There’s a happy ending to this story, I promise. For 28 years, Scott’s Generations, a marvelous Jewish deli, has been serving hungry diners from the same Phoenix location, but that has come to an end. It’s the last Jewish business to leave the once-robust strip mall at 7th Street and Missouri Avenue that housed the…
Joy Bus Diner $$ 3375 E Shea Blvd., Phoenix 602-595-5884 thejoybusdiner.com Two things you need to know right up front: it’s a mitzvah to eat here and the food is good! The combination of doing good while eating well is a joyous experience and reflects the very name of this restaurant. It’s a mitzvah because…
THIS MONTH’S RESTAURANT Chestnut Fine Foods & Provisions $$ 4350 E Camelback Road Bldg. I-100, Phoenix 602-708-7679 chestnutaz.com Sometimes the best way to describe something is to say what it’s not. Chestnut Fine Foods & Provisions is not a corporate designed, focus grouped, themed concept restaurant or copy of any place I’ve ever seen. It…
Coconut’s Fish Cafe $$ 7366 E Shea Blvd., Scottsdale 480-596-2987 16640 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale 480-275-6690 1155 W Ocotillo Road, Suite #1, Chandler 480-247-7900 coconutsaz.com Normally, I don’t review chain restaurants, but when it originates from the Hawaiian chain of islands… well, that’s a chain I can link to. I love Hawaii and have been…
Stock & Stable $$$ 5538 N 7th St., Phoenix stockandstable.com Resurgence on 7th Street How do I choose from the thousands of restaurants around, when I can write only one review a month for Arizona Jewish Life Magazine? Such a dilemma! This time, I got a tip from a darling friend who is a professional…
Buck and Rider $$ – $$$$ 4225 E. Camelback Road Phoenix, AZ 85018 602-346-0110 buckandrider.com The Arcadia neighborhood of Phoenix has always been cool. Cool houses, cool kids, cool school, and it became super cool over the years as fabulous neighborhood restaurants opened within walking distance of the residents’ already hip existence. This is largely…
The Welcome Diner $$ 924 E Roosevelt Street Phoenix, AZ 85006 602-495-1111 welcomediner.net Downtown Phoenix revelers and late night munchie/nightcap people are going to love me for this. Hugging the edge of Roosevelt Row, a fabulously renovated arts, restaurant and downtown shopping district, sits an authentic 1940s mobile diner (wheels off and permanently installed) serving…
The Tamale Store $$ 13046 N Cave Creek Road Phoenix, AZ 85022 602-435-2604 thetamalestore.com It’s not a restaurant, which makes this an unusual restaurant review. It’s exactly what its name says, a tamale store. Those two words, Tamale Store, in bright red letters, caught my eye as I was careening down Cave Creek Road. A…
Okra Cookhouse & Cocktails $$ 5813 N 7th St. Phoenix, AZ 85014 602-296-4147 okraaz.com It was the name that drew me, the aroma of heavenly cooking that floated me toward the door, and the intimate space that indicated something special was about to happen. Honestly, I didn’t know much about this place except that my…
The Clever Koi $$$ 4236 N Central Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85012 thecleverkoi.com Friends have been urging me to try The Clever Koi for some time now. It always comes up in conversation about great food in Phoenix, so I had to overcome my fear of being crashed into by the light rail and get myself…
