200 Best of phoenix 2023 | WWW.bestofphoenix2023.c0m | septemBer 28, 2023 Diner, a bright yellow-painted brick building with green awnings and a tight parking lot, is often the scene of a long line of hungry customers waiting for breakfast. And Joe’s is worth the wait. Order the pancakes, fluffy buttermilk creations made from a batter that rests overnight, creating bubbles that puff to perfection when they hit the griddle. If savory is more your jam, try the biscuits and gravy. The biscuits are another item that makes the most of the wonders of tangy buttermilk. Wash it all down with a coffee, served true diner-style: hot, black and in mugs that are an inch thick. Best Brunch SUGARJAM THE SOUTHERN KITCHEN 15111 N. Hayden Road, #170, Scottsdale 480-948-6210 sjsouthernkitchen.com SugarJam has hands down the best French toast in Phoenix. And the rest of the brunch menu is pretty outstanding as well. Chef and owner Dana Dumas moved her small bakery to bigger digs a few years ago and expanded the menu to fit the space. Her famous pies are still available but so are full brunch plates and cocktails. If you, like us, are hard-pressed to decide between chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, and that amazing French toast, don’t fret — the French toast comes as a side dish that can be paired with other items. We recommend ordering a side for the table so all of your brunch mates can taste the magic. On the weekend, SugarJam knows how to turn up, so come prepared for a party. If you prefer a quieter setting to enjoy your morning meal, we recommend visiting on a weekday. Best Restaurant Patio OCOTILLO 3243 N. Third St. 602-687-9080 ocotillophx.com With a name that nods to a desert plant, Ocotillo’s nearly 1-acre space connects diners to the outdoors. Sure, you can sit inside the restaruant’s sleek modern dining room and enjoy the hum of the guests and the bustle of the kitchen team as they craft wood-fired global fare. But, there’s some- thing innately calming about Ocotillo’s back patio, which is landscaped with native plants, including a small grove of palo verde trees. When they bloom in the spring, their bright yellow flowers dot the grounds. After dark, strings of Edison bulbs set the mood to this backyard like space that invites you to linger. And you can — head toward the back of the property to Sidecar, Ocotillo’s sister bar that crafts unique cocktails perfect for a nightcap. Best Spendy Dinner With a View CHRISTOPHER’S AT WRIGLEY MANSION 2501 E. Telawa Trail 602-522-2344 wrigleymansion.com/christophers A fancy-pants dinner with a panoramic view of the Valley below might be a birthday or anniversary trope, but whether or not you need an excuse to dress to the nines and drop a few hundred per head, Christopher’s at Wrigley Mansion is the place to be these days. Christopher Gross rebuilt the Wrigley Mansion’s flagship restaurant in his name, a sleek and sexy space perched high above the Arizona Biltmore offering a razor-sharp breed of no-compromises fine dining that’s a rarity around these parts. Too many hilltop restaurants phone in the food, banking on the view to fill the reservation book. Not this one. Gross’ contemporary French menu is as showy as it is skillful, a flawless parade of artistry and craft served by a staff that moves with the precision of a SWAT team. But don’t make the mistake of thinking the view gets second billing. The tiny dining room was carefully designed to show it off, and there isn’t a bad seat in the house. Best Bar Food THE BRICKYARD DOWNTOWN 85 W. Boston St., Chandler 480-963-1373 brickyarddowntown.com Bar food usually consists of the classics: wings, a pretzel, some version of a hot dog, maybe some pizza. But that is far from the case at The Brickyard Downtown, a swanky cocktail lounge in downtown Chandler. Not many bars have an executive chef, but at The Brickyard, Nick Gibbs commands a kitchen that consistently churns out exceptional bites. The menu is designed for sharing and sampling, so order a few cocktails and see how they pair with a variety of plates. Burrata served with apple mousse and pickled orange has a blend of creamy and citrusy flavors that complement the cocktails, while the lamb chimichangas offer a rich, warming contrast. Pork belly skewers served with honey soy and peanuts bring a savory note to the party, and churros elevated with berries, chocolate and creme Anglaise round out the experience.
