14 Feb 23rd–March 1st, 2023 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times | music | cafe | film | culTuRe | NighT+Day | feaTuRe | NeWs | OPiNiON | feeDBacK | cONTeNTs | W hen thinking about Phoenix area restau- rants, certain cate- gories come to mind. There are the classics such as Carolina’s and Duck and Decanter. There are chef-driven spots with big names like Pizzeria Bianco and Barrio Cafe. We’ve got new rockstars that are making a splash, including Bacanora and Valentine. And then there are the under- the-radar spots that locals know and love, such as Myke’s Pizza in Mesa and Cafe Lalibela in Tempe. All of these restaurants come together to weave a wonderful patchwork of excep- tional food across the Valley. They are an integral part of the Phoenix food scene and an essential element of what makes it so great. And they are all included on our 2023 list of the Top 100 Phoenix Restaurants. These are the restaurants we love, where we take visiting family and friends, and where we eat on a regular basis. They are restaurants worth writing about, worth visiting, and worth remembering. Congratulations and thank you to the chefs, restaurant owners, kitchen staff, bartenders, and servers who bring these dining experiences to life. Our extensive guide is newly updated for 2023 and comes together as a culmina- tion of months worth of thorough — and very tasty — research. In the full lineup available online, which is searchable by neighborhood and cuisine, you may recog- nize some spots from our 2020 and 2021 lists, as these restaurants continue to be at the top of their game. However, since the previous list published in March 2021, plenty of new and exceptional dining destinations have opened all around the Valley. These are the 11 newly opened restaurants that have made the list for the first time. Cala 7501 East Camelback Road, Scottsdale calascottsdale.com This signature restaurant nestled in the Hilton’s Senna House in Old Town is helmed by celebrity chef and Sanctuary alum Beau MacMillan. While he willingly handed over executive chef duties to Peter McQuaid, who followed MacMillan from Sanctuary, MacMillan’s stamp is all over the Mediterranean-inspired menu that flaunts farm-fresh cuisine with coastal panache. Items such as the Cala Burger, white bean hummus, and pizza lineup check a lot of hotel restaurant boxes. However, several flash out-of-the-box flair. The blistered shishito peppers are served with fried Spanish chorizo slices and smoky peanut-based salsa macha. The Cala Bolognese made with the classic combo of pork, beef, and veal is hearty and elegant; it can be made vegan with red lentils as the base, if you wish. The patio is packed on the weekends, but the bar at the center of the restaurant offers a great spot for people watching away from the crowd. Call Her Martina 7135 East Camelback Road, #165, Scottsdale callhermartina.com From the outside, Call Her Martina looks like any other business in the fancy Scottsdale Waterfront mall. But BY PHOENIX NEW TIMES WRITERS FOR THE COMPLETE LIST, GO TO PHOENIXNEWTIMES. COM/GUIDE/ BEST-PHOENIX- RESTAURANTS 1OO Meet the newest restaurants to join our list of the best the Valley has to offer in 2023. TOP >> p 17
