Author: Jess Harter

Amarone Ristorante Italiano has closed after little more than six months at Warner and Greenfield roads in Gilbert, and already been reopened as Tutti Santi by Nina. It marks the sixth Valley location of Tutti Santi, which also is Italian

Last year, SanTan Brewing Company was involved in a well-publicized battle with Arizona State University over the name of the downtown Chandler brewery’s Sun Devil Ale (which eventually was renamed Devil’s Ale). Now SanTan is battling giant Boston Beer Company,

Valley landmark Mary Coyle Ol’ Fashion Ice Cream and Yogurt will close – barring a last-minute sale – by the end of May. Owner Bob Kelly says business has dropped off 30 to 40 percent at his 60-year-old central Phoenix business:

From the we-wish-this-was-a-joke file: Blair River, the 572-pound Mesa man who gained worldwide attention last fall when he was named the official spokesman of Chandler’s infamous Heart Attack Grill, has died at age 29. The cause of River’s unexpected death

Mellow Mushroom, an Atlanta-based pizza chain, will open its second Valley location March 14 at Mill and Seventh Street in downtown Tempe. Local franchisee Jay Beskind opened his first location in northwest Phoenix more than a year ago. The 8,000-square-foot

Cactus Moon Sports Grill – a sports bar, family restaurant, billiards hall and nightclub – has opened at Mesa Riverview. The 13,000-square-foot venue is the latest project of brothers Gary and Phillip Graham, who recently opened Denim & Diamonds in Mesa and

A new French restaurant, La Petite France, is scheduled to open March 5 at the Seville Shopping Center in north Scottsdale. The owners are Denis and Catherine Michel, who recently moved to the Valley from Strasbourg, France, which is close

Johnny Chu, chef-owner of Sens Asian Tapas in Phoenix, has been hired to create an Asian tapas menu for The Mint, a trendy restaurant and “ultra lounge” scheduled to open in Scottsdale’s nightlife district in April. The Mint, which takes

Pancake cupcakes with maple cream frosting and topped with bacon? That’s just one of the treats you’ll find at Top It Cupcakes, a gourmet cupcake shop that’s opened in Gilbert Town Square on Gilbert Road south of Warner. The shop

Bomberos Café & Wine Bar, which has been at an impasse over its lease with its landlord for nine months, has announced it will close March 6. On its Facebook page, the South American bistro says it is looking for

Scottsdale’s SouthBridge has claimed yet another restaurant: Metro Brasserie has closed. The first of seven dining spaces in the restaurants-and-retail development originally opened as Foodbar in 2007. Foodbar closed after a year and was replaced by Metro, a French restaurant.

Thirteenorth Grille has taken over the north Phoenix space that used to house Marcellino Ristorante. Owner Chase Herrick and chef Thomas Ryan describe the new restaurant as an “American neighborhood grill.” Marcellino moved to Old Town Scottsdale last year. Thirteenorth

After months of delays, Oregano’s Pizza Bistro finally opens its long-awaited Chandler location today on the northeast corner of Germann and Dobson. The popular local chain already has restaurants in all the other major East Valley cities – Tempe, Scottsdale,

After a week of VIP parties, Sam Fox’s latest restaurant concept – The Arrogant Butcher at downtown Phoenix’s CityScape – opens to the public today. The menu can be described as elevated comfort food. For lunch, there’s a roasted squash

After 16 months at Caffe Boa, chef Payton Curry has given notice. His final day at the downtown Tempe restaurant and its year-old sibling, Caffe Boa Bistro in east Mesa, will be Monday. The 31-year-old plans to open his own

If you ever need evidence of the hardiness of Valley beer lovers, look no further than Saturday’s Strong Beer Festival. Despite 50-degree temperatures, gusty winds and a steady rain, more than a thousand people flocked to Steele Indian School Park

Short-lived Vatra Grillhouse in Arcadia has reopened as Kitchen 56 with new management, a new chef and a new menu of casual American comfort food. Now heading the kitchen is Jonathan Stonis, formerly of Olive & Ivy and Bloom. Now Open in

The James Beard Award semifinalists for 2011 were announced this morning, and Kevin Binkley of Cave Creek’s Binkley’s Restaurant and Silvana Salcido Esparza of Phoenix’s Barrio Café (both pictured) once again are in contention for Best Chef – Southwest. A third Arizona

Who’s up for some orange chicken for lunch tomorrow? Two months after getting the boot from its landlord, popular Tott’s Asian Diner reopens Friday in Chandler, less than three mile south of its former Tempe location. Tott’s has taken over the

Elements chef Beau MacMillan (center), who was just replaced on “Worst Cooks in America,” will resurface on the Food Network next month. MacMillan will compete on a March 6 episode of “Chopped All-Stars” to raise money for charities. Other chefs