A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about all the new restaurants that have opened in Scottsdale this year. Despite the limping economy, no less than a dozen high-profile places made their debuts.
While their profiles may not be quite as high, the south East Valley also has welcomed a surprising number of new restaurants in recent months. Here are 10 of the most notable:
Bar Tepo: Steve Short, who owns stylish Phoenix restaurant Basis, brings New American cuisine — think brown sugar Hoisin chicken tacos, lobster burgers, and pancetta-and-pepperjack-stuffed pork chops — to Mesa’s Dana Park. 1652 S. Val Vista Drive, Mesa, (480) 633-0155.
Maria Maria: This eye-catching Tempe Marketplace restaurant (pictured above) from legendary musician Carlos Santana features the globally influenced Mexican food of renowned Mexico City chef Roberto Santibañez. 2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, (480) 449-3663.
Cork: Robert and Danielle Morris — he was a sommelier and GM at Lon’s, she was a pastry chef there — opened this small-plates restaurant with an ambitious menu of French- influenced New American cuisine in Ocotillo. 4991 S. Alma School Road, Chandler, (480) 883-3773.
La Bocca Urban Pizzeria + Wine Bar: With salads, sandwiches and 11-inch pizzas, this latest Mill Avenue restaurant (pictured above) from Julian Wright (Jax Thai Bar, The Library) offers nearby high-rise residents an alternative to college hangouts. 699 S. Mill Avenue, Tempe, (480) 967-5244.
Blue Wasabi: East Valley fans of this hip Scottsdale sushi-and-martini bar and its non-traditional rolls — such as the Me Soy Horny, the Squid Vicious and the Wango Mango — now can get their fix at SanTan Village. 2080 E. Williams Field Road, Gilbert, (480) 722-9250.
Cadillac Ranch: Located on the second level of Tempe Marketplace, this huge — and hugely popular — restaurant (pictured below) offers a menu of steaks and burgers, a mix of rock and country music, a large balcony patio, plenty of TVs and a mechanical bull. 2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, (480) 894-1111.
Café Azul: Tucked behind the Marriott Mesa Hotel downtown, this showy yet casual restaurant and bar describes its all-day menu as Meditteranean cuisine with a Spanish flair, but optionsalso include burgers, quesadillas and Cajun sausage. 200 N. Centennial Way, Mesa. (480) 898-8300.
Kabuki Japanese Restaurant: This fast-casual California chain, which opened its first Arizona location at Tempe Marketplace, features a multi-chef sushi bar and more than 200 types of cocktails and other beverages. 2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, (480) 350-9160.
Pita Delight: Transplanted New Yorker Robert Banach and his father-in-law, Isaac Furyan, opened the south East Valley’s first kosher restaurant, which has a Mediterranean/Middle East menu of soups, sandwiches, salads and pizza. 918 N. Alma School Road, Chandler, (480) 857-7277.
Pita Jungle: This longtime Tempe favorite, which already had spinoffs in Scottsdale and Chandler, finally brings its inexpensive, vegetarian-friendly Mediterranean food to Mesa, and a Gilbert location will open this month. 1850 W. Southern Ave., Mesa, (480) 615-7482.
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