202 B EST R ESTAU R A N T YO U CA N R I D E YO U R H O RS E TO T-Bone Steakhouse 10037 S. 19th Ave. 602-276-0945 tbonesteakhouseaz.com As the city has grown and evolved, vestiges of yesteryear are increasingly hard to find. Not so at T-Bone Steakhouse in South Phoenix, where there are hitching posts out back in case you show up on four hooves instead of four wheels. The building, which was built out of river rock and adobe in the 1920s, has housed a restaurant since the 1940s. (It’s been T-Bone Steakhouse since 1972). T-Bone serves simple steakhouse fare excellently done — think a juicy, perfectly rare New York Strip, tender barbecue chicken and house- made apple pie smothered in cinnamon ice cream, whipped cream and caramel sauce. The prices are decidedly modern (read: not cheap), but you get what you pay for, and at T-Bone Steakhouse, you get delicious food and excellent service in a charming rustic setting. And here’s a tip: Arrive just before sunset and sit near a window or on the patio to watch the sun set over the Valley and enjoy the lights of the city. 22222 B E ST H AU N T E D R E STAU R A N T The Old Spaghetti Factory 1418 N. Central Ave. 602-257-0380 osf.com/location/phoenix-az We love a good ghost story almost as much as we love a good meal. The Old Spaghetti Factory on Central Avenue has plenty of both. Stories abound that the building, which was originally constructed as two private residences, was the site of two separate murders and that restaurant staff have reported cold spots, strange sounds, flick- ering lights, furniture moving and floating apparitions. We’ve never experienced anything spooky at The Old Spaghetti Factory, just good, solid Italian-American fare. The restaurant is famous for its spaghetti with mizithra cheese and browned butter, but we’re also big fans of the crab and ricotta ravioli. If you can snag a table inside the restaurant’s trolley car, do it — just keep your eyes peeled for ghosts. 22222 B E ST C L AS S I C D I N E R Joe’s Diner 4515 N. Seventh Ave. 602-535-4999 joesdineraz.com We’re pretty sure that “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” was a marketing slogan intended to sell more cereal, but we can’t deny that a solid morning repast always puts us on track for a great day. Which is why we’re frequent customers at Joe’s Diner, a no-frills joint in the Melrose District. Open since 2010, Joe’s serves breakfast and lunch seven days a week. The lunch menu has a solid lineup mostly composed of salads, sandwiches and burgers, but the breakfast fare is usually what we opt for. Biscuits with sausage gravy are substantial without being too heavy, and the green chili pork bowl with scrambled eggs and seasoned potatoes is a great option with Southwestern flair. Our arrival at the diner’s bright yellow building always means a great meal is about to begin. 22222 B E ST T R E N DY D I N E R Sidewinder 924 E. Roosevelt St. 602-626-8535 sidewinderphx.com How many seats do you need to run a restau- rant? Not very many, according to Side- winder. This tiny diner has just eight. But outside, a sprawling patio has plenty of picnic tables at which customers can sit and chill. Sidewinder is the newest project from restaurant pros TJ Culp and Esther Noh and is the latest concept to occupy the vintage Valentine diner on Roosevelt Street, home of the original Welcome Diner. Sidewinder offers some of the same charms of the neigh- borhood favorite, with cheap beer, craft cocktails and indulgent eats. Prepare to get messy with Sidewinder’s Sloppy Joe, loaded fries or one of the menu’s sandwiches doused in barbecue sauce and mayo. Need a bite to eat after partying around the arts district? Sidewinder has you covered.
