Top 5 Places to Eat ~

Arcadia Farms Cafe website
1625 N Central Ave, Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, AZ 85004
A wonderful complement to the Phoenix Art Museum, this enviable cafe mesmerizes diners with all sorts of good things. The menu makes use of fresh, local ingredients, proffering sandwiches, salads, and a handful of main-course offerings. Among the options: Maryland crab cakes with remoulade sauce, pesto shrimp salad, strawberry chicken salad, and a pepper-crusted beef tenderloin sandwich. Homemade desserts are an added delight, and afternoon tea provides a more-than-genteel experience.

Barrio Cafe website
2814 N 16th St, Phoenix, AZ 85006
Since it opened, folks have been clamoring to this hopping, no-reservations-accepted restaurant for its inventive southern Mexican cuisine. Abandoned are bland burritos and tacos in favor of lush, richly layered flavors achieved with zesty chiles, authentic cheeses, and complex moles. Start with guacamole prepared tableside and then consider cochinita pibil, a delectable slow-roasted pork dish. Grilled steaks, seared duck breast, and seafood enchiladas are also much-requested. Plus, there's no better dessert than deep-fried fritters with goats' milk caramel - ask anyone.

Christopher's Fermier Brasserie
2584 E Camelback Rd, Biltmore Fashion Park, Phoenix, AZ 85016
Popular and well-established, this French restaurant offers an abundance of well-prepared French dishes. Lunch choices include house-smoked salmon pasta and seared tuna Nicoise while dinner may feature roasted chicken with garlic confit, sole Meuniere, and rack of lamb with rosemary au jus. Count on a wait since the place is often busy, but rest assured that the food is worth the wait. Multi-course tasting menu $60.

Durant's website
2611 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004
It's been around for decades, and perfect martinis, fantastic steaks, and incomparable service prove its longevity. Dark woods, leather booths, and flocked wallpaper hark back to earlier days, but the 48-oz. mesquite-broiled porterhouse and the 20-oz. Delmonico are absolutely fresh. Prime rib, crab cakes, broiled scallops, calf's liver, and lamb chops also give diners delicious pause. Great wines and pungent garlic bread are a way of life here, and if you park in back, don't hesitate to come in through the kitchen - everyone does. Bustling after-work bar scene too.

Pizzeria Bianco website
623 E Adams St, Heritage Square, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Chris Bianco's celebrated pizza evokes memories of Naples. A wood-fired brick oven and a passion for quality make Bianco's traditional Neapolitan pizza crust a work of art. Each and every one of the masterpieces served is made from scratch with the finest ingredients. The only drawback? You may have to wait for a great pizza, because the place is no secret. Reservations accepted only for parties of six or more.

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