Author: Jess Harter

🌮 Cien Fuegos, a Mexican restaurant from the son of the owners of Casa Corazon, has opened in the former La Cocina space near the southwest corner of 16th Street and McDowell in Phoenix. Menu highlights include pipian verde (chicken

🍸 Belmont Kitchen & Cocktails, a self-described ‘‘casually sophisticated’’ restaurant offering seasonal cuisine and craft cocktails, has opened in north Scottsdale. It’s located in the former New York Bagels ‘N Bialys space next to Mastro’s on the northwest corner of Pima

🍺 Copper State Taphouse has opened in the former Papago Brewing space at Mesa Riverview. The iconic Papago closed a couple weeks ago after a two-year resurrection. While Papago boasted 60 beers on tap, Copper State’s tap list offers 28

🍳 Hope’s Brunch House has opened in the former IHOP building on the west side of Central about halfway between McDowell and Thomas in central Phoenix. Highlights of the huge menu include oven-baked biscuit sandwiches (two for $14), smokey grits

🍔 Bubba’s 33, a Kentucky-based restaurant and ‘‘garage bar’’ concept from the founder of Texas Roadhouse, has opened its third Valley location on the southeast corner of I-10 and Warner in south Tempe. The late Kent Taylor created Bubba’s – a

🍳 Scottsdale-based brunch concept Over Easy has opened its 17th Valley location  at GSQ in downtown Goodyear. Menu highlights such as banana nut French toast, chicken fried steak, and ham with red-eye gravy have been featured on the Food Network’s

🥃 The Bar, a self-described neighborhood tavern ‘‘particularly reminiscent of the state of Michigan,’’ has soft-opened in uptown Phoenix. The locally owned concept’s second current location takes over the former Mateo’s Beach Bar space on the northwest corner of Seventh Avenue

🧇 Sweet Paris Creperie & Café, a Houston-based chain specializing in sweet and savory crepes, has made its Arizona debut at the Scottsdale Quarter. It’s located next to the Apple store on the northeast corner of Scottsdale and Butherus in

🍣 Omatase Japanese Kitchen, a new restaurant from the former owners of Sushi Stop in Mesa, has opened in the food court at the Asiana Market on the northeast corner of Dobson and Southern in west Mesa. The menu offers