Phoenix Arizona

Where are the best places to go in Phoenix for local, affordable but unique restaurants? Going this next week. Thanks.

Do you mean phoenix proper, or nearby too? Here's a brewpub in Tempe that some of my friends own. Pretty much "gourmet pub grub" if that makes sense. Unique atmosphere in a big old dairy building..

http://www.fourpeaks.com/

Wow...that makes me think - I was planning a trip to Flagstaff this summer. Now I might reconsider unless they rescind that new law. Grumble!

Thanks Nimbus, I thought you might know some spots. Going to be staying downtown Phoenix so if you know any spots downtown that would be great also. Looks like the brew pub is 13 miles away so that is not far, will def try to check it out if I can get there on a bus/train or something.

Thanks !

Brian

Pizzeria Bianco......it's downtown only a 5 minutes from the airport. The guy makes his own mozzarella cheese and has a wood fired oven.
http://www.pizzeriabianco.com/

I lived in Phoenix for a couple of years and here are a some of my personal favorites.

Richardson's isn't too far from downtown and a real gem. They do a very flavorful version of New Mexican cuisine. Very good eats.

http://www.burningembersphoenix.com/

Chino Banditos Takee Outee is out on 19th Ave between Thunderbird and Bell across from Turf Paradise. Its a pretty good distance from Downtown but what really isn't. Phoenix is the textbook example of urban sprawl. Anyway it is well worth the trip and really cheap as well. You may want figure out how to order by looking on the website first because it can be a little confusing and the lines can be long.

http://chinobandido.com/

The only place I liked Downtown is Alice Cooperstown on Jackson down by the arena and baseball park. Its a cross between A Hard Rock Cafe and a ESPN Cafe with some pretty decent BBQ.
The waitstaff used to wear Alice's eye makeup. Pretty cool place.

http://www.alicecooperstown.com/index.html

Durant's on Central is a real old school steakhouse in the Rat Pack tradition. The food is pretty good but the atmosphere really makes the place what it is.

http://www.durantsaz.com/

Last but not least. The 5 and Diner on 16th Street is a real, honest to goodness 24 hr. stainless steel diner with darn good eats. I suggest the Chorizo Omelet or the Blue Moon Burger.

http://www.5anddiner.com/index.html

"Auntchillada" is one of my favorite. They have two locations. I go to the one dreamy draw drive .I eat there everytime I visit my mother.

Also there is an Italian restaurant called Tutti Santi. Its got some really nice Anti-pasti

There are two other places I like to visit when I am there and they are chains but its good food. Kona -Grill and Z- Tejas. Both places change their menus often to keep it interesting. If they have it, I usually enjoy the mole at Z- Tejas

Hope you have a good time there.Enjoy the weather!

I asked the travel forum before we went to Phoenix last month. No response.
Here's my response to myself after we returned:

http://forums.louisvillehotbytes.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=9765

I just sent a couple of my friends in PHX for advice. So far they've recommended that Pita Jungle.
5 and Diner is a chain place..we used to go there for the fun atmosphere, but I never really loved it.

Thanks everyone, leaving in the morning at 6:15am, printing this out and hope to try some places tomorrow.

Ellen, that's why I posted in the restaurant forum, the travel one doesn't get as many looks I'd guess.

Colorado is nice this time of year. Join the Arizona Boycott:

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepubli ... n-law.html

Was wondering who would be the first to politicize this thread.....

I'm glad I was able to be the first.

Maybe this is a good time to commend the contribution that hard-working immigrants make to the restaurant scene in Louisville.

Maybe there are hard-working PEOPLE in Arizona who don't need to be boycotted because of things that their state legislature does. If somebody stopped paying my bills everytime the Kentucky legislature did something stupid...