Author: Jess Harter

Iowa Cafe, home of Midwest favorites like Maid-Rite loose-meat sandwiches (pictured) and breaded pork tenderloins, has moved to a new east Mesa location about a mile away. The restaurant, which was on McKellips between Higley and Recker for 26 years,

Lucky Break Billiards Bar & Grill, a 6,000-square-foot upscale sports bar and pool hall, opens at 3 p.m. today on the southeast corner of McClintock and Baseline roads in Tempe. Over the past four months, the former Devils Hideaway has been

Rock Taco Cantina, a Mexican restaurant with a rock ‘n’ roll vibe that opened in June at Chandler Fashion Center, has closed its doors. Owner Patrick Flynn had hoped his higher-end restaurant and bar would appeal to 25-to-55-year-old women, the

Casa Ramos, a popular Mexican restaurant in Heber, has opened a second location on Main Street between Stapley and Gilbert roads in Mesa. The extensive menu offers 27 lunch specials ($6.50-$7.95, available until 3 p.m. weekdays) and 25 dinner specials

Mad Dog Saloon Sports Bar & Grill has opened in the recently vacated Salty Senorita, taking over the 7,400-square-foot building on the northwest corner of Stapley and Baseline in Mesa. The new sports bar has big-screen TVs, pool tables, darts,

Almost everyone of central or eastern European heritage is familiar with pierogi. From Minnesota to Massachusetts, the filled dumplings are standard fare at church socials and American Legion halls. But, sadly, the making of pierogi is becoming a lost art.

Sergio and Giuseppe Miele (pictured), the brothers who own the terrific Italian bistro Miele’s in Tempe, open a second venture – Amalfi Pizzeria – today in south Chandler. Amalfi takes over the former Streets of New York space on the northeast corner of

BoomBozz Pizza & Taphouse opens its doors at 3 p.m. today at Gilbert Town Square, taking over the former Boston’s Gourmet Pizza building on Gilbert Road south of Warner. It will be BoomBozz’s fifth location; the other four are in Louisville,

Kiley’s Grill, a Chandler sports bar known for its inexpensive food and drink specials, has closed its doors. The restaurant, located on Alma School between Elliot and Warner, opened in the fall of 2009. Its extensive menu included 16 appetizers, 10

Longtime MXSW readers know we like to do “food tours” where we check out several restaurants in a single day, usually revolving around a theme. Readers also know we haven’t done one in quite a while. Well, the drought is

Antars Sports Bistro has opened on downtown Tempe, taking over the second-story space at Mill Avenue and Seventh Street that formerly housed Bamboo Club. As a result of the opening, Michael Antar, one of three brothers who own the business,

Say goodbye to Red White & Brew in Chandler. Employees showed up for work today only to discover the restaurant has been closed. “Basically we were blindsided,” said one staffer. “We were told the restaurant is permanently closed.” Red White

Vintage 95, a new wine lounge in downtown Chandler, hosted an invitation-only soft opening tonight and opens its doors to the public at 5 p.m. Friday. The lounge takes over the former Siracha space, and the changes are numerous, including

Cathy’s Rum Cake Caterers, a Valley institution for nearly 37 years, has closed its last remaining location in Chandler, the Republic reports. Over the last year, Cathy’s had closed its Scottsdale and Phoenix locations. Owner Cathy Bua blames the struggling

Streets of New York, the local pizzeria mega-chain with two dozen locations in the Valley, closed its south Chandler restaurant on the northeast corner of Chandler Heights and Alma School on Saturday. It’s the second recent failure in the space:

[portfolio_slideshow] Thirsty Lion Pub & Grill, a self-described “upscale casual gastro-style pub,” opens Tuesday in the former Maria Maria space at Tempe Marketplace. It’ll be the Arizona debut of the concept, whose two other locations are in Portland, Ore. The 400-seat

U.S. Egg has opened its fourth Valley location on the northeast corner of Chandler Boulevard and Kyrene Road in west Chandler. The popular breakfast-and-lunch eatery – perhaps best-known for its Protein Pancakes (pictured) – also has locations in Tempe, Scottsdale

After months of preserving its amateur status, Mouth by Southwest is finally going pro. Regular readers may have noticed the square ad that appeared Thursday in the right-hand column of this website. Talk of the Town Asian Diner officially becomes our

The Sushi Room – a new concept from the owners of The Living Room – will open its doors at 4 p.m. Friday. The Sushi Room is located at the opposite (west) end of the same building as The Living

Perhaps the worst-kept secret in Arizona craft beer circles is finally out: Four Peaks Brewing will open a second brewery in Tempe next summer. The new brewery will be located in an industrial park about a half-mile west of Mill