Justin Eats

The MICHELIN Guide is coming to Arizona (and other SW states), via Phoenix New Times:

The Michelin Guide is coming to Arizona. Here's what to know Phoenix restaurants could earn Michelin stars for the first time in 2026.

More Mister Pio love. Congrats again on making Eater’s list of 2025 Best New Restaurants in the U.S. 🌵

This Peruvian Chicken Spot Is One of the Country's Best New Restaurants — The Experts At Mister Pio in Phoenix, chef Justin Nasralla serves authentic Peruvian pollo a la brasa roasted from a wood-fired rotisserie. The menu stays simple with wh...

“Beloved Tucson baker Don Guerra, named best baker in the country by the James Beard Foundation in 2022, has opened Don Guerra's Barrio Bagel & Slice in Gilbert.” (via azcentral / azcentral Things to Do)

An exclusive 1st look at award-winning baker Don Guerra's Barrio Bagel & Slice Award-winning baker Don Guerra offers bagels, torta and focaccia sandwiches and pizzas at his new drive-thru restaurant in Gilbert. What to try first.

Big congrats to Arizona’s two 2025 James Beard Foundation finalists, both from Phoenix: Yotaka Martin (Lom Wong; “Best Chef Southwest”) and Crystal Kass (Valentine Phx; “Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker”)! Winners announced at ‘s annual ceremony in June.

👉 Full list: https://www.jamesbeard.org/stories/2025-james-beard-awards-restaurant-and-chef-nominees

Makes me squirm a bit. A-okay with a little “dusting off”—the place is in need of some TLC and especially hasn’t been the same since 2020—but there’s a balance. Few places in Phoenix trigger the sentimental like Durant’s.

👉 https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/restaurants/phoenix-steakhouse-durants-temporarily-closes-as-new-owners-take-over-21291147 (via: Phoenix New Times)

Quite a supersized list of James Beard Foundation semifinalists in Arizona this year! Nice to see the heightened local attention. Read the full local list on azcentral:

'Mind-blowing': 15 Arizona chefs, restaurants are James Beard Award semifinalists Little Rituals, Chilte and Lom Wong are among the semifinalists for 2025 James Beard Awards, including Best Chef — Southwest and Best New Bar.

A little area dining love from The New York Times/NYT Cooking today in their annual list of top restaurants in America for 2024. Big congrats to Mr. Baan's Bar & Mookata (and the larger Lom Wong team)! 🌵🖤

Full list:

The Restaurant List 2024 Our 50 favorite places in America right now.

Cheers to the final weeks of (another brutal) summer in the desert. 🌵🥂 Easy, delicious eating and downtime at a new fave, in Phoenix.

Let the Paris FOMO begin. 🖤 🇫🇷

Bittersweet news in Phoenix dining. Influential talent and force-of-nature behind the award-winning—and pioneering—Barrio Cafe, Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza to close her iconic restaurant after 22 years.

'That was my opus': Phoenix's most iconic chef is closing her historic Mexican restaurant Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza changed Phoenix dining with her 16th Street regional Mexican food restaurant. After 22 years, she's closing Barrio Cafe.

Wonderful recent dinner at Twenty-Eight Atlantic, the Forbes Five-Star showplace at Cape Cod’s equally-awarded Wequassett Resort and Golf Club.

Credit to Chef James Hackney once Chef de Cuisine at Boston’s legendary L’Espalier (RIP; ), for balancing expectations of all diners–experienced and unpracticed–with Twenty-Eight Atlantic’s seasonal seafood-leaning tasting menus largely unburdened by worn-out templates that often plague luxury resort dining, all thanks to thoughtful ex*****on, flavor, and, restraint. The wine program hits a similar stride, an acclaimed library sprinkled with several lesser-known European growers, featuring unique-enough options for guests who prefer exploration or familiarity.

Add the unparalleled landscape of Pleasant Bay at sunset? It's a splurge that delivers beyond the sum of its parts.

Oh, and if Vivienne isn’t your server, your evening won't truly be complete.

Dish notes 👉

- Oysters; lychee, tuna, caviar
- Burrata; green gazpacho
- Snacks; chocolate beetroot macaron, Bluefin nigiri
- Coddled egg; morels, mustard, peas, pancetta
- Tomato bisque; pickled celery
- Scallops; oat risotto, beurre nantaise, green apple, truffle
- Snacks; Raspberry sorbet pop, crispy rice
- Not pictured? So much more