across the pond | akira roll
Across the Pond is the perfect restaurant for a date night, chill splurge, or a place to wow folks you’ve brought in from out of town. Their food menu isn’t crazy long, but what hits the table is always spectacular. On all of our recent visits, we opt for at least one Akira roll. Loaded with spicy salmon, bell pepper, garlic crunch, and more, this roll pops with flavor and tastes even better when paired with one of the incredible, award-winning cocktails.
novel ice cream
While ice cream is a classic dessert, Novel Ice Cream doesn’t exactly do things by the book. They have two locations, with a third one expected soon at the time of writing. They also have a food truck up for catering. And when it comes time to order, there are roughly a dozen flavors and fun toppings like Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Fruity Pebbles, marshmallow charms, and more. If that isn’t overly indulgent enough, have em’ slap your ice cream of choice between a halved donut.
bud’s pizza guild | pepperoni & hot honey
Everyone loves pizza, right? Apparently so, as on a busy weekend at the Uptown Farmers Market it’s no surprise for Bud’s Pizza Guild to sell out of at least one of their menu items. Our pick is generally to opt for a classic pep and maybe we will throw on some onion. Banging dough, sandwiches too, cooked up by a couple of guys working their tails off through the AZ heat.
jonathan barbecue | cookout dust
One of the top barbecue content creators is based right here in Arizona, and he makes an incredible all-purpose seasoning for all the home chefs out there. You can buy it online or find out where you can pick it up locally, including Capital Farms and Over the Fire Barbecue Supply. If you need some cooking tips when you decide to fire up the smoker, follow @jonathan.bbq on Instagram to step up your next batch of wings, brisket, ribs, or whatever else you’ve got on the menu! And send us an invite to the cookout while you’re at at.
uchi | happy hour
We like to live large when it comes to dining out. But you could say we’re balling on a budget… big time. So when we go out, we always like to take advantage of a great happy hour. Uchi has one of our favorites. The menu holds a few of their most popular beverages (we go Subarashi or sake), some zero-proof drinks, and a variety of cold and hot plates. If you really want to do it big, they offer an eight-course omakase for two for happy hour. Just make sure you book in advance because the secret is certainly out.
pinyon | spiced olive & feta hummus
The spiced olive and feta hummus at Pinyon in Scottsdale is incredible. Olives, sheep’s milk feta, herbs, and olive oil laid on top of the scratch-made hummus served with ample fluffy and fresh pita. When it’s on the rotating hummusiya menu, that means it’s also feature on their daily happy hour from 3-6pm. So, for those who imbibe, its a perfect pair for a spritz or house cocktail. And don’t be ashamed to get more than one, after all, it’s healthy right?
fellow osteria & pizzeria | mushroom marsala
This dish leans into earthy, savory comfort, with mushrooms bringing plenty of umami while the Marsala adds just the right touch of richness and sweetness. And let’s not forget the tagliatelle! Those wide, substantial noodles have just the right amount of weight and texture to grab onto every bit of that delicious Marsala sauce. It’s layered without being heavy and indulgent without losing balance. This dish is proof that sometimes mushrooms deserve to be the main character.
goldwater brewing | birthday suit
This beer is a love letter to the West Coast IPA: bold, bitter, crisp and refreshingly unapologetic. Always consistent (and let’s be honest, that matters a lot!), this beer showcases grapefruit rind and resinous pine, backed by layers of pineapple and guava, and that satisfyingly snappy semi-dry bitter finish that keeps you coming back for another sip. In a beer world that loves chasing the next big thing, Birthday Suit is a reminder that sometimes the classics don’t need reinventing.
wild bbq | tandoori turkey
Wild Barbecue in Tempe is new on the scene, located on University just a couple of minutes west of the busy Mill Ave area. They’re mixing up Texas-style barbecue by firing up a unique Mediterranean twist. It works so well, especially with the tandoori turkey. It’s smoked turkey breast with tandoori spices, and after they slice it, they dip it in extra butter. That definitely doesn’t hurt.
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