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Local artisan ice cream shop Sweet Republic is offering a limited-time series of Olympic-themed flavors representing the continents symbolized by the five Olympic rings: The flavors For a good cause From now until the Olympics closing ceremony on Aug.
Venezia’s New York Style Pizzeria launches a new concept, Presto, at 10:0 a.m. Wednesday at Sun Devil Marketplace on the northwest corner of College and Seventh Street in north Tempe. “As long-time partners with ASU Athletics, opening a location
Bisbee Breakfast Club, an Arizona chain known for its homestyle breakfasts and house-made pies, has opened its third East Valley location at the Rivulon center near the northeast corner of Gilbert and the Loop 202 in Gilbert. The building
Frutta Bowls, a New Jersey-based chain specializing in açai bowls and smoothies, makes its Arizona debut today on the northwest corner of Gilbert and Baseline in Mesa. The menu also offers six kinds of toasts and six different protein bites.
Arkansas-based fast-food chain Slim Chickens has opened its second Valley restaurant on the northwest corner of Happy Valley and 35th Avenue in Glendale. The menu offers chicken sandwiches, tenders, wraps, bowls, and a choice of 14 dipping sauces. Hours are 10 a.m.-10
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Perfect Pear Bistro, a family-owned restaurant that offers a modern twist on American comfort food, opens its third East Valley location at 10:30 a.m. today in Chandler. It takes over the space formerly home to New Mexican restaurant Little Anita’s near the
Graze Craze, a Florida-based chain of stores specializing in grazing boards and boxes, has opened its fourth Valley location on the northeast corner of 16th Street and Campbell in Phoenix. The store sells platters and boxes featuring meats, cheeses, vegetables,
The Handlebar Diner, a restaurant housed in a vintage red-and-white Valentine diner at the master-planned Eastmark community in southeast Mesa, has closed. ‘‘As of 8am this morning July 12, 2024, Eastmark/DMB/Brookfield/Proving Grounds has chosen to close the diner effective
Fat Willy’s Sports Grill will close its 12-year-old location on the northwest corner of Gilbert and Chandler Heights in south Chandler on Saturday. MXSW Insider paid subscribers already know the behind-the-scenes story of The Parlay Kitchen & Cocktails taking over the space. Fat Willy’s still
Today is National French Fry Day. Here’s where you can get free fries:
Chantico, a trendy Mexican restaurant and bar from Valley restaurateur Walter Sterling (Ocotillo, Starlite BBQ, etc.) has closed after three-plus years on the southwest corner of Camelback and 11th Street in uptown Phoenix. Named for the Aztec goddess of the
Sorry! While most of MouthBySouthwest.com is free to read, MXSW Insider articles are for paid subscribers only. Learn how to become an MXSW Insider.
Sorry! While most of MouthBySouthwest.com is free to read, MXSW Insider articles are for paid subscribers only. Learn how to become an MXSW Insider.
Philly’s Sports Grill has closed its location on the southeast corner of McClintock and Baseline in south Tempe. The restaurant had opened last August – less than a year ago – taking over 5 Star Dive Bar & Grill (which had the same
Tacos & Craft, a quick-casual concept offering 16 kinds of tacos and 10 beers on tap, has closed after four months near the northeast corner of Rural and Baseline in south Tempe. No reason was given for the closure. It’s
Rockefeller, an elevated seafood-centric restaurant on the northwest corner of Hayden and Via de Ventura in central Scottsdale, has closed. According to a notice posted on its website: ‘‘After two wonderful years of serving our community, Rockefeller in Scottsdale
Westy’s Organic Kitchen & Juice, which has holding pop-ups for two-plus years, has soft-opened a bricks-and-mortar location on the northeast corner of 83rd Avenue and Lake Pleasant Parkway in Peoria. In addition to its 10 signature juices, the menu features
We finally have an opening date for Portland-based artisan ice cream shop Salt & Straw, which will make its Arizona debut Friday, July 26, at Epicenter at Agritopia on the northwest corner of Higley and Ray in Gilbert. Since cousins
Even ultra-observant watchers of ‘‘The Bear’’ probably will miss an Arizona winery’s brief cameo on FX’s hit series set in a Chicago restaurant. About nine minutes into the third episode of the newest season, former line cook Ebraheim (played
Sorry! While most of MouthBySouthwest.com is free to read, MXSW Insider articles are for paid subscribers only. Learn how to become an MXSW Insider.
Valley Craft, a retail store and tasting bar highlighting Arizona-made craft beers, wines, and meads, has opened near the southwest corner of I-10 and the Estrella Parkway in Goodyear. Customers can sample beers from approximately 30 of Arizona’s 100-plus breweries
Buon Padre Pizza, a neighborhood favorite known for its signature Gourmet Grilled Hot Dog Pizza, has closed after seven years in a strip mall on the northeast corner of McQueen and Pecos in Chandler. According to a notice on the
MOD Pizza, the largest fast-casual pizza chain in the U.S., is considering filing for bankruptcy, perhaps as soon as this week, according to Bloomberg. ‘‘’We’re working diligently to improve our capital structure and are exploring all options to do
Sorry! While most of MouthBySouthwest.com is free to read, MXSW Insider articles are for paid subscribers only. Learn how to become an MXSW Insider.
Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa is celebrating Christmas in July – its annual food drive for United Food Bank – all month. Bring in at least two approved ‘‘non-perishable’’ food items or make a $2 cash donation and receive
Tracy Dempsey Originals/ODV Wines in Tempe is launching a Summer Salon de Thé series on Saturday, July 13. A salon de thé is the French version of an English afternoon tea. Coffees, teas, and pastries, along with a sampling
Recently opened Uchi in Old Town Scottsdale is collaborating with several well-known Valley chefs on a summer dinner series. The series kicks off July 16 when Uchi chef de cuisine Blake Luecke welcomes The Mission chef Matt Carter for
Floridino’s Pizza & Pasta in Chandler will hold its annual Fourth of July pizza muffin sale from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday. You can get a dozen original (ham, ground beef, and Italian sausage) or pepperoni muffins for just $7. That’s more
Salad and Go is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Caesar salad from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday, which (not so coincidentally) is National Caesar Salad Day. Buy any salad or wrap at one of Salad and Go’s 56 Valley locations and
Sherry Chen, who sold her popular Singing Pandas Asian Restaurant & Bar last year, has launched a new entertainment-focused bar and grill – Legends Showcase – near the northwest corner of Alma School and Warner in Chandler. Instead of Asian food, the menu
Clever Ramen – a sibling of Clever Koi, Across the Pond, and Fellow Osteria & Pizzeria – has closed at SkySong in south Scottsdale. ‘‘After three years of delicious ramen, pillowy buns, and loaded fries with all of you, we’ve made the tough decision to
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Mensho, a Tokyo-based chain of award-winning ramen restaurants, has opened its fourth U.S. location at Mesa Riverview on the northeast corner of Dobson and Rio Salado. Founded in 2005 by ramen master Tomoharu Shono, Mensho specializes in “farm-to-bowl ramen” featuring
Sip at the Ranch, a wine bar offering small bites and weekend brunch, has opened at Estrella’s Mountain Ranch Marketplace on the northwest corner of Elliot and the Estrella Parkway in Goodyear. The menu includes meat and cheese boards, salads,
Los Taquitos, a Mexican diner that’s been featured on the Food Network’s ‘‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,’’ has closed its 8-year-old location in front of Whole Foods on the southeast corner of the Loop 101 and Ray in Chandler. According to
Kungfu Noodles, a modern Chinese eatery specializing in hand-pulled noodles, has opened in the Planet Fitness shopping center on the southwest corner of Alma School and Elliot in Chandler. The small, counter-service restaurant’s menu features noodle soups (pictured: spicy beef
Jet’s Pizza, a national takeout/delivery chain specializing in Detroit-style deep dish pizzas, has opened its sixth Valley location on the northwest corner of Thunderbird and 75th Avenue in Peoria. The menu also offers hand-tossed, thin crust, New York-style, cauliflower-crust, and
Sushi Ramen Go, a well-regarded Japanese eatery on the northeast corner of Higley and Ray in Gilbert, has closed after five years in business. The modern sushi and ramen house announced on social media Saturday morning that it would close
Cava, a Washington, D.C.-based Mediterranean fast-casual chain that made its Chandler debut earlier this month, opens its first Mesa location today on the northwest corner of Alma School and Southern. Cava, which now has six Valley restaurants, offers a simple
Acclaimed taqueria Tacos Chiwas is closing its 5-year-old Chandler location today, owners Armando Hernandez and Nadia Holguin announced on social media. The couple decided not to renew their lease near the northwest corner of Alma School and Warner and instead will
Congrats to Valley chef Derek Christensen, who won $10,000 on the popular Food Network show ‘‘Chopped’’ this week. The former Bacanora and Huarachis chef faced off against chefs from Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Colorado Springs in an episode titled ‘‘Southwestern
McDonald’s has launched its much-anticipated $5 meal deal designed to lure inflation-hit customers back to the world’s largest fast-food chain. The limited-time meal includes a McChicken or a McDouble along with a four-piece McNuggets, small fries, and a drink. The price
Over Easy continues its rapid expansion. Just two weeks after opening its 13th Valley location in Queen Creek, the Scottsdale-based brunch concept has launched its 14th in Peoria. It’s located on the northwest corner of Happy Valley and Lake Pleasant Parkway.
Baggin’s, a popular Tucson-based chain of gourmet sandwich shops, has made its Valley debut near the northwest corner of Scottsdale and Thunderbird in north Scottsdale. The menu feature 20 signature sandwiches, 28 grilled sandwiches, 11 bread bowl salads, five deli
Hawaiian Bros Island Grill, a fast-growing chain of fast-casual restaurants that’s actually based in Kansas City, Mo., has opened its fourth Valley location on the northwest corner of Bell and Third Street in north Phoenix. The menu specializes in Island-style
Craft 64 and Pomo are the best pizzerias in Arizona, according to 50 Top Pizza. But the big news out of the well-respected organization’s latest Top 50 Pizzerias in the U.S. is who didn’t make it. Phoenix’s iconic Pizzeria Bianco,
Wine Spectator has released its annual Restaurant Awards honoring 3,700-plus establishments worldwide for excellence in their wine programs. The awards, which began in 1981, have three levels. Four restaurants – two in California and two in Europe – received
Italian-American fast-casual chain Fazoli’s has opened its second Arizona stand-alone location (not counting a mini store at Sky Harbor Airport) in Glendale. It takes over the former Boston Market building on the southeast corner of Peoria and 59th Avenue. Fazoli’s first
Former Bacanora chef Derek Christensen (shown on right) will compete Tuesday on the popular Food Network show ‘‘Chopped.’’ The episode, titled ‘‘Southwestern Strength,’’ will air at 8 p.m. on most TV providers. According to the network: ‘‘Four Southwestern competitors
Another day, another longtime Valley food and drink establishment is closing. This time it’s Merc Bar, the cocktail lounge that’s been pouring drinks at the Esplanade in Phoenix since 1996. This Saturday night will be the upscale bar’s swan
The Farmhouse, a fixture in Gilbert since 1989, is the latest longtime Valley restaurant to announce its impending closure. Its last day will be Sunday. Owners Sylvia Hilligardt and daughter Milli launched The Farmhouse in a stand-alone building — an
Tambayan, which began as a Filipino food ghost kitchen in 2019 and then became a food truck in 2023, has opened a bricks-and-mortar restaurant on the northwest corner of Camelback and 15th Avenue in Phoenix. It takes over the 5,000-square-foot
Gilbert restaurant Dragon Wok, which has been closed since a despondent man crashed his vehicle into the restaurant and fatally shot himself May 14, began construction repairs over the weekend and hopes to reopen in three weeks. The Chinese eatery’s GoFundMe
Against the Grain, a gluten-free bakery, grocery, and cafe, has opened near the northwest corner of Main and MacDonald in downtown Mesa. It takes over the space formerly home to Smitholator Cookie Shop (across the street from Proof Bread). The
Xami Sushi has opened on the southeast corner of Broadway and 27th Street in south Phoenix. In addition to sashimi, basic rolls, and specialty rolls, the menu also offers fried rolls, baked rolls, cucumber-wrapped rolls, seafood tapas, and a few Japanese
Scottsdale-based Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers has opened its 17th location at the Village at Prasada on the southeast corner of Waddell and the Loop 303 in Surprise. The menu features 19 speciality burgers, plus sliders, wings, sandwiches, hot dogs, and mac
Sakana Sushi & Grill, which is closing its longtime Ahwatukee restaurant at the end of this month, also will shut down its final location in central Scottsdale on Saturday, June 29, MXSW has confirmed. Sakana, which was founded in 1994
Señor Taco Express, a quick-service version of Mexican concept Señor Taco, has launched its third Valley location in the former Jack in the Box building near the southeast corner of Central and Osborn in midtown Phoenix. The menu focuses on tacos,
Award-winning Superstition Meadery is closing its downtown Phoenix location at the end of business Sunday, owners Jeff and Jen Herbert announced on social media. ‘‘Basically, from ingredients to labor to rent, everything is much more expensive and this rate of
Sorry! While most of MouthBySouthwest.com is free to read, MXSW Insider articles are for paid subscribers only. Learn how to become an MXSW Insider.
Amelia’s by Eat in Scottsdale and Roxx Vodka are celebrating National Martini Day with three special $14 pairings Wednesday: There also will be a build-your-own-martini bar from 4-6 p.m., giveaways, and more.
You have until midnight Wednesday to enter the drawing at Floridino’s Pizza & Pasta in Chandler to purchase tickets for its special four-course Pizza Muffin Dinner with Pizza Port Brewing pairings on Thursday, July 18. The raffle, which is being held because previous
Rock N Roll Sushi, an Alabama-based chain with locations in Glendale and Goodyear, is celebrating National Sushi Day today by kicking off a sweepstakes for free sushi for a year. The winner will receive a punch card good for $20
Phoenix has three finalists announced today in the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards, one of the top honors for bars and bartenders. Century Grand, which won Best U.S. Cocktail Bar last year, is one of four finalists for
Sakana Sushi & Grill, a popular Japanese concept that debuted in 1994, is closing its Ahwatukee location at Elliot and 51st Street at the end of this month. Several employees tell MXSW they learned the news when they showed up
Uncle Bear’s Grill & Tap has closed its location on the southwest corner of Scottsdale and Bell in north Scottsdale, where it took over the former Tipsy Coyote space less than two years ago. It’s the second Uncle Bear’s to close
Drive-through concept Salad and Go has opened its 56th Valley location on the northwest corner of Country Club and Baseline in Mesa. The menu offers chef-designed salads (also available as wraps), breakfast burritos, and soup. Launched in Gilbert in 2013, Salad
Queen Creek Olive Mill holds its annual Corn Roast from 5-9 p.m. today. Festivities include four featured street corn flavors, a corn-curated menu, live music, and fun and games in the grove. Admission is free. El Patron New Mexican Restaurant &
Phoenix soul food restaurant Momma’s Soul Fish & Chicken has soft-opened a second location in the former JJ’s Grubb Shack & Sports Bar space near the northwest corner of Main and Higley in east Mesa. Momma’s debuted last May on the
Japanese-themed sushi and karaoke bar Geisha A Go Go, an Old Town Scottsdale fixture for 17 years, will close its doors this weekend. ‘‘The sun is setting on this girl as the property is being developed in the near
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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
Dad’s Modern Cocktails & Eatery, which opened in the original Fate Brewing space near the southeast corner of Scottsdale and Shea in central Scottsdale in late 2020, has closed after three-plus years in business. The menu focused on pizza and sandwiches before
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
Vero Chicago Pizza, which made its Arizona debut in 2013 as Buddyz Chicago Pizzeria before changing its name in 2021, has opened its seventh Valley location near the northeast corner of Highway 347 and Honeycutt Road in Maricopa. In addition to its
Congrats to Bacanora chef Rene Andrade, who was named Best Chef Southwest at the 2024 James Beard Awards, known as the ‘‘Oscars of the food and beverage industry.’’ At Monday night’s award show in Chicago, Andrade, who grew up
Summers are a notoriously slow time for most Valley restaurants and bars, so many offer deals or promotions to lure customers out of their air-conditioned houses. Here are some current examples: 
Marcellino Ristorante in Scottsdale has brought back its annual Summer
Kid Sister, a European-inspired wine bar and bistro, has opened on the southwest corner of Camelback and Seventh Street in Phoenix. The building formerly was home to vegan restaurant and bakery Whyld Ass Cafe, which closed in 2022. Highlights of
The Ends, a restaurant inspired by the food-related travels of Anthony Bourdain, has opened in the former Kazimierz wine bar space on the northeast corner of Stetson and Sixth Avenue in Old Town Scottsdale. Owner Tommy Plato – who also owned Kazimierz,
Cava, a Washington, D.C.-based Mediterranean fast-casual chain, opens its fifth Valley location today on the southwest corner of Arizona and Ocotillo in south Chandler. The building formerly was home to Costa Vida Fresh Mexican Grill, which closed in 2022. Cava’s menu
West Alley BBQ in downtown Chandler is hosting a Prince Tribute Show (today would have been the musician’s 66th birthday) from 7-9 p.m. tonight with Prince-themed cupcakes and drinks. Tickets are $15 with the proceeds going to Chandler Schools Music/Fine Arts Department. 
Caffe
It’s is National Donut Day! Here are some of the giveaways you’ll find around the Valley today: BoSa Donuts: Get a free doughnut with any purchase. Dunkin’: Get a free classic doughnut with purchase of any beverage. Krispy Kreme:
Aruma Cafe, a Mexican coffee shop from the owners of Cocina Chiwas and Tacos Chiwas in partnership with former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, has soft-opened next to Cocina Chiwas at Culdesac Tempe on the south side of Apache between McClintock and Price.
Back in March, I wrote about Phoenix’s contest to create a signature cocktail embodying the country’s fifth-largest city. Now we have a winner. The top vote-getter in blind tastings throughout the Valley is The Phoenix – Milagro’s reposado tequila shaken with
AZ Lemonade Stand has teamed up with the LovePup Foundation this summer to release a limited-time flavor, Peach Lemonade. For every jar of Peach Lemonade sold, a portion of the proceeds will go directly to LovePup to help dogs find their forever homes. The
Cory Oppold (left) of Course Restaurant in Scottsdale was named Top Chef and Matt Carter (right) of Fat Ox, The Mission, and Zinc Bistro in Scottsdale received the Food Pioneer Award (lifetime achievement award) at the Arizona Restaurant Association’s 2024 Foodist Awards. This year’s other winners: Standout
Kitchen 7 Asian Food & Sushi, a restaurant focusing mostly on sushi and traditional and Americanized Chinese dishes, has opened on the northeast corner of Bell and 51st Avenue in Glendale. The menu offers familiar items such as orange chicken
Congrats to two East Valley residents who won this year’s Donut Flavor Craze contest at Bashas’. Brian Vehon from Mesa won the adult category with his “What’s Up, Doc?” doughnut (a light cream cheese frosting with carrot cake crumbles) inspired
Sorry! While most of MouthBySouthwest.com is free to read, MXSW Insider articles are for paid subscribers only. Learn how to become an MXSW Insider.
I’ve gotten lots of emails from readers asking when Cava is going to open on the southwest corner of Arizona and Ocotillo in south Chandler. The Washington, D.C.-based Mediterranean fast-casual chain plans to open its latest Valley location this Friday, but
Two-year-old piano bar and art space Gallery Bar has closed at High Street near the northwest corner of 56th Street and the Loop 101 in northeast Phoenix. No reason was given for the closure, and the bar has deleted its website
Downtown Phoenix sushi eatery Kaizen has closed after four years, but owners Troy Watkins and Kyu Utsunomiya plan to open a ‘‘mini Kaizen’’ inside their other sushi concept, Silo in downtown Tempe, in mid-August. Besides sushi, Kaizen offered a Japanese-Latin American fusion menu
Cogburn’s Big Wings, an East Valley group of country-themed sports bars that just closed a location at Cooper and Warner in Gilbert, is back to four locations overall with the launch of a new one on the northwest corner of
The Green Olive, a Mediterranean counter-service restaurant and caterer, has opened in the former Supreme Shawarma space on the southwest corner of Country Club and Southern in central Mesa. The menu offers kabobs (steak, ground beef, chicken, shrimp, or salmon), gyros, falafel,
Artisan ice cream shop Sweet Republic, launched by Jan Wichayanuparp and Helen Yung in Scottsdale in 2008, celebrates its Sweet 16 anniversary by giving away free scoops from 8 p.m.-10 p.m. tonight. You can choose from 21 flavors and four
