More than 100 restaurants opened in metro Phoenix this summer. Try these 3 first

Phoenix's restaurant scene has grown leaps and bounds over the summer. In June, metro Phoenix gained 32 new restaurants. It saw 26 more in July, 34 in August and a whopping 39 in September. While these restaurants will need time to prove their longevity, there were a few new spots we couldn't wait to check out.

A well known West Valley Italian chef dazzled with quality ingredients that put his artisan sandwiches over the top. An award-winning Mexican brewery opened its first U.S. location where they serve food as good as their brews. And a coffee shop owner showcases his woodworking skills alongside his barista's creative specialty drinks.

Here are the three recently opened metro Phoenix restaurants you should try first.

Fabio on Fire Panini and Gelateria

The West Valley is no stranger to Fabio Ceschetti and his cooking. Fabio on Fire has been feeding homesick Italians a taste of The Old Country since 2017. In June, he added a sandwich shop to his roster. Located at the corner of Happy Valley and Lake Pleasant roads, the shop is a counter service affair with a gelato case and a small market area. He bakes all the bread in-house using 72-hour fermented dough and a wood-fired oven. All the ingredients are imported from Italy. The result? Simple but stunningly delicious sandwiches. I tried a prosciutto panini and the crisp texture of the bread was punched up by a pesto that balanced the buttery cheese and salty sweet prosciutto. Buon appetito!

Prices: Paninis range from $13.95 to $15.95 and cups of gelato are $4.50 to $7.50.

Details: 24775 N. Lake Pleasant Parkway, Suite 101, Peoria. fabioonfire.com.

Buqui Bichi

Hermosillo's award-winning brewery, Buqui Bichi opened its first U.S. taproom in Chandler in July. High spirits abound at the taproom. I'll be back for the sour beers, like ice-cold Kickflip, which shone brightly with a citrusy, kombucha-ish taste.

As for the food, don't miss the fries, loaded or plain. The spuds are crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside and dressed with just the right amount of salt. The tiradito de atun ($12.50), a sashimi-style tuna in chiltepin aguachile with fresh cilantro, was tangy, spicy and utterly delicious. The sopes chicharron ($9.50), which comes in an order of three, offered an umami-rich combo of crispy pork meat, pickled onions and spicy crema.

But of all the dishes, the triple of tostadas de aguachile tatemado ($12.50) had the most impact. Each bite of the mini tostadas, piled high with shrimp, avocado, red onions cucumbers and cilantro, gave a refreshing, tart hit of herbal flavor that kept me coming back for bite after bite. Buen provecho!

Prices: Beers on tap range from $4.50 to $9, appetizers from $5.50 to $10.50. The Mexican menu items range from $9.50 to $12.50, burgers are $16.50 and pizzas between $15.50 to $17.50.

Details: 301 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler. buquibichi.net.

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Coffee builders

Thomas Porter of Porter Barn Wood opened The Coffee Builders in a former 1960s storefront at the end of July.

Two wooden doors with brass handles shaped like branches open into the coffee shop, which is as much a gallery for woodwork as it is a cafe. Everything in the shop is made by the Porter Barn Wood team, from the tessellated triangular wooden ceiling to the blue leather banquettes, semicircular booth and gray and gold barrel chairs.

When you're done fantasizing about having custom wooden furniture made for your own home, be sure to order one of the nearly-as-impressive specialty drinks

I tried The Slopes and Birthday Cake lattes.

The Slopes is one of the more eye-catching drinks, made with blueberry, white chocolate, butterfly pea flower, espresso and milk. A clear cup revealed three layers, though the consulting barista, Johnny Rios suggested mixing them before taking a sip. The pillowy soft foam was a lovely texture and lent a gentle, sweet flavor. As promised, the blueberry comes through on the back end, with the white chocolate so subtle you'll only notice it after a few sips. Despite the sweet-sounding ingredients, it's far from cloying.

Birthday Cake latte, on the other hand, is made with white chocolate, vanilla, espresso and milk and is unashamedly sweet. Don't let that stop you though. It's far from the expected "straight up sugar" assault one would expect from the white layers topped with sprinkles. It's a winner for those who like it sweet, but still balanced.

Prices: $6 for 16-ounce specialty coffee drink. $7 for 24-ounce.

Details: 901 S. Seventh St., Phoenix. 602-904-7550, thecoffeebuilders.com.

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Reach the reporter at BAnooshahr@azcentral.com. Follow @banooshahr on X, formerly Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: New metro Phoenix restaurants to try 1st: Italian food to Mexican beer