Category: Food & Drink News

🚗 Dragon Wok, a popular Chinese restaurant on the southeast corner of Ray and Cooper in Gilbert, is closed indefinitely after a vehicle drove into the strip-mall restaurant and the male driver died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The incident

🍕 Andiamo Pizza, whose opening I wrote about in February, temporarily closed over the weekend on the northwest corner of Scottsdale and Shea in central Scottsdale. The pizzeria’s rave reviews, especially a YouTube video from One Bite pizza reviewer Dave Portnoy, have forced

🥟 Lovesack Dumpling, the funky storefront eatery that opened on Roosevelt Row in downtown Phoenix last month, is changing its name to Lovebite Dumpling. The move comes after a lawsuit threat from furniture company Lovesac. Lovebite offers boxes of Asian-style

🚫 If you’re a fan of Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, or Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, you can breath a sigh of relief. Bloomin’ Brands, the parent company of all three concepts, announced it will close 41 restaurants

🌮 Lawrence Smith, chef and co-owner ofone-year-old Mexican restaurant Chilte at the restored Egyptian Motor Hotel in downtown Phoenix, has been chosen as one of three founding members of Taco Bell’s new chef-centric collaboration program, TBX. Working out of Taco

💻 Starting today, you can make a reservation at popular Denver-based breakfast chain Snooze, which has seven Valley restaurants and two in Tucson. Reservations rules Reservations are available Monday through Friday, but not weekends. Parties of up to four people

🚫 The 16th annual Original Barbeque & Beer Festival, scheduled for March 30 at Wild Horse Pass Resort in Chandler, has been canceled. The announcement In an email to ticket holders, organizer Forty 8 Live writes: ‘‘With a heavy heart,

🍝 Since opening Dec. 12 at Mesa Riverview, Fazoli’s has been smashing records – including biggest first-day and first-week sales – for the 36-year-old fast-casual chain that has more than 200 locations nationwide. What’s next? It’s the Valley’s first free-standing

🍣 Shinji Kurita, chef and founder of ShinBay in Old Town Scottsdale, has left the acclaimed sushi restaurant, saying he no longer can work 80 hours a week, according to Phoenix Magazine. Kurita launched and operated ShinBay in Ahwatukee from

Chris Osborn, a beloved figure in the Valley’s food and beverage community for three decades, passed away Tuesday. He was just 46. The Scottsdale native, known as ‘‘Oz’’ to his many friends, began working in restaurants at age 14. He

🏀 Former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal made a surprise visit to his 9-month-old Big Chicken fast-casual restaurant in downtown Gilbert on Sunday. The current TNT commentator met with members of the six youth basketball teams sponsored by the restaurant, signing

🦞 Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux in southeast Mesa will celebrate its ‘‘grand reopening’’ under new management at 11 a.m. Wednesday by giving the first 100 guests to enter the restaurant a chance to win free food and drink for a year.

👩🏽‍🍳 Local First Arizona, which has incubated more than 200 restaurants and food businesses since 2017 through its Good Food Boot Camp and community kitchens in Mesa and south Phoenix, has launched a third community kitchen in Maryvale. Twelve female

💵 The owner of famed Phoenix soda fountain MacAlpine’s, which opened in 1929 but has been closed since 2020, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise $93,500 to reopen. The diner, located on the northeast corner of Seventh Street and

🍕 Starting today, Fire & Brimstone, the wood-fired pizzeria inside Barnone at Agritopia in Gilbert, will be closed for two to three weeks to remodel the kitchen. The kitchen will be expanded by taking over the former LetterCraft space next door.

👨‍🍳🍻 When you’re known for making some of the best beers in Arizona, where do you look for a chef to head your first kitchen? In the case of Wren House Brewing, it’s Bacanora. The Phoenix brewery is partnering with

✋ Remember when Little Miss BBQ announced last year it would open its third Phoenix location in the former Honey Bear’s BBQ building near the southwest corner of Central and Thomas? It ain’t gonna happen. Owners Scott and Bekke Holmes

💵 Arizona Restaurant Week bills itself as a ‘‘statewide affair,’’ but someone apparently forgot to tell Tucson. More than 100 of the city’s best restaurants will participate in Sonoran Restaurant Week from Sept. 8-17 – the same dates as Arizona

🛠🚧 Downtown Chandler (see post) isn’t the only Valley city working on a food hall. Downtown Mesa also is planning one, although the concepts are significantly different. What: Mesa is partnering with non-profit Local First Arizona, which already has a

🛍🥤Nearly 20,000 people at two Valley outdoor shopping centers have taken advantage of Arizona’s new law allowing them to enjoy adult beverages in designated areas. The law: Phoenix-based Vestar’s pilot Sip & Stroll program, which allows shoppers 21 and over

A developer wants to build one of Arizona’s first ‘‘food halls‘‘ – a two-story structure that would house as many as 12 new restaurants – in downtown Chandler. What’s a food hall: More than just a food court, the food

🍞🥯🥖 Award-winning Tucson baker Don Guerra will working out of the Hayden Flour Mills’ new Gilbert kitchen on Tuesdays starting in September. The baker: Guerra, who launched Barrio Bread out of his garage in 2009, was named the country’s outstanding

🔥 The Tin Top Bar & Grill, a popular Western-themed destination in the West Valley community of Tonopah, was destroyed by a fire early today. What happened: Emergency responders were called just after midnight, but the building is thought to be a total

Carl’s Jr. in Buckeye is among the first restaurants in the country where parent company CKE Restaurants Holdings is using artificial intelligence to take drive-through orders. What is it: CKE partnered with Presto Automation last year to develop Presto Voice

💻 The recently closed Original Golden Skone restaurant in San Tan Valley has begun selling its pre-mix in two-pound bags for $15 online. Just add yeast and water to make 12 skone sandwiches at home. You can pick up the mix at

🌯 DEZ Burrito, an ex-food truck that opened a bricks-and-mortar restaurant on the southwest corner of Cooper and Ray in Chandler in January, finally celebrates its grand opening from 4-7 p.m. today with free paletas, a prize wheel, and special discounts.

🧑🏿‍🍳 Today is the kickoff of the Valley’s third annual Black Restaurant Week, meant to raise awareness and build support for Black-owned culinary businesses. Sweet Magnolia Smokehouse, Tempura Takeover (pictured), and Chic Chef 77 are just a few of local eateries and food trucks offering special menus

🍅 Sweet Tomatoes, a San Diego-based chain of soup and salad bars that permanently closed all 97 of its U.S. restaurants (including nine in Arizona) due to the coronavirus in 2020, is trying to make a comeback. New owner ST

🥐 Scottsdale-based Wildflower is spending $3 million to redesign seven of its Arizona restaurants with new booths, tables, chairs, and bakery displays. The Sonora Village location in north Scottsdale was the first to be renovated; others scheduled for 2023 are in Goodyear, Scottsdale

🍽 The Arizona Restaurant Association has announced the dates for its Spring Arizona Restaurant Week: May 19-28. Participating restaurants will offer special three-course prix-fixe menus for $33, $44, or $55 per person. A complete list of participating restaurants and their ARW

🍕 It turns out Dave Portnoy visited more than Pizzeria Bianco and Craft 64 for his famous One Bite Pizza Reviews while the Barstool Sports founder was here for the Super Bowl. Check out his videos of Sal’s Gilbert Pizza, Brooklyn V’s Pizza, Venezia’s Pizzeria, Spinato’s

🍷 Cuisine & Wine Bistro, a family-run French restaurant and wine bar in south Chandler, was awarded places in multiple categories on OpenTable’s exclusive Diner’s Choice list for the second straight year. Cuisine & Wine was voted best in Phoenix/Arizona region

Good news: Arizona’s first Black-owned wine bar 🍷 will reopen at 5 p.m. today, according to Chic Chef 77 owner/chef Nic Fields. The Tempe venue closed last Saturday after an alleged drunk driver ran through its patio and window at 2:25 a.m. The business

Scottsdale-based Evening Entertainment Group has reached a deal to open a location of its pizzeria and beer garden concept Bottled Blonde on the Las Vegas Strip in late 2024. It will be located in a new four-story entertainment complex across

KickStand Cocktails, a line of vodka-based canned beverages with a spicy kick, make their Arizona debut today. 🌶 The spice levels: Roasted Jalapeno Cucumber (mild), Charred Pineapple Poblano (medium), Smashed Raspberry Serrano (medium) and Torched Peach Chipotle (hot). 🥫 The details: Made with

Yelp came out with a list of the top pizzerias in the U.S. and Canada this week, and one from Arizona is in the top 20. No, it isn’t the legendary Pizzeria Bianco. Or Pomo. Or Il Forno. Coming in

Salad and Go, one of the most successful restaurant concepts to come out of the Valley, opened its first Las Vegas location Monday, the start of a planned rapid expansion across Nevada. 🥗 The menu: Chef-designed salads, wraps, breakfast burritos, and

Phoenix restaurateur and chef Chris Bianco, who opened a downtown Los Angeles location of his flagship Pizzeria Bianco last June, is launching a Pane Bianco in the same mixed-use space known as Row DTLA. The menu: Pane Bianco in Los

Tempe bar and grill Boulders on Broadway is seeking a half-dozen chefs to compete in its annual Burger Throwdown at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30. The rules: Contestants are required to use meat and bread supplied by Boulders. You are

In a shocking announcement, Cider Corps, Arizona’s largest craft cidery, disclosed it will close its 6-month-old Gilbert taproom and production facility (pictured) on the southeast corner of Gilbert and Warner next Wednesday, Dec. 28. The quote: ‘‘In the two years

Freshly, a prepared meal delivery service that was founded in Phoenix before expanding nationwide, is laying off 329 workers at its southwest Phoenix warehouse as it shifts to a new business strategy. The history: Michael Wystrach and Carter Comstock founded

Breakfast Bitch, a popular 2-year-old restaurant at the Cambria Hotel in downtown Phoenix, has moved a couple of blocks to a larger space on the northeast corner of Roosevelt and Third Street that formerly was home to Golden Margarita. Menu

• Mesquite Fresh Street Mex and Arizona Helping Hands have launched their third annual Toys for Tacos fundraiser. Bring a new, unwrapped toy to any of the local taco shop’s nine locations and get a free taco (pictured). • Tempe-based

Arcadia Farms Cafe in Old Town Scottsdale has sold and closed the cottage that housed its cafe but plans to reopen the breakfast and lunch restaurant across the street in December. What’s happening: Arcadia Farms Cafe, which chef and owner

Downtown Mesa sandwich shop Worth Takeaway is bringing back its hugely popular Jim Bob’s Burgers pop-up from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. What: The annual pop-up, an homage to the Fox animated sitcom ‘‘Bob’s Burgers,’’ will feature a menu

Citing the difficult environment for restaurants in recent years, the Golden Pineapple Craft Lounge in Tempe has announced some major changes for the 2-year-old restaurant and bar. The changes: Hours will now be 5-10 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday; Counter service will replace full

James Beard Award-winning chef Chris Bianco is rolling back hours at his four Valley restaurants due to staffing shortages, he announced Tuesday on Instagram. The new hours: Pizzeria Bianco (Heritage Square): 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday. Pizzeria

Brooklyn V’s Pizza has remodeled the private room available for reservation at its Gilbert location on the northeast corner of Lindsay and Warner. Available for: Birthday parties, bridal and baby showers, wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, business meetings, and more. Reservations:

After reading MXSW’s recent post on reported construction delays at its new Gilbert location, an official from Portillo’s reached out to say the restaurant still is on schedule to open by the end of this year as originally announced. Previously: Construction

Cheba Hut, the national chain of cannabis-themed sub shops that began in Tempe, has closed its original location on the northeast corner of Hardy and University for several weeks of renovations. The chain: Scott Jennings created the concept, featuring ‘‘toasted’’

Barro’s Pizza is planning to move its current restaurant on the northwest corner of Alma School and Germann in south Chandler. Its new home will be the former Village Inn building next to Macayo”s Mexican Food on the northeast corner of Alma School and

Pie Snob has closed its 11-year-old pie shop near the northeast corner of Indian School and 36th Street in east Phoenix in order to move to a new location near the southwest corner of Indian School and 40th Street. The new

Tempe-based Spinato’s Pizzeria, which is preparing to open its seventh Valley location at Epicenter at Agritopia in Gilbert in November, has reached an agreement to become the official pizza of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury. Its Chicago-style pizza will be

A car crashed through the glass front wall of the MOD Pizza on the northwest corner of Cooper and Warner in Gilbert this morning. The driver accidentally stepped on the gas instead of the brake, police told Channel 3. No

The Local Chandler sports bar in downtown Chandler closes today after a 5-year run, but owner Mike Smith isn’t leaving the Valley restaurant business. The ASU graduate, who has worked in the industry for 25 years, has purchased a We

El Charro Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge, the iconic Mexican restaurant in downtown Mesa that closed in 2017 but reopened last year, has closed agaon – but only for a month of summer vacation. The family-run restaurant, which was established in 1922

Condolences to the family and friends of Gregory Elias, a longtime Scottsdale restaurateur who died while swimming at Lake Pleasant on Saturday. He was 72. Elias was best-known as the owner of popular Eli’s American Grille from 1992 until its

Wicked Brews, Bites, & Spirits in Ahwatukee has unveiled its new Brewer’s Den, a banquet room and second bar that offers high-end spirits. The room, which is adjacent to the 20-month-old restaurant’s brewing equipment, can be booked for private events.

Three Valley pizzerias are among the top 50 in the United States according to 50 Top Pizza, a pizza evaluation website based in Italy. Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix ranks No. 12, Pomo in Scottsdale is No. 38, and Craft 64

With the annual summer slowdown and the upcoming holiday weekend, several Valley restaurants are temporarily closing in order to take well-earned vacations, including: Los Dos Molinos in Mesa is closed until Tuesday, July 5. Cuisine & Wine Bistro in south

Heads up, Wendy’s fans: The fast-food chain introduced a limited-time Strawberry Frosty on Monday in conjunction with the seasonal return of its Summer Strawberry Chicken Salad. It’s only the second new Frosty flavor Wendy’s has debuted in the U.S. in the

Bashas’ has announced the three grand prize winners of its seventh annual Donut Flavor Craze contest: In the kids’ category, 15-year-old Owen (no last name released) from Phoenix won for his Cotton Candy doughnut, a white raised donut with blue

It’s been a month since I launched MXSW Insider, a series of in-depth posts for paid subscribers on Mouth by Southwest. (If you missed the announcement about MXSW Insider, you can find it here.) So far, the paid subscriptions have

After a two-year hiatus due to the covid-19 pandemic and then a staffing shortage, Mexican restaurant Aunt Chilada’s finally reopens for public dining at 11 a.m. today at the Arizona Grand Resort & Spa on the southwest corner of I-10

Leonard Fleszar, founder of the Valley’s Lenny’s Burger chain, has pleaded guilty to tax evasion for underreporting more than $1.4 million in income from two restaurants on his 2015-2017 federal tax returns. Fleszar has since sold the two restaurants to

Downtown Gilbert’s Liberty Market, which closed in January for extensive remodeling and reopened for just takeout and patio dining last month, finally reopens its dining room today – about a month later than originally planned. Changes include the addition of counter

OHSO Brewery in downtown Gilbert has begun construction on The Park, a half-acre multi-use recreation area on the north side of the brew pub. According to plans submitted last August – and unanimously passed by the town council – the

Dan and Barb Mei, who opened Nello’s in Ahwatukee in 1996, have retired and sold their popular Italian restaurant on the northwest corner of 48th Street and Warner to Robert Schulken and Roque Jimenez, owners of Cien Agaves Tacos &

Pete’s Fish & Chips, a Valley institution since 1947, celebrates its 75th anniversary Wednesday, March 23, at all eight of its locations. Leave your name and number at any location in a drawing for Pete’s gift certificates, T-shirts, hats, sports

After several months of delays, Lam’s Market, an Asian grocery store also featuring products from the Caribbean, South America, and Africa, finally has opened its third Valley location on the southwest corner of Avondale and Van Buren in Avondale.

BBQ Holdings Inc., the Minnesota-based parent company of Famous Dave’s, has agreed to purchase Scottsdale-based Barrio Queen, which was founded in 2011 and currently has seven locations in the Valley, for a reported $28 million.

The Valley’s food and drink community is mourning the death of Nicole Learmont, who lost her two-year battle with brain and lung cancer Sunday. Learmont, 44, a mother of two, was bar manager at Dos Gringos and helped her longtime

Flying Basset Brewing has gone through a parade of kitchen staff in its four-year existence, but the Gilbert brewery seems to have found a somewhat novel solution: A partnership with Philadelphia Sandwich Company. The Scottsdale eatery has taken over operation

Downtown Gilbert’s Liberty Market, which temporarily closed in January for extensive remodeling, reopens at 8 a.m. Thursday for patio dining and to-go orders. The restaurant expects to reopen for inside dining – with new menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Jimmie McBride and Julie Meeker, former co-owners of Mother Bunch Brewing in downtown Phoenix, have plead guilty to failure to pay state taxes from 2015 to 2020. The couple agreed to pay nearly $657,000 in back taxes and fines. Mother

The Arizona Restaurant Association has announced the dates of the state’s Spring Restaurant Week: Friday, May 20, through Sunday, May 29. Participating restaurants will offer special three-course menus for $33, $44 or $55 per person. Restaurants can register here.

Condolences to Bryan’s Black Mountain Barbecue owner and pitmaster Bryan Dooley, whose father, Joe, passed away unexpectedly last weekend. The Cave Creek restaurant will have limited hours this week: 3:30-8 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sunday.

Liberty Market in downtown Gilbert closed part of the restaurant’s interior for renovations this week, and it will close completely starting Monday, Jan. 24. It plans to reopen in March for outdoor dining only, with the return of inside dining

Randy Walters, the former owner of well-known Chandler restaurants Pittsburgh Willy’s and Wimpy’s Paradise, has published a book about his business and life experiences, ‘‘Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, and Hugs,’’ available on Amazon.

Condolences to the family and friends of Southwest Kettle Corn food truck owner Jolie Green-Darby, who died earlier this week after a month-long battle with covid-19. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help her husband, Pat, with medical expenses.

St. Francis, the acclaimed restaurant near the southeast corner of Camelback and Central that was sold to chef Robert Bogart last year, has unveiled a new name, Oak on Camelback, and a revamped menu of globally inspired dishes.

Chase’s Diner, which was forced to close after a kitchen fire last Thursday, was able to install a new gas range and reopen over the weekend on the northwest corner of Alma School and Warner in Chandler.

Chase’s Diner, a family-owned restaurant on the northwest corner of Alma School and Warner in Chandler, is temporarily closed after a kitchen fire Thursday evening. No one was injured, but the six-top gas range needs to be replaced before reopening.

Sarah Chisholm, the former pastry chef at St. Francis and the Phoenix Public Market Cafe, has launched Wild Rye, a new online baking company offering cake, frosting, and pancake mixes, including vegan and gluten-free options.

La Fonda Mexican Restaurant & Cantina, a Tempe mainstay for 57 years, announced it will close its current location at McClintock and Baseline on Sunday, Nov. 7, but plans to reopen at an unidentified new location in ‘‘just a few

Several weeks later than usual, Cider Corps in downtown Mesa releases its popular red, white, and blue Summer Pie Ciders – strawberry rhubarb, apple, and blueberry – at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 10. Cost: The ciders will be sold in

Dr. Gordon Dutt, considered the father of the modern-day wine industry in Arizona and the founder of Sonoita Vineyards, passed away at age 91 at his Tucson home Saturday, Sept. 4. The history: While working as a soil scientist at

The Arizona Taco Festival, one of the Valley’s largest food events scheduled to take place Oct. 23-24 at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, has been postponed until April due to the rising number of covid-19 cases. The announcement: ‘‘With heightened

Chase’s Diner, a family-run ’50s-inspired restaurant on the northwest corner of Alma School and Warner in Chandler, has closed temporarily for remodeling. Remodel plans: The flooring will be upgraded throughout the building, new A/C units will be installed, the trim

In a seeming contradiction, AZ Central, which suspended restaurant reviews when the covid-19 pandemic hit Arizona last year, announced it will resume reviews in September, but it is canceling its Wine & Food Experience festival in November for the second

The buzz making the rounds in Ahwatukee is The Hub Grill & Bar is going to take over the just-closed Mellow Mushroom on the southwest corner of I-10 and Ray. So I asked The Hub owner Kenny Klaus if it

The three Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas in the East Valley soon will have a new name – Majestic Theaters – as the local franchisee cuts ties with the Texas-based chain of dine-in movie theaters. The background: Craig Paschich, who opened Alamo

Daily Dose‘s Tempe location, which closed at the end of May for structural work on the restaurant’s foundation, reopened today on the northwest corner of Rio Salado and Rockford next to Tempe Marketplace. The food: The breakfast menu features creative

The Gilbert Town Council voted 7-0 Tuesday night against a zoning exemption to allow construction of a four-story building between Norwood Furniture and The Farmhouse in downtown Gilbert. The background: The family that owns Norwood wants to construct the building

Award-winning Naked Q in north Phoenix will be closed this week to take care of an unexpected repair. It decided to close for the entire week to do some other maintenance and deep cleaning. Reopening: Monday, Aug. 23. Other locations:

La Ristra New Mexican Kitchen in Gilbert will hold its ninth annual Hatch Chile Sale starting at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 10. and Saturday, Sept. 11. All chiles must be preordered. The party: Chiles will be roasted in La Ristra’s

Critically acclaimed FnB in Old Town Scottsdale announced it will become the first Valley restaurant to require diners to provide proof of covid-19 vaccination next week. ‘‘With the latest trends regarding the highly transmissible delta variant, we have decided for

Taking advantage of the NCAA’s new rules for athletes, Venezia’s New York Style Pizzeria is teaming up with ASU star quarterback Jayden Daniels during the 2021 football season. The duties: Daniels will serve as a brand ambassador for Venezia’s on

Tampopo Ramen, a 5-year-old eatery on the northeast corner of McClintock and Southern in Tempe, was burglarized early this morning. The owners were able to clean up and open for regular hours.

The original location of Angry Crab Shack on the northwest corner of Alma School and Guadalupe in Mesa has temporarily reduced its hours due to the staffing shortage plaguing Valley restaurants. The reason: ‘‘Angry Crab Shack’s Mesa location is temporarily