Phoenix: Eating
Most of the restaurants in greater Phoenix seem to have retreated to the malls in recent years, so unless you're prepared to pay resort prices, it's hard to find a good restaurant with very much atmosphere. The mall places aren't at all bad, however, and there's plenty of variety. Apart from a block or two in central Scottsdale, no area of the metropolis is small enough to walk around while you look for a place to eat, but if you're happy to drive, neighborhood diners - especially Mexican - can still be found.Alice Cooper'stown 101 E Jackson St tel 602/253-7337. Barbecue restaurant-cum-sports bar, owned by the rock star and alongside downtown's America West Arena, where the food's better than you'd expect, and the atmosphere is fun, with the staff bedecked in full face paint. Lunch and dinner daily.
Ed Debevic's Short Orders Deluxe 2102 E Highland Ave tel 602/956-2760. Burgers and fries, malts and cokes, served amid frenetic retro-Americana that includes a mini-jukebox on every table.
House of Tricks 114 E 7th St, Tempe tel 480/968-1114. Tiny, smart, romantic modern-American place in the university district, with lots of vegetarian options. Closed Sun.
Monti's La Casa Vieja 101 W Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe tel 480/967-7594. Tempe's oldest adobe house, built in 1873, is now an atmospheric Western-themed diner, serving a conventional steak-and-chicken menu at extraordinarily low prices. Lunch and dinner daily.
Pizzeria Bianco Heritage Square, 623 E Adams St tel 602/258-8300. Good quality pizzas in very convenient downtown location. Dinner only, daily except Mon.
MacAlpine's Nostalgic Soda Fountain 2303 N 7th St tel 602/252-7282. Classic downtown soda fountain; wash down your breakfast special or deli sandwiches with an old-style soda.
Roxsand Biltmore Fashion Park, 2594 E Camelback Rd tel 602/381-0444. Eclectic, futuristic restaurant in upmarket uptown mall. Entrees drawn from the major world cuisines - especially Asian, with plenty of spicy Thai and Chinese sauces - start at around $20, and the desserts are great.
Roy's 7001 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale tel 602/905-1155. Ravishing Pacific Rim restaurant in very chic dining district. Meaty entrees, mostly at $20-25, include Szechuan barbecued pork ribs or rack of lamb, while specials usually include Hawaiian fish dishes. Open daily for dinner only.
Sam's Café Arizona Center, 455 N 3rd St tel 602/252-3545. Hectic downtown mall joint, with patio seating, that's nonetheless a great place to try out modern Southwestern cuisine at old-fashioned prices. Lunch and dinner daily.
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