Author: Jess Harter

🍷 Pinard Wine Bar, which promises a European-style dining and wine drinking experience, has opened in north Scottsdale. It takes over the space formerly home to The Craftsman on the southeast corner of Hayden Road and Thompson Peak Parkway. The

🥗 Aubergine Kitchen, a Utah-based chain of health-focused eateries, has made its Arizona debut on the northeast corner of Val Vista Drive and Baseline Road in Mesa. The menu features salads, sandwiches, bowls, and plates made with unprocessed whole foods,

🍺 OHSO Brewery & Distillery, which closed its north Scottsdale location March 4 for a ground-up remodeling, reopens it today near the southwest corner of Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard and the Loop 101. Amenities include OHSO’s new Test Kitchen, where

🐓🍤 George’s Chicken & Shrimp, an eatery that uses what it calls a ‘‘Chicago-style chicken batter,’’ has opened on the northeast corner of Priest Drive and Warner Road in south Tempe. Besides fried chicken and fried shrimp, the menu includes

🍣 Yellowtail Sushi, which closed its popular Glendale restaurant near Bell Road and 83rd Avenue two years ago, has reopened on the northwest corner of the Loop 101 and 59th Avenue. The menu offers more than 40 sushi rolls, nigiri, sashimi,

🎲 Forks & Boards – a large restaurant and bar attached to Gamers Guild, one of the country’s largest gaming stores – has opened on the northeast corner of Bell Road and 19th Avenue in north Phoenix. The menu features salads,

🍨 Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream, a Youngstown, Ohio-based chain, opens its ninth Valley store today next to AJ’s Fine Foods on the southeast corner of Scottsdale and Lone Mountain roads in Cave Creek. Approximately four dozen flavors – such as blueberry

🌮 Blanco Cocina & Cantina, the Sonoran-style Mexican concept from restaurateur Sam Fox, opens its fifth Valley location – and the first in the West Valley – today at The Park at 83 near the southeast corner of the Loop

🍦 Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, a Columbus, Ohio-based chain that made its Arizona debut last year in Old Town Scottsdale, celebrates the opening of its second Valley scoop shop at the Scottsdale Quarter from 7-11 p.m. today with free scoops

🍩 Randy’s Donuts, a famed Los Angeles doughnut shop that has appeared in dozens of movies and TV shows, has opened its third Valley shop – all in the past six months – near the southeast corner of Queen Creek