RESTAURANT CATEGORIES
American & Continental • BBQ • Cajun & Soul • Caribbean & Latin American
Chinese • Deli • Delivery • Fast Food • French • Greek & Mediterranean
Indian • Italian and Pizza • Japanese • Mexican and Southwestern
Middle Eastern • Southeast Asian • Spanish • Steak and Seafood
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* CenPho Favorite
Address: 2814 N 16th Street
Website: http://www.barriocafe.com
Barrio Cafe's motto is "Comida Chingona" (spanish for "f@*$ing good food") and they've definitely earned the right to say that. Perhaps I'm biased because I live within walking distance of Barrio Cafe and therefore can consume many samples from their well-stocked tequila bar (150+ labels) without the worry of having to drive home. But the food really is amazing. They make their signature guacamole at the table and what makes it special are the pomegranate seeds that are added to the mix. There probably isn't a bad thing on the menu, but I particularly like the Tacos de Pescado made with halibut, cabbage and avocado, or the Enchiladas Suizas which are chicken stuffed enchiladas with a tomatillo cream sauce. The Sunday brunch is also good. The restaurant is located in a transitional area full of strip malls and dollar stores, but the neighborhood is safe. And you'll probably have the opportunity to sit on one of the benches in front of the restaurant and watch the local 'scenery' while you wait for your table - the restaurant doesn't take reservations, the dining room is small, the bar is even smaller (you'll want to get your drink and get out of the way), and this is a VERY popular establishment on Friday and Saturday nights. The atmosphere at Barrio Cafe is always lively which is enhanced by the mariachi band playing in the front of the restaurant. Barrio Cafe is open for dinner every night of the week except Mondays. There are very few restaurants that I consider to be worth an hour plus wait (although it rarely ends up taking that long), but Barrio Cafe is well worth it - so order a margarita, grab a bench and enjoy your evening in the barrio!
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* CenPho Favorite
Address: 1140 East Washington Street
Website: http://www.bobbycee.com
Bobby C's is a great soul food restaurant in CenPho. Their menu includes delicious comfort foods such as southern fried chicken, chicken fried steak (or chicken), catfish and fried shrimp. The sides are also fantastic - I'm a big fan of the macaroni & cheese and dirty rice. Like any good southern restaurant, they also serve collard greens and black eye peas. The bar side of the restaurant has a full bar and tables for dining. The lounge side of the restaurant features a dance floor with smaller tables for sipping cocktails and listening to live jazz music on Sundays and Mondays. They also have a karaoke night on Tuesdays, and on Wednesday they feature Chicago stepping lessons which I've been told are very popular and can make getting a seat in the lounge difficult. Bobby C's is now open for lunch during the week and it is open for dinner 7 days a week, including late night dining on Fridays and Saturdays. Bobby C's is a great downtown establishment for good soul food and good entertainment.
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* CenPho Favorite
Address: 603 North Fifth Avenue
Website: http://www.cibophoenix.com/
Cibo (pronounced "chee-bo") is a cozy pizzeria in a restored bungalow house in downtown Phoenix. The pizzas, salads and desserts are all Italian in nature. All of the ingredients are grown fresh locally with the exception of the authentic Italian ingredients that are obtained directly from the Motherland. The antipasti options include caprese salad and a mixed antipasto dish, along with an assortment of salads. Cibo offers a dozen pizza varieties, half of which have tomato sauce (Pizze Rosse) and half of which are white (Pizze Bianche). They are large enough for a couple people to share, but it's also fun to get a couple different kinds to sample and you can always take the leftovers home! We had the Diavolo (tomato sauce, mozarella and spicy salame) and the Rustica (mozarella, proscuitto and arugula). Both were delicious. Cibo also offers crepes for dessert, half of which are made with Nutella. The wine and beer list features mostly Italian labels. Cibo does not have a license for hard liquor. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating, but it is still a pretty small establishment with a limited number of tables. If you are only a party of two, you'll probably be seated within 15-20 minutes. Larger parties usually have a longer wait, although the restaurant does take reservations for parties of six or more. But there is a nice outdoor patio where you can hang out and have a glass of wine while you wait, and there is a small chimnea to huddle around on cold nights. The service was friendly although overwhelmed the night we were there - our waiter forgot about a drink order we placed halfway through the meal and after three reminders we finally gave up. And there was a small mix up with the bill. But at least he was apologetic about it. The restaurant is not open for lunch on weekends. Cibo is a downtown gem with quality food that all CenPho lovers should experience!
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* CenPho Favorite
Address: 628 East Adams Street
Circa 1900 is a new restaurant in downtown Phoenix brought to you by the same group of US Airways flight attendants that also operate Coronado Café. Located in Heritage Square Park, Circa 1900 features what appears to be New American/French cuisine in a restored historic home called the Silva House that has a very comfortable, cozy atmosphere (previously occupied by Ruby Beet).
We walked in on a Friday night without any reservations. Knowing how crowded Pizzeria Bianco gets on weekend nights, we assumed we would have to wait for a table. But that was not the case at all. We were quickly seated at a nice table in one of the front rooms near a big picture window that looks out onto Heritage Square.
Our waitress was very friendly and helpful when it came to answering questions about the menu. She also took the time to explain each dish as it was served. To start we had the cured meat plate and an Alsatian pastry filled with onions, bacon and melted cheese. The cured meat plate was served with bread and while the Italian meats were delicious, overall the plate itself was pretty uninspiring. But the Alsatian pastry was absolutely delicious and quite possibly my favorite part of the entire meal.
For my entrée, I had a monkfish that was just slightly too salty for me to finish the whole thing, but tasty nonetheless. For dessert we had the apple pie pastry served with a side of cinnamon ice cream. I'm usually not a fan of ice cream (I don't like cold sweets), but this ice cream was actually quite good and went well with the tasty pastry.
One other thing worth mentioning...there is a bar in one of the rooms at the back of the house that is a quite welcoming place to have a drink and would also be a nice place to grab a quick meal on your own or with a small group if you don't want to sit in the dining room.
I have only heard about Circa 1900 in passing - they seem to be relying mostly on word of mouth advertising from fans of Coronado Café - but I'm glad to have discovered it. It is a much needed addition to the downtown restaurant scene, and is sure to please downtown diners for many years to come.
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* CenPho Favorite
Address: 2201 N 7th Street
Website: http://www.coronadocafe.com/
This cozy restaurant in a nicely restored historic home on Seventh Street used to be a casual BYOB bistro that served mostly sandwiches and salads. But in the last couple years, they've upgraded the decor, menu and liquor license, and now this is an upscale restaurant with an extensive menu and full bar. The decor is warm and contemporary and the work of local artists hangs on the walls for sale. There are a variety of entrees on the menu, from salads to pastas to meat dishes. I recently had the andouille sausage linguine which was great and I would highly recommend it. The restaurant is small and sometimes there can be a wait so don't go if you're in a rush. You can make dinner reservations for after 7:30. And despite being a small restaurant, they easily accomodated my group of nine people recently. Lunch is served Monday through Saturday from 11 am to 2:30 pm. Dinner is served Tuesday through Saturday from 5 pm to 10 pm.
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* CenPho Favorite
Address: 6008 North 16th Street
Website: http://www.richardsonsofnewmexico.com/dickmain.asp
Dick's Hideaway is a sister property to Richardson's restaurant, and the two are located just around the corner from each other in the same strip mall. Dick's serves the same menu as Richardson's, but doesn't have as many tables and has much more of a bar atmosphere. It is often just as crowded in Dick's as it is in Richardson's, but your chances of getting a table at Dick's are usually a little better. Seating is first come, first served (there is no hostess). Dick's also has a large banquet room which is a very pleasant and cozy place for business meetings or special events.
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* CenPho Favorite
Address: Central Avenue and Virginia Avenue
Website: http://www.durantsfinefoods.com/
Durant's is a CenPho legend. Their motto is "Good Friends, Great Steaks & the Best Booze are the necessities of life." Several of the staff have worked at the restaurant for over 10 years. The menu is about what you would expect from a nice steakhouse - a standard selection of meats and side dishes. The Phoenix New Times has named Durant's as having the Best Caesar Salad and Best Martini in town. They also declared it Best Place to Dine in the Dark in 2003, referring to Durant's low lighting and cushy leather booths. You definitely feel like you've stepped back in time when you step into Durant's - it almost feels like you should have to talk into a speakeasy before entering. But the food is always great and the service never disappoints.
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* CenPho Favorite
Address: 905 North 4th Street
Website: http://www.go2fate.com/
Fate is the best kept secret in CenPho. This Asian themed restaurant is not easy to find - it's located in a restored historic home on a quiet downtown street. There's one small porch light out front that doesn't really differentiate it much from any of the neighboring homes. The sign hanging on the front of the restaurant isn't lit up at night and isn't immediately noticeable from the street. And the small parking lot in front only holds 3-4 cars (which also doesn't differentiate it from some CenPho homes...)
But the second you step through the front door, you no longer feel like you're in the middle of a blighted CenPho neighborhood and it feels like you've been transported to a very trendy urban hotspot. The renovated building has been redesigned with Asian-inspired touches such as exposed wooden rafters, lots of buddhas and candles, pagoda light fixtures, and minimalist furniture. There is a loft in the front room with a DJ spinning music. And despite being located in a typically small historic downtown home, there is a decent-sized bar area where you can hang out while waiting for a table (they only serve wine and beer). There is dining in the front room, and there is a second room in the back with several more tables. There are also a few tables on the front porch. Like many downtown restaurants, there is art for sale hanging on the walls.
On our first trip to Fate, we started the meal with pot stickers and crab wontons - both of which were served on bamboo platters and both of which were fantastic. For our entrees we had the pad thai, coconut curry, and wok noodles with beef. All of the entrees were delicious. On other recent trips to Fate I've also had the Hong Kong Flat Rice and The Healthy Asian - so far, I think the Flat Rice is my favorite dish. Fate is open for lunch Monday through Friday, and it's open for dinner 7 days of the week. On weekends, it is open until 3 am and has quickly become a popular late-night hang out. It is also very popular on First Fridays since there are several galleries within a block of the restaurant (Artisan Village is just around the corner). Fate also seems like it would be a great place for a private party. But I've gone on long enough - Fate is on my list of favorite downtown establishments and I'll definitely be returning on a regular basis.
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* CenPho Favorite
Address: 3815 North Central Avenue
Website: http://www.fezoncentral.com
The girls of CenPho were onsite for the Grand Opening of FEZ this past Sunday night. OK, it was actually pure coincidence that we were there on opening night. A friend of ours had told us about the restaurant, and we decided to stop by on our way to the Gwen Stefani/Black Eyed Peas concert not knowing that it was actually the first night the restaurant was going to be open. So they weren't serving food yet, but we'll update this posting at a later date with a review of the food.
As for our general impressions...this is a very trendy, cool, modern establishment. They have a specialty martini menu that includes drinks such as the "Pomegranitini" and "Apricosmo." Even though we weren't able to sample the food, their menu includes things such as lettuce wraps, lamb empandadas, hamburgers, rosemary chicken sandwich, beef and lamb kisra and almond crusted tilapia. For sides they offer sweet potato fries, spicy harissa fries, cous cous and garden orzo. So the theme seems to be modern American meets Middle Eastern cuisine.
They boast an "EZ Hour" Monday through Friday from 4:30-6:30 pm, Uncorked Sundays with 50% off on all bottles, and Fuzion Mondays with 2-4-1 FEZ Wine Fuzions. And Tuesdays are $5 SKYY Martinis - so I wouldn't be surprised if FEZ turns into the Tuesday night follow up to Martini Monday at Amsterdam.
And the best part is that the night of the grand opening, they were serving free vodka drinks. With that kind of treatment, we'll definitely return!
desert senorita
Last night we finally had the opportunity to eat at FEZ. The food was outstanding (as were the pomegranitinis, which were exceptionally strong last night). We started with the hummus which had a nice spicy kick and was served with kisra. I had the lamb chops which were cooked to perfection and served with a side of potatoes, zucchini and peppers. My friends had the Tangier Burger and Lamb Kisra. We also sampled a few sides of fries - the spicy fries, garlic and rosemary fries, and cinnamon sweet potato fries. The sweet potato fries were so sweet and delicious that I'd almost recommend them for desert! Overall, I was very impressed with the food quality at FEZ and would highly recommend it.
* CenPho Favorite
Address: 4140 North Seventh Avenue
Fry bread is a staple of Southwestern Indian culture and cuisine. You can find natives selling it all over Arizona at tourist site parking lots, spring training ballparks, the state fair and along the side of the road while driving through a reservation. But the Tohono O'odham Nation has grasped onto the popularity of this sweet, puffy bread by opening a restaurant in central Phoenix that serves various fry bread combinations that can be eaten as a snack or a full meal. You know it's a good sign when the majority of the restaurant's clientele is Native American. And the Fry Bread House is definitely the real deal. Their fry bread tacos, wraps and desserts are out of this world delicious in a ridiculously unhealthy way. But the experience is worth every single tasty calorie. We had the ultimate green chili beef taco and the chorizo taco. Both are served with beans, cheese and lettuce, and you can get sour cream on the side. I was full halfway through my taco, but I powered through until the end because it would have been sac-religious to leave any of this meal uneaten. The restaurant itself is very nice and clean - you order at the counter and then take a seat in the dining room that has a mixture of booths and tables. The walls are painted in neutral Southwestern colors and there is native art hanging on the walls. I'm almost embarrassed to say that I've lived in Phoenix for 9 years and finally now just got around to eating at the Fry Bread House. But after one visit, I'm hooked and as bad as it may be for my health, I will return on a very regular basis!
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* CenPho Favorite
Address: 801 North 1st Street
Website: http://www.mattsbigbreakfast.com/
Matt's Big Breakfast is about basics. The menu is very straight-forward and includes standard breakfast fare at a very affordable price. Hotcakes, bacon, hashbrowns and omelets - it's good ol' home cookin'. They use the freshest of ingredients and the food is really delicious. I recommend trying the Hog and Chick (definitely with the thickcut bacon) or the griddlecakes. Or both! Matt's also has a lunch menu with sandwiches, salads, burgers and chili. As for decor, think whitewashed walls and orange counters straight out of a 1950s diner. The dining area is small and cramped, but service is efficient and the atmosphere is pleasant. There is usually a wait for a table on Saturday and Sunday mornings, but tables move quickly and I've never had to wait more than 30 minutes. But the best part - which is key for a non-morning person like myself - is that they serve breakfast until 2:30 pm every day of the week except Mondays. Amen.
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* CenPho Favorite
Address: 623 East Adams Street
Website: http://www.pizzeriabianco.com/
Who would have guessed that one day some of the best pizza in the United States would be found in downtown Phoenix? Pizzeria Bianco is located in a small historic building in Heritage Square in downtown Phoenix. They only take reservations for groups of 6 or more, which almost always guarantees that you will have to wait for a table. But that’s why the owners opened a bar next door – Bar Bianco – and when the weather is nice this drinking/dining experience is one that can make for a nice, relaxing evening. The pizzas are all made in wood-burning ovens and are delicious. There are some unique selections on the menu, but the choices are not overwhelming. All of the pizzas are made with fresh ingredients and I’m pretty sure the rosemary on my pizza came from the flower beds in front of the restaurant! Pizzeria Bianco is a fun, casual dining experience and is a taste of CenPho that is worth the experience.
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* CenPho Favorite
Address: 1582 East Bethany Home Road
Website: http://www.burningembersphoenix.com/
Richardson's has long been one of my favorite restaurants in Phoenix. The restaurant takes a unique approach to Southwestern cuisine, which is refreshing in a city with way too many "southwestern" restaurants. Richardson's calls its cuisine "New Mexican" which is similar to Southwestern but less focused on cliches and more focused on using fresh ingredients to spice up things like Sea Bass, Beef Tenderloin and many other delicious dishes. They have a couple big chalk boards in the dining room that list several specials of the day that aren't listed on the menu. Their green chile potatoes are to die for and any dish that comes with their jalepeno hollandaise sauce is delicious! The restaurant is dark and cozy with adobe-style booths adorned with lots of pillows to make settling in for a meal quite comfortable. Lots of locals frequent the restaurant and after you've been there a few times you'll start to recognize some of the same faces grabbing a quick bite or drink at the bar. Richardson's doesn't take reservations, and the wait can often be over an hour, but it is worth it and there is some room to hang out at the bar and drink a margarita in the meantime. You can also try getting a seat at the bar of Dick's Hideaway, Richardson's sister property around the corner (where the same menu is served).
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*CenPho Favorite
Address: 6335 North 16th Street
Website: http://www.richardsonsofnewmexico.com/rokmain.asp
Rokerij is the newest member of the Richardson's family of restaurants. Richardson's and Dick's Hideaway have long been two of my favorite haunts in Phoenix. And Rokerij lives up to the Richardson's reputation. The name of the restaurant is Dutch for "smokehouse" and descriptive of the way Rokerij prepares the various meats it serves.
Rokerij is located in a stone building on 16th Street just south of Maryland Avenue. The parking lot is small, but the restaurant offers complimentary valet parking. You have two options for dining at Rokerij - there is a nice dining room located on the street level that has cozy booths with tables covered with white linens, dimmed overhead lighting and candles, and a quiet, intimate atmosphere. Or you can descend down the stairs to a basement bar where there is a flat screen TV, music playing in the background and a fireplace surrounded by couches for relaxing and sipping cocktails. There are also a few tables to eat at downstairs, or you can eat at the wide bar that is very similar to the bars at Richardson's and Dick's. As with other Richardson's restaurants, the service staff is incredibly friendly and attentive and they know many of the regular customers by name.
Rokerij is open for lunch and dinner. We went there for dinner. I'm a big fan of Richardson's seabass, so I decided to try the same thing at Rokerij. The seabass is sauteed with spinach, tomatoes and shallots. It was cooked to tender perfection and melted in my mouth. It was very delicious. My friend had the Colorado lamb chops glazed in mint sauce. They were very tender and juicy - also fantastic. Rokerij also serves a variety of steaks, including the Rokerij steak which is a grilled beef tenderloin topped with dungenous crab, shrimp, lobster and bearnaise sauce. All of the dinner entrees are served with a choice of side salads and a basket of bread. Most entrees also come with a side of mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes served in their own little black kettle which are just as delicious as the green chile mashed potatoes Richardson's is so famous for. Also consistent with Richardson's is the Rokerij policy of not allowing young children. So if you are looking for a relaxing adult evening of good food and good drinks, I highly recommend Rokerij.
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* CenPho Favorite
Address: 2631 North Central Avenue
Website: http://www.wildthaiger.com/
Thai in downtown Phoenix. When I first moved here almost 2 years ago, I was extremely disappointed that I couldn't find good, convenient Thai food in CenPho. Little did I know that there was such a thing in my 'hood. I still remember the first time a friend mentioned Wild Thaiger to me. We'd pulled it as an option out of a magazine and with some trepidation, headed there on a Friday evening. What we discovered was a diamond in the rough. It's not the most glamorous place, but with ample patio seating, you don't have to worry too much about the standard décor indoors. As for the food, I can only say that the entrees are pretty good. If you're looking for some type of fancy Thai restaurant, this isn't the place. But if you love the staples of Thai food as I have come to think of them with lots of flavor and a bit of a kick, then this is a place worth checking out. I love penang curry and it's a favorite of mine there. Their pad thai isn't bad either. They also have some exotic dishes on the menu that are worth checking out. With a limited selection of alcoholic beverages, their concentration is definitely on quality of food, and it shows. There is generally a good sized crowd by 7pm on a Friday, so you may want to consider a reservation for larger parties.
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Address: 5101 North 16th Street
Website: http://www.ajoals.com/
Ajo Al's is a predictable but enjoyable Mexican restaurant. The interior is about what you would expect - saltillo tile, colorful seating and Mexican art on the walls - not incredibly authentic, but comfortable nonetheless. The food is also pretty standard - burritos, enchiladas, tacos, etc. I personally like going to Ajo Al's for a casual lunch and it's also a good place to take a large group of people. With its central location near 16th Street and Camelback, this is a very accessible and convenient place to take care of a Mexican food craving.
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