Category: Food & Drink News

Independent steakhouses are becoming a rarity in the East Valley. There’s JC’s Steakhouse in Gilbert, DC Steakhouse in downtown Chandler, Chop in south Chandler … and pretty much everyplace else is a chain. So I was excited to hear about

It’s been more than two weeks since Varsity Tavern in downtown Tempe had its liquor license suspended, and there are no signs of the 7-month-old sports bar reopening anytime soon. Varsity Tavern’s liquor license was suspended July 2 after a

The Watermark Tempe, a $150 million mixed-use development under construction on the north side of Tempe Town Lake, has announced its first two restaurants: Panini Kabob Grill and Obon + Sushi + Ramen. It will be the first Arizona location for

The Parlay Kitchen & Cocktail, a gastropub offering modern American cuisine and craft cocktails, is taking over the former Meridiem Kitchen & Lounge in south Chandler. Meridiem, which occupied a new building on Price just south of the 202, closed in

Pita Jungle, the Tempe-born chain of Meditteranean-inspired eateries, continues to expand: It’s taking over the former Osteria space on the southeast corner of Alta Mesa and McKellips in northeast Mesa. Osteria, a casual Italian restaurant, opened in a newly constructed

Like to take photos when you go out to eat? Now you can win free food for doing it. Flancer’s is giving away a chance to win a $15 gift certificate. All you have to do to enter is email

Today is the first-ever Bourdain Day, an opportunity to honor the late Anthony Bourdain and his legacy. The day is the idea of two of the world’s top chefs, Éric Ripert and José Andrés, who announced it three weeks ago

Cider Corps in downtown Mesa unveils its annual Fourth of July series of red, white, and blue pie-flavored ciders at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 29. Three-packs of the patriotic ciders – strawberry rhubarb pie, apple pie, and blueberry pie –

The Chandler Yacht Club won’t be docking in downtown Chandler next month after all. The new concept, which is replacing Las Palmas Cantina, is being postponed until the fall, according to owner Julian Wright. ‘‘After some long deliberation yesterday, our

Hava Java, a 27-year-old coffeehouse near the Biltmore in Phoenix, is expanding to the East Valley. Owner Justin Shafer, who has opened and sold two other Hava Java locations over the years, is launching a new location on the northeast

Add another name to the list of restaurants coming to The Steelyard, a new commercial development on the southeast corner of Gilbert and Chandler Heights in south Chandler. Last week, MXSW revealed Pita Jungle and High Tide Seafood were the

Finally, there’s a new Gilbert restaurant and bar that’s not opening either downtown or at SanTan Village. The Peacock Wine Bar is under construction on the southeast corner of Gilbert and Baseline, where it’s taking over a former fidget spinner

It looks like Gilbert finally is getting a Culver’s. An MXSW reader noticed the Wisconsin-based burger chain has submitted design plans to the town for a restaurant on the southwest corner of Val Vista and Willis/Mercy. That’s the same corner, just

The Perch Brewery in downtown Chandler has announced new hours for summer that include the discontinuation of lunch Monday-Thursday. Starting today, the brewpub is open 4-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Friday, 9-1 a.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m.-1a p.m. Sunday.

Las Palmas Cantina, the year-old Mexican seafood restaurant and bar in downtown Chandler, will be replaced by a new concept – Chandler Yacht Club – next month. Owner Julian Wright says Chandler Yacht Club, or CYC, will be ‘‘a fun

La Casa de Juana, a family-owned Mexican restaurant that’s quietly expanding its footprint in the East Valley, will open its third location in Ahwatukee late this year. The colorful sit-down restaurant debuted on the southeast corner of McClintock and Elliott in

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, a Texas-based chain of fast-casual Mexican restaurants, is coming to SanTan Village in Gilbert. It is expected to open late this year next to the new HomeGoods on the northeast corner of SanTan Village Parkway and Williams Field.

It figures. A week after including The Sicilian Butcher among 10 East Valley restaurant openings to look forward to this summer, the restaurant’s much-anticipated second location in Chandler has been delayed – again. The popular Italian concept, which offers craft meatballs, house-made pastas,

Dog Haus, a California-based chain that made its Valley debut at the Scottsdale Quarter in April, will open a location at SanTan Village shopping center in Gilbert. It’s taking over the former World of Beer space. Dog Haus is best-known

The Thirsty Lion, a Portland-based chain of gastropubs, will open its fourth Valley location this fall at Desert Ridge Marketplace in northeast Phoenix. It will be located on the southwest side of the area known as The District. ‘‘Desert Ridge