17 Feb 23rd–March 1st, 2023 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times | cONTeNTs | feeDBacK | OPiNiON | NeWs | feaTuRe | NighT+Day | culTuRe | film | cafe | music | inside, customers embark on an expe- rience. Take a seat at a table in the modern black-and-white-themed dining room, snag a space at the bar, or hang out with friends at a large group high-top under- neath glowing neon signs. Start with a couple of cocktails. The well-balanced creations are as beautiful as they are deli- cious, with garnishes of real flower petals and charred cinnamon sticks. Then dig into the meal. The stand-out guac comes complete with bright bursts of pome- granate seeds, cold creamy avocado, and the kicker — warm, salty, über-satisfying cubes of steak. Entrees range from extrav- agant charred octopus to simple birria tacos, but make sure to leave room for dessert. The flan, topped with shards of caramel and fresh mint leaves, is both classic and fresh — and an exceptional end to a meal at this swanky Scottsdale spot. Espiritu 123 West Main Street, Mesa espiritumesa.com Espiritu is the sister restaurant to Bacanora, which quickly shot to the center of the Phoenix food scene with Sonoran dishes that captured a crowd and made the Grand Avenue spot one of the hardest reservations to get in town. If you’re looking to taste the food imagined by Bacanora’s lauded chef Rene Andrade — in partnership with other Valley Mexican food royalty, the team behind Tacos Chiwas — head to downtown Mesa. Espiritu is located in the center of Main Street in the growing restaurant hot spot. The menu skews toward cocktails and seafood. Bright, fresh ceviche and agua- chile get the meal going, before customers dig into heartier main dishes. This restaurant isn’t strictly Mexican, with a classic bacon cheeseburger and grilled cheese available. The ambiance is moody, and candles drip wax on the long bar that lines one side of the small space. It feels undeniably edgy for Mesa, and is one of the coolest new spots in town. Feringhee 3491 West Frye Road, Chandler feringhee.com One cliche that proves true time and time again is that some of the best dining experi- ences are in nondescript strip malls. At Feringhee, which translates to “foreigner,” chefs Sujan Sarkar and Karan Mitta aim to push boundaries with Indian cuisine. Chaat street food dish bhel is made with edamame and avocado, ingredients you likely would never taste in the traditional version of the same dish. The goal is to provide a twist to most of the menu items, including pork belly accentuated by kokum, a sweet-and-sour fruit native to India. Other out-of-the-box dishes include jackfruit biryani and Goan fish curry. Cocktails and creative desserts round out the menu for an exceptional experience at this strip mall spot. Fire at Will 4912 East Shea Boulevard, #108, Scottsdale eatfireatwill.com Dom Ruggiero’s third concept may be his best so far. Located in the Paradise Village Gateway plaza at the corner of Tatum and Shea boulevards, the dark and moody Fire at Will flaunts a Mediterranean-inspired menu. The neighborhood restaurant is sure to satisfy whether you choose the Macaroni au Gratin with five melty cheeses that form a perfect medley atop elbow pasta, or the lobster roll with creamy aioli and diced celery stuffed inside buttered grilled toast and served with a charred lemon. The Hush Burger, a favorite when featured at Ruggiero’s Hush Public House in north Scottsdale, Top 100 from p 14 Feringhee. >> p 18 Tirion Morris
