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February recap: 7 notable restaurants & bars now open

February brought a mix of splashy arrivals across the Valley. From Spanish tapas to Detroit-style slices, here are seven notable openings: Camello 2525 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix A stylish Mexican newcomer pairing bold regional flavors with a modern presentation, Camello

Hashtag 48 brings refined Mediterranean to west Chandler

🧆 Hashtag 48 Modern Kitchen, a refined Mediterranean restaurant and hookah lounge, has opened in the Laguna Village shopping center on the southeast corner of Ray and Kyrene in west Chandler. It takes over the space formerly home to Lebanese

Dave’s Hot Chicken launches 6th Valley location in Surprise

🐓 Dave’s Hot Chicken is on a roll in the Valley. In the past eight months, the Los Angeles-based brand has opened three new Valley restaurants, doubling its local footprint. The latest launched last week on the northeast corner of

Fusion restaurant Charbel’s Gyro & Pizza opens in Scottsdale

🍕 Charbel’s Gyro & Pizza, a Mediterranean-American fusion restaurant and bar, has opened on the southeast corner of Scottsdale and Shea in central Scottsdale. The menu blends Middle Eastern flavors with popular American dishes, offering everything from shawarma and kabobs

Slice House by Tony Gemignani makes AZ debut Saturday

🍕 A pizza brand backed by one of the most decorated pizzaiolos in the world is making its Arizona debut this weekend in Gilbert. Although it soft-opened a couple days ago, Slice House by Tony Gemignani – the crafted fast-casual

Backyard Taco opens 1st West Valley location in Laveen Village

🌮 Mesa-born Backyard Taco has brought its mesquite-grilled street tacos to the West Valley with a new location on the southeast corner of the Loop 202 and Baseline in Laveen Village. The taqueria, which literally started in a Mesa backyard

Din Tai Fung taking reservations for March 12 soft opening

 Din Tai Fung, a world-renowned Chinese restaurant whose original location in Taiwan has received multiple Michelin stars, has announced the date of its Arizona debut at Scottsdale Fashion Square. The restaurant will host a reservation-only soft opening beginning on March

bb.q Chicken launches 3rd Valley location at Mekong Plaza in Mesa

🐓 bb.q Chicken – the South Korea–born fried chicken chain known for its ultra-crispy, double-fried wings – is continuing to expand its Valley presence with a new location at Mekong Plaza on the southwest corner of Dobson and Main in

Matilda’s All Day Café opens on Roosevelt Row in Phoenix

  ☕️ Matilda’s All Day Café, a new concept from First Place Coffee food truck owner Devon McConville, has opened in a restored 1914 bungalow near the southwest corner of Roosevelt and Sixth Avenue in downtown Phoenix. The 1,860-square-foot space

Pop-ups, tastings & takeovers: It’s Arizona Cocktail Weekend

🍹 The 14th annual Arizona Cocktail Weekend, the longest-running cocktail event in the Southwest, runs through Monday at bars, restaurants, and other venues throughout the Valley. The 21-and-over showcase features nearly 100 pop-ups, tastings, takeovers, and more, but there are

The little restaurant with a big legacy: Little Szechuan at 50

🥢 Little Szechuan, a longtime Tempe favorite just west of downtown, is celebrating a major milestone this week. On Thursday, the beloved Chinese restaurant marks its 50th anniversary, a half-century run that has made it a fixture for local residents,

Elevated Mexican restaurant Santo Agave opens at Park West

🌮 Santo Agave, an elevated Mexican restaurant showcasing regional styles from Sinaloa-style seafood to Jalisco-influenced beef dishes from a Josper charcoal oven, has opened in front of the Harkins Theatres at Park West in Peoria. Menu highlights include bone marrow

Smallcakes dessert shop to close after 8 years in Ahwatukee

🚫 Smallcakes, a dessert shop offering small cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and ice cream, is closing its Ahwatukee location after eight years on the northeast corner of Ray and Ranch Circle. ‘‘We invite everyone to stop by and enjoy one more

Winners of Arizona’s 12th annual Foodist Awards revealed

🏆 The 12th annual Foodist Awards, organized by the Arizona Restaurant Association, were held Monday night at Warehouse 215 in Phoenix. Here are this year’s winners, as selected by a panel of industry experts: Food Pioneer: Gio Osso, Virtu Honest

Devour Culinary Classic announces 2026 winners

🏆 At the 18th annual Devour Culinary Classic held over the weekend at the Desert Botanical Garden with more than 100 of Arizona’s top chefs and makers showcasing their food and drinks. Best of Show went to Carcara in downtown

Babbo Italian Eatery to raise money Wednesday for cancer research

⚾️ Babbo Italian Eatery’s annual Baseball for Babbo Day of Giving returns Wednesday, turning a meal out into meaningful support for pancreatic cancer research. All seven Valley locations will donate 100% of profits to the Seena Magowitz Foundation, benefiting innovative