nourishment

menu :: price - right :: taste - darn good :: service - sub-par :: visited once

This Biltmore-area establishment features a menu centered around scratch-made comfort food with a culinary twist...

menu :: price - $$-$$$ :: taste - good :: service - fine :: visited 10+ times

AZ/88 is tucked away in the courtyard of the Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza. It's menu has a good selection of salads, burgers and sandwiches that will satisfy any appetite. 

The calling card of AZ/88 is the ever-changing abstract/modernist artwork on display complimenting the ultra-modern decor. Their bar DJ stresses an avoidance of the norm for their sound selection (think House, Indie, retro Rock less Top-40, Hip-Hop...). Come at night and you may have a difficult time finding the bathrooms. In the interest of keeping the secret, I won't tell you where to find them.

The burger options feature eclectic choices like the Burger Au Poivre which is a peppercorn lover's delight (it's too much for me). The Burger Las Brisas has more of a Southwest flavor to it.

The decor and the servers, who all wear simple, black and white attire are generally professional and attentive. Actually they're almost blasé when it comes to their service but what it impressive about them is their ability to deliver a martini, filled to the brim of the hyperbolic glass, without spilling a drop. The martinis are delicious and strong. 

menu :: price - $$ :: service - good :: taste - great :: visited 8 times

Place features the most hipster staff in a non-coffee-shop venue in Phoenix.

They feature a neat drive in takeout (alcohol included) but their service dine-in is superb.

I’ve had most of the pizza options on their menu but the standouts definitely include the Big Star and (my personal fav) the Brussels Sprouts. They are in the fashion of an Old World style where a fork and knife is preferred. They have very creative topping combinations and the crust is what has me coming back. It’s “master baker” Coe’s recipe which has the most delectable texture—airy yet with substance. Their beer options are very pleasing. This place definitely does it right—they have a good selection of local craft brews (see an earlier column I wrote that stresses the importance of local brew selections) and some esoteric out-or-state ones as well.

The ambiance is also a treat. The restaurant geniuses over at Upward Projects renovated an old ‘60’s style bank. Quite a tasteful job they did too. Normally I prefer the kitchen to be hidden from guest viewing unless the prep is the show (see Tappanski or an authentic Naples pizzeria). Federal has it partially hidden and, you know, it just works. I really do feel transported into a different generation with the server clothing options (the more I consider it, the more I am convinced it is choreographed) or maybe it’s all just a sub-conscious mental connection. The servers all seem to be happy working there and it’s consistently busy but the wait is minimal. Perfect combination for a pleasant pizza night.

menu :: price - $$ :: service - okay :: taste - outstanding :: visited once

menu :: price - $$ :: service - great :: taste - great :: visited 4 times

An American burger bar, located in North Phoenix, that brings legendary East Coast taste to the people. 

This is the latest brainchild of the Aiello family, who've relocated their Italian restaurant, previously on Central Ave., to this North Phoenix location. Their salumeria and adjacent pizza place were first then came Charr.

Charr is not your typical burger bistro. Take a glance at the menu and you'll be inundated with rich ingredients. Truffle french fries for one. You think you've had them before (think Fox RC restaurant competitor Zinburger) but the one's from Charr are a different level. It's analogous to watching the Bucks play the Timberwolves then the next day watching the C's battle the Heat. My point exactly. "Oh! So THAT's how you play basketball."

I digress. You get a healthy dose of East Coast feel too. Mr. Aiello himself makes a point to go to each table and say a few words. Last time I was there, my parents struck up conversation about the neighborhood happenings and he was loitering around our table for at least 10 minutes! You just feel comfortable here. It's unassuming, they've done, in my opinion, a very marginal job at turning over the former Market Bistro spot into this new concept, but it somehow just works. It's not the hipster, everything-doesn't-match-but-somehow-matches look of some more popular casual dining spots but it's a through-and-through Moon Valley staple.

menu :: price - $$ :: taste - excellent :: service - great :: been 10+ times

Pizzeria :: small

Dubbed by Oprah as the "Country's best pizza", this is one of Phoenix's flagship restaurants. 

What can I say about this place that hasn't already been said by someone with better foodie credentials than I? Yea, not a lot. So here's my history of knowing the joint. In the beginning, when the small brick building located in downtown Phoenix's Heritage Square was only open from 5p-10p (back when Chris Bianco was personally manning the legendary oven), the wait time was regularly 3 hours. Since then, Chris has left the task of personally perfecting each pizza to his right hand men and the restaurant has expanded their hours. Still, you can be quoted a wait time upwards of an hour but as my experience recently attests, this isn't always accurate. The hostess told us "45 minutes but you're welcome to go [to Bar Bianco, next door] and get some drinks and appetizers". We were sitting in the Bar for about 5 minutes when we were told our seats were ready. I recommend "first available" seating, which will probably be bar seating, if you'd rather not wait the full quoted time. 

Anything on the menu will be a delight to your tastebuds. One pizza can be eaten by one ravenous bear, but if accompanied by another I recommend ordering a salad (which comes with their bread and olive oil--all local, simple, and amazing) and sharing a pizza. The Italians eat pizza with a knife and fork. I suggest you follow suit. Leave the slice-folding, grease-dripping pies for the varieties of New York. 

Pizzeria Bianco has a consistent product and clientele base and because of this it allows them the aplomb to give outrageous wait times knowing that their restaurant will be at capacity almost every night. Their service is a great compliment to their fare--simple but doesn't neglect anything. As a nice touch, both the Bar and the Pizzeria offer locally brewed beers (in-state, that is). Ones from Prescott, Flagstaff and from Tempe showcase Arizona breweries. My roommate's favorite: Left Hand Brewing's Milk Stout Nitro (Colo.), and my favorite Italian beer, Peroni round out a startlingly impressive and diverse selection. 

menu :: price - $$ :: service - great :: taste - good :: visited 10+ times

Italian :: small

True Old Town Scottsdale hole-in-the-wall with surprisingly charming ambiance and quality food.

I've been here so many times that eventually the servers and owner would offer me my favorite post meal drink: vin santo. Literally it is a dessert wine made from raisins (instead of grapes). This place has the feel of a true hole-in-the-wall. Hmm, what defines a good hole-in-the-wall, you ask? Well I have come up with a short list to help discerning restauranteurs make a good decision in the midst of more mainstream options.

Off the main roads. The best finds are those between the ubiquitous restaurants du jour. Going against the grain and taking a chance may just yield the tastiest meals. 

Small in size. A quality hole-in-the-wall restaurant should have some charm. 

No reservation = no wait. Restaurants with a wait have already gotten their word out. This may not be a "bad" thing but it doesn't meet this definitive hole-in-the-wall guide. 

Charismatic staff. The best Italian trattoria I frequented while studying abroad met all of these criteria. The server I ended up befriending made the meals more enjoyable since he was such a great conversant. Of course, a gregarious waitstaff might not be the most romantic of situations if on a date. 

So with that, if you have the opportunity to dine here, my favorites are the Quattro Formaggi pizza. They also have refreshing salads, must-try desserts, and an extensive wine list with reasonable prices. They offer Groupons occasionally that feature their sangria. 

On the weekend nights it can get busy and you may have to wait for a table...actually it's more accurate that you're waiting on the servers having enough time to seat you. But once seated, they hustle to make sure their guests are well taken care of.