Arizona Restaurant Week is back. These are the 14 best menus to try during the fall event
The biannual prix-fixe extravaganza that is Arizona Restaurant Week returns for the fall edition from Sept. 8-17, with a restaurant lineup anticipated to be more than 180 strong.
From casual neighborhood hangouts, luxe resort establishments and all categories in between, the majority of the participating restaurants are in the Valley, though there are also several out-of-town spots in Flagstaff, Tucson and Sierra Vista, along with a few newcomers in the heart of southern Arizona wine country in Willcox.
New menus are added daily, so perusing the Arizona Restaurant Week website is the best way to see the latest: arizonarestaurantweek.com.
With so many menus to choose from, we decided to narrow it down for you with 14 that we felt offered a particularly good value, creativity of dishes or both.
All menus are $33, $44 or $55. Most are per person, but some are priced for couples. Most offer three courses, but some feature four or include a beverage. A few even offer lunch menus.
Here are a few too good to miss during Arizona Restaurant Week this fall.
Chantico
Dine-in only
$44/person
Three courses
With 11 options for the first two courses, decisions won’t come easily. Of the five starter selections, the spicy halibut ceviche and roasted bone marrow with pumpkin seed crunch, tortillas and mezcal-pasilla salsa are attention grabbers. Six options await for the main attraction, including a chile relleno stuffed with spicy shrimp and Oaxaca cheese served with cilantro rice; sweet potato enchiladas accompanied by rice and beans with choice of red, green or mole sauce; beef ribs with charro beans and grilled tortilla; green chile pork chimichanga with rice and beans with choice of red, green or mole sauce; or roasted pork shank served with chipotle mashed potatoes, corn, nopales and pork jus. The flan with coconut custard, pineapple caramel and caramelized pineapple makes a strong case for dessert.
Details: 1051 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602-699-3015, chanticophx.com.
Review: This Phoenix Mexican restaurant is beautiful, ambitious and fun—if you know what to order
The Market by Jennifer’s
Dine-in and takeout
$44/person
Three courses
Smoked tomato soup with gruyere and white cheddar grilled cheese, kale and quinoa salad and tempura rock shrimp are the opening options. For the main course, there are four choices: cacio e pepe made with Sonoran Pasta Co. bucatini, chicken Milanese topped with an arugula salad and shaved parmesan, Meat by Linz hangar steak with chimichurri and shoestring fries or bouillabaisse made with Chula Seafood pan-seared cod, scallop, shrimp and mussels in a saffron and tomato broth served with an anchovy butter baguette crostini. For dessert, choose the chocolate tahini tartlet or vanilla panna cotta with fruit compote from Tracy Dempsey Originals.
Details: 3603 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. 602-626-5050, themarketbyjennifers.com.
McArthur’s Restaurant & Bar at Arizona Biltmore
Dine-in only
$55/person
Three courses
Commence with parmesan fries, spinach cream dip with rosemary crackers or a lobster roll at the spot formerly known as Frank & Albert’s. Second course options are roasted kabocha squash quinoa salad; sous vide achiote chicken served with sweet potato puree and wilted spinach; or miso Chilean sea bass with jade bamboo rice and garlic spinach. For dessert, black sesame matcha mousse cake, chocolate chip cookie skillet with vanilla bean ice cream and banana cheesecake embellished with bruleed bananas and caramel popcorn vie for dessert honors.
Details: 2400 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix. 602-954-2518, arizonabiltmore.com.
The Mexicano
Dine-in only
$33/person
Four courses
Choose between the birria bao bun stuffed with chile-braised beef or sea bass ceviche to start your four-course feast. After your choice of salad, decide among three entree options that come with Mexican rice and refried beans: carne asada fajitas, birria enchiladas or a taco trio featuring crispy beef, carne asada and al pastor. End with flan and roasted pineapple.
Details: 4801 E. Cactus Road, Phoenix. 602-812-2100, themexicano.com.
The Herb Box
Dine-in only
$44/person
3 courses
This Old Town mainstay makes its Arizona Restaurant Week debut with a menu that starts with your choice of roasted yellow pepper soup, artisan farmhouse cheese and charcuterie plate or an Arizona grass-fed slider with jicama slaw on a brioche bun. Choose from the following main courses: shrimp smoked in jalapeno rioja butter with grilled sweet corn and a baguette; butternut squash and corn enchiladas topped with tomatillo verde sauce; or wine-braised boneless short ribs with an ancho bourbon demi, caramelized cipollini onions and celery root potato cake. You can’t go wrong with either the strawberry jalapeno jammy oat bar or house OMG Pie (butterscotch pie in a crispy oatmeal crust) for dessert.
Details: 7051 E. Fifth Ave., Scottsdale. 480-289-6160, theherbbox.com.
Hush Public House
Dine-in and takeout
$55/person
Three courses
Start with crispy curried cauliflower, a Belgium endive salad or chicken liver mousse on grilled Noble Bread. For the main course choose from: Bucatini from Sonoran Pasta Co. made puttanesca-style with anchovy, capers, cured olives and parmesan; PEI mussels served with Vietnamese pork sausage, pickled carrot and daikon radish and Noble bread; or Italian beef made with braised oxtail, smoked provolone and Chicago-style giardiniera served on brioche. Date cake with bourbon toffee sauce and Grateful Spoon gelato or chocolate budino topped with fresh whipped cream, olive oil and French sea salad will be the finale.
Details: 14202 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-758-5172, hushpublichouse.com.
Hush updates: This acclaimed Scottsdale restaurant's sister concept is closing to make way for a new bar
Liz Modern Asian
Dine-in and takeout
Six courses that can be served family style
$44 lunch/couple
$33 dinner/person
Beverage included
Come in for a lunch date and savor a smorgasbord of Korean fried chicken; barbecue pork and cheese puff; brisket steamed bun; dumplings; Moo Shu curry chicken and omelet; and a souffle pancake. The per-person menu is available all day and features: Peking duck and brisket steamed buns; Korean fried chicken; teriyaki chicken & rice; birria spring roll; birria brothless ramen; and a souffle pancake. Sip on a complimentary glass of wine or cocktail.
Details: 15323 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-292-7689, lizmodernasianrestaurant.com.
Campo Italian Bistro & Bar
Dine-in and takeout
$55/person
Three courses
Partake in a menu designed by celebrity chef Alex Stratta, starting with braised pork belly with apple mostarda and frisee, McClendon Farms eggplant parmigiano or grilled Argentine red shrimp with smoked potato puree. Entree choices include oven-roasted chicken in a Calabrian honey glaze with Tuscan potatoes and leeks; halibut pescatore in a savory tomato sauce with clams; or braised Rovey Dairy lamb shank accompanied by creamy polenta, roasted fennel and red peppers, olives, capers, preserved lemon and brown butter almonds. Dessert will be a tough decision between pistachio cake with blood orange curd, Kahlua tiramisu and caramel cognac panna cotta.
Details: 8260 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale. 480-597-9195, campoitalian.com.
Tryst Cafe
Dine-in and takeout
$33/person
Three courses
Beverage included
A hummus trio, house salad or roasted buffalo cauliflower are the starter options. Next, choose one of three mains: creamy mushroom rigatoni, chicken enchiladas served with white rice with peas, carrots and cilantro; or basil-crusted tilapia paired with coconut jasmine rice and grilled vegetables topped with a lemon cream sauce. Chocolate ganache cake, housemade creme brulee and vanilla ice cream are dessert options. Toast with a glass of champagne that’s included.
Details: 4205 S. Gilbert Road, Chandler. 480-656-1011. Other locations at trystcafe.com.
Feringhee Modern Indian Cuisine
Dine-in and takeout
$55/person
Three courses
An array of dish options await. Khandari pork ribs, chicken malai tikka, shrimp pepper fry and a trio of puchka are among the seven starter choices. Saffron pulao rice and garlic naan accompany each of the six main course options that include: seasonal squash kofta; Feringue paneer mille-feuille; Bengali lamb curry; Old Delhi butter chicken; banana leaf-wrapped fish; and Nargisi kofta. For dessert, decide between a dark chocolate cremeux with masala chai ice cream or Kulfi popsicle bar with candied rose petals.
Details: 3491 W. Frye Road, Chandler. 480-534-7178, feringhee.com.
Terra Tempe Kitchen & Spirits, The Westin Tempe
Dine-in and takeout
$55/person
Three courses
The signature ground-floor restaurant at the Westin in downtown Tempe offers five starter options that include Sonoran chicken tortilla soup, grilled Spanish octopus, Mexican prawn, oven-roasted carrot salad and baby kale and romaine caesar. Ponder your main course from four selections: vegetable wellington, Atlantic salmon served with potato chive gnocchi, bacon lardon, sweet pea puree and salmon chicharron; achiote pibil chicken accompanied by mole verde, roasted chicken, cilantro-red onion salad and dark chicken jus; or bacon-wrapped bison meatloaf with whipped herb potatoes, asparagus and cherry barbecue sauce. For the sweet ending, decide between a chewy fudge brownie embellished with chili meringues, plantain chips and caramelized white chocolate sauce; or the orange creamsicle cheesecake made with Arizona citrus cremeux, blood orange gel and meringue.
Details: 11 E. Seventh St., Tempe. 480-968-8885, terratempe.com.
Tempo Urban Bistro
Dine-in and takeout
$55/ person
Three courses
The starter game is strong with tempura squash blossoms stuffed with citrus ricotta, fried oysters accompanied by romesco and confit tomato, and five-onion au gratin as the options. Next, choose from four main course selections: beef wellington; sweet potato risotto with shaved truffle; roasted lamb loin served with root vegetables; and grilled branzino served with gigante beans, pesto and an arugula salad. Banana foster french toast or a fun Froot Loop panna cotta are dessert choices.
Details: 21067 W. Main St., Buckeye. 623-594-6788, tempourbanbistro.com.
Fabio on Fire
Dine-in and takeout
$44 or $55/person
Three courses
Both menu options feature appetizer choices of lightly breaded shrimp roasted in a wood-fired oven, wood-fired pork belly with rosemary focaccia and chickpea hummus or lightly fried short rib ravioli. For $44, decide among four entrees: white pizza adorned with imported bufala mozzarella, prosciutto di parma, arugula and shaved parmesan; lobster tortellini in a pink vodka cream sauce with crab; braised short rib ravioli in a buttercream sage sauce; or homemade tagliatelle and bolognese sauce. For $55, consider a different selection main course, including: tagliolini pasta with clams, mussels, calamari and prawns; wood-roasted lamb and vegetables; or tagliolini pasta with California sea scallops in a pesto sauce. Two scoops of chef Fabio’s homemade gelato is dessert for both lineups.
Details: 8275 W. Lake Pleasant Pkwy., Peoria. 623-680-5385, fabioonfire.com.
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Arrowhead Grill
Dine-in only
$55/person
Three courses
Choose among three kinds of salad or the clam chowder as your starting point at this steakhouse. Main course options are 8-ounce USDA Prime Delmonico or New York strip; 10-ounce prime rib; half-roasted chicken; or Atlantic salmon. Creamed spinach, creamed corn, sauteed broccoli and Yukon Gold mashed potatoes are accompaniment options. The signature butter cake and flourless decadence chocolate cake are dessert choices.
Details: 8280 W. Union Hills Drive, Glendale. 623-566-2224, arrowheadgrill.com.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 2023 fall Arizona Restaurant Week: Best menus in metro Phoenix
