208 FOOD & DRINK SEPTEMBER 25, 2025 | WWW.BESTOFPHOENIX2025.C0M | BEST OF PHOENIX 2025 cocktail and a steaming bowl of clam chowder (both red and white). We’re not the only ones who love Salt Cellar’s happy hour, so we recommend either getting there early during afternoon happy hour (4 to 7 p.m.) or holding off until the late-night session (10 p.m. to midnight). It’s the happy hour so nice they do it twice. e e e B E S T P L A C E T O WAT C H A I R P L A N E S A N D E AT VOLANTI 15000 N. AIRPORT DRIVE, SCOTTSDALE 480-657-2426 VOLANTISCOTTSDALE.COM “This is really nice.” We must have said it half a dozen times during our first visit to Volanti. The restaurant at the Scottsdale Airport draws both travelers and townies and has plenty to satisfy both. Volanti serves lunch, dinner, happy hour and weekend brunch out of its casually chic dining room, but trust us: You want to eat outside. The restaurant’s second-floor patio gives you a gorgeous view of the McDowell Mountains, and below you, the airport goes about its business. We often stop mid-sentence to watch a landing or admire the way the changing light highlights the nearby peaks. With a solid cocktail menu (try the Postcard, which comes with a little souvenir of your visit) and tasty food, Volanti is a unique and delightful dining experience. e e e B E S T D AT E N I G H T R E S TA U R A N T SOTTISE 1025 N. SECOND ST. 602-254-6378 SOTTISEPHX.COM A romantic atmosphere. Great wine. Curated music. Delicious food. All Sottise needs to complete the perfect date night is a couple on a date. This downtown Phoenix restau- rant is guaranteed to make any night feel special. Reserve a table inside the cozy, welcoming dining room or grab a seat on the porch of the historic house and settle in. Peruse the craft cocktail menu or talk to your server about wine recommendations from the long list of French bottles. Share an appe- tizer or two to start, such as the delectable beef tartare or baked Brie with poached pear, honey and sage. For mains, pick between a pasta, seafood or steak option. Le Canard, duck served with parsnip puree, is a menu staple and a true winner. Finish your meal with a seasonal dessert, a digestif and a kiss. e e e B E S T F O O D T R U C K HIW KAOW THAI FOOD TRUCK INSTAGRAM.COM/HIWKAOW_THAIFOOD The Valley is home to many exceptional Thai restaurants. But one food truck is making waves in the Thai food scene without even having a brick-and-mortar location. Hiw Kaow Thai Food Truck rolls around the Valley to serve customers from Anthem to Chandler. The menu includes Thai street- food staples with a Lao twist. The pad Thai is saucy and tangy, with the crunch of peanuts and plump, tender shrimp. Chicken wings come crispy and whole, leaving customers to tuck into the large portions and dip piping hot bites into the sweet, tangy and herba- ceous sauces served alongside. And the papaya salad is a must, with shredded green papaya, tomatoes and green beans dressed in a bright, citrus-tinged sauce that leaves you craving more. Each dish is topped with a bright purple orchid flower, an artful presen- tation representative of the care and atten- tion to detail put into everything at this mobile food extravaganza. Wherever Hiw Kaow Thai Food Truck parks, we won’t be far behind. e e e B E S T B R E A K F A S T THE ELEANOR 3207 N. HAYDEN ROAD, SCOTTSDALE 480-685-2525 THEELEANORAZ.COM There’s no shortage of spots in the Valley for an energetic party brunch. If you’ve got more ambitions for your day than splitting a boozy fishbowl with your friends followed by a nap, a neighborhood breakfast spot is probably more your speed. The Eleanor, which was opened by one of the owners of Fate Brewing Co. in 2023, offers a charming, midcentury space with a modern breakfast menu. Order a Buddha bowl, indulgent churro French toast and savory toasts topped with avocado or soft scrambled eggs. The Eleanor serves plenty of traditional eats, too. The blueberry pancakes are light and fluffy, blanketed with a jammy blueberry compote. While most
