunday they would close restaurants and bars in response to the growing COVID-19 pandemic. The number of confirmed U.S. cases
Press release: In light of the recent decision by the City of Tempe and recent national and local event cancellations, we are supporting the City of Tempe’s direction in canceling all public special events through April by canceling the spring
Press release: The Gem City Sours & Ciders Festival scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 21, in downtown Mesa has been rescheduled. The event that was set to bring local sour beers together for sampling side by side with
Great news for Clever Koi fans: The downtown Gilbert destination, which has been closed since a kitchen fire last August, hopes to reopen next month. Nick Campisano, co-owner of the popular Asian restaurant and craft cocktail bar, tells me the
Cafe MeSo and Proof 19, the restaurant and bar that launched a couple months ago in the new Marriott on the southwest corner of Price and Willis in Chandler, have unveiled revamped menus. Café MeSo serves American cuisine with Southwest
Year-old Amici Pizza in southwest Mesa has bolstered its menu with the addition of four Chef Specials: Chicken Marsala: Lightly floured chicken sautéed in homemade marsala wine sauce with mushrooms and onions ($16.99); Chicken Francese: Lightly floured chicken sautéed in
It’s a tough time to be a festival organizer as concerns about the covid-19 virus have forced the cancellation of hundreds of large events nationwide. Here in the East Valley, there are two or three major food and drink festivals
After months of delays, Gun Club 82 – an indoor shooting range, gun shop and store, restaurant, and bar – finally has opened near SanTan Village shopping center in Gilbert. The 29,000-square-foot venue is located between Top Golf and Main
SanTan Brewing & Distilling in Chandler is offering discounted tours of its production facility and tasting room to Cactus League baseball fans. The 50% discounts – tickets normally are $15 plus fees – are available with any Cactus League ticket
Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, a Florida-based chain of frozen treat shops, will make its Arizona debut on the southwest corner of Alma School and Ocotillo in south Chandler next month. The concept has 25 locations in Florida, but the Chandler location
Ella’s Cuisine, a restaurant specializing in French cuisine that opened in southwest Mesa in November 2018, has closed. It had taken over the building that was the longtime home of Pink Pepper Thai Cuisine on the southeast corner of Dobson and
Huge props to the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild, the breweries who donated beer and prizes, and everyone who attended Sunday’s fundraiser for local graphic artist Michal Mason’s fight against breast cancer. The afternoon event at QuartHaus in downtown Chandler raised
Scottsdale-based Mexican concept Barrio Queen has opened its fifth Valley location – and third in the East Valley – at Tempe Marketplace. The stand-alone building is located between Ruby Tuesday and Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill near the west end
If you’ve ever wondered why there’s no such thing as cupcake fondue, you’re in luck. Cupcake Queen, a Tempe-based mobile bakery, will celebrate its grand opening Friday at the Gilbert Feastival food truck roundup. Besides an assortment of cupcakes, the
The West Valley’s craft beer scene took a hit this week when Peoria’s Freak’N Brewing announced it will be closing at the end of the month. The good news is Glendale’s Throne Brewing will take over the location April 1.
Casa Blanca Bistro, a husband-and-wife-run Mexican restaurant, has opened on the northwest corner of Dobson and Guadalupe in southwest Mesa. It takes over the former Miele’s Italian restaurant, which closed in December. House specialities are barbacoa lamb, braised for six
Please welcome Central Pop, a year-old Chandler shop offering 45 flavors of popcorn, as MXSW’s newest sponsor. Flavors range from Pecan Praline Caramel to Loaded Baked Potato to Texas Chili. The store, located on the southwest corner of Cooper and Ray,
Openings In a change of concepts, Char’d Asian Grill replaced the 16-month-old Char’d Brisket Dogs & Burgers in Tempe. Read more Copper & Logs, a European-style gastropub with a wood-fired oven from the owners of Cuisine & Wine Bistro, opened in
Please welcome Hot Bamboo, a new restaurant on the northwest corner of McQueen and Pecos in Chandler, as MXSW’s newest sponsor. The Asian street food concept offers bao (steamed buns), dumplings, and rice bowls. Hot Bamboo, popular at Valley festivals
Rockwell Old Fashioned Ice Cream Company, an artisan ice cream shop in Provo, Utah, has launched a second location at SanTan Village Marketplace – between MOD Pizza and Smashburger – in Gilbert. Rockwell’s super-premium ice creams are made in-house with
Floridino’s Pizza & Pasta in Chandler has revealed its latest Pizza Muffin of the Month: The Reuben Pizza Muffin. The muffin features corned beef, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese all rolled up in pizza dough. It’s served with a side of
Great news for cider fans! You no longer have to drive to Cider Corps in downtown Mesa to buy its packaged ciders. The 2-year-old craft cidery now is canning three of its most popular apple-based hard ciders for sale at
Satay Hut, a Valley food truck that’s been serving Dutch-Indonesian cuisine for eight years, has shut down. ‘‘It is with heavy hearts that we announce that we are closing the Satay Hut Gourmet Food Truck effective immediately. We have run
Twenty-two Arizona chefs and restaurants have received nominations for this year’s James Beard Awards, the culinary world’s equivalent of the Oscars. Ten of those were nominated for Best Chef Southwest, a newly reconfigured geographical category that now includes Arizona, New
Local juice bar chain Kaleidoscope Juice has opened its seventh location – and first in the East Valley – in downtown Gilbert. It’s located behind Zinburger (next to the still-closed Clever Koi) in the Heritage Marketplace. Kaleidoscope’s other six locations
It’s taken seven years and 20 locations, but Salad and Go finally is coming to Tempe. The Gilbert-born chain of fast-food salad eateries is taking over the former Applebee’s building on the southeast corner of Rural and Broadway. Besides its
Barro’s Pizza, which opened its first Arizona pizzeria in Mesa in 1980, will open its 45th location at SanTan Village Marketplace in Gilbert. The family-owned chain bought the former Ruby Tuesday building on Market Street south of Williams Field. The
Today is Eat Your Art Out, an annual fundraiser for free arts programs administered by the Chandler Center for the Arts. Ten restaurants will be donating 25% of their proceeds during designated hours. Serrano’s Mexican Restaurant in downtown Chandler also
Today is Fat Tuesday, which means you’re practically obligated to enjoy some delicious pączki, especially when indulging will help out Valley non-profit St. Vincent de Paul. Pączki (pronounced ‘‘poonch-kee’’), if you’re not aware, are Polish pastries, similar to jelly doughnuts
Tempe-based Pedal Haus Brewery holds the soft opening of its first satellite location at 4 p.m. today in downtown Chandler. The new brewpub replaces its former sibling, Las Palmas Cantina, on Boston Street a block west of Arizona Avenue. Las
Founding Fathers Kitchen, an Ahwatukee gastropub and live music venue that’s earned rave reviews since opening in December, already is working on a second location. The concept debuted in the former Angry Crab Shack building on the northeast corner of
Farmhouse, a California-based farm-to-table concept from famed restaurateur Laurent Halasz, is getting a new name for its new location at Scottsdale Fashion Square. Halasz, probably best-known for his New York-based Fig & Olive restaurants, has renamed the Scottsdale location of
Que Chevere, a 4-year-old food truck offering Venezuelan fare such as arepas, empanadas, and tequenos, is opening a bricks-and-mortar restaurant in downtown Mesa. It’s taking over the former Slickables space on the north side of Main Street between Robson and
How many times have you tried to flag down a restaurant server to order another food item or drink? How many times have you been in a hurry to leave but had to wait around for your check? Frank Estadt,
Oregon-based Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill officially opens its fifth Valley location – and third in the East Valley – at 11 a.m. today on the southwest corner of Price and Frye behind Chandler Fashion Center. The 7,633-square-foot restaurant is
Chunk Cookies, a cookie-delivery concept that currently serves Tempe and Gilbert, is taking over the recently closed Sweet Tooth Fairy bakery on the southwest corner of Greenfield and Baseline in Gilbert. Fresh-baked cookies can be ordered online – four for
Bibio Modern Korean Kitchen, a fast-casual Korean restaurant that opened in southeast Gilbert in November, will launch a second location on the northwest corner of Kyrene and Chandler in west Chandler. Bibio’s menu offers build-your-own bowls. No opening date for
Ginger Monkey, a 3-year-old restaurant and bar on the southwest corner of Arizona Avenue and Ocotillo in south Chandler, will be featured on an upcoming episode of the Food Network’s ‘‘Restaurant: Impossible.’’ The TV show spends two days and $10,000
The Porch, ‘‘an upscale yet relaxed gastropub’’ in Arcadia, has opened a second location near the northwest corner of Baseline and Lakeshore in south Tempe. It’s a new 6,600-square-foot building next to Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. The Porch’s original location opened in
If you’ve been to SanTan Village shopping center in Gilbert this week, you may have noticed all the construction activity at the former Cantina Laredo, which closed last month. They’re already working on Bourbon & Bones, a chophouse offering steaks,
Tempe’s Pedal Haus Brewery announced its new brewpub in downtown Chandler will celebrate its grand opening Saturday, March 7. Look for a soft opening, however, by the end of the next week. The brewpub is replacing its former sibling Las
Mox Boarding House – a Seattle-based restaurant and board games concept – will open its fourth location in Chandler. It’s taking over the former Social Box Neighborhood Eatery, which closed in 2017 on Alma School between Warner and Ray. The
Creole Cajun Bistro, a family-run Southern-style restaurant on the southwest corner of Gilbert and Chandler Heights in south Chandler, has closed after five years in business. Owner Eric Rachal made the announcement on social media: ‘‘After 5 long years, we
Regroup Coffee & Bicycles, a hyper-green coffee bar inside a high-end bicycle boutique in Old Town Scottsdale, has opened a second location near the northeast corner of Scottsdale and Curry in north Tempe. The coffee bar specializes in responsibly sourced
Venezia’s Pizzeria, a family-owned business with five locations in the Valley, now offers a dairy-free version of their pizzas made with Follow Your Heart’s vegan blend of mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. Customers can choose the vegan cheese option for their
How fast can you eat spicy buffalo wings? As part of its two-year anniversary celebration this week, Flying Basset Brewing in Gilbert is holding a Hot Wing Challenge. For $10, you can get six special anniversary Hot Wings and a
Copper & Logs, a European-style gastropub with a wood-fired oven from the owners of Cuisine & Wine Bistro, has opened in Gilbert. It takes over the former home of Pizza A Metro, which closed in 2018, on the southwest corner
Gordon Biersch, a national chain of brewery restaurants offering elevated pub fare and German-style beers, abruptly closed its 13-year-old location at SanTan Village in Gilbert over the weekend. The chain’s only other Arizona location in Glendale also was closed. A
La Patrona Mexican Cuisine, a 9-month-old family-run restaurant east of downtown Mesa, was destroyed in a massive fire overnight. The restaurant was on the north side of Main Street, about halfway between Stapley and Gilbert, in a freestanding building that formerly
Goodbye, Char’d Brisket Dogs & Burgers. Hello, Char’d Asian Grill. Along with a new name, the 16-month-old fast-casual eatery on the northeast corner of Rural and Lemon in Tempe has unveiled a new menu. Diners build their own plates by
If you’ve perused the lineup for next month’s inaugural Gilbert Pizza Festival, you might wonder why Il Bosco in Old Town Scottsdale is going to be there. Well, it hasn’t been announced yet, but the fabulous wood-fired pizzeria is preparing
Hula’s Modern Tiki, a 1950s-inspired tiki bar concept, has opened its third Valley location at High Street shopping district in northeast Phoenix. It joins locations in Old Town Scottsdale and uptown Phoenix. The menu offers Polynesian-style foods such as luau
Elote Café, the award-winning Sedona restaurant from former Valley chef Jeff Smedstad, is moving to larger digs. The no-reservations Mexican eatery will close its 13-year-old location at the Arabella Hotel Sedona on Saturday, Feb 22, and plans to reopen in
The Valley’s restaurant scene is booming. There were 29 notable openings in January – nearly one new restaurant every day – ranging from world-famous Nobu in Scottsdale to the East Valley’s first Shake Shack. Openings Gadzooks Enchiladas & Soup, the
Mixt, a San Francisco-based chain of health-focused fast-casual restaurants, will make its Arizona debut at the Scottsdale Quarter this spring. Although best known for its large salads, Mixt also offers chef-crafted grain bowls, sandwiches, and market platters. The chain began
Ghett Yo Taco, the 2-year-old urban taqueria in downtown Chandler, has unveiled an expanded name and menu. Just a month after the closure of its sibling restaurant, B2 Burgers & Brews, the newly named Ghett Yo Tacos, Burritos & Sliders
The Stillery, a Nashville restaurant and bar popular for Southern comfort food and live country music, is coming to downtown Chandler. The 5,900-square-foot venue will open in the New Square development under construction in the former gravel parking lot behind
Chutneys Indian Cuisine, which has been closed for several months for renovations, finally reopens today on the southeast corner of McClintock and Baseline in south Tempe. The renovations and inspections took much longer than expected for Chutneys, which originally opened
Bar Louie, a Texas-based chain of self-described ‘‘gastrobars,’’ filed for bankruptcy Monday after abruptly closing nearly a third of its locations nationwide. A total of 98 locations remain open, including the only Valley ones at Tempe Marketplace (pictured) and Westgate
Twist Bistro & Gallery, a chef-driven restaurant and art space, is coming to The Summit shopping center on Scottsdale Road about eight miles north of the Loop 101 in north Scottsdale. It’s taking over a 1,876-square-foot space that formerly was
The Upward Projects restaurant group finally has confirmed the rampant rumors of the past two weeks: Postino will move into the just-closed Tempe Public Market Cafe. Construction is expected to begin in February on Postino’s seventh Valley location on the
Pour Wine & Taproom, which launched in southeast Mesa in February 2019, is opening a second location next to Steak & Stone at Falcon Field in northeast Mesa. The new location, called Flights Wine & Taproom, is taking over the
Sherpa Kitchen, the Valley’s first Nepali restaurant, has opened on the southeast corner of McQueen and Elliot in Gilbert. It takes over the space next to Filiberto’s that formerly was home to Indian restaurant Curry Garden, which closed in September.
Cock N Tails Modern Brasserie, a rock-and-roll-themed restaurant and bar, opens today near the northeast corner of Seventh Street and Bethany Home in uptown Phoenix. It takes over the space that formerly was home to The Hatter and Hare and,
Pho & Roll is taking over the former Pig & Pickle space on the northwest corner of Hayden and Thomas in Scottsdale. The 7-year-old gastropub closed last July. (Photo courtesy of Larry Padgett)
Nobu, one of the world’s most famous restaurants, will make its Arizona debut Monday in the luxury wing of Scottsdale Fashion Center. Namesake founder Nobu Matsuhisa (pictured above) is credited with creating a new style of Japanese cuisine by using
The Original Golden Skone, a chain of popular Valley restaurants in the 1970s, is making a comeback in San Tan Valley. Tom Smith opened his first restaurant, The El Ray, while he and his wife, Katherine, were living in Idaho.
Protein Pancakes have been U.S. Egg‘s most popular menu item since they were introduced in 1986, and now you can get a version to take anywhere. All six of the family-owned breakfast-and-lunch restaurants are selling Protein Pancake Bars for $3
Wartega Brewing – a Brooklyn, N.Y., brewery that specializes in globally inspired ales made with historical ingredients – is moving to the Valley. Husband and wife Merlin U. Ward and Mimi Ortega (Ward + Ortega = Wartega) opened their brewery
Morning Kick Breakfast & Cold Brew, an American-style breakfast and lunch eatery from the owners of a popular East Valley food truck with the same name, opens today on the northwest corner of Higley and Chandler Heights in southeast Gilbert.
Chandler has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking a new contractor for the café located inside the Downtown Chandler Public Library. Proposals may include, but are not limited to: Food, drink, and/or coffee sales; Coffee- and tea-related merchandise; Gifts.
GuacStar Kitchen & Cantina, an all-plant-based Mexican restaurant and bar, is coming to the Cornerstone plaza on the northeast corner of Rural and University in Tempe. It’s taking over the second-floor next to the Improv that formerly was home to
Justin Evans, the guy behind The Sleepy Whale (pictured) in Chandler and The Golden Pineapple soon to open in Tempe, is planning to add another taproom in Gilbert. The still-unnamed venue will be a 3,000-square-foot space at the Epicenter development
The owners of Cuisine & Wine Bistro in Chandler and Gilbert will debut a new concept, a gastropub called Copper & Logs, on the southwest corner of Greenfield and Warner in Gilbert. It takes over the space formerly home to
Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill has announced its third East Valley location will open on Tuesday, Feb. 18, behind Chandler Fashion Center. The 7,600-square-foot restaurant is part of the new Chandler Viridian development on the south side of the mall.
Copper Mule Kitchen & Bar, a New American restaurant and bar, has opened on the southeast corner of Scottsdale and Pinnacle Peak in north Scottsdale. The menu features burgers, sandwiches, tacos, and other entrees (see the lunch and dinner menus.)
Hop Central Brewery & Taproom in Chandler celebrates its two-year anniversary from 2 p.m.-close Saturday. Festivities will include the return of Hop Central’s Big Tasty imperial brown ale, which will be $3 for pints all day. Happy hour pricing will
Tempe Public Market Cafe, a casual neighborhood hangout offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner, has closed after two years. According to its social media post: ‘‘This was not an easy decision and we cannot express our gratitude for every person that
Scottsdale’s Goldwater Brewing officially opens its first satellite location – a taproom in northeast Mesa – at 11 a.m. today. The 2,200-square-foot taproom is located in the new Longbow Marketplace on the southwest corner of the Loop 202 and Recker. The
One of the Valley’s top barbecue joints – Pork on a Fork in north Phoenix – makes its Gilbert Feastival debut today. The weekly food truck roundup takes place 5:30-9 p.m. Fridays next to Sam’s Club on the northeast corner
Cheba Hut, which opened last month in downtown Chandler, will hold its official grand opening celebration Friday. The national chain of cannabis-themed sandwich shops’ newest location is on the southwest corner of Arizona and Boston. (Despite the sandwich shop’s theme,
Wimpy’s Paradise, a well-loved hamburger and hot dog joint in downtown Chandler that closed in 2018, is making a comeback of sorts. Owner Randy Walters (pictured) is partnering with Ginger Monkey to offer Wimpy’s popular menu items in the south
In one of the quietest Valley restaurant launches in memory, California-based Zinqué has made its Arizona debut at Scottsdale Fashion Square. The coffee and wine bar is located on the west side of Goldwater north of Camelback, just outside the
Tempe craft distillery Adventurous Stills will celebrate its third anniversary from 1-8 p.m. Saturday. Bottles of its whiskeys, vodkas, and gins will be available for $3 off. Mixologists from downtown Chandler’s Hidden House and Brickyard Downtown will be creating some
iPic, a Florida-based chain of dine-in movie theaters that debuted in Scottsdale in 2010, announced it will close its only Arizona location at the Scottsdale Quarter on Thursday, Jan. 30. The luxury theaters offer a full menu of appetizers, entrees,
