Category: New Restaurant Alert

🍪 Philadelphia-based Insomnia Cookies has launched its fourth Valley store just south of Pie Snob near the northwest corner of Arizona and Frye in downtown Chandler. The menu features 17 classic cookies ($2.89 apiece), as well as deluxe cookies ($3.10), cookie cakes, ice cream,

🌮 Cien Fuegos, a Mexican restaurant from the son of the owners of Casa Corazon, has opened in the former La Cocina space near the southwest corner of 16th Street and McDowell in Phoenix. Menu highlights include pipian verde (chicken

🍸 Belmont Kitchen & Cocktails, a self-described ‘‘casually sophisticated’’ restaurant offering seasonal cuisine and craft cocktails, has opened in north Scottsdale. It’s located in the former New York Bagels ‘N Bialys space next to Mastro’s on the northwest corner of Pima

🍺 Copper State Taphouse has opened in the former Papago Brewing space at Mesa Riverview. The iconic Papago closed a couple weeks ago after a two-year resurrection. While Papago boasted 60 beers on tap, Copper State’s tap list offers 28

🍳 Hope’s Brunch House has opened in the former IHOP building on the west side of Central about halfway between McDowell and Thomas in central Phoenix. Highlights of the huge menu include oven-baked biscuit sandwiches (two for $14), smokey grits

🍔 Bubba’s 33, a Kentucky-based restaurant and ‘‘garage bar’’ concept from the founder of Texas Roadhouse, has opened its third Valley location on the southeast corner of I-10 and Warner in south Tempe. The late Kent Taylor created Bubba’s – a

🍳 Scottsdale-based brunch concept Over Easy has opened its 17th Valley location  at GSQ in downtown Goodyear. Menu highlights such as banana nut French toast, chicken fried steak, and ham with red-eye gravy have been featured on the Food Network’s

🥃 The Bar, a self-described neighborhood tavern ‘‘particularly reminiscent of the state of Michigan,’’ has soft-opened in uptown Phoenix. The locally owned concept’s second current location takes over the former Mateo’s Beach Bar space on the northwest corner of Seventh Avenue

🧇 Sweet Paris Creperie & Café, a Houston-based chain specializing in sweet and savory crepes, has made its Arizona debut at the Scottsdale Quarter. It’s located next to the Apple store on the northeast corner of Scottsdale and Butherus in

🍣 Omatase Japanese Kitchen, a new restaurant from the former owners of Sushi Stop in Mesa, has opened in the food court at the Asiana Market on the northeast corner of Dobson and Southern in west Mesa. The menu offers

🌮 La Cocina, a refined Mexican restaurant inspired by ‘‘the iconic dining experiences of Southern California,’’ has opened in far north Scottsdale. It takes over the former Hacienda’s Mexican Grill space (a few spaces south of the new Patricia’s Pizza)

🐓 Is Peruvian rotisserie chicken finally becoming a thing in the Valley? Mi Corralito Charbroiled Peruvian Chicken has opened in the old Tacos Chiwas space in the Pep Boys Plaza near the northwest corner of Alma School and Warner in

🌯 Carolina’s Mexican Food, one of my favorite Valley restaurants, has opened its seventh Valley location on the southwest corner of Alma School and Warner in Chandler. It’s great news for East Valley residents, whose only other Carolina’s opened in

🍸 Kill Club, a new lounge and restaurant from Jocque Concepts (The Montauk, Diego Pops, The Hot Chick, and Eat Up!) has opened in Old Town Scottsdale. It takes over the former Philadelphia Sandwich Company space next to DJ’s (across

🌮 Casa de Julia, a polished Mexican restaurant and bar named in honor of the owner’s grandmother, has opened in downtown Phoenix. It takes over the space formerly home to French bakery and cafe La Madeleine at the Luhrs Tower on the

🇪🇹 Authentic EthioAfrican, a well-regarded Ethiopian restaurant and bar that’s been serving Phoenix diners since 2013, has opened a second location on the southeast corner of Hayden and Indian Bend in central Scottsdale. The menu offers individual and communal meals,

🍛 iThai Bistro has opened in the strip-mall space formerly home to Ah-Wok-Tukee Asian Cuisine on the northeast corner of Chandler and Desert Foothills Parkway in Ahwatukee. The menu features curries, wok dishes, noodle dishes, rice dishes, barbecue chicken and

🍔 Tired of paying nearly $20 for a burger and fries? Head over to El Camino, a new bar and grill in Old Town Scottsdale (of all places!) where you can get a double cheeseburger and fries for just $9.45.

🥒 Mr. Pickle’s Sandwich Shop, a Scottsdale-based sandwich chain, has opened its seventh Valley location in the Safeway center on the southeast corner of Chandler and 40th Street in Ahwatukee. Founded by Frank and Michele Fagundes in San Mateo, Calif.,

🥢 Edo Japanese Grill, a Canadian chain of Japanese fast-casual restaurants, has made its Arizona debut in Chandler. It’s opened in the former Pasta 78 space on the northeast corner of the Loop 101 and Chandler Boulevard. Edo’s core menu