meal for a medium-hungry person, yet the price tag is a mere $12. It’s just one reason we post up at Caffe Boa so often when the workday is done. Best Breakfast FÀME CAFFE 4700 North Central Avenue 602-314-4660 famecaffe.com On a weekend morning, the line starts forming at Fàme early. By brunch time, it winds around the building at the little shopping center on Central Avenue. But customers don’t mind the wait, because the breakfast is that good. Once it’s finally your turn, slide up to the counter and order through a large window that gives a peek into the trendy seating area inside. We recommend starting with a Caramelito, made with caramel, cinnamon, espresso, and almond milk, or the equally delicious Muddy Waters, a coffee and matcha tea mashup. Next, it’s onto the food. If you’re looking to indulge, you can’t go wrong with the decadent Monte Cristo. Thick slices of country bread are filled with a fried egg, nutty Gruyere cheese, and ham before the whole thing is showered with powdered sugar. This is a knife-and-fork type of sandwich, and we recommend spreading a little of the berry jam on each bite. Southwest-inspired dishes make for a slightly lighter meal, including the trio of breakfast tacos, the chilaquiles, or the huevos rancheros. Place your order, secure a table number, and head inside. There, you’ll sit in an airy restaurant with an open kitchen, and a modern-meets-farmhouse vibe, the perfect way to start your day. Best Brunch RITA’S CANTINA & BAR JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa 5402 East Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley 480-948-1700 camelbackinn.com/dining If you’re brunching in metro Phoenix, you might as well brunch in paradise. A visit to Rita’s Cantina & Bar on the premises of the JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa can feel like a staycation in and of itself. Sea salt and caramel pancakes followed by a sea salt scrub at the spa? There are worse ways to cure a hangover. Brunch at Rita’s entails endless Mexican- and American- inspired breakfast and lunch creations; an all-you-can-eat option that features made- to-order omelets, French toast, and plenty more; plus a full bar. Try the brunchery’s signature cocktails, the Camelback Sunrise and Rita’s Margarita with espolon blanco, triple sec, agave, and lime. Best Late-Night Dining SOCIETY BY EVO 920 East University Drive, #204, Tempe 480-550-7801 societybyevo.com It’s a truth universally acknowledged that late-night dining options are few and far between in metro Phoenix. Most of the options are diners and drive-thrus, which will do in a pinch, but rarely satisfy. Enter Society by EVO, which opened this year and serves fantastic food until 1:30 a.m. Like the original EVO restaurant in Old Town Scottsdale, Society by EVO is heavy on the pasta options: Think bucatini with bolognese sauce, or the Margarita Pasta with tequila crema, pepperjack cheese, red pepper, onion, green pepper, linguini, and jalapeño. But there’s plenty else to explore on the menu, including bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with goat cheese, scallops with risotto, and much more. The dates are a favorite, as is the whipped feta dip with a spicy honey drizzle. Whether you take it to go or eat it in Society by EVO’s stylish dining room space filled with mood lighting and hanging vines, it’s your best bet for late-night eats. Best Restaurant Patio ISABELLA’S KITCHEN 8623 East Thompson Peak Parkway, Scottsdale 480-502-3100 isabellaskitchen.com When you walk into Isabella’s Kitchen, your eyes will immediately gravitate toward the patio. It’s the best place to enjoy bruschetta and a glass of wine — there are plenty of people to watch, and if that isn’t your thing, you can gaze at the McDowell Mountains. You’ve also got a front seat for the Talon Golf Course, and you’ll have a chance to have a resort-style happy hour or lunch without the fuss of a hotel day fee. The patio dining experience is perfect for a couple on a romantic date, girls’ night, or a family-friendly gathering for lunch on a Sunday. The “Screw It” menu is offered on 192 BEST OF PHOENIX 2022 | WWW.BESTOFPHOENIX2022.C0M | SEPTEMBER 29, 2022