208 Best of phoenix 2023 | WWW.bestofphoenix2023.c0m | septemBer 28, 2023 McCaffrey (the local publican behind the downtown Phoenix pub of the same name) opened The Dubliner in 1984, when it was reportedly the first bar in town with Guinness on tap. Go for an evening and you’ll swear off other local pubs. Best Italian Restaurant ANDREOLI ITALIAN GROCER 8880 E. Via Linda, Scottsdale 480-614-1980 andreoli-grocer.com A decade ago, this pick would have earned howls of disapproval from the red sauce, white tablecloth and Chianti crowd. But Phoenix seems to have finally figured out that one of the most talented Italian cooks in the nation has been here all along, slinging his uncompromising vision of what Italian food is and should be, waiting for the day when everybody else would finally catch up. Boy, have they, and not a day too soon. Andreoli Italian Grocer is constantly packed lately, and it’s no wonder why. The casual trattoria-style fare served at Giovanni Scorzo’s counter service market may seem humble, but those who know, know. There’s no pizazz or flash here. Just excellent ingredients, simply prepared with a maniacal attention to detail and tradition. Scorzo and his family can do it all, from the fresh-baked breads to the house-cured charcuterie to the perfect pasta and panini to the stunning dessert case. This is Italian food for Italians — simple, soulful and elegant. If you don’t like it, Scorzo will tell you you’re wrong. And he’s probably right. Best French Restaurant SOTTISE 1025 N. Second St. 602-254-6378 sottisephx.com A whitewashed bungalow with a roomy front porch and exposed brick interior may not immediately bring to mind exquisite French cuisine, but Sottise puts guests in a Gallic frame of mind from the first sip or bite. It would be worth a trip just to enjoy the casually elegant ambiance at this attractive downtown historic home, but the food and drinks are on par with anything you might find at top Parisian cafes, countryside brasseries or while sitting by the Riviera. Its seafood specialties — from jumbo tiger prawns to a knockout salmon rillette — are fresh and delicate, and the classic escargot de Bourgogne in garlic butter sauce could not be more tender or well-executed. Even the deviled eggs are transcendent. Everything on the menu boasts the best-sourced ingre- dients, from the humble little gems salad to the caviar menu for all you big spenders. The refreshing cocktails and superbly chosen wine list, packed with cherry- picked all-stars from Alsace, Burgundy, Bordeaux and more, round out the expe- rience. Sure, it’s a bit pricey, but think of it this way: It’s like a whirlwind vacation to the best of all things French without the expense of plane tickets and hotels. Best Caribbean Restaurant MS. MARTHA’S CARIBBEAN KITCHEN 1820 W. Northern Ave., #110 602-675-2212 msmarthaskitchen.com Here are our personal rules for dining at Ms. Martha’s Caribbean Kitchen: Check the hours before you go. Make sure you have time to wait. And maybe don’t visit that one week of the month when you’re hanging on till the next paycheck hits. Tucked away in a North Phoenix shopping center, Ms. Martha’s serves mouth- watering Caribbean fare on a limited schedule (three days a week with a fairly early closing time). We love the gently fried and impossibly flaky pates filled with beef, fish or veggies; the deep, rich flavor of the oxtails, which we like to order on a bed of rice and beans; and the pleasantly spicy jerk chicken. Nothing at Ms. Martha’s comes quickly (good food rarely does) or cheaply, but none of that will matter after one bite of a perfectly spiced goat curry. Best Vietnamese Restaurant PHỞ THÀNH RESTAURANT 1702 W. Camelback Road 602-242-1979 Phở Thành Restaurant is a Phoenix staple. Located on Camelback Road next to adjoining ice cream and boba tea shop Milk Run, the Vietnamese restaurant has been welcoming customers for more than a decade, and it’s part of a long-standing legacy of family-owned eateries. And at
