New and noteworthy Phoenix restaurants ( OPENED BETWEEN DEC. 1, 2024 - DEC. 1, 2025) Bar Capri A pint-size spot serving Italian bangers in Tempe Catch Steak and sushi with style and substance in Scottsdale Indibar Elevated Indian cuisine in Paradise Valley Liquor Pig Swanky cocktail bar with standout food in Scottsdale Maeva Exquisite French fair in Gilbert Main Burgers Classic burgers with a kick in Mesa Marisco Boys Stellar seafood in stylish digs in central Phoenix Malegria Cafe Casual patio brunch near downtown Phoenix Saint Pasta East Coast Italian meets downtown Phoenix Bar Capri 1730 E. WARNER ROAD #10, TEMPE Despite its location in a suburban south Tempe strip mall, Bar Capri feels like something plucked from the historic district of a big city. Its curved, brick entryway leads into an oblong dining room, lined with deep green walls accented with ornate gold candelabras and picture frames. At the back of the room, a small bar cranks out stellar cocktails, pours from a small but exceptionally well-curated wine list and passes plates from the kitchen window. Those plates are stacked with hearty lasagna, fresh green salads, crisp calamari and arrancini nestled in rich marinara sauce. Finish off with a classic tiramisu or a decadent chocolate torte and linger over your last sips of wine. This spot embraces diners with its welcoming, cozy space and satisfying meals to match. Catch 7014 E. CAMELBACK ROAD, #612, SCOTTSDALE Catch opened at Scottsdale Fashion Square in September 2025. It’s one of the latest high-end, out-of-town eateries to join the mall’s growing roster of luxury restaurants. It serves steak and sushi to well-heeled customers still toting Louis Vuitton shopping bags from their day at the mall. But the catch, at Catch, is that the food is exceptional. Start with refreshing raw fish such as the sweet and tart Madai Crudo with pickled green peach. Then, warm up for a steak with the Wagyu Surf and Turf roll, filled with Maine lobster and topped with thin slices of flame-kissed Wagyu. The cooked side of the menu offers steaks and pastas. If you want to stick with seafood, make sure not to miss the herb-roasted branzino. This tender fish served atop creamy lemon rice was one of the best things we ate all year. Catch is not cheap. But contrary to many splashy Scottsdale eateries, it’s worth every penny. Indibar 6208 N. SCOTTSDALE ROAD, PARADISE VALLEY Indian dining is booming around the Valley, especially in elevated formats. Among the newcomers, Indibar has proven to be a standout. The restaurant replaced the venerable Rancho Pinot in March 2025. The dining room is awash in desert neutrals and curved accents, mirrored by the eye-catching Art Deco-inspired bar. The space has the luxe refinement of a high-end resort and white- glove service to match. Chefs Nigel Lobo and Ajay Singh, meanwhile, have applied tech- niques honed at fine dining restaurants across the globe to Indian cuisine. There are modern presentations of masala fries and chaat, but the kitchen team also pays homage to tandoori and regional dishes. The Kerala- inspired Meen Pollichathu, a banana leaf- wrapped branzino, is fragrant with curry leaves when you unwrap it at your table. Indibar’s butter chicken, meanwhile, is the platonic ideal of the curry shop classic, with tender chargrilled chicken basking in a complex, creamy sauce. The pastry and bar teams likewise have fun riffing on nostalgic Indian flavors and pushing the envelope. Their work is already showing returns. Earlier this year, Indibar was named a James Beard Award semifinalist for Best New Restaurant. Liquor Pig 7217 E. FOURTH AVE., SCOTTSDALE Though less than a year old, Liquor Pig has already withstood shakeups. The cozy Old Town Scottsdale tavern with viral tipples lost its founding chef, Steven “Chops” Smith, who decamped a few months after opening. Guided by co-founder Scott Casey and chef CJ Kahley, Liquor Pig has continued to impress diners with playful craft cocktails, an eclectic, ever- changing menu and thoughtful service that puts guests at ease in the moody space. You could cozy up next to your date at the bar and sip olive oil-washed dirty martinis and demurely nibble arancini. But, it’s just as much fun to bring a group and go hog-wild, ordering plate after shareable plate of ceviche, burrata and pasta. Among the latter selec- tions, don’t miss the decadent mafaldine tossed in a rich duck bolognese and garlic crumble. Maeva 50 W. VAUGHN AVE., #107, GILBERT If you imagine a fine dining restaurant serving delicately crafted French cuisine in a tasting menu format, you may not guess it would be in Gilbert. But late last year, the team at Maeva set out to change that. The classy spot is located just off Gilbert Road amid the hustle and bustle of the Heritage District. Inside, customers will find an intentional space, decorated with dark walls, a checkerboard tile floor and unique, curated artwork. Maeva is open all day, and offers many different experi- ences. Stop by in the morning for a latte flavored with white chocolate and fresh lavender and a breakfast sandwich or smoked salmon danish. Then make a dinner >> p 14 Pickled green peaches bring pops of sweetness to Japanese red snapper at Catch. (Tirion Boan) The chicken soup en croute was a bonus to the tasting menu at Maeva. (Tirion Boan) Murgh khatta pyaaz kulchette at Indibar. (Isaac Torres)
