While we all have our long standing favorite restaurants, it is easy to get in a dining rut when you visit the same restaurants over and over again. The good news is that the Phoenix area has no shortage of new restaurant openings happening in 2022, which gives you a plethora of options when you are ready to switch it up and try something new. Whether for you that means trying a new cuisine or dining in a new part of town, there’s something for every occasion and price point. Here are some of the new culinary additions to the Valley that have recently captured our attention!
Palma on Roosevelt Row
Palma is one of the latest and greatest restaurant additions to Downtown Phoenix’s Roosevelt Row. Palma is located on 2nd Street in Phoenix, and is a great patio to have on your new dining experience radar. Their specialty is Asian food with a flair, and their all day menu includes a delicious hand rolled sushi, Phoenix fried chicken, and fresh salads. They also have happy hour Monday through Friday from 3 pm to 6 pm, with a great variety of wines and cocktails all around the $7 price range. The motto of Palma is “A paradise state of mind,” and the ambience at Palma delivers this! They have a beautiful center courtyard for outdoor dining that would be a lovely spot to enjoy light bites or cocktail hour.
We are also drooling over their brunch menu, which includes entrees you won’t find everywhere else, with options like matcha stuffed French toast, scallion pancakes, and breakfast noodles! Brunch on their patio would be a great start to a weekend morning!
etta in the Scottsdale Quarter
The Scottsdale Quarter is always an easy go-to dining destination with so many delicious options tucked into the walkable outdoor shopping center.
If you feel like you’ve tried everything and are looking for something new, check out etta, located on the corner of Greenway-Hayden Loop and 72nd Place, in the space where BRIO used to be. This restaurant concept comes from the creative partners who developed the other uber popular restaurant Maple & Ash in Old Town Scottsdale, so you know you can trust the food will be absolutely delicious!
Etta is touted as being “an affordable neighborhood restaurant that serves delicious wood-fired Italian food.” They are best known for their pizzas and warm focaccia bread. They have locations established in Chicago and LA already, so it’s exciting to see Scottsdale was next on their list. Early diners reviewed etta as being a fun high-energy restaurant with beautiful decor!
Santé on Scottsdale Road
Also located in the North Scottsdale area, Santé is a new full service organic restaurant that serves brunch and operates as a wine bar later in the day, complete with a full service dinner menu. If you have been looking for a new healthy restaurant to add to your dining rotation, Santa really prides itself on offering a health-conscious menu. It was developed to be a “health-conscious space where individuals can enjoy a meal and keep their health in mind!”
One of the best perks of Santé is their grab & gourmet marketplace where you can quickly pick up a coffee or an easy healthy meal or snack. With a warm inviting interior, Santé looks like it will become a local hangout!
Pizzicata USA in Carefree
It’s very exciting to see a new restaurant open in the charming town of Carefree, Arizona, especially one located in Spanish Village that fits so well into the city’s atmosphere! Pizzicata is a dining experience that brings Italy to the desert, which is a claim you can believe because the chef Federico Venturini and his wife Viola came from Italy to launch Pizzicata in Carefree.
Pizzicata offers Italian classics you know and love, like gnocchi, lasagna, and many pizza options in a casual environment and reasonable price point. Make a reservation in advance to catch their live music every Sunday at 5:30 pm.
Bobby-Q in Mesa
Calling all brisket lovers to check out Bobby-Q, your go-to spot when you have a barbeque craving. While Bobby-Q does have other locations throughout the Valley, this delicious BBQ spot has officially opened in Mesa!
Not only does Bobby- Q offer delicious BBQ and sides, but each location also has a fun tap room attached.This BBQ spot has won many accolades over the last few years, including #10th
Best Restaurant in Phoenix and Arizona Foothills award for Best BBQ in the Valley.
This spot really is arguably the best BBQ in town and offers you everything you would want out of a BBQ experience. There’s lots of options when it comes to the slides, and we recommend the three meat combo as a way to try a little bit of everything they have to offer! The Mesa location now has happy hour from Monday-Friday from 2 pm- 6 pm including food options like pulled pork or brisket tacos for $8 and half off house wine and spirits.
Wren & Wolf in Downtown Phoenix
One of the most high-end new dining options in Phoenix, Wren & Wolf is a beautifully decorated, well appointed addition to the downtown area for dinner. Wren & Wolf is a blend of a craft cocktail bar mixed with steakhouse dining experience, perfect for either a business dinner or a casual night out. Wren & Wolf is working to redefine the typical dining experience by offering everything from steak to elevated comfort food.
This is a great spot to celebrate a special moment, have a nice dinner out, or to get drinks before going to an event at the AZ Federal Theater or a concert at the Footprint Center.
If you are unsure about parking, one tip is that you can get your parking validated for three hours at the Renaissance Square Garage located on 1st Avenue.
Not only do these restaurants offer delicious culinary offerings, but they also present an opportunity to explore new areas of town. All of these new restaurants mean more delicious entrees to try, more cocktails to taste test, and so much fun to be had around town! We hope one of these restaurants becomes your new favorite spot!