16 Feb 26th-March 4th, 2026 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | Special-occasion eateries Bacanora A buzzy Sonoran spot in downtown Phoenix Board & Batten A hidden date-night destination in Mesa Feringhee Elevated Indian eats in Chandler FnB Restaurant A veggie-focused favorite in Scottsdale Lom Wong Regional Thai cuisine in downtown Phoenix Pretty Penny Elevated eats and scientific cocktails in downtown Phoenix Restaurant Progress Small plates and exceptional wine in the Melrose District, Phoenix Shimogamo Japanese Restaurant An exacting sushi counter in Chandler and Gilbert Sizzle Korean BBQ Table-top cooking in Scottsdale, Glendale and north Phoenix Sottise French farmhouse meets bistro dining in downtown Phoenix The Ends Anthony Bourdain-inspired eats in Old Town Scottsdale Tratto Rustic Italian cooking with a Southwest influence in central Phoenix Valentine A trendy space highlighting the flavors of Arizona in the Melrose District, Phoenix Lom Wong 218 E. PORTLAND ST. Regional Thai restaurant Lom Wong, set in a black bungalow at Second and Portland streets in downtown Phoenix, packs a piquant punch. Owners Yotaka and Alex Martin have firsthand experience with the robust flavors. Yotaka grew up in San Maket, Chiang Rai, a village in northern Thailand. She spent her childhood cooking traditional dishes alongside her mother and grand- mother. Alex met Yotaka in Thailand, and the two began traveling the country together, returning to northern Thailand to dice shallots and stir-fry crab with Yotaka’s family whenever they had the chance. The menu at Lom Wong, which features dishes such as crispy pork belly in hand-pounded curry paste with coconut cream and makrut lime leaf, is meant to be shared. Boozy cock- tails complement the food well. The restaurant’s play on a piña colada, Sahai Su-Ra, includes fresh coconut cream and fish sauce, while Madame Madame is crafted with vodka, lemongrass, lemon, lychee and soda. The Martins’ work at Lom Wong has led to several accolades, including Yotaka’s selection as Best Chef: Southwest at the 2025 James Beard Awards. Sottise 1025 N. SECOND ST. One of downtown Phoenix’s most special restaurants is tucked into a historic home on Second Street. A lush green lawn leads up to the covered porch filled with bistro tables. Inside, the warm buzz of conver- sation hums alongside whichever vinyl record is currently spinning. The tunes fill the front rooms of the house, which hold a small but welcoming dining room and a bar. Exposed brick walls surround marble tables, where couples sip French wine and nosh on the seasonal menu. At the house, Sottise’s customers make themselves at home. On warm evenings, groups of friends slurp oysters on the patio. Inside, romantics make eyes at each other over briny beef tartare and use slices of baguette to scoop up lucious bites of baked brie with poached pear, sage and honey. Whether you want to enjoy a hearty plate of beef bourguignon with a full-bodied red or enjoy a refreshing cocktail and catch up with friends, Sottise’s standout staff will make sure you are taken care of at this essential downtown spot. Valentine 4130 N. SEVENTH AVE. The term “farm-to-table” is bandied about in restaurants. It can be a marketing tactic or a signifier, but at Valentine, it’s a north star. The Melrose restaurant is an unadul- terated celebration of Arizona. Step inside Valentine, which makes its home in the front of a midcentury modern furniture store, and you’ll find thoughtful handicraft from chef Nico Zades and his crew during every meal of the day. When your Sonoran wheat pretzel, steak or elote pasta hit the table, don’t be surprised when your server points out the local provenance of nearly everything on the plate. Though the Valentine team’s commitment borders on fastidious, the restaurant is anything but. Both it and sibling Bar 1912, hidden in the back of the building, manage to be comfortable while serving food and drink that are complex. Valentine has only been around since 2020 and has weathered changes. Yet it and owner, Blaise Faber, have come out the other side, holding their ground as a modern Arizona dining institution. Neighborhood favorites Andreoli Italian Grocer A staple Italian market and restaurant in North Scottsdale Beckett’s Table The perfect spot for a special family dinner in Phoenix Cafe Lalibela A welcoming Ethiopian eatery in Tempe El Chullo Peruvian Restaurant A colorful Peruvian eatery in central Phoenix Fabio on Fire Transportive Italian eats in Peoria First & Last Supreme sandwiches by day, romantic dinners by night in downtown Phoenix Glai Baan Thai street food in central Phoenix Huarachis Taqueria Trendy taco spot with craft cocktails in downtown Phoenix Hush Public House An elevated neighborhood staple in North Scottsdale Las 15 Salsas Restaurant Oaxaqueno Memorable moles in Sunnyslope, Phoenix Old Town Taste Sichuan specialties in Tempe Pizzeria Bianco The most famous pizzeria in uptown and downtown Phoenix Pizzeria Virtu An elevated spot for pizza and wine in Scottsdale Que Chevere Massive Venezuelan plates in Mesa SugarJam The Southern Kitchen Party brunch with culinary chops in North Scottsdale Vecina Elevated Latin American eats in East Phoenix >> p 18 Ae Kan Khlak Ti is a creamy and intensely spiced seabass curry from the Moklen people of Southern Thailand, faithfully recreated by the folks at Lom Wong. (Dominic Armato) The dishes available at Sottise range from inventive to classic French comfort. (Tirion Boan)
