What are your favorite three restaurants in Arizona?

[lady lib]

If your family is like ours, you go out to eat a lot (too much :)). It would be great to get some new ideas.

I'll start:

Joe's for BBQ in Gilbert
Vito's for Italian in Mesa
Z Tejas for TexMex in Scottsdale & Tempe (& other loc., it's a chain)

:thumbsup:

[havocmom]

1. For a fast bite: La Salsa Grill

For sitting and having a margarita while waiting for dinner, La Parilla Suiza.

For musica and nice surroundings, great for occassions and out of area visitors: La Fuente.

All in Tucson.

[lady lib]

2. Mmmmmm. I'm always up for margaritas, music, and

nice surroundings.

[Fridays Child]

3. Best (as in most authentic) Mexican food in Tucson...

Anita Street Market
St. Mary's Mexican Food and Tortilla Factory
El Dorado Tortilla Factory Restaurant

[lady lib]

4. Good to know. The next time we're in Tucson

we'll have plenty of good choices.

[Fridays Child]

10. Mi Nidito also has good, authentic Mexican food.

Bill Clinton ate there in 1999, and they have, since, added "The President's Plate" to the menu, as well as the presidential seal at the booth where he sat. :)

[havocmom]

5. I like El Minuto too

Tiny place. Great carne secca

[Fridays Child]

9. I've been to the one downtown, and it was great!

[havocmom]

14. LOL El Minuto is the ONLY reason I didn't mind being called for jury duty

every friggin year! Hassle to get downtown to the courthouse and meant loss of income for a day or five, but at least I could treat myself to a great lunch! :D

[lady lib]

6. Sedona's Heartline Cafe

has a small but beautiful garden area, excellent food, friendly waiters, and a large wine list. It's a little pricey, but worth it.

Any DUers from Sedona? (BTW, I'm envious of you if you are.)

[readermostly]

7. The Rockfish Grill in Chandler is pretty good for fish. Definitely a

no frills restaurant, but I've been there several times, and one of my friends says the crab cakes are a pretty fair resemblance to what she grew up with in Maryland (a crab cake home). I've had them, too, which are very good. I'm especially partial to the crab legs.

[lady lib]

8. Welcome to DU, readermostly.

:hi: B-)

We haven't found a restaurant that serves good crab cakes yet, so we'll definitely try Rockfish Grill.

[readermostly]

11. Thank for the welcome, lady lib!

Having never spent much time on the East Coast, I can't vouch for the crab cakes, which sounds like a specialty there. However, my friend Betty said, although they aren't exactly right, they are as good as she has found so far in the Valley. Not as good as she could get at home, but this will do for now. The other fish dishes are pretty good, I think.

[tyedyeto]

12. If you're in Tucson, try

the kingfisher for crabcakes. Awesome!!!!

[havocmom]

15. Hey, tyedyeto, is Magpies still in business on 4th Ave?

And how about Delectables? Good and interesting pizzas at Magpies and Delectables is a great little cafe with fun and tasty menue & specials. I recommend it highly to all visiting the 'Baked Apple' ;)

[tyedyeto]

16. Magpies is still there but

I prefer Zachary's for pizza. Don't know about Delectables.

'Baked Apple'? Good nick for the 'Old Pueblo'. Hadn't heard that one before. :rofl:

[City Lights]

13. Abuelo's, Garduno's and Macayo's.

All of which are in Scottsdale, although Abuelo's is also in Chandler, and Macayo's has multiple locations around the valley. We love Mexican food. :9

[blondeatlast]

17. Best Sonoran enchiladas in the state: Tag's in Coolidge, right there on

Arizona Avenue. I visit my old home town every once in a while just to have some. I hope it's still there, I haven't been back in a coupla years. If it isn', the Sunrise, further south on AZ Ave. is a great second.

Best bagels: Bagelworld, 12th St. and Union Hills. Homebaked every morning and the NICEST, nicest, nicest people. Incredible chicken salad, too.

[NoodleBoy]

18. Mi Patio on 7th and Osborn, Zach's Pizza somewhere in Tucson,

then it's between Greekfest (or town) on 15th st and Camelback (or something) and this place I just want to for the first time, a jazz bar called Johnny's Uptown. Got to eat there more to figure it out, and that will only be when I get a better paycheck.

The best places for burgers have got to be Hamburger Works on 15th Ave. and Thomas or the Chuck Box in Tempe, right next to ASU. They're probably related somehow, and they're really damn good.

[tyedyeto]

31. Zachary's in Tucson is at 1028 E 6TH St

Best pizza in Tucson IMHO.

[nikraye]

32. Is Casa Molina still in Tucson? Yummy Carne Seca Burritos!!!

I went to UofA for grad school some 15 yrs ago. Favorites were:

Casa Molina (sp?) -- the BEST Carne Seca beef burritos
Mi Nidito (sp?) in South Tuscon -- very authentic and popular
and of course, Zachary's Pizza near campus. GREAT pizza.

[RagingInMiami]

19. when I lived in the Valley

I enjoyed Los Dos Molinos and Oregano's

[lady lib]

22. I went to Oregano's (Tempe) a couple of days ago

and it was FANTASTIC. Huge delicious salads, scrumptious pizzas, even the iced tea was good. Our server said the desserts are even better than the meals.

And I've read numerous excellent reviews of Los Dos Molinos, but haven't made it over there yet. :(

[NoodleBoy]

23. been there before, pretty damn good

had the Alfredo the Dark with meat sauce. weird combination, but it was really good.

[readermostly]

29. Oregano's in Tempe has absolutely wonderful pizza! Super everything

on the menu! Desserts are perfection! Now I'm getting a wonderful food dream! HA!!

[lady lib]

30. :)

[Hello_Kitty]

36. Go to Oregano's on your birthday

You get a free PiZookie for dessert! Just do it. Trust me :bounce:

[NoodleBoy]

37. I'll consider it-- my birthday is coming up

however, I turn 21 on July 4, so I don't know.

[blondeatlast]

20. Mary Coyle's Homemade Ice Cream on 7th Ave. and Missouri

in Phoenix. Family owned, fabulous sandwiches, and the ice cream is sheer heaven.

First timers MUST try the peach ice cream--there are no words, just no words.

[NoodleBoy]

21. I worked there when I was like 13 or something

Good chile, too. Haven't been there in a long time though.

[lady lib]

24. Very good old-fashioned ice cream parlor.

I haven't been there in over 20 years, it's good to hear they're still in business.

[lady lib]

25. Boy, the more I think about it, the more memories

that brings back. Mmmmmm...yummy sundaes.

[hippiegranny]

26. so many great ones!

none of my favorites are chains, but there are way more than 3!...

Top 3:
Richardson's - 16th St & Bethany Home - Phx
The Barrio - 16th Street just south of Thomas - Phx
Cafe Roka - Bisbee
greats:
The Mediterranean House - right next door to Richardson's
Los Dos Molinos - South Central Ave near S. Mt. Park - Phx
My Florist Cafe - 7th Ave & McDowell - Phx
Coronado Cafe - 7th St and Monte Vista - Phx
Indian Delhi Palace - 52nd St. and McDowell - Phx
Thai Llana - 32nd St. & Indian School - Phx
Amanos (Italian) - 16th St & Baseline - Phx
Cafe Lalibella - University east of Priest - Tempe
Pischke's Paradise - 1st Street east of Scottsdale Rd - Scottsdale
Manhattan Pizza - Tucson
The New Frontier - Wickenburg

Best Pizza in Phx - NYPD - several locations, I usually go to the one on Priest near Ray.

[lady lib]

27. Wow. Thanks for the extensive list, hippiegranny.

Looks like you've done some traveling around the state.

[hippiegranny]

28. you're welcome!

Yes, I've been all over, and I LOVE good restaurants!

[demzilla]

33. My top three. . . .

For best authentic, San Francisco-style, non-Anglo-oriented Chinese food, filled with formica tables, roasted ducks on hooks, and waiters who barely speak English:

Best Hong Kong Dining, Dobson & Southern, Mesa

For best Korean, no-holds-barred on the spices, lots of entertaining salads served with the main dish, filled with Korean diners:

Hidori, in the same strip mall at Dobson & Southern, Mesa.

For best Barbeque, equal to that of any we've had in Kansas City or anywhere else:

Double H Bar-B-Que, 704 Balboa St. in Old Town Cottonwood, about 1 3/4 hours from Phoenix

All three of the above are smoke-free establishments.

OK, and an honorable mention:

For best Vietnamese pork bun (rice vermicelli noodles; ask for them to mix some spring rolls in and to give you some sauce on the side), Tu Do, at Northern & 19th Avenue in Phoenix. Not so hot on the rest of the menu, and its's smoky in there at times, but the bun is worth the trip.

[lady lib]

34. Cyclo in Chandler -

When you mentioned Vietnamese food I remembered this very good (tiny) restaurant.

Thank you, demzilla!

[Hello_Kitty]

35. My 3

Strictly for quality of food.


Oregano's

Sakana's (sushi) in Ahwatukee

Si Senor's (Mexican restaurant in Chandler)

[lies and propaganda]

38. Frashers Smokehouse in Scottsdale

The best smoked dishes you can find and they serve them until midnight. Half of it is a dimly lit loungey bar. My favorite place to eat ever.

And I can not not give a shout to LoLos Chicken and Waffles in dowtnown-ish Phx. Being a southern girl, i need my fix of fried chicken and sweet tea.

[Citizen Kang]

46. Frashers? Hmm, I'll have to try that...

I'd have to put Cafe Boa up on that list as well.

[specedteacher]

39. My 3

Being a native I have my local favorites:

Mexican: Jordan's (7th st and Rose Lane)
BBQ: TIE (Honey Bear's(central and thomas) and Bill Johnson's (Multiple locations)
Other: Greasewood Flats (Out by Riata Pass Steakhouse) Best damn burgers and nacho's in Phoenix!

[lonestarnot]

40. There is also a Honey Bear's at Van Buren east of 48th St.

[Algomas]

41. In Tucson, try Cien Anos. Best Mex I have found here.

In the strip mall at La Canada and Lambert on the NW side of town.

[flannelmouth]

42. 3 Favorites

OK I'm New Here. I Mean DU. But lets try this.

For steaks and good prices and fantastic service
The Firehouse in Tempe

For a real different experience, Steaks and seafood
The Salt Cellar in Scottsdale

And for old time Arizona, and probably not to last much longer
The Hot dog Stand in Higley. You will meet the Hot dog Nazi.

[tyedyeto]

43. Welcome to DU

:hi:

[lady lib]

44. There's a hot dog Nazi in Higley? LOL.

Gotta go see this for myself. Where's the stand located?

Welcome to DU!
B-):applause::hi:

[flannelmouth]

45. Higley Hot Dog Stand

It's at Higley road and Williams Field. The old gal that runs the place is a real charactor.