Macayo's
several Valley locations
Best Mexican Restaurant
Macayo's
several Valley locations
Best Salsa
Blue Agave Oyster & Chile Bar
Shops at Gainey Village
8787 North Scottsdale Road, Suite A-102, Scottsdale
480-607-9222
Best Mexican Restaurant
Macayo's
several Valley locations
Best Salsa
Blue Agave Oyster & Chile Bar
Shops at Gainey Village
8787 North Scottsdale Road, Suite A-102, Scottsdale
480-607-9222
Best Downtown Executive Lunch
Durant's
2611 North Central
602-264-5967
Best Romantic Restaurant
The Melting Pot
8320 North Hayden, Scottsdale
480-607-1799
3626 East Ray, Ahwatukee
480-704-9206
Best Healthful Eating
Pita Jungle
1250 East Apache, Tempe
480-804-0234
1949 West Ray, Chandler
480-855-3232
Best Late-night Meal
Denny's
several Valley locations
Best Outdoor Patio
Dos Gringos
4209 North Craftsman Court, Scottsdale
480-423-3800
Best Happy Hour
Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar
several Valley locations
Best Desserts
Cheesecake Factory
15230 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
480-607-0083
Best Gourmet Pizza
Pizzeria Bianco
623 East Adams
602-258-8300
Best Chinese Restaurant
P.F. Chang's China Bistro
several Valley locations
Best Coffee House
Starbucks
several Valley locations
Best French Restaurant
La Madeleine French Bakery and Cafe
several Valley locations
Best Greek Restaurant
Greekfest
1940 East Camelback
602-265-2990
Best Indian Restaurant
Delhi Palace
5050 East McDowell
602-244-8181
16842 North Seventh Street
602-942-4224
933 East University, Tempe
480-921-2200
Best Italian Restaurant
Olive Garden
several Valley locations
Best Japanese Restaurant
RA Sushi Bar
411 South Mill, Tempe
480-303-9800
3815 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
480-990-9256
Best New Restaurant
Garduo's Margarita Factory
Shops at Gainey Village
8787 North Scottsdale Road, Suite A-102, Scottsdale
480-607-9222
Best Sandwich Shop
Subway
several Valley locations
Best Seafood Restaurant
Red Lobster
several Valley locations
Best Smoothie/juice Shop
Jamba Juice
several Valley locations
Best Southwestern Restaurant
Z'Tejas Grill
several Valley locations
Best Steak Restaurant
Outback Steakhouse
several Valley locations
It's a short menu, with just a few quesadillas, tacos, burros, tortas, flan and Mazatlán mud pie. Everything is made fresh to order, though, with top-quality stuff. Beef is sirloin Angus, and soft flour tortillas are homemade, as are the killer salsas in an array of tomatillo, chunky, mild and red hot. And what a deal! Nothing costs more than $4.75, not even the huge torta, a fresh grilled roll stuffed with onions, cilantro, salsa, avocado and your choice of charbroiled pork, beef or marinated chicken. We can make a meal of the Guedo burro, a large tortilla brimming with the same torta ingredients plus from-scratch frijoles and cheese. You go, Guedo's.
Recipe for a great margarita: Run, don't walk, to El Encanto.
There's just something about the margs at Valley landmark El Encanto. Perhaps it's the quality ingredients. Perhaps it's the fact that they're so killer strong we're on our butts after just one. It doesn't hurt that the setting is so spectacular. Sit on the courtyard patio overlooking the huge pond at the old, mission-style building and watch the ducks and geese (be nice, and spring for a cup of birdseed from the bubblegum machine nearby). Service is another bonus: These folks have been around, they don't take any guff, but they know Arizona history and they melt like butter when you treat them right. Cheers, El Encanto.