December 2008 Archives
11:40 AM Wed, Dec 31, 2008 | Permalink
Nikki Buchanan, Restaurant Critic
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4020 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
480-994-3673
Matt and JenLyn Long, owners of Scottsdale's upscale but comfy Fusion, have opened a three-squares kind of place they're hoping you'll make a habit of visiting to get your daily dose. Situated right on Scottsdale Road, catty cornered from the Sugar Bowl, DD is part cheery breakfast restaurant, part moody, sexy lounge, depending on where you sit. Just as he does at Fusion, Chef Matt...
11:07 AM Wed, Dec 31, 2008 | Permalink
Nikki Buchanan, Restaurant Critic
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3815 N. Brown Avenue, Scottsdale
480-636-5005
Terry Ellisor and Chef Matt Carter (both of perennially popular Zinc Bistro in Kierland) have created a dark, hip venue -- decorated with crucifixes, mirrors, glitzy chandeliers and an incredible, glowing salt wall -- for Carter's modern spin on the rustic cuisines of Latin America. Housed in the historic building that briefly held Union Wine Bar, the Mission is off-the-beaten-path bu...
10:53 AM Wed, Dec 31, 2008 | Permalink
Nikki Buchanan, Restaurant Critic
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3163 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler Fashion Center, Chandler
480-855-3301
Established in 1985 by a couple of attorneys, California Pizza Kitchen is now popular all over the world (including South Korea and the UAE!). The secret: thin-crust, wood-fired pizzas with scads of interesting, internationally-inspired toppings. Favorite "flavors" include Buffalo chicken, pear and gorgonzola, mango tandoori chicken, Jamaican jerk, California ...
10:28 AM Wed, Dec 31, 2008 | Permalink
Nikki Buchanan, Restaurant Critic
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4316 E. Cactus Road, Phoenix
602-787-9181
Yoshi Natori (of Yoshi's, a popular Japanese bowl restaurant) is the owner and Yasu Hashino is the chef at this terrific little gem, located in an unprepossessing strip mall on Cactus Road. Inside, the place is more sleek and sophisticated than you'd imagine, featuring a suspended bamboo ceiling over the foreshortened sushi bar, a small lounge with sofas and comfy chairs and walls hung w...
