🍸 The Goose, the latest bird-themed speakeasy from the owners of Crust Simply Italian, opens adjacent to the pizzeria at 5 p.m. today on the northwest corner of Hayden and Via de Ventura in central Scottsdale.
Menu highlight: Goose Bumps (two shots of premium vodka with two portions of caviar).
Birds of a feather: The Goose joins sister concepts The Ostrich (in the basement of Crust in downtown Chandler) and The Blue Heron (next to Crust at Verde at Cooley Station in Gilbert).
What’s next? Another Crust with a speakeasy called The Nightingale is opening this summer in downtown Mesa.
If you go
📌 The Goose, 8300 Hayden Road #F102, 480-948-3099. Open 5-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 5 p.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday.
🍩 Randy’s Donuts, the iconic Los Angeles doughnut shop featured in dozens of movies and TV shows, has made its Arizona debut near the southeast corner of Seventh Street and Bethany Home in north central Phoenix.
What’s on the menu? Randy’s offers nearly 50 kinds of doughnuts ranging from simple (plain glazed, $2.05) to premium (such as Fruity Pebbles Raised or Bacon Maple Long John, $3.85).
Geared for takeout: The interior has only two four-seat tables, so plan on getting your doughnuts to go. There’s a drive-through if you don’t want to leave your vehicle.
No sign .. yet: Although Randy’s is famous for its 32-foot-high doughnut sign, the Phoenix location has a temporary inflatable one. The permanent one will be installed next month.
What’s next? Randy’s reportedly plans to open locations in Chandler and Gilbert before the end of this year.
If you go
📌 Randy’s Donuts, 5709 N. Seventh St, Phoenix, 480-716-1999. Open 5 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 5 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
🍩 Outcast Doughnuts, the new concept launched last year in downtown Mesa by the owners of Level 1 Arcade Bar, has opened its second location inside the original Level 1 in downtown Gilbert.
Outcast specializes in layered croissant doughnuts ($3.85 apiece or a dozen for $35), of which it offers a dozen creations, including:
Happy Camper: Chocolate frosted, graham cracker sprinkles, Hershey’s bar, and toasted marshmallow.
Cheeky Monkey: Filled with Nutella and sliced bananas and topped with powdered sugar and Nutella drizzle.
Fried Ice Cream: Crispy corn flake and cinnamon sugar glaze with honey drizzle and topped with cream and a cherry.
Another Outcast speciality are Donecones ($9.50), nine kinds of ice cream cones made with doughnut dough and filled with soft serve.
Also available: Breakfast sandwiches ($9.50), specialty cocktails ($12) , and flights ($20 for three beers or mimosas paired with three small doughnuts).
If you go
📌 Outcast Doughnuts (inside Level 1 Arcade Bar), 60 W. Vaughn Ave. #107, Gilbert, 480-687-1192. Open 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
⚾️ The Nest North, a sports bar and grill that closed a couple years ago near Camelback and the 101 in Glendale, has reopened (with an appended name) on the southeast corner of Thunderbird and 59th Avenue, about a mile west of ASU West.
The menu features 14 flavors of wings, burgers (made with wagyu beef from nearby Rovey Family Farms), sandwiches, and 14-inch pizzas.
There are two dozen 85-inch TVs for watching sports.
If you go
📌 The Nest North, 5843 W. Thunderbird Road, Glendale, 480-534-5253. Open 11 a.m.-midnight daily.
🇰🇷 Manna BBQ – an all-you-can-eat, grill-it-yourself Korean BBQ concept out of San Diego – has opened its fourth Valley location at the Chandler Crossroads on the northwest corner of Gilbert and Germann..
It takes over the space formerly home to the short-lived Sushi Green, which opened in July 2022 and closed three months later.
Other Valley locations of Manna BBQ are Mesa, Peoria, and Glendale.
If you go
📌 Manna BBQ, 2990 E. Germann Road #5, Chandler, 480-699-2223. Open 11:30 a.m.-9:30 Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, and 11:30-9 p.m. Sunday.
🇮🇳 Tikka Shack Indian Grub, a Texas-based chain of north Indian restaurants, has opened its third Valley location in the former Mici Italian space near the southwest corner of the 202 and Power in southeast Gilbert.
The menu offers a variety of traditional Indian dishes and also has build-your-own masalas and curries.
Other Valley locations are at Norterra and Desert Ridge in Phoenix..
If you go
📌 Tikka Shack Indian Grub, 5498 S. Power Road #101, Gilbert, 602-639-0793. Open 11 a. m.-10 p.m.daily.
🍣 Full Moon Izakaya, a casual Japanese bar offering ramen, sushi, and rice bowls, has opened in the former Komodo Asian Fusion space on the southwest corner of Northern and 12th Street in north Phoenix.
The menu boasts six kinds of ramen and 17 sushi rolls (seven house specialties), as well as nigiri and sashimi.
Cocktails include a Tsaki Fusion (whiskey, soda, yuzu pureee, and lime), Kyoto Mule, Kappa’s Long Island, and Mimosake Sunrise.
If you go
📌 Full Moon Izakaya, 7810 N. 12th St., Phoenix, 480-694-8850. Open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
🐝 House of Honey, a family-run beekeeping business offering raw unfiltered honey, has opened the House of Honey Cafe on the southwest corner of Union Hills and 91st Avenue in Peoria.
A variety of coffee drinks includes four signature beverages: the best-selling HH HoneyLatte, Cinnamon Honey Latte, Coconut White Mocha, and Honey Cold Foam.
There also are pastries from local bakery and sandwiches. And, of course, you can buy honey.
If you go
📌 House of Honey Cafe, 9163 W. Union Hills Drive #116, Peoria, 623-296-4538. Open 6:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday and 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sundays.
🥙 Pita Cafe, a family-owned Mediterranean restaurant.in north Scottsdale, has opened Pita Cafe Express – a takeout and delivery location – on the northwest corner of Bell and Seventh Street in north Phoenix.
What’s on the menu?
Diners choose a base (pita, rice bowl, hummus, salad, or fries), a protein (gyro, chicken, steak/lamb, or falafel), vegetables, and sauces. Prices start at $9.99.
You can add a side and drink for an additional $5.99.
If you go
📌 Pita Cafe Express, 430 E. Bell Road, Phoenix, 480-307-8333. Open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily.
