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Author: Jess Harter

Pioneering concept Boston Market spirals toward extinction

🐓 Boston Market, the pioneering rotisserie chicken restaurant, is on the verge of extinction. The fast-food concept, which once had more than 1,000 U.S. locations, is down to just two dozen. None remain in Arizona. What happened? Boston Market took

Alligator & grits? Cajun Breakfast Joint launches in Chandler

🦞 Cajon Breakfast Joint, a restaurant specializing in Cajun and Creole dishes, has opened at Dobson Plaza in Chandler. It takes over the former Mommie Cakes space on the northwest corner of Dobson and Elliot roads. What’s on the menu?

Mexican restaurant Caramba opens another Glendale location

🌮 Caramba, a family-run group of Mexican sit-down restaurants, has opened its sixth Valley location at The Citadelle in Glendale. The restaurant near the southwest corner of the Loop 101 and 59th Avenue is the fourth in Glendale, where Caramba

Din Tai Fung coming to Scottsdale Fashion Square

🥟 Din Tai Fung, a Chinese restaurant whose original location in Taiwan has received multiple Michelin stars, is coming to Scottsdale Fashion Square. The restaurant has 17 locations in the U.S. Nine are in California, four in Washington, two in

Family-run Achiote Latin Cuisine makes debut in Chandler

🌮 Family-run Latin American restaurant Achiote Latin Cuisine has opened at Chandler Commons in Chandler. The former Saguaros Tacos Y Churros food truck takes over the strip-mall space formerly home to DEZ Burrito on the southwest corner of Ray and

Tickets on sale for AZ Craft Beer Awards Festival in Tempe

🍺 Tickets for the third annual AZ Craft Beer Awards Festival in Tempe on Saturday, Oct. 19, are now on sale. This year’s festival, sponsored by the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild and Phoenix Magazine, moves from the Great Lawn at State Farm Stadium

Simply Shroom cafe opens in Old Town Scottsdale

🍣 Simply Shroom, a cafe specializing in mushroom coffees and lattes, has opened on the southeast corner of Fifth Avenue and Marshall Way in Old Town Scottsdale. In a market segment dominated by masculine themes, owners Crystal Carroll and Sharmi

Origami Ramen sibling Yuzu Omakase debuts in northeast Phoenix

🍣 Japanese restaurant Yuzu Omakase has soft-opened for takeout and catering at Tatum Point in northeast Phoenix. It takes over the former Copperhead Bistro space in the Walmart-Petco center on the southwest corner of Bell Road and Tatum Boulevard. Yuzu

The Mexicano temporarily closed by kitchen fire

🔥 The Mexicano , a Mexico City-inspired restaurant that opened in Paradise Valley in 2021, was damaged by a kitchen fire Saturday. Phoenix firefighters were able to confine the fire to the kitchen, where the fire apparently started near the

Valle Luna unveils Lunatics cantina in west Phoenix

🌮 Valle Luna Lunatics, a smaller ”cantina” concept from the owners of Valle Luna Mexican restaurants, has made its debut in west Phoenix. It takes over the former Mi Familia Mexican Food space on the northeast corner of Happy Valley

Curate Cuisine launches Curate Cafe in north Scottsdale

☕️ Curate Cafe, a coffeehouse and brunch eatery from Curate Cuisine chef Joseph Lerner, has opened at Grayhawk Plaza in north Scottsdale. It takes over the space formerly home to The Yogurt Bar near the northeast corner of Scottsdale Road

After closing Chandler location, Buca di Beppo files for bankruptcy

🍝 Just a week after shuttering its 25-year-old west Chandler location, Florida-based Italian chain  Buca di Beppo has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The chain, which had nearly 100 locations a decade ago, closed 13 ”underperforming” restaurants last week,

OHSO Brewery opens 6th Valley location in Surprise

🍺 OHSO Brewery has opened its sixth Valley restaurant at the Village at Prasada on the southeast corner of the Loop 303 and Waddell Road in Surprise. The building has a 5,000-square-foot interior with a 3,000-square-foot, dog-friendly patio. What’s on

Birria Pizza Muffins are back at Floridino’s in Chandler

🍕 Floridino’s Pizza & Pasta in Chandler has brought back Birria Pizza Muffins – its most popular specialty muffin – as its August muffin of the month. The muffins are filled with birria-style beef, cilantro, onion, and mozzarella cheese, and

Which current fast-food ‘value meals’ are the best deals?

💰 With nearly every fast-food chain rolling out limited-time meal deals to lure back budget-conscious diners, the website Finance Buzz analyzed which save you the most: Taco Bell comes out on top for its Luxe Cravings Box with a Chalupa Supreme,

Shawarmaati Mediterranean Grill makes debut in Gilbert

🧆 Shawarmaati Mediterranean Grill, a Jordanian restaurant specializing in its namesake beef and chicken shawarma, has opened in southeast Gilbert. It takes over the former Green District space, next to Tikka Shack, near the southwest corner of Ray and Power