| CHOW BELLA | ▼ Café Streetcar Eats Try these 10 restaurants and bars right off the rail in Tempe. City of Tempe BY GEORGANN YARA debut in May, rolling through downtown and encircling ASU. The streetcar line spans three miles and A includes 14 stops on an L-shaped route that travels along Tempe Town Lake, University Drive, and Mill Avenue before it funnels east toward ASU Gammage and ends on Apache Boulevard, just west of McClintock Drive. This route conveniently breezes by a host of bars, restaurants, and coffee shops. Accessing the establishments on Mill is a given. But the streetcar makes it easy to grab a bite or drink away from the buzz of downtown, so you can explore without worrying about a rideshare or the comfort level of your shoes. Here’s a collection of 10 great places that will take you from breakfast to last call. All of these joints are less than a 10-minute walk from the closest streetcar stop. Streetcars arrive every 15 to 20 minutes from 6 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to midnight on Sundays. Our guide starts at the north end near Tempe Town Lake and winds south and then east to the final stop. Riding the streetcar is free for the first year so hop on and enjoy the ride. Romancing the Bean 80 East Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe romancingthebean.com Streetcar stop: Hayden Ferry/Rio Salado Estimated walking time and distance: 3 minutes or .1 miles Tucked amid corporate offices and steps from Tempe Town Lake, this beloved cafe serves up coffees and freshly baked treats. At Romancing the Bean, a deli-length menu features breakfast sandwiches on English muffins, croissants, or bagels, and lunch sandwiches on rye, croissants, or low-carb tortillas. Salads come with your choice of homemade dressing, and the dessert case is filled with an array of cookies, brownies, and cheesecakes. Classic coffee beverages are available in addition to fun twists like the Mexican Mocha laced with cinnamon and cocoa. fter more than a decade of envisioning and five years of traffic-inducing construction, the Tempe Streetcar finally made its This cafe is open for breakfast and lunch on weekdays only. Culinary Dropout 149 South Farmer Avenue, Tempe culinarydropout.com Streetcar stop: Ash & 3rd, or Tempe Beach Park/Rio Salado Estimated walking time and distance: 5 minutes or .3 miles Play lawn games, cheer on ASU sports, and spread out at this popular dining and lounging hub. At Culinary Dropout, snack on gochujang brussels sprouts and Marcona almonds or split the platter of BBQ pork nachos with pals. The made-to- order lasagna and fried chicken with a buttermilk biscuit, gravy, and potatoes take extra time so place those orders first, but the slight wait is worth it. Wines are served by the glass in 6- or 9-ounce pours, and draft beer comes in 16- or 20-ounce servings. Options abound. Lodge Sasquatch Kitchen 26 South Farmer Avenue, Tempe lodgetempe.com Streetcar stop: Ash & 3rd, or Tempe Beach Park/Rio Salado Estimated walking time and distance: 5 minutes or .3 miles Get the outdoorsy cabin feel without the bugs at this stick-to-your-ribs bar favorites joint. Bacon-wrapped jalapenos, nachos, and soft pretzels served with beer cheese and spicy mustard are solid openers at Lodge Sasquatch Kitchen. Various chicken sandwiches and salads aim to please, but the burgers are king. The Triple D Burger that got the spotlight on Guy Fieri’s Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives boasts a habanero-infused patty topped with parmesan, bigfoot dip, and tons of bacon. The Sasquatch burger is downright dare-worthy and Instagrammable with a huge patty buried under bacon, fried onion strings, cheese and smothered between two Texas toast grilled cheese sandwiches. Cousins Maine Lobster, Vib Best Western 511 South Farmer Avenue, Tempe vibtempe.com Streetcar stop: Ash & 5th Street Estimated walking time and distance: 1 minute or 351 feet Just one of three Vib hotels in the country, The Tempe Streetcar debuted in May and travels through downtown and around ASU. It is free for the first year. Best Western’s international boutique brand opened earlier this year and is quietly rolling out its amenities. A rooftop bar, Artemis Lounge, is slated to open in the fall. In the meantime, a cozy yet sleek lobby bar does its job with the reliable trio of beer, wine, and cocktails. Shellfish fans can get their fix at Cousins Maine Lobster, one of a handful fast-casual versions of the popular food truck empire and the only one in Arizona. Lobster is shipped fresh from Maine and served in friendly portables like grilled cheese, tacos, quesa- dilla, and a BLT with tots or fries. Those searching for a classic can stick to the traditional New England roll. First Watch 111 West University Drive, Tempe firstwatch.com Streetcar stop: University & Ash Estimated walking time and distance: 1 minute or 272 feet Fuel up for the day or recover from a late night of studying or extracurriculars at this sit-down breakfast and lunch eatery. Hearty brunch signature dishes at First Watch include the BLT Benedict with poached eggs atop ciabatta, bacon, and tomato drizzled in hollandaise, and the Chickichanga comprised of whipped eggs, spicy chicken, chorizo, green chiles, lots of cheese, and avocado rolled in a tortilla and doused with Veracruz sauce and sour cream. Replenish with kale tonic juice. Cartel Roasting Co. 810 South Ash Avenue, Tempe cartelroasting.co Streetcar stop: University & Ash Estimated walking time and distance: 1 minute or 322 feet Cartel Roasting Co. has locations around the Valley. But the original location that started it all from a humble cart in a nonde- script business plaza continues to draw java fans. A succinct menu of mostly tradi- tional espresso beverages showcases the coffee and a few signature items flaunt collaborations with local purveyors. Iconic Cocktail Company’s lime leaf tonic mixer combines with grapefruit juice, sparkling water, salt, and a quad shot of Helping Hand Community fridges across Phoenix provide food, water, and a lifeline during summer. BY MIKE MADRIAGA M etro Phoenix is home to at least a dozen refriger- ators where people can grab a cold drink or food — completely free. The novel concept is much needed during high-temperature months in the Valley. In 2021, there were 339 heat-related deaths in Maricopa County, marking a nearly 70 percent spike since 2019, according to The Guardian. When temperatures frequently top 100 degrees, water is essential. On August 4, Tammy Broselow and Sheena Williams loaded up community refrigerators in downtown Phoenix. “Water is the most needed and distrib- uted item,” Williams says. “It’s tough to function without water in your system.” She and Broselow co-founded Tom’s Palms, a nonprofit organization named after and inspired by the giving spirit of their fathers, almost five years ago. The organization works to feed and provide necessities to homeless people. “We stock refrigerators at the Social Spin laundromat on Portland Street,” she said. “They have two refrigerators outside and one inside.” The laundromat, located at 2418 East Portland Street in central Phoenix, provides cost-effective laundry services and clean clothes for people in need. Relief From the Summer Heat On May 1, Social Spin connected with Unsheltered Phoenix to create a Heat Relief Program for the summer. “We are making sure we have our Phoenix location opened up to our neighbors,” Social Spin’s website says. “We will provide heat relief to our unsheltered neighbors and serve as a drop site for donations.” Broselow and their volunteers distribute water and food to this spot, which also serves free meals. The donated meals are served hot, non-spicy, and soft, and provide nutrition for the recipients, which sometimes include families experiencing homelessness. The meals are dropped off before 8:30 a.m. on Wednesdays and feed more than 100 people each week. Last year, Tom’s Palms served more >>p 27 than 6,000 meals and provided toiletries and clothes to those in need. >>p 28 25 phoenixnewtimes.com | CONTENTS | FEEDBACK | OPINION | NEWS | FEATURE | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | PHOENIX NEW TIMES AUG 25TH–AUG 31ST, 2022
