Author: Jess Harter

 Mexican restaurant Okay Maguey, a self-described ‘‘scratch kitchen gourmet taco bar,’’ has opened near the southeast corner of Tatum and Cactus in northeast Phoenix. Nine kinds of tacos, ranging from Michoacán-style pork to garlic shrimp to conchinita pibil, are the

🇮🇹 A Gourmet, an Italian-inspired artisan sandwich shop, has opened on the southeast corner of Bell and Litchfield in Surprise. The menu consists of 10 sandwiches, including the Prosciutto (pictured, with aged Italian prosciutto, truffle pecorino spread, burrata. basil pesto, and

🍳 Scottsdale-based brunch concept Over Easy has launched its 13th Valley location on the southwest corner of Gantzel and Combs in Queen Creek. The restaurant, built by Laurshan Construction, offers popular dishes such as banana nut french toast (pictured), waffle-wrapped sausages on a stick,

🍔 I’ve lived in the Valley long enough to remember when we had A&W Restaurant drive-ins. Back in the ’80s, I drove past one at Stapley and Broadway in Mesa every day on my way to work. Eventually, though, all Valley

🍱 Pacific Rim & Bento, a counter-service Hawaiian BBQ restaurant from the owners of the two-year-old Pacific Rim & Sushi food truck, has opened near the northeast corner of Dobson and Southern in west Mesa. The menu features Hawaiian plates (such as BBQ

🍔 Iconic White Castle, which lays claim to being America’s first fast-food hamburger chain (started in 1921), opens its third Valley restaurant with a ribbon-cutting at 8 a.m. today near the northwest corner of I-10 and Bullard in Goodyear. The 3,220-square-foot