194 Best of phoenix 2023 | WWW.bestofphoenix2023.c0m | septemBer 28, 2023 his flaky, sweet, satisfying pastries around the Valley at Futuro, Moxie Coffee Co., Pizzeria Bianco and Pane Bianco, Peixoto Coffee Roasters, WeBe Coffee and more. Those in hunt of perfect pastries can also find the Chacónne Pattiserie stall at the Uptown Farmers Market. Best Robot Server SHIELA Chennai Fusion Grill 4929 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler 480-705-5444 chennaifusiongrill.com Come for the robot, stay for the food. Robot servers are getting more common, but Shiela is special because she was one of the first and became a social media celebrity when she rolled onto the scene. The restaurant bought the robot during the early days of the pandemic to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and suddenly found Shiela was a TikTok star. Diners would flock to this unassuming Chandler strip mall Indian restaurant to see her deliver savory samosas, delicate dosas, craveworthy curry dishes and more, and the entertainment value cannot be overstated. She can be aggressively good-natured, telling customers when she arrives at the table, “Your meal is ready. Take it away!” But she doesn’t like it when you mess with her, barking testy retorts if you block her way. Some news reports lamented that an army of Shielas and other robots could eventually usurp legions of food industry jobs, but despite cropping up at a few other locations — Kura Sushi and Pronto by Serrano’s, to name a couple — the technology isn’t ubiquitous and the squat, zippy Shiela continues to delight. Best Place to Take a Foodie VALENTINE 4130 N. Seventh Ave. 602-612-2961 valentinephx.com Melrose District restaurant Valentine has been one of the Valley’s most buzzed about since it opened in late 2020. The restaurant and its team have landed on lists and racked up notable awards and nomina- tions, including a James Beard nod for Chef Donald Hawk in 2022. For all the pomp surrounding Valentine, the restaurant and its stellar team — led by Blaise Faber and Chad Price — continue to work, refine and experiment, while staying true to their valentine, the ingredients and history of Arizona. The restaurant is equipped to be an all-day affair, and it’s well worth it to indulge in the trifecta of offerings for brunch, dinner and drinks at its slightly hidden Bar 1912, because each offering peels back another layer to the complexity of Arizona cuisine, integrating local and indigenous ingredients. Whether taking out a foodie or just an eater, there’s plenty to love about Valentine. Best Place to Eat for the ‘Gram TIA CARMEN JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa 5350 E. Marriott Drive 480-293-3636 tiacarmendesertridge.com Some restaurants are a feast for the eyes but not the taste buds. Or, it’s the other way around: delicious food in an unap- pealing space. Tia Carmen, the newest restaurant at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, is truly the best of both worlds. The main dining room boasts high ceilings and a stylish neutral palette with wood accents and groups of large overhead lights. A side room continues the neutral tones but with a more intimate feel. Or, guests can dine on the patio overlooking the resort’s main lawn. It’s all a subtly beautiful backdrop for Tia Carmen’s outstanding menu of Latin-influenced fare from Chef Angelo Sosa. Even when we’re focused on a wagyu tomahawk steak with house-aged mole and bone marrow butter, or a tuna crudo with corn coconut broth, smoked chile oil and dill, we still remember to pick our head up and admire our surroundings. Best Restaurant to Take a Geek WALLY BURGER 10222 N. 43rd Ave., #7, Glendale 623-934-5050 wallyburgeraz.com Hiding in plain sight in a West Valley strip mall is the cutest little superhero joint you’ve ever seen. Wally Burger’s name gives no hint of its aesthetic, which is basi- cally “DIY nerd palace.” After ordering at the counter, you can sit down in the dining room and admire your surroundings, which consist of primary-colored walls, life-size figures of Superman, Spider-Man, The Joker, Thor, Iron Man and others; modern versions of classic arcade games such as “Pac-Man” and “Mortal Kombat”; and photos, movie posters and comic book art. The food isn’t the draw here, although the simple menu options like burgers, pastrami sandwiches and cheese fries are tasty and filling. Just leave enough time to get a selfie with Batman before you go. Best Place to Eat Before a Downtown Event THE LIARS CLUB 130 N. Central Ave. 602-377-3272 instagram.com/liarsclubphx For us, part of the fun of a night out at the symphony, a basketball game or a play is getting downtown a little early to catch a bite before the main event. Our pick for a quick preshow nosh is The Liars Club, the current resident of the old Tom’s Tavern space. The decor is quirky, to say the least: a row of presidential portraits mingle with a taxidermied alligator, a Zoltar machine like the one from “Big” and a neon piece depicting three rabbits having sex. But the food is straightforward and geared toward a fast meal — think wings, fries, Detroit- style pizzas, salads and burgers, but done with a bit of panache. The Sweet Lil Lie pizza, topped with pepperoni cups, ricotta, basil, jalapenos and spicy honey is a standout, as are the Liar Fries smothered in cheese, caramelized onions and Liar’s Sauce. The Liars Club also has a full bar and a solid cocktail menu, ensuring that you’ll be full and well-lubricated before continuing your evening. Best Place to Eat in a Basement ROUGH RIDER 1001 N. Central Ave. 602-675-0439 roughrideraz.com It’s a fact: Basement establishments are just cooler. We don’t make the rules. We’d make Rough Rider a frequent destination for food and drink even if it wasn’t underneath Roosevelt Row’s “so hot right now” Ten-O-One building. We love the intri- cately crafted cocktails (they’re known for their boozy tea punches and cobblers made with house-made jams) and the diverse menu, which offers everything from oysters to duck breast to pasta. But it’s all made better with the subterranean location and the inviting decor: Think dim lighting, inviting furniture and a retro masculine vibe (it is named after Teddy Roosevelt, after all). Show up for happy hour for discounts on food and a special cocktail menu. Best Wood-Fired Food PA’LA 132 E. Washington St. 602-368-3052 2107 N. 24th St. 602-795-9500 palakitchen.com There are lots of upsides to wood-fired cooking. Food not only picks up the flavors of whatever wood you’re using, but it’s often much more moist and tender. If you’re not exactly keen on figuring out these techniques on your own, you could always head to Pa’La. Pa’La’s offerings at its two locations consist mostly of tapas small bites that draws influences from Japan, the Mediterranean and South America. From that fusion approach, we get a menu that’s constantly evolving, with dishes cooked in alignment with the best- sourced items. Standouts include wild Mexican shrimp with a garlic chile ginger dressing, roasted polenta, wood-fired octopus and Niman ranch bone marrow. Add in some primo wine and cocktail options, and what you get isn’t simply a really great night out. Rather, it’s a cele- bration of how powerful food can be, and the ways in which one novel choice can unlock something monumental in how we Best Late Night Happy Hour THE SALT CELLAR 550 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale 480-947-1963 saltcellarrestaurant.com There’s something a little magical about descending the staircase at The Salt Cellar into its wood- paneled depths. No matter what time it is outside, things are always the same in this long-standing underground bunker in south Scottsdale. But the benefit of visiting at night is a stellar reverse happy hour. From 10 p.m. to midnight each evening, oysters, clams and oyster shots are only $3, and gargantuan shrimp deck out a cocktail for $16. During happy hour, the prices take a spin back in time, with discounted well drinks and a friendly cohort of regulars to chat and sip with.
