210 FOOD & DRINK BEST SOUTHERN FOOD SUGARJAM THE SOUTHERN KITCHEN 15111 N. HAYDEN ROAD, #170, SCOTTSDALE 480-948-6210 SJSOUTHERNKITCHEN.COM Head to the northern reaches of the Valley and you’ll find an absolute banger of a brunch joint. It’s hard to miss chef Dana Dumas’ restaurant, which feels like the love child of a club and a hole-in-the-wall restaurant. What started as a simple bakery has bloomed into full-service, with a more traditional brunch menu Wednesday to Friday, followed by what Dumas dubs “Brunch N Vibes” with DJs on the weekend. The French Toast N’ Fried Chicken allows you to mix sweet and savory on one plate, while Papa’s Brisket N’ Biscuits finds a way to top what’s already a flavor- packed dish with even more umami, covering pillow-soft biscuits with sausage-studded gravy and some of the finest chopped brisket you’ll find in Arizona. i i i BEST BRITISH PUB GEORGE & DRAGON: AN ENGLISH PUB 4240 N. CENTRAL AVE. 602-241-0018 GNDPHX.COM The year: 1995. Oasis gave us “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?” Blur released “The Great Escape.” Pulp outdid them both with “Different Class.” And yet Phoenix somehow still won the British Invasion that year with the opening of George & Dragon, to this day a landmark in its own right. Where else can you show up in the wee hours to catch a Premier League match on a Saturday morning, cheering along while taking down a full English breakfast with a properly poured Guinness, then spend a casual night out playing darts and noshing on curry and pasties while tucked into a cozy table in the Tudor-style dining room? Cap your weekend with Sunday Night Football, a Sunday roast and a cheeky Black & Trash — a half-and-half of Irish stout and Budweiser. Sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with World Cup fans for that other football reminded us what makes George & Dragon the king: the pub’s communal, come-as-you-are vibe. Many bars claim it. Few achieve it. BEST IRISH PUB SEAMUS MCCAFFREY’S IRISH PUB 18 W. MONROE ST. 602-253-6081 SEAMUSMCCAFFREYS.COM Since the late ‘90s, this no-nonsense Irish pub and restaurant in Downtown Phoenix has welcomed every shade of local character. The dimly lit spot is perfect for a draft Guin- ness and an impressive, Irish-forward menu. Patrons looking for an authentic Irish expe- rience, (authentic by Phoenix standards, at least) can chow down on the kitchen’s tradi- tional Irish potato pancakes topped with corned beef or steak, rich shepherd’s pie and scrumptious batter-fried cod filets and steak fries. On St. Patrick’s Day, Phoenix residents throw on their green T-shirts and shamrock gear and flock there to drink heavily all day. And after Diamondbacks games, there are few better places to find fellow baseball fans looking to keep some spirited camaraderie rocking into the late hours. i i i BEST GERMAN RESTAURANT HAUS MURPHY’S 5739 W. GLENDALE AVE., GLENDALE 623-939-2480 HAUSMURPHYS.COM Packing the vibe of a biergarten into a space barely bigger than a living room — with steins of imported Spaten and Weihenste- phaner poured behind an eight-seat bar — ain’t easy. But that’s what’s up at Haus Murphy’s, where a full house means every table is within earshot of a blaring accordion. For a quarter-century, the kitchen has turned out schnitzels (including a 1-pound version), housemade sauerkraut, mouth-watering brats and a giant Oktoberfest pretzel that has become the restaurant’s signature bite. Time your visit right and you’ll find an oompah band from Germany and or a stein-holding contest on the patio. Being featured twice on the Food Network hasn’t changed a thing about the place. The folks running it are still serving up food like it’s been cooked by Oma as they keep those huge steins overflowing. i i i BEST FRENCH RESTAURANT SOTTISE 1025 N. SECOND ST. 602-254-6378 SOTTISEPHX.COM Don’t conflate the words “French cuisine” with stuffy, white-tablecloth restaurants aimed at your grandparents. Sottice would be a great place to wow your folks with an outstanding meal, yes. It’s also a fit in its buzzy downtown Phoenix digs. Chic yet cozy, it invites you to snag a seat on the covered porch or settle into a bistro table inside the brick dining room. Allow the drink experts to walk you through the cocktail list or point out a stellar bottle of natural wine before recommending some shared plates. Build your own seafood tower or snack on beef tartare with bright pops of capers and mustard. We never skip the rotating baked Brie, which comes with in-season fruit and nuts. Le Canard is a staple on the entrees list, and while the accoutrements change, the tender duck remains an essential downtown dish. When booking a reservation at Sottise, prepare to settle in, savor and let yourself slip into a great meal, delightful drinks and the warm crackle of vintage vinyl. This spot defines French food in Phoenix. i i i BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT TRATTO 4743 N. 20TH ST. 602-296-7761 TRATTOPHX.COM Chris Bianco, known for his exceptional pizzeria, also runs this trattoria that takes his appreciation for local grains and produce to another level. Back in its original home in the Town & Country shopping center next to its sibling Pizzeria Bianco, Tratto is as good as ever. The menu — rich with rustic-plated but highly refined pastas, grilled meats, freshly baked bread and vegetable-forward sides and antipasti — evolves with the seasons. The service is just as thoughtful in the mini- malist, white-tablecloth space. You could make a meal of the bubbly, chewy house bread and a glass of wine and happily go on your way. But don’t skip the stacked little gem lettuces lavished with a mouth-smack- ingly savory shallot vinaigrette, a slurpable bucatini cacio e pepe or the saucy thin-cut pork chops studded with in-season fruit and herbs. If the kitchen is making stuffed pasta on your visit, it’s always a must-try, as are the gorgeous desserts: on a recent visit, a summery ricotta cheesecake dripping with macerated plums and pluots. i i i BEST NEIGHBORHOOD ITALIAN BAR CAPRI 1730 E. WARNER ROAD, #10, TEMPE 602-960-6002 BAR-CAPRI.COM Some restaurants fit a casual weeknight dinner. Others are destinations built for a birthday. Bar Capri, on Warner Road in Tempe, is the rare restaurant that does both. The small, upscale space offers tiny two- seater booths ideal for sharing a bottle of wine and good conversation and large tables that beg for a gathering of family and friends. Start with rich, flavorful arrancini or an eclectic calamari with deep-fried squid, shrimp, lemon slices and olives. The pastas are excellent — order Nonna’s lasagna with beef and sausage for a hearty, satisfying slab of nostalgia. And don’t skip the osso buco. This hunk of tender pork falls off the bone and is a masterpiece when scooped up with a bit of garlicky mash and demi-glace. Bar Capri serves craft cocktails and a thought- fully curated selection of wines that will elevate your next celebration or a sponta- neous Tuesday hang. i i i BEST GREEK RESTAURANT GREEKTOWN 8519 N. SEVENTH ST. 602-674-8881 GREEKTOWNRESTAURANT.COM George Vassiliou’s parents opened Greek- town in 1975, and half a century later, he’s still greeting tables himself, occasionally pouring complimentary shots of ouzo and treating customers to the spectacle of a hearty plate-smashing. Paintings of the motherland wrap around the humble-yet- elegant blue-and-white dining room. Order the saganaki and watch it arrive flaming. Or go straight for lamb, the signature calamari in lemon sauce or a gyro stacked past the point of reason. Portions run generous enough that leftovers become tomorrow’s lunch. Vassiliou treats regulars like cousins he hasn’t seen in a while, checking in table by table. It’s the rare restaurant where the owner’s attention feels like part of the meal.