Category: Food & Drink News

GuacStar Kitchen & Cantina, an all-plant-based Mexican restaurant and bar, is coming to the Cornerstone plaza on the northeast corner of Rural and University in Tempe. It’s taking over the second-floor next to the Improv that formerly was home to

Justin Evans, the guy behind The Sleepy Whale (pictured) in Chandler and The Golden Pineapple soon to open in Tempe, is planning to add another taproom in Gilbert. The still-unnamed venue will be a 3,000-square-foot space at the Epicenter development

The owners of Cuisine & Wine Bistro in Chandler and Gilbert will debut a new concept, a gastropub called Copper & Logs, on the southwest corner of Greenfield and Warner in Gilbert. It takes over the space formerly home to

Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill has announced its third East Valley location will open on Tuesday, Feb. 18, behind Chandler Fashion Center. The 7,600-square-foot restaurant is part of the new Chandler Viridian development on the south side of the mall.

Wimpy’s Paradise, a well-loved hamburger and hot dog joint in downtown Chandler that closed in 2018, is making a comeback of sorts. Owner Randy Walters (pictured) is partnering with Ginger Monkey to offer Wimpy’s popular menu items in the south

Kaleidoscope Juice – a local chain of juice bars offering fresh-pressed juices, smoothies, salads, and gluten-free sweets – will open its first East Valley location in downtown Gilbert. It’ll be located behind Barrio Queen in the Heritage Marketplace. The chain

Prescott-based Superstition Meadery unveiled its first canned mead – Backseat Bingo – over the weekend. Inspired by milkshake IPAs, the collaboration with Colorado’s Wiley Roots Brewing is made with fresh orange, vanilla beans, lactose, and hops. Backseat Bingo sells for

Air Guitar, a convenience store concept that promises to pair ‘‘heathy grab-and-go items with premium beer and wine and exceptional coffee and tea,’’ will open in Gilbert late this year. It will be built next to the under-construction Epicenter development

We now have a date and time for the long-waited opening of the East Valley’s first Shake Shack at San Tan Village in Gilbert – 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15. The popular New York City-based chain of fast-casual burger eateries

Morning Kick, an American-style breakfast truck that launched in 2017, is opening a restaurant on the northwest corner of Higley and Chandler Heights in southeast Gilbert. The menu will offer the truck’s popular breakfast burritos and bowls (pictured), as well

Matt’s Big Breakfast, the popular breakfast and lunch concept that debuted in Phoenix in 2004, will open its fifth Valley location – and first in Scottsdale – on the southwest corner of Scottsdale and Thunderbird on Friday, Jan. 17. The

Hot Bamboo, an Asian street food concept popular at Valley festivals and farmers markets for the past decade, is opening a restaurant on the northwest corner of McQueen and Pecos in Chandler. It’s taking over the strip-mall space next to

(Based on the number of reader clicks) 10. Popular East Valley pizzeria to expand to south Chandler Family-owned Zesty Zzeeks Pizza & Wings opened its fourth location in December. 9. Aaron Eckburg, co-owner of Gilbert-based Go Lb. Salt, dies at

Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant, a chain of Napa-inspired restaurants, tasting rooms, and wine bars, will make its Arizona debut near the southeast corner of Scottsdale and Frank Lloyd Wright in north Scottsdale in early 2020. A second location will

The intersection of Scottsdale Road and Chauncey Lane is becoming a restaurant magnet. The north Scottsdale area welcomed Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria in late 2018, OEB Breakfast Co. last month, and Chauncey Social this month. Next up: Americano, an Italian steakhouse

The Golden Pineapple Craft Lounge – a new concept from the owners of The Sleepy Whale, The Wandering Tortoise, and The Theodore – is taking over the recently closed Quartiere (pictured) on the west side of on Mill between Broadway

Pedal Haus Brewery, the 4-year-old award-winning craft brewery in downtown Tempe, is opening a second location in downtown Chandler. It will take over the Boston Street space currently home to Las Palmas Cantina, which announced earlier this week it will

Las Palmas Cantina, scheduled to close last summer and then in October before getting last-minute reprieves, finally will close Dec. 31. The bigger news: Its replacement will not be the previously announced Chandler Yacht Club. Owner Julian Wright says the

Vito’s Pizza & Italian Ristorante, a popular east Mesa dining destination for 33 years, is expanding to Gilbert. Vito’s, which opened a location in Scottsdale in 2011, is preparing to add another on the southeast corner of Higley and Queen

West Alley BBQ, Obon Sushi, and The Creek Cookies & Cream are among the restaurants coming to Verde at Cooley Station, a mixed-used development on the southwest corner of Recker and Williams Field in Gilbert. Tennessee-based West Alley opened its

Koi Poke founder Sarah Bowers has sold six of the concept’s seven Valley locations to a private equity group headed up by former Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Todd Stottlemyre. The group intends to franchise the build-your-own-custom-poke-bowl concept nationally under a slightly

The Sicilian Butcher and The Sicilian Baker – originally scheduled to open in Chandler last December – appear to be almost ready. Barring any last-minute delays, the two Italian concepts are scheduled to open on the southwest corner of the

La Ristra New Mexican Kitchen, a 6-year-old restaurant and bar in Gilbert, will open a second location at Overstreet in downtown Chandler. It will take over a portion of a large space originally planned for a second location Camp Social

Charlie Balogh, a longtime organist at Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa, unexpectedly died Thursday, Nov. 21, from complications of a stroke. He was 68. Balogh, one of three staff organists for the pizzeria’s famed Mighty Wurlitzer Pipe Organ, began his

Condolences to the family and friends of Victoria Chavez, co-founder of Los Dos Molinos. The popular Mexican restaurants announced her passing Sunday on social media: ‘‘It’s with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to Chef Victoria, matriarch and founder of

The Draft Sports Grill, which opened across the street from Fiesta Mall in Mesa in 2014, will move to a new location about two miles away in early 2020. The new location will be next to Tsing Tao Chinese Cuisine

Artichoke Basille’s Pizza, an award-winning pizza chain out of New York City, will open its first Arizona location on the northwest corner of Lakeshore and Baseline in Tempe. It joins an increasingly busy corner that already has Scramble and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

Dori Hand Roll Bar and Ramen, described as a ‘‘one-of-a-kind’’ hand roll bar featuring an extensive ramen menu by chef Jared Lupin, is coming to the Camelback Colonnade on the southwest corner of 20th Street and Camelback in Phoenix. Diners

Bamboo Sushi, a Portland-based concept that bills itself as the world’s first certified sustainable sushi restaurant, will open its first Arizona location at the Arizona Biltmore next month. The menu offers signature sushi rolls, traditional nigiri, and Japanese-inspired shared plates.

Texas-based Alamo Drafthouse Cinema will open its third East Valley location on Wednesday, Nov. 27, on the southwest corner of Power and Ray in southeast Gilbert. The chain of dine-in movie theaters made its Arizona debut with a nine-screen complex in

Rocky Point, a Mexican restaurant specializing in seafood, is moving into the former Guedo’s Taco Shop on the northeast corner of Gilbert and Pecos in Gilbert. Guedo’s Cantina Grille was a fixture in downtown Chandler for 36 years before closing

One of the most anticipated openings of 2019 is Jolibee, known as ‘‘the McDonald’s of the Philippines,’’ which is building its first Arizona restaurant on the northwest corner of Gilbert and Germann in Chandler. When MXSW first broke the news

Pizzeria Bianco, arguably Arizona’s most famous restaurant, is expanding to Los Angeles. Chef-owner Chris Bianco will open the first out-of-state location of his wood-fired pizzeria at the Row in Downtown. It will take over the just-closed Tartine Bianco, a pizzeria

Square One Concepts, the Valley-based restaurant group best known for Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers, is bringing Bourbon & Bones to San Tan Village in Gilbert. Bourbon & Bones, which debuted in Scottsdale in 2016, offers steaks, prime rib, and a

Crumbl Cookies, a fast-growing chain of gourmet cookie stores that’s already opened five East Valley locations this year, is growing again. The Utah-based concept’s newest store will have a soft opening from 6 p.m.-midnight today in the former Hi-Health space

It look like the East Valley is getting a couple new Macayo’s Mexican Kitchen restaurants. Mesa-based Kind Hospitality, which launches and runs licensed restaurant locations like OHSO Brewery at Sky Harbor and Barrio Brewing near Mesa Gateway Airport, has applied

Frasher’s Steakhouse, a Scottsdale landmark for nearly 16 years before closing in 2015, is coming back to life. Where: The St. Louis-style steakhouse’s original home (pictured) – the former Ambrosino’s Gourmet Italian Dining building on the southwest corner of Scottsdale

Modern Italian concept North Italia (pictured) and fast-casual healthy concept Flower Child are the latest Sam Fox restaurants coming to Gilbert. Where: The two – among of the 11 concepts Fox sold to The Cheesecake Factory earlier this year but

Peixoto Coffee, a well-regarded coffeehouse and roastery that launched in downtown Chandler in 2015, is opening a second location in Gilbert. It’ll be part of restaurateur Joe Johnston’s Epicenter development just starting construction at Agritopia on the northwest corner of

If you were hoping to start your day with a Breakfast Slider from the new White Castle in Scottsdale, you had to go away hungry. The 24-hour fast-food restaurant, which launched at 8 a.m. Wednesday, was forced to close at

Just yesterday, I wrote about Local Edition, a new concept coming to downtown Gilbert from the owners of The Porch neighborhood gastropub in Arcadia. It turns out the East Valley also is getting a second location of The Porch. John

Duck Donuts, a Pennsylvania-based chain offering customizable doughnuts, will make its Arizona debut on the southwest corner of Arizona and Ocotillo in south Chandler. The chain’s name comes from its original location in Duck, N.C., that opened in 2006. There

Local Edition, a new concept from the partners of The Bevvy in Old Town Scottsdale and The Porch in Arcadia, is coming to downtown Gilbert. It will make its debut next to Snooze, an AM Eatery. Not much is known

OEB Breakfast Co., a Canadian fine-dining breakfast concept from celebrated Italian-Canadian chef Mauro Martina, will open its first U.S. location in north Scottsdale next month. It will be located on the southeast corner of Scottsdale and Chauncey Lane, just south

Sad news from the East Valley’s restaurant community: Stephanie Serrano, one of the eight siblings who own and operate Serrano’s Mexican Restaurants, passed away Thursday after a six-year battle with breast cancer. She was 65. Just last month, Serrano’s celebrated

Daily Dose, one of my favorite Old Town Scottsdale breakfast and lunch restaurants, is coming to the East Valley. Daily Dose Rio Salado will join the new Spinato’s Pizza on the northwest corner of Rio Salado and Rockford next to

Oregon-based Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill will open its third East Valley location at the new Chandler Viridian development on the south side of Chandler Fashion Center. The restaurant’s large menu focuses on burgers, sandwiches, and pizzas, and its bar typically

Dog Haus, a California-based chain of gourmet hot dog shops, will open its second Valley location at SanTan Village shopping center in Gilbert this fall. The 2,900 square-foot restaurant will be located behind Total Wine & More. Besides its signature

Craft 64, the award-winning wood-fired pizzeria and craft beer bar in downtown Chandler, finally has unveiled its newly constructed patio. The restaurant opened in late May, but held off on finishing its northside patio until this fall. The gated area

Commander Hamburger, a new casual restaurant from well-known Valley chef Bernie Kantak, quietly has opened at the Roosevelt Arts District in downtown Phoenix. The menu features burgers and chicken sandwiches with Noble Bread buns, fries, Danzeisen soft-serve cones – and,

Smugglers, a gastropub and ‘‘yacht rock pirate bar,’’ is moving into the Changing Hands-Trader Joe’s plaza on the southwest corner of McClintock and Guadalupe in south Tempe. It’s taking over the former Mac’s Broiler & Tap, which closed in January

It didn’t take long for someone to snatch up the north Scottsdale home of The Melting Pot, which announced in August that it would close Sept. 30. The new occupant of the building on the northwest corner of Hayden and

Copper & Logs, which describes itself as an ‘‘urban-style New American gastropub,’’ is coming to the southwest corner of Greenfield and Warner in Gilbert. It’s taking over the building that formerly was home to Pizza A Metro, which closed in

Taco Ball Cantina, the fast-food chain’s new ‘‘urban’’ design with an upscale feel, open kitchen, and alcoholic beverages, will take over the recently closed Restaurant Mexico building in downtown Tempe. Restaurant Mexico, which opened in 1978, shut down Aug. 15

It’s been more than a year since White Castle announced it would open its first Arizona location just north of Salt River Fields on the northwest corner of Via De Ventura and the Loop 101 in Scottsdale. This morning, the

Back in July, MXSW broke the news Pita Jungle was taking over the former Osteria spot in northeast Mesa. Now we know what month it will open: November. The restaurant on the southeast corner of Alta Mesa and McKellips will

Sunbar – a nightclub, organic eatery, patio garden, and live-music venue – is coming to Fifth Street, just west of Mill, in downtown Tempe at the end of September. It’s taking over the two-story building, on the north side of

We finally have some news about Ilegal Modern Cocktail Kitchen, a new rooftop restaurant and bar coming to downtown Gilbert. The unusually spelled concept, which was announced last spring, applied for a liquor license in April. Since then, however, it

El Taco Santo, a popular food truck that regularly sets up on the southeast corner of 40th Street and Chandler in Ahwatukee, has found a bricks-and-mortar home there. Owners Cesar Martinez and Adrian Felix are moving into the strip-mall space

For the second time in as many summers, Cotton & Copper has temporarily closed due to air conditioning issues. Last summer, the acclaimed south Tempe restaurant and bar closed shortly after its July 31 opening. At that time, it replaced

Clever Koi, a popular Asian restaurant and craft cocktail bar in downtown Gilbert, suffered a kitchen fire Wednesday that has closed the business indefinitely. Fortunately, the Heritage Marketplace restaurant, which opened in 2016, reported there were no injuries. There’s no

The Screamery, a Tucson-based ice cream concept, will open its first East Valley store at the new Overstreet development on the southwest corner of Arizona and Chandler Boulevard in downtown Chandler. Kenny and Linda Sarnoski launched The Screamery in 2014

Italian chef, cookbook author, and Food Network television host Giada De Laurentiis is opening two restaurants in Scottsdale. Luna by Giada will feature De Laurentiis’ “signature Italian fare with California influences and a world-class guest experience driven by personalized service,”

The owners of Baltaire, the world-class steakhouse in west Los Angeles, will launch a new concept, Flint by Baltaire, at the Esplanade on the southeast corner of 24th Street and Camelback in Phoenix. Led by Baltaire executive chef Travis Strickland

Venezia’s Pizza and Sun Devil Athletics have announced an exclusive partnership for the 2019-2020 school year, beginning with ASU’s football home opener Thursday, Aug. 29. The pizzeria’s giant pepperoni and cheese pizza slices will be available at ASU sports events,

Detroit Coney Grill, a 6-year-old hot dog and burger shop in Tempe, is opening a location in north Scottsdale. It’s taking over the former Killer Burger space on the southeast corner of Hayden and Indian Bend. Killer Burger, an Oregon-based

Ojos Locos Sports Cantina, a Dallas-based chain of Mexican-themed sports bars, will make its Arizona debut on the southwest corner of Alma School and U.S. 60 in southwest Mesa. It’s taking over the former Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom, which

SanTan Brewing & Distilling, the state’s largest independent craft brewery, has applied for a liquor license for a taproom at its Chandler production facility. SanTan debuted as a downtown Chandler brewpub in 2007 and opened a 35,000-square-foot production brewery on

Maple & Ash, the Chicago-based steakhouse coming to the Waterfront on the southwest corner of Scottsdale and Camelback in Scottsdale, has announced it will open Tuesday, Aug. 20. The award-winning Chicago original is helmed by chef Danny Grant, who formerly lived

Arcade bars — bars featuring a large selection of video and pinball games — seem to be the concept du jour in the East Valley. MXSW recently broke the news that an arcade bar called The Uncommon was coming to

Looks like Varsity Tavern has reopened in downtown Tempe. The 8-month-old sports bar had voluntarily closed for most of July after its liquor license was suspended. The second-story sports bar’s ground-floor siblings, Rodeo Ranch and One One Bar, also have reopened.

Talk about ka-ching! Phoenix restaurateur extraordinaire Sam Fox has sold his Fox Restaurant Concepts to The Cheesecake Factory. The price? A cool $308 million in cash. Fox will continue to head the group, which will operate as a ‘‘wholly-owned subsidiary,’’

Good news for fans of Mary Coyle Ol’ Fashion Ice Cream. The iconic Phoenix ice cream shop, which closed in April after nearly 68 years (on and off) in business, is building a new location at the Tapestry on Central

It’s that time of year again: La Ristra New Mexican Kitchen in Gilbert is taking orders for its annual Hatch chile sale. The restaurant’s staff makes a trip to Hatch, N.M., at the end of every summer to buy their

Cheba Hut, a national chain of cannabis-themed sandwich shops that was founded in Tempe, is coming to downtown Chandler. The chain’s fourth East Valley location will open in the recently closed Even Stevens sandwich shop space on the southwest corner

It seems like forever since Ted’s Hot Dogs announced it was opening a location in Chandler. And every month, fans wonder what’s taking so long? It was March 2017 when the popular Tempe restaurant revealed it would open its second

For more than a year, East Valley diners have been wondering what would take over the former Modern Margarita and La Bocca spots in downtown Chandler. The year-old restaurants closed after an overnight fire destroyed their shared kitchen in November

Lure Fish House, a California-based chain of high-end seafood restaurants, will make its Arizona debut at the Shops at Gainey Village on the southeast corner of Doubletree Ranch and Scottsdale in north Scottsdale. It takes over the 6,336-square-foot space that has

The Valley is getting another ramen shop: Azusa Ramen is coming to the Fry’s shopping center on the northwest corner of Mill and Southern in Tempe. It’s taking over the former Papa Murphy’s space next to DaYung’s Tea on the

OHSO Brewery is brewing a special beer to raise awareness for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and owner Jon Lane is inviting other Arizona breweries, bars, and restaurants to join the effort. The beer, which will be named 1-800-273-8255, will be

Tempe-based Cartel Coffee Lab releases a new line of products called Black Market today. Black Market items include: Blend Forty-Eight: The company’s first coffee blend, made with Brazil and Colombia whole beans. ($15 per pound) Travel Pour Over Kit (pictured): A

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