Questions for Phoenix-area locals

Chompies is one great place to go and it was even on Man vs. Food! They are located in Scottsdale, Chandler, and Tempe and offer deli and kosher meals, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Things to do:

The Arizona State Fair is going on now through the 6th of November but by the time you’re here it will most likely be gone. There are assorted malls with movie theaters, there’s Castles and Coasters (an amusement park of sorts), there’s Fiddlesticks, which has batting cages and miniature golf.

These are a few things I could think of right off the top of my head

This is pretty much all Phoenix area, so depending on where you’re staying it could be a bit of a drive to some of these places. I think they’re worth it, though.

- Pizzeria Bianco: Read my signature. As a student at Notre Dame over half-way across the country, I’m really sad that I can’t have any until next summer at the earliest. Might be the best pizza in the country.

- Barrio Cafe: 1) Mexican lady learns how to cook in France, 2) Establishes restaurant in Phoenix combining these styles of cooking, 3) Profit. If the Chiles en Nogada is in season, get it and thank me later. Guacamole is also kick-ass. This is actually the first place I take friends visiting from out of town, although it’s less nationally-renowned than Bianco. Just strikes me as a very Arizona place to go if that’s what you’re looking for. The only thing my girlfriend (from Toledo, Ohio) doesn’t like about Barrio Cafe is that she gets too full on the guacamole (and the bread & olive spread that replaces/is far superior to chips & salsa) to eat more of her main course. Note: the neighborhood isn’t great, although it certainly isn’t actually in the barrio. Still a top-two recommendation, probably #1 for me but behind Bianco for most others.

- LoLo’s Chicken & Waffles: Need I say more? Waitresses will give you attitude, but they’ll also give you delicious food. I’m okay with that. I think they’ve opened a second location in a nicer area than their first location is in, so I’m not sure which will be closer. If you want to be all Man v. Food like, you can do it here. A ton of food for not a ton of money.

- Chelsea’s Kitchen: Short ribs with a fried egg on top are delicious, and there’s a display of free chocolate chip cookies – coarse salt on top, absolutely phenomenal – you can take as you’re leaving. Also have pretty good taco plates, and the tuna ceviche/guacamole appetizer is a must-get. Also have good taco plates if you’re looking for one, including a short rib taco plate.

- Vincent’s: I’m a little biased, considering that I went to school with his son and worked at the farmer’s market they occasionally hold on weekends, but the croissants they make at breakfast time are utterly fantastic (and a personal weakness), and the coffee is good. The main restaurant isn’t open in the morning, but there’s a smallish bistro area they have open in the mornings that is actually worth going to for breakfast (I typically prefer to make breakfast myself, since my preferred breakfast is quite simple). Their omelets are a great way to start the day.

- Havana Cafe: Haven’t been in quite a while, but I recall their Cuban food being delicious. Pretty much like all Cuban food. Their website says there’s also one out in Scottsdale, so that could be helpful. Two word: Cuban coffee.

- Four Peaks Brewery: Obviously not a food suggestion, but check it out. Kiltlifter FTW.

- Drinkwater’s City Hall Steakhouse: Another really fancy, really expensive steakhouse. If you want something unique to Arizona, don’t bother, because you won’t find it here. But if you love steak and want a good one, it’s the best I can think of. Lobster mashed potatoes are also great. Just be ready for a terrifying bill. Fun fact: Ryan Roberts frequently tweets about this place.

I’m sure I’m missing a lot, but those are the first things to come to my mind. I’m sure someone else will offer up some suggestions for other parts of town. Hope that helps!

I’d strongly recommend the Musical Instrument Museum. It’s a drive from Tempe (it’s in far north Phoenix) but it’s well worth the experience. MIM’s one of my favorite museums ever, and it’s definitely something you can only do in Phoenix.

Also, I have to second (or third, I guess) Dan’s comment. LoLo’s is fantastic.

I’m the kind of guy that pretends like he’s on Man v. Food, and I’ve got my own litany of failed food challenges and things I’ve eaten in various parts of the country while traveling for baseball, if that’s any hint at what I’m looking for.

These are some fairly distinctive dives, with generally unhealthy portions of delicious food.

The Aforementioned Lolo’s (be sure to get the “side” of waffles)
Los Reyes de la Torta, which was briefly featured on Man v Food (in the Chompies episode)
Cornish Pasty (Tempe and Mesa locations)
Ranch Market #3 (1602 E Roosevelt). Extensive Mexican deli within sprawling Mexican grocery store

Rockstar mentioned the State Fair, where one can, if inclined, munch on a veritable phylum of deep fried and chocolate covered insects and reptiles

Entertainment is hard, because I dont know you, but if I had a spare block of time or a day to get to “know” Phoenix, I’d probably hop on over to one of the city mountain parks (Piestewa, Camelback, South, etc) for a hike, or take a longer drive to the Superstitions or the string of lakes on the Upper Salt River. For a large US city, our topography may be our most unique characteristic.

For all the great suggestions. Scratching the surface, the most appealing thing to me sounds like Pizzeria Bianco. Even with the possibility of ludicrous wait times, it sounds like something I’d really like to try. Obviously, I want to visit touristy places like Cooperstown and maybe Chompies, but some good pizza sounds excellent too.

I’m a little tepid on the idea of Lolo’s; in Atlanta we have Gladys Knight’s Chicken & Waffles, and the menus look kinda similar to me, so I’m mulling over the idea of seeking some more unique or local SW’ern flavors first.

Obviously, I’ll bookmark this thread on my phone so I can refer to it while in the area. But overall, I appreciate the time many of you took to provide me some suggestions, and I’m really looking forward to some relaxation and some leisurely baseball games, but I’ve never been to Phoenix before, so the exploration is what I’m looking forward to the most.

Stupid enter key got in the way before I could finish my original sentence.

Other good places I know are Rigatony’s, Spinato’s Pizzeria, Benihana, The Old Spaghetti Factory, and Abuelo’s

you’ll find in the Phoenix area mimics other places. But if you want something different, and frankly a little weird, then you need to hit up Chino Bandino. Mexican-Asian food. Delicious. Eat it now (or when you get here).