Arizona Restaurant Week is back. Here are the 18 best menus to try during the spring event
Arizona Restaurant Week is a twice-yearly culinary tour-de-force when chefs and restaurateurs flaunt their best creations in a multi-course, wallet-friendly format. For 10 days, more than 120 Valley eateries will offer three, four or five-course menus at set prices. It's a great opportunity to try a new restaurant or head to an iconic dining destination whose prices are usually well above the cost of a casual dinner out.
The spring event serves as a last push before the summer lull, so it’s also a good opportunity to show much-needed support to local venues.
A full list of participating restaurants is updated daily and can be found on the Arizona Restaurant Week website. But, if the lineup is overwhelming and narrowing down the choices seems daunting, we’ve got a few suggestions.
Whether because of the creativity of their dishes or the value for the price, these 18 restaurant week menus are worth adding to your dining calendar.
All menus are available from May 20 to 29. Menus that feature alcohol apply to dine-in orders only. Reservations are recommended.
The Larder + The Delta
- $44 per person
- 3 courses
- Takeout and dine-in
James Beard Award semifinalist chef Stephen Jones is serving a sampling of the dishes that earned him that honor this year. Start with either the early summer vintners salad composed of roasted beets, fennel, French beans and croutons in a red wine vinaigrette or try the cauliflower with pickled celery, smoked moody bleu cheese, scallions and Cutino’s Hot Sauce. There are two main course options: Nashville-style hot chicken served with dairy-free new potato salad, cornbread, bread, and butter pickles, and whipped honey butter or blackened salmon with braised turnip greens, smoked ham hock and hot water cornbread puree. Jones punctuates the meal with a buttermilk biscuit adorned with strawberries, raspberries, whipped yogurt and fermented honey.
Details: 200 W. Portland St., Ste 101, Phoenix. 480-409-8520, thelarderandthedelta.com.
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The Genuine
- $55 per person
- 3 courses
- Takeout and dine-in
Kick things off at this brand new restaurant with tempura-fried squash blossoms stuffed with local goat cheese served with a tomato emulsion and basil pesto or try the fire-roasted beets with arugula and smoky blue cheese or a gazpacho topped with poached shrimp. Main dishes options include fire-roasted flat iron steak accompanied by smoked fingerling potatoes, charred broccoli, and kicky Aleppo chili aioli; roasted Icelandic salmon with fennel and cauliflower puree; or spaghetti tossed with confit cherry tomatoes, garlic, basil, oregano, red pepper and parmesan. Last but not least, dessert choices include local peach crostata and chocolate budino.
Details: 6015 N. 16th St., Phoenix. 602-633-1187, thegenuineaz.com.
Ocho Rios Jerk Spot
- $44 per person
- 3 courses
- Dine-in only
Go on a Caribbean flavor adventure with a build-your-own sampler plate of four meats and two sides. For the meats, choose from: jerk chicken, brown stew chicken, curry chicken, fried chicken, oxtail, curry goat, jerk shrimp, curry shrimp or coconut curry shrimp. Sides include rice and peas, white rice, mac and cheese, steamed vegetables, potato salad and coleslaw. Dessert selections include banana bread, grape nut ice cream, coconut rum cake or red velvet cake.
Details: 4220 W. Northern Ave. Ste 104, Phoenix. 623-248-5131, ochoriosjerkspot.com.
Tomaso’s
- $44 per person
- 4 courses
- Takeout and dine-in
Head to this classic Italian spot and start your meal with a choice of burrata and prosciutto or seafood salad with grilled octopus, clams, mussels and shrimp. Next, choose between Caesar salad or Tomaso’s salad before mulling over the main course options: shrimp parmigiana featuring herb breaded jumbo prawns in a San Marzano tomato, mozzarella, paccheri and tomato herb sauce; chicken and sausage scarpariello with Tuscan potato and rapini; pork loin saltimbocca; or eggplant parmigiana accompanied by ricotta-stuffed gnocchi. Sicilian cannoli and tiramisu or on offer for dessert.
Details: 3225 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602-956-0836, tomasos.com.
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Rito’s Mexican Food
- $44 per couple
- 3 courses
- Dine-in only
This local chain’s only full-service location offers a restaurant week menu featuring a shared appetizer and dessert and two entrees. Start by splitting queso blanco, avocado fries topped with tajin and cotija cheese or elote. All entrée options come with rice and beans. Try two enchiladas filled with chicken or cheese topped with red or green sauce; two chicken or beef tacos; or a burrito made enchilada-style, chimichanga, or chimi enchilada-style topped with red, green or combo sauce and filled with beef, chicken or beans. Share a dessert of tres leches flan, chamoy-covered watermelon with mango and pineapple covered with candies, or a milk chocolate truffle wrapped in churro dough and deep-fried.
Details: 5813 N. Seventh St., Phoenix. 602-368-6726, ritosmexicanfood.com.
OAK on Camelback
- $33 per person
- 3 courses
- Dine-in only
At this swanky spot on Camelback Road, start your meal with crispy 'kung pow' brussels sprouts, crispy pork ribs or OAK roasted beets with goat cheese. Entree options include OAK fired butter chicken served with scallion coriander rice and charred broccolini; salmon accompanied by quinoa, black rice, squash, eggplant and roasted tomatoes; forbidden rice bowl loaded with edamame, carrots, snap peas, mushrooms, charred broccoli and brussels sprouts with coconut chili; and pork chile verde or Texas steak chili with cornbread. Warm brownie a la mode, blackberry cobbler with vanilla bean gelato or popcorn creme brulee are sweet ending options.
Details: 111 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602-200-8111, oakoncamelback.com.
Bandolero Cocina de Mexico
- $55 per person
- 5 courses and tequila digestif
- Dine-in only
This husband-and-wife run restaurant starts with a choice of guacamole or chips and salsa and either black bean or tortilla soup. For the third course, choose between bacon-wrapped shrimp in garlic sauce or mushroom empanadas. All main courses come with beans and rice and include the option of chicken enchiladas, mahi-mahi tacos with mango salsa or tacos al pastor. The meal winds down with churros and chocolate with a tequila digestif on the side.
Details: 8977 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-590-8180, bandoleroaz.com.
Campo Italian Bistro & Bar
- $44 per person
- 3 courses
- Takeout or dine-in
Chef Alex Stratta, who has worked in Michelin-starred kitchens, presents a restaurant week menu that starts with a choice of wild Mexican scampi with crispy mascarpone polenta, Seba’s meatballs with San Marzano tomato sauce and grilled bread, or grilled eggplant rollatini. Main dish options include: lasagne bolognese, crispy porchetta with fregola, apples, dates and almonds or roasted sea bass with fennel, lemon, tomato and olives. Dessert will be a tough decision with cannoli, tiramisu featuring Kahlua soaked ladyfingers and chocolate budino as choices.
Details: 8260 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale. 480-597-9195, campoitalian.com.
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Grassroots Kitchen & Tap
- $44 per person
- 3 courses
- Takeout and dine-in
At this Scottsdale restaurant, starters include braised pork belly served alongside jalapeno cheddar grits with candied pancetta or ahi tuna poke with shrimp, avocado and wontons. For the main course, opt for Topher’s braised short ribs with reduced natural jus, jalapeno cheddar grits and grilled asparagus, southern shrimp and grits with tasso ham relish and grilled focaccia or slow-smoked Carolina baby back ribs that are grill finished with Brother’s tangy slaw. The citrusy key lime pie or decadent chocolate toffee brownie are finale options.
Details: 8120 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale. 480-699-0699, grassrootsaz.com.
Canal Club, The Scott Resort and Spa
- $44 per person
- 3 courses
- Dine-in only
At this Cuban-themed resort restaurant, menu options begin with a choice of plantains with smoked bacon black bean puree or grilled shrimp skewers with aji amarillo, avocado puree and mango salsa. Move on to pork chilindron with papas bravas and roasted summer squash, grilled chicken with black beans, rice and green salad, or crispy skin salmon served with purple potato hash and chipotle butter. End with churro doughnut holes, flan and chocolate cake, or an ancho chocolate brownie with dulce de leche gelato.
Details: 4925 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-424-6095, thecanalclubaz.com.
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Ling & Louie’s Asian Bar & Grill
- $55 per couple
- 3 courses
- Takeout and dine-in
At this pan-Asian inspired restaurant, start with a shared appetizer of crispy calamari, char siu al pastor tacos, spicy ahi roll or loaded sliders filled with beef, candied bacon, blue cheese and onion. Each diner can choose their own second course of tom kha gai soup with chicken, long life chicken and rice soup or miso mixed green salad and a main dish of blackened chicken and pork with vegetables in a spicy ginger soy, new wave pad thai with chicken, surf and turf sliced grass fed beef, shrimp, asparagus and mushrooms, chicken with fresh vegetables, mint and Thai basil in a peanut curry sauce, honey walnut shrimp with broccoli or Ling’s meatloaf with szechuan style green beans, red wine mushroom gravy and wasabi mashed potatoes.
Details: 9397 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale. 480-767-5464, lingandlouies.com.
Cielo, Adero Scottsdale
- $55 per person
- 3 courses plus a glass of wine or Aperol spritz
- Dine-in only
- Beverage included
Enjoy dinner at this resort restaurant featuring beautiful mountain views. Begin with a starter of ricotta bread, mushroom arancini or gazpacho. For the main attraction, choose Peruvian roasted half-chicken with fried plantains, roasted potatoes and salsa verde, brule salmon served with roasted potatoes, smashed garlic and sauteed spinach, or braised short rib in black pepper sauce with sweet potatoes, peas and mushrooms. Choose New York cheesecake, chocolate espresso tart or the fruit medley for dessert. Each meal comes with a glass of red or white wine or an Aperol spritz.
Details: 13225 N. Eagle Ridge Drive, Scottsdale. 480-333-1880, aderoscottsdale.com.
Los Sombreros
- $33, $44, $55 per person
- 3 courses plus one beverage
- Takeout and dine-in
At this local chain, there are three menus available. For $33, entree options include the camarones baracho shrimp sauteed in tequila, butter and garlic. For $44, a marinated pork medallion is dressed in a traditional mole and topped with pineapple and apples with mixed vegetables and mashed potatoes on the side. And for $55, enjoy a surf and turf of wood-fired steak and sauteed scallops over creamy poblanos. All menus begin with a choice of a quesadilla stuffed with huitlacoche and goat cheese topped with chipotle tomato sauce or sopes stuffed with refried beans, chipotle tomatillo sauce and carnitas. Flan con mezcal and tres leches cake are dessert options. Dine-in orders come with a choice of a mezcal old-fashioned, Tijuana Donkey (a southwest twist on a Moscow Mule) or the famous Steve-a-Rita. Takeout orders come with a choice of a fountain drink.
Details: 1976 W. Southern Ave., Mesa. 480-534-6742. Other locations in Phoenix and Scottsdale: lossombreros.com.
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Alter Ego, Canopy by Hilton Tempe Downtown
- $55 per person
- 3 courses
- Dine-in only
This season’s AWR menu takes cues from the American South. First course options include sweet corn and green chile hush puppies, a plate of Arizona pimento cheese and house-pickled vegetables accompanied by Noble Country Bread or a grilled kale salad with red peas, heirloom carrots and spiced pecans in a cinnamon vinaigrette. For the main course, choose from seared scallops with creole bone marrow butter and vegetable succotash, braised oxtail with prickly pear gastrique, pan-fried okra and ham hock butter beans or cornmeal fried zucchini blossom with mushroom duxelles, green tomato relish and corn puree. Vanilla bread pudding with hurricane coulis and gelato, buttermilk chess pie with poppy seed ice cream and sweet corn souffle with a huckleberry chipotle coulis vie are dessert options.
Details: 108 E. University Drive, Tempe. 602-612-7871, alteregotempe.com.
Dolce Vita Gelato and Grocery
- $33 per person
- 3 courses
- Takeout and dine-in
The Sicilian lineup includes starter choices of arancini with meat sauce, meatballs with tomato sauce or a pizza topped with tomato, anchovies, pecorino and bread crumbs — all accompanied by salad and bread. For the main course, choose from Anelletti pasta with meat sauce, mozzarella and ham, tagliatelle with pancetta tossed in a tomato cream sauce and potato gnocchi served in a white sauce with ham. Cannolo, Italian custard and puff pastry, or gelato are offered for dessert.
Details: 5251 E. Brown Road, #104, Mesa. 480-218-0225, gelatodolcevita.com.
The Sicilian Butcher
- $44 per person
- 4 courses
- Takeout and dine-in
Start your culinary trip to Italy with charred octopus or cacio e pepe fritelle, which are essentially fried mozzarella fritters, but better. After the salad course, options include shrimp parmigiana, pork chop milanese, baked three-meat ragu stuffed handkerchief pasta in bechamel and Tomaso’s Famous Meatballs crafted with the trinity of veal, pork and beef and served with wide ribbon pasta and Bolognese. You can’t go wrong with either cannoli or tiramisu for dessert.
Details: 9780 W. Northern Ave., Peoria. 623-471-5721. See other locations in Chandler and Phoenix at thesicilianbutcher.com.
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Urban Margarita
- $44 per person
- 3 courses
- Takeout and dine-in
Get a dose of New Mexican flair with a menu that starts with a choice of al pastor carnitas empanadas or crispy cauliflower. For the main course, consider New Mexico-style lobster and crab enchiladas, roasted salmon in a mango beurre blanc sauce or 36-hour marinated New York carne asada. Dessert is a tough decision between the Urban Margarita lime pie and raspberry churro bites.
Details: 6685 W. Beardsley Road, Glendale. 623-561-6674, urbanmargarita.com.
Fabio on Fire
- $44 per person
- 3 courses
- Takeout and dine-in
Big appetites get addressed right off the bat with choices like wood-fire porchetta served with rosemary focaccia, lightly breaded shrimp with arugula, white wine sauteed mussels and calamari or zucchini fritti as the opening options. The five entree choices are all tempting, but the most exciting are the lobster tortellini in a pink vodka cream sauce with crab, white pizza with imported mozzarella di bufala, parma ham and arugula, and handmade, ravioli-like sacchettini stuffed with butternut squash and ricotta in a sage cream sauce with crispy prosciutto di Parma. Two scoops of housemade gelato is a grand finale.
Details: 8275 W. Lake Pleasant Pkwy., #101, Peoria. 623-680-5385, fabioonfire.com.