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Food, dining and nightlife news from the features team at The Arizona Republic @azcentral. 🍕🥂

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Have you ever seen a ghost? Employees and patrons at some of Phoenix's oldest restaurants and bars believe they have.

From dancing apparitions in bar windows to crying voices in empty rooms, several metro Phoenix restaurants are believed to be haunted. While some are connected to confirmed deaths in the buildings, other tales have been woven largely through word of mouth and contain just enough information gaps to satisfy both skeptics and believers alike.

But even if you don't believe in the paranormal, these "haunted" restaurants offer an interesting glimpse into the history of the Valley.

Here's a look at the five "most haunted" restaurants and bars in metro Phoenix.

Tap the link in bio to read the full story.

(📸Patrick Breen, Nick Oza/The Republic; Provided by Monica Heizenrader📰 by @erfontanez) #phxfoodculture #arizonafoodculture #phx #azcdining #azcentral #foodstagram #arizonagram #foodnews by @azcdining

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11 hours ago

Michelin-recommended restaurant and bar Pretty Penny (@prettypennyphx) doesn’t peacock itself from the outside, so when I finally found the right door and pulled it open, I was pleasantly surprised by both the stylish space and the inventive bites.

Opened by the duo behind Pour Bastards Hospitality Group, who also own Killer Whale Sex Club and Legends Never Die, the restaurant was listed in the Michelin Guide in August. I had yet to check it out, so the accolade gave me the nudge I needed to go see if it lived up to both the Michelin hype and the local buzz it has enjoyed since opening.

Tap the link in bio to learn more about Pretty Penny and our critic's recommended dishes.

(📸 Diannie Chavez/The Republic📰@baharcreative)
#phxfoodculture #arizonafoodculture #phx #foodstagram #arizonagram #phxrestaurants #wheretoeataz #arizonafood #phoenixfoodie taken in Phoenix, Arizona by @azcdining

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a day ago

Chef Christopher Collins, known for restaurants like Collins Brothers Public House, Sweet Provisions, The Macintosh and The Neighborly, will soon open his latest concept at Park Central in Phoenix.

The new restaurant, Cowboy Seafood, has been in the works for almost exactly two years. Collins described the concept as "competition-worthy barbecue and an elevated seafood program."

To Collins, Cowboy Seafood is the "pinnacle" of everything he's worked on so far with his restaurant group Common Ground Culinary.

Tap the link in bio to read the full story.

(📸Proved by Grace Stufkosky📰 by @erfontanez) #phxfoodculture #arizonafoodculture #phx #azcdining #azcentral #foodstagram #arizonagram #foodnews taken in Phoenix, Arizona by @azcdining

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2 days ago

Hai Noon, a collaboration between the owners of Welcome Diner and Nobuo Fukuda, opened in 2023 inside Sonder the Mariposa in Scottsdale, serving a menu that combined Japanese food with American Southwestern cuisine.

In February 2026, the restaurant was listed in a Food and Wine roundup of restaurants that make Scottsdale a dining destination.

Tap the link in bio to learn more.

(📸 Joel Angel Juarez/The Republic📰@baharcreative)
#phxfoodculture #arizonafoodculture #phx #foodstagram #arizonagram #phxrestaurants #wheretoeataz #arizonafood #phoenixfoodie by @azcdining

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3 days ago

Stefano Fabbri, the owner of Pomo Pizzeria, Rosso Italian and Luna Gelateria, will venture away from the cuisine of Italy at his newest restaurant, Salta, an Argentine-inspired steakhouse opening in Phoenix this fall.

"Pomo is my roots, my Italian roots. But after many years being in Arizona, I want to evolve," Fabbri said in an exclusive interview with The Republic.

The heart of Salta is an Argentinian-style woodfired grill, which Fabbri said was custom made in Spain. The grill and oven will act as the centerpiece of the restaurant, allowing guests to watch and smell as their meat, seafood and vegetables are cooked with fire.

Tap the link in bio to read the full story.

(📸Rendering provided by Evolve PR📰 by @erfontanez) #phxfoodculture #arizonafoodculture #phx #azcdining #azcentral #foodstagram #arizonagram #foodnews by @azcdining

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4 days ago

For the last three years, The Republic has asked readers to vote for who they believe makes the best tacos in the Valley. Together, the top vote getters make up a pretty great sample of the best that Phoenix has to offer, from food trucks and pop-ups to hole-in-the-wall joints and sit-down Mexican restaurants.

It's almost time for Top Taco 2026, and we want to know who you think should be on the ballot this year. Tell us the name and location of the restaurant, pop-up or food truck that you think makes the best tacos in metro Phoenix, plus the best taco on the menu at azcentral.com/things-to-do/food-dining through Oct. 9.

Tap the link in bio to see the list of past winners and nominate your favorite for Top Taco 2026.

(📸Nicole Mullen/The Republic📰 by @erfontanez) #phxfoodculture #arizonafoodculture #phx #azcdining #azcentral #foodstagram #arizonagram #foodnews by @azcdining

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7 days ago

On Sept. 29, Yelp released its list of Best New Restaurants of 2026. Two metro Phoenix restaurants, Filthy Animal (by Pretty Decent Concepts, the team behind Wren and Wolf) and Society Swan (by Sam Fox), made the list, with Filthy Animal being named the No. 1 in the entire country.

To create this list, Yelp gathered reviews of full-service restaurants open between Jan. 1, 2025, and June 11, 2026, then ranked them by factors such as total volume and review ratings.

At least in Phoenix, it appears that vibe takes priority this year.

Looking at the ratings on Yelp, one notices a paltry 4.2 star rating for each restaurant. A 4.2 for the cream of the crop seems low. Yet, somehow, these restaurants beat out Michelin-starred restaurants and places with 4.5 and 4.7 star ratings.

Tap the link in bio to learn more.

(📸 Megan Mendoza/The Republic📰@baharcreative)
#phxfoodculture #arizonafoodculture #phx #foodstagram #arizonagram #phxrestaurants #wheretoeataz #arizonafood #phoenixfoodie taken in Arizona, USA by @azcdining

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8 days ago

Metro Phoenix lost a number of dining and drinking destinations in September, continuing a trend of closures that has persisted throughout 2026. The list includes neighborhood coffee shops, a lone Arizona location of a Midwestern chain, an award-winning chef's Mexican restaurant known for its tacos and a 15-year-old Tempe bar that closed under a cloud of controversy.

Behind the shutdowns were a mix of personal decisions, health concerns, difficult business conditions and, in one case, questions surrounding alcohol-service practices.

Tap the link in bio to see the full list.
(📸 Michael Chow, Lauren De Young, Pricilla, Priscilla Totiyapungprasert/The Republic📰@baharcreative)
#phxfoodculture #arizonafoodculture #phx #foodstagram #arizonagram #phxrestaurants #wheretoeataz #arizonafood #phoenixfoodie by @azcdining

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9 days ago

An underrated Arizona restaurant just earned national praise from USA TODAY. Meet the chef behind one of America’s best sandwich shops.
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Video by Megan Mendoza/The Republic 📹️ by @azcdining

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Dutch Bros was outbid on most of the former Salad and Go sites. Now, the coffee chain is trying to buy some of the remaining locations.

What to know at the link in bio. 🔗

Written by Corina Vanek ✍️ | Photos provided by Dutch Bros and Megan Mendoza/The Republic 📸 by @azcdining

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10 days ago

It's peak sports season and we want to know the best spot in Phoenix to watch football, baseball and basketball. Vote now for the best sports bars. Link in bio. 🔗

Written by Eddie Fontanez ✍️ | Photos by Benjamin Chambers/The Republic and Jeremiah Toller/Special for the Republic 📸 by @azcdining

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15 days ago

The Arizona Republic launched its second annual Phoenix Pizza Poll in September. The contenders included ten of the absolute best pizzerias in the Valley — minus last year's winner, Il Bosco.

This year, readers chose a longtime local icon as their pick for the best pizza in Phoenix: Pizzeria Bianco, opened by lauded restaurateur Chris Bianco nearly forty years ago.

"There's so much great pizza in Phoenix now," Bianco said. "I'm just happy we have hopefully made a positive impact in the community."

Tap the link in bio read the full story.

(📸Megan Mendoza/The Republic📰 by @erfontanez) #phxfoodculture #arizonafoodculture #phx #azcdining #azcentral #foodstagram #arizonagram #foodnews taken in Downtown Phoenix by @azcdining

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